<3 <3 <3

I am feeling extremely emotional today and have a burning desire to write out my feelings, but I am unsure if I will be able to find the right words to do it all justice....

The past few days, Leah seems to be growing before my eyes! She has become so smiley and happy lately that I now understand how people say that their kids smiles melt their hearts. Every time Leah gives me that big gummy grin I feel this huge "AWWWWW" inside. I just keep thinking about how absolutely perfect she is! She is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, big and healthy, always happy (unless you are slow to get her a bottle), extra cuddly... just PERFECT! I feel so unbelievably blessed to have such an amazing little girl! I know everyday I will continue to fall more and more in love with her!

I am also realizing that as much as I am falling more in love with Leah, and I am also falling more and more in love with Brian! I cant believe our love that we have for each other could create this perfect little thing. I feel more connected to him than I ever have. I love knowing that me and him, together, have this amazing challenge to give Leah the best life possible.

Its funny how I no longer feel like two beings... a husband and wife... we both had jobs, we shared money, we lived in the same house and slept in the same bed.... but now, with Leah, we really are a FAMILY! Marriage never seemed to really change anything... it felt alot like dating... but having a child really does change EVERYTHING!

Deciding to get pregnant and start our family I think was the best decision we could have ever made! I could not imagine anything making me more happy than I am right now!

Leah's perfect, Brian's perfect, Life is perfect! :)

Happy girl!

:)

I LOVE her! That's pretty much all there is to say!

But on a sad note.... I put her in a 0-3 month sleeper/onesie today... she is compeletely filling it out length wise! I opened her 3-6 month drawer to see what the measurements for that size was... yup... 23-27 inches... my baby girl, at 5 weeks and 3 days old is moving into 3-6 month clothing!! :(

Merry christmas!

Leahs first xmas was great! I couldn't ask for it to be any better... here she is playing with her new activity mat from grandma and grandpa gilmore while we get ready for bed. 

Ill update more later! 

1 month check up

Leahs is doing GREAT and is a healthy big girl!

Here are the stats:

10 lb 10 oz - 85th percentile

23 inches long - over 95th percentile

Head measurement... I cant remember the #, but its 50th percentile.... No Kozlen head here...

She showed the doctor all of her tricks too... holding up her head and standing on her feet when held... the doctor agreed... shes amazing! Ok... maybe she just said "Thats great!"

I am changing her formula though to a more sensitive one... she definitely has a problem with burping and hopefully this helps... its nothing major... no massive reflux problems where she spits up (she actually only spits up maybe once a week and usually on me) but want to make feeding a little easier on her... Right now she just drinks and drinks and drinks and gets HUGE burps built up that she gets really fussy until they come out... which takes a while! So she has had a few feedings with the new stuff... I havent noticed too big of a difference, but we will be patient...

She goes back jan 19th for her 2 month check up... and shots!!! eeks!

2010

My amazing brother wrote on his blog http://s-koz.blogspot.com/ (I dont know how to do the cool linking!) about resolutions and what he wants to accomplish in 2010.

It made me think some about what I am hoping for in 2010.... I have alot the more I think about it!

Here is my list... lets see if I can check them all off as the year goes on...

1. Learn to live stress free with a baby. I want to be able to do it all and not feel overwhelmed... I want to get into a comfortable routine as a working mom, so that I am not tired, stressed, or scatter-brained! I know it will be hard, and it will take a while, but hopefully by the end of the year, things will atleast start to get easier.
2. Begin working as an actuary. I HOPE this one will get crossed off quickly, and I get my new position when I return to work next month (oh, so sad... next month! :( )
3. Pass 2 exams... whether is MFE that I have to take again, and MLC...or MLC and exam 4 (I cant remember what exam 4 is!)
4. Take my lunch to work more often... and make Brian as well.
5. Start saving more money for my next car... this will be difficult with all the next expenses of a baby... but hopefully my #2 will help this!.. and #4. ha
6. Lose the rest of my baby weight! 18 lbs.. blah! .... preferably by Jan 25th, so that I fit into all of my work clothes and dont have to buy new ones!
7. Take more weekend trips... especially to KC to visit my brother and Sarah... and the new WATERPARK!!! I cant wait!!!
8. Monthly dates for Brian and I so that we can make sure our marriage can stay happy and healthy after a baby.... plus it gives grandparents a chance to babysit!

And I cant think of any more... but I think thats a good start!

By the way.. HOLY COW its 2010!!! I think the last 10 years have been the most life changing! I dont think and decade will include as many extreme life changes as these last 10 has. Life changing things that happened in the last 10 years:

1. Began driving
2. Graduated high school
3. Went away to college
4. Met my future husband
5. Turned 21
6. Graduated from college
7. Got my first real job
8. Got engaged
9. Got married
10. Got pregnant
11. Became a mother

What will the next 10 hold? New job, more kids, moving to Fenton :)....

busy busy busy!

This week will be Leah's busiest week of her life... so far!

It sort of exhausts me thinking about it....

Sunday: Heading to Grandma and Grandpa Gilmores so that mommy and daddy can enjoy some alone time and finally see New Moon! Then enjoying Grandpa Gilmores birthday dinner.

Monday: Leah's 1 month check up! Can you guess how much she has grown? Daddy thinks I will be 9 lb 15 oz and 24 inches long... Mommy thinks I will be 10 lbs 6 oz and 22 and 3/4 inches long. Then we will be heading to Mommy's work to meet her friends and finally visiting Grandma and Grandpa Kozlen while Mommy goes to her postpartum appointment.

Tuesday: Visiting Grandpa Gilmore's old workplace to meet his friends.

Wednesday: Cleaning the house with Grandpa Gilmore and then heading to Fenton for a girl's night with Mommy's high school friends.

Thursday: Its Christmas Eve and we will be hanging out with Uncle Steve and Aunt Sarah since we rarely get to see them!

Friday: Its Christmas!! And all of our family is coming over to our house to celebrate!

Sometime within this week, Leah needs to sleep enough so that I can get all of my cooking/baking done for Christmas day!

Let hope its a good week!!