Absent & Mini Update

Reasons for my absence?
1. Laptop is broken.
2. I can't easily blog/upload photos from my iPad.
3. My baby toddler consumes all of my time.

Olive had her 1st birthday party and we went to the zoo on her actual birthday.
She is now 13 months and is such a funny, happy, smart, curious, moody girl.  :)  She is walking now!  She started walking just shy of 13 months.  It's really crazy how fast she gets around now.  She is now trying to climb things.

I'm thinking about starting to wean her.  She is still waking once between 3-4 am and wants to nurse to soothe herself back to sleep.  She doesn't take a paci or suck her thumb. We're working on weaning her from that session and then I'll cut out naps and morning and still keep the bedtime routine.

I'm also really working on her taking naps in her crib.  It's such a struggle.  While we were out of town for Thanksgiving she took 2 naps/day out of my arms with no problem.  We get back home and she is not having it. I still nurse her until she falls asleep and have to transfer her to her crib.  I know. I know. Bad. Maybe we need to work on CIO/Ferberizing before I start weaning her. The few times we've tried CIO it hasn't worked, but we're also not consistent. We give in because she gets so worked up. This girl is persistent. Whatever career patch she chooses she'll be successful because she never gives up. :)

She is a finicky eater at times.  She loves certain vegetables and loves her carbs.  And she always tries to get in on my goodies during my snack time. :)

She enjoys screaming, dancing, listening to music, shaking her head, walking outside, feeding her siblings her food and then tries to get into their food/water bowl. She bites. She bites when I tell her "No" or when I remove her from an area.

It'll be interesting to see how she does when the Christmas tree goes up. There will be no breakable/fragile/sentimental ornaments going up this year.

I've considered abandoning this blog, but when I get time I'd like to have a place to vent or update how Olive is growing and changing and how I'm managing as a stay-at-home mama.  I'd like to keep it going so that one day I can share it with Olive.  We'll see how it goes.  Bye for now!

Olive's First Birthday Party (Owl-themed)

Olive's owl-themed 1st Birthday Party was over a month ago.  

I just wanted to take a minute since I finally got one (Olive is napping out of my arms) and share a few birthday photos and vendor links.

Birthday Banner, Party Hats & Favor tags from Etsy Seller Boogaboo. I highly recommend Elle. She matched the owls so perfectly from our invite.

 Owl pops. Idea can be found here. We did cocoa krispies instead of coating rice krispies in chocolate and skipped the stick.  :)

Monthly photos

The birthday girl!
Hat, Bloomers & Bib from Etsy seller LauraBelleKids
Dress from Etsy seller MyLittleFireflies

Olive's Owl Cake turned out wonderful.  Dan did a great job. 

Recipe

Olive and her Bradley buddies

It was a fun day. Olive was acting a little shy & had a little meltdown with so many family & friends coming up to her, but once it died down a bit she was back to her normal happy self.  

Happy Halloween!

From Wonder Woman and some of the other members of the Justice League.  :)

Happy Birthday to my Olive!

Age: 12 months/1 year 
Weight: 22 lbs. 1 oz. (68th percentile)
Height:  29.25 inches (56th percentile)
Clothing: 12-18 months
Head circumference: 18.27 inches (85th percentile)
Sleeping habits: Same as last month, some nights she wakes once, some nights she wakes twice, some nights she wakes up screaming her head off and some nights she sleeps through the night. Some nights she refuses to go to bed until close to 11 at night. She still naps in my arms. She takes 2 naps per day, one short morning nap and one afternoon 1.5-2 hour nap.
Eating habits: Nursing & solids. We made it to 1 year. Yay!
Favorite activity: Helping unload dishwasher (grabbing for spoons & dropping them), pushing PNP or toy box, listening to music & dancing. She enjoys going through my legs when I'm standing.
Cutest Moment of the Month: Throwing her head on us for snuggles, laughing along with us like she knows what we're laughing at, holding the phone up to her ear and talking and pretending to eat something then smacking her lips.
Milestones:

• Walks with one hand held
• May stand alone and attempt first steps alone
• Sits down from standing position without help
• Attempts to build two block tower but may fail
• Turns pages in a book
• Follows rapidly moving objects
• Says three or more words other than "mama" or "dada"
• Comprehends the meaning of several words
• Repeats the same words over & over again
• Imitates sounds, such as the sounds dogs and cats make
• Recognizes objects by name
• Understands simple verbal commands
• Shows affection
• Shows independence in familiar surrounding
• Clings to parents in strange situation
• Searches for object where it was last seen

