Rice and Frijolitos

Baby Bean Numero Dos: The First Trimester

2012-01-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

With a busy little toddler around, it's needless you say that things are not as easily completed around the house. I thought I'd perhaps chronicle this pregnancy as well as I did with Amélie's, you know, just to be fair and all. Unfortunately, things haven't worked out as planned in that department. At this point, I only have two series of pictures. One set at 5ish weeks; pretty much the beginning and absolutely no signs of a bump, and at 12 weeks; with a somewhat noticeable bean bump. Therefore, I've decided a trimester series of photos will be the plan. I like that. There will be much more obvious changes! Also, I'm going to give some few good and bad points about each trimester. Can I just say, woo hoo to the first trimester being over!

Two-Thousand-Eleven: Eric, Nancy, & Amélie

2012-01-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the major (and not so major) things that happened to our little trio. So, here it is!

January:
We moved to San Jose and I officially became a stay-at-home mommy. After a year of no free running, the boys (our dogs) were very happy to have a yard again! Amélie had her first taste of frozen yogurt. She tried her daddy's chocolate.

{yum}

February:
Amélie really started eating(other than mommy milk), got her ears pierced, and seriously started sleeping 12 hours straight at night.

March:
After getting into a groove with baby and home, I whipped out my sewing machine to begin projects again after a few slow months of sewing. We made the long drive down to Bakersfield for our nephew Corbin's first birthday.

{she was so little!}

{cousins}

April:
I started a vegetable garden and enjoyed some amazing warm weather. Daddy man came back to the States after being in Guatemala for 4 years. We made some new San Jose friends. I cut my hair and now want it all back.

May:
I started seriously planning Amélie's first birthday party and the sewing continued! The summer started getting very busy with birthdays and wedding celebrations. I also got a new/used car!

{4 generations}

June:
We took family photos. celebrated lots of birthdays, had Eric's mom visit, and the hubby took two weeks off work from his remaining family leave. We took a mini-vacation to Arizona and were spoiled by my family. We laid out in the sun, spent hours in the pool with our water baby, had a movie date, and ate lots of yummy food and drink.

{eric likes to take pictures while the photographer is working}

{water baby at Charlotte and Samantha's birthday}

{with abuelito jj in arizona}

{at our neighbor, lucy's birthday}

July:
Lots of birthdays again! The big one being Amélie's first birthday. It turned out perfect. Amélie started walking! She also took her first swim lessons. There were also lots of other birthdays and weddings.

{amélie's birthday cake}

August:
There was thrifting, sewing, family visits, crafting, vegetable gardening and harvesting, theme park riding, bike riding, and more birthday celebrating. We had an adventurous trip to Pennsylvania for the beautiful wedding of our friends. We got to see Eric's brother while we were there. Eric and I celebrated our birthdays.

{riding}

{delicious pancakes in pennsylvania}

{a mushroom bigger than our heads in pennsylvania}

{working off the yummy ice cream we had at the creamery at penn state}

September:
My brother got married. We drove to Bakersfield and experienced some super duper desert-like heat. I got a little more serious about my running for the race. The weddings continued and we were able to enjoy our last wedding of the season without baby. It was awesome. Thanks Abuelito JJ! We had some wonderful weather. We found an official baby sitter in San Jose and went out on a sushi dinner and dessert date for our third anniversary.

{my brothers}

{the baby flower girl}

{our friend's Jen and Will got married on Lake Merritt}

{someone got new glasses. daddy did.}

{example of art from the chalk festival in our neighborhood park}

{anniversary dessert}

October:
The awesome weather continued! I sold some of my things at a craft fair put on by one of my good friends. I ran the Rock 'n Roll half marathon with by brother. We ran together the whole way. We bought Amélie's big girl bed frame. We stocked up on lots and lots of candy. I made Amélie's parrot costume and celebrated Halloween with our neighbors. I finally got an iPhone. Oh, and we went to Disneyland!!!

{waiting to get faces}

{we finished with a great time}

{at the fair}

{excited about pumpkins}

{beach day in october!}

November:
Eric's dad, stepmom, and brother came to visit. Eric's brother nearly got in a bar fight while we were out dancing. We had the best strawberry shortcake I've ever had. We found out that we're expecting baby number two (due July 2012)!* We ate REALLY good food during our intimate Thanksgiving at home and at my bestie's annual celebration.

{kansas johnson's in california}

{preparing our little thanksgiving feast}

{kristin's 25 pound turkey}

{enjoying great weather}

December:

Still enjoyed some amazing weather. When it is going to be winter (I'm not complaining)?! My brother Christian turned 20! We had fun ice-skating downtown with our friends Tegan and Daniel. Amélie and I took a really bad picture with santa and then went back and asked them to take it over again. Luckily, they did and ended taking about ten more pictures until we had the perfect one. Eric and I overate at his holiday work party. It was the first time in 15 years that my entire family celebrated Christmas together. All my brothers, both of my parents, new babies, and significant others were here in our house. It was wonderful and a little crazy. We had a quite evening at home to celebrate the new year. I made pizza and our neighbors hung out with us until the babies needed to sleep. Then, Eric and I went to the movies and got home in order to celebrate with daddy man at midnight. It was great!

{our 14th or so try}

{ice-skating!}

{those nerds are classy}

{making gingerbread houses with my family}

{we did a lot of christmas light drive-bys. amélie loved all the lights}

{we thank amélie for lots of sleeping in}

*if you actually read this far, good job! Yes, we are expecting again! Like how I threw that in?

The Happiest Place on Earth

2011-11-23T19:50:00.001-08:00

The hubby is super lucky to get the whole week of Thanksgiving off. So, when he also received a nice bonus at work, we decided it would be the perfect time for a family vacation to Disneyland. I'm a big fan of Disneyland. It really does feel like such a magical little place. The attention to detail is just amazing to me. The fact that it'd be our little bean's first visit just made it extra special. We left last Friday night with our 2-day park-hopper passes in hand!

{Yay! Day One}

{the snowy icicle covered castle}

{Our first ride- Dumbo}

{it's so hard to get a good picture of this girl. she loved the teacups! it was my favorite as a little girl}

{little door for a little girl}

{We're excited!}

On our first day the focus was to enjoy Disneyland park as much as possible. We had a great start; nice and early, and were able to enjoy quite a few rides before heading back to our hotel across the street for Amélie's nap. After a nap (for all of us!), we went back and really took advantage of the day. We rode as many rides as we could and fortunately none of lines were longer than a 20 minute wait. We watched the Christmas parade and were able to sneak onto Small World toward the end of the show and avoid the ridiculous 40 wait that it had all day! I have to say it was probably my most favorite ride of all. Amélie LOVED it. She was fascinated by everything and was smiling and clapping the entire time. The park and many of it's rides were decorated for the holiday season and Small World was especially beautiful. I also told the hubby we should stay for the special fireworks display and snow(!!!) that night, which was well past Amélie's bedtime, but we're so happy we did because once we got back to the hotel with a passed out Amélie in the stroller (she never sleeps in the stroller!), we realized the weather report called for rain the next day.

{having fun with hats. Amélie did end up getting the traditional Mickey ears}

{she was actually having fun. getting close to nap time}

{darn handle!}

{just cruising}

With the weather report in mind, the next day our goal was to get to the park at opening time, ride as many things as possible and then head over to California Adventure since we'd never been there; hopefully before the rain started. Well, we did alright. We did get there on time, did ride as many as we could before nap time, but we never made it to California Adventure. It started pouring as soon as we started having lunch before nap time. We went back, slept, and then decided on braving the cold and rain to ride Space Mountain, Peter Pan, and the Haunted Mansion. Just three rides...we could do it in the rain, right?! Well, we accomplished it, but it was definitely an adventure. Amélie's at a stage now where she cannot lose sight of me. So, when Eric and I switched in order for me to get on Space Mountain, Amélie started crying immediately and didn't stop until I got back. Then, we found out Amélie doesn't like being in the rain (even with a raincoat and umbrella) and during the time we were waiting in the portion of the line that was in the rain for Peter Pan, she whined and cried a little. Fortunately, she was totally into the Haunted Mansion and she pointed and clapped throughout the ride. With our goals completed, we headed back to a warm comforting dinner, bath time, and on-time bedtime. Overall, our trip was a big success and we had a wonderful time.

{beautiful lit up castle}

{christmas lights. love.}

{the only picture on our camera from our rainy second day}

We of course took lots of pictures with our phones too, but I'll post those on Facebook since it's easier that way.

Momma Must-Haves

2011-11-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

I spent a good portion of Amélie's nap this past Saturday writing up this list with lots of details for a relative. As I got about half-way through, I wished I would have typed it out because I have lots of friends that are going to be new mommy's. It'll also be good for me to look back on and perhaps edit when we prepare for our next frijolito.

This list includes things that I've tested/used and absolutely loved.

Gear

Stroller: We used the Uppababy Vista and the City Mini by Baby Jogger. My fave, hands-down, is the City Mini. It's super light, unbelievably easy to fold, and it maneuvers fabulously. It has an attachment you can purchase in order to use it with the infant seat. I'm already thinking that we might get the double one if the next bean comes along while Amélie's still interested in riding along. We also have a BOB jogging stroller and it's the best.

Car Seat: We did our research using a handy little guide, Baby Bargains and it was really helpful when it came to deciding on the infant car seat. We went with what they suggested at a reasonable price-point and got a Graco Snugride. We decided to go with the one that goes up to 35 lbs, just in case.

Good Helper

Crib: We purchased the "Gulliver" crib model from IKEA. It received high ratings in the book and it's been great. I wanted a white crib, but they have it in numerous colors. It has a smallish footprint, it's simple, and it's really affordable. I have heard Walmart has some pretty snazzy styles for great prices.

Mattress: I purchased our eco-friendly mattress at Target. Nothing super fancy; just a mattress. They do suggest that they be firm for baby's safety. I got our pad there as well.

Bouncer: This is one of the few "fun" accessories we wanted for Amélie since we heard so many good things about having one. We used it a lot! It's easy to move around the house and Amélie found it really enjoyable. I selected ours based on a simple design and color scheme. I'm really not into bright colors. Fisher-Price is the leader in these things.

Noise Machine: We did get the cute snuggly Sleep Sheep, but it didn't play as long as we'd like it to. So, we downloaded Hawaiian white noise from iTunes on the pod and play it on repeat the entire time Amélie is sleeping. We have a fancy shmancy dock for it that Eric got through work.

Monitor: We registered for the Sony Baby Call Nursery Monitor and it worked just fine. I feel like my mommy instincts are more superior to any monitor out there. Your hearing is amazing when it comes to baby!

Carrier: We could not have survived without the Ergo. During the month that Amélie only wanted to be carried in order to fall asleep, this saved us; big time. But, that's not the only reason we love it. It's soft, holds your snuggly newborn in close and keeps them warm, and has the best lower back support. We did purchase the newborn insert and it was super. I used it to grocery shop when the bean was too small to sit up and I still use it whenever the stroller isn't convenient. I can't say enough good stuff about it.

Pack N Play: We bought ours from Craigslist and it's been great having it for visiting friends and family or when we have another baby sleeping over.

Bassinet: I highly recommend this for the newborn stage. They're up so often, it's so convenient to have the little one right next to you. We used this universal stand.

Chairs: We bought a high chair from IKEA and it's been wonderful. I can't remember the model name, but it's black and all wood. We wanted something simple and this works. Without the tray it fits up close to the table. The Bumbo is great too. I still have yours Stephanie!

Diapers: We tried a number of different brands when Amélie was a newborn, but what we ended up liking the most are Pampers. Since Amélie was a preemie, we needed to use preemie sized diapers and they offered them. We started out with the Swaddlers and are now using the Cruisers. Hopefully, we won't be using them for much longer! We also have found Desitin to work the best for baby booty rashes.

Changing pad: I don't remember what pad we bought, but I think I probably debated about getting the natural version or the other one. I think I just went with what was a reasonable price. We've been using it on top of Amélie's dresser from day-one and it's worked out perfectly. We also have this little number by Skip-Hop. I keep it stocked with diapers, wipes, and a spare outfit (onesie) and it hangs out in my trunk. It's great for an emergency situation and for quick trips.

Diaper Bag: Our first diaper bag was a Petunia Pickle Bottom. I loved it because it made sense and is super cute, but honestly, I don't love it. It's bulky and doesn't have enough pockets for me. I hate digging through a dark bag with a smallish opening trying to find the one thing I need. It drives me nuts. So, I use it mainly for trips. I used a couple different things until I found this Skip-Hop Duo Deluxe Diaper Bag. It has LOTS of pockets, comes with a changing pad, and is affordable.

Mine has dots (this isn't exactly the same model), not cherry blossoms. But this one is CUTE!

Diaper Disposal: Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail. It does the job; keeps stink in the bucket.

Soft Things

Sleep Sack: All the sleep sacks Amélie used are by HALO. We especially loved this version with the swaddle built in. Amélie is a bit of crazy sleeper, like her daddy, and this always kept her snuggled up so she could sleep all night.

Swaddling Blankets: Aden + Anaïs. Super duper fabulous!!!! They're BIG, made of the softest muslin (which is very breathable), and can be used for lots of other things too. Cover for the stroller on a breezy day? Bam! There you go! They also have cutie patterns. We got the stars ones. They sell them at Target, but their patterns are not as cute and they're not quite as big as the ones you buy elsewhere.

Sheets: Buy lots! I bought ours at Target and B r Us.

Hooded Towel: Not only are they cute, they're functional! I'm going to add washcloths in here with this one. Carter's = good.

Onesies: Gerber's are the sweetest, cutest, little things on a baby. Ooohhh....sooo cute!!!

Pajamas: Eric loves babies in pj's and I totally understand why. CUTE! Amélie slept in footie pj's for a long time and now sleeps in top/bottom combos. I really like ones that open up from the bottom for a quick diaper change. Like these by Dwell.

If Breastfeeding

Boppy: Awesome! It saves your arms, big time! It also works for tummy time, sitting up, giant neck pillow, and sweet snuggling.

Nipple Cream: Motherlove. I tried Lansinoh and it.was.painful. I purchased the Motherlove cream at the lactation center at our hospital and thought it was wonderful. As wonderful as nipple cream can be. =) It's obviously safe for baby and it has a really smooth texture that goes on easily.

Nursing Bra: My fave were by Bravado. Our lactation center sold them, but I also found them at a little shop called Natural Expressions in SF.

Nursing Tanks: I wore them under my shirts in order to not expose myself completely and also to keep me warm on chilly days.

Books

The Happiest Baby on the Block (although we watched the DVD) Dr. Karp's tips are fabulous and very effective.

A Nursing Mother's Companion It's nice to get some wonderful advice and not feel like a loser because it's sooo hard.

The Baby Whisperer Yeah, I pretty much followed every single word in this book. It helped that Amélie's what she calls a "textbook" baby.

