Photo Challenge Day 13

Linking up with Jenny and the 30 Day Photo Challenge!

Day 13 A photo of your best friend(s)



Me and my hubby, a little blurry, at Hearst Castle. Wouldn't have married him if he wasn't one of my best friends, he knows me in and out and we just become closer the longer we are married, as it should be!

Me and my Seeester! She will probably be much happier about my photo choice since she is all done up in this one, rather than the other one I almost used.... Bestest friends for 26.5 years and counting! don't know what I would do without her!

Photo challenge Day 12

day 12. a photo of you


This is me, driving Kyle's grandpa's fancy-schmancy convertible sports car when we had been married less than a year, my that thing was fun to zip around in! and Kyle didn't want to drive at all, so I got to drive it the whole time! wheee! We just took it out for about an hour, but it was marvelous!

Photo Challenge Day 11

day 11. a photo of your favourite film(s)


Seriously. I LOVE this movie! If you didn't see it, you really have to! We were laughing soooo hard! Those little minion dudes, yeah, I want one.

Photo Challenge Day 10

day 10. a photo of you as a baby

So, I looked and looked on my computer, and I have no pictures of me as a baby... My mom has some, at home, but I would need to scan them and such, I will try to remember to update this post at some point...

Photo Challenge Day 9

day 9. a photo of your family



Taken at Kyle's cousin's wedding this summer. Poor baby girl was so tuckered out, it was the longest I think we had really ever had her out.

Photo Challenge Day 8

day 8. a photo of your favourite band/musician

credit Google Images

*sigh* I heart listening to Michael Buble. His style of singing is so soothing to me, very mellow and fun!

Photo Challenge Day 7

day 7. a photo of someone you love


This is me and my "sister" Sarah, she is the Tan Sister, I am the White Sister, for obvious reasons... I love her to death and hate that I don't get to see her hardly at all because she lives in Fres-yes going to school.

Photo Challenge Day 6

day 6. a photo that makes you laugh


Oh, Angry Baby, I am sorry mommy giggles at you and takes your picture instead of picking you up, but your little indignant faces are just too funny!

Photo Challenge Day 5

day 5. a photo of you


I was in need of a new profile picture for something or other, and this is what I got after a little cropping, there was a baby in that picture when I first took it, but it is the most recent picture of just me that I have... Still tired, Evelyn isn't even 3 months old yet according to the date of this picture. :)

Photo Challenge Day 4

day 4. a photo of the last place you went on holiday

We drove up to Oregon to see family up there, Evelyn's only living Great Grandparents are there, and to drop Kyle's youngest sister off at George Fox to start college there. Not everyone is looking, but oh well... It was a great vacation, we had a couple people almost convince us to move to Oregon... it is a lovely part of the country!

Photo Challenge Day 3

Linking up with Jenny and the 30 Day Photo Challenge to post a bunch of pictures!

Day 3

Post a picture that makes you Happy!


*sigh* Sorry for all the baby pictures, but truly, that is what my life is right now, and without these two in my life I would not have had a Mother's Day this year.

This picture was taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Mother's Day 2010, it was all I really wanted to do, go to the aquarium and go eat at Vivollo's in Pacific Grove for Clam Chowder, with a toasted Garlic Cheese Lid, delish!

It was a wonderful day, minus the poopy diaper moments after I had changed her into the last diaper we had with us, and the smallest size the nearby grocery store had was size 3! for my 1.5 month old, yeah, that's gonna fit... eh, we made it work and still have them, waiting for her to get big enough so we can actually use them :)

Photo Challenge Day 2

Linking up with Jenny and the 30 Day Photo Challenge to post a bunch of pictures! I am a little behind, so there will be two posts today...

Day 2

A Photo of yourself a Year ago


Here I am at our Christmas Picture shoot, in all of my pregnant, swollen, puffy, double chinned glory. I was just so happy that my belly was finally starting to look more pregnant than fat, or like I had eaten a big meal! ^_^ Timing on this one is a little off, but as I was looking, I realized that I have no decent pictures of me where you can see my face from November... October, yes, December, yes, November, no. Cest Le Vie....

Photo Challenge Day 1

Linking up with Jenny and the 30 Day Photo Challenge to post a bunch of pictures! I am a little behind, so there will be two posts today...

Day 1

Your Facebook Profile Picture



This little munchkin has been my profile picture for the last 7 months with varying pictures. This one is our "fall" shot. Basically, no one knows what I look like since I have had a baby. Sort of... Although I wouldn't mind keeping it that way until I lose the weight I want to lose... eh.

worry

This is what has been weighing on my mind lately.

