6 months! Well tomorrow…but I may not get another chance to update!

Well hello there lovelies! I am sitting here in the lull between Halloween and Thanksgiving…well Daddy Kevin's birthday really. I have been meandering away at Pinterest, being an activity I can do while holding, feeding, bouncing a babe. I am inspired to decorate my little house. I had forgotten how happy crafting and art makes me. I really do need to find time to do a few projects here and there. I think a happy mommy will be a good mommy to my babies and well creating beautiful things makes me happy. Of course 3 of those beautiful things are my Aria, my Patrick and my Jameson :)

I can't believe the boy are SIX months old! A half of a year!! Woohooo, by golly we've done it! This means, I've been breastfeeding exclusively (save 1 bottle a night) for 6 months!!! I am proud. My boys are happy and healthy! They are big and strong. I promise I will get their stats down this time, but shhhh for now they sleep.

Speaking of, I am trying a new sleep routine. Bed still at 8pm-9pm, depending on their moods, though honestly most night we barely make it to 8pm, they would love to go down at 7pm, but I just can't risk them being wide awake at 4am. The boys still seem to only need 8-10 hours of sleep, rarely 12. Fairly consistently they sleep 8pm-1am, this is great, a good 5 hour stretch. After this is where in lies my woes. After 1am, they are up every 2 hours, sometimes less. Of course I, mama, don't go to bed until 12ish, mainly due to the sweet Aria's ability to be the two year old college kid, whose fun part of the "day" starts at 10pm :(. I pump before bed, about 8 oz and split it into 2 4oz bottles. When the boys wake at 1-2am I leave them swaddled and prop up the bottle for them, 50/50 they go back to sleep another 2 hours or they are up and need snuggled/changed and put on their bellies. 4-5am is when they naturally want to wake up. They coo and smile and seem to think it's morning time. It takes me about an hour to get them back down. Here I've been trying a new thing of giving them a formula bottle. Too soon to judge yet, but doesn't seem to be making too much of a difference. I think I might be feeding them too much at night, because they seem to be very gassy and need to poop several times. Aria, while a beastly sleeper, never pooped at night; I never even changed her at night. I'm trying to cut out dairy to see if it's an allergy, but it seems just as bad when they get formula, so I don't know.

The boys are becoming more aware of each other everyday. Most recently If I face them on the ground toward each other during tummy time, they are very smily and love to grab at the others hands and clothes. They love Aria too and she is definitely enjoying the fact that they notice her. Just putting them facing each other can stop a meltdown, it's pretty sweet.

I thinking what I should get them for Christmas, maybe some learning toys or teethers. I ordered them their stockings from PBK and got Aria a new one as well, because I have no idea where hers ended up in the move and I don't want to upset anyone trying to find it, possibly in Grammy's attic. Actually Auntie Dobby got it for her because mama ain't got no monies! Tear.

Patch's hemangioma on his toe is fading. A while back I took photos of it and I'm glad I did, because he might want to see what it looked like when he's older.

I'm trying to reposition both boys all the time so their heads round out… here goes nothing.

Miss Aria can count to 10! And she is saying so many more words and what sounds like sentences! Whenever I leave a room she says, "where you going?" and always the little lady, "thank you" and "welcome" every single time she gets or hands something.

Kevin has been trying to sleep in Aria's room with her to get her used to her big girl bed, seems to be working. Several nights she has slept in there by herself and woke up at 8am. Last night Kevin was out late watching the Oregon and Stanford game. The little butt slept in their by himself and I had all the kids in my room! Oh well, he probably would have woken us up anyways, he's a wiggly sleeper.

I'm doing the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown dvd. I'm feeling stronger already 2 weeks in! I was very excited because I thought I lost 10 pounds, but turns out our scale is faulty it you set in on the carpet. I only lost 7. Oh well, 7 is better than none, but I need to kick butt to feel better about myself.

Well, baby a is awake.

Until next time, xo Rosie

Week 29

Well, we made it! Our very first Christmas with our wonderful baby girl Aria has come and past. What a joyful day is was. I feel so incredibly blessed to have her this year. So blessed to have a family so full of love and joy in our hearts. So blessed that togetherness is all we need to truly have a home, no matter where we are currently resting our tired heads at night. It truly doesn't matter as long as we are together.

