So Leah managed to break both of our hearts this week, in her own tiny and endearing way. The other day, Mandy was cradling Leah in her arms and she started trying to nurse, making little smacking noises and nibbling on Mandy’s shirt. It was simultaneously the sweetest and saddest thing she’s done. Then yesterday morning, the surgical residents came in to put the silver nitrate on the granulation tissue forming around Leah’s Mini button. I went to stand by her, and she opened her eyes and smiled up at me a couple of times in that twitchy way that she smiles. She was so sweet and snuggly and it was so sad because I knew in a few seconds she would be screaming. I got up to stand with her this morning as well, when they drew blood. This poor kid is going to start thinking every time she sees me standing at her bed something horrible is going to happen!

BabyBug had lots of visitors this weekend. Thursday morning I went to Rosh Hashanah services, and in the afternoon, cousin Natalie brought cousin Jenna for a visit. Friday, Leah got to meet her Great-Uncle Ricky and Great-Auntie Heather for the very first time! We had a fabulous visit! Saturday, Gran and Uncle Bryan both came to visit, and Uncle Bryan took us all out for lunch. Thanks, Uncle Bryan! On Sunday, Great-Uncle Ricky and Great-Auntie Heather came back for another visit along with Grandpa Bill (Leah must have been so confused – Grandpa Bill and Great-Uncle Ricky look so much alike they could be twins!). A little bit later in the morning, cousin Zachary and Aunti Staci came to visit, and we had a cousin party. Good times.

Today, LeahBug started off her day with labs (she starts off every week with a case of the Mondays!). Another week, another blood draw! Later in the morning, Mama went home for a bit, but first she ran amok in Babies R Us with Leah’s Gran (WAIT until you see the dress Gran got for her!!). Later in the afternoon, Uncle Ralph took me back to the hospital and stayed to visit for a bit before skipping off to the Dodgers came with Grandpa Bill. We also had a nice visit from one of my old classmates from law school.

I probably should have led with this, but we have a surgery date for Leah: November 1. They were going to schedule it on October 31 (I guess they really meant END of October!) but the doctor will be away that day. I guess this means Leah will be conscious for her first Halloween after all. 🙂 But she definitely won’t be home by Thanksgiving!!! That would have made a really nice Chanukah present.

Have you ever seen such a sweet, thoughtful, and just generally awesome quilt? It’s from our friends Kyra and Mike and their son Avi. Thank you, guys!!! Can’t wait to start using it for tummy time!!

“This is sooooo humiliating! I’m toooootally not an 80’s girl! Uuuuuugh! Get it off of meeee!”

“Okay, this is much better. Mommy made a pretty dress!”

“Yeah, I’m wearing a crocheted dress that my Mommy made. You got somethin’ to say about it?”

Pretty girl

Great-Uncle Ricky! “Um, hi, did anyone ever tell you that you look like my Grandpa Bill?”

Auntie Heather

All together now!

Chillin’ with Mommy

Empress Baby on her throne

A Valley Girl moment

“OH HAI MOMMIES! I’M CUTE!”

Sweet BabyBug

“Um, ‘scuse me, but your fingers are kinda huge.”

I think what makes baby yawns so awesomely awesome is that they do NOT hold back. We grown-ups try to stifle our yawns, but babies just let it all out.

“Oh yeah. I’m wearing the cutest outfit on the planet. NBD.”

Even in socks, baby feets are the best feets.

Mommy and PreppyBug

“You think I’m adorable? Oh, stop. No, go on. Stop. Go on.”

Practicing her “Mean Girls” look.

“Oh, hai! You look kinda like my Mommy… but bigger… and hairier… and taller… and you don’t smell like milk. Also, no boobies.”

“I’m booooored, Uncle Bryan! Tell me a stooooory.”

“Cheeeeeeeeese!”

FaceTime with Grandpa Mannie!

“The red bunny was tastier but I guess dots are okay.”

Our little family!

Snugglage

Our little family again!

What a ham!!!

Upside-down adorability

Precious BabyBug

Elvis Valerie. “Thank you, thank you very much.”

Sweet SleepyBug

I love this smooshy face

Grandpa Bill in his Dodgers jersey.

Cuteness

Leah’s favorite Aunti Staci

Zach-thumb and Leah-foot on June 10 and again on September 7. I have a photo of me holding Leah’s little footsie and I will take a similar one and post that too! OMG her feet are the cutest feet.

“Shhhh. Don’t talk.”

Mama Lisa and Cousin Zach.

Not that Mama Lisa doesn’t trust cousin Zach to support baby’s head, but…

Okay, in all fairness, those previous two pictures were meant to be a parody of this photo of me holding Zach, with several adults hovering over me. Not gonna lie though – Mama had her hand on Leah’s head through like, the whole first half of the Zach+Leah snugglage.

It’s probably not a great idea to have this many cousins together at any given time. Horrible puns ensue.

Somehow I don’t think this is what they mean when they refer to “designer babies.” But hey – they came in a 3-pack at Ross, so it could be worse!

The view from the hospital window at OMG o’clock in the morning.