At Evelyn's 6 month check up she had lost weight. Now, she had just started crawling that month, so I wasn't too concerned about the .5lb loss, but the doctor was. She ordered me to be feeding my baby no less than every 3 hours and to make sure she was getting enough. Babies Evelyn's age are supposed to be getting about 24 oz of milk or formula every day. I made an appointment to come back in a month to get her weight checked again. She measured only in the 10-25th percentile in everything, which I also wasn't as concerned with, because Kyle and I aren't big people, we are short, small statured, and when I am not stuffing my face, we are both fairly light weight (not that I have been that way since we started dating and got married, ugh. That's another blog post.)

I obediently started pumping after every other feeding to make sure I got every last drop out to try and help boost my supply. We went to SLO about 2 weeks in and I didn't bring my pump because I had no way to store what I would pump. Well, when we got back, she had been eating for longer stretches so I figured I was good without the pump anymore. yay! It is just so hard to pump when you have a clingy child, and a husband who works, so he can't watch the baby... Not that I mind doing it, it is just easier to not, and I am all about ease.

Well, the other night I am nursing and Kyle notices that, yes Evelyn is eating longer, but she seems distraught, like she is trying her hardest to get whatever she can out. I just figured it was her being a pill, but from an "outsider's" perspective, it looked different. So we decide that I should start pumping again, just to make sure. But rather than pumping after the feedings, pump and then feed her that so we can see how much she is getting each feeding.

First feeding of the morning, 4 oz, pretty darn good, right on track. Next 3oz, and then it just kept going down from there. by the time we got to her bedtime feeding I could barely get an ounce out, our freezer stock is running low because we have been supplementing her bottles to make sure she is getting a full bottle. She is also freaking out when we take the bottle away because it is empty.

Of course, by now I am feeling like a horrible mother because I haven't been realizing that my baby hasn't been really getting enough food. Poor thing is just hungry! and I am freaking out because I am not sure how long this might have been happening, no wonder she wolfs down the solids we feed her at dinner time, that and she just wants what ever we have...

All that to say, we have our weight check appointment on Friday. Pray for a weight gain for Evelyn, and pray that we would have good advice from the doctor. I really don't want to have to go the formula route, even though I know there is nothing wrong with it, i just want to be able to provide for my child! It kills me to think that I can't be the one to nurse her and give her what she needs.

When did I get a 6 month old?

Little Miss is now 6 months old. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was preggo? Didn't I just give birth to her?
cute as ever though.

She sits up so well now! Can't get herself up to do it, but if you sit her she will stay up!


She is crawling very well too! Doesn't have the leg/arm coordiation yet, so she mostly just sort of launches herself, but it's very purposeful movement.


She got her first tooth a couple weeks ago! bottom Right front. Sharp little bugger, thankfully she hasn't learned to bite with it yet...


Newest trick is blowing raspberries with her tongue! Super cute, super drooly, she is super proud of it! No video, as soon as we pull it out when she is doing it she stops immediately... stinker.


Eating solids, she loves it! give her any and all food, she wants it! Faves are, Mum Mums (rice crackers for babies), Avocado, bread, Vanilla Fro Yo. Not so sure about Carrots, Re-fried beans or Squash yet. Asparagus and Brussel Sprouts are on the menu soon!

If you are at all interested in making your own baby food, I HIGHLY recommend the Magic Bullet! That thing is a pro at making pureed baby food! so quick and you know exactly what you put in it! and it's not too pricey either, especially if you get it at Bed Bath and Beyond and use a 20% off coupon! Did you know you can use as many of those things as you have merchandise you are buying? You can! It's wonderful! Do it! Save those coupons, they are like gold in my book!!!

Got professional 6 month shots taken, will scan them and post them soonish...

Lisa

It's Lisa Leonard's birthday! and she is giving someone else a present! http://bit.ly/bP1RVF

Lisa is the wife of one of our former pastor's and she is such a creative person! I adore her jewelry and own several pieces and have given a few pieces too!

In honor of her birthday she is having a fabulous giveaway! What a sweet idea!

training

We are thinking of sending our daughter to the circus.


Or at least Sea World to train with the seals.

What do you think?



Yes, she did that completely on her own. Don't know how, just took pictures!

so big...

Evelyn is 4 months old. I just pulled all of her 0-3 month clothes out of her closet today and all that is in there now is 3-6 month stuff. When did my baby get so big? and who okay-ed it??


she has been rolling over for couple weeks now. Consistently back to front, to the left side, i think the right side might be coming soon too. Still hasn't figured out how to get back onto her back, but that will come with time.


