Sneak Peek

A sneak peek of what I've been up to and will be up to soon. :)

6 Months

Not only was it Easter this weekend, but it was also my baby's 6 month mark!  How did that happen?  It's hard to imagine her any different than she currently is, but it never ceases to amaze me how fast she grows.  For example, she is now:

weight - 18 lbs 12 oz
length - 27"
head circumference - 18"

There's a baby in our ward who is almost exactly 4 months older and they are the same size.  People very commonly guess she's 10 months old, so at least she's proportionally big!
Has anyone tried more of a baby-led-weaning approach with their kids?  I've never really been a fan of the whole purée thing and found this option.  Now, I'm not a gungho one way only person, so I've tried a bit of a mixture of ideas that seem to work for my munchkin.  She also doesn't like purées too much, but loves chewing.  Normally I don't give her anything very big so she won't choke.  However, because she grabbed what I was feeding her, we got this cute shot of her.

 She just loves melon!

As for celebrating her first Easter, I wanted to make her a cute dress.  I didn't want to go shopping for fabric, so this is a refashion for me.  Turned out pretty darn cute if I say so myself.  

Bassinette cover into Easter dress!

Not too bad for my first try and I think she liked it too. :)

Can't say it was quite as fancy or nice as the dress my mom made for her though.  She loves that one too.  Am I going to end up with a girly girl who loves dresses?  Who knows, but she is darn cute!

Thanks Grandma!

Define 'ME'

One question I have always been frustrated with in life is the guaranteed "Tell me about yourself," whenever I'm in a new situation.  First day of class every year in school, job interviews, meeting new people (generally older than myself), new wards, new neighbors...  Everyone expects you to explain who you are in 10 words or less, right there on the spot.

For children, the response is usually about what they like.  'I like (specific princess/superhero), I like (favorite food), I like (favorite color).'
For teens it's what they are into or want to become.  'I drive a sweet car.  I'm in a band.  I'm going to be the best (insert career/sport star here).'
Then comes the young adult.  The perspective on what's important is still changing and evolving from the favorite-color days.  Young adults describe themselves by what they are currently experiencing.  'I'm studying (pick a degree).  I work at (pick a place).  I like to go (play with friends, swim, bike, etc.).'
Next are the newly marrieds/married without kids.  First thing out of the mouth, 'I'm married.'  Then back to the things mentioned in the young adult category.  This is the first point in which life is not completely revolving around you.  It's revolving around you and your hip attachment.
Now we're to the married with kids.  It is all about your family.  'I'm married, have (#) kids.  We like to (whatever comes to mind).'  Life now revolves around the family unit.

Have you also ever noticed that your definition of 'me' changes by circumstance?  Interviews it's all about your strengths and weaknesses, career ambitions, not what you like to do on the weekend.  First dates are trying to bring up things that you may have in common with your date (works for married couples 'dating' potential friends as well).  We sensor the definition of ourselves to match the situation.
So, at this point I want to ask: what is your definition of 'me'?  Can you describe yourself in 1 sentence?  Would you be able to convey your uniqueness in just a few seconds?  What do you really want to hear if you ever ask that question?

As for my definition: I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister.  I love languages, music, books.  I am independent, adventurous, stubborn, confident, reserved, outgoing (make sense of that one), work well in a team and on my own.  I sew, paint, build, design, create, cook.  I want to learn Italian, photography, graphic design, interior design, cake decorating, flower arranging.  I love to laugh, sing, dance, learn, teach.  I am thrifty, creative, adaptable.  I love the smell of rain, bacon, grass, lilacs, lavender, dawn.  My favorite color is seagreen.  My favorite foods include most fruits.  I quote movies ALL the time.  I love spending my time: in nature, on my own, with small groups of friends, with family.  I am a perfectionist.  I know how to fold fitted sheets.  I love playing ultimate frisbee, rubiks race, killer uno, cranium, pool.  I have an unusually good memory in most cases.  I think most bugs and snakes are cool, but HATE spiders.  I don't have a green thumb.  I don't like scrapbooking.  I don't have a ton of shoes.  I am a nerd, a critic, a dreamer.

I know who I am, but who are you?

