Willa Four Months Letter

Dear Willa darling,

Happy four-month birthday! You are my shining star every day.

It’s been a tough month for Mommy. The jelly inside little donuts in my spine is leaking, and it hurts a lot. I’m working full time – just like your Grandma Bunny did when I was little – and it’s very tiring right now. Plus, we all just got over the Swine Flu. The news said those little piggies would come knocking at our door, and sure enough they did.!

But there’s just no such thing as a bad day anymore, not when you, my sweet girl, start and end every day smiling at me. One night we were alone in your nursery and Mommy felt really sad and overwhelmed. I cried a little bit and you thought I was laughing, so you just beamed and beamed at me. Right there we made a pact that I can’t be sad when you’re sad, and you can’t be sad when I’m sad. So far so good, my angel!

Grandma Bunny and Grandpa Chief came to visit and helped out a lot. While they were here you made your first piece of artwork at school: a Thanksgiving turkey whose feathers are paper cutouts of your feet prints. It’s just like the one I made in elementary school – the one that Grandpa Chief still brings down from the attic and hangs in our living room every Thanksgiving. He thought your turkey was incredible!

There’s just nothing like friends and family. Little Isa and Miss Victoria invited us again to make tamales with the whole Martinez family – a holiday tradition that we’re blessed to be a part of. Cousin Colette came to visit you. Nina Laura and Uncle Josh had us all over for Turkey Dinner. And as always, Daddy has been taking great loving care of us both.

And your first Christmas is coming up fast! We have so much joy to look forward to!

Daddy and I love you!

xoxo,
Mommy

Willa Four Months Photos

Happy days!

Our family, Thanksgiving 2009.

Hanging with Uncle Josh on Turkey Day.

Grandma Bunny and Grandma Chief watching over you.

Visiting with Isa and Miss Victoria on Tamale Day.

Cuddling with Isa's Nana Paula.

Visiting with Cousin Colette Turkey Day weekend.

My funny girl!

Sweetness.

It's nearly Christmastime, darling! Have you been as good as you look?

Celebrating Daddy's birthday with some miniature fishing!

Bauble head!

Singing "Alice's Restaurant" with Mommy and Daddy.

Willa Three Months

Dear Willa,

Happy three-month birthday, my darling!

This was a big month for you. You celebrated your first Halloween, started school and took your first airplane trip.

Halloween was hilarious! You didn’t know why on earth I’d dress you up in a dragonfly costume, and you didn’t like it one bit. We went to a neighbor’s Halloween party where you promptly fell asleep. Your buddy Alex came by to teach you the art of trick-or-treating, but that threw you for a loop, too. Maybe next year will be a happier Halloween in your heart!

On your first day of school, you were so excited to meet the other babies and your teachers that you hardly slept! Daddy and I had a much harder time on your big day. He had trouble saying goodbye to you when we dropped you off in the morning, and I felt sad when I went to visit you at lunchtime. But you were content as could be and you continue to adjust well. You smile at Miss Lauren each morning, and you even made your first art project just yesterday!

Last weekend you and I flew away to Grandma Bunny and Grandpa Chief’s house because it was time to say bye-bye to your Great Grandma Tully. While she never met you, she knew all about you. In fact, one of my favorite things to do while you were in my belly was call Grandma Tully and tell her I was pregnant. Every time she was equally as excited – because she had forgotten I told her the time before! She used to always say that when your Grandma Bunny was born she was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her life. Now that you’re in this world, I know exactly what she meant.

Daddy and I love you to pieces!

Hugs,

Mommy and Daddy

All I Want for Christmas is a Happier Halloween Next Year

The day started off happily enough with me in my Halloween outfit from Granddad and Abby, then sporting my cheerful pumpkin bib...

But I really hated my costume. I said I wanted to be a FIREfly, not a dragonfly!

Mommy helped me cheer up...

My buddy Alex tried to show me the art of trick-or-treating, but that seemed to upset me, too.

Finally, Daddy helped me put on my smile again!

Willa's Adventures Abound

Tired of legal troubles, Willa fell asleep while visiting Aunt Susan and Uncle Bernard at the biggest law firm in the west - Holland & Hart.

Pretty in my blue smock.

Enjoying my born-day balloon. Aunt Laura gave me this balloon on the day I was born. Miraculously, it stayed aloft until I was three months old!

Visiting with Grandma Bunny and Grandpa Chief.

My first day of "school." Mommy and Daddy were much more nervous than I was! I especially like my teacher Miss Lauren and the neat art projects we do. One day I came home with paint all over my pants!

Reuniting with Faith, who helped me into this world. She's the best!

Loving Daddy loving me.

Buried in toys!

Hello, bright eyes!

Happy in my Bumbo seat.

Willa's Wild Life

Willa has her own TV show! It's called Willa's Wild Life. The dad even looks a little like Trevor, and the grandma is named Grandma Birdie - sort of like our Willa's Grandma Bunny. Crazy!

Sleeping soundly.

All cuddled up in Papa's arms.

Drama queen!

One of my first smiles.

All bundled up, right down to my mini Ugg boots.

Willa's first day at work! From left: Yvonne, Tara, Wendy, Willa and Aunt Laura.

Going for a stroll.

Celebrating my six-week birthday! HICCUP.

A Letter to Willa

October 9, 2009

Dear Willa,

My goodness! You’re already two months old! Happy Day, my darling!

You have such a strong personality already. Every now and again I get little glimpses of the girl you will become: fierce, a real fighter whether to sleep, wake, eat, or play; funny, always smiling and chiming in; a true friend, loyal as could be. It’s such fun watching you grow, my little buddy!

I have been amazed at what a good sleeper you are. You began sleeping through the night at just six weeks. I felt so proud of you but also a little lonely – I missed seeing you as often as I used to! The first few nights you snoozed so long your papa and I used to leap out of bed in the middle of the night just to be sure you were still alive and well. Silly us – of course you were!

The biggest event that happened this month was the arrival of your cousin Ivan. When he came home, big sister Amelie was so delighted if a bit disoriented. When Aunt Robin and Uncle Allen asked her, “Who’s this?” she remarked, “Willa!” The four are now happily acquainted and snug as bugs together.

One morning recently your kitty Big Guy meowed and you turned your head to really see him for the first time. He was a little unsure of you when you first came home from the hospital but now he’s very protective and loves you very much. He cries when you cry and sometimes watches over you as you sleep.

Your papa is especially protective. He still won’t let you go into any confined public places or be around big kids who go to school. And he insists that we sleep right next door to you in the guest bedroom at night. If he could he’d keep you safe at home right next to him till age ten! He loves you just that much!

You get cuter and cuter every day, and we love you with all of our hearts!

xoxo

Momma & Daddy