I think she is officially too big for her bouncy seat, she can sit herself up in it, since it is on an incline... so that will get stored away for whenever we have the next baby.


She is very interested in her toes, but only goes for them if we are holding her in a sitting position so she can lean forward to them, she won't pick them up when she is laying down.


I think I will be starting her on some solids soon. Maybe Rice Cereal, although I have heard that most babies really don't like it, any suggestions to alternatives? She is highly interested in what we eat when we are eating. I have given her little tastes of basic things and she is fascinated! tiny tastes of Vanilla Fro-Yo, nibbles of wheat bread, she eats them up and then looks at me as if to say, "Okay mom, can I have some more now? Keep it coming!"

Here are her stats

Weight: 14lbs 4oz (50-75%)
Height: 24 1/2 in (50-75%)
Head:41 3/4 cm (50-75%)

clingy

Mommies, how do you deal when your baby is at the stage when all they want is to see you, and you can't leave them alone for a second without them screaming?I try to give her lots of things to entertain her, but she just freaks out, I try to change her environment periodically, but I can't be constantly doing that... I am at a loss... and not getting much done!

I have tried leaving her to cry it out, and come when she calms down, that doesn't work so well, she just seems to scream harder and longer.

If I am sitting right next to her, she is happy, for a while sometimes, if I am holding her she is fine usually. If I walk out of her sight, she freaks.

I really don't know how single parents' do it... I am soooooo glad some nights when Kyle comes home so he can take her and I can get a break from all the fussing!


Speaking of, the light of my life has woken from her nap and is crying in the next room, so I will go and get her now.

PS. She was up and crying pretty much alllllll last night, I think Kyle and I got 3-4 hours of sleep, which is weird for her, because she has been sleeping through the night consistently for a few weeks now... girlfriend would not sleep! She wasn't hurt, hungry, stuck, etc. Finally we just had to let her cry until she conked out, and then she slept like a dream!


PPS. Because she is normally a sweetheart and a joy.
See below....

Miss America

I don't know why these loaded in sideways... argh, just tilt your head to the left and they will look right...

Here is Evelyn's Fourth of July outfit, my mom bought it for one of the baby showers, SO cute!!!!
I added the bow...

This is her glamor shot. Yes, I'm fabulous, who wants to know?

Mom, are you really taking my picture during church?
Why yes I am. I don't want to risk losing your good attitude before I can get a cute picture of you, and you are playing so happily!



Oh.My.Gosh. The bow. The bow just completes the outfit! I love it. It's darling. I may make her wear one every.day.for.the.rest.of.her.life. so cute!

The heat makes her so sleepy! luckily it means good naps though!

God's proof that I NEED. yes need. a fancy shmancy DSLR. my point and shoot's shutter speed is for the birds. Anyone want to buy me one?


We went to church in the morning, had a potluck afterward, went home and tried to cool off. Went to Kyle's parent's for a dinner barbecue. Left the camera at home next to the couch after I took her sleeping picture, so there are no pictures from the rest of the day. bummer!!! Well, my mom took a couple pictures, so maybe I can get them from her... Walked to a local park where we could watch the fireworks going off. Evelyn slept through the whole show, only slightly starting when a few of the big ones went off all right in a row, but never waking up, yay! Kyle was convinced it was a bad idea to take her to the actual location where they were shooting off the fireworks, instead of watching from a distance where we couldn't really hear them. I am glad she was able to prove him wrong. there is just something wrong about watching fireworks and not getting to hear or feel the booms!!!

I love Independence day! It is one of my favorite holidays!!!

3 months!

I have been a mother for 3 whole months now! Craziness!!


Little tipsy!

Oh mom... do I have to take more pictures?
Yes. Yes you do.
Oh, hello!

Fallin' down here mom! Are we done yet?


Why, yes, I would like to discuss the ramifications of...

She is such a big girl! No stats, since she doesn't see the Ped. this month, but I got on the scale with her and then without her and I think she weighs about 13 lbs now. No, I will not tell you how much I weighed when I got on the scale without her. That is none of your business!

Also, this is how she sleeps in our bed, is it any wonder that I prefer her to sleep in her own bed? and she tends to roll to my side. Only my side. Not Kyle's. Stinker.



And this is our new dinner seating arrangement, it works very well for us, thank you.

I have started something...

Last night on Facebook I posted that my baby girl was sleeping in her room, in her crib, for the very first time since we brought her home. The first time she would sleep in a room that I wasn't in too. Now I knew it was for good, but it still made me sad. Kyle posted essentially the same thing...

Well, that brought about comments from a few of my friends, from each end of the debate on the Family Bed.

it got me thinking, and here are my thoughts on the whole thing, disjointed as they may be, because they would not fit on a Facebook comment...