Firsts: She had her 1st birthday party! An owl-themed birthday party of course.  She slept on daddy, on recliner from 6:30-8:30 am. She climbed on dishwasher door for the 1st time. She got her first big booboo 4 days before her party, right on her eyelid when she slipped and hit her eye on the bottom edge of the fridge. :( 

Updates: Holy smokes we have a toddler. I can't believe my baby is 1. This past year just flew by. Olive isn't walking yet. She has taken several unassisted steps, but still prefers assistance. :) She puts like items together (i.e. shapes from shape sorter). She reaches for your hand when she wants to walk. She began stacking her rings. She likes going through the play tunnel. She attempts to put shapes in shape sorter. She is babbling more and sounds like Sylvester the cat sometimes. :) She says "Mama" & "Da", but her most used word is still "Bah". Olive's personality is amazing. I hope it sticks.  :) 

Happy 11 months, Olive!

Age: 11 months
Weight: 22 lbs. (72nd percentile)
Height: ~29 inches (56th percentile)
Clothing: 12-18 months
Head circumference: ~18 1/2 inches (94th percentile)
Sleeping habits: Some nights she wakes once, some nights she wakes twice, some nights she wakes up screaming her head off and some nights she sleeps through the night. She still naps in my arms. She takes 2 naps per day.
Eating habits: Nursing & solids. She prefers when daddy feeds her.
Favorite activity: She loves getting in her sibling's dog beds. She loves the fridge & pantry. She loves to dance. She likes when others laugh and she laughs too. She enjoys throwing toys and clothes/towels out of their boxes or baskets.
Cutest Moment of the Month: When she makes funny faces and everyone laughs and she does it over and over again.
Milestones:

• Walks holding on to furniture or other objects
• Places one object after another into a container
• Reaches back to pick up an object when sitting
• Explores objects more thoroughly
• Able to manipulate objects out of tight fitting spaces
• Rolls a ball when asked
• Becomes excited when a task is mastered
• Acts frustrated when restricted
• Shakes head for "no"

Firsts: She went to the Children's museum for the first time. She found her first leaf. She got her 1st pair of outdoor shoes. :)

Updates: Olive now has 7 teeth (4 on top, 3 on bottom).  She is cruising a lot more and taking more unassisted steps, but I have yet to record any. She understands 2 Spanish words (besito and sentate) and responds with kisses or sitting down.  :). She let her daddy rock her back to sleep 2 times this month. Yay! The moment I put her shoes on she heads for the door. She is now a screamer. She screams when she is excited and if you laugh she comtinues doing it. She gets so upset if she is told "No" or restricted from doing things, like getting into dog food or water. She loves walking outside. She loves watching people play instruments. Olive still only says Ba,BaBa or Ma.  She is the best.  This age is so much fun. I'm not quite ready for her to become toddler. I just want to bottle up some of these precious moments. I love this little girl so much!

Happy 10 months, Olive!

Age: 10 months
Weight: 21 lbs. (69th percentile)
Height: ~28 1/2 inches (56th percentile)
Clothing: sizes 9 & 12 months
Head circumference: 18 inches (82nd percentile)
Sleeping: Her upper incisors are coming in so that has affected her sleep. Some nights she wakes once and some nights she sleeps right through until morning. She still naps in my arms. She takes 2-3 naps per day.
Eating habits: Nursing. Eating solids twice a day. She prefers eating what we do and doesn't care too much for pureed foods. She loves grapes!
Favorite activity: She loves to give her pups kisses, but sometimes she likes to kick them as she walk by. She enjoys kicking balls or plastic snap ware around the house. She likes throwing or rolling the ball to us. She loves trying on our shoes. She loves to make noise or "play music" by hitting two or more objects together. She loves to dance.
Cutest Moment of the Month: Walking really fast to the door when she hears Papa coming home and when she dances!
Milestones:

Goes from stomach to sitting position

• Sits by falling down
• Recovers balance easily while sitting
• Lifts one foot to take a step while standing
• Comprehends "bye-bye"
• Says "dada" or "mama" with meaning
• Says one other word beside "mama" and "dada" (hi, bye, no, go)
• Waves bye
• Object permanence begins to develop
• Repeats actions that attract attention
• Plays interactive games such a "pat-a-cake"
• Enjoys being read to and follows pictures in books

Firsts: She went to the library and storytime for the 1st time. She had her 1st cold. Taking more of your first unassisted steps!
Updates: Olive is crawling now! She started army crawling right at 9 months and then about a week ago she started crawling. She sometimes still picks up that one foot, but she is learning to get around any way she can. Her preferred method of movement is still walking assisted. She started saying Mama, Ma, Mum again and refers to Dad as Bah. She kisses when I ask for one. She hates being told "No" and when I try to redirect her from a No No area. She tries to bite me when I tell her "No" or pull her arm away from something she shouldn't be touching. She points a lot now. She dances and it's the best. She enjoys story time and it's a nice place for her to socialize with other babies. It's amazing how time flies and we're now planning a birthday party for our vivacious daughter.