First Aid

- saline drops or spray ( I also really love Boogie Wipes)
- aspirator like the one they use at the hospital
- baby nail clippers
- thermometer
- baby acetaminophen
- humidifier

Other Bits

Wipes Warmer: Not really necessary, but I was convinced by my mommy when she told me she used to warm mine up when I was a baby. So sweet. My mommy did it. We have the model below by Prince Lionheart.

Premium Wipe Warmer

Detergent: We used Dreft and it smells like baby.

Bath Time and Lotions: We only use Aveeno baby products. My fave is this bath soap and the lavender lotion. We use it for sleepy-time bath time. I also really like their bath + shampoo. All their products smell really good and are all natural. I love the way Amélie smells.

Bottles: We used Avent from the beginning and never had any problems with them. I really love the fact that they sell sippy cup spouts to replace the nipple once they're older. We still use them.

Breast Pump: I went with the Medela "Pump-in-Style" and it worked out great. I used it a lot and it's still working.

Baby Tub: Agh. What a waste of money! They have those super fancy "spa" tubs and they are soo not necessary. We stuck with a storage tub that got used for storage once Amélie outgrew it. We added in this sponge to keep baby in place. For five bucks at Target, it was totally worth it.

Summer Infant Comfy Bath Sponge

Pacifiers: I suggest trying out a few and finding one the babe likes best. Amélie favored a specific brand when she was younger and then we stocked up on them. They tend to disappear. We only use it when Amélie sleeps in order to avoid a paci addiction.

Okay, so I'm out of steam now. I'll probably come back to edit it, but this is what I would consider to be the stuff you really need.

Hope it helps! =)

Fall Fun

2011-10-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Yup. I've been a bad blogger. I have a really good excuse, though. We've been having a lot of fun. Life with our little bean is so great. It's really amazing to see that little toddler brain working and then getting to enjoy the wonderful things she comes up with.

Amélie is a big "talker" lately. She's always saying something and we have some great conversations where we really connect and she chuckles, then I laugh, and it all ends with a laughing fit. She's pretty hilarious. Her favorite words to say are currently "baby," "nena" (baby girl in Spanish), "hey/hi,""agua," "leche," and "mama." But, she understands soo much (although almost all in Spanish). I can ask her to do something and she does it! Amazing! What happened to my itty bitty baby?!

We're doing all kinds of things and laughing a lot while at it. As fall in kinda here, we've visited a few pumpkin patches, but today, we visited the patch or all patches! It was huge and beautiful! I mean, look at the picture. That was just half the entrance. I felt like it was the Disneyland of pumpkin patches.

We went with Amélie's little buddy, Josie and her mommy, Chris. We had so much fun riding on the train, carousel, one of the hayrides, and taking in the beauty around us. They had the most amazing marigold fields that they plant individually by hand each year. Soo beautiful! I'm already planning on visiting again next week.

Amélie and Josie in their Halloween headbands.

enjoying the carousel

marigolds galore

riding the train. I love that face.

hanging gourds while on the hayride

amazing!

beautiful! I just wanna lay in the middle of that field.

enjoying the ride.

I'm so excited about fall and especially for Halloween. I'm working on our costumes this week and I can't wait to share them.

Summertime

2011-08-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

If I was still working, my summer would just about be over and I'd be heading back to work next week. Eek! How summer just flies by! Our summer has been packed with lots and lots of activities and fun. Although, there have been not-so-fun things as well.

{Amélie and her cousin Corbin}

{dressed up for wedding #2 of the summer}

Luckily, August has so far been the slowest of the months thus far. In reality, it hasn't been that slow. But, our busy summer will be finishing off with a trip to Pennsylvania for the Ruttenberg wedding and mini-vacation where we're planning to also visit with the hubby's brother; then quickly upon our return we'll be enjoying a long weekend with two weddings! My brother will be getting married (yay!) and some of our good friends will be celebrating their marriage with a white wedding. Everyone is being asked to wear white and it will be our first big event without Amélie. She'll be staying at home with grandpa! That will be the grand finale to our summer.

{unhappy, hot baby}

Amélie and I have been keeping busy taking lots of day trips, visiting museums, thrifting, crafting, having play-dates, and just hanging out. I enjoy every day with my girl, but there's been some tough day sprinkled in between. She got her two top teeth and boy was that fun. My sweet girl was a big cranky pants and that made for some really long days. Also, as usual, Amélie got a fever after her vaccinations, but this last time her fever lasted three days (!) and my poor baby was miserable. She didn't want to leave my arms and was scorching hot. Then, once her fever went away, she got a rash all over her body; starting on her face. Her fever usually only lasts a day and it really scared me to have it continue for so long and then to be followed with another thing. It was horrible. When she eventually recuperated a week later, it was so nice to have my happy girl back. I really missed her usual self.

{at Gilroy Garden's on the day she got her fever. poor sweetie.}

The hubby's summer has also been really busy as well. He's been so busy at work and has spent many evenings working late. For a few weeks now he's also been expected to work six days a week because they have to many things to finish at work. Fortunately, there haven't been very many long weekend work days, but there's the constant work email and phone checking. He's expecting things to slow down in the fall. Thank goodness.

{after a fun-filled afternoon, the girls fell asleep

on the way back from the museum}

{part of my garden}

{my first two zucchinis}

Summer also brings lots of birthdays! Our sweet girl's first birthday was perfect. The hubby and I were having so much fun that we didn't get a chance to take very many pictures. The only pictures we have are from her cake eating and opening presents. It was so wonderful having so many friends together! Then there was my mom's, Amélie's girlie friends', the littlest brother's, Eric's brother, two nephews', my daddy man's, and tomorrow is the hubby and my birthday! Birthdays galore!

{the only one where's she's looking at the camera and sitting still.

it's HARD to get a picture of this moving toddler!}

Now, for fall...I love fall. The clothes, layers, leaves, crisp weather, new planting, pumpkin bread, running a half-marathon, selling at a craft fair, our anniversary, and less work for the hubby- I can't wait for fall. Actually, I can wait for my marathon. I've been slacking on the training. I'm excited though because my brother, Gabe and I will be running together. It'll be fun either way and it's right here in San Jose so I don't have to drive anywhere.

{a thrifted afghan that perfectly

matches Amélie's room. score!}

{one of the pretty features at Gilroy Gardens}

Summer we love you, but we're excited for fall.

It's hard to believe...

2011-07-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

this itty bitty 5lb.5.oz. baby girl...

grew to this a few weeks later...

then to a sitting up baby girl a few months later...

and now to this crawling, big-eyed, toddling, babbling, pancake-loving, silly, music fanatic, silky-haired, happy, snuggly, mommy helper/buddy, exploring, giggly, wonderful, sweet baby girl.

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful daughter. She's made me a better person and made my world a million times better. My pores ooze unconditional love for this little girl and just when I think I can't love her anymore, my heart grows a bit bigger.

I love you to the moon and back a million times over, my chiquita.

Happy First Birthday!

Just a little size comparison. =)

Family Photos

2011-06-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've been slacking on the blogging, big time. I guess I've just got too many good things going on. That's true, but also not the main reason I haven't been logging on here. Unfortunately, the piece of equipment that I use to load pictures onto the computer is missing. I don't know what happened to it when we moved. I've been using the hubby's computer to load pictures since his laptop has a little slot for the camera's memory thingy, but I only have access to his computer in the evenings when he's come from work and well; sometimes I'm busy doing other things. Oh well.

But, right now, I don't need that little gadget because these photos are already on the internet! Yippee for cut and paste (or dragging on the mac).

For Amélie's first birthday, which is quickly approaching!, I decided we should take family portraits. I once again got in contact with our favorite photographer, Nicole Hoxie, and set up a time to take photos. That was yesterday and she already posted a preview of our session today! She's amazing and fast! She was able to capture some beautiful photos our little family and my favorite little girl in only about an hour. I can't wait to see the rest, but I couldn't wait to share these. I love Amélie's new thing, which; is sticking out her tongue. She's discovered it. =)

{love those little hands}

Ten Months!

2011-05-18T23:49:00.000-07:00

We love our chunky monkey! This smiling girl finds happiness in every little thing.

{photo all the grandma's received for mother's day}

She loves to explore everything around her. Anything within reach will be touched, poked, and probably subjected to drooly baby lips. Amélie would like to walk everywhere just as long as she gets to hold on to one of your fingers. She's not quite willing to let go, although she will if she's amused and distracted enough to not notice.

{moving around in the dress-up area}

Our sweet girl loves visiting the Discovery museum, spending time with other kiddies, singing, and dancing to all sorts of music. The hubby thinks she's into rock music and I think she's into Latin music. But, she really doesn't have a preference. It all sounds good to her!

{trying to stay dry}

She's my sidekick, my buddy, and a blossoming crafter like her mommy. Amélie loves visiting the craft store and touching all the silky fabrics, staring at all the colors, and then also doing her own art projects at home.

{playing in the water at the museum}

Our mornings usually include watching her favorite show, Plaza Sésamo; the Spanish version of Sesame Street. This is the only show she can sit quietly for right now. The English version somehow doesn't have the same effect, which doesn't surprise me. When it's time to say goodbye to daddy, she always sends him to work with a big smile and a wave.

{looking like a big girl in her highchair at the kitchen table}

She hasn't encountered a vegetable she doesn't like. Woo! On the other hand, she's a bit picky about her fruits and will only eat most of them in puréed form. Amélie loves having a snack to grab and feed herself during meals and drinking out of a straw is her favorite way to enjoy her beverages, aside from mommy milk, of course.

{one of the few photos where she wasn't moving during her 10 month photos}

She's full so full of energy and really lights up any room she's in. Amélie has a great sense of humor and somehow always manages to give us a good laugh at just the right moment. The bean always gets all our jokes. =) The hubby and I like to call her our little "jámon," our little ham.

We fall more and more in love with her every second of every day. We look at pictures of her when she's asleep because we can't get enough of her, we kiss and snuggle her as if our lives depended on it, and we thank our lucky stars for our amazing baby girl. We are unbelievably blessed to have such a wonderful daughter.

We love you Amélie Sophia. Happy 10 month birthday!

New friends and a bit more

2011-04-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Amélie and I have made some new friends in the last week. As mentioned in my previous posts, it's been a challenge to meet stay-at-home moms in my area. I did look into other groups as some of you suggested and I will be attending a meeting in the near future when I have time. For now, Amélie and I have been socializing with moms and babies at the local museum.

{in "The Wonder Closet"- the area for itty bitty babes}

The Children's Discovery Museum is just three miles from our house and we've been really taking advantage of it's proximity since we got an annual membership a few weeks ago. I love the fact that we can jet over there for a quick visit any time of day. In fact, on Tuesday I had hoped to take her to story time at the library downtown (not the one two blocks away), but her nap ended up interfering with the time. So, while she napped I crossed my fingers she'd wake up in time for us to make it for the last hour of the museum. She woke up at just the right time, I fed her, packed her dinner, a snack for me, a blanket, and then drove over to the museum. After an hour of playing and walking around with the other kiddies (there's always lots of kids there), we left and had a nice little picnic dinner on the large grassy area in front before we had to go pick up the hubby from his stop. It was perfect.

{isn't the short handrail adorable?}

We recently even had a play date with some new friends. We had some play time in the park, a picnic lunch, and a nice walk around downtown Campbell. We had a great time and are looking forward to hanging out again. The girls are only a week apart in age. Amélie's always very interested in other kids and will watch their every move, but it was cute to have another little person with the same amount of interest in her. They got along wonderfully!

{cuties}

{see...she loved watching her little friend}

Amélie also made a new friend for Easter. She was made especially for her. =)

{ i found a pattern on Martha Stewart, but I changed her quite a bit}

{I painted her face using delicate paint brushes}

We had a laid-back Easter sunday. We enjoyed...

our amazing roses from the backyard...

our sweet baby "flower"...

wearing our aprons...

dyeing some eggs...

playing with egg shells...

and eating some deviled eggs!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

9 Months of Curiosity

2011-04-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

Happy nine month birthday to our baby girl! Where does the time go?! In three short months she will be one whole year old!

We adore you sweet girl. You light up our days with your smiles. Life is more exciting and simply complete with you in it. We could not have asked for a more wonderful addition.

A Side of Rice and Beans

2011-04-07T22:38:00.000-07:00

That's us. The hubby's been enjoying not just the company of myself and our little blondie bean, but also the daddy man. He came in about a month ago from Guatemala and has been keeping us company and doing lots of things around the house like picking up Eric from his bus stop, making awesome dinners, completely clearing our big yard area of a gagillion weeds, making plant stands for me, and a whole lot of other things we very much appreciate. We always miss him when he leaves; not because of all the things he does, but because we love his company. This coming week he'll be leaving us in order to move to Arizona. He's decided that being back in the States is what he prefers. He misses us (my brothers and I) and his new grandbabies. We're definitely happy to have him back closer to home.

{delicious dinner made by daddy man}

{visiting Bakersfield for our nephew's first birthday}

While the daddy man has been here we've been keeping ourselves pretty busy and our little girl has been growing and changing on a daily basis. I can't believe how big my girl is getting! I could probably write a detailed 10 page essay all about her changes this month, but I'll just provide a glimpse here. How about some to-the-point bullets?!

{her 8-month photo at home}

She is getting so heavy? I can't wait to find out how much she's gained at her next appointment in a month. I'm going to guess 19 lbs. Our chunky monkey.
Two visible teeth! The bottom left came in first and is still working on coming out completely. The right bottom is just barely coming out, but I can feel it. She loves feeling them with her lips and tongue.
Crawling in reverse (still not loving it) and would love to spend all day standing holding onto something.
Still loves eating. She's tried lots of new things, but her faves are still yogurt and sweet potatoes.
Talks and talks and talks. She gurgles, "dadas" all day long, squeals really high (we say she's practicing her Mariah Carey notes), loves blowing raspberries, and says "hey" and "hi" to everyone she sees.
Happiest baby ever! She can definitely be a grouch when she doesn't get what she wants and can go from super cheery to big tear girl, but she is overall super duper happy. She adores people! Whenever we go out to she will stare at people just waiting for them to make eye contact with her so that she can smile and wave at them. Oh yeah, she's big on the waving of hi and bye. I can leave a room for one second, come back and she will have the biggest smile and will talk a lot.
Dropped her third nap and her awake sessions have been stretched out to three/three and half hours. Since dropping her third nap, she now also sleep for longer periods of time. I love this! I can get so much more done. She used to take three 40 minute naps and now takes one 1 1/2 - 2 hour nap in the morning and an hour nap in the afternoon. We can actually go out and do more things too. She's also sleeping all 12 hours most nights. Sometimes she'll still want to eat once around 5:30am, which isn't too bad for me since I've slept a good length of time. (Okay the last two bullets weren't really to-the-point. oops)
Adores her abuelito. She can be pouting for me because she doesn't want to eat her lentils, but one look from her grandpa and she will be all smiles.
Separation anxiety still present, but we're working on it.

{yes, that blondie baby really is mine}

The hubby and I have been taking advantage of the daddy man being here by going on a date every weekend. It's been really nice. We've gone out to dinner and enjoyed a movie on every date. We love going to the movies, so it's been such a treat. Before the bean, we used to go almost every weekend.

