Olivia: 10 Months

Stats:

17.8 lbs

27.5 inches

Size: 9-12 Months

Size 3 Disposable diapers (on the rare occasion that we use them!)

Tooth Count: 4 on Top, 2 on Bottom

Nicknames: Liv, Liver Dude, Sneekle Freetzie

LOVES:

Sticking her tounge out…

Reading Books, Especially, Bright Baby Merry Christmas Touch & Feel ,Baby Animals Touch and Feel and Where’s Spot? and of course, Rainforest Discoveries AKA “Ooey Gooey”

Loves to Snuggle

Unrolling the toilet paper

Playing in the tupperware drawer

The Christmas Tree and her giraffe ornament

Unrolling wrapping paper

Puffs! & Mum-Mums

Favorite Foods: Avocado, Blueberries, and Peas.

Playing in her stuffed animal corner

Listening to dad play guitar and piano

Watching the yard guy blow leaves

the Durch

the big giant stuffed giraffe at the Macy’s Kids Department

Favorite Toys: Wooden Melissa & Doug Puzzle, Little People Nativity Set, Mom + Dad’s wooden name puzzles, small wood cars (from Canton), anything that’s not really a toy… water bottles, keys, sunglasses, socks, shoes,

Taking Tubs with Dad – Playing with tub toys while Mom gets dressed (as long as she keeps it to under 10 minutes)

The playground at Klyde Warren Park

Being Outside

Waving at strangers at the mall

Removing her socks

WubbaNubs – Definitely knows how to work a Paci

Playing with Dolls and Stuffed Animals

Sipping from Mom’s Tervis Cup

Soft Things

CRANKS:

Getting in the Car Seat

Christmas Shopping

Cranberries

Being out too late, bedtime is usually around 7:30pm

Being covered up while nursing.

Having her diaper changed

Santa

MILESTONES:

Wearing Shoes (and keeping them on!)

 Clapping

Waves Hello/Goodbye

Blows Kisses (sometimes)

 1st Thanksgiving

Meeting Santa for the 1st time

Using a Sippy Cup for water

Grabbing produce as we walk through the grocery store… or sweaters off of hangers… or branches off trees… whatever those little fingers can reach.

Stands and pulls up on EVERYTHING

Shakes Head “No” (but we’re pretty sure this means “wiggle wiggle” not actually “No”)

Signs “All Done”

Says, “Dadada (Dad), Mum Mum Mum (Mom), Geeeeee (all Giraffes), Nay Nay Nay (no idea?), Boooo, Gooo, Gahhh, Blah Blah Blah, and Dug Dug Dug (Dog?).

Talks to herself while playing in a whisper voice… especially when she’s playing with something new… or staring at the Christmas Tree

Still not sleeping through the night consistently. Still frequently wants to nurse at night… sometimes multiple times, especially when she’s sick.

Generally nursing 4-5x during the day, about every 4 hours… plus one more overnight feeding (REALLY trying to eliminate this one!)

Our Christmas Card

10 Months

Olivia: 9 Months | Olivia: 8 Months | Olivia: 7 Months

Family P: Give Thanks

A few more Thanksgivings from the Jar:

Today I am Thankful for… Being able to stay-at-home with Olivia

Today I am Thankful for…Being able to breastfeed with no complications

Today I am Thankful for… Clean Sheets and our BIG comfortable bed.

Today I am Thankful for… Hot Coffee.

Today I (Daniel) am thankful for… My Tiny Pliny

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Family P: Give Thanks

A few Thanksgivings from the Jar:

Today I am thankful forA supportive husband who will wake up with the baby when I have a migraine. Feed her Bananas. Change her poopy diaper and keep her happy until I roll out of bed.

Today I am thankful forthe happiest, most easy-going baby in the world. Who is easily entertained and independent but still loves to snuggle.

Today I am thankful formy sisters – who are truly my best friends – who accept and love me for who I am and will always be there when I need them.

Today I (Daniel) am Thankful for… Family Lunches at Home

Today We are thankful for… Baby Liv Kisses, sloppy and wet, Love Bites included. Because they are the best.