Never Grow Up

Today is my beautiful girl's 4 month birthday.  Can it really be that long ago that she was brand new?  I can't believe time has passed so quickly.  I love watching her grow up and become more independent (yes, mom, she is a lot like me), but at the same time I wish she'd never grow up.  I know not all of you are country buffs, but have you listened to Taylor Swift's 'Never Grow Up'?  Let me tell ya, being a mom is wreaking havoc on my emotions.  I cry every time I listen to it.  I know she'll have to grow up, and one day she won't need me anymore, but for now, I get to love and play with my baby.

At this 4 month mark, she sure has grown.  In just about every way.  She is:
16 lbs 14.5 oz
26 in long
and has a 17.5 in head

So, for those of you who don't/wouldn't really know, this is on or above the 97 percentile graph for every measurement!  Aka... big baby!  We have to go in for her shots tomorrow and I can only hope that she'll react similarly to her 2 month shots.  Sleeping. *fingers crossed*

As her measurements have changed, so has her personality and abilities.  I turned away from her the other day and turned back to see her with her pacifier in.  I know I hadn't put it in.  She's not a pro at it quite yet, but if it's in sight (not right next to her head) and she can touch it with her fingers, she'll figure out how to grab it and get it in.  Only problem is she isn't the greatest at letting go, so she'll get it in and then pull it right back out.  It's adorable to watch, though, as it can take her 2-3 minutes to figure out how to get it in right.  What happened to the helpless, dependent infant??  She has also become a picky sleeper.  Dang it.  She used to be able to fall asleep just about anywhere, but ever since I put up her crib, she will only sleep in the crib or on the middle of our bed (when the front of the house is too noisy for her to fall asleep).  She loves having her own space and doing her own thing.  Sound familiar? ;)

I've taken a few videos as proof of her adorableness (word?), and will continue to do so, but as it takes forever to upload them here, they are on Vimeo.  If you want to see them, you'll have to put in a little effort and go check them out.  I know I enjoy them, so you should too. :)

Perfect Afternoon

What is your recipe for a perfect afternoon?  Is it being out with friends, hiking up a mountain or other such nature loving adventure, inside with a book?  I've had a lot of really great afternoons, but it has been a while since the last one.  Then, almost out of nowhere, I had a completely peaceful, perfect afternoon.  We have been rearranging/decorating/cleaning to sell our place and have therefore created a great place to live.  Doesn't that always happen?  Why do we always do this to ourselves?  We rarely upgrade our homes for ourselves and only do it for others to enjoy.  I almost hope we don't sell immediately so we can enjoy this for a while, but having room for a crib would sure be handy.  But back to why I had a perfect afternoon...  My baby was peacefully sleeping, there was a nice breeze and perfect temperature, it had just hit the golden light of the afternoon, everything was clean, and I didn't have anything I had to get done.  Just sitting on the couch, I was completely at peace.  I really believe there is a lot to say about feng shui in a home.  I don't think we have it perfect, but it is worlds better than any previous arrangement.  What do you think?

Think we've done alright?  Especially for those of you who have seen it, it's worlds different isn't it.  So, although I wasn't out doing anything, it was great to have a peaceful afternoon to r&r and find a balance again.

And for closing pictures, I found these on my camera...

The day of labor

14 weeks and a couple days later

I like her much better out of my belly.  Especially when she sees me after a nap and gets super excited with smiles and lots of kicking.  Love my baby.

Say Wha?!

Can you believe this?!  Isn't it amazing??  And since you have no idea what I'm talking about.... it's Charlotte's 3 month mark!  Where in the world did that time go?  So much has changed in the past 3 months and yet it's still hard to believe we have a daughter.  Someone that depends solely on us taking care of her every whim.  It is amazing, exhausting, entertaining all rolled into one.  But first things first:

~How my life has changed~

Before:

Slept in till at least 8 or 9

Stayed up till midnight

Showered daily

Went out window shopping all day

Went out on dates with the hubby at night

Played around with photoshop for hours

Sewed any projects that came to mind

No cravings

Now:

Wake up at 6 daily

Go to bed no later than 10:30

Shower every other day more often than not

Plan ahead at least by a full day before going out shopping for an hour with the baby

Spend nap-times catching up online, with laundry, with dishes, and eating

Imagine lots of projects and have a stack of incomplete ones just waiting for their nap-time turn to be finished

