I'm so excited. In a few weeks, this work of art is coming to live at my house IN CANVAS! Also if you scroll over on the top using the arrow on the right, you will see a different collage of her in black and white. We're getting that one on foam board. I am SO EXCITED! (Incidentally, the cute one of the two girls walking on the beach is my nieces).

Okay, since I am a true believer of "jinxing" things... I have yet to mention that for a couple of weeks now my child screams like she's having her toenails ripped off for about 16 hours a day. I thought maybe if I neglected to say the word out loud, thinking that maybe if I didn't, it wouldn't become real. Yesterday it was confirmed. Rylee has colic. It is the most frusterating thing in the world and I'd be lying if I said I haven't referred to her as the seed of satan. Twice. I thought I was in the clear a couple of weeks after coming home when she hadn't seemed to be a very fussy baby. In this case I was jinxed by mere thought alone. That being said... I'm very open to any suggestions on how to keep this child's belly quiet and keep my sanity. Thanks. :)

5 weeks new

I can't believe that Rylee is already 5 weeks old! Where has the time gone? The last month has been a total blur. Christmas seems like years ago. I'M SO EXHAUSTED!! The little peanut has horrible gas that keeps her from falling back asleep after her 2:30 a.m. feedings. Which therefore keeps me from falling asleep after her 2:30 a.m. feedings. She's been smiling for over a week now and yesterday she smiled A LOT!! It was the best thing I'd ever seen. It maybe even made up for the 3 straight hours that she cried last night. Maybe.

The rate at which this child is growing is out of control. She already weighs over 9 pounds! What happened to the 6 pound peanut that I brought home from the hospital? I think all of these women who gave birth to 9+ pound children are mystical saintly creatures whose pictures should be placed in a museum for all to see. It's been determined that she gets her red hair from Shawn's bumpa and she certainly gets her temper from her daddy. She wants to eat ALL THE TIME, which she clearly gets from her mama. No matter how long she has been sleeping (even if it's only been 8 minutes) she thinks she's STARVING when she wakes up. And if you try to trick her with the pacifier instead, she will grunt this adorable "Mrmm! Mrmm! Mrmm!" in a very angry tone. She has recently come down with a horrible case of baby acne which I am praying will go away very soon. When she cries the bottom sides of her cheeks puff out and it looks like she just had her wisdom teeth out. I look forward to her cry just so I can see it. Her hands are huge and her feet are ginormous. She has outgrown most of her socks even though they claim to fit "up to 6 months". She gets excited when she sees Manny; although not as excited as he gets when he sees her. She's so much person in such a little body. I love every inch.

Soooo...... very exciting...... her newborn photos are up and posted for all to see. They have actually been up for a week now but I have been so beyond exhausted that I couldn't find the time to post the link. She already looks so different than she did in these photos - which were taken when she was 13 days old. I am IN LOVE with the new "custom creations" they have done - a beautiful collage featuring our maternity photo and 4 pictures of Rylee. I cried when I saw it. They are such talented photographers and I am SO GLAD that I had these photos done. JUST INCREDIBLE.

To view them:
www.demersphotography.com
recent photo sessions
print room lab
rylee's newborn session
enter password: manny (all lower case)

To view the awesome photo collages (there are two - use the arrow to scroll over)
www.demersphotography.com
portfolio
custom creations

I hope you'll all tell me your favorites! I ordered just about all of them in a 4 x 6 for her scrapbook but had a hard time choosing 5 x 7's and 8 x 10's for frames. I love them all!!

Baby Bliss...

I know... I know... I am a total posting slacker. I tell you all every intimate detail of my pregnancy and then leave you hanging when the sweet girl arrives. So finally... here are some recent pictures. ;)

Rylee is the love of my life. I don't know what I ever did without her. Oh yes... that's right... I slept. I was supposed to go back to work last Monday but luckily I was able to take an extra week. I am so NOT ready to go back on Monday but unfortunately, I have to.

Amazingly, when I checked my weight 8 days postpardum I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight. It occured to me that since I was back in my old jeans I might be back to my old weight. So not what I was expecting!! Then again, eating does not always happen these days. I haven't managed to eat lunch before 3 pm, brushing my teeth never comes before noon and showering... well... let's just say I'm wearing the same clothes I wore on Sunday. Hrmm.

We had Rylee's newborn photos taken last week by the same fabulous photographers who did my maternity photos. I cannot wait to see the proofs and I will let you all know when they are up and ready to view. Of course if you're impatient like myself you can always go to their site and check in periodically to see if they are there. Same password: Manny. Speaking of Mr. Manny... he is doing great adjusting to life with his baby sister. He is very jealous when daddy holds her and wants nothing more than to kiss her 24/7 but other than that, he is really great. We are VERY relieved.

Rylee had her first sleepover already! She went to stay with her auntie last Saturday night. I wasn't quite ready to part with her but Shawn insisted in the name of sleep and sanity. Luckily she didn't pick her up until around 8 pm and I went to get her at noon the next day so it wasn't a terribly long time to be apart. I missed her every squeak, smile and cry.

Okay, I must apologize for not keeping up on anyone's site - or my own. I will get better very soon... promise!! Until then, hope you're all doing well!! :)