HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Hope you had a safe and fun time however you celebrated. We hope your 2008 is filled with many blessings for you and your families.

5 Months Old

Taylor is five months old and getting so big! She is filling out and getting some really cute cheeks. On Christmas day she laughed for the first time - it's a funny, little laugh and we weren't quite sure if that's really what it was at first. But later in the day she did it a few more times and we were then sure that it was indeed a laugh. She has also been flipping from her tummy to her back alot more, and then gets stuck like a helpless little turtle (not fun for anyone in the middle of the night). Her gums have been bothering her more lately and she chews, gums, and slobbers on anything she can get into her mouth. The past few nights we've been working on getting her to sleep through the night. Last night was kind of rough, but the night before she did pretty well. We'll keep you updated on this for sure. I still haven't introduced cereal or baby food, but you better believe I'll post some pictures when we do. The day gown she's wearing in the pictures was purchased by Nick's parents and was intended to be what she wore home from the hospital. As you can see, at five months and over 13 pounds it fits her quite well. There was no possible way she could have worn it at 6 pounds, despite the "newborn" size.

Baby's First Christmas

Here are some pictures from Taylor's first Christmas. Of course she's too young to know what's going on, but Nick and I sure enjoyed dressing her up in Christmas paraphenalia and buying gifts for her! From top to bottom: Modeling her Christmas outfit from Nick's parents; Our little stocking stuffer; Loving her lion from Grammy; Sitting with great-grandmother Grammy; Happy after the Christmas church service; Annual Porch Picture at Robyn's mom's house.

Bad Combination

We have evolved from a sick baby to a sick baby and Mommy and now to a sick baby and Mommy and Daddy! This is not a good combination.

Sick Baby

Just wanted you to know Taylor is sick with upper respiratory issues and is running a fever. Please pray for her quick healing and that she'll be able to sleep and eat well through the congestion.

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart!

I was reminded today as I watched "A Baby Story" on TLC just how precious life is and that the birth of a healthy baby is indeed a miracle. I've "known" these things and probably even said them a time or two. I also just read a blog entry from a couple who lost their baby 10 days ago. So of course my heart is in a tender state. The lady on the TV show today had had 1 baby born at 28 weeks (who is now 7 and a half years old and doing well), 3 miscarriages, 1 stillborn baby, another miscarriage, and then another baby who was born at 36 weeks and healthy. I sometimes take for granted my uncomplicated pregnancy and that Taylor was born healthy. Then I see or read about people whose stories are so very different than mine, and I remember to thank God for our precious baby. So I encourage you to look around you, think of your blessings and all the things for which you should be thankful, and indeed give thanks with a grateful heart!

A Day of Firsts

Today was a day of firsts for two of the Villacampas. Taylor rolled from her tummy to her back for the first time today. She was fussing so I went in to get her up from her nap and she was on her back! Yes, she sleeps on her tummy eventhough they say not to. So neither Nick nor I got to witness it, but hopefully we'll both be here to see her roll from her back to her tummy for the first time. The other first was for Nick. He had the privilege of seeing a ballet for the first time in his 29 years of life. He took me to the Nutcracker tonight and I thank him very much! As we were leaving he said, "I mean, that is just something I cannot relate to (men ballet dancers). Why do they have to jump around when they leave the stage or after they do something good? I would probably just do a fist pump or point to someone in the crowd." And I can totally see him do both of those things. I think fun was had by all tonight, but I probably enjoyed it the most. I hope to take Taylor to the ballet one day and I especially hope to watch her in one, too!

Too Big For P.J.'s

Back in September (see top picture) we made a post entitled "Big Enough For P.J.'s" and now that same pair of jammies is too small (see bottom picture). Actually, they're just too short - you can't tell from the picture but she can't really straighten her legs out all of the way without it looking like her big toe is about to poke through. It's great that she's growing so well, but it's a bit sad, too. It's true what they say..."They grow up too fast!"

Christmas Spirit

This past weekend we got our Christmas tree and began decorating it and the house. What a fun time of year! Taylor looks to be in the Christmas Spirit doesn't she? My excitement must be contagious! Nick and I are looking forward to celebrating Taylor's 1st Christmas - much more excited than she is I'm sure. Thanks Aunt Sissy for the precious outfit! I think Taylor likes it, too.

