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!!!

  

First Easter

Mr. Easter Bunny stopped by the house last night to leave Miss Vivian some goodies.  Instead of getting her toys, he was kind enough to bring her a mermaid beach towel and duffle bag from Pottery Barn Kids, a book, bubbles and a little candy (for Mommy :))  

Vivian loved holding her bubbles and eggs.  I wish the day was beautiful, weather wise.  Unfortunately, its cold and rainy.  We stilled braved the damp weather and made it to church.

She sat with us for about 20 minutes before I had to take her into the nursery.  She wasn't fussy, but she was doing her 'happy' squeal/scream.  There were several children in the nursery and thankfully she did great.  No tears!  I watched her play with the other children for a little bit before walking back in to get her after the service.  She was crawling around having a grand ole time.  Made me very happy!

After church we had lunch at Slice of Life.  

 Once we got home I was walking across the living room and noticed Brody had devoured the chocolate bunny.  I can't believe her opened the package and ate that sucker.  I called the emergency vet and thankfully they said I didn't have to bring him in since it was only 2.5 ounces.  She said the worse will be some vomiting and diarrhea.  We just need to watch him.  

We are now in our comfy clotged and Vivian is napping.  Poor baby woke up with a runny nose and a little bit of congestion.  Hoping it doesn't turn out like the last time she was sick.

Happy Easter!!!  He is Risen!      

  

The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny was a success.  Yes, there was no smile, but we did not have any tears.  She's not a fan of other people holding her if she doesn't know them.  She just sat there.  

After taking her picture, we grabbed some lunch and went to Dragonflies to exchange a couple of outfits because she didn't have any room to grow in them.  We came home and changed out of her little dress.  She likes being in comfy clothes. I had picked up a pair of bunny ears from World Market for a couple of pics.  She makes a way cuter bunny!

Brody got in on the action.  Of course, he's not a fan.  He makes a cute bunny, too!

Cry-it-out method

Baby girl, what is going on?  You woke up at 3:10 am.  I managed to rock you to sleep, but as soon as I layed you in the crib, you went hysterical.  I knew I had to let you cry.  It was hard, believe me.  I knew if I kept going back to you it wasn't going to do any good.  You cried for about 25 minutes and then you stopped.  So from 3:45-4:05 you cried, hard.  Okay good, you went back to sleep and now maube I could fall asleep.  I was wrong.  You woke back up at 4:40, crying.  I let you be.  You probably cried for about 10 minutes.  Obviously I couldn't go back to sleep knowing I was going to have to get up and pump.  5:05 am I decided to go ahead and pump in hopes you would sleep for a couple of hours.  I was wrong.  You were back at it at 5:15.  So here we are at 5:35 watching Sesame Street, you playing/crawling all over the place and me pumping.  You have already worn mama out!  Lets hope you take a nice long nap today.  Maybe two!  

Early Riser

Miss Vivian has decided to start her Saturday morning at 4:40 am.  I even put her down 30 minutes later last night in hopes she would sleep until 6 am instead of 5:30.  Guess I proved to myself if your child goes to bed a little later doesn't guarantee they will sleep longer.  

Personally I don't mind.  I have to get up at 5:30 anyway.  I just know she needs her sleep.  At least this gives me more time to spend with her.  Watching her explore, play, smile.  Every moment I have, I want to be with her.  Life is too short.  I want to enjoy this short time I have of her being this age.  She is already growing up way too fast!  

So the next time your little one decides to wake earlier, don't complain, curse, gripe.  They just want to be with you.  I have recently realized this.  No more complaining from me.  Just give me some coffee and I'm good to go!

Spring has sprung!

Spring is definitely one of my favorite seasons. The sun is shining, warm breeze, birds singing, flowers are blooming and spending our day outside.  Only thing I hate is the pollen.  Yellow everywhere!

We've been taking full advantage of this 80+ degree weather by spending some time outside.  We take long walks with Brody, sit outside and blow bubbles, go to the park, swing in the backyard and just sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun.  It definitely puts us in a happy mood!

With all the fun we've been having it has definitely worn Vivian out.  We've kinda have gotten into the habit of taking our afternoon naps on the couch.  She's only going to stay this little for a little bit and I'm taking full advantage.

Nothing better than having a sleeping baby in your arms!  

Happy Spring!!!

Accidents Happen

Mom award of the year right here!  Vivian and I were in the bedroom watching "The Good Night Show" and she was being a wiggly worm on the bed.  I put her on the floor to crawl around and she wanted to stand up holding onto the dresser knob.  Something she does every single day.  While she was standing up, I ran into the bathroom which is in eye view from the dresser to grab a ponytail holder.  Next thing I heard was a thump and the water works came a flowin'. 

I turned around and she fell face forward into the dresser.  Poor baby.  She cried for several minutes and she finally calmed down when she saw Star on her program.  I checked her forehead and I didn't notice any bumps or bruises.  Whew, in the clear.

Fast forward to 15 minutes later when we went into the kitchen to brush her teeth.  Brian had taken Brody on a walk so he didn't no about her fall yet.  While in the kitchen I noticed a dark area underneath her eye.  The only light that was on in the kitchen was the light over the sink.  I turned the kitchen light on and yep, she was puffy and clearly had a black eye.  Oh, crap!  Well, I said something else, but that's beside the point.  Brian walked in when I noticed it.  He held her while I got a cold rag with ice.  She wasn't having that!  I was able to keep it on a little longer while she played in the bathtub.  I felt HORRIBLE!!

  I know accidents are going to happen, but it just breaks your heart when things like this happen.  Something that's preventable.  If you watch The Little Couple and saw the last episode when Zoey fell while standing on the fireplace seat and got a puncher wound to the head and blood was everywhere, I just thought back to that.  At least Vivian wasn't bleeding and thank God she didn't hit the eye itself.  That could have caused a whole other issue.  Vivian's guardian angel had her in his hands.