{candlelit dinner in our backyard}

Life is really good. The house is all organized, so I'll be posting some projects I've completed on my neglected blog. I've been working on making things for my shop, but I've lost some steam with daddy man being here since I rather be spending time with him than crafting. Initially, my vision was to make pillows, but I've actually made a detour since I was inspired to make other things that I'm having more fun making. The Miscellany Shoppe is up, but not very exciting at the moment as I'm still learning how to set it all up. Basically, I'm making children's goods for celebrations or fun. I only have the bunting listed, but I've made fabric covered and sewn party hats and cupcake toppers/flags as well. The pillows...the cut fabric and zippers are hanging out while I have fun with playful fabrics. Any suggestions on items you'd like to see would be really appreciated. I'm already thinking of themes for Amélie's first birthday and one of my ideas has my brain swirling with ideas for things to make and probably sell in the shoppe.

{some of the items in the shoppe!}

I honestly haven't missed work(the grading, the annoying kids, the politics...), but have had moments of nostalgia. I have always been very passionate about my teaching and truly enjoyed it. The hubby asked me if I thought I'd go back to teaching and I really had never questioned that I wouldn't. I will, but right now I'm doing the right thing for us.

We're feeling pretty grown-up around here as we survive on one income and make big purchases like buying a new mattress and another car. Thank goodness for both, but more-so for the heavenly mattress! I was finally able to convince the hubby it was time to retire the cheap-y mattress he'd had since he moved to California, once it started to squeak. I'd been begging for one since before we got married. We're still shopping around for another car but I'm sure we'll be getting one within the next two weeks since the daddy man is leaving us and won't be here to help drop Eric off and pick him up from the shuttle stop while I stay home with a sleeping baby.

{the beginning of my garden with help from daddy man}

I gotta get back to blogging on a regular/weekly basis because I really don't like "dumping" memories in one post because I'm sure there are things I'm leaving out. I'm sure the next three, actually more like four months, will be full of things I don't want to forget. There are weddings!, birthdays, vacations, museum trips, and lots of outdoor activities we've scheduled. It's going to be busy!

Getting Around

2011-03-30T22:26:00.000-07:00

Now that we're back in a city where I can actually ride my cruiser, I've been contemplating buying a bike trailer so that Amélie and I can ride around town. I really love my cruiser and I used to ride it everywhere when we lived in Sac and a bit in Petaluma when we could find paved trails. It definitely did not get a lot of use in San Francisco where riding up the hills nearly made me pass out.

I've been thinking about getting a trailer since we moved here and with the amazing weather we've been having this week, it's reignited my desire to purchase one ASAP! While out on a walk with the bean and my dad earlier this week, we wondered if it would be possible to convert my jogging stroller into a bike trailer. I mean, all we'd need is some kind of hitch to attach it to my bike and replace the front tire on the stroller and then purchase a bug cover, right? Apparently, it's not such a good idea because of the higher level of gravity on the stroller and no such part exists. Bummer.

{we have the BOB Sport Utility}

While conducting my research on rigging up my "bike trailer," I did come upon some really interesting alternatives. There is the obvious choice of purchasing an actual bike trailer; which, we'll most likely do, but there are also other options. For example, the Taga Bike. If I had money burning holes in my pockets I'd definitely get one. It is soo cool!

Or, how about a Zigo?

Then, there are also Chariot strollers that be converted into joggers, bike trailers, hikers, and for use in cross-country skiing...yeah, crazy, but cool.

If I can only decide on a trailer, we'll be up and biking in no time. I can't wait!

Do any of you have any recommendations?

Sewing Mania

2011-03-21T22:34:00.000-07:00

I'm a serial sewer. I.cannot.stop. It could be worse I guess. With all the sewing I've been doing I feel like such a domestic housewife. Next thing I know, I'll be making my own clothes. Actually, that sounds like an awesome idea! Really though, I'm even working on growing my own veggies and fruits in our yard. I'm really enjoying myself.

My most recent sewing creations have moved beyond the usual curtains, pillows, and bunting. I'm making clothes for Amélie. I was inspired after spotting this adorable dress.

{cute, right?}

After seeing that dress, I thought I'd give it a whirl. Why not? I bought some red gingham (so cute!) and used some striped tan linen from my stash and away I went sewing. Well...my first attempt is looking like this...

{close, but not there.}

I started by making a pattern with some leftover flannel and using one of Amélie's t-shirts as a guide. I then cut out my pieces with an idea in my mind as to how I was going to attach it all together so that it can be reversible. Well, after working on it for about two hours last night, I went to bed frustrated because it wasn't working out the way I imagined. Once in bed, I couldn't sleep because the wheels were turning.

As soon as Amélie went down for her first nap this morning, I started on a design that I thought up in bed last night and almost finished it before she woke up. It worked!

{i used some Amy Butler fabric and some organic fabric

from my stash}

{side 2}

{back side}

{side 1 with a view of the inside or reversible side}

Basically, it doesn't have any visible seams that you usually see on the inside of your clothing. I sewed the two different patterns together inside out and then flipped it to the right side. I also used Heat and Bond to stick the two fabrics together inside to prevent the design from becoming floppy.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to the things I sew that I'm considering adding them to my shop. Would people buy this?! Either way, I'm really in love with it and can't wait for Amélie to wear it. It's perfect for spring.

Here's a picture of her wearing one I made(in a similar design) first as practice using a fabric her daddy picked out at the store. This one is not reversible and I added snaps instead of the ribbon.

{gosh, i love her}

{look at that crazy hair!}

I'm going back to the fabric store tomorrow for more gingham and trying it again. Also, I'm going to try out these other adorable designs from the same company. Love them.

{cute gingham sunny dress? yes, please!}

I just learned how to use elastic thread, so that should be fun!

{linen shift dress. too cute!}

I don't know what the back of this little number looks like, but I'm imagining buttons all down the back and instead of that collar, how about a rounded peter pan collar? Oh, how about gold round buttons? Cuuuuute!

I've already seem a bunch of other designs that I think I can definitely tackle and am looking forward to making more clothing for my baby bean.

Shoes for the Bean

2011-03-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Honestly, the bean doesn't really need shoes at this point. She has a pair of soft leather boots that she does regularly wear when it's cold out, but other than that her shoes have been purely decorative. Oh-so adorably decorative!

Yet, now that she's actually spending a fair amount of time with her feet on the floor while in her jumperoo or "walking" I've realized her socks are just not cuttin' it; especially her white socks that pick up dust particles like crazy. I started looking for an alternative to solid rubber soled shoes and found a tutorial for an adorable pair of cloth baby shoes.

I just finished her first pair. I chose some coordinating fabrics and bought a bag of remnant pieces of leather at Michael's that had enough to make two pairs with suede soles.

{i opted for using some suede remnants for the soles instead of fabric}

{the model in her new shoes}

They were really easy to make and they really stay on. I'm looking forward to making her next pair. Who wants a pair?

What's New?

2011-02-27T00:26:00.000-08:00

Where to begin...Amélie and I (and the hubby) are having a ball! We've been in our new place for almost two months and we're in a groove. There's still things we're working on; like finding a mom group that will actually return my emails and calls (ugh), finding time to work out, finishing the decorating, and getting around with only one car... but I'd say that at this point we're doing great.

{seven months. Whaa?! Where did the time go?!}

I'll start by saying that I love being a stay-at-home-mommy. I still can't believe that I really get to enjoy my baby girl every.single.day.all.day! We're just doing our mommy/baby girl thing. The location of our new place is really awesome. We have a really nice big park a block away and we usually go there a couple times a week if the weather is nice. The library is just a 5 minute walk away and Amélie and I have become regulars there. We'll usually go after lunch when the younger school kids have just gotten out of school from the cutie school next door and she'll get to see lots of kiddies moving around the busy library. Our little library is very much kid-centered. More than half of the library is devoted to children's literature, music, and videos. We love it. Oh, Amélie loves looking at all the bigger kids. She'll just watch their every move. We also live a few blocks away from San Jose's teeny weeny Japan town. It's adorable and now that I think about it, I can't believe the hubby and I haven't enjoyed any sushi yet. We'll sometimes go on long walks to the Downtown area and have lunch or do a little shopping. We also have a fabulous Children's Discovery museum, which, we have yet to discover. It's on our list and we plan on getting an annual membership for the us and the bean. They have some really awesome programs there for kids of all ages, even for our petite thing! At this point, we are not short on things to do. I still really love the later part of the day when the sun really shines in the family room and we enjoy some girl time together. We'll play, talk, laugh a lot, sing, have a snack, dance (she LOVES it when you dance) and sometimes even watch some girly television for a bit. "Say Yes to the Dress" is currently our fave. Oh, and aren't baby giggles and belly laughs the best EVER?! Oh my goodness, we're constantly telling ourselves how lucky we are to have such a smiley happy baby that loves to laugh. It's fabulous.

{hey lovers. Happy V-Day!}

Amélie has really adjusted well to the new environment. During the first month we were here she was having a somewhat difficult time sleeping well at night and we believe it was a combination of teething pain and just being in a new place. But, for the last month, she's been back to her old sleeping habits and has even gotten some full nights of sleeping in; 12 whole hours of non-stop sleeping! Its was great, but also not so great to wake up at 7 and realize she hadn't woken up (was she okay?!) and having rocks for boobs (from not nursing at her usual time around 3am). But, those nights have been sporadic and I'm totally okay with it because I enjoy our little night time reunions and it's much better than the three+ times she was waking up during that first month.

She's also growing like crazy! She's got quite a sprouting crop of hair in a coppery-brownie-blondie highlighted shade. I can't believe I have a green eyed blondie baby. Crazy. At her last doctor's appointment our baby bean weighed in at 16 lbs. 5 oz. She's close to 25 inches long and has a big head just like her parents. She's in the 20-something percentile for her height and weight, but something like 70 percent for her melon. Amélie has got some cheeks on her and they're definitely not going anywhere with the way she eats. We've ventured out of the simple baby foods and have her trying almost everything we eat. She still loves her sweet potatoes and squash and her usual breakfast of yogurt and pureed fruit. But, she's so far really enjoyed: butternut squash risotto from an awesome baby food cookbook recipe my bestie gave us, beef vegetable stew, sourdough bread, raisin bread, hummus, pita bread, hard boiled egg whites, chicken, pear spears (she'll gnaw on them forever), whole wheat bread, tomato bisque, greek yogurt, peanut butter and jelly, frozen yogurt, refried bean with homemade corn tortillas...basically this girl loves food! We're really crossing our fingers this will continue forever. This week I'll be trying out some new recipes for her; many of which I'm sure I will be enjoying as well. They all sound very yummy.

{just hangin' with my homie Boo}

She's super chatty. She's definitely fluent in Spanish as my brother recently made a quick visit and he noted that all her baby sounds are in Spanish; which, I thought was funny. But, that's not the first time someone has said that about her talking. Somone asked me if I spoke Spanish to her because her sounds have softer accent and inflections than English speaking babies. Uh, yeah; I only speak to her in Spanish. The only time she hears me speak English is when the hubby is around and it's never directed towards her. I'll still only speak to her in Spanish when Eric is around and then I'll translate for him. Although, he is definitely picking it up a lot more lately.

Amélie loves standing on her legs. So far is doesn't look like she'll be crawling since she detests being on her tummy for extended periods of time. But, when I say manos (hands in Spanish) and hold out my hands to her, she will immediately grab on and pull herself up to a standing position. She can stand and take steps for a really long time. She'll even give us attitude if we make her sit before she wants to. She can stand holding on to something for a while and will sometimes take little steps to the side. At this point, we're thinking she'll be walking before she crawls. We'll see. It makes me laugh to think about our itty bitty walking around on those little legs and that protruding belly.

Oh, and she got her ears pierced. It's very common for girls of Latin American decent to have their ears pierced as infants. My ears were pierced the day after my birth and my mom had hers pierced as a baby as well. I don't know why it's common, but it is. I would say it's a cultural thing. Amélie had her ears pierced shortly before her seven month birthday. She wasn't very happy during the whole experience, which, I understand, but once it was over she quickly forgot and moved on. She's had no discomfort and does not touch/mess with her earrings. I clean them as directed and she doesn't mind one bit. She looks freakin' adorable! She also cannot be mistaken for a boy now!

Before this post goes from super long to a novella, the hubby and I have not questioned our move once. We're so happy. There are definitely days when I wish I could interact with some other stay-at-home moms (helloooo...where are you?!?!?!) But, I've got my crafts going full force and now that we signed up for our local gym I'll be hitting it up frequently; I've gotten some kind of reply from one mom group, and I've joined a book club! Oh, and I have an etsy shop in the works. Yup, I'll be a real-life "business" owner. I'll definitely be spreading the word on that soon. The hubby and I have been out alone on a real date since I have good friend from my credential program that lives close by that loves babies and will babysit for food! Although, when we got back from our date he did say it was the easiest job he'd ever done in his life. He got to sit around on the couch, watch television shows, eat the cookies I made for him and the soda I bought specifically for him while Amélie slept soundly in her room. Of course I didn't only pay him in cookies and soda. He and his girlfriend are coming over for homemade pizza and game night on Sunday. The hubby feels good about being closer to work, having his wifey take on housewifey duties (girl power!), seeing his baby more often, learning to play the piano, having guy nights playing poker with co-workers, and doing his manly duty of bringing home the bacon. Yet, he is most definitely helping with cooking it up and taking out the trash since this whole thing is still a team effort.

Once last thing. Amélie recently started doing this thing where if I'm holding her and someone starts talking to her and smiling and basically fawning over her cuteness she'll get really shy, smile, and then bury her head in my shoulder. It is soo freaking adorable! Yeah, I have a crush on my baby.

Okay, really, the very last thing...separation anxiety...totally dealing with it. She needs to be able to see me unless she's with her daddy. Did/do any of your kiddies deal with this?

Sweet

2011-02-05T22:26:00.000-08:00

I am soo going to make this for the hubby. So sweet.

You can find more pictures, recipe, and instructions here.

Ballet Flats for my Baby

2011-01-28T15:29:00.000-08:00

I think Amélie needs these. How cute are they?! Perhaps a Valentine's gift for one of my two loves?

{found here}

Can I just add that Amélie loves being on her feet. She's got some really strong legs on her. The hubby predicts she'll skip crawling. I'm pretty sure I crawled before walking. Although, once I did walk; I only walked on my tippy toes. Maybe I was supposed to be a ballerina? ha.

Sweet Sunshine

2011-01-25T22:07:00.000-08:00

This is how we've been spending the later part of the afternoon. It's the sweetest part of my day. Sunshine and my loving blondie baby girl. Life is wonderful.

{i adore her}

What a Month!

2011-01-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know where to begin. So much has happened in the last month for us. Instead of a complete detailed summary, here's the (long) gist of "The Johnson's Cram Everything plus an Elephant into One Month!"

