Ms. Mugs has another cold - this one seems to be more of a stomach bug then a head cold. We were up at 1AM and again at 3AM. Her temperature spiked at 102.1 which warranted a call to the doctor. We've got her on Tylenol and she seems to be helping herself by sleeping. I feel so bad for the little thing. She's hot and you can tell she doesn't feel good. All she wants is to be held and snuggled up against my chest (which I'm more then happy to do).

It would seem that daycare has exposed her to every germ known to man at another 23 three unknown.  Experience with Max and Lexus has taught me to ride it through.  This first year will be rough but after that her immune system will likely be strong enough to survive most any illness.  Still, it sucks that it has to happen when she's still so little and there isn't much I can do.

I just had one of those moments of realizing how many people across the country love Ms. Mugs.  She has a number of honorary "aunts" that she's never met in person but that enjoy watching her grow and change.  Then there is the endless family and friends that celebrate each moment of her with us.  To everyone that contributes to the love in her life, thank you!

Ms. Lydia Grace is 6 months old today.  Happy half birthday!

Happy 4th of July!  (Albeit a little late).  Ms Mugsy spent the 4th with Mom, Dad, Uncle Kelley, Aunt Christy and Uncle Eric.  We were lucky enough to get a roof side veiw of both shows.  Ms. Mugs was enchanted!  She watched both shows for almost 40 minutes.  When it was all done she laid her head down on Daddy's shoulder and closed her eyes (it was well past her bedtime).  All in all it was a wonderful 4th and so much fun to see it through her eyes.

I just got back from having lunch with Lydia Grace. Yesterday was her first day at daycare. (I'll post pictures later.)  For now and for the next few months the plan is for me to drop her off at 8AM and head back at noon to feed her. I'm back to work 3/4 time so I get to pick her up at 3.

There are several things that make leaving her at daycare easier then it could have been. For one, we picked a good daycare center. I was leery about going with a large, corporate organization but there are some definite benefits. Being part of a large company means standard proceedures which is great for the parents. I know ahead of time what her day is like and when the most common things come up how they are going to be handled. Also, oversight and accountability. Ms. Mugs is in a room with 6-7 other babies and at least 2 teachers. The room is full of windows and looks out into the hall and another nursery. Everyone is out in the open which means that the likelihood of anything "bad" happening to her go down dramatically.

We also picked a daycare that is close to my office and whole heartedly supports nursing mothers. I nurse Mugs before I leave her in the morning and again at lunch. Being able to spend 45-60 minutes with her every afternoon makes the time go by MUCH faster at work.  I still count down the minutes until 11:45 when I head out and again until 245 but the time goes by quickly.  I absolutely love walking into her room, having her see me and smile and snuggle down into my arms as soon as I pick her up.  It makes every day, everything better and very little else matters in those moments.

To top it all off, Chris was able to come down and meet us for lunch on her first day.  I think the new schedule is actually harder on him then on me.  I was already used to not seeing her between 8AM and noon.  Up until yesterday Mugs was home with Daddy every morning.  They had their time together and then she and I had ours in the afternoon.  We both get less time with her then before but Chris went from having her in the house all day to her being gone from 730 to 330.  Last night we both wanted to hold her and neither one of us wanted her to go to bed.  

Mugs also appears to be enjoying daycare (as opposed to tolerating it).  She is enchanted with the other babies - especially the crawlers and walkers.  She loves to watch them and I can see the wheels turning in her head.  She wants to get down on the floor and get moving!  I learned with Max and Lexus that daycare and preschool are a great way to help socialize a child and can make the transition into school easier.  Both M & L had an easier time then many of their young classmates and enjoyed their early years in school.  (Max still does and is finishing his freshman year of high school with a 4.0 GPA.  Lexus would rather not.)

So, while it was hard leaving Mugsy this morning I know that she is well cared for, protected and happy.  I love my lunch hour and look forward to the end of the day.  (...and seriously, I have way too much work to stay working part time!)

Ms. Mugsy officially turned 4 months old on May 9th.  Her 4 month checkup was on the 12th and she came in weighing 14 lbs, 5.5 oz.  Not bad!  She's also 24 1/2 inches long.

She had another round of shots (4 of them!) which made her very unhappy.  However a quick snuggle and a dose of tylenol put her back in good spirits.

She's hit all of her milestones including rolling over which she did again the other day.  No more leaving her to lay on the couch or on any raised surface.

Tonight with her pediatrician's blessings we will be introducing solids.  Rice cereal with breast milk to be exact - yum!  Honestly, the cereal is more of a delivery vehicle for the breast milk since she won't take a bottle.  Hopefully, this will allow mom and dad to get out once in a while without worrying about leaving a starving, screaming baby with the sitter (Uncle Kelley will appreciate that!).

All in all, things are going great.  We had a wonderful trip to Atlanta and Charleston and enjoyed good times with the family.  The time change has definitely affected her sleep pattern but it should be temporary.  If you haven't already you should check out the new pictures.

Oh, and come back to see the video of her first meal - it's sure to be a hoot!

Last might Lydia Grace spent her first night in her crib.  It was a little sad putting her down in the nursery - she looked so small in such a big room and a big bed.  Still, it was time.  She's only waking up for one night time feeding and we have to go to her room to get changed anyway.

She did great!  She slept from 9:30PM to 3:30AM and from 3:30AM to 6:00AM.  At 6:00AM I brought her into bed with us and we snuggled until I had to get up at 7:00AM.  She woke up all happy and smiles.  This is another step in her growth and development and a first of many bittersweet moments!

Lydia Grace is 12 weeks old!  It's amazing how much she has grown and changed it what really is a short period of time.  She is holding her head up and has indicated a strong preference to be sitting upright.  She "talks" constantly and is learning that she has different volumes...currently, "loud" is her favorite.  She smiles in delight when you turn your attention to you and voices her displeasure when you don't.  She is generally a very happy baby and is mildly fussy when wet, hungry or tired...but who isn't?

Luckily, there are not shots at 3 months, the next installment is at 4 months.  So, for now we are enjoying watching her grow and change.  She's no longer an infant and is most certainly a baby...a baby with some of the fattest little feet we have ever seen!

Be watching the site for some new video...you may even get to see those toes!