She woke up at 5:30 this morning happy as a clam.  Eye wasn't swollen shut, just a little bruising.  She seems to be okay.  Doesn't seem to bother her if she rubs her eye...huge relief for Mommy!  

Baby girl, I promise I'm going to try my BEST to be a better Mommy!  I love you with all my heart!  

XXOO

Standing Up

We spent the majority of the day in the kitchen yesterday.  Just call me Betty Crocker!  I made a 15 bean soup for lunch, brownies for Brian and prepared chicken parmesan  to just toss in the oven for dinner.  I also dusted and cleaned as well :)  Busy Tuesday!

Vivian, you were all over the place in the kitchen.  You kept getting into Brody's water bowl so I distracted her with the jar of macaroni for a bit.  You emptied that jar completely and I had macaroni all over the floor.  You had a good time!  After the macaroni, you wanted back at the water bowl so I needed another distraction.  

Onto the Tupperware cabinet we went!  You love pulling out the lids and containers.

 

I kept glancing back and forth to make sure you weren't going to bang your head on something. Wouldn't be the first time, ha!  You were having a grand ole time and then decided to go further inside the cabinet to grab something that was further back.

I continued to watch and take a few pics.  Then this started to happen!

Holy cow, you are going to stand!!

It was absolutely AMAZING to watch!!!  Moments like these are why I am SO happy to be a stay at home mom. I am able to witness all your milestones.

Side note: you also pulled yourself up using the dresser knobs in the bedroom later that evening. You are growing up way too fast little girl :(  Mommy is SO proud of you...keep up the great work!

Saying "No"

For the past week or so, Vivian's personality is starting to really show.  She will let you know if she doesn't want to play with something by tossing it across the room.  Cries when things aren't going her way.  Knows the word "no," but still does what she wants.

  

Since she's been crawling she gets into everything.  Whether its Brody's dog bowl...which I had to hide from her...going straight to the outlets, crawling towards her box fan that's on  and wanting to stick her finger in the holes (thankfully, I've caught her just in the nick of time), chewing on power cords.  Speaking of power cords, I was vacuuming the other day and she was sitting on the floor watching.  I turned my back to her to vacuum and turned back around and child was gnawing away on the cord.  She also likes to play with my power cord to my breast pump.  

I tell her "no" and she just looks at me and goes back to what she was doing.  If I continue to repeat "no" this is what I get.

  

In this case, she kept sticking her mouth onto the knob and biting away.  I repeated "no baby" multiple times.  She looked at me and went back to her knob.  After saying "no" for the 3rd time this is what I get, crying with the saddest little face. Sorry little girl, I don't want you to knock out the two little teeth that you have.

I know I will be saying "no" to her until at least her freshman year of college.  I'm dreading the mouth back.  I pray that she will learn to be respectful towards her parents and not have attitude.  Otherwise baby girl, Daddy is going to get a belt after you!

9 Months Old

Happy 9 months baby girl!!  You are turning into one special little girl...not that you weren't already.

You weigh 16 lbs 3 ounces and 26.25 inches long at your 9 month well check.

You are keeping Mommy on her toes and giving her a workout.  You are full blown crawling!  You started about 2 weeks ago.  At first, you would get onto your hands and knees then fall down onto your tummy.  We did that for about a week.  Then you slow started to figure out how to move your hands and knees.  After Memom left, you started 'officially' crawling.  You are none stop!  Mommy has to move the coffee table to give you more room to roam in the living room.

You just discovered Brody's food/water bowl and the electrical outlets.  We put outlet covers on just yesterday.

You love to be thrown into the air.  It makes you so happy...puts the biggest smile on your face.  I definitely need to capture a picture!

You love solids.  You are eating like a champ!  You really love yogurt, mango, sweet potatoes and butternut squash.  You are not loving your bottle of Mommy's milk anymore. You will only drink a few ounces and then you are done.  It has been a constant battle for a while now.  Especially at your 12:30pm feeding.  You flop around like a fish out of water.

You love to listen to tv shows intro's.  Especially 'The Golden Girls.'  It stops you dead in your tracks when it comes on.  Mommy has to play it in the car when you get fussy in your carseat.  It stops the crying immediately.  Mommy is happen to listen to it 20 minutes straight if that makes you happy.

You don't like for anybody else to hold you that you don't know.  It takes a while for you to warm up.

You HATE having your nails trimmed.  Mommy has tried during your naps, but you wake.  So, we wrestle together on getting them trimmed.  

You LOVE to pull Mommy's hair. I'm surprised you haven't pulled my scalp off yet!  You have one tight grip!!

You LOVE LOVE LOVE Star from the 'Good Night Show' on Sprout.  We can't lay on the bed anymore.  As soon as he comes on you want to stand at the television and touch him on the screen.

You are obsessed with touching all the pictures hanging on the walls.  Thank you Memom for teaching her that!

You still love your baths, but hate getting ready for bed.  You are all over the bed when Mommy lotions you up and attempt to put your diaper on and jammies.  

When you take your afternoon nap, you don't wake up peacefully.  You cry and you are extremely fussy...takes a little while to calm you down.  However, if you nap with me or wake up when I'm right there (if I let you nap on the couch) you are happy.

You are definitely cooler than Mommy.  I hope to grow up to be as rad as you!

 I love the little girl you are becoming.  You have so much personality already.  You are already very strong will and let us know quickly if you aren't happy.  You certainly have your sweet moments.  I love that you crawl to Mommy and Daddy when you want to be held by us.  Melts my heart.  

I can't believe in 3 short months you will be turning 1 year old.  So hard to believe!!!  You are so AMAZING and know that Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!