Sunday, July 8, 2012
Done!
Blanket is finished and gifted to a dear friends little baby boy :) Helpful tip: don't wait till after you've had a baby to finish a project that's already late!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The Locklins
Our dear friends Kevin, Lisa, and their little one Chloe came into town this past week so we had a UCI FEMBA group get together at Mothers Beach in LB on Saturday :) It was so nice to see everyone and the babies that have emerged! It's been 1 year since graduation and so much has happened! New jobs, new babies, and busy lives :) Violet rode on a swing for the first time... Between blankets and towels :)
We just love the Locklins! They're fantastic parents to little Chloe and inspire us to be 'pick up, pack up, and go' type parents :) Even before having Violet, Kevin shared with us that it's a choice you have to make, to take your little one with you on adventures. You just need to have a patient and relaxed mindset to think, 'let's go _______, want to?' And then grab the essentials and walk out the door :) It's that 'keep calm and carry on' business :) Again, their calmness, positive nature, creativity, patience, and happiness are why we love the Locklins :) We wish we saw them more often and that they lived closer, but weekend get togethers will do :)
My only regret of the day was a horrible burn on my shoulders which is going to turn into some nasty tan lines... Sunscreen should've been worn! After coming home we were both exhausted... Matt took a nap with Odie :)
We just love the Locklins! They're fantastic parents to little Chloe and inspire us to be 'pick up, pack up, and go' type parents :) Even before having Violet, Kevin shared with us that it's a choice you have to make, to take your little one with you on adventures. You just need to have a patient and relaxed mindset to think, 'let's go _______, want to?' And then grab the essentials and walk out the door :) It's that 'keep calm and carry on' business :) Again, their calmness, positive nature, creativity, patience, and happiness are why we love the Locklins :) We wish we saw them more often and that they lived closer, but weekend get togethers will do :)
My only regret of the day was a horrible burn on my shoulders which is going to turn into some nasty tan lines... Sunscreen should've been worn! After coming home we were both exhausted... Matt took a nap with Odie :)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Afternoon Tea
I love tea :) Today I'm having pineapple lychee by the Republic of Tea with some local raw orange blossom honey :) They say that if you have allergies or get sick a lot, you should eat at least a tablespoon a day of some local honey. They say to do that where you travel as well to boost your immunity to new bugs. I learned that while studying abroad in New Zealand and ate enough Manuka honey to turn into a large kiwi bee. It's still my favorite honey :) Here Manuka honey goes for $30 a jar!
I've also found 2 of my favorite things in 1 tasty treat: panda bear meets gummy bear. They're quite delicious as an organic substitute for my favorite candy of all time: Haribo gummy bears. Definitely not the same though because they ACTUALLY taste like grapefruit rather than a sugar concoction... Did I mention I LOVE Haribo gummy bears? Mmmmmm sugar concoction!
So if it hasn't been obvious by my posts, Violet is a wonderful sleeper... At night. I've been trying to work on daytime naps for the past week since she's up pretty much all day. I've been aiming for 3 naps, 1 hr each (or just 3 hrs total in any form) - right now she does a couple of 30 minute naps and not a minute longer. Today we had a breakthrough with 2 naps so far at 55 minutes long! Just spectacular if you ask me!
So far it's been a great day... Visit from papa, lunch with daddy and papa, 2 naps, tea, gummy bears, AND V didn't scream in her carseat! I'd like to give a big giant thank you to Violet's gramma (Harrison) for suggesting we take out the head support cushion! It made a huge difference :)
I've also found 2 of my favorite things in 1 tasty treat: panda bear meets gummy bear. They're quite delicious as an organic substitute for my favorite candy of all time: Haribo gummy bears. Definitely not the same though because they ACTUALLY taste like grapefruit rather than a sugar concoction... Did I mention I LOVE Haribo gummy bears? Mmmmmm sugar concoction!
So if it hasn't been obvious by my posts, Violet is a wonderful sleeper... At night. I've been trying to work on daytime naps for the past week since she's up pretty much all day. I've been aiming for 3 naps, 1 hr each (or just 3 hrs total in any form) - right now she does a couple of 30 minute naps and not a minute longer. Today we had a breakthrough with 2 naps so far at 55 minutes long! Just spectacular if you ask me!
So far it's been a great day... Visit from papa, lunch with daddy and papa, 2 naps, tea, gummy bears, AND V didn't scream in her carseat! I'd like to give a big giant thank you to Violet's gramma (Harrison) for suggesting we take out the head support cushion! It made a huge difference :)
Something Is Gonna Work!
Oh sheesh! So a few of you know how hard we worked to get Violet to be a nursing baby in the first 2-3 weeks of her life. Well... Now this nursing baby is refusing bottles! She started successfully taking a bottle at least 1x a day from Matt when she was 5 weeks old. We've even left her for 9 hrs at a time while at a wedding, date, etc. and she's done great!
Well, not anymore! Our biggest mistake was skipping a bottle for 3-4 weeks (due to schedules, me being out of town with V, sickness, etc.). Then at 3 months old she decided 'NOPE! You can't make me!' For the past 2 weeks we've been trying everything! From changing feeding positions, to different bottles (see the pic), to having my OT feeding therapist friend come over... Oh sheesh! I'm just super worried because I go back to work in August and she goes to daycare.
