Welcome Home Mom

I recently had to take a business trip where I was gone for 40 full hours (but who's counting).  It's the longest I've been gone from this chicken.  Trust me, when you've got this at home - who would want to leave?

Getting to Know You - 5 Months

Wowza - this last month FLEW by.  We were so incredibly busy that I think I missed it.

Do you like these photos?  I thought I'd see what she'd look like from below - these photos are NOT distorted in anyway.  I just put the camera under her chin and clicked.  She even has her father's lips.

As we use to quote from one of our favorite movies, "You're not fat. You're beautiful! Now lay off the potato salad."

Sug is growing so fast it's unbearable.

Here are her stats for the month:

Weight - 16 lbs. even - 75th percentile
Height - 25 inches - 40th percentile
She's getting TALLER! Hooray!

We battled some illnesses this month, found a new doctor and went to bed smelling of garlic.... long story.  But we are well now (because of the garlic) and chugging right along.  The new daycare is settling in and the convenience is superb.  She is almost sitting up on her own (which we are highly impressed by) and needs to hold everything - including the skin on your neck.

She's wiggling and rolling so much, just ready to get into trouble.  The crib has been officially cleaned out - as she no longer stays put while sleeping - rolling and moving about.  I like to see where she's at in the morning when I go to see her smiling face.  She is sleeping much better these days, through the night mostly, but nothing is consistent and we just count our lucky stars for the silent nights when we do get them.

Found but not lost

Like I mentioned earlier - this little Sugar's brain is just churning away.  She has recently discovered two items that have definitely grabbed her attention - her tootsies and her poochie!

As you might notice - she has abnormally long, skinny toes.  Fingers for feet, so she's been able to grab a hold of those thing quite easily.  They've yet to make it in the mouth, probably due to the size of her belly. 

She's also noticed that the big black pony in the house is a staple.  She looks for him when she hears the clicking of his nails on the floor and enjoys being on his level in her exersaucer.  We are trying really hard to control his licking but it might be out of our control.  I have a feeling they are going to be BFF - whether he likes it or not.

Happy 4th of July

Is it possible to love someone so much you could explode?

SOLIDS! Nom, nom, nom

As a foodie family, we were excited when the doc said we can start the solids!  James was working a lot the first week we could eat - so we waited until we could all experience the first feeding as a family. 

Needless to say - I documented.

We even have a real live high chair coming to our doorstep this week!

We've started using the video feature on our camera, but I couldn't get it to upload.  I can't wait to show her these little bits when she gets older.

Getting to Know You - 4 Months

Guess who's 4 months old?!  (Closer to 5 now, but who's counting?).

A few weeks ago we had Nora P's 4 month check up.  

Here are her stats:

Weight - 14 lbs. even - 80th percentile

Height - 23.5 inches - 25th percentile

She's our little tea pot - short and stout!

Head 16.5 inches - 50th percentile

She's found her hands and her voice and both have been put to great use these days.  She studies the self removal of her pacifer very hard and then test herself on putting it back in her mouth (actually everything goes in the mouth these days).  It's so much fun to watch her - everything is so new and such an adventure.  Her little brain is churning 24/7 - soaking it all up.
Speaking of 24/7 - she's still trying to figure out that whole 'sleeping through the night' concept.  We're all hoping that catches on soon.

The doc gave us permission to try some rice cereal (more on that to come) and she's not opposed to chowing down on a big bowl of soggy rice and breast milk.  Yummm!  James and I tried it - it's really not too bad.
She's a seasoned tummy timer these days - although it's still not her favorite, she makes the best of it and might even pretend to enjoy it a bit.

 

She has the wiggles!  Bath time and the pool are a lot of fun these days - especially with her arms and legs moving at such a rapid pace.  She's can move those arms in a million directions all at once - especially when she turns into an angry bird.  And is seldom in the same direction in the morning as we put her down at night.

 

She's growing at rapid speed and her development puts me in awe everyday.  It's a very special time right now for sure!

Kaaaa blooey

My head is swarming over here at work, so sorry for the lack of post. 

I was rummaging through some work photos yesterday trying to figure out a "sink situation" and found this photo of Nora and I last December.  My doctor told me I couldn't fly past December 20th - so I was sent to Minnesota on December 19th. 

For two seconds I paused at work and thought of my baby girl.  Then the whip was cracked and I was back to the grind stone. 

(She's still always in the back of my mind though, no way around that.)

Hello Beautiful.

She's her father's daughter for sure.

Notice any similarities? 

1983 vs 2012

I think Sug's cheeks may be even bigger than baby James?

VACA!

