Santa has good taste!

Don't you just DIE over these sweet kicks Santa left for Courtney early this year?


and this dress? OH-EM-GEE!

One veggie at a time!

We started with peas and that was a disaster. So we decided to do orange and yellow veggies first. Sweet potatoes were a success.



And a shout out to my cousin Kim, Owner of Lake Side Properties in Carson City, NV for the sweet bib!

I love you like a fat kid loves cake!

Mike will be gone for work the week of Christmas so we decided to celebrate Christmas today with Courtney. Santa brought me a 50mm f/1.8 lens for my Canon Rebel camera. Below are a few shots with my new lens.

6 month update!

Courtney had her 6 month well check on Tuesday. This is how it went:

Weight: 16 pounds 12 ounces (75%)
Height: 27 inches (95%)
Head: 41.4 cms (40%)
Shots: Four (would have been three but we went ahead and got her the flu shot...terrible parents we are.)

Her pediatrician is very happy that she is still on breastmilk and always gives me kudos for continuing to pump for her while I work. She always makes me feel good and motivates me to keep going. She said we can now start solids and that she can have veggies, fruits and meat on top of the cereal we already started. She was given flouride drops that I am to give her everyday. She said she is just thriving and that we are doing a great job.

So after her appointment I headed to the grocery store and picked up a few jars of organic veggie baby food (ok it was 10 jars...they were 10 for $7...give me a break). I plan to try making my own, but I was excited to let her try her first veggie. When we came home she had a bottle, then had some rice cereal and her first veggie...peas. She ate them right up. Fast forward to the next night. I heat up the rice cereal and peas and she wants nothing to do with them. Keeps making the ewww what is that face. I tried to catch it on video but she would not even open her mouth to give them another try. We will try peas a few more nights before giving oatmeal a try, then I plan to try green beans. How exciting for her to get to try new things huh? Oh yeah, she is also eating in her big girl highchair.

This was taken the night of her appointment.

It's Santa!

Mike and I drove to a really nice mall this weekend (2 hours and a ferry ride away) to take Courtney to see Santa. We were so happy we did. You know how sometimes you see a Santa where it looks like a teenager is dressed up with a fake beard? I'm glad our drive was worth it. Our Santa was great. Enjoy the below picture and video.

Sweet baby Jesus!

How can I leave the house with my daughter dressed in this cute outfit


and come home with this wrapped up in a Safeway grocery bag like a present from Santa?


And for heaven's sake Kitty, why are you still smiling?

6 Months!

Letter to my baby!

Dear Courtney,

Today you have reached a huge milestone. A milestone that mommy thinks came up way to fast. How can it be? How can that 7 pound 11 ounce baby girl with the angel kiss on her forehead (which you still have when you are sleepy) and those chubby little cheeks be six months old today? I guess some things people warn you about motherhood are right. Like the one about you growing so fast. I miss how I used to hold you with one hand, how you would snuggle next to me in bed and we would nap together during the afternoon (boy I miss maternity leave). You have grown so much in the last six months. No, really. You are in the 90% for weight and the 100% for height. You sit up pretty well unassisted although mommy still puts the boppy around you in case you decide to throw yourself back. Your giggle is contagious and bring tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. You roll back and forth, have started to army crawl (mommy isn't ready for that yet ok?) and you enjoy your rice cereal.

Mommy and Daddy look at eachother all the time and thank God for blessing us with you. You are the sweetest baby we could have ever asked for. As much as I dislike spending my days away from you while I work, I LOVE that you recognize me when I come to pick you up and how gently you grab my face and plant a big slobbery kiss on me. That alone could melt anyones heart. Daddy misses you so much when he is away for work but loves giving you hugs and kisses, bathtime and taking you out to experience new things.

We are so lucky to have you in our lives. We love you to the moon and back and much much more.

Love,
Mommy

On another note, I've been exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months! You don't understand how proud I am of this accomplishment. The first 6 weeks were brutal and I wanted to give up almost everyday. But here I am. Yay!

I LOVE Tiny Prints!

I've been using Tiny Prints for a few years now and they never disappoint. Courtney's baptism invites just came in the mail and I adore them. She is being baptised on December 28th when we are home in California. My sister and Brother-in-Law will be her Godparents. I'm really excited about it. Courtney will be wearing the same baptism gown that my sister, my nieces and I wore. Totally vintage right?

Here are the invites that I ordered (not with our information):

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our holiday photo shoot

So I was impatient...

