Squishy little sweetheart

Dear God,
Please let me remember this exact moment forever. It's 9:32 and Vivian just woke up crying. The paci just made her cry more. So, I sat down on my bed and nursed her. She wasn't hungry, just not feeling great. After about 10 minutes she passed out and I gave her the paci. She is pressed up against my body her arm pulled in against my chest. Her little leg is pulled up all awkward so that her knee is up by her elbow. I have my hand holding her chunky thigh. The weight of her resting head is heavy on my arm. If it wasn't dark I'd take a photo. But a photo couldn't capture this glorious baby skin or the way our bodies perfectly fit together. Thank you for this miraculous gift.

Vivi Girl

My baby girl is growing up so fast! She is so big and strong! She is a happy girl too. We are doing everything we can to get her reflux/food sensitivities under control. For 2.5 weeks I've been doing a Total Elimination diet. I went down to only eating Turkey, Rice and Pears. At this point I've added avocado, Rice Milk, Apples, Apple juice, Carrots, Green beans and a couple of processed things. I am staying far away from anything with dairy and soy. I had some coconut ice cream, it was chocolate, and I think she reacted to it. So, keeping away from chocolate too. I am going to try and add gluten/bread back in soon. I really didn't notice her doing any better when I took that out. We started with her first Craniosacral Therapy session last Wednesday and had a second on this Tuesday. Pam Yenawine is her therapist. It is a very different kind of treatment, but I think it is helping. Here is a breif description:

"Cranial sacral has to do with the cranium (head) and sacrum (the 5 lowest vertebrae that are all fused together down by your tailbone) and the connection between the two by way of the spine and cerebral spinal fluid. The head is supposed to be fairly round. However, for a variety of reasons it can be misshapen and the bones can be overlapped or have indentions (the general term for all these is ”lesions”) putting pressure in wrong places and not allowing a good flow for the cerebral spinal fluid around the brain. Why is it important to have good flow of cerebral spinal fluid around the brain? Because that is a major source of food for the brain. It contains salts, sugars, etc that the brain needs to grow operate. If the flow of fluid is blocked off or can’t get to the places in adequate amounts it hinders the brains growth, development, and capacity to operate efficiently and effectively."

She had been having bowel movements every 4 days. This week she pooped twice Monday and once on Tuesday. When I found out she pooped on Tuesday too I was so excited I cried. So excited that maybe we were turning a corner on all these stomach issues. I am so hopeful that this is the answer for us. I am so blessed that I have so many brilliant women around this community to ask for help. I even found a girl locally who is having the same issues. It's amazing how comforted you feel when you have someone to relate to.

Ok, I totally hyjacked this post, it was supposed to be about "Super Vivi"!

She has gotten this close to being mobile overnight. It's insane. Monday I had her laying on her tummy and she got up on all fours. She can sit up all by herself for at least 30 seconds now. She has figured out how to roll over and over and over. I would say by next week she will be able to sit herself up from lying down. I am so not ready for her to be this mobile. BABYPROOFING!!! AGH! :)

She is just a sweetheart and her smile is so beautiful. I just love her so! She is amazing. 

Stella's First Day of School!

It is unbelievable that my sweet little Boogie has started school. She was so ready, so it was a happy day!
She had a good day, but scraped her knees up on the playground. She didn't even realize it until I said something. She was quite worked up after she saw it was bleeding, but that didn't stop her! She is so brilliant and I love her more every single second.

Sweetest Girl in the World!

Stella has been so extra sweet lately! I have to share a few things she has been saying.
Yesterday as I was walking out the door to go to work, she ran over and gave me a kiss. She said, "Be good and don't go to any wrecks!"

Then this morning I was telling her good bye, told her I loved her and all that.
She said, "Have fun today!...(pause)And don't crash into any mailboxes!...(pause)And thanks for loving me!"
It was literally the cutest damn thing.

Lately I have been telling her, "I love you so much my heart might explode!" She gets the most genuine sweet grin on her face and says, "Bones don't explode silly!!" :)

She is starting preschool tomorrow. I can't believe she is old enough for school. My baby! I am having mixed feelings, but in general I am so excited for her. She is going to love it. She loves the concept of school. She was, however, very disappointed that she wouldn't be riding a school bus. This morning the school bus stopped in front of our house and she said, "How come they get to ride the school bus and I don't?" It was pretty sad.