So this year, of 2011, my beautiful little family celebrated with my larger family and extended family here on Clinton road. We opened gifts in the morning. Santa was very good to us this year. When Kevin came out and saw all the presents, he said,"Weren't we supposed to be having an off year this year?". Well yes, but we all worked together very hard to pull of just as fine a spread as ever. It was very helpful that Santa's especially dutiful elf (Auntie Gabby), had a little extra pocket money to spoil us all with (benefit of slaving at three jobs). And spoil each and everyone of us she did! I got Uggs! So comfy and snuggle heaven for my footseses. Also a beautiful down blanket and duvet cover. Sentimental items came up this year as well. Gabby got my a matching vintage pearl necklace to the one I got her for her birthday this year. It has a an extra ring on it that says "if i didn't have you". A reference to our favorite childhood movie Quest for Camelot" and the two headed dragon that perfectly represented our very special relationship. I love it! Kevin got me an iPhone 4s! How excited/lucky/surprised/overjoyed am it! Yayness to the 10th degree!! I got Kevin a Buck knife Vantage Force Pro (he asked for it to increase his manly status with his Apple gang). I got Gabby a cookbook that I made the cover of. It's going to be a cookbook scrapbook of all our delicious and favorite recipes. I also got her cooking paraphernalia. I got Dad a cup that says "Pops Rocks". We got mom and dad stockings that say "Yaya" and"Pops". Th boys got shirts, Sonic for Billy because it reminded me of being young and playing with him and Johnny Cash for Raph cuz well it's Johnny Cash and Raph likes music. Mom also got a german bird ornament and a vintage pearl necklace that has my childhood poem on it "upside down or right side up, we will love you to the top" and "yaya" in the middle. Gabby finally got the baby doll mom had started making for her years ago. She finished it! So cute :) Billy got all the "cooks" a mini burger maker and "santa" got Billy a mini burger maker. It was pretty funny. Well now that I've rambled about our loot for a good 10 minutes, I will move on :P After the presents, there was a mad scurry to get the house ready for guests. They arrived promptly at 530pm. Aunt Lucy brought a gorgeous white fur coat for Aria (which we immediately tried on her). Mom aka Yaya made a glorious feast for everyone to share in. Sweet potatoes, roast, bacon beans… Everyone else pitched in as well. It was a great night of family and fun.

Today I fed Aria some left over Christmas sweet potatoes. I got her little Gerber spoon and we had a grand time. She loved them! She kept opening her mouth for more! I think my little baby is ready to start some solids. I will of course keep nursing her but it will be fun to make her baby food and feed her. I intend to make all her baby food in the future (mark my words).

Aria can pretty much sit up like a pro now. She can even almost bring herself to a sitting position for laying down. It's amazing how much stronger she's gotten.

She continues to use her "Donald Duck" voice to communicate. It's hilarious to listen to her. She grumbles on about everything and anything.

Oh how could I leave it out. Aria got a Jumperoo for Christmas from Santa. She LOVES it! She jumped and jumped in it on Christmas day until she fell asleep. It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen. I'm so glad to find something can can tire her out enough to nap.

Which brings me to her sleep schedule. She's still an absolutely horrid sleeper. Last night she slept in her crib a total of 2 hours and I held her the rest of the night as she squirmed and grunted. She finally got out a "present" for me in the morning and I think she felt better. Most nights she wakes up at least 3 times.

Aria has mastered her pinched grasp. It's so fun to see her see something she wants to hold and then go for it with her little fingers. She loves to just move her pointer finger back and forth on anything, feeling it.

Aria also now sucks on her 2 middle fingers with her palm facing out. It's so cute!

