On Friday, Akyah & I went to my friend Dayna's house for a baby gift exchange. Akyah, Elijah, and Arturo all got gifts for each other. What a fun way for us mommy's to get together and for our children to play and share their new toys.
Akyah & I, Dayna & Elijah, Bertha & Arturo
Elijah (5 mons), Akyah (a week shy of 5 mons), Arturo (1 yr.)
This was so sweet. We placed Akyah in-between both boys for pictures and Arturo leaned over and put his arm around Akyah :o)Akyah's 1st Christmas was so much fun and truly a Blessing, I was filled with joy. She wore her "baby santa" dress, hat, and boots. We went to Christmas Eve service at Salem Alliance. Christmas day was filled with lots of presents and more importantly, time with family. Akyah and I spent a couple hours at her grammy and grandpa's house, it was also her cousin Miles' 1st Christmas. Back at our house, there were toys everywhere! Between Akyah and my brother's 3 boys, our house looked like Toys-R-Us! Akyah's big gift was an ExerSaucer, "1-2-3 Tea for Me." Here are some of my favorite pictures:
Akyah w/her great-aunt Molly
On our way to church, Christmas Eve
Santa baby
Opening presents
ExerSaucer fun
"This thing is fun mommy"
Akyah w/her grandpa & grammy
All smiles w/grandpa
Grandpa w/Akyah and cousin Karter & her baby
Me, auntie Kersten, beautiful Akyah, uncle Stephen, & cutie Karter
Miles' 1st ChristmasAkyah is beginning to discover that she has toes, that she can grab her feet, and I do believe she desires to stick those piggies in her mouth :o) *Warning: cute naked butt below...
"If only I could get them in my mouth"
"I got toes, mommy!"
Okay, okay I know I said in my last post I wasn't going to take her out but I changed my mind. This is Akyah's first snow and I couldn't miss the opportunity to get a couple shots so I bundled her up and out we went for a couple minutes. We got about 3 inches at our house Sunday night and still have quite a bit left not to mention our street looks like a skating rink so we're staying in and staying warm.
Akyah is the cutest little snow bunny I've ever seen. Although I love the snow and would love to take Akyah outside all bundled up for some pictures, this year I've kept her inside where it's warm but next year I look forward to seeing her play in the snow.
Akyah and I spent a couple hours this afternoon with my friend Dayna and her son Elijah, who was born just a week and a half before Akyah. Dayna and her fiance, David, recently bought a house so I got to see their beautiful home for the first time and the babies met and got acquainted for the first time. Dayna & I are planning on getting together once a week to "mommy talk," as I call it, and so our precious children can spend time together. Here are a few pictures:
Snuggled up in front of the Christmas tree
Sharing already... what good babies
Too cuteNo one aspires to be a single mom but that’s how it’s worked out for me, I struggled through my pregnancy because I never thought I’d be in this position but... I L-O-V-E being Akyah’s mom. Today I finished my first term at Western as a mom and it feels good. I’m more in-love with Akyah every day. At the same time, I miss my dad desperately and without Akyah I have no idea how I would deal with losing him. Words cannot express how much I love her, how beautiful she is, and how much she means to me. So much that I cannot hold the tears back at this moment as I try to find the words to describe how I feel. My wish for Akyah is that she never doubts how much she is loved and knows without a doubt she is by far the BEST thing that’s ever happened to me. God Bless the broken road that brought her to me. I've already learned so much from her, she's changed me for the better. Losing my dad and having Akyah has given me the gift of appreciation, I will never take her or any of my family for granted. I'm the luckiest mama on earth! I want to thank all of you for being apart of this incredible journey God has blessed and trusted me with. I'm excited to see what the future holds for our family of two.
Every day with my beautiful baby girl is a good day. She is the center of my world, my everything. Here's a shot from right after she was born:
Akyah had her 4 month check-up today. She weighs 12 lbs, 10 oz., remaining in the 25th percentile. She is now 24.5 in. long, jumping from the 25th to the 50th percentile (since her 2 month check-up). She, unfortunately, had to get 2 shots (+1 liquid). She cried at first but a little love from her mama and all was well again and hasn't wanted to be anywhere but in my arms since. Akyah will start having rice mixed with breast milk when she is 6 months old. The doctor recommended I go 2 weeks with not only no dairy in my diet but no soy either and see what happens with her stool- yikes! In other news...Akyah used her "Jenny-Jump-Up" for the first time yesterday, here are a few shots:
What is this thing mommy?!
She wants to roll over but not quite there yet...
4 months old to the day.
