10 Months Old

Stats:  We are weighing 16.4 pounds, wearing size 3 diapers and 6-12 month size clothes, 6 teeth (2 top, 4 bottom).

Eating:  Nursing around 4-5 times per day and eating 3 meals and 2 snacks.  You've moved on from mommy spoon feeding you, sometimes you'll oblige, but you primarily push the spoon away.  You prefer feeding yourself and eating what we are eating.  More times than not, you toss the food to Brody.  You like chicken, asparagus, padta, cream potatoes, carrots, broccoli, beans, lentils, cheerios, blueberries, mango, pita bread.

Sleep:  We are taking 2 naps, 1 hr to 1:15 each.  Yes, you still nap on mommy unless we are wanting only a 30 min nap.  I try keeping your wake time around 10 hours everyday.  Night you are sleeping from 6:30/7pm-4/5am, nurse back to sleep,
 awake for the day by 7am.  We've hit a bumpy road with you being sick with a double ear infection, bronchiolitis, teething and finally learned how to roll from back to tummy.  For the past 2 weeks I've felt like I have a newborn again!  Staying awake for 2+ hrs in the middle of the night, not wanting to sleep.  Mommy couldn't let you 'cry-it-out' with you not feeling well.  We did a lot of pick-up/put-down until you finally went back to sleep.  Thankfully

 you are starting to get back on track.  Knock-on-wood!!

^^ 3am.  You were awake until 5am.  Went to the Dr that afternoon to find out you had a double ear infection :( 

^^ First 'real' cold/virus

Likes:  You still love baby dolls, watching Vivian's every move, shakers, bubbles, swinging, mommy flipping you, being held, being tickled, smacking your lips, blowing raspberries, playing with Vivian's toys, people watching.

Not a fan of:  The vacuum cleaner, not seeing mommy, being left on the floor for too long, wearing hats/bows, teething (you are a horrible teether), sitting in your high chair for too long.

Milestones:  You are deciding to learn new skills at night in your crib.  First skill, rolling from your back to tummy. You didn't know what to do since you aren't a fan of being on your stomach.  You kept pushing up on your arms which was causing you to move backwards.  Daddy flipped you back, but you weren't a fan of that.  Since the first night of flipping, I've just let you figure it out.  You'll either fall back to sleep on your stomach or make it to your side or finally back to your back.  Second skill as if 5:42am this morning, going from tummy to sitting position.  That brought a big smile on your face and then you were like, 'what the heck, now what do I do?!'  You eventually feel backwards and hungout until I got you.  You are wanting to be mobile, but just don't know how.  You'll reach for something that's away from you, rolling onto your knees in an 'Indian style' position, then you'll plop on your tummy to reach for a toy.  You don't like being on your hands and knees either.  I'm sure we'll go straight to walking.  I'm in no rush!!

So hard to believe you are already 10 months old!  You are an absolute sweetheart and you light up our lives.  We are so darn lucky to have you!!!!  We love you sweet buttercup!!    

   

Vivian's First Kiss

Well, I may have my younger self on my hands. Back in kindergarten at recess, I told my teacher, "Watch this Mrs..., and grabbed Ryan Austin's face and planted a kiss on his lips" HA!  I have no clue what encouraged me to do that, but I remember that moment like it was yesterday.  Not going to lie and say I waited until I was 'age appropriate' for kissing boys, but I kissed several other boys back in elementary school.  I was bad!   

When picking Vivian up from school Thursday, Mrs. Kristi said Vivian had her first kiss, and it was all her.  She said she heard kissing sounds and turned around to find Vivian having her classmate, Carter, wrapped in her arms and kissing him repeatedly.  Poor kid just standing there letting her kiss away.  

And so it begins.  

^^  FYI, she's not sporting a side ponytail.  She is wearing pigtails :) Also, the day she kissed Carter, she had picture day!

9 Months Old

Stats: Weight 16 pounds, size 3 diapers, 6-9 months and some 6-12 months clothes.  You are currently cutting your top 2 teeth.

Eating:  Nursing 30 minutes after waking, both nap times and bedtime.  Solids: for breakfast you usually have yogurt and/or fruit, sometimes oatmeal.  Lunch and dinner you are eating veggies primarily, with the occasional meat and grains.  You had organic mac n' cheese the other night and loved it!  