On Her Way

Taylor seems to be on her way to rolling over, or at least it looks that way to us. She'll just about break her neck trying to look at the T.V. (as you can see in the last picture), so it might take placing her in front of it in such a way that she has to roll over in order to see it. (Disclaimer: We do not allow her to watch T.V., nor are we encouraging it at such a young age. She just always turns to look at it when it's on.) I'm not in a huge hurry for her to roll over and I really hope Nick and I are both here to see her the first time she does. We'll update you on her progress.

Our "Average" Little 4 Month Old

Taylor's 4 month check-up went well yesterday, but she screamed like crazy during the shots. I got a little teary-eyed, but not as bad as last time. The Dr. said she looks great and is right on track. She's had a bit of a growth spurt and she now weighs 13 pounds and is 24 1/4 inches long. She is now around the 50th percentile for weight, length and head circumference. So we have ourselves an average little 4 month old. But are they ever really "average" when they're your own? I think not! We think she's better than average :) Pictures coming soon...I promise.

4 Months Old

Taylor is 4 months old today and growing like a weed. She goes to the Dr. tomorrow so I'll post again with her stats. It's crazy that just 4 months ago our lives were quite different - we were a family of 2 and hadn't yet fallen in love with our sweet baby girl. I loved her from the beginning of course, but each day my love for her grows. She's not the stranger to me that she was at first. Just 4 short months ago Taylor was a tiny little 6 pounder! I can't wait to see how much she weighs and how long she is. She's getting stronger each day and sits better in the Bumbo seat. Nick was giving her a kiss as he was leaving for work this morning and she spit up on his mouth and chin! He panicked and I laughed as I scrambled to throw him a burp cloth. It had to happen sooner or later I guess and I'm sure that won't be the last time. We'll post some more pictures soon.

Bundled Up Beanie Head Baby

Here is our little bundled up baby. This was taken right before we left to run some errands tonight. We thought these were just too cute to keep to ourselves. Not much else to say.

Better late than never

We've been wanting to take these pictures for a while now and are just now getting around to it. That seems to be a theme in our lives lately.

Taylor did fine for the photoshoot. We couldn't get a smile out of her but she didn't cry either. I don't think she knew what to think.

A few days in Hammond

Last week Taylor and I (Robyn) took a road trip to Hammond to visit with Shelley and the kids. Taylor did quite well in the car, much to my surprise! Overall, it was a fun couple of days. Streed has always loved Taylor, even before her arrival, but this was the first time Ella showed any interest in her. We had to block off a safety zone for her b/c her cousins were scaring me. Ella kept wanting to sit in the Bouncy Seat. "What's the problem with that?", you may ask...Taylor was already sitting in it. They did, however, figure out how to get in there with her. So much for that idea.





















Streed pretending to take a picture of "Tay-Tay" on the camera phone; Ella in her own little world.















Happy baby girl















My Aunt Sissy loves me so much!

Baby's 1st Boo

We didn't dress Taylor up in a costume but we did put her in this cute little onesie from her Aunties Donna and Shana. We have a few ideas for another picture or two, so stay tuned!




















Whoopsie-daisies




















I think I just saw a ghost























This is the closest thing to a smile that I gave Mommy and Daddy.

My new favorite picture

This is my (Nick) new favorite picture that we have of Taylor. I love to see her smile and I think she looks adorable in that onesie.

3 Months Old!

Taylor turned 3 months old Sunday. Time flies! She is smiling and cooing alot and is getting better head control. When she's in her bouncy seat she kicks her legs and grabs/bats the giraffes on the toy bar. Sometimes she talks to them and smiles at them, which is really funny. Tummy time is still not her favorite, but she still likes bath time. Taylor continues to change and grow daily and she seems so big to us...though most people comment on how petite she is.

For Abuelo

Abuelo, I heard you love when babies wear headbands, so here I am!

The Pumpkin Patch

Mommy and Daddy took me to a Pumpkin Patch at a church in town yesterday. My Aunt Lisa, Uncle Erik, and cousin Kayleigh, along with Aunt Val and Uncle Matt came along, too. I'm not sure what the big deal was but everyone took lots of pictures of us babies. I'm pretty sure the adults had more fun than Kayleigh and me.