Olive crawls & dances

Olive finally started crawling this past month. At times she still keeps one knee off the ground, but hey whatever works to get from point A to point B. I'm still so nervous she is going to bonk her head on the travertine floor on the 1st floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdsLwD7Lv0c

And she dances too! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bISw4v-Kaus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf8vwyevO5I

Tired

I'm tired. This mommy business has been rough the past few days. I know, I know. This too shall pass, but it's hard to see that when you are in the thick of it. It's like a 9-month test, a test that measures if I'm really cut out for this. She consumes all of my time. I'm a stay-at-home mama. This is my job. But this is a job where I don't get to clock out, I don't get to leave. I feel like I'm doing most of the work. Is that normal? Is that a mom's role? Sure Dan helps out the best he can, but this kid only wants me and it drives me crazy sometimes. She looks for me when I step away, while in her dad's arms she stares at me until I acknowledge her, I'm the only one who can do bed time.

After a night of my kid not wanting to fall asleep until11:30 p.m., a failed attempt at CIO and then her waking at 6:00 a.m. and screaming her head off when I went to put her back in her crib, then trying to sleep on the glider with a very active sleeping infant I woke up this morning with the thought of wanting to run away. I must have hit that point that many parents do.

It's not just her. It's everything.

I'm tired of having a high-needs baby who only wants me all.the.time.
I'm tired of sleepless nights.
I'm tired of my unorganized home.
I'm tired of three-story living.
I'm tired of my husband's starving artist career.
I'm tired of the messy garage.
I'm tired of having a sore back and sore knees.
I'm tired of carrying a 21 lb. baby.
I'm tired of having to care for 2 geriatric dogs.
I'm tired of naps being taken in my arms.
I'm tired of not being able to clean house because naps are taken in my arms.
I'm tired of being the only one capable of cleaning the house.
I'm tired of only having 1 car.
I'm tired of having an unfinished nursery.
I'm tired of said nursery being in the open loft.
I'm tired of in-laws.
I'm tired of not having any "me" time.
I'm tired of rushing through showers.
I'm tired of not being able to fix my hair.
I'm tired of always having to entertain my child.
I'm tired of being a parent.
I'm tired of the responsibility.
I'm tired of having someone depend on me.
I'm just tired.

After a quick breakfast & potty break, I was able to see past the rough days/nights and smile at and laugh with my daughter. I know I'll have these moments. I know it's normal. It sucks to feel all of this, but it feels good to get it all out too. It's hard not letting the little things get to me.

I'm always telling mommies to be sure to take time for themselves. It looks like I need to take my own advice. And maybe I won't run away just yet, but I just might have to rethink having another. ;-)

Olive being Olive

I just wanted to share 2 videos of my girl.

The first was taken a few weeks ago and it is her reaction to her new car seat. I just love that high-pitched sound she makes. It's kind of her thing. She does it all the time and it makes everyone laugh.

And the second is just Olive being Olive and her amazing laughter. :)

Happy 9 months, Olive!

Age: 9 months

Weight: 21 lbs. (84th percentile)

Height: 27.75 inches (57th percentile)
Clothing: sizes 9 & 12 months and some 6 month onesies.

Head circumference: 17.91 inches (88th percentile)

Sleeping: Again, many nights this month have been spent on the glider. I think her teeth have been irritating her and she wakes up screaming in the middle of the night. Naps are still taken in mama's arms and kind of off schedule. I used to know when nap time would be, but now they are kind of all over the place.

Eating habits: Nursing. She is eating solids twice a day (lunch & dinner) with snacks in between. Right now she prefers fruit over vegetables and prefers cut up fruits/vegetables over pureed food. I don't blame her.

Favorite activity: She loves "walking" around the house, biting on everything and her stackable cups. She enjoys playing in her PNP. She loves Murray from Sesame Street and Po from Kung Fu Panda. She enjoys petting (a little too hard sometimes) her siblings and chasing them around the house.