Last week I had to go to Florida to work and some how the stars aligned and James and Sug were able to come with and stay the weekend.  It was so nice.  Despite having to work Thursday and part of Friday, we were still able to get in some much needed family time and just relax.  Sug was an awesome little traveler and had many first - first time in the ocean, first time in the swimming pool, first flight... the list goes on. 

I can say that although this was a very different trip compared to our vacations pre-baby - we didn't mind it at all.  It was nice to just sit and catch up with each other and enjoy the breeze and sun.  James and I always notice after we've been on vacation and return back to work - we end up missing each other's company.  Sugar Bear was especially cranky on Tuesday when she returned back to daycare - and I think it's because she missed us too.  It was a successful family vaca and I look forward to the many ahead!

Getting to Know You - 3 Months!

3 months, that's all? 

People always say 'It goes by so fast'... and I understand the saying, but both James and I agree - it feels like this little Sug has been with us much longer!  I've also heard the first three months are the hardest.  So we are celebrating our survival and the fact that James and I are still married and Gus has not been sent out for adoption.

Now for the update:

She's getting chunky - weighing in at 12.5 lbs.  We haven't measured her lately, but she's definitely getting long.  Her feet now kick the arm rest when I cradle her in the rocking chair.  She is still strictly a breast milk baby and has slept through the night a few times - but has yet to make it a real habit.

This month we had our first call from daycare, telling us to pick her up because she was sick - turned out to be a clogged eye duct and an ear infection.  Since she was kicked out of daycare for the day - she got to come to work with momma and the bosses never even noticed!

She was also baptised last weekend (many photos of that to come) and was the sweetest baby you've ever seen dressed in white! 

She's sitting up (although wobbly) and is enjoying the new wonders of toys!  Especially ones that move or have mirrors - those are the bomb.  It's very, very hard for her to sit still and if you ask her about it she'll normally respond back with spit bubbles or small coyote howls.

She can definitely pick my voice out in a room and is starting to acknowledge my presence when I pick her up from daycare (which makes momma very happy). 

She's still pretty much perfect, if you ask me.  Although if she could do her own laundry, she'd be even more fantastic.

Here she is in her "Sugar Bowl" wearing the cutest outfit we own.  Who doesn't love a naked baby?!

Zzzzzz

I spoke too soon.  See below post.

ZZZzzzz

4 day's shy of 3 months.... we are sleeping through the night!

HOT DOG! 

Way to go Sugar Bear!

HAPPY FRIDAY

We're busy this weekend - preparing for next weekend - Sugar Bear will be getting baptised on Mother's Day!

All of our family and a couple of close friends will be joining us in the ceremony and of course we'll have a fun little fiesta following to celebrate Sug!

Can I get an AMEN!

AMEN!

Brown Eyes?

Her eyes are still changing - but I think they might be leaning my direction.

Liz is Getting Married.

We threw a shower for my cousin Elizabeth, who is getting married this summer.  Sug was quite the hit - as you can see.  All the little girls took turns feeding her and she had an orchestra of back pats while getting burped.  I think they were most excited that she was born on Valentine's Day - as they mentioned it to anyone who came close.

Sug can't help that she's popular.

Fashion Shoot

My mom watched Sug while I worked out this weekend.  I came back to find 50 new photos on my camera. 

I guess the ladies were just having a little photo shoot.

Getting to Know You - 2 Months

Sugar Bear had her 2 month check-up on Friday.  She's doing EXCELLENT and developing right on schedule!  For first time parents, who are constantly waiting for someone to tell us we're doing it wrong... this was all good news.

Here are her stats:

Weight - 11 lbs. 12 oz. - 75 percentile

Height - 22 inches - 30 percentile

Head 15.5 inches - 50 percentile

(they only measure the top of her head - not her cheeks)

She's decided she has arms; and she likes them too - constantly grabbing and punching anything within arm span.  She enjoys playing on her back but tummy time is still a real drag; unless on Papa's belly.  She's also started chatting - often in the car or early morning (4 am) gabfest with Gus.  Her hair is still brown and she's yet to decided what color those peepers will finally be - right now they are still a very cloudy slate gray.  Smiling is not a common occurrence - she's a tough crowd and will only smile if she finds something highly amusing.  Maybe she's just really sarcastic and doesn't find baby humor like 'peek-a-boo' to be all that funny. 

oh Sug.

A friend sent me this as words to live by for raising my daughter. 

If this is true, Sug - you are gonna be one funny bunny!

Hoppy Easter Bunny Hooray!

Sug celebrated her first Easter in Tyler and was so cute doing it.  She did really well in church and during brunch, but when it came time for an Easter bunny pic; she was done.  Oh well, there's always next year, and the year after that, and the year after...