Once the hubby and I decided on moving, I gave my notice and promptly started looking for a place to live in San Jose.
Found a place a week later, right before our trip to Kansas.
Packed LOTS and LOTS of boxes before Kansas and TONS more after we got back.
Went to Kansas for a week and went to every family gathering with our baby in tow.
While in Kansas, we came to the realization that Amélie is teething. Teething + sleeping in a different place + different time zone = more night waking and tired mommy.
Baby's first Christmas.
Packed MORE!
Amélie's eating solids like a champ! She loves sweet potatoes.
Got the keys for our new place in Downtown San Jose on the first on January and started moving small stuff.
Went back to work for my very last day!
Movers came to pack up our stuff and realized they miscalculated the amount of stuff we have and brought a truck that was too small. That means they had to come back another day to pack stuff again.
Rented a van to move random little things and end up really wanting one. (eek! Am I really going to be a van driving mom?!)
Amélie gets soo much better at sitting up her own.
Kristin, my Rose Pedder, came to help us unpack. So much help!!!!
Started unpacking and when I started to feel like the chaos was getting better, more things are brought in again! aaahhhh...never-ending unpacking!!!
The baby girl is not sleeping very well. She's been getting up at least two times a night since we moved. Our super duper night sleeper is really being affected by the teething at night. Poor baby.
We've gotten everything out of boxes and I've even been sewing pillows and curtains.
Amélie does not like avocado. =( But does like bananas, yogurt, pears, frozen yogurt, berries, carrots, teething crackers, drinking water from a water bottle, and especially her sweet potatoes.
We are one happy family. The hubby gets to see Amélie lots more during the week, I get to spend all day with my sweetie pie and do fun stuff together (our fave time of day is baby-tummy-on-mommy-tummy time. I get lots of wet baby kisses and hugs during that time.), and the pups have a big yard to run around in.
Amélie's grown a lot hair! To some people it looks like nothing, but when she really started with nothing, what she has now is a lot.
We really love our new house and neighborhood. Yay!
Our baby turned 6 months old. Where did the time go?
Oh, the elephant...Amélie's elephant table did make it home; although, with a small dent. Sad.

Phew...now the pictures!

{the best Christmas gift, ever}

{Christmas in Kansas}

{the hubby's brothers}

{getting ready to feast on Christmas. the hubby's serious eating face}

{our first night in the new place}

{before the movers arrived}

{dining room after day one of major move}

{ahhh....formal living room after first visit from the movers}

{our six month old cutie}

{half a year already!?}

{getting ready for her first art project}

{contemplating her masterpiece}

{the artist concentrating}

{one last picture of our cutie patootie. gosh, I love her!}

Rice and Beans: Month Four

2010-12-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

I wrote this a week before Amélie's four month birthday and never posted it because I never got around to adding pictures...she's over five months now. oops!

Dearest Amélie,

Every month of your life has brought forth many changes, yet this fourth month was full of the most dynamic changes we have seen. Therefore, I will characterize this month in one word: Change.

The most drastic of all the changes was me going back to work. You and I had been in our blissful "mommy and me" bubble; with days overlapping and the routines, smiles, playtimes, and kisses running one unto the other. I could have lived the rest of my life enjoying every second of every one of those days and I'm very thankful that I really took advantage of that time. No awake time was spent with me finishing laundry or washed dishes. Nope, you became the center of my universe and I absolutely loved it. I'm not sure your daddy loved taking on new duties, but he never seemed upset. I dreaded even the thought of returning to work and those feelings were quantified once I actually did start.

That first week was extremely hard for both of us. I was not and still am not getting enough sleep, I miss you soo much, and you had a difficult time with waking up earlier and not napping enough during the day. But, by the end of that week, you had adapted quite well, where, I, on the other hand, have still not gotten used to it. People say it gets easier, people say I'll get used to it...well, what if I don't want to? It's been a month and it's still not easier and I'm definitely not getting used to it. Work is work and it's really not that bad. But, I miss you every day and I would rather be with you a million times over being at work. I try not to think about all the little things you're doing while I'm not there and I hope that they will be as shiny and new to you when I see them for the first time. I'm taking the time we have together and putting those memories somewhere where I can bring them up when I feel like crying when I'm at work and I'll treasure the moments we have together in the later hours of each day and every weekend because they are what get me through each work week.

You, little bird, have changed and grown so much. You've acquired some new blondie/brown growth on the crown of your head. As your daddy pointed out, this will probably be the only time that I will ever purposely make your hair stick up because I absolutely love the way it curls at the end and makes you just a little more unique. The rolls on your legs have also gotten a little bit bigger and those cheeks have filled out just a little bit more. You're love for the milky is undeniable and we're seeing it in your growth. Your eyes continue to change, one day they're true blue and other days they're green. My guess is they'll be similar to your daddy's with blue around the edges and green close to the center.

As I share what you are like with others and from the kinds words of people that have met you, we have decided you have a golden personality. You have the most beautiful gummy smile where you stick your tongue out just a bit and lift your shoulders as your whole body smiles too. You are not quick to make judgements on people, instead you observe and then provide smiles as your way of approval. Also, fussing, crying, and grouchy faces are not your style. You much prefer being a happy laid back baby and we love you so much and appreciate that since your daddy and I are in fact pretty laid back people as well. We see this in the way you're okay with just hanging out in your crib while I get things ready for you and as you laugh hearty giggles randomly and purposefully throughout the day.

Your keen observations extend beyond people. Color and movement attract your attention and you're taking it all in and learning. You're a perky little thing with a lot of interest and we hope these characteristics stay with you for the rest of your life.

Thank you, mi amor, for allowing us to be your mommy and daddy. You have been the best change in our lives.

Love,
mommy and daddy

Back and Better Than EVER!

2010-12-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

In two weeks I will officially be a stay-at-home mom. I.cannot.believe.it!

I've been away from the blog a while because life has been full. Full in a good, but also in a not so good way. There's lots to say, but I think I will save it for another day or perhaps only save it for our close friends (you'll know soon, girls!) because it really is very complicated. But, the gist of it is that we're moving out of the City, closer to the hubby's work; I'm not going to work anymore, the doggies will get a yard to run in again, and I get to be at home with my baby girl every.single.day.

I turned in my letter of resignation today and I can breathe just a little better and forget the fact that I'm tired on this dreary Monday morning because life will be less complicated soon.

There are lots of pictures and stories to be told about our growing girl and I'll get to those as soon as life slows down a bit.

source

Just Because: Paris versus New York

2010-11-15T12:29:00.000-08:00

Everytime someone new finds out Amélie's name, they very often will say,"Oh, like the movie!" Yes, just like the movie; although that is not the reason we named her Amélie. We do love that movie and I do love anything French, but we also simply loved the name. It fits our cutie patootie perfectly.

So, when I saw this, I just had to post it. Not only do I love Amélie, the movie, but I also really love Sex and the City.

hehe...after rereading my post, could I have used the word "love" anymore than I did? I LOVE it!

Sleeping Baby = Happy Baby & Mommy

2010-10-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

a note: or should I say a warning? This post is a bit long and may ramble on. I realized it was lengthy after completing it and was too lazy to go back and revise. Read at your own risk. =)

As I mentioned in Amélie's three month post, our little girl started what people term, "sleep training." I much prefer the term, "mommy needs some sleep soon or else everything is going to spontaneously combust!"

It was a serious problem here in our abode when I was just not happy. Our once sweet girl made a 180 in her attitude during one night and for almost two weeks I could not get her to sleep soundly enough for me to eat, get a drink of water, or even have a potty break. She would not let me put her down and the once successful use of the Ergo was no more. I remember a day(or more) where I literally held her in my arms all day because that was the only way she would sleep or be content. Try going to the bathroom with a baby in your arms or better yet, a baby that is screaming at the top of her lungs because she can't wait to eat a minute longer (She could have waited. I'm not starving my baby). I also started seeing a lot more of her at night. She was down to waking up two times during the night, but she started adding one and sometimes two more times. That was NOT good! It got to the point where I was really resenting Eric for getting a full nights rest and when he got home from work I was really mad at him all evening. I probably made it worse by not really letting him help me out in the evenings. I wanted to prove to myself that I could actually make her happy. Also, her bedtime routine was just not working anymore. We've been doing the same exact thing for a while now and the routine itself didn't mean anything to her anymore. It would sometimes take us up to three hours to get her to finally sleep. This meant no quiet time for Eric and me in the evenings and definitely no chance of us eating dinner together. It was bad. After dealing with this for two weeks, it was definitely time for a change.

We'd been hesitant to try any kind of sleep training before this because a lot of books/web say that a three month old is too young for such methods. It is also excruciating having to listen to your baby cry for any length of time and boy can Amélie cry. She's got some lungs on her! I finally convinced Eric that we needed to do something because I was exhausted and we both felt there was definitely some tension between us. I did some online research that night we decided to give it a try and found Dr. Weissbluth's method and his book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Eric also mentioned that one of his friends at work had used Dr. W's methods and that they recommended his book. The next day we bought the book and I finished it before Amélie's bedtime that night.

Dr. W's method is not about letting your baby cry it out. Instead, it's about learning your baby's cues so that you can start their sleepy time routine before they start to cry. You're supposed to watch for signs like yawning, eye rubbing, the far-off daze, and basically anything that will signal that you're babe needs to take a nap or go to sleep for the night. His book has a general overview of how his method works and then it's separated into different chapters based on the age of your child. We focused on the 2-4 month chapters. He gives two different ways of soothing your child for sleep, how much sleep he/she should be getting, how sleep benefits a child now and then years later, what a sleep schedule looks like and a lot of other information. I basically just took what we needed. Two things that we didn't follow per Dr. W's suggestions were/are letting the baby cry it out for up to an hour and leaving the room immediately after putting the her down to sleep.

Did it work? Heck yes! Amélie improved with every passing day. We actually went in reverse with her training because of our little vacation to Hawaii where there is a three hour time difference, but she's getting it a lot faster than the first time. Here are the details on our routine and her sleeping habits:

Routine:
-We start by closing her blinds and turning on what we call her "sleepy time music," even though it's not music at all. It's actually Hawaiian white noise I downloaded onto my Ipod. We have a speaker docking station in her room and we play it on repeat for the duration of her nap or all night. We started using it after your suggestions on her previous sleep issues. It works!
-If it's bedtime, we change her into her pj's and give her a little massage on her legs and tummy with her "sleepy time lotion." Yes, we use the term "sleepy time" a lot. It's actually a lavender and chamomile scented lotion that's supposed to help her relax. I don't know if it actually works, but I think the scent itself and the action of the massage are a signal for her.
-If it's her nap time we skip the massage and move onto the next thing which is putting her in what we affectionally call "the bag" or sleep sack. She wears it every time she sleep because she's a crazy sleeper like her daddy and swaddling blankets don't stay put anymore. Her sleep sacks have an attached band that can be wrapped about her arms to create a swaddle. For a while we didn't swaddle her because she would fuss and cry about it, but now it's a necessity. She'll wake herself up with her flailing arms and legs and also scratch her face. She now loves to be swaddled. I can swaddle her and just leave her in her crib and she'll hang out, talk to herself, and just smile. I also like the fact that her little arms stay warm at night. Although...she's a Houdini. I'll check on her periodically throughout the night and sometimes only her hands will be peeking out right below her chin (I wish I could take a picture because she looks so freakin' cute!, other times it's one arm, and most often she'll get both arms out completely while she's asleep.
-After the lights are dimmed or turned off, the music turned on, and she is wearing the sack, we lay her down in her crib and give her the pacifier. This is the only time she gets a pacifier. Sucking really soothes her and every single time I give her the paci she immediately starts closing her eyes. It doesn't mean they stay closed, but this lets me know she really is tired.
-Depending on how tired I think she is I'll either leave her room after giving her a kiss and gently rubbing her brows (she loves this) or I'll stay for a few minutes and continue with the rubbing. Sometimes I'll just stand by the side of her crib and look at her. That's enough to calm her down and get her to sleep. I really think she just wants to know I'm close by. She goes down with almost no crying, although there have been exceptions. She will fuss a little and spit out the paci a couple times, but eventually she'll close her eyes and just fall asleep. It's been amazing!

Sleeping Habits:
-Since we started the sleep training Amélie's only been getting up once at night. She goes to sleep between 5:30 and 6:30. This time includes the routine outlined above and being fed if it's her bedtime. Nap time comes after her activity time, so there is no feeding involved. She'll sleep until about 2:30 or 3AM, get up to nurse, and then sleep until 7AM. That's when her day begins.
-After nursing at 7AM, we'll hang out until I notice that she's getting sleepy again. She either starts making her fussy/sleepy grunts or starts yawning. By the third yawn, she'll already be in her crib or in bed with me since Eric is up getting ready for work. I usually nap with her during this time. This is usually her longest nap of the day from about 8-8:30ish to 10ish.
-After our morning nap, the rest of the day goes pretty much the same: activity, signs of sleepiness, nap, and then nursing session. She naps from about 11:30 to 12:30 and then again at around 2:30 to 3:30. There have been times when she slept longer for those naps, but 45 minutes to an hour is the norm.

I hope to get her to a place where she can go to bed a little bit later so Eric can at least see her awake for a few minutes. Right now she's already asleep when he gets home from work. If she'll nap more, the idea is that she'll be able to stay up later. But for now, I am very happy. In the last few weeks I've actually sat down and had a relaxing quiet lunch every day and used the bathroom without screaming in the background. Amélie is also back to her normal super smiley self and has learned how to put herself to sleep. Everyone is happy. Woo for sleep training!

Sugar!

2010-10-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to pop in and post a tutorial for a beautiful ruffle cake that I posted a while back on my other blog. I'm just in love with how cute it is and really, anything with sugar gets an A in my book.

Wouldn't this be the cutest cake for a little girl's birthday?

YouTube-Ruffle Cake Tutorial

Rice and Beans- Month Three

2010-10-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Amélie,

Happy 3 month birthday sweet girl!

This month brought forth your exploring nature and many new learning opportunities. The world seems to have expanded many more times for you during this month because you spent every day with your eyes wide open looking at what it has to offer you.

Those smiles that were so rare and seemed almost accidental last month became much more purposeful and frequent. Your smile makes my heart flutter and my love for you just oozes from every pore in my body. You smile so often now, but every smile makes your daddy and I just so excited! You've even included giggles along with those adorable gummy smiles. Not only do you smile at us, but that baby in the mirror now also makes you smile instead of crying or showing us that protruding lower lip.

You have become fascinated by things that previously did not seem to affect you in any way. The little toys hanging from your swing now capture your attention and seem to make you enjoy the ride that much more. The rattling figures I've attached to your bouncer have now become punching bags for your little fists as it seems you have learned that every time you hit them, they make noise. You have also started exploring everything by using your mouth. Your hands, the blankets, your toys...whatever you can find will go in your mouth.