We got our Christmas tree today! Akyah's first and it is an absolutely beautiful doug fir. I'm anxious to decorate it tomorrow and put on her first ornament, holiday Tinker Bell (a gift from her great-aunt Carolyn). Here are some shots from our hunt for the perfect tree:
We found our tree!
Akyah is obviously excited about getting her 1st Christmas tree
Uncle Jason and cousins; L.J., Eric, & IanI was very concerned about how I would deal with spending Thanksgiving without my dad but yet again Akyah saves me from myself ~ spending the holidays with her I couldn't be anything less than happy. Every day with her is a good day. Wednesday night we were invited to a packed service at Salem Alliance church with the Richter's and had a wonderful time. Akyah did surprisingly well since she went to bed an hour past her bedtime. Thursday we had a delicious turkey meal at my cousin's, Keith & Teresa's, beautiful home. What a Blessing that they made special dishes for me with no dairy. Thursday evening Akyah was able to spend a few hours with some of her family from Seattle that she hadn't met yet; her uncle Adam, aunt Sara, and cousins Erin & Vivi at her grandpa and grammy's house. The fun doesn't stop there... Friday we spend the day at her grammy and grandpa's house with everyone including the Green family (Akyah's uncle Stephen, aunt Kersten, and cousins Kater & Miles). Again, we had a wonderful turkey dinner and we celebrated Erin's 11th birthday.
Here are a few of my favorite shots (from my camera), I haven't got my hands on the hundreds of photos from other cameras that haven't yet been compiled :o)
Akyah Friday night when we got home
Fast asleep in uncle Adam's arms w/big smiles from Vivi
Grandpa's girls (minus Kaleigh & Karter)
Akyah w/her grammy
Akyah & I with uncle Adam, aunt Sara, & cousins Erin & Vivi
Akyah with Don & Sherry Bell after service on Wednesday
Since the day I found out I was pregnant (12.04.07) I knew I was having a girl and I've dedicated this song to Akyah, my daughter, my EVERYTHING....
Akyah & I had a busy weekend. On Saturday I got my hair done (for the first time in a long time) and we spent the day with my friend Harriett and her youngest daughter, Faith, who is 6. Today, Akyah & I spent the day with my friend Diana and her son, Brodi, who is almost 14 months old. I've known Diana since we were about 5. We had lunch and did a little shopping in Tanasbourne. It is such a Blessing to be able to spend time with friends and especially one I've known for so long... It's amazing to look back and remember playing together as kids, having sleep-overs, and shopping in the mall as teenagers and now our children will grow up as friends.
Brodi is trying to grab her feet... 
... got em'! As you can see Akyah is ticklish
When people quit drinking alcohol they say they're on the "wagon" well, I'm on the dairy wagon (wink). I quit ALL dairy 3 weeks ago so I could continue breastfeeding and let me tell you it's harder than you'd think (no ice cream, no sour cream, no ranch, no cheese, no butter, no milk, and did I mention no ice cream?!?). Akyah had a follow-up appointment today and she is 12 lbs! Almost double her birth weight (6 lbs, 3.2 oz). The little lady still has mucus in her stool (it is slowly getting better) so I'm continuing to work with the doctor to rule other things out and thank God we've ruled out anything serious. Her next appointment is in a couple weeks when she is 4 months old. I can't believe she is almost double her birth weight, it's exciting to watch her grow but also sad to see my baby grow so fast, wish I could hit the "slow-motion" button some times.
Akyah loves to stare at her "cubby kitty" mobile above her crib. The only time she cries, when she wakes up, is in the middle of the night otherwise (99% of the time) she just stares at her mobile and baby talks. Have I mentioned how cute and good my daughter is? (wink) Well, let me tell you again... She is the BEST baby ever :o) When I'm putting clothes away and/or organizing her room, I'll lie the princess in the crib, crank the mobile 2-3 times and give her a couple toys to play with and well, these pictures say it all...
Just woke up from a nap & is happy as can be 
"Oh mommy, those kitty's are moving again"
Spoiled rotten & she knows it (and deserves it)
Here are a couple pictures from this last week:
Akyah and I were So Blessed to be given so many incredibly cute outfits for her... Everything looks cute on her regardless but it's nice to show her off in such cute clothes and play dress up... are you smitten yet?!? :o) Akyah is getting quite the personality. She has always loved her changing table but when I change her clothes she cracks up laughing, I mean she literally giggles (it is So cute). Here are a couple pictures from tonight's bath...
Maybe her fingers taste extra good with water?! 
Relaxing after her bath
"You're so funny mommy!" 