I am all for the Family Bed. I think it's a wonderful idea and I read about my friends who have their kids all snuggled in with them and it sounds beautiful! But... I also need my space. I like to have room to sleep as I want, to roll over and not move a child.

To this point Evelyn has slept in her cradle right next to our bed, at first on Kyle's side, and then when he started work again and needed his sleep, on my side so we could get her right away when she would wake at night.

For the last month she has been consistently sleeping through the night (yay!!!!) through no part of me, (I dunno how she did it, she just did and I am not going to stop her!). Well, if she is not going to need to be fed in the middle of the night then there is really no reason for her to be in my room when she has her own... plus she is getting a bit too big for the cradle.

Now, I know to some people, whether or not their baby/child sleeps through the night they will keep them in their room for as long as they can. I have friends with two small children, with two small beds in their parent's room, and they all love it! (they have room for the children to have their own rooms, but choose not to utilize it right now) I don't know that I could do that.

My parent's had my brother in their room until he was two, then he moved into my sister and my room until we remodeled and we all had our own rooms. I don't know what they did for my sister and me, as I was too small to remember, but I am sure it was similar.

I am all for babies in bed with mom and dad, to a point. If my baby girl comes toddling down the hall and says "mommy up!" then by all means I am going to pull her into bed with me and snuggle until it is time to get up! My parent's did with me (until I decided sleeping sideways in the bed with my head in one's ribs and my feet in the others was the way to go, hehehe! sorry mom and dad...), I loved that security knowing they were there for me to go to. I want my kids to feel comfortable crawling into my bed in the morning and knowing that we can have that time together as a family, to slowly go into our day. My friend Lindsey does that and I love it!

One of the things that came up was how do you go about your "marriage business" if your babies are in the same room as you. Well, I don't know about older children, but for us, Evelyn is a fairly good sleeper, also, when we *ahem* we aren't exactly swinging from the rafters. We did try to keep it down, but we also didn't feel as though we needed to take it to another room, and by the time we got around to it, she had usually been asleep for awhile.


Now I know I had a lot of other thoughts on this matter, but when I was composing this in my head earlier I didn't take good notes and have now forgotten what I was going to say... so that's all I got for now. Take it or leave it. Start new debates... Just please keep it civil people!


and here is a picture of the cutie who started the debate... because it's my blog and I can!
she's so cute!

sleep

Any tips on getting a baby to take proper naps without you holding them the entire time? Evelyn naps, but when put her down she wakes up screaming in about 10 minutes. We have started night time sleep training (letting her scream it out, going in to comfort her, but not picking her up on the doctor's recommendation). I have started trying that for her naps today, and it has been hard. I am currently holding a sleeping baby who fell asleep as soon as I picked her up... *sigh*
The last two nights have consisted of an hour of crying before she falls asleep, with the last 15 minutes or so being really MAD cries, and at that point she doesn't settle down when we come in anymore.

Any books or tips you can recommend would be welcomed!

We have already been recommended (I am using that word a lot this post!) "on becoming baby wise"

Also, any tips on getting her to sleep longer? She goes for about 6 hours at night (not bad) but wakes up at 4 or 5 like clockwork convinced she is going to starve! She is 12 pounds, so I know she isn't going to starve and she is plenty big enough to go without a nighttime feeding. Should I just try to conquer one thing at a time? I would love to be able to sleep through to 6 or 7 or even 8.... bliss!

Evelyn's 2 month stats

Hi, My name is Evelyn and I am 2 months old! Aren't I cute?


Evelyn is growing so fast! she needs to stop now... *sigh* but she is so cute! Promptly after taking these pictures she spit up all over her cute, previously clean, outfit... at least she waited until after?

Height 22.75" (75th percentile)
Weight 12lbs (75th percentile)
Head 39.5(cm???) (75th percentile)

I am amused that she is 75% all around, Kyle likes that she is above average :) he is hoping she will be a prodigy...






She is trying to roll over already, don't know that I am ready for that... and she can sort of scoot herself around in circles or very short distances when she is doing tummy time!

Evelyn is getting closer to sleeping all the way through the night, she currently will go about 5-6 hours (which she started doing on her own!) but no longer...

If you think about it, around 10 pm PST we will be putting her in her bed to put herself to sleep... it is going to be a looooooooong night. The doctor said this will be the hardest night, and then it gets easier and after 3 nights she should be fine... We have been rocking her to sleep, but as soon as we put her in her cradle she wakes up and starts screaming, so now we start this. We were going to start last night, but she had shots yesterday and I figured she had had a hard enough day already...