Juliette and the Easter Bunny

Well we went for it.....a picture with the Bunny. Juliette was pretty excited as we waited in line and laughed when she saw the bunny. Until she was next to him. She's never clung to me so hard- I felt bad prying her off me and just hoped for one picture with her not screaming her head off. As soon as she got all snuggled into his lap, she was fine!

Without the boarder.....
not sure why it did this picture twice, but I couldn't delete it so enjoy! :)

Ahhh

Well i gotta say that I love this new nap routine! It makes me so much calmer that I know I'll have an hour in the morning and an hour (sometimes) in the afternoon to get things done I need to do. This morning I was worried that she would fight me because she didn't fall asleep while nursing, but it was naptime so off to the crib we went and she went right to sleep! I got the dishes done, and her bunny outfit ironed. I think after her lunch we'll head to the mall and do her picture so I don't have to go tomorrow and squeeze it in after music class.

Swimming #3

Yesterday was the third class and this time Josh figured out how he had to blow in Juliette's mouth and not in her face to get her to hold her breath and go under. She only did it once before the little boy in class threw up all over the place and everyone had to get out of the pool. Since the class was more than half over (by 5 minutes) it won't be made up. I didn't go in the pool this week for a few reasons, but hopefully next week I'll be able to get in. I'll actually be able to try on bathing suits since Nana will be able to go with me and keep an eye on Juliette while I'm in the dressing room. She still has a runny nose, but it's not slowing her down. Her new favorite trick is when she's buck naked on the changing table to start doing acrobatics. Last night she looked like she was being strip searched in the police frisk position with her back turned and both hands on the wall. She loves the feeling of the wall and the sound it makes when she hits it.

The Easter Bunny is in town! Sometime when it's warm this week I'll put Juliette in her dress and get her picture taken. I think they have a good bunny at the mall and it doesn't look quite so cardboard. She liked Santa, so we'll see how she does with the bunny.

Randomness

To look at my little pumpkin you would not think she was feeling icky, she's still all smiles despite her leaky nose. Once again after two trips to the doctor, we know it's nothing to worry about and unlike her first cold, she has no ear infection. I think it's got to do with teething. A few of the other little ones in kindermusik had yucky noses too and all the moms said it's from teething. I'm just glad this time it's not making it hard for her to sleep because when Juliette doesn't sleep, Mommy doesn't sleep. And that's not a very happy mommy in the daytime.

I was just looking back through the flip videos we took of her when she was teeny and I can't believe how much has changed. Seeing her everyday, you don't notice little things. I still see her hands as tiny, but those little newborn hands were sooooooo tiny! The other moms in class were talking about when they were going to try to have another baby, and for a second (a very quick second mind you) the memories of her tiny little body all squishy in my arms came back. But then reality comes back and I KNOW I wouldn't be able to do this again and devote all my energy to a new little person with a big girl Juliette running around. So after today, my new goal is to enjoy each smile, babble, diaper change, nursing, sleepy time, bath, walk outside, and discovery of everything that is new to her and not wish for the next step in her life to come. I only get one shot at this. Josh is keeping a count of the days left of school and I think this is the first time in my life when I am wishing for summer not to come because I know how fast it will end and with it my time as a full time mommy. I hate the idea of going back to work, but I know it has to come. I wish I could do one of those jobs they advertise that the people make 10,000 dollars a month and only work an hour a day or some crap like that. I've been trying to get in touch with the baby sitter I want and she hasn't called me back in two days. It's a little discouraging to think of handing my baby over to someone who doesn't seem to like the idea of returning a phone call. Oh well...it's late, so I better get off to bed. Tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful so I'm going to take Juliette downtown to walk around outside. She needs some fresh air and mommy needs some exercise. I'm going to enjoy watching my daughter get so excited to feel the wind in her face and watch her little legs pump in the air and forget about frustration if she crawls into my lap while I am trying to eat lunch to see if she can scam some grown up food (which she did tonight and came away with a tator tot) or when she throws her cup for the 20th time and then demands I give it back to her. I'm going to read her her favorite books and shout for joy when she lifts the flap to find baby's Easter eggs. I'm going to tickle her until she laughs her deep belly laugh. I'm going to have to scissor hold her to suck out her nose and feed her puffy treats when I'm doing. I'm going to be a mom.

Da Da

Come back here!

Look at Mommy! What's over there???

And we're off.....

Hmm what can I grab?

Ahh my phone!

Dialing 1-800-Nana

Trying to snap a photo of Juliette is becoming more and more difficult!

Crawling

Juliette is pretty good now on her little crawling legs and we can get her to come from the living room to the kitchen with the right motivation. She'll go pretty much anywhere if we shake the can of her favorite treats at her...kinda like a cat!

Swimming 2

Today was our second swim lesson. We debated on taking her this week since she's got a little runny nose, but off we went. They had parents put the kids in a noodle and parents were supposed to let go and only hold the noodle and let the baby float. I knew Josh was not going to let go and he didn't :). Next week they are going to dunk them! Apparently at the end of last week's class, the instructor said that both parents can go in the water so my mission this week is to find a cheap bathing suit that actually fits. My old one is all faded and the one I really like isn't exactly appropriate for a YMCA--the slit in the front goes down quite far.