The Cousins

As promised, here are a few pictures of Kayleigh and Taylor. There will be more to come. How cute is the one of them holding hands?! Kayleigh tried to teach Taylor how to behave in a restaurant since it was Taylor's first time, but despite Kayleigh's good example Taylor got a bit fussy toward the end.

Settling in

Recently, I feel like I've been settling into motherhood...and it's nice. I think both of us are starting to get the hang of this parenthood stuff - not that we think we've got it all down pat, we know we'll always be learning, but I think we're feeling a little more comfortable and confident. Over the past couple of weeks Taylor has really been smiling and cooing and it is so much fun! You should watch the video if you haven't already. She's also become much better at taking naps, which makes for a more pleasant baby and Mommy. For the Women's Bible Study at church we're reading a book called "Feminine Appeal" by Carolyn Mahaney and it is SO GOOD! I highly recommend it to you women. It's based on Titus 2:3-5 and is about the seven virtues of a godly wife and mother. I've learned so much and we've only gone through three chapters. The most recent chapter was on delighting in your children and what a wonderful time for me to read it while Taylor is still a young babe. There have been moments when I definately have not delighted in her, but rather have let myself become frustrated with her. The Lord has used this book along with some wonderful women in the church to remind me that this time with Taylor as a baby will flee so quickly and to embrace it and enjoy it. And I truly have begun to do that. Yes, even those middle of the night feedings I have come to enjoy...and it's not just the lack of sleep that's causing me to write this. What a sweet God to teach me these things as a young wife and mother. On another note, some of Nick's family will be visiting this weekend and we are so looking forward to seeing them. So we'll be posting some pictures of the weekend's events. Stay tuned!

May you be sharpened

A few posts ago I mentioned a couple who had just given birth to a baby girl with Trisomy-18. She lived for 8 days. I know some of you have visited their blog and have been touched to say the least. And I know some of you chose not to in fear that it would be too much for your heart to handle. I encourage you to do so if you have not. Not so that you can be sad, but rather so that you can be encouraged, sharpened, and that your faith may be strengthened. More than likely you will cry, sob even. But no doubt you will be sharpened. The way the Lord is carrying them through this valley that is deeper and darker than I can imagine, and that they're letting Him do so is so evident. May you be sharpened! http://conorbootheandgirls.blogspot.com

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Proverbs 27:17

I'm done for!

Two Months Old!?!

Taylor turned 2 months old this past Friday! Wow! Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that we were holding her for the first time. Nick couldn't make it to her Dr. appt. Friday for her check up and shots, so Mama met me there...thank you, Mama. I was not looking forward to the shots and was pretty sure I would cry. I was right and I think I cried for longer than Taylor did. The Dr. said she looks great and is doing well! She is in the 25th% for weight and 50th% for length. Here is a recap of her measurements since birth. It's not letting me do it as a chart, but you get the idea. We'll post some new pictures soon.

WEIGHT LENGTH

BIRTH 6lb 1oz 19.5 in

1 MONTH 8lb 9oz 21.5 in

2 MONTHS 9lb 8oz 22.5 in

New Perspective

To give you a little background information, there is a couple I know of through some friends who just had a baby with Trisomy-18. It's a chromosomal abnormality and these precious babies are said to be "incompatible with life". The statistic is something like only 10% live to their first birthday. Here is a portion from a recent entry from my journal:

"What a day - it's been a doozie. Taylor wasn't a happy camper for a good part of the which caused Mommy stress. But I must say that after spending about an hour reading about Trisomy-18 and some of the posts from Boothe and Conor's blog, I have new perspective. Suddenly a crying baby doesn't seem that bad and the reality of the fragility of life sets it. It's truly amazing how life occurs and how babies are formed in the womb. Thank you God for Taylor's life. I pray for many more days and years with her. Thank you that she was born healthy. I am amazed and encouraged by the Farley's posts - their faith, honesty, insight."

