Can you believe it? She is two months old! Sometimes it feels like she was born just yesterday, and other times it seems like she’s always been a part of our little family! But during these two months, many things have happened…most wonderful, some not so…but all perfect, thanks to God’s providence!
At Birmingham's Botanical Gardens...I LOVE this place!
Julip came into this world hand first- she was reaching her way out, ready to take on life! Or maybe just ready to eat! You see Julip just lost 4 measly ounces of her birth weight! She came out knowing what to do and how to do it! Born small at 6 lbs, 14 oz, she is now at 10 lbs 4 oz! This is the size her daddy was at birth! She has also grown from 19.5 inches to 24 inches long! She may be taking after the Jernigan side of the family! At this rate, it looks like she’ll join the 6 ft club one day! J
She looks like she's just hanging out!
Just LOOK at that sweet smile!
Poor baby still has the startle reflex. Funny picture though!
There have been other perks from her eating so well! Five days after she was born, her umbilical cord stump fell off, much to my relief! Her belly button has healed nicely and is so cute! Also, she has now moved on from eating every two hours to now eating about every 3-4 hours during the day! But the best part is at nighttime! In the beginning, she ate every two hours, then every three hours, but now…the record has been set at 10 hours! She has gone 10 hours twice now! I remember waking Dustin up worried that something was wrong! When we went to check on her, she was just sweetly sleeping! But this isn’t every night, of course! Her average is 5-7 hours, which is still pretty nice! I was so much sleepier during high school and college! Praise the Lord for another sleepy Jernigan! J She also regularly holds her head up! But sometimes she forgets and experiences her big head falling forward! But she’s getting stronger everyday! Funny things happen when she eats too! Julip gets the hiccups after almost every feeding during the day! Never at night though, possibly because she’s so hungry she doesn’t have time to suck any air in! But her hiccups are rather cute! It makes me call her “Hiccup” from time to time!
So, realize that hole is supposed to be in the center of her booty ha! She's twisted all around!
Silly girl knows it too! She knows she did something funny!
I love how she sleeps with her hands just relaxed and resting...
A not so perky result of her eating so well is actually rather stinky! She definitely knows how to digest too! And spit up, as well! All fun activities babies enjoy doing daily, or I should say hourly! However, she does love bathing! Everytime we put her in the tub, she just looks around and seems like she really enjoys it! We had evidence recently when we noticed her first toothless, but beautiful grin smiling back at us! What a gift!
We caught some funny faces!
Probably wanting me to stop flashing lights in her face...but she's just too cute!
Frog face?
And of course, a yawn, a big one!
Now she smiles very often! All you have to do is smile and talk to her, and as long as her tummy is relatively full and she’s dry and warm, she’ll beam a smile right back at you! It easiest to encourage a smile by touching her belly with your fingers and smiling back at her! Saying her name or “HEY” seems to work well TOO! I also noticed her smiling when I was singing to her in a very low voice! She seems to enjoy being around men with low voices and her momma singing alto! She must think it’s funny!
Justa talking!
She’s becoming more and more like a real baby everyday, whatever that’s supposed to mean ha! If you haven’t met Julip in person, you may not know how much she talks and wiggles! However, if you have spent time with her, you definitely know she likes to tell stories and dance! There is rarely a time while she’s awake that she’s quite! But, boy does she have a sweet little voice! She’s not that loud, but just very talkative! And those of you who know Dustin and me are probably thinking, “Y’all had it coming!” J
Sweet girl sucking on her hand!
She is growing into more clothes quickly, thankfully! We have finally moved from the six tiny onesies that she could only wear the first month or so! Now she has an entire wardrobe! And they’ll only get cuter as she grows! She has so many cute 3 month dresses so keep on the look out!
Growing into her "ballerina bunny" outfit and smiling at her baby friend in the mirror!
She’s still unaware of her arms and legs, which tend to wake her up if she’s not swaddled, but she has found her hands! When the pacifier, which I call a supa (my german slang), is unavailable, she sucks on the back of her hand! Not her fingers or a thumb, just the back…funny! And she switches hands! With a left handed dad and uncle, we’re curious to see which one she prefers, and she knows it! Cause she’s keeping it a secret! We also like to let her “stand” on our knees or a hard surface. She’s a strong baby girl! She loves stretching, really, she does! She stretches her arms and legs all the way out and arches her back…very cute site to see!
