2 months old

Little chunky monkey had her 2 month well check on Monday, Aug 26th which means she got her first round of vaccinations.  Boy, that was very hard on the both of us.  We first got weighed and measured.  Child has put on some weight!  3 weeks ago she weighed 9 lbs even, well she's up to 10.4 lbs!  I couldn't believe it.  I thought she was around 9.5 lbs.  Child loves her milk!!  She measured 21.5 inches long and she's in the 25th percentile.  Little bit is definitely growing!  I mean, come on, how can you not love little baby fat rolls!!  Oh, I could kiss them all day long.

As for the vaccinations, that was a hard one for the both of us.  The nurse first gave her Rotateq which is a liquid grape medicine given to her orally.  She liked that!  Then came her 3 shots...DTaP, Prevnar and Hep B.  They laid her down on the table and had me to face her holding her tiny little arms beside her head.  HATED having to hold my child down like that.  Boy, I haven't heard her cry like that since the day she was born.  Poor thing.  She just cried, cried and cried.  Thankfully, the shots were quick.  I couldn't imagine being the one doing that.  

Vivian slept on the way home, but didn't sleep after getting there.  Poor little girl was fussy the most of the day.  Luckily, she didn't run a fever.  By 4 pm she finally fell asleep in my arms.  We got on the couch and curled up...Vivy in my left arm and Brody on my right side (he had is head resting on her feet.  so sweet!) and we took a two hour nap.  She slept a little longer and when we woke her for her bath around 7:30 pm, she was not happy.  They are right, DO NOT WAKE A SLEEPING BABY! 

After all the crying, we finally got her to bed.  Poor thing cried during her changing, she cried during her bath, she fought us on her feeding.  She just didn't feel well and she was disturbed from her sleep.  

Yesterday she was still a little fussy.  She didn't even want to eat much.  Only thing she wanted was to be held.  Heck, times holding her she was fussy.  Hoping for a better day today!

Things that she likes:

• Eating, obviously. Before bedtime she can put away 6 oz of milk.  Her pediatrician couldn't believe it.  He said as long as she wasn't spitting it up, then that was fine.  That's what she wants.
• Being bounced.  LOVES IT!  If she's fussy, just start bouncing her and she will calm right down.  A lot of times she will fall asleep.  She does like sleeping straight up.
• Cooing and smiling.  Its so fun talking to her.  She'll stare at you and we'll making howling noises and she'll talk right back.  We'll do it then stop, then she'll start.  Then she will start smiling and try and laugh.  She's done a couple of giggles.   SO CUTE!!  She will also try and mimic me when I stick my tongue out.  It takes her a little while, but she gets it. Melts my heart.   I really need to video her.
• Being outside.  Another way to calm her.  I don't know if its the heat or the sounds, but she can sit outside for the longest time and be content.  
• Being held.  I think that's a favorite for all little ones, but she just really enjoys it.  Doesn't take her long to fall asleep either.
• Her hands and feet.  Well, her hands mostly.  She loves sucking on them and making lots of noises with them.  She has loved her hands since she was in my womb.  Every ultrasound I had, her hands were in and around her mouth.  She just recently discovered her feet.  She'll sit in her chair or in the stroller and watches them while she kicks.  She's trying to figure them out.
• Bath time.  Child loves a bath!  Definitely calms her and she likes her daddy spraying water into her mouth.  She'll stick her little tongue out and try and lap it up.  It's so funny.
• Blake Shelton.  If she's fussy, I'll turn on You Tube and she will sit there and watch his video and listen to the music.  I don't know if she recognizes it because I listened to him a lot in the car while I was pregnant.  
• Licking her bib or outfit.  I guess she enjoys the texture of the material.  I have a feeling she will be putting anything and everything in her mouth! 

Things she dislikes:

•  Being strapped in her car seat for a long period of time.  Boy does that girl get fussy.
• Going to restaurants.  She'll start crying and I always have to get her out of her seat.  I don't want to be the parent that has a crying child in public.  You know people always stare out you and thinking, "Can you just make your child be quite!" Although, we went to Brixx Pizza Friday night and she was content.  Didn't whine or wanted to be out of her seat.  She was happy.  Maybe we are making progress.
• Not getting what she wants right then.  Which means she wants to eat ASAP.  She will start crying like crazy, then you stick the bottle in her mouth and she's happy. 
• Wiping her face in the morning with a bath cloth.  She doesn't mind it in the evening, but does not care for it in the morning.  Strange.

Overall, she's a GREAT little girl.  Can't complain too much.  I just love watching her grow and change almost daily.  She is so much fun...and times exhausting :)  She's the BEST!!!