Cutest Moment of the Month: Walking and seeing her face light up when she takes those steps. Fake coughing to get attention from somebody and laughing out loud because she thinks it's funny. And when she pulls my shirt out and looks inside or bites the outside of my shirt to let me know she wants to nurse. :)

Milestones:

Begins crawling

Pulls up to standing position from sitting

Sits for a prolonged time (10minutes)

May develop a preference for use of one hand

Uses thumb and index finger to pick up objects

Responds to simple verbal commands

Comprehends "no no"

Increased interest in pleasing parents

Puts arms in front of face to avoid having it washed

Firsts: She got her 1st tooth at about 8.5 months and the 2nd bottom one came out today. She fell asleep on her Papa for the 1st time and has done it a few times now. And you took your 1st unassisted steps last night, but we didn't get it on camera. Next time! She pulled herself up to the ottoman and is continuing to practice pulling herself up on things.

Updates: Olive is a talker. I think she's going to be a lot like her daddy and will enjoy making me laugh. :) She started cruising this month and actually took her 1st unassisted steps last night (1 day before her 9 month birthday!). She stands unassisted for a few seconds. Thanks to the help of her mama, her dinosaur walker, her walking wings and Olive's determination I think she'll be walking really soon. Aaaah! My anxiety level went up a ton. Now that she knows she can get around by "walking" she absolutely hates her RNP which is where I used to have her sit while I bathed. I think it's the reclined position that she hates which is one reason we switched her to a convertible car seat. She prefers it over her infant car seat right now. She is beginning to sit up from a lying down position. She still has not crawled, but has begun putting one knee up kind of like in a frog pose if that makes sense. My mom said I didn't like putting my knees on the ground when I was a baby and Olive is the same way. She started clapping and dancing and it is absolutely adorable. She waves hi/bye. She loves to cough to get our attention and when we respond with a cough she just cracks up. Her laughter is amazing and contagious. She's a mama's girl. Even though it wears me out at times I kind of love it because I know that one day all she'll want is daddy. I'll enjoy this moment while it lasts. I just love this little girl and can't imagine my life without her. It's amazing how much she has changed in just one month!

Olive & her great grandma

Olive only has 1 living great grandmother.

Olive has visited with her two times since she has been born.

Olive loves her Ouida. :)

It is so rare for Olive to be comfortable around others so we found it funny how much she enjoys visiting with her great grandmother.

They have a special relationship. :)

I love this picture.

5 months

8 months

As we're walking out Olive placed a hand on her. So sweet.

Olive's 1st Fourth of July

Olive spent her 1st Independence Day at the farmhouse.

this pic was taken when we returned from Houston

Just me and my girl

There was a fire ban so no fireworks this year, but maybe next year.

Happy 8 months, Olive!

Age: 8 months

Weight: 20 lbs. 10 oz. (80th percentile)

Height: 27 1/2 inches (59th percentile)
Clothing: sizes 6, 9 & 12 months.

Head circumference: ~17 inches (33rd percentile)

Sleeping: Many nights this month were spent on the glider, but for the most part she wakes once a night. Sometimes I'm able to put her back in her crib without her crying and other times I find myself co-sleeping on the glider the next morning. We're still battling nap time. She still sleeps on me. :-/ She wakes and screams a lot as soon as I put her in her crib or PNP for nap time. And once she is awake and screaming there is no calming her without picking her up. So I either hold her and have nap or attempt to put her in her crib for naps and she wakes up and is missing her nap time. Ugh. I've tried to let her CIO (cry it out) for nap time, but it didn't work for either of us.

Eating habits: Nursing. Sometimes she has milk from a bottle when I'm away or we are out and about (we don't NIP). She is eating solids once a day. I'm thinking about offering her solids twice a day.

Favorite activity: She is a chatty one...just like Papa. She enjoys bath time and playing with her toys and wash cloths. She likes her stackable cups, reading her books and chewing on about every hard object she can find.

Cutest Moment of the Month: "Riding" the horse at the store, Mimicking when I scratched and tapped the block and trying to put a shape in her shape sorter.

Milestones:

Sits well without support

Bears weight on legs and may stand holding on to furniture

Adjusts posture to reach an object

Picks up objects using index, fourth, and fifth finger against thumb

Able to release objects

Pulls string to obtain object

Reaches for toys that are out of reach

Listens selectively to familiar words

Begins combining syllables like "mama" and "dada" but does not attach a meaning

Understands the word no (but does not always obey it!)