Sleep:  Napping twice a day around 9 am and 1:30/2 pm for 1 - 1.5 hours for each nap.  Bedtime you are in your crib between 6:30/7 pm.  You have been going in your crib wide awake and takes about 20-30 minutes for you to fall asleep.  You are waking for the day around 5:30 am, but mommy leaves you in your crib until 6:30 am in hopes you learn that it's not time to wake like your big sister.  Sometimes you wake around 4/4:30 am which I nurse and you'll either go straight back to sleep or fall asleep around 5:30am.  Mommy wakes you at 7 am if you are still sleeping.  

You love sleeping with your lovey against your face and a lot of times over your face :)

 Likes:  Watching Vivian's every move, baby dolls and Elmo, your exersaucer, standing (you can stand a few seconds unassisted), forward rolls, sticking your tongue out, blowing raspberries, being tickled, being held, napping on mommy, observing, swinging in a bucket swing and sliding.

Dislikes:  When you can't see mommy, when Vivian takes a toy away from you, changing your clothes, napping alone, being on your tummy for too long, trying to crawl and the vacuum cleaner.

Milestones:  Babbling.  As of Sunday, you are babbling constantly.  You even said 'mama' for the first time.   

What a fast and amazing 9 months it has been sweet buttercup!!
We love you oh so much!!!

  

Life Lately

^^ Park swinging

^^  Making sand cones

^^  Making Valentine cupcakes

^^  Getting Valentine Day projects from Vivian 

^^  Riding the train at the mall as a reward for waiting to call mommy when her alarm clock goes off.

^^  Joanna already thinking she's 16.

^^  Very rare nap on mommy.

^^  Joanna's 1st Valentine.

 ^^  Valentine's Day brunch at Kornerstone Bistro.

^^  Before school shenanigans. 

^^  Constant hand washing.

^^  Joanna NOT wanting to crawl.

^^  Watching Mutt & Stuff together per Vivian's request.

^^  Having fun with Snapchat!

Conversations With Vivian

At 2.5 years old, Vivian's vocabulary has exploded.  Really, over the last few months she's talking more and more which is amazing to hear, and fun!

Me: Vivian!  What's your name?

Vivian: Vivian Rose Kinard!!!

Me: How old are you?

Vivian: Vivian Rose Kinard!

Me: No, that's your name.  How old are you?

Vivian:  Umm, I'm 3!!!

Me:  No, your not 3 yet.  How old are you?

Vivian:  Umm, Vivian Rose Kinard!!!!

Me:  Nooo, that's your name.  How old are you?

Vivian:  I don't know!

Vivian:  Mommy!!!!

Me:  What baby?

Vivian: I SO PRETTY!!!!

Me:  Yes you are!

Me:  Vivian, are you pretty or beautiful?

Vivian:  I pretty :)

Getting her out of her room in the morning...

Me:  Vivian, why are your pillows all over your floor?

Vivian:  I read my books.

Me: In the dark?

Vivian: Yeah.

Me:  Have you been up for a while?

Vivian:  Yeeaahh (big smike on face)  

At the doctor's office...

Dr. Jackson:  Vivian, do you want to look in my ear?

Vivian:  Uh huh

Dr. J:  Do you see any monkey's in tgere?

Vivian: Uh huh

Dr. J:  How many monkey's do you see?

Vivian: Uh, 2!

Dr. J: What are they doing in there?

Vivian: Jumping on the bed!

Dr. J: Smart girl!!

          And everything else is:  "No, my turn!", "lets get daddio", "I can do it!", "I love my JoJo!", "Come on mommy, lets go!", " Look mommy!!! I ride my bike, I ride fast!", "Hey JoJo, heeyyy", "I done".

I can only imagine what she'll be saying at 3.  She's already a hot mess, but its fun watching her learn.   

  

8 Months Old

Weight:  Around 15.5 pounds.

Eating:  Nursing every 2-3 hours still and eating solids 3 x per day.  You probably eat a couple of tablespoons per meal.  I've also done a little baby led weaning.  You really liked Pita Delite's bread!  Favorite foods so far, turkey & veggie dinner, all fruits, squash, hummus, pita bread.

