Stopping to Snuggle

This is the first week that I truly feel as if we are on lock down.  The past few weeks have still been full with a couple of doctor appointments, the sleep study, and Tom having his wisdom teeth removed {which, if I were a "mean" wife, would have been plastered all over the internet in video form...suffice it to say that Tom under anesthesia is quite entertaining!}.  My mom also started her new jobs, so we have all been adjusting to the various schedules that occur around here.  I have long been looking forward to this week and hoping to get much accomplished around the house.  Still, many of the things I plan to do never seem to get done during the day, or they happen on a day which I did not expect.  I am really on no one's schedule but my own {well, Noelle's, that is}, but some days it seems to be a great accomplishment just to grab a shower or make dinner.  I know this is normal for moms, and I truly love falling into that category now; but some days I find myself putting Noelle in her swing or her bumbo seat or in her cradle for a nap, just so I can get something done.  There is nothing wrong with that; in fact, she needs times like these to learn to play by herself or fall asleep on her own {which she does quite well, thanks to the NICU}.  But today, it was time to stop.  Time to stop and just be with her.  It happened in the form of grabbing the camera and talking and playing with her as I tried to capture some images; it also meant holding and snuggling her as she fell asleep for her morning nap.  These are moments and days I will never get back, and I want to capture them before they are gone.  Because stopping to create these memories will someday be one of the sweetest treasures I hold.

{P.S. We will keep reminding about the book project through November 15th.  We are so thankful for the entries we have received but would love to hear from more of you, if you are able to contribute.  We really appreciate the time and love so many have you have spent on this project!  Keep them coming!!}

~Captured Moments from Today~ 

We tried on a special outfit from Aunt Sara...

Then we pulled out the headband from Grandpa & Grandma Aguiar and caught a few more...