Dislikes diaper change and being dressed

Firsts: She enjoyed her first dip in Nana & PohPoh's pool. She has waved. She says "Mama" more, "Da" and "BahBah" when she sees Baby Dan or Sissy (we call Baby Dan "Bubba"). She began mimicking me with action and words. She enjoyed her first "pony ride" on a quarter machine at the store. :)

Updates: She sits better unassisted, but I'm still not comfortable leaving her by herself. She has been standing unassisted and loves to "walk". She holds onto our fingers or we hold onto her and she takes steps. Now that she knows she can get around with our assistance she doesn't want to sit for long. She has found a way to get off the couch. She'll sit on my lap, lean her body forward until she is facing the couch and slide down. She is easily frustrated like her Papa and she is stubborn like her Mama. She has been getting these red bumps on her arms and legs. For the longest time I thought they were mosquito bites, a heat rash or maybe an allergic reaction to detergent. We took her to the pediatrician and he said they are viral hives and nothing to worry about & they are not contagious. Hives occur when the body releases histamine, it's the bodies way of reacting when it thinks there is an allergy. Although they look awful at times she doesn't seem bothered by them.

Father's Day 2012

For Dan's first Father's Day Olive and I made him a coffee mug. It has pictures of just the two of them from the day she was born up until maybe she was 6.5 months old. It reads Papa and Olive. :) He loves it.

I captured these pics of Olive for Dan. It was hard work trying to get her to pose with these letters. I just love the way it turned out! I love her expression and how she is holding the "D" in the 3rd pic.

I wish I had thought about doing a MOM pic for Mother's Day. There's always next year. :)

Just a sweet moment between Papa and Olive.

She never does this. :)

Melts my heart.

Happy Father's Day to a wonderful Dad.

We all love you!

What Olive has been up to

Olive has been a busy little girl.

She took a dip for the first time in Nana and Poh Poh's pool.

She started waving a few weeks ago.

Olive waves

And when she was tired of waving she shooed me away. LOL

No more waving

She has been chatting up a storm.

She is moving backwards on her play mat, but not crawling yet.

She copies Mama.

Olive mimics Mama

She enjoys a good book every now and then. :)

And she still makes time to enjoy horseback riding. :)

Happy 7 months, Olive!

Age: 7 months

Weight:   19.5 lbs. (84th percentile)

Height:   ~27 1/4 inches (71st percentile)
Clothing: sizes 6, 9, 12 months & 18 month swim suit. 

Head circumference:  17.5 inches (82nd percentile)

Sleeping: There are nights where she wakes up in the middle of the night and there was one night where she reverted to being a newborn and woke up 3 times in one night.  It used to be easy to fall asleep with her on the glider, but now that she is moving a lot in her crib when she is asleep in my arms she still moves a lot and I don't sleep.  

Eating habits: Nursing. Sometimes she has milk from a bottle when I'm away or I have to go out and about.  I can't NIP because she is so distracted these days and will quickly throw that nursing cover up. She is eating solids once a day. She has enjoyed most foods, except for bananas.  :)

Favorite activity: She loves the tags on any clothing or toy. She also loves the buckles and straps on her super seat, RNP and changing station. She enjoys talking, screaming, laughing, listening to music, playing with her rattles and making loud noises.  She tends to stroke her hair while nursing.

Cutest Moment of the Month:  Making funny faces when trying new foods & just the look of excitement when she knows she is about to eat. Also, learned how to do "tope" with mama and a few others.  "Tope" is a very soft head butt.  

Milestones: 

Sits without support, may lean forward on both hands

Bears full weight on feet

Bounces when held in standing position

Bears weight on one hand when lying on stomach

Transfers objects from one hand to another

Bangs objects on surfaces

Able to fixate on small objects

Responds to name

Awareness of depth and space begin

Has taste preferences

"Talks" when others are talking

Firsts: Stayed with her Nana & PohPoh for the 1st time for 2 hours while Mama and Daddy celebrated their anniversary! She learned "tope" and she sat in a swing at the park.

Updates: She is now starting to sit without support.  She catches herself when she feels like she is falling backwards.  She has not begun to crawl yet, but she "inch worms" it. :) I think her legs are strong enough, but her upper body hasn't caught up.  There is still plenty of time. There is no rush because I hear that once they are off on their own, that's it.  They are then all over the place and into everything. :)  She does prefer to stand and it looks at times like she wants to pull herself up on the ottoman. She has been teething since she was 2 months old and there are still no teeth in her mouth.  Again, no rush.  I'm not looking forward to her possibly biting me while nursing. She already tends to teeth on my nipple. Ow! 

Can an infant have tantrums? Mine definitely seems to. Once again it has become hard to get anything done around the house when we're by ourselves (sometimes even bathe) without her screaming her head off.  She is still an amazing and fun little girl.  Watching her grow and change and learn new things is so exciting.  Her laugh is contagious.  She is so ticklish around her neck, feet, ribs and inner thighs.