Hannah's First Christmas

Hannah's first Christmas, in pictures.

A Tribute to Grandma & Grandpa Miller

Yesterday, I was thinking about Hannah's future and what kind of mom I am going to be. I couldn't help but reflect on the many things I am so thankful to my parents for, many of which I may or may not have thanked them for or do they realize their impact on where I am and who I am today. So, this post is a special tribute to Grandma and Grandpa Miller.

Thank you Mom for bearing the pain of my delivery. Maybe next time I'll get it right back at me. Maybe.

Thank you Mom and Dad for understanding my curiosity as a child. 

Thank you Mom for rocking me in the chair when I was feeling sad.

Thank you Dad for blow drying my hair (and slicking it back like I was a boy; I didn't mind) after you gave me a bath. That was always so special.

Thank you Mom for listening to my tears and putting me in daycare with Jan only. 

Thank you Dad for letting me tag along with you when you did the "big shopping" at the grocery store. I'm sure I didn't make things faster or easier, especially when I ran over your heel. (Sorry!)

Thank you Dad for taking me on dates. My favorite was always watching planes take off at the airport. You helped exemplify the kind of man I should marry. And God only knew that I would be traveling the world and spending long hours in airports and on planes.

Thank you Mom for letting me crawl in bed with you and night, eat Cheetos, watch the news, and fall asleep. Thanks Dad for carrying me back to my own bed.

Thank you Mom and Dad for encouraging me to play soccer even though I ended up on a different team than my friends. I must have liked it because I played for several more years.

Thank you Mom for driving my friends and me to Camp Shamineau when we easily could have taken the bus. Perhaps you understood the importance of getting there early to secure our bunks.

Thank you Dad for putting up with all the girliness in the house. You are good with girls, but I guess you've had a lot of practice (two sisters, two daughters, and now two granddaughters).

Thank you Mom for sitting outside the pool at the YMCA while I swam laps in middle school.

Thank you Dad, I mean Chef Ronaldo, for cooking and serving the fancy dinner at my 11th birthday party.

Thank you Mom for the many hours spent at Caribou. You are the best listener, and it's there that I have learned so much about you. I always look forward to Caribou...and Pancheros.

Thank you Mom and Dad for being my biggest cheerleader. You made it to all the football and basketball games I cheered at that you could. And thank you Dad for being one of the videographers. I never minded having you around.

Thank you Mom and Dad for paying for all my gas in high school. I was thankful for that freedom, and I always had a car to get to work, school, church, cheerleading practice, friends' houses...and the mall.

Thank you Mom and Dad for trusting me. I really was a good kid.

Thank you Mom and Dad for the many sacrifices you made to allow me to go to Taylor. I have no doubt that is where the Lord wanted me to be. 

Thank you Dad for sending me a computer a month into school. I needed it.

Thank you Mom and Dad for going down to one car so I could have transportation at Taylor to drive to my internship - the reason I have the job I have today. And not only did you give me a car, you gave me the nicer car. That Blue Alero was good to me.

Thank you Dad for biking alongside me while I ran 10 miles in preparation for my half marathon. You helped me pull through.

Thank you Mom for all you did to help me plan my wedding down to the last detail. I can't believe you and Dad even drove from church to the reception just to make sure the invitation directions were correct.

Thank you Mom and Dad for showering me, Seth and our baby-to-be with many gifts and for coming out to Chicago for a shower and her birth. Sorry you had to endure Labor Day traffic!

Thank you for loving Hannah even before she was born. And don't worry, I'm not offended if you're more excited to see her. I would be too.

Most of all, thank you for raising me in the ways of the Lord and being a part of my coming to Christ. I pray that I can be the kind of parent you exemplified to my Hannah.

Our Chatter Box at 3M

Month three has been a lot like two, just more of it. More smiles, more "talking," and more chunkiness (now 13lbs). And bonus: Hannah's now sleeping 10 hours at night!