Baby's First Christmas! 2011

Today is Christmas, mt sweet baby Aria's very first. Yesterday our neighbors stopped by with a gift for her (who can resist buying baby presents). It was an adorable red dress by firtimpressions from Macy's. I had to have her wear it to church. We went to 4pm mass at St. Nicks. Even though we got there at 3:45pm, there was no room at the inn fir us so to say. The church was PACKED! The hall was packed! We ended up standing outside the hall in the freezing cold (seriously icy cold for CA). I forgot Aria's blanket, so I took off my coat and wrapped her in it. She fell asleep on her daddy during her 1st Xmas Mass. After mass we walked back to the car half froze, with Bo feelings in our toes. Raph went to to feed James so Auntie Gabbt came with us. Off to Grammy's annual Xmas Eve party we went. At this point I was becoming seriously tired because I had been finishing my craft projects all morning. Almost killed me. Everyone at Grammy's was happy to see Aria. They all lover her so very much. Grammy's eyes just light up when she sees her abs she drops everything to hold her. Dinner was yummy and the Xmas program started shortly after. My cousin Chris did a fabulous job hosting. Billy and Grandfatger had grand musical accompaniment as well. Chris set it up for max singing participation by having a challenge before each song. The winner fit to...not sing. The loser had to pick 2 victims from the croud to join him leading the carol in front. It was awesome. There was "santa's village" pictionary, Xmas tree tearing behind the back, present wrapping with oven mits on, minute to win it style Oreo on the face to mouth, and spelling "JC" with m&ms with just a straw and your mouth. After the fun Santa came out and we exchanged secret Santa gifts. Aria got a Sophie the giraffe from Aunt Sue. Ive been seriously yearning for one of these most popular baby toys, so I was extatic! I got a 2 year subscription to Parents magazine which is great! When we got home Santa had come and left PJ's in front of the fire just like when we weee little. It was magical (I think Auntie Gabby knows Santa!). I, genius that I be, saved all my wrapping til after we got hone. Again almost took the life from me wrapping til 12am!

Bur today is Christmas morning at 7am and I have the very best Christmas present I could hope for in my arms. Aria is lightly snoring (maybe dreaming of reigndeer, probably boobies though). So happy :)

Until next time, xo Rosie

Week 22 Five Months!!

Well I missed last Thursday's update but that's okay today is an even better day. It's Monday AND Daddy's birthday! Kevin has the day off of work so he can spend his first birthday as a dad with his precious little princess. She is currently sleeping in her swing like an angel and he is getting ready to play golf with the boys.

Thankfully after a full week or horrid sleep Aria decided to not wake up every hour last night. She just got up once. It was miraculous. She has never been a good sleeper, but the second week we were here at our new little cottage house she slept great then it all went downhill. It might be because she is teething a little or about to or it might be because I got myself sick the past week. So far she seems like she hasn't gotten sick, just been sleeping bad and quite cranky. I had resorted to holding her all night again, just like when she was a tiny wittle stinky. I'm thinking maybe she didn't like the way my milk tasted because I took some Nyquil (I know, I'm bad, but I was dyying). Or I know Sudafed (I didn't take any) makes the milk supply lower, maybe Nyquil does too? I don't know, either way she's been extra grumpy but thank God last night she let us sleep!

This past week Aria started to hold little things in her hand more. She can hold onto Chapstick, bracelets, measuring spoons. She has learned how to hit the buttons on her little Baby Einstein piano and make the music play. She kind of looks like she is flailing about, but hey she gets the desired outcome. Noted digressions: still not rolling over, it's now been about 2 weeks since I've seen her do it. I noted it last week as well. I truly believe she could it she wanted to, but she just doesn't have the desire. We still do lots of tummy time and she is very strong and getting stronger everyday.

I need to make Aria an appointment for the 4 month check up. I know, she is already 5 months now! Holy cow! But I had to cancel the well baby check up at Stanford because it was scheduled for our last day at Evelyn Gardens. The soonest they could reschedule for was in mid-Januaray. I just don't want to wait that long. So I am pediatrician researching. I want to find a good one, since it is quite probable that we will be seeing this doctor for years to come.

I'm so excited for Christmas this year. Last year frankly sucked (Baby bean Aria was making be ill), so I feel like it's been 2 years since Christmas!! I can't wait for the lights, the music, the tree, dressing up, hot cocoa, apple cider, I want it all! I know I'l slightly premature it my exuberance, I am aware that it's merely the middle of November and we do need to acknowledge the great day known at Thanksgiving first. But still I can't wait. I already order Aria two dresses from eBay. I was looking for a classic vintage style red baby dress. I want top do a photoshoot for our Christmas cards. They haven't come yet, but I am hopeful that they will look adorable on my little peanut.

Well I suppose I need to prepare for Kevin's birthday dinner tonight. I am making lasagna and I think it's going to take about 3 hours. I am also making Gooey Pumpkin Cake! Carol, Steven and Kira are coming for dinner. While Kevin's out playing golf, Yaya is going to be on baby duty.