SLEEP!

It is now day four of recovery from gallbladder surgery and all I want to do is SLEEP! I am so tired and have taken every opportunity to catch some zzz's as possible. Yesterday I was blessed to have Bethany take two very great naps at 2 to 2 1/2 hours each which allowed me to get some much needed rest. I didn't think I would be so tired and sleepy from it all. I went to bed at 8 pm last night and aside from getting up once or twice to get a drink, I slept until Bethany awoke early this morning. I have already had one nap this morning and plan for another one here really soon. I am still very sore where my four incisions are on my tummy but they are healing nicely . . . I just want SLEEP! Maybe one day this week I will actually get some things on my to do list accomplished - for now, I go to bed.

Look Who's Talking

It's not much but it was the best we could get Bethany to do for her camera performance. She coos and talks to us all the time now but as soon as I get the camera out she is all shy about it for some reason. She was really giving us a lot of sounds ~ she had a lot to say but I could only get a little of it on tape. Oh well . . . I have attempted to capture this moment on camera for over a week now with no luck. This morning was fun . . . this 3 month old has a mind of her own - Who knew?!?!

Remembering

This morning I was remembering that it has been two years ago exactly this week that Ryan and I started chatting online and talking on the phone. I was home recovering from my crazy ordeal with my MRSA staph infection and knee surgery so I had a lot of time on my hands to talk to him . . . sometimes for up to 4 or 5 hours a night! My dad affectionately nicknamed me "yap-yap & tap-tap" during that time because I spent so many hours on the phone and comupter. What else was I susposed to do?!?! I actually called him for the first time after we'd exchanged numbers. He was at his grandma's house. We talked two different times that night . . . Anyway, we didn't officially meet in person until April 1st when he came to Dallas but it is amazing to me how much has happened and how wonderfully my life has changed in just two little years! I am truly blessed and count myself as one of the luckiest girls in the world. I know that - no doubt about it! I have an amazing, loving husband and the sweetest, most beautiful baby girl anyone could ask for. It all came about from two years ago, Feb. 2006 when Ryan and I took a leap of faith and set out to make a difference in our lives!

Politics

Politics - and I don't mean the current presidential campaign. I am talking good old fashion Las Vegas politics here . . . the real deal. We attended a kick-off party tonight for Ryan's cousin (M. Leavitt) for re-election to District Court Judge here in LV. It was my real first experience with anything like it before. We had Judge this & Judge that & Judge so-and-so come over to introduce themselves and see our baby girl. One older gentleman Judge came over and he said quote "You better hide that baby because there are so many politicians in the room and they are all going to come over and kiss her." And they did - again and again. I had never seen anything quite like it. It was so much fun to see all handshaking and elbowrubbing going on between the men and women of the judicial system of Las Vegas, Nevada. It was enthralling - seriously. I just sat back and Judge-watched as a wide eyed nonattorney, nonjudge, nonpolitician gal. One of the most intersting and exciting parts of the evening was when Ryan pointed out one of the men in attendance as being an attorney who survived during the mob days of Vegas. I think the man had actually been a victim of an attempted car bombing back in the day and came out unscathed. It sounded like something right out of the movie "Casino" with Robert DeNiro and Sharron Stone. Crazy! Anyway, we are helping out the campaign by putting up a sign in our yard. Anything we can do to help! What a fun night. Bethany was an angel through it all. Moral of this story - if I ever want help from a judge here in Vegas, just bring my baby along . . . she is now officially a judge-charmer!

One Of Those Fashion Don'ts

Yesterday I went to the hospital to pick up my paperwork for surgery and register. The nice lady said it was going to take an hour or more to get all my paperwork completed and get my labs done so I opted to go again first thing this morning instead to head off the rush of sicklings waiting to register as well. I fed Bethany, changed her, put my clothes on and headed out the door by 8:25 am. The wait was again more than an hour long . . . more like two and half hours from start to finish for the whole "registration/lab" process. UGH! After signing on the X that I knew the risks of surgery & could potentially die, I was patiently waiting to get my blood drawn when I discovered something REALLY embarssing. In my rush to get the baby and myself out the door I had brainlessly put my pants on inside-out! As I looked down in horror I could see the very large inseam and hem of my pants blinking brightly like of our Vegas signs! I had been walking around like that for two hours and not one person ever noticed. Even the nice retired couple that sat next to me and ooohed and awed over Bethany for the better part of 45 minutes failed to point out my fashion blunder. If I had seen someone with their pants on inside-out I would surely mention it to them, maybe. Right then as luck would have it was time for me to pee in a cup! I was never so glad to get to that restroom so I could change my pants back to the way I should have had them in the first place. What more can I say . . . it must be true afterall . . . you lose braincells when you have children.

Surgery Day

I can't remember when I was looking forward to something more fun than another surgery ~ ugh! Can you sense the sarcasm? Yes, well my gallbladder surgery is finally going to be this Friday on the 22nd. Wish me luck because if any of you know how I've done with all my past surgeries then you know I need as much luck as possible ~ blach!

A Few Little Things

Bethany was 12 weeks old this past Saturday and has begun to hit some of her 3 month milestones. As you can see from the picture she has finally learned how to hold her toys! Very exciting! That will be another story when she actually learns how to play with them.

