Seven Months

What a month it has been for our little Lucy! She is developing quite a personality which catches me by surprise more often than not. I feel privileged to watch the miracle of a new life growing, learning and changing before my very eyes every day. It is hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she isn't staying the same. The growing, learning and changing is something we didn't get to watch Luke do. As much as I picture what he would have been like at one month, one year and now approaching closer to two years old, my visual memories of him are of the day he was born and of that same day where we had to say goodbye. He is forever immortalized as my newborn baby in my heart and mind. I have been missing him more than usual these past couple of weeks. Maybe with the upcoming holidays, or maybe because that is just how grief is. Thanksgiving does remind me of Luke though. One of the scariest days of my life was two years ago, the day before Thanksgiving, when we had an amnio to determine exactly what health issues Luke had. Then came the joyous news, on the day after Thanksgiving, that our baby would surely live! Such contrasting emotions on as complete opposite ends of the spectrum as you can get. The hope we were given on the day after Thanksgiving two years ago carried us through our first and last Christmas with Luke. I just remember Christmas morning when I was pregnant with Luke how Will and I couldn't wait until the following year when we could see Christmas through Luke's eyes. Part of me wishes that we knew that it was to be our only Christmas with Luke, and the other part of me realizes that at least we got one Christmas with Luke that was filled with innocent hope. Okay, so maybe the reason I have been missing Luke more than usual is because it's the holiday season now, and my family just doesn't feel complete without him here. But, Lucy is here now, and we are definitely looking forward to seeing Christmas through Lucy's eyes for the first time. And some day when she is old enough to understand, she will help us keep her brother's memory alive through the holiday season.

So, back to the personality that Lucy is developing! My favorite thing that Lucy learned this month is how to give hugs. She will put her hands on each side of our face and squeeze them together while pressing her face as hard as she can into ours. This is usually with her mouth open, so it is a very sloppy and wet hug but we love it! She also has become quite good at reaching for the parent she wants - usually it turns into a game, and she'll reach back and forth for Will and I until she's distracted by something else. Lucy has figured out that strangers like smiling at her, so now she will smile excitedly first when she sees a stranger in the store or at church. It breaks my heart though when some strangers either don't realize Lucy is smiling at them, or they just plain don't smile back. It makes me wonder if all humans are born with a heart so open they smile whenever they see another person and if over time, once the smile isn't returned enough times, their heart eventually loses that spark of joy as well. So sad! If only we all kept that joy into adulthood.

Lucy still has a special smile reserved just for her daddy. She loves to watch for him to come home from work. When Will is about five minutes away, we go to the couch next to the front window, and peak over the edge while we watch for Will to come home. When Will pulls in the driveway, Lucy starts smiling. Once Will gets out of the car - Lucy starts pumping her legs up and down, her little heart starts beating a mile a minute, and she starts panting in excitement. It is the cutest thing. Then her daddy walks through the door and she can hardly contain herself. Unfortunately Will can't scoop her right up because he has to wash all the germs off from school first. But then! Oh, it is priceless to watch her hug her daddy hello!

Lucy has also accomplished many things physically this past month. At the beginning of the month her left bottom front tooth popped through, and two days ago the right bottom front tooth also made it's debut. She is also sitting on her own better, and gets the biggest kick out of sitting in 'grown up' chairs by herself. Here she is in a rocking chair, smiling for the camera.

The picture below shows Lucy sitting in our new Amish-made chairs that were finally delivered from our vacation to Shipshewana this past summer.

Lucy loves to bang the keys on the piano - here she is making some beautiful noise.

Lucy has discovered tags, zippers and strings this past month. Forget the toy - she wants the tag attached to it! Here she is below playing with the tag on her doll Brenda.

Lucy started eating table food this month. Her 'gateway' food was rice cereal, and then avocado, sweet potato and bananas. Her favorite so far is definitely avocado.

Lucy tried sweet potatoes for the first time on Thanksgiving. It was great to have her at the table with us. Will and I alternated between feeding her so that we could pace ourselves with the turkey and stuffing.

Lucy is still having difficulties sleeping. We are now seeing a new doctor who we really like, and she seems to think that Lucy may have acid reflux. She referred us to a gastrologist this coming month to see if we can find a way to help our little Lucy sleep better. If you could keep us in your prayers so that we find the cause of Lucy's sleeplessness, we would really appreciate it!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!