Sleep:  Naps happen on me while nursing in your room.  Taking 2 naps per day that each last 1-1.5 hours.  Bedtime usually starts around 3 -3.5 hours from waking up from your nap, around 6-6:3p pm, sleep until around 4:30-5am (only waking up that time b/c of Vivian screaming for me since we lock her on her room), nurse, back to sleep until 6:30-7:30am.  Once in a blue moon we'll have random night wakings.

Personality:  You really are a great baby.  You do so well while out and about.  You love watching what other people are doing.  You don't mind if others hold you as long as they are women, you don't care for other men holding you.  You aren't fussy unless you are really hungry or super tired, which I do my best to not get to either of those points.  You often smile at others when they smile at you.  You squeal when you are excited. 

What Makes You Happy:  Vivian makes you laugh the hardest.  You always smile and giggle when I say 'mama'.  You love when I sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Patty Cake.  You love when I nibble on your neck and chin.  You love baths and splashing.

You're Not A Fan Of:  Changing your clothes.  Having your nails clipped.  Me walking away from you.  Being on your tummy too long.

Milestone:  You can hold onto furniture by yourself.  You are able to stand up while holding my fingers.  

We love you oh so much sweet buttercup!! 

Big Girl Bed

Two weeks ago, Vivian put up a good fight going into her crib at bedtime.  She did not want us to leave and jumped out of her crib chasing after us.  

B took her to the couch trying to get her to fall asleep, but wasn't having any part of that.  So, for the first time in her life, she slept with me.  It took singing and tickling to get her to sleep by 9:15pm.  Mind you, we started bath at 6pm since she didn't have much of a nap that day.

After that night, I vowed to never let her sleep with me again.  Child was all over the place.  I got zero sleep. Also, kid still woke up for the day at 5:20am.  Crazy thing was, she acted as if the night before never happened.  She didn't even remember what she did.  Well, I will never forget! 

The next night we tried again with the crib.  She had a good nap and thought maybe she would go to bed more easily.  Wrong.  Same battle.

Soooo, we blew up the air mattress and already turned her door knob around to lock her in her room and called it a night.  She was all excited about sleeping in a 'big bed'.  When we left, she if course ran to the door crying/screaming "last one!"  She lasted about 5 minutes before crawling into bed and going to sleep.  She slept until 6am the next morning! 

Vivian had to sleep on the air mattress until her queen size mattress arrived.  I ordered her an adorable quilt set that's fitting for a toddler.  It was actually difficult finding toddler appropriate bedding for a queen size without paying an arm and a leg.  I am very happy with the purchase.

I have a pool noodle tucked under the fitted sheet on the open side of the bed so she doesn't fall out.  This kid doesn't stay under the bedding, but flips and flops all over the bed.  Crazy.

Tonight will be night 3 in her forever-in-our-house-bed.  She's done great with bedtime.  We sing our songs and gives kisses and out the door we go. Bedtime doesn't take an hour now.

Now, with saying that, she does wake up for the day between 4:30-5am.  She's always been an early riser, but she was contained in her crib.  For two weeks now, minus the first night she slept in the 'big bed,' she has been screaming for me as soon as she wakes.  She runs to the door calling for me.  For a while, I ran upstairs quickly so she wouldn't wake Joanna up.  We now  have a Time To Wake Clock which lights up green when its time to call for mommy.  Of course, she's 2.5 years old and doesn't understand the concept right now.  She still calls for me, but its not constant screaming. I'm hoping it catches on that she sees I'm not coming in to get her until the light goes off.  Right now I have it set for 5:30am, which means she's been standing at the door for an hour or less.  

As far as Joanna, I have her box fan, a smaller fan and a box fan between their rooms to buffer the sounds.  She has been waking up and not going back to sleep until I get Vivian, but hopefully soon enough her sleep won't be disturbed.

Parenting certainly has its challenges.  For whatever reason, no one tells you the obstacles you will encounter.  You only hear stories of people saying, "oh I just put them to bed and they sleep all night until I get them."  

Anyway, Vivian decided it was time to be out of her crib and sleep in a 'big girl' bed.  Easier process when they decide and not you.  If only we can successfully get out of dispers!  Someday :)