laci turns two

It's 11:00 am, Ryan and I are driving back down to Sacramento to check on our baby girl. It was nice to take a little break from the hospital, but I missed Mia and I'm sure she already looks different than when I saw her two days ago. I left Laci with strict instructions to stop learning new words and to stop growing up, just until we can all be back together. It shouldn't be much longer, so I don't think I'm asking too much.

Today is Laci's second birthday. It's a very low-key birthday for my girl, no cake, no candles, no party...but we did get a special pancake breakfast from Grammy this morning.  And besides, I'm sure she doesn't mind the lack of formal festivities. We spent the last two days playing and hugging, with Laci intermittently testing her boundaries with Ryan and me. We colored, watched movies (her favorite Tangled, and her new favorite Charlotte's Web), snuggled in bed, wrestled on the couch cushions, picked apples, and played with the dog and kitties. She spent most of the two days in her new Ariel nightgown, her preferred clothing of the moment, changing out of it only for bathtime or to put on her swimsuit. I think we will be stocking up on Ariel nightgowns so that we can cycle them through the washer now and then. Thankfully, her bladder symptoms subsided on their own yesterday morning, nothing a little extreme hydration couldn't cure.

We gave Laci her present a little early last night. Turns out, it's a big hit. She can't quite reach the pedals, but she'll grow into it soon enough. And for now, she's more than happy to "let" us push her around the yard. Ryan tried to put wooden blocks on the pedals so she could reach them easier, but she flipped out and cried until we took them off. She's a little picky like that...gets it from her mama.

We hugged tight before we left. I told her mommy and daddy have to go back to the hospital to help make Mia better so we can all be together soon. She's a smart little girl, I think she gets it. She may not understand the details, but she knows we need to go. I know she was sad because her mood changed as soon as Ryan started loading things into the truck, but she didn't throw a fit or cry...it makes leaving her a little less difficult.

 

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As for little Mia, she is doing well according to the reports from the nurses yesterday. Her feedings were at 25 mL last night and she is tolerating it well, so we are expecting another increase to 30 mL today (55 mL is considered a full feeding for an infant her size). In an hour or so, we'll get to see her in person, feed and diaper her, and play parents to our newborn. I'll click my camera at her a dozen times, to make up for no picture taking yesterday, and we'll keep chugging along at this game until we get to the end.