Park

Today we went to the little park by the Clouds' house and Juliette once again loved the swings. She approached the crawl through tunnel with some caution, but once she understood what to do, she zipped right through it. She liked looking out the little window holes.

Tupperware!

Kindermusik from last week

Yuck

I've been socked with this stomach bug that's apparently running wild in our are since Saturday morning. The only things that are staying "down" are Tyson chicken nuggets and Juicy Juice. Water, tea, Gatorade, and even ginger ale aren't helping. I need to eat and I'm hungry, but I know what will happen as soon as I put something in my mouth. I really need to just crawl back into bed for the next 24 hours. It doesn't help that Juliette is fighting her nap right now after falling fast asleep while nursing.

Our little Fishy

Let's go Dad!!! Getting our fishy from Miss Holly

Let's go go go!

Ahh this is the life.

Flip me back, flip me back now!!

Swim Lessons

Yesterday was the first of eight swim lessons at our local YMCA. Josh was the designated parent for this event and all he kept thinking about while sitting on the side of the pool were the other kids putting their noses in the water. GERMS!!!! He thought Juliette was going to hate it, but as soon as she got in the water, she was like a little dolphin. Kicking her legs and moving her arms seemed like second nature to her. The only part she didn't like was when Josh held her on her back...she very quickly turned the other way. The instructor said that's normal.

Buzzy's

Ok so the list of things we wouldn't do as parents continues to grow. First one was letting the baby sleep in our bed- that one only happens once in a while. Then it was the watching TV- the kid loves Mickey too much to deny her that simple pleasure of the Hot Dog song. Then it was food we would never feed her- she's had candy thanks to Daddy, last night she got a hold of a piece of a french fry. Now it's playing at Buzzy's Playground at the mall. We swore never to take our child into the germ factory, but she likes it and she's big enough now that she can crawl around and she doesn't try to lick the stuff either.

At the mall

I was so proud of the parking spot I got, I had to take a picture. Those of you unfamiliar with the Spotsy Towne Center, Costco is the popular spot to park and we never can get in the first lot, we always have to go to the second lot behind the stop signs. This morning, I got the first spot by the door!! I nearly cried, and probably so did the person who took it from me as soon as I left.

So here's my little liberty with the tire sticking out saying Yo..I'm first!

Happy Baby

Hey Mom, where are we going today???

The Mall??? YAY!!!

New Food

We tried Spaghetti O's this afternoon. Juliette was not impressed, but liked mushing them up in her hands. When I gave her a spoonful of them, she raspberried the sauce at me.

Yes, she's only wearing a diaper and right after she was done, I threw her on the shower. She didn't like the shower at all. I think it was the noise and the pounding water.

Spring!

It seems spring has finally found Virginia- at least for a few days. It's been so nice the pas three days. Sunday and Monday Juliette got to play in the park and today we are spending playtime outside in the backyard. I brought out her favorite toys- blocks, beads, her purse- but her favorite things even outside is still to climb and since there are no couches or chairs to climb up, I seem to be the newest climbing tool. Her snack cup was on one side of me and she was on the other, so her solution was to just climb over the Mount Mommy to get to the other side. I couldn't believe what she did this morning. I'm trying to teach her how to sit back down once she stand up and it's hit or miss. Today I put one of her new favorite treats- wagon wheel puffies- on the ground and the kid did a full on split down to the floor, picked it up, and stood back up. I'm going to try to get it on film, but have to get more of wheels first- it was her last one :(. Gotta go- it's lunch time!

technical difficulties

For some reason FLIP software isn't letting me upload the videos to the blog again. I'm trying to get new videos up, so be patient :)

Uh-oh

Popsicle!

oooooh cold!

Cutie!

Waffles!

Ahh nap time

A week ago we set out to train Juliette to take her two naps a day in her crib. It seemed like it was going one step forward, two steps back with her waking up at 3 and 4 am, napping twice a day but in her swing, I think we're a success now. Josh has to take the credit for this. Over the weekend he kept putting her in the crib, patting her back a few times, and out she went. I was nervous to do it myself- I think the little booger knows who's a sucker- MOMMY! She likes to be in one particular position for her naps, in one spot of the crib- laying against the bars facing the wall, head facing the bars, thumb in mouth. Yesterday I caved and she took naps in the swing- just easier for me than to fight her. This morning, into the crib she went because she was fighting sleep. I put her down twice and out she went. Same situation this afternoon and as I type this, she's zonked after laying her down twice again. She slept for about 45 minutes this morning and that was enough for me to get some things done around the house and take care of myself too. If she sleeps until 4, I'll be thrilled. The pediatrician said at least 2 forty minute naps were fine and that seems to be her zone. I just with she would sleep a little later in the morning--5:30 would be great.