That once horrible experience of having to be on your tummy has now become somewhat more enjoyable. You hold your head up high exploring the area around you and when you're on your back you're just happy as a clam looking around and sometimes watching me as I move around your room. It surprised me the first time I realized you could actually see me from a distance and how your little head turned as I moved this way and that. Your tummy time practice this month allowed you to learn how to roll onto your back. You're daddy and I were just beaming with pride as we watched you roll over and over again, yet, I have a feeling you're not excited as we are since you often start to whine once you've rolled.

Along with learning how to roll, you also learned how to stand strong on your legs. Your daddy and I will hold you with our hands under your arms and your feet placed on the ground and you will keep yourself up with your strong rollie pollie legs. Sometimes you'll even dance while moving your arms around when we play music.

The most challenging learning experience this month has been learning how to sleep. During most of this month there were ups and downs in the realm of sleeping. You have still maintained your status as a good night sleeper, but you started waking up more often and your naps were still sporadic and a struggle. After a week of your mommy not getting very good sleep, days where you cried and fussed incessantly, and obvious feelings of tension in our home; your mommy decided it was time for a change. Your daddy and I read up and we changed the way we did somethings in relation to your sleeping. You've improved a lot, but we still have some more work to do. You're now falling asleep in your crib every time and most of the time it takes less than 10 minutes. The first night we started the training, one of the stretches you slept was a total of nine hours, then you woke up once to nurse and then slept an additional 5 hours! We realized you were not getting enough sleep and that night proved that you definitely needed to make it up.

My little girl, you continue to amaze us and make us incredibly happy every single day. Even the rough moments are forgotten immediately after they are over. We're just so lucky to have ended up with you as our daughter.

We love you more than you can imagine.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

p.s. This month you also grew hair!

Amélie- Week Twelve

2010-10-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

A classic Amélie look. She's perfected this look as well as the protruding lower lip.

You've got lots of character chiquita. We love you.

Amélie- Week Eleven

2010-10-09T14:03:00.001-07:00

We're loving your smiles!

We love you baby girl!

Summer Tradition

2010-09-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Every summer while I was growing up, my immediate and extended family would travel up to the warmer climates of Sonoma county. Growing up in San Francisco meant not really understanding that the sun existed for more than a few hours at a time and that hot weather worthy of owning a pair of shorts really did exist. When it was time for our pasty "white" selves to get some color, we would head out to Agua Calientes to soak our cold bodies in warm natural spring pools and enjoy a long day of overeating and delicious cool treats.

This was a tradition my brother and I most definitely looked forward to each year. I remember us gathering our supplies, getting into our blue Ford with the bench seat in back, traveling for what seemed like forever, and then finally arriving to our destination. Our trip included a stop at a deli beforehand where we would buy sandwiches, macaroni salad, drinks (for some reason I really remember drinking "Clearly Canadian"), and whatever supplies were needed. The place we'd spend the day at was a park with three pools outside and a really large grassy area for BBQ'ing and playing. I have soo many great memories of our days there. We would always visit the snack bar for rainbow sherbet and the pool with the really high diving board was freezing! Then, after a long day basking in the sun and enjoying family, we would make one last stop before heading home- a vanilla cone dipped in chocolate from DQ was the perfect ending to our lazy summer day.

A few weeks ago my brother (the oldest one of the three and the only one that experienced these summer visits to Sonoma) suggested that we continue the tradition we had as kids. I thought this was a brilliant idea and I got started making plans. Well, it turned out that the place we visited as children is now a members-only park. poop. But, I was able to find another park that would provide us with the same memories and we drove out there this past Saturday. This time, it would include all my brothers, their significant others, our mom, the hubby, our children, and new memories/traditions for them.

{our bathing beauty}

{the hubby called her our Amish baby because of her bonnet}

{the cousins, Corbin and Amélie}

{three generations. Amélie enjoyed pool time by

sleeping and dipping her feet in the water. It was a very hot day.}

{my brother Gabe and his baby boy. the boys were the only

ones that actually went in the water.}

We had a wonderful time. I'm sure this is something we'll be continuing.

Thanks Gabilan for reminding me of our great summer tradition and for driving up to make it happen. We love you!

Rice and Beans: Month Two

2010-09-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

To my sweet Amélie,

It sounds so cliché, but the time really is flying by. On this particular day you are actually closer to three months, but the days are really moving by so quickly that I have not gotten a chance to write this. But I cannot allow myself to skip detailing your exciting second month of life.

Although you started out as an itty bitty thing at just a little over 5 pounds, you spent your second month making up for it. You have created a very good relationship with your food source (your mama) and those once skinny legs have filled out and developed little rolls. Those kissable cheeks have gotten bigger and have received enough kisses from me to last you over a lifetime.

You are my sweetest, my nena, chiquita, hermosa, preciosa, bonita, rubia. Over the last month, you and I have created a deeper understanding of what our roles mean. I am amazed every single day by you- your movements, your tiny nails, your fleeting smiles, those big blue eyes, the perfect shape of your lips, your adorable nose, your ability to identify us as your parents, and...I could go on. There have been silent moments during the night when I cannot get enough of your smell and your soft baby skin and instead of returning your to your crib, I sit rocking you, loving you, and eventually sneak you into bed with me because I cannot let you go. I have loved every second I have spent with you during your second month and I dread the idea of eventually going back to work. In my ideal world, my only job would be to be your mommy.

This month introduced your refusal to sleep during the day and your little fighting spirit came out. You detested having to sleep although you very well, as we did, know that sleep was what you needed. By the end of the month, we came up with a happy medium to your naps. You started to learn it was okay to fall asleep and perhaps even sleep in your crib during the day.

During this month you were able to meet your cousin Corbin, uncle Gabe, and auntie Amberly. You enjoyed their visit by sleeping almost the entire time they were here. When we compared Corbin to you, your small size was only emphasized. Although he's much larger than you now, by this time next year, we probably won't notice much difference between you two. It's exciting for your uncle and I to imagine you two kids growing up together and sharing your milestones with one another. We are looking forward to creating new traditions as well as continuing ones that we had growing up.

Chiquita, you have taken after your mommy in many ways. One of those ways being your love for warm weather and cozy environments. Your second month welcomed some very HOT days. Not only did I get to put you in all those cute little summer outfits I never thought you'd wear, but you slept like the baby that you are. Those hot days spent walking around town were blissful for both of us!

Whenever I look at you I see a little bit more of me. Your first few days I thought you resembled your daddy in almost every feature, but you're now looking like a mini blondie baby version of me. You have very light brown hair that has a tint of red and it's slight wave is transformed into curls when it is moistened. I love looking at your eyes as you nurse and have noticed how those once invisible lashes have become darker and longer. I'm in love with the little crease at your wrists that has developed because of your cute chubbiness. I miss you when you're sleeping and I welcome every new day because it means getting to look at you longer, smelling your sweet scent, and enjoying every bit of your being.

It is truly amazing to see the way you change and develop every day. Your "fur"brothers even enjoy getting to see the new things you'll do each day.

The weekends are some of our favorite days of the week. The presence of your daddy makes our days complete. We all enjoy sleeping in together and your daddy and I love waking up to your wide eyes and "agoos." We've enjoyed lazy days and beautiful sunny days strolling around the city. You love being carried by your daddy in the ergo and will fall asleep almost simultaneously. We may be a bit biased, but we think you are the cutest baby in the world. You are the first one we kiss every morning and you're the last thought in our minds as we fall asleep.

My muñeca, you have gone from a tiny thing to a girl with a big personality this month. You have shown us what you want and that you expect it immediately. At the beginning you were unhappy with tummy time and now you hold your head up so strong and high. You won't accept the bathwater unless it's perfectly really warm; just like your mommy. You will let mommy take a shower but only if it means you get to play. Your nap time and eating schedule is exactly how you want it every single day.

Amélie, you have brought us so much joy. We have fallen even more in love with you this month and we're sure every month following this will only bring the same. You are the light of our lives and we are incredibly thankful for all 10 pounds of you!

We love you,

mommy and daddy

p.s. Here are her stats from her two month wellness visit.

weight: 9 lbs. 13 1/2 ounces (4 lbs. and 2 1/2 ounces bigger!)

height: 21 3/4 inches (3 inches longer)

head circumference: 38 1/2 cm (up 4 cm from birth)

Our little girl was in the 20th-30th percentiles for all of her measurements. We've got a chiquitita!

The Mom Cut

2010-09-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

I've been having the urge to cut my hair. Could this possibly be due to having a baby? When I mentioned to the hubby that I'm thinking of cutting my hair he gave me a look that said,"Oh no." Apparently he has some kind of association with women getting "mom" cuts after having a baby. I wonder if this is true because I also questioned myself when I started to think about getting a new do. Will I be following a trend or could it be the fact that Amelie loves looking at my hair and then grabbing onto it like her life depends on it?

The last time I really chopped my hair was about six years ago. After that I told myself I wouldn't cut my hair again until it was the longest it ever had been in my life and long enough that I could donate it to Locks of Love. Unfortunately, my hair takes forever to grow(it must be because it's curly) and so I don't know if I can donate it now. But, I had good intentions. I really loved my hair when it was short, but I really like it a lot now. I'm really torn about whether or not to cut my hair now and so I need some advice. Who better to ask than the girls I trust. Cut or no cut?

I was recently inserting a new picture into a frame and found one of me with short hair hiding behind the picture. It is my school/work picture from 5 years ago and made me think about this whole hair decision again. I started looking for pictures to take along with me when I get my hair done and I think the picture below is basically the look I'd be going for if I cut it.

{i won't look this adorably angelic, but you get the idea}

{this is what it's looking like now.

although it's actually much longer than it looks here}

{this is what it looked like when my hair was shorter.

i'm thinking of going shorter than this now.

oh yeah, when it's shorter I often straighten it since it's fast and easy.}

I have an appointment to get my hair done this weekend and if I'm going to cut it I think this will be the time.

Should I get the "mom cut" or not? Did any of you mommies get a new "do" after baby?

Amélie- Week Nine

2010-09-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

Your personality is really coming out baby girl.

We love you more each day.

Amélie- Week Eight

2010-09-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

You are our sunshine!

We love you sweet girl.

Wanted: Naps

2010-08-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

We have an amazing nighttime sleeper. She usually goes down for the night around 8, gets up about every 3 1/2 hours (or longer) for her feedings, and will sleep until 9 in the morning. Our night feedings are quick and easy: diaper change, feeding, burping, and then back to bed. We're usually done in about half an hour but they can take up to 45 minutes depending on how quickly Amélie's eating. Since we brought her home she's been sleeping in her bassinet beside our bed at night. Yet, I've been enjoying snuggling up and co-sleeping with her after her last night feed. We both tend to sleep really well during that time and I love waking up with her big eyes looking at me in the morning. Basically, we're golden when in comes to night sleeping! But...daytime sleeping/napping...a whole other issue.

Actually, our sweet little bean had been sleeping as we'd planned in her crib during her naps. I thought we had the whole schedule thing going really well. She'd eat, play for about an hour and when she started acting sleepy, I would wrap her up, hold her, and she'd fall asleep fairly quickly. I'd then put her down in the crib. Now, Amélie is resisting sleep during the day and sometimes her evening bed time. We still have the same routine of eating and playing, but now when I can tell she's sleepy and follow the routine we had before, she will fuss and cry...and cry at the top of her lungs! It's to the point where I have to put her in the ergo carrier and walk around for at least an hour in order to get her to sleep. Then, setting her down in her crib is like deactivating a bomb. I have to put her down slowly, carefully, and without removing my hands from her body for another five minutes. Usually this will work but other times she'll be up again in 5-15 minutes.

I mentioned Amélie's new sleeping habit to my brother and he said my nephew went through something similar when he was about the same age as her so I'm hoping she will get over it as he did. I told my dad about our new issue, which, coincidentally began once he left us to go back to Guatemala, and he thinks that she's gotten used to sleeping in the ergo and that's why she has a hard time falling asleep otherwise. We've used the ergo almost every day since she got home because it's easy for me to walk the dogs and run errands alone and she's always fallen asleep in it. But, we've also used the stroller as often and it does not have the same effect. She also does not like the carseat! Sooooo....I'm stumped and frustrated.

Yesterday, we decided to try putting her down in the bouncer, which, before today hadn't really proven to be a soother for Amélie. It proved to be successful during her second afternoon nap. I tried it again today and it didn't work. We've tried the stroller, driving, rocking her, the swing, the bouncer, lying with her, holding her and jiggling her around, swaddling her, laying her in her crib with her sleep sheep on, playing her lullaby CD, nursing her, the pacifier, singing to her, and other variations of soothing her by holding and none of these things consistently work. The ergo carrier seems to be the only thing that does actually work every time, yet she will still cry and fuss for a while before she actually falls asleep. It just breaks my heart when she cries. Those little tears make me feel so bad. So if there is ANYTHING, anything at all that I can do to prevent her from crying and shedding tears, I will do it.

Does anyone have any suggestions, answers, magic spells, prayers for us?

Amélie- Week Seven

2010-08-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

We can't imagine life without you sweet girl.

She's discovered her legs and cannot stop moving them. She loves pushing on the armrest of the glider when I'm nursing her.

Amélie- Week Six

2010-08-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

We can't believe how big she's getting!

Amélie, we love waking up to your sweet baby sounds and big eyes.

Breastfeeding: Friend or Foe

2010-08-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

It's time to talk about boobs.

Definitely not a subject I would ever think to write anything about, but I definitely have a lot to write about now. I could write a novella about my boobs. It would be my Boobagraphy.

The story begins on a sunny day in July- the 12th to be exact. As would be expected from myself and the medical staff, my boobs would now be supplying our wee babe with everything she'd need to thrive. So, I said to the twins, "Girls, we've got a big job and you've got a lot of work to do!" They were not completely in agreement and so they took their sweet time. They also did not think too fondly of all the criticism and fondling by random people that wanted to "help."

Well, ladies, we all know how it starts. I knew it was going to be hard. Everyone told me it was going to be tough and that I had to just stick with it and it would definitely get easier. At this point, I can agree and I'm very proud of myself for staying with it. It feels amazing to be able to provide so much for our little bean and really see the effects of it as she grows and fills out. But, it was not an easy road to get here.

Since Amélie arrived earlier than her due date, she wasn't up for the sucking she'd have to do to get herself some grub. She'd latch on, but really just spend her time playing around and not really sucking. When the lactation consultant at our hospital made her first visit to our room, she immediately suggested that I pump. The idea was that by pumping, my body would get the whole system working sooner and more efficiently in order to feed the babe. So, I pumped and pumped and pumped my little heart(boobs) out to produce almost nothing those first few days. Mere drops appeared and I felt extremely frustrated and emotionally drained. How come it wasn't working?! It took about a good 4 days for anything more than a teaspoons worth to actually come out. It was quite a victory for me when I actually got a half ounce of real milk out.