If I were to ask you what animal you think Hannah looks like, what would you say? I asked Seth this same question a few weeks ago with one in mind. Seth replied, "a mouse." That's the animal I had in mind exactly. So she's our little mouse.

Enjoy some pictures of Hannah this month!

Hangin' by the campfire

Our little Hannah Bear

A special visit with Grandma

A throw back from when I was a baby

Being so stinkin' cute at bath time

On another note, I'm beginning to get antsy to move. Before pregnancy and during pregnancy I had no desire. I love our place, and I hate moving. But now that Hannah has nearly outgrown her portable sleeping quarters and the crib will either be set up in our dining room or bedroom, a lose-lose, I'm ready for her to have her own room and more space for our expanding demands. With Seth soon-to-be-working in Downers Grove, me working in Oak Brook and church in Naperville, our likely relocation location will be near Ogden & 355. 

Back to Work

This past week marked a big change for the Pietrini family: Mama went back to work. New routine, new wake-up alarm, new pit stops at daycare/grandmas. 

I had been anticipating the first day back to work before Hannah was even born. I didn't know how I would feel about it. I'm not one of those moms that just knows I need to work to maintain sanity or would be an absolute mess if I couldn't stay home. I tend to be content in most situations. And I embrace change and new routines. 

The week went really well. Although I was hoping to slowly ease back into projects at work, this was not the case. There was plenty waiting for me and quickly I picked up where my temp had left off. What I really am having to adjust to is the extended day: feeding and getting Hannah ready and dropping off and picking her up. I get up 30-45 minutes earlier than I used to and I have an added half hour or so to my commute with a little less time the two days Seth drops off Hannah at Grandma P's.            

The question on many minds is if I'm going to stay. To that, I have no idea. Over the course of time I was home I had the opportunity to talk to several Godly and wise women about their thoughts and experiences on the topic. The overwhelming majority favored staying home, others suggested trying it out, but the consensus was to pray about it and give it to the Lord.

I didn't expect an answer before returning to work, but I did expect to lean one way or the other once I did. Well, I don't feel strong either way. I actually feel rather indifferent. Going back to work has been great. So was staying home. Both have their pros and cons and I'm truly having a difficult time being sure what to do. Of course, it has only been a week. So my decision for the time being is no decision. I'll stay in my present situation until I hear otherwise and pray the Lord will make it clear if He desires for me to stay home. 

So Thankful

Seth and I are especially thankful this year for our beautiful healthy baby girl. The Lord has truly blessed us, even when He owes us nothing. It is us who owes Him everything!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two Months

In month two, Hannah has really grown into her nickname, going from being just a Little Peanut to a Chunky Monkey. Those chubby cheeks and that big round belly are my favorite; they get most of my kisses.

And her smiles! Hannah loves to smile when you talk to her. Her smiles are particularly abundant when she just wakes up, something few of us can boast.  I just wish I was better at having my camera ready.

We also passed through a bit of an awkward stage this month. Beginning with some baby ache and balding, Hannah's cheeks have just about cleared up and her hair is now starting to come back in. It's still brown. Eye color is TBD, but I'm thinking blue. I'll let you know for sure in another five to seven months (so experts say when we should be able to predict the final hue).

Hands down the best part of month two though: Hannah is sleeping through the night! Beginning week eight, Hannah began scheduled feedings and is put down at night. She picked up the "parent-directed" feeding schedule immediately, and after two nights of "crying it out," we hear just a bit of whimpering when she goes down followed by no less than seven hours of continuous sleep.

Other highlights:

• Hannah loves play gyms and music. She especially likes Grandma P's play gym because it includes her best friend, the musical light up black and white cat.
• Hannah took her first plane ride to Minnesota. There she met Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Polson for the first time.
• Hannah is now 11 lbs, 12 oz! My goodness someone must be feeding her well.

To close, I will leave you with this video. In trying to capture Hannah's expressions when waking her up, I got a little more than I bargained for. It gets particularly good at :30.