I emailed Susan Orr our amazing lactation specialist and she got back to me in less than an hour! She gave us a sheet of tips and instructions to try 2x a day for 2-3 weeks. I really hope this works :) I completely trust her knowledge because of how much she's done for us already. She mentioned that she finds that the babies who have trouble latching in the beginning are the ones who have difficulty with the bottle when a lapse in time has occurred between bottles... That's us I guess! It's lots of hard work, but we'll get it :)
Well, not anymore! Our biggest mistake was skipping a bottle for 3-4 weeks (due to schedules, me being out of town with V, sickness, etc.). Then at 3 months old she decided 'NOPE! You can't make me!' For the past 2 weeks we've been trying everything! From changing feeding positions, to different bottles (see the pic), to having my OT feeding therapist friend come over... Oh sheesh! I'm just super worried because I go back to work in August and she goes to daycare.
I emailed Susan Orr our amazing lactation specialist and she got back to me in less than an hour! She gave us a sheet of tips and instructions to try 2x a day for 2-3 weeks. I really hope this works :) I completely trust her knowledge because of how much she's done for us already. She mentioned that she finds that the babies who have trouble latching in the beginning are the ones who have difficulty with the bottle when a lapse in time has occurred between bottles... That's us I guess! It's lots of hard work, but we'll get it :)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Happy Fourth!
Today was such a fantastic day with Matt, Odie, and Violet :) We drove out to Redlands in the morning to enjoy the festivities at Sylvan Park with family :) This year by far has been the busiest yet! There were so many people, it was great! Maybe it had something to do with the fabulous weather? I wore jeans all day and never once felt hot or gross :) I was even a little cold in the shade! Usually Redlands has a heat wave around the 4th of July coming in at clear over 100 degrees, but not this year!
Things I fell in love with today:
* The perfect weather
* Seeing family!
* Watching my nieces and nephew play together :)
* The cupcake truck - we had an apple pie one!
* My mother in law's potato salad eaten with her home made baked beans! And home made strawberry shortcake!
* Sitting with GG and watching Violet smile at her and chat GG's ear off
* Listening to V giggle with her Auntys
* Odie's ability to be ANYWHERE at ANYTIME
* How Matt thinks that chili cheese nachos with jalapeño is a good idea in the morning... From a food stand!
* Watching one of my nieces dote on our Odie (it really just melts my heart) :)
This is our very first 4th of July with Odie (last year we went to a dear friend's wedding and left him home). We're home now and we're curious to see how he does with the fireworks. I hope his little pup ears are ok :)
Things I fell in love with today:
* The perfect weather
* Seeing family!
* Watching my nieces and nephew play together :)
* The cupcake truck - we had an apple pie one!
* My mother in law's potato salad eaten with her home made baked beans! And home made strawberry shortcake!
* Sitting with GG and watching Violet smile at her and chat GG's ear off
* Listening to V giggle with her Auntys
* Odie's ability to be ANYWHERE at ANYTIME
* How Matt thinks that chili cheese nachos with jalapeño is a good idea in the morning... From a food stand!
* Watching one of my nieces dote on our Odie (it really just melts my heart) :)
This is our very first 4th of July with Odie (last year we went to a dear friend's wedding and left him home). We're home now and we're curious to see how he does with the fireworks. I hope his little pup ears are ok :)
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Gabby Girl
Violet is becoming so chatty! She used to coo a lot in the morning... Then it became morning and night... Now it's morning, all day, and night :) It's so cute to hear her talk to her animals, ceiling fan, curtains, pictures, books, and us :) We can't wait to hear what's on her mind!
Along with being gabby and chatty, she LOVED to tell us when she was cross today... Over and over! She did NOT want to be left alone or put down. She wanted to eat almost constantly... And not really nap much. Oh woa.
Along with being gabby and chatty, she LOVED to tell us when she was cross today... Over and over! She did NOT want to be left alone or put down. She wanted to eat almost constantly... And not really nap much. Oh woa.
Daddy
On the weekends, Odie and Violet have so much fun with daddy home :) Things like bacon and egg breakfasts (for EVERYONE - yes Odie too), rides in the clothes basket, and learning how to roll over are a regular occurrence :) Life is super amazing too when Violet hits a sleep record - 11 hrs and 20 minutes! What an angel :)
I'm also a super blessed wife to be married to a determined handy man. He does much of our house repairs... And quickly, too!!! Things like recessed lighting, hanging flat screens, painting, dry wall, etc. etc. etc. Today he's putting a drip system into my planters :) He's amazing :) Not to mention that I usually hate eggs, but LOVE his!
I'm also a super blessed wife to be married to a determined handy man. He does much of our house repairs... And quickly, too!!! Things like recessed lighting, hanging flat screens, painting, dry wall, etc. etc. etc. Today he's putting a drip system into my planters :) He's amazing :) Not to mention that I usually hate eggs, but LOVE his!
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