...because home doesn't happen overnight.

Per a few readers’ requests… {If you’re not into babies then you are free to skip this post.}

Mabrey turned two months old the day before we moved. That week was rough. She wasn’t sleeping and was extra fussy. I think it was all the commotion and the fact that since we were busy packing for the big move, we didn’t have a routine. I’m all for routines with babies but not schedules. Schedules just set me up for failure. Me and baby end up frustrated. So, we just play it by ear for the first few months until longer naps set in.

Mabrey is bigger than either of her brothers were at this age. At her two month checkup she weighed in at 12lbs 1oz and measured 24″. I keep telling Layne and Everett to watch out. Their little sister might not be so little for long.

Overall, I’d say that Mabrey is a cooperative baby. She’s not easy but she’s not colicky either. Layne was a very difficult infant while Everett was a breeze as a baby {not so much now}. Mabrey falls somewhere in between. She knows what she likes {nursing, talking, smiling, being held, moving around, getting swaddled, her bouncy seat, watching her brothers} and doesn’t like {her car seat, bottles, sitting still, lying flat, tummy time}. I think she likes her room. I wouldn’t call it a nursery just yet. It’s still full of boxes and her crib needs assembled. For now, she’s content to sleep in her bouncy seat – with our pediatrician’s approval.

People keep asking me if it feels different having a girl this time around. I have to say not really. At least, not yet. I prefer changing a girl’s diaper as opposed to a boy’s. And the girly clothes are fun. But I don’t see a difference in our relationship versus my relationship with my boys. Again, she’s only two months old. I am looking forward to playing with her hair in the future ;)

In addition to some gratuitous baby shots, I’ve had requests for her birth story. I’d love to share it as it was a great learning experience. Yes, I still had much to learn after giving birth twice before. So, I’ll be sharing her birth story but I’m trying to figure out when is the right time to do so. Any thoughts? Her first birthday? After the baby fog lifts? Now, while the details are somewhat fresh?

images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

56 Comments

06.June.2012

Dana, she is gorgeous! Fun to see the pics, and I’d be interested to hear her birth story, too. (Aren’t they all so different, even though it’s really the same process?) And very excited to keep watching the evolution of the UnderDog and see what you do with it!

Oh my gosh! She is such a cute little peanut! Congrats again. I vote you share the birth story while it’s still fresh in your memory. Assuming you have the time to write it all up for us. :)

06.June.2012

Mabrey’s so sweet ! And those big blue eyes and cute little mouth in the second picture … she’s a doll ! And it seems she’s lucky to be born ini such a nice family :) Take care !

06.June.2012

i say tell the story now, when its good and fresh! shes adorable.

06.June.2012

She’s a little doll.

06.June.2012

I agree…tell the story now since it’s still fresh on your mind.

06.June.2012

Awww! She’s so sweet!

I’d love to hear the birth story sooner as opposed to later, but whenever you feel like sharing.

06.June.2012

She’s gorgeous!
Share it now, while it’s still fresh and unadulterated. Selfishly, I’m due with my first in 1-2 weeks and so grateful to learn all I can before baby decides to come out!

06.June.2012

She is so beautiful! I want another baby but waiting a few years.

06.June.2012

I wrote my kids’ birth stories & typed it up for their baby books at 2 months. I read them now and I am so sad that I have forgotten so much already. I am uber-glad that I wrote them down while they were fresh. I read Libby’s to her on Mother’s Day but she’s not really into it, yet. The only response it illicit was, “I’m not ever having kids.”

She is such a little doll. I think most of us readers of your blog and more than willing to read your story. I’m still anxiously looking forward to a cost breakdown post on what you bought the house for, what you’ve put into it. My husband and I are thinking of doing the same. Sometimes it’s nice to see what something actually cost.

06.June.2012

Mabrey is stunning. Can’t wait to see the beauty she grows into. Yes, I would definitely write it up now, as soon it will be a distant memory!! I still remember my 2 birth stories but probably should have put pen to paper before 16 months. It’s one of those things, don’t put it off (if you can, and time allows of course) because you may regret it later as Oh I should have…

06.June.2012

Oh my, she is so beautiful! Makes me seriously consider a third. ;)

I would say that as long as its not a traumatic experience you are still processing then share away with the birth story.

06.June.2012

I love your blog and really love the posts about Mabrey and the boys! I agree with some of the other readers that it’s good to write it down while it’s fresh in your mind… but it would be great to see the story on her 1st birthday too! Would be interesting to see how it differs between the two times – what stands out in your memory vs. what details have faded.