Major sugar cravings

Sounds down right terrible eh?  There's a lot to say about this "after" life though.  I am much more productive as I have to plan ahead for almost anything.  I have a better body now than I did before thanks to waking up early and exercising till the baby wakes up.  And I don't waste water! ;) jk

~How Charlotte has changed~

Birth size:

8 lbs 8 oz

20.5" long

Current size:

15 lbs 6 oz

24.5" long

She sleeps from around 8 pm till around 8 am with one feed at midnight.  She also has about 3 naps of 1 1/2 hours each during the day.  She eats about 35 oz a day.  She smiles 90% of the time and giggles and talks a lot.  She loves bath time, but HATES getting out/dried/changed.  She can entertain herself for a good 30 minutes straight or watch a disney movie with us for about the same amount of time before it loses her undivided attention.  Going shopping, she'll just stare at her daddy the whole time.  I'm actually not too afraid of taking passport photos as she's so good at simply staring at anything and everything.

To show her size change, here's a picture we've randomly managed to take every month.

Month 1

 Month 2

Month 3

Month 4

 Some how she still can pin her daddy for her favorite spot. ;)

Now, imagine how you wake up in the morning or after a nap.  Groggy, grumpy, etc.?  Wouldn't it be a fun world if we all woke up like this?

Or laughed at such simple and silly things just like this?

I love this girl, and the guy is not so bad either. ;)  Now back to that pile of unfinished projects...

That is SO Last Decade

Time to show you how we ended the year!  Yeah, I realize this is super late, but I don't mind and I figure you won't either. :)  

Thanksgiving!!!

 

 I decided that I really did still want to celebrate Thanksgiving this (last) year, so even though I had a wee one, I did my best.  I sent Blake out for our bird, walked to the grocery store and then cooked all day.  Challenging with a 1 month old babe I can tell you that.  However, when all was said and done, it turned out pretty decent.  Blake and I even managed to eat that whole bird all by ourselves!  Impressed?  You should be...

The...

Huge....

Bird.....

Yeah baby.  Okay, so when he said it was a small chicken, I figured a relatively normal size and not turkey size.  However, turned out to be more like a cornish game hen size.  Still yummy though!  (doesn't look it, but it was I promise!)

The rest of the spread

Talk about a gigantic meal eh?  Well, there are two of us eating.  At least we have the pomegranate and apple pie right?

And this is me. (duh) The crazy lady who won't try this at home... again... with a tiny baby... on my own.

Next:

Baby Blessing!!!

We decided to bless our beautiful baby the first week of December.  We had some great friends come and support us as well as some of the family.  The bishop keeps making comments to us about how good she must be because she fell asleep right before her blessing and didn't wake up until just after.  Didn't make a noise at all!  My mom also made a beautiful dress for her.  Talk about talent. :)

Watching the rain on the way to church.

The great guys who came to help bless Charlotte.

Being so good at church.

The beautiful dress on the beautiful baby.

My favorite picture of all.

Christmas!!!

Last year I made a fun cake-like advent calendar that you can see here.  However, it was a pain to store and made a bit of a mess as we were counting down, so I made one that was very reminiscent of my family's old one with a new twist to it.

 So, as we count down the days (and turn around the bags), Merry Christmas appears.  Very little in the way of leaving a mess.  However, making each bag, cutting out the numbers and letters, creating christmas paper, pasting on the christmassy paper to show through the cut outs, etc. turns into a pretty time consuming project.  We didn't get to start opening them until about the 6th, but that's okay.  The great thing about it though, it can store in a pretty small package for next year!  Yay! 

We didn't take any pictures of post present unwrapping, but here is one I took Christmas morning prior to the unwrapping frenzy.

Although Charlotte only has 2 presents under our tree, she sure took the lot after visiting Nana and Grandad's and Great Nana and Grandad's.

And here's one of Charlotte in the outfit Nana bought for her, at Nana's.

Blake's Nana also took a family picture, so some day I'll have to get on her computer to steal a bunch that I know she has.  

As for New Year's....  Well, we took a nap till 11:55, woke up, drank some fizzy grape juice, watched the Sydney firework show, and went back to bed.  We.. are... awesome. :)

Hope you all had a great 2010!