During the time we were in the hospital, a lactation consultant visited us to check-up on my progress and to make sure that Amélie was latching on correctly and actually sucking every day. It was really nice and all to have the help, but man, it was a lot of stress on me to produce and a lot of times I felt like I wasn't doing my job. With the suggestions of the nurses and LCs, this is what our routine looked like during our first week:

1st: Try and feed Amélie. Force my boob in her mouth and hope for the best. Try one boob and then the next. She tended to prefer one boob over the other. We'd sometimes have success with that one.
2nd: Pump. During that first week I truly detested that dumb pump. It was a little painful and until day 4, it didn't really feel or look like it was working.
AND

Repeat! Over and over again every two hours all day!

{the scary pump I've been using at home and used part of the time we were at the hospital}

Well, eventually we had success with both-the pump and Amélie. Yet, when we returned to the lactation center a week after her birth, I once again felt like a failure. Using their method of weighing her before and after a feeding, the nurse practitioner said Amélie needed more. That meant supplementing her with formula in order to get her weight up. Ugh! She also suggested I try this and that product to increase milk production and also rent a hospital-grade pump. Ugh, again! I was sucking at this whole breastfeeding thing and I just broke down and started crying in their front office. Even though I felt like they were telling me I wasn't doing my job(I know they weren't on purpose) and I really just wanted to cry and punch them in their faces; I took their advice and swallowed those pills, drank that tea, and used the big scary pump. The results: they worked. I'm a milk making machine and my baby's got some rolls on her legs!

Now, Amélie's feeding like a champ. I do wish I had some kind of gauge on the boobs to measure how much she is getting during each feeding. I'm just curious. I also still pump maybe once or twice a day after she eats because I'm working on creating a stockpile of milk in the freezer for when I go back to work.

I'm really happy I made it through the first weeks and that Amélie's gaining weight. When we went back for her two week check-up she had gone over her birth weight after losing a little more than she was supposed to and I have a feeling she's going to be right where she should be when we go to her two month appointment in a few weeks. Aside from supplementing with stinky formula(it really does stink) for two days, Amélie's been gaining her little rolls only from drinking the boob milk I worked so hard to get. So take that well-meaning lactation center ladies!

p.s. I'm in the market for a pump of my very own! woo. Can you sense the excitement or sarcasm? I'm looking at either a Medela or Ameda since that's what I had more success with. But, the Ameda has always been the hospital-grade one, so I don't know if I can compare it with the one you can buy at the store. Anyways...does anyone have any suggestions/comments/advice/whatnot on any pumps?

Rice and Beans: Month 1

2010-08-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

Dearest Amélie,

What a month it has been! What started as a quick visit to the doctors turned out to be your birthday! Although you unexpectedly showed up a few weeks early, we couldn't be happier to have gotten to meet you. I'm especially happy because I get to spend a few extra weeks with you during my time off. Your daddy always said he'd hoped you would arrive a bit earlier because he thought I'd enjoy getting more time with you and he couldn't have been more right. Since the moment we met you, your daddy and I have just been head over heals in love with you and I wish there were more hours in the day because I can't get enough of your sweetness.

Along with your arrival came a few other surprises. You did a very good job of fooling us all about your size, especially the doctors, who predicted that you would be well over seven pounds, but out you came only carrying 5 lbs. and 5 oz! You were so tiny that the clothes I hoped to bring you home in were much too big and the only thing that fit you were a pair of preemie pj's your Abuelita Cookie bought for you. You really looked so adorable in your ducky pj's!

Nena, you also played around in mommy's tummy and turned yourself around in the last few hours before we met, so that it made it quite difficult for me to get you out. That's why you came out all bruised and bumped on your little head; it took us all a little (okay, maybe a lot!) extra work to welcome you into the world. The combination of your itty bitty self and the bruises on your cutie head are part of your other surprise- jaundice. It wasn't a big deal, but we did get to spend a few extra days in the hospital so that you could experience the bili lights; which, you absolutely loved.

My girl, in the first two weeks of your life, your daddy really thought you were sleeping 23 out of the 24 hours of the day. Perhaps he was exaggerating a bit, but you really did sleep A LOT! Lucky for us, sleeping has not been much of a problem for you. I wondered if you were going to have a tough time differentiating between day and night, but if you did, I never noticed. Aside from two crazy days where all you wanted to do was fuss and eat, you've been really wonderful about keeping your schedule. Mommy and daddy really appreciate this!

Your daddy has been the most fabulous supporter to me and a wonderful daddy to you. I really loved watching the sweet way he held you in the first days of your life and the way he speaks to you is just so adorable. He's totally in love with his "Sugar." Since going back to work, we're definitely missing him, so we're trying to make sure you're awake in the evenings when he makes it home. Since you and I have spent so much time getting to know each other, you're daddy hasn't quite figured out how you like to be held and what makes you completely calm. But, he's got lots of patience and is trying his best to make you happy.

My heart has completely opened and is spilling with love for you, baby girl. I cannot put into words what I feel for you and how unbelievable it is to have you in my life. You are truly a miracle. I love the bond that we've created by spending time looking into each other's eyes, by breathing together, and by getting to know each other's scents. You definitely know it's me and I feel very special knowing that I have the ability to soothe you when no one else can and by providing what you need to live and thrive. Although you started out as somewhat of a daddy's girl, I believe you are most definitely a mommy's girl now. I look forward to every moment with you, mi amorcito, and I cannot wait to experience more of life with you.

Your first month has had many firsts. You had your first bath, which, you did not like. But, now you're a fan if the water is just the right temperature. Chiquita, you have "walked" around our neighborhood many times, the first being within the first hour of arriving home. You especially love going for a walk in your ergo. We love it too! You rode the bus for the first time, to go to our first "mommy and me" group. You went to your first yoga class with your little friend Sophie and her mommy Jen. We ventured out to downtown as a family on the muni train for your first city tour. You and I have also had many little shopping trips, mostly to our fave store Tarjay, to buy things you need. Oh, baby girl, you also had your first photo shoot! You are quite the adventurous girl.

There's definitely been some hurdles, but many, many, many unforgettable happy memories to keep in our hearts during this first month together. I am so overjoyed. Us three, we're meant to be; just like rice and beans.

We love you Amélie Sophia.

-Mommy and Daddy

Amélie- Week Four

2010-08-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

We love you more each day.

Amélie- Week Three

2010-08-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

One of the many expressions we love. =)

The Bean Birth Story: Part Three

2010-08-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sweet heavenly sleep. I was finally able to get the rest I needed. I slept through most of Sunday morning and afternoon while the pitocin drip increased the strength of the contractions I could not feel and my favorite black clogs made their appearance behind the curtain. I was overjoyed to know that my wonderful doctor would actually get to be there to deliver the baby we had excitedly watched grow for the last nine months. It makes me teary now thinking about what an amazing doctor I have and the bond that we created. I'm saddened knowing I won't get to see her every month now.

It wasn't until 5 in the early evening that the pain once again became existent. It surfaced as quickly as it had disappeared and did not subside until we welcomed our sweet girl.

I distinctly remember the pain and uncomfortable pressure that took over from that point. It was powerful enough to overrule the effects of the epidural and the constant pressing of the button I could control. Two distressing hours later, I told my doctor I was ready to push.

This was the beginning to our happy ending.

Over the next three hours, we tried five different positions in order to aid the descent of our bean- on my back, one my side with one leg up, with my feet on the bar, pulling myself up using the bar, and my legs elevated at different levels. I huffed and pushed to the point where I could almost not do it any longer. Whatever pain the epidural had masked earlier in the day, was now definitely present. I believe now that it had probably worn off or the dose was not high enough (especially since I felt a lot of pain while my doctor repaired a small tear afterwards). Our doctor, nurse, and hubby could see the amazing progress (or so they said over and over again) I was making and once we reached the end of the third hour, which, passed unbelievably quickly to me, we were all wondering if there needed to be an intervention. I worked so hard by pushing up to five times during each contraction because I could not wait to see my little girl. Yet, there came a point when I announced, while on the verge of tears, that I needed some help because of the immense pain and what I felt at the time was not enough progress. My doctor then suggested suctioning our babe in order to assist my efforts. In a flurry, a large number of nurses and pediatricians entered the room as they prepared to suction and receive our little miracle. Three pushes later, our beautiful Amélie was welcomed to the world with a bubble on her nose and a cheer from everyone present. She was quickly examined by the pediatricians and surprised us all by being a lot smaller than anyone had predicted, but still perfectly complete and healthy.

I was instantly in love.

Amélie's First Photo Session

2010-07-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

I adore my baby. I am totally in love! I cannot get enough of her and I hope you all don't mind the pictures because this is just the beginning.

After Amélie arrived and we finally made it home, I promptly emailed our fabulous photographer from our maternity shoot, Nicole Hoxie, to inform her that our little one was here! We booked the shoot for the 12th day of Amélie's life since it's easier for Nicole to work with itty bitty sleepy babies, but our girl only slept for the first half of the poses. Yet, I could not be more in love with the sneak peak Nicole posted today on her blog. I cannot wait to get our CD with the rest of the pictures!

I love her!

Amélie- Week Two

2010-07-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

Our sweetums

Amélie- One Week!

2010-07-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

We love you more than anything.

The Bean Birth Story: Part Two

2010-07-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

I expected a great deal of pain as I imagined the needle penetrating the skin in my back. It was nothing close to being painful. It was the faintest of pains. It was the kind of pain I'd wince at for a second but never think twice of. My fears subsided as I imagined the opportunity for my future contractions to be eliminated with the constant drip of a drug, yet I still hoped that it wouldn't be necessary. I got my last look at the black, red, and green Nikes as the anesthesiologist exited and left me with the nurse offering me the first dose of drugs to induce my labor.

A quarter of an itty bitty pill was all it took. The nurse, just as I expected, gave me a thorough explanation of what would be taking place. This pill would begin to thin out my cervix and could potentially be administered every four hours until I was at the point where pitocin could be used.

One dose and the cramping and mild contractions began. The pain of the surges was almost non-existent and I chatted, laughed, ate dinner, and blogged about our exciting news. This I could handle all night at the frequency of 2 and a half minutes. During the seven hours that followed, the hubby made a visit to our place to collect our bags that were not fully prepared and came with the abuelito in tow. We were really on our way to becoming parents.

At ten in the evening the tall female doctor announced that it was time for the next step. A foley catheter would be inserted to continue the good progress I was making. She showed me the tool and again explained the process thoroughly to ease my fears as I'm sure she couldn't ignore the look on my face. I winced as I imagined a balloon expanding inside me and once it was inserted, there was no doubt my original fears about the foley catheter were not without warrant. The contractions immediately increased and became much more uncomfortable. I had to take the time to breath through each one while the hubby held my hand tightly and guided me. This was the start of a long night of watching bad television, no sleep, and increasing pain. The pain only intensified once the catheter was removed at two in the morning.

At 7 in the morning, it was time for some rest. I realized this process was going to take much longer and getting some repose was vital in order to me to make it through what was to come and the pain at that moment was unbearable. The hour I waited for the drugs was one of the longest. Looking back I believe I questioned where the anesthesiologist was at least ten times. It was also during this time that during one really painful contraction I felt the warm gush of water on my legs.

"How could it be taking so long when all he has to do is set up the drugs and plug it in?! Where is he!?"

Twenty minutes after the drugs began, I was finally able to sleep.

It was the best sleep of my life.

The Bean Birth Story: Part One

2010-07-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

"We're going to have you stay and we will be inducing you."

The band around my arm that was monitoring my blood pressure since arriving in labor and delivery about an hour earlier started to constrict my arm in that instant. I quickly turned to look at the hubby who was staring right back at me in disbelief. I could see the excitement in his eyes as he knew he would get to hold our baby a few weeks before schedule. My body experienced an explosion of thoughts and feelings - elation, fear, anticipation, shock, nervousness, happiness... and it became evident to those in the room as the machine alerted us to my extremely high blood pressure. Yet, the only thing that mattered to me in that second was that I was going to meet my daughter and become a mother.

The two doctors that stood before us went into detail about what would be occurring and the consequences linked to the results of my blood tests. Since the previous day, my blood pressure was still maintaining a level considered high for me, proteins were still in my urine although not as high as before, and the platelet count was lower. All this placed me under the classification of being in the early stages of preeclampsia. They said that they preferred to be overcautious and that was why they were going to go the safest route and induce my labor. Then, came something serious to consider- due to my low platelet count it was necessary to decide if I would eventually want an epidural- now. The kind doctors went on to explain that low platelets meant a possibility of no blood clots to prevent excessive bleeding and thus, before my levels possibly went any lower, I should have the epidural catheter inserted in case I desired to have one later on or if for whatever reason, I needed a cesarean. Otherwise, pain relief in that form would not be an option and being awake during my child's birth would be denied. I would have to be put under.

"An epidural?! A giant needle in my back?! Now, before I've even experienced any pain?!" My blood pressure once again peaked. The alternative of a needle and catheter in my back to the options given was easy enough. "How soon can the anesthesiologist be here?"

Within the hour the door opened and I glanced down at the shoes of the individual coming from behind the curtain. Sneakers. Black, red, and green. Nikes. This was something I did every. single. time. until our bean arrived. I wanted to know who to expect before seeing a face. The shoes really told me a lot about the person arriving. The anesthesiologist came in and I realized we had met during one of our classes at Kaiser. Tall and goofy with a slight stutter. Our sweet nurse rolled her eyes at his nonchalant manner about something serious like an epidural and the mood in the room was light and full of excitement.

These moments- the bonnet on my head to keep my hair out of the way, my back and rear clearly exposed, the joking but very qualified young anesthesiologist, and the smiles and laughs between the hubby and me are very clear in my mind. It was the beginning.

Introducing...

2010-07-16T22:38:00.000-07:00

We are in love. She is perfection in every way. We can't take our eyes off her and are in awe of her every movement, sound, and adorable facial expression.

We finally made it home yesterday on a beautiful afternoon. Details about welcoming our girl and what followed will come in the next few days if I can find the time to stop staring and kissing her. We're all doing great!

Bean Status: two

2010-07-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

I've been moving along nicely with the help of drugs and a weird bubble thing in my vagina. Since starting With all of those nice little helpers, I had over twelve hours of cramping to very, very painful contractions. Since the epidural catheter was already inserted, I demanded the drugs. I quickly fell into a deep sleep. I'm saving all my energy for the final part. I'm currently at six diameter, fully effaced, and my bag of waters broke naturally at 8 this morning. The doctors have all said we're moving along quickly for having been induced. They have also predicted our bean is definitely over 7 lbs. She is most definitely cooked.

I'm feeling pretty good right now, aside from some little cramping randomly. Thank goodness for the epidural!

I will probably update once the bean is here!

Bean Status: one

2010-07-10T19:20:00.001-07:00

Okay. I just had a full out post with a detailed explanation of what's happening and now it's gone. Ummmm... Here's the gist.

- in the hospital waiting to have my baby!!!
- getting induced because of preeclampsia. Poo.
- got the IV in and the epidural catheter in because of low platelet count. No drugs in back, just a bunch of tape. No one told me I'd get a free waxing with labor and delivery!
- will have our bean in less than two whole days! Whaaa....

I'll be updating as long as I can and then they'll probably become facebook posts.