I can't wait for her to get to make her own friends. Up to this point she has been friends with people because they're her cousins. I am just so, so excited for her. :)

Stella found a huge Praying Mantis at Grammie & Pawpaw's house!

Blessed beyond words!

Stella has been so full of life lately! Clever as heck. I took her to see her first movie in a theater on Saturday. We saw Despicable Me 2 and it was really cute. She liked it a lot, I think the loudness overwhelmed her at first. Lisa watched Vivian while we were gone. That night when I was getting Stella ready for bed she said, “Thanks for everything Mommy!” It was so sweet. Lately she is big on kissing you if you have a spot that hurts. I told her I was not feeling good and she asked me where it hurt. I said everywhere. She kissed me about 3 times on my face and then said, “I’ll get the rest tomorrow.” It was so dang funny. When I told her she and I were going to go see the movie, just she and I, the first thing she asked was, “ Who’s going to protect Vivian?” 

Sunday Stella, Vivian and I walked to Panera for dinner. It was so beautiful outside and the weather was so perfect. Both girls behaved perfectly and it was just a really perfect time.  

 

It was so cute, one  day Stella was walking around the living room. She said, “Look at me Mommy, I’m walking backwards!” Then, “Do you think anybody has ever walked backwards before?” It was so funny and sweet, like she just came up with the concept of walking backwards. She is just getting so big and grown up. I am trying to embrace every moment. She is just so sweet and kind and I love her so much.

Vivian is starting to pull her self up! It’s crazy. She will be in her carseat and there are links hanging down. She reaches up, grabs them and pulls herself up. She is so strong. We are currently treating thrush. It’s tons of fun!! We’re using All Purpose Nipple Ointment and Gentian Violet. Vivian is very Violet!! J She is getting good at going to sleep on her own too. And laying in the pack in play flat as opposed to the rock n’ play. She is so adorable and happy and sweet!

Man, I am a blessed lady!

One Blessed Mama!

My big girl rolled over for the first time Saturday! She was laying on the floor and Stella was down there talking to her and playing with her princesses. And she went left and rolled completely over laying with her head held way up. She was 4 months old on Sunday and she is so sweet and precious! She weighed 14lbs 6 oz and was 24.5 inches long. She did so good getting her shots, this time she only had two compared to the 5 she got last time. She is a raspberry blowing fool and it’s so cute. We have raspberry blowing contests J. Video to follow. She is sleeping ok, obviously I would like to get some nice 5 hour blocks of sleep, but I don’t mind. She has been having a little sleep regression and maybe a cold the last few days. I think she’s feeling better now.

We all went to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum last weekend. Stella had a really good time. She is also doing great in swim lessons. She is very slowly getting more used to the idea of getting water in her face. She used to get a death grip on you in the water because she didn’t want you to let her go. And now she is comfortable swimming with her floaties on by herself. And she is getting her face/ears/hair in the water more. She really enjoys swimming and she and Pawpaw go during the week too. Stella is such a great big sister and such a sweetheart to everyone. I love her so!!

Amazing Vivi Girl

Vivian is growing so fast! I can't believe she is almost 4 months old. She is growing up so fast! She is so good with her hands now, she can grab stuff with both hands. I have been working super hard on getting her poos straightened out. She has been having mucus in them and they were greenish. Before that they were really thick like peanut butter and orangish. So, I have eliminated dairy (5/12) and soy and gluten (7/5). It has been so hard and I am not sure if the gluten has helped or not. I am sure she is teething now. Besides a ton of drool I can see two little teeth under the gums. She loves sitting up now, if you lay her flat on the bed she literally lifts her shoulders an inch off the ground. She just recently started blowing raspberries. It's so cute. She is such a smiley baby and she is so precious. I love her so so much. She rolled over from tummy to back a couple weeks ago and she is so close to rolling from back to tummy.
Here are some pics from fouth of July.