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Family P: Give Thanks

I saw an idea a while back of a pretty neat way to celebrate the season of Thanksgiving. Create a “Give Thanks” Jar to collect daily thanksgivings. Keep notecards or festive scraps of paper and pens handy to jot down things that you are thankful for – then during Thanksgiving dinner, take turns reading from the jar.

It was already very late in the day that I realized that today was Nov. 1st. I guess somehow I forgot that Nov. 1st is also the day after Halloween… So my scraps of festive paper… are almost cut. My pens… collected. My jar… not yet selected. But my thanksgivings… already overflowing.

Hopefully Day 2 will bring something as cute as this:

Via Young House Love Here

Today I am thankful for: 

My wonderful husband.

Who loves me, understands me, and laughs at my jokes. Who works SO hard to provide for our family.

Who is the man of our house, my rock and my friend.

I‘m so thankful that God gave me such an amazing man to share my life with.

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Reflections: Tea & Gratitude

Last week, for whatever reason, was REALLY long. I don’t know if it was the few nights that Daniel worked late or the 100+ degree heat 7 days in a row, or what , but I was ready for the weekend! Friday night, Daniel was working late and I had ambitious plans to get some packing and cleaning done after the baby went down. Sitting in the cool, dark nursery, rocking and singing to the baby is the surest way to kill any plans I have to be productive. Naturally, I was in no mood to clean or pack but nowhere close to being ready for bed at 7:15. Instead, I put the tea kettle on to make a cup of “Mother’s Milk Tea” (I’ve been drinking obsessively for the past few months to promote healthy lactation) and kinda zoned in front of the TV for a bit. (Something I NEVER  RARELY do!) As I finished my last sip of tea (more like… gulp. Mother’s Milk Tea –  is not delicious sipping tea) I noticed that the tag (tab?) had the following quote printed on it: 

“An attitude of gratitude brings opportunities.”

This quote reminded me of how thankful I am that we can afford for me to stay home and care for our sweet baby girl. I’ve mentioned before that it’s been an adjustment financially; requiring us to change our spending habits and reorganize our priorities. If I’m totally 100% honest, I don’t miss much at all about that pre-baby life at all. Especially when I consider what those changes mean. Sometimes it’s easy to loose track of the things we are thankful for; we take for granted some of the most important gifts. I joke about being “young and broke” but shouldn’t because we are rich in so many ways. Happiness is not found in having or doing, but in being. I need to remember to give thanks, in all seasons.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you – Thessalonians 5:18 

Tonight… I am most thankful for:

  • Our healthy and happy daughter whom I cannot imagine life without
  • My dear husband who makes the coffee every morning and loves me even when I’m cranky.
  • Our amazing families who love and support us in every way imaginable.
  • The “vintage” roof over our heads, A/C that works in 108 degree heat, and  our loyal guard Dog Durch
  • Being able to stay home with Olivia – watching her grow and learn every day.

 

Just in case you nursing mommas were wondering… Yogi makes an alternative to the popular “Organic Mother’s Milk Tea” that’s a little bit cheaper! At the recommended 3-5 cups a day, that stuff gets expensive!

Yogi Woman’s Nursing Support Tea

On Sale (right now) at Whole Foods $2.99!

Reflection: Be Still

A few nights ago, after nursing my sweet Olivia, I let her snuggle up and drift off in my arms. (I usually try to put her down semi-awake, but sleepy – trying my hand at some “sleep training.”) Something about that day… we didn’t do anything special, just normal life. And then it dawned on me…THIS was a new normal and it had changed so much. It was just a little over a year ago that we shared the news of our pregnancy with our families. It’s so incredibly unbelievable how much has changed in our normal day-in, day-out lives. The thought is simply overwhelming to me. I’m reminded of how important it is to slow down and savor these moments because in the blink of an eye another year will have past.

In this new season of life, I’m finding it no easier to RELAX. I remember thinking that becoming a full-time, stay-at-home momma would alleviate so much of the stress I was accustomed to in the working world. Turns out, there are no fewer stressors in this “job.” I’m wired like my mother. I thrive on productivity, stress, and planning. Despite being an engrained part of my temperament, I recognize that I need to slow down, be still, and know that everything will be OK.  That I have a great designer. A more perfect planner than even me. “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

I am unspeakably thankful, eternally grateful. Incredibly Blessed.