Day of a Stay-at-Home Preggo

2010-07-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Bean Bump: Weeks 34/35/36ish

2010-06-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

{week 36}

Week: Welcome month 9!

Bean Size: You're a big melon! or soccer ball. Thanks to Justin and Karen, we've got your Mexico soccer outfit ready to go for the next World Cup.

Total Weight Gain: At my last visit I was up to 31 lbs. So far, so good. I have another appointment next week, so we'll see where I'll be then.

Maternity Clothes?: Yes. There should also be such thing as maternity shoes because I'd be all over those puppies. I guess sandals can probably fall under that category.

Sleep: Lots. I've been sleeping great! I've got the pillows handled and I'm not getting up at all during the night. I do wake up thinking I might have to go, but I'm able to make it until about 8 am before my bladder tells me it's time to get up. I'm truly enjoying my sleep.

Movement: The bean's favorite thing to do as of late is stick her booty on my right side with her feet stabbing/kicking me in the ribs on the same side. It's hard for me to get comfortable when she's doing this. I always pat her booty and kindly urge her to move over a bit. She doesn't always agree.

What I Miss: Walking up little hills without losing my breath and sushi. The hubby and I already have plans to have sushi with daddy man once the bean arrives. Daddy man (my dad. Eric will be daddy man III since my brother beat him to the title of daddy man II) hasn't had sushi for at least a year since he's been in Guatemala and obviously I've been preggers. We're eagerly anticipating Baby J's arrival for many reasons!

Status of the Button: It's not going anywhere. I did recently notice the extent to which is has stretched because the part of my piercing that used to be in the inside of the button is now on the outside. But, the button is still IN!

What I'm Looking Forward to: Smelling my baby girl and dressing her in girly clothing.

Best Moment this Week: Being showered with love from our wonderful friends! The bean received so many wonderful gifts. She's spoiled already. Someone giving up their seat for me on the train was very nice too. Completing our HypnoBirthing classes that we loved. We feel a lot more prepared and super duper excited to meet our little girl. Our friends having their beautiful baby girl (and our bean's bestie)! I can't wait to meet her in person.

Preggers Bod-New and Exciting!..maybe: I feel wonderful! I'm a little swollen all over, but it doesn't bother me much. My hair has been so dry lately. I've tried four different products to help me control the crazy frizzy mess on my head. I just got a new one today, we'll see if it works.

Bean Milestones: Sweetie pie, you are almost fully cooked! Your full-time job now is to pack on more of those fatty pounds.

Food Cravings: The usual characters: watermelon, sugar, and iced tea. I'm back to berries, too.

How's the Rice?: He's amazing! I'm so very fortunate. I can't wait for him to meet the bean because I know he's going to be a wonderful daddy. I have noticed his level of excitement growing and his interactions with my belly becoming more frequent. I think we're all ready to meet her...in a few more weeks.

Tid Bits: The bean's nursery is basically finished! There were some things I needed like a changing pad, diaper pail, and random bits and pieces, but they are now in position. Last night I organized the binder with our paperwork such as the birth plan(s), scripts for relaxation, breastfeeding info, postpartum, and misc. things. The bean's hospital bag is ready to go and I'm still working on mine. There are still a lot of other things I'd like to get done and I know I have time, but I'm not a procrastinator and I rather have them finished in order to provide myself a sense of calm as the big day approaches.

How You Grow!

2010-06-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Mama's love documenting the growth of their little ones. It's hard not to photograph such a cutie's every move, new facial expression, and adventure. I've seen some mama's photograph their wee ones every week, some every month along side a special teddy or toy, and every day. I'm pretty sure that we will be doing a lot of each of those.

Mrs. Shortcake's post about BB Blocks got my crafty juices flowing because I figured that was an easy and quick project for me to take on while on maternity leave and it would serve as a "special something" to identify the bean's stage of growth. I also think they are adorable!

{BB Blocks}

I headed over to Michael's about a week ago with a coupon in hand to pick up my supplies. I selected the stickers below; one group with letters and the other with numbers. I also found perfectly cut wooden squares and rectangles. Easy peasy. Then, all I had to do was select my letters and numbers to stick on my wooden pieces.

Voila...this is what I came up with!

{i chose to spell out: months, years...

...week, and weeks.}

I love that I saved moola making them myself, that the letters and numbers come in various fonts and colors, and that I can easily change out the words by peeling the stickers. This little project also took me less than 30 minutes to make! Now, they're just sitting on the shelf waiting for the bean to arrive. We're exactly one month from D-day! We can't wait!

Blanket for Bean

2010-06-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I purchased a yard of this fuzzy wuzzy fabric at my local fabric store (with a coupon, of course) because I could not stop touching it. It is sooo wonderfully soft and cozy. It seemed like something the bean would probably enjoy too and it has a quilted pattern similar to the other fabric used on her bedding set I made. Also, it's the same exact color! I bought it and thought I'd somehow include the other fabrics I'd used for the bedding in order to make it part of the "set." I eventually found that I didn't want to use the other fabrics for the back side and instead made a little compromise. I bought more fuzzy wuzzy fabric and then used the leftover quilted fabric from the bumper to cover the piping around the edges of the blanket. Woo. I again bought another yard (with a coupon) and got to work one evening after work. This is what happened:

{double-sided fuzzy wuzzy blanket with quilted fabric trim}

{close-up of the quilted trim}

It's super easy to make a blanket like this. Here's the how-to: I didn't take pictures of the steps, so I'm going to explain it and provide pictures of the items used.

Materials Needed:

{you need this.

I didn't end up using this one because I felt like it was not wide enough, so I bought thicker cord}

{you also need this little piece for your sewing machine.

The name of it? I don't know...skinny foot? If you really want to know, I'm sure you can find it's name on the web. yucky, fat pregnant fingers. Only one of my rings fits.}

{this is how it's attached. You can attach it on either the left or right side. I prefer the left. This little foot lets you get your seam all right up and close to the edge of your fabric covered cording.}

Obviously, you also need fabric. I used two yards of the fuzzy wuzzy and about a half yard to cover the cording. Note: this is how much I needed, but it depends on the width of your fabric. The quilted fabric was 54 inches wide, which, is wider than the fabric typically found at your local store.

Step One:

-Cut fabric to be used to cover cording in long strips. I usually cut mine between 2.5 and 3 inches wide.

Step Two:

-Wrap fabric around cording and sew using the "skinny foot." You want to make sure you measure how much cording and fabric you'll need before doing this. If your fabric isn't long enough to cover all your cording, just sew the strips of fabric together before covering the cord.

Step Three:

-Sew fabric covered cording around the "good" side of your fuzzy wuzzy fabric. "Good" meaning the side you want to see.

Step Four:

-Sew other piece of fuzzy wuzzy fabric with "good" side facing the other piece's "good" side and covering the cording. Make sure to sew it up close to the cording.

Step Five:

-Make sure to leave a hole big enough to turn your blanket inside out.

Step Six:

-Turn it inside out.

Step Seven:

-Sew your opening closed. You're finished!

The Bean Bump: Weeks 32/33

2010-06-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

{view from above}

{the Boo shot}

{week 33 = large bump}

Week: Making our way through week 33.

Bean Size: You're a cantaloupe this week! That sounds smaller than what you were before. Either way, they say you're close to 20 inches and about 5 lbs. woo hoo.

Total Weight Gain: 28 lbs. I'm hoping to not get over 35 lbs. So at this point, I'm good. Yet, if I did go over...eh, I don't care. It's all for the baby.

Maternity Clothes?: I'm soooo happy that it's finally warm enough to wear dresses. I've worn a dress almost every day this week. I had to buy some new ones at Ross.

Sleep: The same as last time. I've got the pillows in place. I currently use 3, which includes the one for my head. One of my hips still hurts every morning, but once I get moving, it quickly feels better.

Movement: Lots and lots of rolling. She especially loves to move while her daddy is reading her a story.

What I Miss: Nothing right now. I'm a very content pregnant lady.

Status of the Button: Totally IN!

What I'm Looking Forward to: Finding out who the bean looks like once she's born.

Best Moment this Week: The super sweet baby shower thrown by my friends and co-workers and knowing that the school year ends on Friday, sorta. I have some textbook training and planning time scheduled next week. But, no teenagers! Oh, taking our maternity pictures with our awesome photographer. She was so wonderful and very creative. I absolutely love the sneak peeks. See below!!!!

Preggers Bod-New and Exciting!..maybe: I feel great! Aside from the swollen feet and ankles there is absolutely nothing terrible going on with this pregger. I have the back pain and the somewhat uncomfortable sleeping, but I am extremely thankful there is nothing worse going on with me. I've still got lots of energy and I enjoy long walks (on mostly flat surfaces) in the afternoons. The bump is BIG. No stretch marks!

Bean Milestones: Little bird, the books say you're growing and growing and are now limited on space. There's less amniotic fluid in there and more baby! I can tell because it's no longer jabs, kicks, and punches. It's now rolls and tumbles. Hey, there you go.

Food Cravings: Watermelon. I cannot get enough. I wish I had some right now. I think a walk over to Whole Foods may be in order the next hour.

How's the Rice?: He's great. At the baby shower thrown by my co-workers we received many new books (since we're the English department!) and the hubby and I have been so excited to read a different one every night this past week. One of our favorites is a beautifully drawn book with short stories about a little wombat. It's very very cute. During one of our nightly walks I mentioned that we were in the "single-digits" and the hubby was very confused by this comment. He asked me what I meant and I explained that we've been under ten weeks until we meet the bean. He replied with a simple, "Oh." and a surprised look on his face. It may be sinking it for him now.

Tid Bits: Here's a sneak peek at our maternity session!

{I had to edit this one a little. She has a name, but we're not telling...yet.}

The Nursery: Revealed

2010-06-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

After lots and lots of hours spent sewing, painting, a bit of woodworking, and rearranging; I think the nursery is as close to finished as it's going to get. There are still a few more things I'd like to get done and others that I have to purchase. The lighting was almost perfect for taking pictures on Sunday morning, so I couldn't help but take them for the reveal. I hope you like it.

Resource List: Just in case you're wondering...

Glider: craigslist find and slipcover made by me

Gliding Ottoman: curb and slipcover made by me

Elephant side table: Goodwill

Reading Lamp: Target

Curtains: made by me using fabric from Jo-anns

White frames: purchased at Michael's

Wooden bird on ledge: West Elm

Alphabet Letters: Martha Stewart for Michael's

Linens/Bedding/Pillows: all sewn by me with fabrics from Calico Corners

Bird pillow in crib: Pottery Barn

Dresser and Crib: Ikea

Elephant watercolor: Goodwill find

Frame for elephant: Pottery Barn

Giraffe lamp: Home Goods

Rug: Home Goods

Wooden plaques with knobs: plaques from Michaels and knobs from Anthropologie

Wagon: garage sale find

Zoology book: Anthropologie

Bunny on shelf: Anthropologie

Letter A: Ben Franklin's

Decal-Branches: by Blik found at a store going-out-of-business in town

Birdhouses: Michael's and Jo-ann's

Bunny painting: by me

Hearts in shadow box: by me

Maurice Sendak art: enlarged by me from personal copy of book

Wooden frames above crib: Pottery Barn

Paper garland: made by me

Mirror: found at Ross

White shelves: Ikea

Paint-by-number plate: Anthropologie

Numbered containers: Anthropologie

Wire chair on shelf: Pottery Barn

Clothes on hangers: Baby Gap

Can you tell I love Anthropologie?!

Just for fun, this is what it really looks like. We're getting our car seat installed in two weeks and it's been in the crib for months! The bassinet is waiting for it's stand to arrive and will then be placed in our room. The stroller is just hanging out.

Denim Love

2010-05-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love my jeans. Actually, not just my jeans; I love my denim jacket and I've had my share of denim shirts and dresses. But, don't get me confused with someone that loves to wear the "denim tuxedo," á la vintage Britney and Justin...

{no. thank. you}

I could probably do something like this though...

{images via darling dexter}

When it comes to the beanette's attire, I'm positive that denim will be making an appearance. She already has something like the one below. Her's is from the Gap too, but I did not go out and spend $30 on it. Umm...no, I'm too frugal for that. It does look exactly like that one; perhaps it's already on clearance in the stores and not the web?

{romper from baby gap}

I also really like this little sun hat from Baby Gap.

{so cute}

Then, today, while sitting watching the tube while home sick with a yucky stomach bug, I saw these on some pop news show.

{huggies denim diapers}

I'm not sure how I feel about these yet. My first thought what that they were cute, but the more I think about them, the more I don't love them. What about poop explosions and cold San Francisco weather? I'm also a fan of cute little leggings and onesies that would cover them right up. I do have to say they are a fun concept. What do you think?

The Bean Bump: Weeks 30/31

2010-05-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

{week 30}

{week 31}

{the toes. I had to put the camera pretty far out to capture this one}

Week: Movin' and shakin' in week 31!

Bean Size: This week chiquita, you're the size of a large head of lettuce. It says you're about 18 inches and 3.2 lbs. Keep going!

Total Weight Gain: I'll find out for sure on Tuesday. I haven't weighed myself since my last dr. visit 5 weeks ago, so I'm sure I'll be in for a surprise.

Maternity Clothes?: How can it be that my maternity tops are getting tighter in the chest and shorter. They must have shrunk. I've been forced to do some more shopping because I can't look like a slob or a pregnant hooker at work.

Sleep: I believe my body is getting me ready for the long nights with the beanette. I'm waking up often (pretty much any time I switch sides) or when I get a cramp in my leg. I also feel like an old lady getting up in the morning; my hips hurt and I have to roll back and then quickly push myself forward in order to get out of bed. nice. There's also some grunting involved. sexy.

Movement: Most definitely! The past few weeks she's been getting the hiccups a lot! I can feel them down really low and they sometimes tickle me. We like to play games like, "I poke you, you poke me back" and "This feels like daddy's hand, I'll stop moving like crazy now."

What I Miss: Not visiting the toilet every half hour, or at least it feels that way. Every liquid I drink feels like it's passing right through me and my itty bitty squished bladder. I wouldn't mind so much if I could get up and go to the restroom whenever I please, but I can't. I'm looking forward to the end of the school year just so I can relieve myself without a time limit. Only 14 more days!

Status of the Button: It's still definitely in. I don't think this one is coming out.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Kissing and snuggling my baby. I cannot wait to meet her!

Best Moment this Week: Picking the red ring out of a box at the children's store and thus getting 40% off the Ergo carrier I was buying! score! My brother texting a message telling me that he can't wait to meet our daughter because he's looking forward to being an uncle. How cute is that!?

Preggers Bod-New and Exciting!..maybe: I feel like the belly is much bigger than what it looks like in the pictures. My back hurts...not fun. But, I found that sitting and rolling my hips around on the exercise ball really helps. My uterus is making it's way up to my chin. So that may be an exaggeration, but for the first 29 or so weeks, my bump was pretty low. I definitely had a gap (or a look at my normal stomach) between my breasts and my bump, but I feel that is almost no longer there. It's all bump now and it's still really far down. I could never really wear low-riding jeans during my pregnancy because my bump is soo low. I'd need some special super-duper-low-riding-hide-the-poody-and coin-slot-pants. I don't think those exist.