Speaking of German, look at our new accessory! Know what it says?
In one word, she’s content! In two, she’s beautiful and content! We can really take her anywhere! We’ve been out to eat many times, to the store weekly, to both Mimi and Bobo’s house in Birmingham and even Susu’s in Jackson! She’s seen Chattanooga already and many parks and trails! She’s been overseas in my tummy and soon may see some of the world with her own eyes! But best of all, we’re able to take her to small group and church every week! Now, it’s not like she goes through the service without a peep, but she can sleep through it and even be held by other volunteers and family members without a problem! (I actually think it’s better when I don’t hold her because she associates my smell with food…which makes her a little restless!)
In the flutters at the park! Flower child!
Grandaddy and Grandmommy spending some time with their first great grandbaby!
So as far as mom and dad are going, we are loving our new roles as parents! It is super fun and super rewarding! Thankfully, we are both pro-sleepers! Dustin is able to sleep through ANYTHING and I am able to go to sleep in seconds! And we are so grateful for these “talents” ha! So not too many of those “sleepless nights”…none, actually!
Our little Julibelle is so precious!
Dustin gets asked very frequently if she’s a “real” baby… Do people think he is into the habit of carrying baby dolls around or something? I don’t know! But it’s pretty funny that people even ask! And I get interesting looks all the time from people thinking I’m in high school…sigh! Oh well though! We’re having so much fun!
Thanks to Bobo and Mimi, we have been able to take a few dates, just the two of us! ( I think it’s a little hard leaving her! But I know she’s having fun with her wonderful grandparents who can’t get enough of her!). Julip loves to stare into her daddy’s eyes and be rescued from spending all day with mommy ha! She loves being held and is starting to recognize those repeated holders in her life! One of my favorite things she’s done so far is wake up while I was singing during church Easter Sunday, as if she knew her mommy was singing over the speakers! J How sweet!
Needless to say, we LOVE our little Julip! I call her Julibelle, her daddy calls her Juju Bug! And another nickname she gets quite often is Squeaky! (occasionally she’s called Tootie, for obvious reasons!) I so wish my eyes could take pictures so that I wouldn’t miss documenting any cute or special moment! I have no doubt in my mind that this little one will be completely loved for all of her life! And, we have great news! She’s getting baptized this weekend! J Yep, April 18th is the special day, one of the most important of her life! We cannot wait and are so happy our baby is part of the Covenant! Pictures will be coming soon!
We thought about baptizing her here...but we'll wait till this weekend haha!
Long post, but lots to say! Thanks for reading!
The end!
With much love,
The Jernigans
3 comments:
Have 2 month really flown by so quickly, sheesh!
I loved this post! You document each detail so well. I'm gad she's getting baptized, this weekend, It is a wonderful day. My unsolicited advice that you may have thought of already: If you use water from a creek make sure you heat it up first.
I looks like you guys have been very active and adventurous. Already singing a church and going on dates. way to go super mom!
My dear Vanessa! I am only surviving with lots of help from so many others! The church as a body is so helpful and serve so well...I'm learning a lot not only as a mommy but as a Christian too!
Aww those pictures are so cute! I'm one of Dustin and Eric's friends from waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day :) (I'm Jacqui M.) I just finally had to stop by and say a big congrats! me and my hubby have one little girl who's almost 19 months and she's the center of our world. She was born at 6 pounds 13 ounces and lost 8 oz after birth but I don't think she's going to ever catch up with her Daddy's genes like Julip will with her daddy :)
I wish you guys nothing but the best! Little girls are such darlings and they make life so much more fun. Just wait till Julip starts really moving around and trying to talk. You'll never need anything else for entertainment!
Oh and funny thing...our little girl's name is Lucy Michaela Emmaline. I saw you guys also picked Emmaline. It is such a beautiful name, and only for the most beautiful girls ;)
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