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 :)

Christmas 2015

What a wonderful Christmas we had!  It was Joanna's first Christmas, Vivian was at a fun age this year and my family came.  Santa was good to the girls this year!  Vivian especially loved her pink tricycle and vanity, while Joanna loved her musical eggs and teether.  We ate until we couldn't eat anymore, laughed, played and the girls got lots of attention.  What a magical time it was!

Christmas Eve

Table from Memom and Papa

    

7 Months Old

Happy 7 months and Merry Christmas Eve sweet buttercup!  Your first Christmas.  You have no clue to what's going on, but I'm sure big sister will help open your presents and claim them hers :)

Stats:  Weight 15 pounds.  Clothes 3-6 months.  Diaper size 2.    

 Eating:  You are nuring every 2-3 hours while awake. You also are eating fruits in the morning and a veggie at lunch.  I've held off on dinner since I don't want any poops during the night.  

Sleep: You are sleeping from 6:30/7pm-6:30/7am with only one night feeding...usually around 4am.  You are taking 2 naps a day...on mommy mind you.  Each nap last around 1.5.  I aim for a total of 2.5-3 hour naps.  You do best when you go to bed no more than 3 hours from when you wake from your last nap.

Toys:  You love dolls and stuffed animals.  You are also a fan of anything you can put in your mouth.

Milestones:  During tummy time you get those little legs moving wanting to crawl.  You've gotten into the 'downward-facing dog' pose on tge bed a couple of times. You can stand by yourself while holding on against your activity table and couch.  Strong little chubby legs!

Personality:  I can already tell you are going to have a sweet demeanor.  You are a "go with the flow" type girl and flash a smile when someone smiles at you.

Outings:  You love being out of the house.  You enjoy going places with mommy and sissy.  You never fuss, you sit back and take in your surroundings.

Cuteness:  When you sit-up, you curl your toes.  Also while sitting, when someone pucks you up, you keep your legs in the sitting position.  Adorable!  I still love your ears :-)   

Laughter:  You love to giggle.  Vivian can get you really going by acting silly.  You love that big sister of yours!

Dislikes:  When you can't see mommy.

You are an absolute sweetheart sweet angel.  Mommy loves you more than you'll ever know!!  

Vivian at 2.5 Years Old

Vivian at 2.5 years old, 6 months away from turning 3.

Loves to sing and dance.  Favorite songs to sing are: Alphabet Song (ABCs), Twinkle Little Star (Twinkle Star), Row Row Row Your Boat (Row the Boat), Wheels On The Bus, Rock-A-Bye Baby (Rock Ah Baby), 123s.

Favorite Game is chase.

Loves riding her bike.

Cries at the drop of a hat when things don't go her way.

Loves saying: Sorry mommy, I got you, oh no, no, thank you mommy, more juice, more milk, Hi (I) do it,  aroom (playroom), come on lets go.

Wants to do everything herself.

Likes to paint, draw with markers, "attempt" to cut with scissors, using the glue stick.

Loves pre-school and church nursery. 

Loves jumping on the bed and crawling in the tunnel (crawling under the sheets).

Loves wearing shoes.

Would rather eat the condiments than the actual food you dip it in.

Likes watching mommy cook and wants to 'help'  

Very bossy.

Not a fan at sharing unless she's at school.  Apparently you are a great sharer at school, so the teachers say.

Loves running around like a mad women just before bed.

Likes to play "where did Vivian/mommy go?"

Only weighs 25 pounds.

Always wants to walk Brody, but he's taken off twice so we've stop.  You still protest wanting to walk him.

Everything is 'mine'

Let's me know when Joanna falls over when you are the one holding her down.

You may get a lump of coal in your stocking ;-) 

Loves giving hugs and kisses.

You want a hundred kisses before bed and always say "last one" while mommy or daddy walks out of your room.

Love watching yourself on the camcorder.

The list goes on and on.  You are something else little girl.  I think you are going to be an over achiever and successful when you become an adult.  Amongst all that strong-willed personality, you are so sweet, funny, caring, beautiful, outgoing, loveable and the best 2.5 year old I know.  I love you sweet angel even though you make mommy want to pull her hair out sometimes!!!