Happy 1 Month Piper and Happy 35th Nana Dear ;-)

Today I need to blog about 2 important events in my life: Piper survived a whole month in this world and Nana Smidt has survived just a little bit longer- yet doesn't look a day over 35! :)

My sweet, beautiful baby Piper turned one month old on January 18th (Lucy turned 20 months the same day!).  So far, Piper already sleeps 4-5 hour stretches during the night, doesn't mind tummy time for the first 3-4 minutes, eats a good amount, still has blonde hair and dark skin, and her eyes are still questionable whether they will turn blue or brown.  She has the sweetest temperment ever.  She only cries when she is hungry or being changed.  She puts up with a lot of squeezes, shouts, kisses, pats, hugs, and jabs from her big Sister, Lucy.  LuLu has NOT learned to be gentle yet.   So Pipe puts up with a LOT from that little stinker.  But Lucy adores her littler Sister and loves her to pieces so it's hard to keep telling her "Stop, Lucy!"  "Be GENTLE Lucy" "Be SOFT" "Shhh, Piper is sleeping..." etc., etc. Lucy is just trying to help and have fun with Piper and doesn't understand that this baby is fragile, unlike her other dolls:)  She's is still adjusting to not getting the full amount of attention centered around her, and some days are better than others.  But as I said before, she is completely in love with Piper and never gets mad at her.  For the most part, everything is wonderful!  We try our best to show the same amount of love and attention to both girls, and we are all happily adjusting to our awesome new life!


Piper is SUPER easy and low maintenance so it really helps out with my other SUPER high-maintenance toddler :)  She has found her voice and will sometimes "shout" the cutest little birdlike shout (sounds like a little "caw" almost) to get our attention when we are in the same room as her but not looking at her.  She is learning to smile when she's happy. And even when she just can't quite get her mouth to form a smile, you can see her happiness and excitement in her eyes.  She has many expressions for being so tiny and new!
She can look at us and at moving objects now- her eyes track things- and that is fun for me!  I like to move my face above her back and forth and watch her eyes keep up with me!  She still curls her little hand around our fingers and she still scrunches her legs up to her belly and sticks her buns out when you pick her up (this is my favorite!).  She still has a big round belly.  She still looks JUST like her Daddy!  She has the sweetest baby's breath ever.  She has skin and hair as soft as silk.  She still has her peach fuzz all over her back and ears. She gets really happy when I get ready to feed her 'cause she knows whats coming.  She coos and squeals when she stretches.  She makes sweet baby noises when she's dreaming.  She sometimes lays in the dark at bedtime and just stays quiet in her bed for a long time before she finally surrenders to sleep.  Most babies cry themselves to sleep or you have to hold them until they fall asleep (ahem, Lucy, ahem!).  Not this one!  She will lay there with the lights off, knowing it's bed time, until she's ready to close her sweet eyes.
This darling princess melts my heart and has me wrapped around all 10 of her skinny little fingers.  She is truly an angel and has already brought our home more happiness than we could have ever imagined.  She is mellow and sweet and oh, so beautiful!  I know she is going to be kind-hearted, gentle, patient and SO loving as she grows.  I'm serious, when you hold her, you can just feel sweetness oozing out of her soul :)

I am SO thankful for you Piper!  You are such a wonderful addition to the Gilley family!

The Jury's out! Blue or brown??

I'd like to also write Happy Brithday to my sweet, sweet Nana Dear.  She has brought me so much happiness throughout my lifetime.  In fact, she radiates happiness wherever she goes.  Everyone who knows her is blessed by her and loves her so much.  She is the sweetest lady on the face of the planet.  I can't even tell you how many people have discussed her and said "my goal in life is to be more like Nana Smidt."  She is honored and treasured by every person who has had the honor of meeting her, and as we said our family prayers tonight we thanked Heavenly Father for putting us in her family.  We are SO blessed to have this kind, generous, benevolent lady a part of our family.
Happy Birthday Nana.  You are so beautiful inside and out!

Piper Everly

*All pictures were taken at 3 days old

If only you knew how many hours I’ve stared into your face
Envisioning your life and what you would embrace

Studying the creases in your lips budding like a rose
And the pattern of air that spills from your nose 

I’ve witnessed every elbow jab and knee jerk
Giggling to myself at your quivering smirk

If only you knew how many hours I’ve sung silently to you
Melodies leaking from a heart bleeding true

Singing of how wonderfully you were thoughtfully made
More stunning than gold, silver, ruby or jade

I seal you with my kiss as I step back and stare
A thought without you is a thought I can’t bear

Oh you are perfection my sweet, darling one
You are my delight, my treasure, my fun

Maybe someday when you’re older you’ll see
Just how much you really mean to me

Now, my daughter, as I rock you to sleep this eve
Remember that these are my thoughts of you to receive

 

This lollipop is how we bribed Lucy to take a few pictures...and she still didn't want to cooperate :) At least I managed to get a couple of cute ones!

Piper, you are my treasure.  I love you so much- you're Mommy's sweet blessing.

Hello, Ninny

Dear Ninny,
It's Lucy and Piper here, and we just wanted to write you a thank-you letter!  We are SO glad that you came and visited us for 9 whole days!  That was so much fun!  Yes, we were stuck inside almost every day, and yes, it was freeeeeeezing outside and chaotic inside, but we still had a blast with you in our home.
We want to thank you for holding us a lot- a whole lot.  Lucy loved getting to play with you while Mom fed Piper, and Mom was so thankful that Lucy had someone to play with so that she wouldn't feel left out.  Piper loved being snuggled by you under the heating blanket every single day.  It was cold inside too!  Although there were lots of laughs through-out the week (Lucy is one silly girl) there were also more tender moments shared between the three of us that we couldn't have loved more.  Whenever Ninny comes, love is felt throughout our home so strongly.  And that is a big blessing.
Our Mom wants to thank you for buying lots of groceries and cooking dinner for her so she could actually relax!  Our Dad wants to thank you for making New Year's Eve fun by buying football food for his game.  Lucy wants to thank you for her deluxe fur coat and other little goodies, and Piper wants to thank you for her new preemie onesies, even though she is almost 3 weeks old.  Mommy says she is SO thankful that you were here to cook, clean, and help out during our errands we all ran together.  She would have gone nuts without you.
Lucy wants to say that she is so sad that you aren't here anymore in the mornings to snuggle with.  Snuggling is one of the things Lucy does best and she woke up crying this morning when she realized the other side of her bed was empty :'(
We are so happy that you came and sacrificed all of your time to be with us and spoil us rotten.  You chose to give Piper a New Year's kiss instead of Papa, and sit on the couch in an LSU fan's house during the Duck's Bowl game instead of attending a football party with your fellow Duck friends.  Those are 2 pretty big sacrifices you made for your 2 grand daughters!  And we are so glad you did.
Thank you for doing Lucy's hair everyday and for playing for hours with her each day.  Thank you for babysitting the girls while Mommy and Daddy went on a couple of FUN dates....they REALLY needed to get out and spend time together-alone! Thank you for helping out with Piper's very first bath!  That is so cool that you got to be here for the cord falling off and the bath, and then to see her silver hair afterwards :)
Thank you for helping take some pictures of her in the fancy bib and booties from Grammy- Piper was not cooperating and it was nice to have some help :)
Thank you for loving us unconditionally and for being you.  We miss you SO much already.  Colorado is just too far away from you and it's sad to not be with you daily.  Please come back and play again soon.  We love you as big as the beach!
All Our Love,
Lucy and Piper

P.S. I know you will miss this face!  This is Lucy shouting "I LOVE YOU NINNY!"