January 2009

We rang in the New Year in ABQ with Pam and Jerry. It was Mia's first time on a plane and Kelsey was the proud licensed pilot. We toted Mia around in her baby bjorn to shops and restaurants the whole weekend. She did great! The second week, Tricia finally made her way to Canyon. I gave her the grand tour of our small town and Palo Duro Canyon. We got a little shopping in and a lot of visiting. It was wonderful to see her. The third weekend, we went to Ruidoso with the Reagan's and the Snelgrooes. Strangely enough, we had warm weather which was great for all the walking around we did. Kelsey became a golfer that weekend- playing two days in a row. I got kicked off the casino floor one night with Mia in the bjorn looking for Kelsey. It was so embarrassing and I felt like a horrible parent! I spent one week at home just enjoying my little girl and then it was time to return to school. Mia started going to her sitters and made friends quickly.

The First Month

Mia's first month was full of firsts. First baths, diaper changes, feedings, sights and sounds, and lots of new people. Kelsey and I were lucky enough to introduce her to almost all of our family around the Christmas holiday. My sister made three visits in December and helped out a lot-especially with all of my baby questions. My mother in law, Pam, decorated my whole house for Christmas and helped a bunch with the cooking and cleaning that I had no desire to do. Mia did what all the books predicted- eat, sleep, and poop. It was not that exciting, but the newness of it all was enough to keep me going and made me look forward to each new day with her in our life.

First Family Picture!

I'll never forget Kelsey bringing Mia to me for the first time. The feeling was very surreal and not what I expected. I couldn't believe that the labor I had been fearing for months was behind me and everything was OK. She was "perfect"!

Hello Mia Kelly!

Three days after my last blog, my daughter Mia made her grand entrance into the world on Thanksgiving Day. I woke up that morning and told Kelsey that "today would be the perfect day to have this baby because I have nothing to do." She must have heard me. My water broke after lunch while I was watching "A Baby Story" on TLC. I called my nurse and Kelsey, took a shower, and we were off to the hospital. Several hours later our lives changed forever. I would rate my experience a 10-pregnancy and delivery. Welcome Mia Kelly Monk :)