Bethany has also started to stretch her nights out longer and longer. Unforfuntately there's not any complete sleeping through the night yet, but she will go from around 11:00/11:30 pm all the way until 5:00 am & twice this past week she slept until about 6:00 am! That was a happy day! We are working on it . . . I can't wait to get my sleep back to a full nights rest. Soon, very soon . . .

Let's see, hummm . . . Oh & Bethany is also playing with us. We sit her on her changing table or on our bed and she will talk and coo to us for a while. It is so cute and she smiles those big precious smiles . . . it is so fun to play with her! Life couldn't be any better . . . we are having a blast in the Leavitt house.

Lots of XOXOXO's to You

Happy Valentine's Day

Bethany wanted to wish everyone all her love, smiles, kisses, hugs and coos.

Jennifer's Las Vegas Vacation

It was so wondeful to have one of my dearest friends, Jen Dill, visit us out here in Vegas for a few days. We had so many laughs, late nights, great conversation & silly girl time. It was a much needed boost for me because I miss all of my Texas girlfriends terribly, especially her! We took her to see some of the casino-hotels on the "Strip" as well as some local favorite eating and relaxing hot-spots. She also got a great view of the Las Vegas temple on her last day. Jen got to know baby Bethany pretty well over her five day stay and they became fast friends. We can't wait to see her again on our trip to Dallas in March.

Happy Birthday Daddy Ryan

Last Sunday was Ryan's 34th birthday! We had a great family dinner/party and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day. Ryan is determined that Bethany become as big of a Red Sox fan as he is. I think that may have been his actual birthday wish. He personally requested that she be dressed in her Red Sox onesie for the occasion. My dear friend Jennifer Dill was in town visiting from Dallas over the weekend as well (that update is in another blog). We couldn't have asked for a greater weekend!

In honor of his birthday here are some adjectives that I think describe my wonderful husband Ryan the best: familyman, spiritual, hardworker, spaghettieater, committed, guitarplayer, fantasticdad, witty, dependable, thoughtful, forgiving, comicbooklover, conferencelistener, amazingartist, #1RedSoxFan, patient, smilemaker, diligent, memorymaker, Bethanydoter, MyHero!

We are looking forward to the coming weeks and months ahead for all that awaits us. It is really exciting to watch Bethany learn and grow and develop her little personality. The next thing on my list of things to do this week is plan our Texas trip for mid-March. We plan on doing the rounds from Houston to Vidor to Kilgore to Dallas . . . hopefully we'll see as many friends and family as we can squeeze in!

It's Bumbo Time

The Bumbo . . . we have been trying it out a few times this week (thanks Aunt Angie!) and Bethany seems to like it ok. Apparently this sitting apparatus was recalled last fall because some brainless mom was putting it on top of a table and the babies were falling off. Hello! Of course you can't put a baby in one on top of a table (those silly moms should be recalled if you ask me) . . . they go on the floor as you can see and we like it just fine! The Dulce doggie likes it too.

And Action . . .

Here is my attempt at uploading a video onto our blog. Let me know what you think! Just push play (maybe push it twice) . . . I promise it works. At least I think it does . . . hmmm?

Randomness ~ To Sum It Up

Just thought I would share some of the "daily grind" I put myself through just for fun over the past few days.

* Carefully put my hand down the disposal to retrieve a plastic baby bottle cap that had mistakenly dove to its' death.

* Went on a search and resue for my garbage cans that had been carried away by strong winds. I found them four houses down. Whew!

* Watched just about every episode of The Rachel Ray show but never seem to cook any of her reciepes. I need to start cooking them - Yum-O!

* Decided to turn my creative hobby into my own business and be my own boss. I LOVE TO STAMP! (that is not the name of the business, it just gives you an idea of what it may be!)

* Enjoyed every minute of time playing with my baby girl ~ she is so much fun. What a cute toot!

* Wasted what seemed like hours day dreaming of a new home in Texas! I can't wait to make it a reality!

* Spent way to much time on the computer. Case in point!

Weekend Fly-By

What a wonderful weekend! Grandpa and Grandma Leavitt surprised us from Colorado on Friday night with a call that they were coming to LV for a quick visit. It was such a treat to have them here even though it was over in under 48 hours. They just can't get enough of their baby granddaughter! We definately didn't mind . . . drop-ins and fly-bys are welcome anytime. :-) We were also able to visit with Bethany's great-grandmother (Ryan's grandma) here in Henderson a few times over the weekend. We are definately blessed with a wondeful and loving family. Come back soon . . . we miss you already!

Pacifier Success!

Seriously, I am SO happy that Miss Bethany has finally taken to her pacifier. She is approaching 11 weeks old and only days ago has begun to take one for comfort or to keep quiet. We have tried mulitple times to get her to like one and our efforts have finally paid off. I will probably regret this later when I attempt to ween her from it in her toddler months but for now her paci can be her best friend - no worries!

The other funny thing about her lately is her balled up hands. This is her pose for just about every picture taken lately . . . tight fists! There is a cute picture of her with her Grandma that looks like she is punching her face with her little fist. She already has her "right hook" down pretty well. Random fact ~ balled up fists are actually part of the developmetal milestone of a 3 month old. Who knew something like that could be so importatnt?