Pretty Mabrey! She has your eyes. Would love to read the birth story sooner than later.

3 years on and I’m still waiting for my daughter to let me play with her hair. Hope you have luck sooner ;)

06.June.2012

A cost breakdown will be a future post. We’re still looking to get a few things completed before the breakdown so they can be included.

06.June.2012

I’d at least write it now, even if you do not share it right away. That way you can record the experience for you (!) while it’s still fresh in your mind. You can always go through and “edit” out some of the more personal or graphic or TMI elements later before posting it on the blog, depending on how challenging the birth was for you.

She’s such a little doll!

06.June.2012

Write it now. But share it whenever you’re ready. Or never, if you’re never ready. But write it while you’re still close in time to the event. You can revisit or just rewrite it altogether later if you feel like your impressions have changed. But don’t lose this version, the one in your mind right now.

06.June.2012

She is too cute…I love seeing the pictures of her! Thank you for sharing!

06.June.2012

Thank you! ;o) She is adorable!!!

06.June.2012

She is beautiful!

06.June.2012

She is PRECIOUS!! :) Thanks for sharing! You should post the birth story whenever you feel like you have time.. You are probably so busy with moving and having 3 kids, one who needs constant attention! You must be super mom.

Wow! I can’t believe she’s already 2 months! That seems so fast. She is really a beautiful baby- thanks for sharing some recent pics with us! I’m sure she’ll settle in once things calm down a bit. Hang in there!

06.June.2012

I hope you dont mind me asking this question here even though it is off topic but I am wondering if you have choosen intereior door handles?

06.June.2012

Mabrey is so cute!! I love the second picture too!

I would say share now, while it’s still fresh but I also know time is limited. It’s funny because hubby & I could recount our son’s birth story every week on the weekly anniversary of his birth, a Friday night after he was born until he was 3 months old, then we only did it on a monthly basis. It was such an amazing experience for the both of us and we didn’t want to forget a single detail!

06.June.2012

she’s so lovely. i’d say write now and post when you want to – that way details don’t get lost but you’ll have some perspective, too!

06.June.2012

now now now!

I say this because I am trying to conceive currently and love reading birth stories! ;-)

06.June.2012

She is adorable! Hope you share your birth story before August (when i’m due!), I need all the wisdom I can get!

06.June.2012

Congrats! She is so beautiful!

06.June.2012

Share it whenever you want, but write it RIGHT NOW. With each passing day the details will grow fuzzier. My son is 10 months tomorrow and I regret not having written his story sooner! I’m starting to forget stuff.

06.June.2012

I agree with April. Even the things you’re sure you’ll always remember grow fuzzy over time. She is such a doll. Have lots of pictures taken of the two of you, too. I’m always the one holding the camera and that’s the one thing I regret, that I seem to have hardly any pics of me with my boys as infants. Thanks for sharing her with us!

06.June.2012

beautiful baby girl! i think now is a great time to tell her birth story, especially while it’s still fresh in your mind. you are a great writer and story teller, so i look forward to hearing all about it!
and-the house looks amazing. i eagerly check your blog to see updates on the reno. so exciting to live vicariously through you!!!
also-whats the square footage of the Underdog? It looks big, but maybe that’s the high ceilings….

06.June.2012

~1,700 sq ft but that includes the two-car garage which isn’t livable.

06.June.2012

I know! I need to get out my tripod.

06.June.2012

The only thing we know for sure is that we want a matte black finish…knob or handle??…still pondering that one.

06.June.2012

She is so adorable – really cute – I’d love to hear the birth story. For many many years and even sometimes now, on my kids’ birthdays, I will tell them the stories of their arrival into the world. They never seem to tire of it and neither do I. Perhaps cliche to say, but it’s a miracle. I think it is really nice how you weave your children in and out of your blog. House and kids equally fun to read about

Oh I’m hoping for a girl for baby 2…whenever that will be. I love my little guy like crazy but a girl would be fun. But then she might be like me and me as a teenager? No thank you. Maybe I’ll just stick to boys and play with my friend’s girls. That sounds like a plan. She’s absolutely gorgeous! As far as writing about the birth, I had to write it down immediately otherwise I totally forgot stuff in the haze of a newborn.

06.June.2012

I always like knobs…..there is no kiddie proof cover for handles:-)

06.June.2012

Wouldn’t skip this post for anything! She is adorable. What a blessing.

I would write her birth story now, while its fresh, especially because you’re such a great writer! Love seeing glimpses of your home and family. Can’t wait to keep reading!

