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!!    

   

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 :)

Leafing Around

Fall.  What's not to love about this season?  Cooler weather, long sleeves, warm drinks and leaves.

At our previous home (our first home purchase), we had only pine trees.  Boo.  I really hate pine trees, simply because of the needles. This home has great trees producing awesome fallen leaves.

B had to rake the yard and made a large pile of leaves for Vivian to play, jump, have a grand ole time.  Amazing how the simplest things bring the biggest smile on a child's face.  I wish (pray) she keeps her innocence and always find happiness in simple things in life.

Here's to the first time jumping in a pile of leaves and definitely won't be the last :)

  

^^ loves blowing bubbles

^^ I can already tell she's going to be the sweetest and kindest little girl

^^  Daddy swinging Vivian into the leaves

 ^^ where did Vivian go?

  

^^  here she is!

Hoedown and Pumpkin Patch

Last week, Vivian had her schools annual hoedown.  It was so cute seeing Vivian play games to win prizes and candy.  She definitely tried to take her time deciding on which prize she wanted at each little station.  Amazing how the Dollar Tree toys bring so much joy to a child!  Then on Friday we went to our church's annual pumpkin patch.  This was our 3rd year with Vivian and our 1st with Joanna.  So glad we have a spot for our family tradition.  Vivian picked a pumpkin out for her and for Joanna, I picked mine and B got his.  Nothing says fall like pumpkins!!

   

4 Months Old

Another month has gone by and you are growing up right before our eyes.

You have turned into the happiest little thing!  You are no longer the fussiest baby on earth HA.  You smile all the time and you love to giggle.  Sometimes you giggle so hard you let out the cutest high pitch sound.  I'm so happy you are happy!

Sleep, not consistent.  You are asleep by 7pm, sleep until around 5pm, nurse, back down until 7-8:30am for one week then the next week you're down at 7pm, back up at 7:30, nurse, sleep until 1-3:30am, nurse, awake around 5:30am, nurse, up for the day between 7-8:30am.  Overall, you are a good sleeper.

Naps, that's an entirely different story.  I think the reason you sleep until 8-8:30am is because you nap horribly.  You are a light sleeper like mommy.  If we are in the car, which we are out of the house by 9-10 am every morning, you sleep.  Once we arrive to our destination, you always wake up.  So you get about a 20-30 minute nap there.  You don't nurse to sleep when we are home, only nurse for nourishment, which means mommy puts you in the swing and pray for a nap.  I do that after about 2 hours you've been awake from your last cat nap.  Swing naps last about 30 minutes as well.  You probably nap a total of 2 hours every day.  Not great, but like I said, you are a happy baby.  It works for you!

Before falling asleep for your naps, you go "ahhh." So stinking cute! 

You still nurse every 1.5-2 hours while awake.  You are a quick nurser, about 5-10 minutes.  You like to get in and get out HA.

I weighed you at 13 pounds, but we will know your exact weight next week at your 4 month well check.  You are in a size 2 diaper, but mommy has you in size 1 to finish off the box.  I had some size 2's left over from Vivian that fit you so much better.  Not so tight around those chunky legs.  You are in 3-6 month clothing, but can still wear a few 0-3 months depending on the brand.  

You have the sweetest 'peach fuzz' on your head and I love running my chin and mouth over your sweet hair.  So soft!

Tummy time is getting better only if you are on a pillow.  Not so much the fan when flat on the ground. You can roll from your tummy to your back, but not from your back to tummy.  You can make it your side before rolling back to your back.  You'll get there soon enough.  You can spin half way around on your play mat.

You love your big sister.  You love watching her every move and she brings the biggest smile to your face.  You don't mind if she rolls on top of you, as long as it isn't too hard. She likes to feed you her pretend food.  You are always included.  She wants to hold you all the time and tells you she 'loves you' on her own.  Mommy and Daddy have to get her to repeat 'I love you' after us to hear her tell us HA.  

You have brought so much joy to our lives and I am so incredibly thankful that God chose us to be your parent and Vivian's big sister!  We love you sweet buttercup!!

"I CAN'T IMAGINE live before YOU came along...me there singing senseless, no MEANING to my song.  Call it MEANT TO BE or simply blessed fate, you fill my heart WITH LOVE...and for THAT I celebrate." -- Maianne Richmont

     

Playroom Favorites

The playroom has to be my favorite room in the house.  Its bright, cheerful and screams all girl.  I love the pastel and punch of color here and there.  Who wouldn't want to spend their time playing in here?!

We painted the room Behr Silver Setting which was our master bedroom color at our old house.  Love this color!

We had the bookcase and fabric storage containers in Vivian's closet at the old house that works great for book storage and whatnot.  I actually have all her Lego's stored in the owl cubbie. Love tossing all the small toys for cleanup.  

For the little table, my Mom taped two diaper boxes together and draped a blanket over.  Works great!  

Vivian's favorites, and mine, in the sweetest little playroom we could ever ask for.

^^ KidKraft Deluxe Pastel Play Kitchen - We love this kitchen!  When I did my research for a kitchen, so many items were plastic and not 'girly' colors.  Lots of tan. This is wood, doesn't make any pretend noises except when you turn the knobs it makes a clicking sound. This will hold well in the years to come.  We did purchase wood, rounded the edges, painted white to fit as a step so Vivian could reach the microwave.  She's a petite little thing. 

    

^^ KidKraft Cookware Playset - This is a 27 piece set that continues with the color of the kitchen.  Very sturdy pieces that I have a feeling will last years with two little girls.  

^^ Small World Cook Set - This 11 piece set is the perfect size.  Vivian loves 'cooking' with this set.  We also have Melissa & Doug stainless steal cook set.

^^ Small World Peel 'N' Play Playset - We LOVE these!  They are sturdy, the velcro isn't flimsy and teaches coordination when cutting the veggies.  I just ordered her the ice cream set and hamburger set to get the free shipping from Amazon since I ordered this veggie set for one of Vivian's friends birthday.  She's getting the fruit set for Christmas this year.

  

^^ Land of Nod Personalized Chair - A personalized chair is essential for every little playroom.

 ^^ VTech Train Set - Vivian got this for Christmas last year from my brother and sister-in-law.  She loves playing with this thing.  The train drives by itself on and off the track.  It's adorable!

^^ DIY Wall Letters - I found this tutorial on Pinterest and asked my Mom if she would make this for the girls room and LOVE how it turned out.  It cost around $100 after purchasing the letters, scrapbook paper and glue and took some time to make, but it turned out great!  I purchased the same items as she did except we didn't use the red paper.  

 

We of course have wooden blocks, Legos, purses, picnic basket, baby dolls, magnet letters & numbers and magnetic board, music tables from when she was little that Joanna will play with, barn with farm animals, puzzles, Doc McStuffin tent, etc.  

We love this room so much and hope you find some inspiration for your little one.