Bean Milestones: Baby J, they say you're running out of room in there and that you're fattening up for momma. You're also working out that bladder in preparation for all the diapers daddy and I will be changing. Keep growing little one!

Food Cravings: Sugar! My goodness. I've always been good at allowing myself only one sweet treat a day, but it has gotten really hard to do that lately. I am so weak. I'm blaming it on Baby J.

How's the Rice?: Soo cutie and busy. We both felt like the past week went by sooo slow, especially since the hubby didn't get much of a weekend last week. He had to work almost all weekend. boo. We're looking forward to a three-day weekend and time with friends by the pool.

Tid Bits: We saw the "Babies" movie today and I really enjoyed it. It was super sweet. cute, and funny at times. It was a nice contrast to the hubby's pick from last weekend, "Iron Man: 2." I don't think the bean enjoyed Iron Man at all. She would not stop kicking and punching me throughout the entire movie. I think it was all the loud noises that were scaring her and preventing her from taking her nap.

Our maternity photo session is coming up this week and I'm elated! Nicole and I have shared some ideas for the shoot and I think they are going to be really cute. I may be biased though. =) There are 4 outfits I'm contemplating right now, but I think I'm going to narrow it down to 2. Oh, I also finally got my hair done after not having anyone touch it for 7 months! It looks so much better now.

This is one of the jean options I'm considering.

{anthro sweater}

with

{gap maternity jeans}

accessorized with some cute heals and jewelry.

I've actually got some Old Navy maternity jean slacks that I'm probably going to wear instead of those skinny jeans, but we'll see. The slacks are longer and will probably look better with heels. Another outfit option is a purple dress with yellow flats, there is also a fun red dress with blue heels, and the other is the skinny jeans above, a white fitted tee, an olive green ruffled sweater vest thinger with some tweed heels (they have the same olive green, yellow, and a bit of orange in them) or some other flats. Which one sounds good? help.

Only 10-ish, or less, weeks left!

The Bean Birth Plan: Part 2

2010-05-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

...continued from other post.

Perhaps it's my inner hippie, but all this serenity, daydreaming, natural, and relaxing stuff sounds just like what I want. Yes,please! It got my attention and so this past weekend the hubby and I picked up the Hypnobirthing book at our local bookstore in order to get a grasp of how it works. I read it throughout that first evening and the next morning. It was really very interesting. The book starts with a look at the history of women's laboring experiences, moves into the physiology of labor (how your body is actually reacting to labor, the stages....etc.), provides the method, and ends with information on the months after baby arrives. Those are definitely not the only topics focused on, but more of a gist.

After reading the book and discussing it with the hubby, we are convinced this is for us. The hubby and I will be going through the training for hypnobirthing with a doula in the City. The hubby gets to learn the methods as well- he'll be my partner in crime. Our thinking right now is that it'll be one more strategy to work with as we await meeting (I labor and deliver) our baby girl. Even if I decide to get drugs and feel the hypnobirthing strategies are not working for me, we at least tried it. It can't hurt. I am excitedly anticipating our classes next month. I'll be sure to write about how it goes.

The Bean Birth Plan: Part 1

2010-05-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

*For some unknown reason, blogger completely and utterly jacked-up the formatting on my post. Therefore, I've taken what I'd written after the information from the Hypnobirthing website and included it in another post.

Throughout my pregnancy I have been taking mental notes on type of birthing experience I would like to have with the bean. I have read a number of books on the subject, I've spoken with my experienced friends and mom. watched movies on the subject, and just explored. Basically, I've been a sponge. Not a dirty stinky one after nearly 7 months of taking it all in, but instead a happy, organic one with a cutie design on the top. Yeah, that's me.

As we are quickly approaching our bean's birthday and the hubby and I have completed our childbirth preparation class from our hospital, it's time we come up with a serious plan. The plan is...we need more preparation! Well, that's actually only one of the things we need. I went into the childbirth prep class not really expecting anything, but at the same time hoping for some strategies/methods/skills...whathaveyou, to help me go through labor in the best way possible for me. But, we didn't really get more than 20 minutes of this in 8 hours of class. I was also really hoping the instructor would have some information or experience with women that utilized hypnobirthing. Alas, when we started off our class with introductions and questions, (mine being about hypnobirthing), the instructor gave me a blank stare. She said she'd look into it, but she never really brought it up again throughout our two classes. Oh well.

By the time we attended our class through the hospital, I'd already done some research and found the Hypnobirthing website. After reading, I felt good about that method and decided it was something I could seriously take on. The hubby has been extremely supportive of this idea as well. Love him.

Here's a portion of the description as found on the Hypnobirthing website:

"HypnoBirthing® - The Mongan Method is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. The concept of HypnoBirthing® is not new, but rather a "rebirth" of the philosophy of birthing as it existed thousands of years ago and as it was recaptured in the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician, who, in the 1920s, was one of the first to forward the concept of natural birthing. The method teaches you that, in the absence of fear and tension, or special medical circumstances, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labor.

You will gain an understanding of how the birthing muscles work in perfect harmony--as they were designed to--when your body is sufficiently relaxed and you trust birth. You will learn how to achieve this kind of relaxation, free of the resistance that fear creates, and you will learn to use your natural birthing instincts for a calm, serene and comfortable birth.

When you have your baby with HypnoBirthing®, you will not be in a trance or a sleep. What you will experience is similar to the daydreaming, or focusing, that occurs when you are engrossed in a book or a movie or staring into a fire.

You will be conversant and in good spirits--totally relaxed, but fully in control. Awake throughout, you will be aware of your body's surges and your baby's progress; but because you will have trained yourself to reach complete relaxation, you will be able to determine the degree and the manner in which you will feel the surges. You will experience birthing in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear that prevents the muscles of your body from functioning as nature intended them to. In this calm state, your body's natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that constrict and cause pain."

Look for Part 2 of this post- what we've decided to do.

Hang your Heart Here

2010-05-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

How cute are these? Just a sweet little accent for your babe's room.

Get your very own personalized hanger at lila frances on etsy.

Isn't etsy great?!

The Bean Photographs

2010-05-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love beautiful photographs?! Really? Who doesn't? Are you out there??

I'm definitely in the "love" group. They can capture so much emotion in a second and they truly reveal the moments of our lives. Even the moments we don't necessarily wish to remember.

There was never a doubt that the pregnancy of our first child would have to be captured in pictures. I'd like to think that I can show my beanette all the stages of her life even before she could see and have her feel the love that the hubby and I have felt for her since she was a thought. The hubby and I have been fairly consistent with taking our weekly bump pictures, but in my opinion, our amateurs skills do not necessarily capture the beauty of we are taking part in. I want something BEAUTIFUL of the hubby, the bean bump, and me.

I feel Nicole Hoxie really does what I'm looking to evoke in our bump photos. After scrolling through lots and lots of the pictures on her blog, I quickly emailed her and booked our maternity and newborn sessions. We have our maternity session schedule for the end of May and I cannot wait! Once the beanette is here, she will have her very first photo session at two weeks.

How cute are these baby pictures?

I actually found Nicole through Brooke's blog

Isn't she lovely?

I can't wait! I just need to figure out what to wear. Any suggestions?

Note to self

2010-05-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

granny ankle + skinny jeans + flats = not a good look

Next time I'll remember the boots.

The Bean Day Care

2010-05-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

One more thing to check off the list! This past week, the hubby and I made a decision on the child care for the beanette. I have to say, it was overall, a fairly easy process for us. I received a very good recommendation from one of my colleagues for the child care he takes his son to. At the time I was very thankful, as he got me thinking about our timeline and making a decision on this particular subject. Shortly after my conversation with that colleague, the librarian, I also found out another teacher takes her three boys to the same home day care. That made me feel good about the day care before even getting the chance to check it out for ourselves. I spoke with that colleague, a science teacher, about her experience with the day care and she could only give me positive feedback and she gushed about how wonderful it is, how flexible the provider is, and how much her boys enjoy going there. Upon hearing her recommendation, I called to make an appointment to visit the place with the hubby.

{day care notes}

Well, we made the trip after work one day and totally loved the owner of the day care and the place itself. It's a small in-home day care with two employees. She has 7 kids of varying ages; two of which are infants. That means our bean with be her third infant come November. The owner has basically devoted her entire (and spotless) home to her business. The hubby and I both got the feeling that she really loves what she does and that she does her best. She has a pretty structured day set-up for the kiddies filled with crafts, snacks, naps, and play time. She even has two professionals come in and teach a music class on Mondays and a kiddie yoga class on Fridays. How cute is that?! Kids doing yoga! The hubby and I also wanted to find someone that would be able to speak Spanish with the bean all day and Nilda (the daycare lady) is bilingual. The librarian at school actually mentioned that his little boy is learning a lot of Spanish by being with Nilda. We also found out that Nilda really caters to a teacher's schedule. score! For example, she'll hold our spot during the summers without making us pay. woo hoo. The cherry on top of all this...she's 5 minutes from my school. Of course I'll have to drive the beanette with me in the mornings up to work, but I've asked to not have a first period so I don't start until about 9:30 most days. I have that same schedule now and I think it'll work out well with the bean.

We are just soo happy to have that taken care of.

The Bean Bump: Weeks 27/28

2010-05-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

{Week 27}

{growing!}

Week: Welcome to Trimester numero 3!!

Bean Size: My girl, you are an eggplant, but much much cuter.
Total Weight Gain: I'm sticking to 20. But, probably closer to 25.
Maternity Clothes?: Can we call it super hot mama clothes instead? It might make me feel better about my options.
Sleep: It sucks. I wake up a lot throughout the night. Every time I turn to the other side I wake up for a few minutes and get a work out just getting into a comfortable position again.
Movement: Our little girl is going to be a dancer. Sometimes she's practicing ballroom dancing, sometimes it's tap dancing, and most often it's interpretative dancing.
What I Miss: A normal sized left foot and ankle. Yup, only one ankle and foot tends to swell. Luckily, not very much at this point and it goes back to normal over night. I call it my granny foot because it looks like one to me. The hubby points and laughs.
Status of the Button: It's in, but it's working on opening up as wide as possible. I don't like what the inside looks like and I'm happy that weird looking thing will go back after the bean arrives.
What I'm Looking Forward to: Summer! Sweet smelling baby with lots of dark curly hair (this is currently what I'm imagining on our babe). I just can't imagine her having light hair. I will be surprised if this does occur. Little feet. Hubby with a baby in pj's. He's a big fan of baby pj's. So far, they seem to be the only article of baby clothing that get him excited and oooh'ing and ahhh'ing. Cute.
Best Moment this Week: Walking the doggies in the sunlight after work every day. Finding a children's boutique that sells used gear and clothing. I bought an ADORABLE little leopard print sweater, an Ipood onesie (this is for my Apple-employed hubby- for the baby to wear, not him), and a few other pieces.
Preggers Bod-New and Exciting!..maybe: The granny ankle...not so good. Still having lots of energy and my hair looking pretty good...yes! Workin' the Zoomba...good. My arms looking kinda fatty....not good at all. I've kept using weights at the gym, but not nearly as much. I'm sad about the bad changes.
Bean Milestones: My dear little girl, you are soo talented! You can open your eyes and turn your cute head around if you notice a light shining in. I think daddy and I will have to play with a flashlight. Your bones are also almost developed. How exciting!
Food Cravings: Ananas! I can't get enough pineapple. Oh, and watermelon. I think the bean is ready for summer, too. We also love sugar. I.can't.stop.eating.sugar!
How's the Rice?: Wonderful. He's busy as a bee at work. He did such a great job of massaging my back during our childbirth prep class. I think he's got a new job.

Tid Bits: We also had our first childbirth prep class this weekend, just like our friends, Lawrence and Elizabeth. Our instructor (nurse) was really entertaining and very informative. We both felt like we got a lot of good information out of it and we're looking forward to next weeks session. We did the whole ice in the palm of your hand thing and I felt like the breathing really did make a difference in the pain. I've been looking into hypnobirthing and we are considering going through the training with a doula, but we haven't make a decision just yet. From what I've gathered, it's a lot of meditating and I feel like this is something I've had a fair amount of training in. Didn't know this about me?! Yeah, I've attended trainings, meetings, and such for transcendental meditation and other methods. I've even got a mantra just for me! I'm thinking I'll just brush-up on my skills and practice more often. Anyone ever heard of someone utilizing that technique?

Ready for Summer

2010-04-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

I want...
no work,

sunshine every day,

{i want to go back to aruba, now}

and a tall glass of iced tea.

I'll also take one of these!

{seriously, how cute and retro is this suit?!}

I wonder if it would fit over the bean bump?

I only have 33 more days of work left!! Let the countdown begin!

Bean Fashion

2010-04-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

I cannot wait to dress up my little girl and although I've wanted to go on a shopping spree solely to purchase adorable syrupy sweet clothing for the bean, I've hesitated. One of the biggest reasons being I cannot find things I'm absolutely in love with. I do have to admit it's very hard to resist every and any itty bitty article of clothing I come across. Seriously, who can resist? But, there's always the thought in the back of my head that says, "Really, another pink article of clothing?!" I'm not a pink hater on others and their little girls; it's just not me. I've never really been a fan of pink. Greens, yellows, and blues have always been my favorite colors.

So, my confession...I don't want my baby girl to only wear pink. I do love touches of the perfect pink, but just like her nursery, I want her wardrobe to be cute, soothing, sweet, delicate, light, feminine, and airy. Oh, and of course very stylish. This is where Makié comes in. I am in love with EVERYTHING on their site! Too bad their clothing just won't fit with this mama's budget. But, if I could, I totally would. I think I'm going to have to start learning how to sew teeny weeny clothing. They look easy enough. Right?

Really, I just die looking at those adorable outfits!

Counting down

2010-04-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Bean Curtains

2010-04-18T22:56:00.000-07:00

In a previous post I mentioned I was considering purchasing these (picture below) curtains for the bean's nursery.

Well...it should be no surprise I couldn't commit. Not because I didn't love them, I do. But, they were just not long enough and they are just a too expensive for me. I was trying to figure out what kind of sewing magic I would have to do in order to make them long enough for our tall windows and ceilings and this just really drove me nuts. I basically came to the conclusion that they were just not going to work. I was out looking for fabric to make alternative window treatments when I came upon the most perfect fabric- a striped yellow/white seersucker. I fell in love and it was decided. I came home, started sewing (I added a layer of crisp white muslin for the back part to add some oomph and block out light), and then realized they needed something else. I used this ruffle tutorial to add those ruffles I loved about the Urban Outfitter curtains.

The results:

{5 layers of ruffles at the top!}

{bad lighting, but you get the idea}

{i also made a little curtain for the balcony door with one ruffle}

I love them. One more thing done and another step closer to finishing the nursery!