Originally we planned to wait until 6 months to start Courtney on solids. Court's pediatrician said that was fine since she was getting plenty of nutrition from breastmilk alone (hello 90% for weight). They also say that early introduction (some people start at 4 months) to foods has been linked to allergies, diabetes and obesity. But this weekend I got impatient and wanted to test it out. So Saturday afternoon we gave it a shot and she just kept spitting it out. So we gave it another try today. I thickened it up a bit and she seemed to like it a bit more. We are using Happy Bellies Organic Brown Rice Cereal mixed with breastmilk. And her Bumbo acted as a highchair. I'm excited to start her on solids. I'm hoping to make some of her baby food, especially certain fruits and vegetables. But we will just continue with the cereal alone until her 6 month appointment.



As you can see, I need more practice. What a mess it is. But I love how excited she was. Everytime I scooped more she would look in the bowl.

Sneak Peek!

So very excited!

I know I've been a little MIA lately with my posts but I am so excited today. So I scheduled a photo shoot at JcPenney to capture our family for Christmas cards. We picked out a dress for Courtney and a few things for Mike and I. It was scheduled for this coming Saturday. And then it happened. The wonderful photographer who shot our maternity photos and Courtney's newborn photos blogged about Minis! I literally jumped for joy. Mini's are a short 20 minute session with her to capture the family for holiday cards. I couldn't resist. And what is even better it is scheduled for this Sunday...and Mike is actually not under way. It must be a sign right?

But now I'm stuck wondering what the heck to wear. Can Courtney still wear the dress we bought? It's kind of fancy and the photos will be taken outdoors. I have tights to put on her and I can bring a little jacket. But what the heck do I wear? A dress? Jeans and a nice sweater? Remember guys, I live out in the boonies and going shopping after work just doesn't work for me anymore. I'm kinda freaking out.

But the one thing I do know is that Jessica can capture the best in people even if you feel fat (aka my maternity shoot) or fat and tired (aka Courtney's newborn shoot...I'm talking about me of course).

I better give JcPenney a call and cancel our appointment with them.

And because I can't leave you without a picture of my muffin...who got her ears pierced on Monday.

Be a doll...and vote for Courtney!

Please vote for Courtney for the next Gerber Generation Star.

You can search her with our city as Sequim.

Muffin is 5 months!

Courtney turned 5 months old yesterday. Where has the time gone? At her 4 month appointment (which was actually about 4 1/2 months) she was 26 1/2 inches tall and in the 100 percentile for height. We all know this kid isn't getting her height from her good ol' mama (who stands tall at 5'4"). She also weighed in at 15 pounds 3 ounces (90 percentile for weight). Her are a few things she is up to:

- She happily sleeps on her tummy
- She rolls both ways
- She found her feet and has begun putting her toes in her mouth (haven't caught it on film yet)
- She's started pushing herself up with her arms during tummy time
- She is still exclusively breastfed (high five for me) although she did try formula while we vacationed in California since I wasn't pumping enough for some reason
- She is ready for food but we are waiting one more month
- She has found her voice and likes to squeel at the top of her lungs (which makes the dog come running...it's hilarious)
- She has learned to blow raspberries and her face is usually covered in spit
- She had her first Halloween and she dressed up like a pumpkin

Prayers needed for Baby Cailey Anna!

On October 11, 2010, Baby Cailey Anna was born to Natalie and Greg Harman. She weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces. Cailey Anna was delivered at a birthing center and was not breathing when she was born. An ambulance was called and she was taken to a nearby hospital and then later transferred to another hospital that was better equipped for her. Her parents have so much faith in God. They are so very strong and inspiring.



Cailey began gasping for air on her own and had a good heartrate but was not responding. Supposedly she had a problem with her blood gases which causes a lack of oxygen resulting in damage to vital organs.



The hospital put Cailey on a cold treatment to prevent further swelling. They are concerned about damage to her brain. After 72 hours they slowly raised the temperature and performed an EEG and an MRI to test for brain activity. The results were not what we had hoped for. The tests showed severe damage in the back and sides of the brain and the stem. Cailey is still not moving or even trying to do simple tasks like breathing or clearing out her airway on her own. Her condition has not changed since she was rewarmed, she has stayed the same.

So now they wait. Wait for a miracle for this sweet baby girl. So all I ask is that you spare a prayer today that a miracle occurs for this faithful family.