Friday, December 21, 2012

8 months!

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And then Violet decided she was done posing for pictures...
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I’m a little behind on this month, but here’s some things about 8-month old Violet:

- She just started crawling! Hooray! It is so cute to watch and I’m so proud of her!
 Three more teeth have come in on the top. Needless to say, she’s been a little crabby. (Thank you children’s Ibuprofen).
- Likes to mimic a little bit. She’ll say “ba-ba-ba” if you say it, and will blow raspberries and clap her hands if you do.
- She positively HATES our vacuum. All I do is bring it out, without turning it on yet, and she starts whimpering. And then I turn it on and it’s like I’m actually torturing her. It’s so sad! But I can’t vacuum while she’s asleep because it’ll wake her up, so I just vacuum really fast like a crazy person while she cries the whole time. Sorry baby girl but we gotta keep the floor clean for crawling babies like you!
- Finally sleeping in the same room as big sister (Penny was in our room for a few months) and it is awesome. We’re just in a two-bedroom duplex so having both girls in one room and getting our room back to ourselves is a BIG DEAL.
 Eats cheerios and little bits of bread now, she’s getting pretty good with her pincer grasp. I can’t wait to see what she weighs at her 9-month apt. I love this chunky monkey!
- Still so sweet and squishy. I can’t believe there’s only 4 months left until her first birthday. It’s so soon!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Family Pictures 2012

We haven't had family pictures taken in a few years...I'm so glad we did this year! These were taken in October by a family friend and I am so happy to have them!

This is the one we had printed and framed:
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And here are some others I really liked, too:
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*I love Violet's squinty face in the one above, ha.
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Hooray for new family pics!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

7 months!

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A few things about 7-month old Violet...

- This girl can eat! We've been trying out some new foods this month - sweet potatoes, pears, peas - and she just gobbles everything up like she can't get enough. She has a bucket of rice cereal before bed each night and honestly I don't know how she manages to eat it all. She has two little teeth on the bottom and chews on everything so I think we might start little finger foods soon.
- So squishy and yummy. I mug on her cheeks and arms and tummy all day long.
- Rolls around like an egg on the floor all day, but she did get up and rock on her hands and knees a few times this past week. I can't wait to see her crawl. Crawling babies are the cutest.
- Gives huge smiles and giggles to mama, dada, big sister and grandpa and grandma, but not so much to anyone else. 
- Constantly trying to steal whatever Penny has, usually a book or Penny's lunch. The other day Penny was eating a peanut butter sandwich on the floor and Violet rolled over quick as lightning and grabbed that sandwich so fast. Before I could get over there she had squished it in her little fist and peanut butter was squeezing through her fingers. It was so cute and funny that I didn't even mind cleaning her up. Yep, we're gonna have to do finger foods soon for sure.
- Starting to play with big sister more. She rolls over and tries to climb on Penny and Penny tickles her and nuzzles her head. It's so cute.
- Likes to growl and flap her arms like a cute little angry bird.
- So happy and smiley. I'm loving me some 7-month Violet!

Monday, November 12, 2012

twenty-eight

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*Celebrating with some birthday sorbet at dinner

It feels great to be twenty-eight! Paul spoiled me this year with a dozen roses, an iTunes giftcard, a special holder for my crafting glue gun (ha!), a little chocolate cake from a bakery downtown, and dinner just the two of us at Pallet in Salt Lake. (Thanks for baby-sitting Debbie and Glade!)

I love where my life is right now at twenty-eight. I have two beautiful girls who I love so much and make me so happy. There are challenges every day of being a mom but I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. Raising them and watching them grow up is and will be the greatest joy in my life. And hopefully we can add another one or two kiddos in the future, too. :)

My hubby has a great job that he enjoys and that supports our family, and I am so grateful for that. He is thoughtful and kind and funny and marrying him was the best decision I ever made. At this point I can say that everyone in our family of four is healthy and happy and that is best present I could ever ask for!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Happy Halloween!

I loved my girls' costumes! As you can see, they were Strawberry Shortcake and a strawberry.

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The whole idea came from that vintage strawberry apron. I found that for two bucks at a thrift store, and then I sewed the hat and the polka dot skirt, we already had the red shirt and shoes, and I bought the bloomers and the striped tights online. This is my favorite costume of Penny's ever!
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After we got ready, we went a little early before preschool and met up with Grandma, who's the head secretary there and an awesome pirate lady.
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Walking in the parade. Penny was a little shy, but all the cute older kids on the floor clapped for the younger kids as they walked by.
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Dad came to see the parade, too!
(Look at that lower lip on Penny, she was super sad because the parade was over.)
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I had to snap a quick picture of Penny with her classmates. So cute!

After school, we hopped in the car and drove to my sister's house for dinner and trick or treating.
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Cousin picture! I love these kids.
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"Don't worry, fair maiden. I will protect you with my glow-in-the-dark axe."
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I thought Penny would be totally scared of this guy but she just walked up, got her candy, and while walking back said to me "He was scary, huh, mama." Kids are so funny.
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It was such a fun day! Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Gardner Village

Every October it's become a tradition that we go with Paul's mom to Gardner Village. It's a little shopping place that they decorate really cute for Halloween each year. There's activities for kids and it's always a little crowded and a little crazy...but it makes for some cute pics!Photobucket Photobucket
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*Penny was so excited to make a cute Halloween bracelet.
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*Miss Violet chillaxin' in her stroller.
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*They bring the same witches out every year, this one's my favorite.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

6 months!

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*It was a little bright and windy outside...this was the best smile I got!
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*She kept trying to eat the stem. Mmm tastey.
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I can't believe my baby is 6 months old! That's half a year folks!

Here are some 6-month stats:

- Weighs 18 lbs (85th %), 27.5” long (92 %), and her head is 43.2 cm around (75%). What a big girl!
- Rolling all over the place. I have to watch her now so that she doesn’t grab anything too small and put it in her mouth. A few times this past week she got up on her knees up for a few seconds. Ah! I'm not ready for crawling yet! (But of course I am so thrilled that Violet is keeping right up with her age.)
- Got her first tooth, on the bottom in the middle. And her second tooth is coming through, too, right next to the first one. Those little baby teeth sure are cute but as a nursing mom, all I have to say is...ouch.
- Can sit up on her own for a while, but still too wobbly to leave on her own.
- In addition to rice cereal, we introduced bananas and after a few funny expressions she gobbled it right up.
- Loves to be tossed in the air, she just giggles up a storm.
- Blows raspberries like it's her job.
- Still a dream sleeper. Sleeps 8pm to 8am and takes 2 naps during the day. 
- Has little “conversations” with her big sister. Penny will go “ooo-eee-ahhh!” to her and Violet cracks a grin and tries to repeat the same sound. I love it!

T     This little girl sure is a good baby. It's gets kinda crazy with two littles sometimes, but Violet eats well, sleeps well, is healthy as can be and I am so grateful. Adjusting to two really isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I even have a couple times a week when I get a few hours all to myself; Penny has preschool twice a week and that chunk of time happens to be right during Violet's afternoon nap. Score! I know I should use that time for catch-up cleaning around the house or something productive, but let's be honest, I usually read a book or take a nap. Ha! I'm so happy Penny loves preschool. I love her little art projects that she brings home, she has an entire side of the fridge specifically for her works of art. I'm getting excited for all the holidays coming up and I can't wait to experience them with both my girls. And Paul too of course. :)