06.June.2012

That is one beautiful baby girl; I love her hair. My five month old is super bald so I’m a little envious. Maybe Mabrey doesn’t like lying flat and likes to sleep in her bouncy seat because she has reflux. Not all reflux-y babies spit up a lot. Our little guy has reflux and until we figured it out, he would scream in pain when laid flat. Since he’s gotten a prescription for Rinitidine life has been much better. I know it’s hard to think about pumping drugs into your infant (I certainly hated the idea), but it’s worked. It might be something to consider with her doctor. Wait! Aren’t you a pharmacist? You probably know all about it. Anyway. Just my two cents.

07.June.2012

Even if you don’t share the birth story now, write down the details that you can remember NOW! I wish that I could remember a few details about my children’s births, but I waited too long to write the stories down!

I have three boys and one girl. My girl was born last and I couldn’t tell a difference. I fed her, bathed her, changed her, held her and loved her just like I did with her brothers. She just turned 2 and I am noticing how different it is to have a girl toddler than it was to have a boy toddler. She loves to get dresses (and undressed, and dressed …) she loves to play with her dolls, loves to wera sunglasses and carry a purse! Now that she has more hair, it is diffrent to do a girls hair.

07.June.2012

It’s funny how you find it not at all different to have a girl, but for me it was such a big change. We didn’t know the sex of our daughter until she was born, and I “expected” a boy. It took me months to get over the fact that I was changing the diaper of a baby girl and not a baby boy. And now that she’s nearing a year old, we can really tell that she’s a “girl” with her chatting more than her brother did. She’s also more tuned into being social than her brother was at that age. He was more “leave me alone and let me play” type.

Children are amazing :o)

07.June.2012

She is just adorable!! Congrats momma!
Love your blog, and can’t wait to see your house progress! :)

07.June.2012

you guys make beautiful babies!! she’s beautiful :) congrats on keeping it all together

07.June.2012

She is a beauty! Thanks for sharing.

07.June.2012

I would write it down right now while details are fresh.

What a cutie patootie….:)

Glad to see the move went well. Can’t wait to see updates on the house!

07.June.2012

Her hair! I just love it! She’s really cute.

07.June.2012

Some days it definitely doesn’t feel like I’m keeping things together!!

07.June.2012

I had a dream a few nights ago that I was changing Mabrey’s diaper and she turned out to be a boy! Her being a girl had been a dream all along…then I woke up from my real dream.

I’m still taken aback when I think about having a daughter. But, so far, having a baby girl hasn’t been much different from having a baby boy. I really do think that will change as she gets older though.

07.June.2012

All my babies have been spitters so it’s very possible that Mabrey has reflux. I’ve mentioned it to her pediatrician but she is gaining weight well and is content most other times {when not on her back} so we’re both okay with waiting it out. That’s not to say I’m against giving her medicine if she needs it.

We gave Everett ranitidine. He had reflux so bad that he would reflux into his sinuses and it caused chronic ear infections. He failed all his hearing tests up until 20 months old. I still think that’s why he’s so loud now!!

07.June.2012

Good point!

07.June.2012

I write about my family and kids every now and then because they really do shape the way I think about our house. There are plenty of decor ideas that stem from my kids’ needs. Plus, I like reading other design blogs that include family life. It makes them seem more real, more genuine…at least to me. Do I want to hear about every milestone and what their kid wore on what day??? No. But a little snippet of family life is good.

07.June.2012

She is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing a teeny bit of her with the rest of us! :)
I’d probably start writing the birth story now while it’s all so fresh to make sure small details aren’t missed. But I’d post it on the first birthday as another way to honor the day.

07.June.2012

so true- not too much of one thing or the other. That is one of the really enjoyable things about your blog – how it is all working together so nicely. And so many more years to go with fun stories and alterations to fit their ages. We lived in a bungalow until my oldest was 12, then I bought and renovated a big old victorian house so they could all romp around it as adolescents. Sold it to pay for their college but it was all great timing. Oh where were blogs back then? I took an old house that hadn’t had electricity turned on in literally 20 years and was divided into this hideous triplex full of all manner of rodents, broken tvs and rotten furniture. So derelict. Sometimes I think of using the photos and doing a post as if it was happening now. What bliss that whole time was – that house was a major underdog, and pink! But it makes following your underdog renovation particularly fun because I know the absolute joy of bringing back the diamond

08.June.2012

the only problem is finding matte black. I can only find antique bronze??

08.June.2012

We had a local door company out earlier this week to give us some quotes on doors and their supplier has a matte black knob as a standard option. I guess you could always buy some knobs/handles off craigslist or ebay and paint them matte black???