Vivian's First Trip to Mississippi

 

Vivian went on her first vacation to Mississippi on Friday, June 9th for a week.  Before leaving, I convinced BK into renting a minivan.  I knew driving 13 hours with a 7 week old and a dog would be absolutely miserable in my car.  Being cramped in a small car...which it seems now...and all the stuff that you have to bring now that we have a child would have been tough.  Brian wasn't sure about it, but I knew it would make our trip a little more pleasurable.  

We spent the night in Florence on Thursday night to knock out 2 hours of our drive.  We thought we would leave after she ate Friday morning around 5:30 am since she usually wakes up around that time for her  second feeding during the night.  She usually wakes up around 1:30 am for her first feeding.  Well, little miss decided to sleep until 3 am to eat.  We just decided we would feed her and go ahead and hit the road.  We left Florence between 4:30-5:00 am.  I drove the first leg to let Brian sleep.  Vivian slept until we arrived in Augusta which is a little over 4 hours from Florence.  Brian got into the driver seat and drove to Atlanta.  B was so tired so I decided to drive so he could get more sleep.  Well, Vivian decided she wanted to cry from Atlanta to Birmingham which didn't help Brian to catching any sleep.  We swapped and he drove until I got her to sleep which didn't take long.  So, we stopped and switched again and guess what...child starts crying bloody murder.  I guess she just wanted her Mommy in the back seat with her.  So, Brian drove all the way to my parents.  We arrived around 4 pm.  Needless to say, it was a long day.

My parents were so happy to see her.  We hardly held her while we were there.  Mom took full advantage of having her sweet granddaughter.  On Saturday, we just hung out.  Chris, Suzanne and Audrey got to my parents Friday night.  So glad we got to spend the weekend with them.  Brian fished everyday that we were there.  

On Sunday, Mom hosted a 'Sip and See' shower so my family and friends could meet Vivian.  Everybody loved her.  She did really well.  Didn't mind everyone holding her and being passed around.  

Vivian was wiped out from all the festivities.  She even slept on Papa for a bit.  He was eating it up!!!

During the rest of the week Brian and I made a trip to Starkville, Ackerman and Winona.  We were going to eat lunch at Pap's Place in Ackerman for lunch on Monday, but they only serve catfish on Tuesdays and Fridays.  We were planning on going to Starkville anyway for the afternoon so we decided to eat lunch there.  We went to Central Station Grill, but it wasn't like The Grill when we went to school.  We decided to go to Rosey Baby but they didn't open until 4 pm.  Okay.  So, we made our way to Mugshots.  I swear, I think they have the best burgers.  I think the sourdough bun makes it so delicious.

Yes, I ate all of it.  Can we say, "Oink, Oink!!!"

After lunch we made our way to The Lodge.  I wanted to pick up Vivy a couple of MSU outfits for football season.  Want to get it into her blood of being a 'Dawg.'  This was our first time being away from little bit.  Grant it, it was less than 5 hours, but it was weird not having her with us.  When we got back we had play time.

On Tuesday we made our way to Ackerman to Pap's Place for some catfish.  I don't know I managed to never eating here.  It was really good.  Definitely some of the best catfish I had ever eatin'.  Can't go wrong with true southern cuisine.  

Again, I ate all of it.  I swear I think I have a tape worm, ha!  I even went back for dessert :)

 

 

After lunch, we went back to my parents and hung out.  Mom kept Vivy while we went to lunch and when we went to Starkville.  She was in hog heaven!  It was nice for us to be off baby duty for a bit.  Brian did more fishing and I was being lazy on the couch.  As soon as I got to my parents, I finally realized how exhausted I was.  You don't realize it when you are constant 'go' all the time. 

Tuesday night we took Vivy to Winona to see Leigh's new house they are building and had dinner with her, Brantley, Braden, Bert and Lisa.  Bert and Lisa wanted to meet miss golden child.  They were in awe.  As soon as Bert held her, she went to sleep.  It was so great seeing them.  They were my second family growing up.  Heck, they will always be my second family.  I just love the Mitchell's!!  

Wednesday I caught up on my sleep.  Vivian got lots of hugs and kisses from her Memom and Papa.  Memom even took full advantage of giving her her bottle.

We had a wonderful time as always.  I can't wait when Vivian is older and she can go fishing and run and play in the country.  I know she's going to love it!  Memom and Papa hated saying, "Goodbye" to their baby girl.  We all know its not forever.  Good thing we have Skype!

The drive back to NC turned out great.  Vivian slept the entire way.  She only woke up to eat.  That was such a blessing!!

We got home and had playtime before her bath and dinner.  I just love my little family!  
 Its the BEST!!!