Mary Martha

...has claimed her role as "Sydney's God - Mother." And I actually couldn't approve of anything more. After spending the last 4 days with us in San Diego, I feel like Mary knows Sydney as well as I do. She is incredible with her. I can't believe what a huge help she was and how much Sydney loves her.  We had a BLAST. It meant so much to me to have her here and spend some serious quality time with us.  There are few people that I love like I love Mary Martha. She is ONE OF A KIND and I couldn't love and appreciate her more.

The Little Angel

This girl has turned into an angel. Not that she wasn't initially, but in the past few days things have really changed for us. Maybe she hasn't changed all that much, but I have. I'll be honest, motherhood was just a little bit of a surprise for me. The transition didn't come as quickly or as easily as I thought it would.  I would find myself looking around at all the people at Target who didn't have little babies with them to take care of and I was just a little envious of their care free lives. How awful is that? I only say this because I couldn't feel any more different now. I am IN LOVE. I am so in love with this little girl that it kills me. I love being her mother. I love taking care of her and knowing she needs me. What seemed like a sacrifice a week ago seems like the biggest  blessing I could ever ask for now. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have her - even when she is screaming her head off.  I couldn't be more in love with this little angel.

the little miss 3-week-old

The Beach

The weather has been AMAZING. This fall I have to admit that I was a little sad that I was missing the fall in Utah/Maryland. I always said, "I NEED SEASONS!". Turns out, I don't need winter past December 31st. I couldn't be happier that it is 75 degrees in January. We went to the beach on saturday with some friends for several hours and had a ball. Sydney was perfect. She didn't wake up once.

Sydney's first week at home

My mom came to stay with us for a week and a half. THANK HEAVEN. I would not have gotten through Sydney being in the NICU without her. She was the biggest support and help in the world. I am SO grateful for her. She's the best mom ever.

Sydney's very first outing was a trip to Costco. I guess it was a little intense for a one week old. Yes, she is actually in that stroller somewhere.

Sydney's new friend, Jonah Reese Brilliant, our next door neighbor.

Sydney Caroline Peña

Sydney was born on Monday, January 3rd at 7:21 am. She weighed 7 lbs 6 ounces and was 19 inches long. Her delivery went very well for me, but apparently not so well for Syd. Sydney wasn't able to get rid of all the amniotic fluid in her lungs before coming out, which made it very hard for her to breathe initially. They whisked her away to the nursery to put her on oxygen and take a few tests. The test results indicated infection in her little body and so the doctors admitted her to NICU and put her on a 7 day antibiotic cycle. It was really really hard to have her in there, but the nurses were incredible and she recovered completely. We are SO happy to have her home. She is such a sweet little angel. We really adore her.