I ask that you lift up Boothe and Conor to the Lord and pray for them to have peace and sweet time with Baby Copeland until God sees fit to take her home. Copeland is one week old today and at home with her parents, which is something they never expected. If you'd like to know how you can pray for them more specifically go to their blog at http://conorbootheandgirls.blogspot.com

Priceless

I was just rocking Taylor and singing "Jesus Loves Me" and she decided she should chime it. She was staring at me intently and kept making these sweet little noises every now and then like she was trying to sing with me. It was one of those priceless motherhood moments. Within the past week or two she has really started smiling alot and "talking", too. She is just too cute! And we tell her so quite often.

Sweet Sleep

Last night Taylor pretty much slept through the night. I say "pretty much" because her last feeding was at 11:00 and I didn't lay her down until a little after midnight, but she slept until 6 this morning. That's quite an accomplishment. I know it won't happen every night from here on out, but I think that shows that she's capable and that hopefully it won't be too much longer until she's pretty consistently sleeping that long. I guess when you're a big girl of 8 weeks you can do things like this.

Recent Pictures

One Time Thing

Unfortunately, the thumb sucking I referred to in the post before last was a one time thing. Must have been a fluke. There has definately NOT been any self-soothing going on in my household today. But we'll keep trying!

Bed Head

Taylor had major bed head the other day when I got her up from her nap. She was sleeping hard. This picture doesn't do it justice, but I think it's so cute!

Music to my ears

As I walked into Taylor's room at 2:45 a.m. to feed her I heard a smacking/sucking sound and this is what I saw. Yep, she found her thumb. And yes, I ran to get the camera at that razy hour. This isn't the first time she has attempted to suck her thumb/fingers, but it made me happy because this time it was not accompanied by screaming. Some may disagree with thumb-sucking and opt for a pacifier instead as "you can take away a pacifier, but not her thumb/fingers". And some may opt for nothing at all. I, however, will take anything that calms her and helps her sleep. She does use a pacifier but doesn't have control of it yet and can't put it back in her mouth when she loses it, so that makes for some frustrating times for us all. And for all you Baby Whisperer folks out there who are thinking that I should not be using a "prop" to help her sleep...oh well, desparate times call for desparate measures. In a few years I may be wishing we'd never given her the pacifier or allowed her to suck her thumb, but for now it works and now is where I live ;)

Big enough for PJ's

Now that I'm starting to get a little bigger, mama and daddy are now able to start putting me in more clothes. I'm glad that they're doing this because I was getting bored with wearing nothing but a diaper. Plus, everyone saw me naked all the time. Here are some pictures so you can see how cute I look!

One Month Old!!!

Yesterday was Taylor's 1 month birthday and it's hard to believe! She had her 1 month check-up which went very well, and we're happy to say that she is growing like a weed! At 1 month she weighs 8 lbs 9 oz and is 21.5 inches long. That's a gain of 2 lbs 8 oz and 2 inches. The last month has flown by and although it's been fun, there have been some challenging times...some very challenging times :) She seems to be learning how to sleep a little better and nurse a little better, too. But she still has some work to do in both areas. Taylor is definately more alert than she was the first couple of weeks, so that's been fun.

The Crooms Cousins

Taylor had the privilege of spending some time with her cousins Streed and Ella this weekend. Streed loves her and is so sweet to her. Ella, on the other hand, couldn't care less. I'm sure she will one day, but I think she's a little too young to be interested...or a little too busy to even notice. Streed calls her Tay-Tay and loves to kiss her on the head. What a sweet big brother he'll be to new Baby Crooms! As you can see in the last picture, my house is not baby-proof and Ella was into everything, including the office trash.

They're Baaack!!!

My feet have returned to their normal, pre-pregnancy state and I can't tell you how happy I am. The bones, tendons, and veins are visible again! They've actually been back to normal for 2 or 3 weeks now, but I'm just getting around to posting the pics. In case you're new to our blog or you've forgotten just how disgustingly swollen they were, I've posted the picture to remind you. I wish I had taken another while I was still in the hospital because, believe it or not, the swelling got worse. And it wasn't just my feet and ankles but my entire legs. I know I've said it already, but I just can't tell you how happy I am to have my old feet and ankles back. Enjoy the pics and I hope it makes you laugh!

A few recent pics