Happy Birthday Alice… volume 5 (months that is)

Happy 5 month Birthday to you!!!

Stats

We don’t have them as of today, but will get your weight at least tomorrow when we go to the doctor (more on that later).  Wearing size 2 diapers, no exceptions now!  You are still in size 3 month onsies , some 3-6 month ones fit but they are all very loose on you and still just fitting in your 3 month pants most are still too big.

Firsts

We start out back in Montana, the day after you turned 4 months… you had your first boat ride!  You loved it and ended up going comatose after being on the boat a little while. You watched your first Olympics!  You especially enjoyed the gymnastics, swimming and beach volleyball.  You did not like the cycling and marathons.   You had a month of mom being dairy free, we think this helped your little belly, but we are not convinced that this is the problem that keeps you up at night and screaming from time to time.  Alice you tried rice cereal for the first time 3 days ago.  The first time, you were not too sure about it, but it seems like you are enjoying it as the days go by.  However it possibly is a reason for increased stomach aches so we didn’t give it to you today. (we will see what the dr suggests we do when we see her tomorrow)

You are watching the Olympics, upside down... cause it's what the cool kids do!

Tricks

You started putting multiple things in your mouth at once, thumb and binkie, binkie and toe, toy and toe, etc.  It is pretty funny and you get very frustrated when they don’t fit in your mouth the way you want.  You are able to pick up your binkie and put it in your mouth all by yourself, although you are not good at looking around to find your binkie when it isn’t right in front of you.  Alice you are able to move objects from one hand into the other hand. You are pushing your self around all over and “steam rolling” everywhere you want to go. (rolling over and over until you reach your destination) Even though you can roll both ways you prefer rolling to your left.

Note she is shoving my thumb and hers in her mouth!

Alice we are still trying to figure out your tummy problems and are not finding any consistent relief for you.  We are so sorry but are diligently working on improving this  and willing to do whatever it takes.  You are still not sleeping well.  We have started doing some sleep training with your, but not much has changed yet (another thing we will talk with your dr about tomorrow).  Alice you are getting more and more talkative, you love to mimic sounds (this is still very minimal but you are trying it).  You are cuddly and loving and we are still very lucky and blessed to have you in our family.

What an adorable face, who wouldn't love it?!?! (pictures courtesy of Jessi Sellers)

Love

Mom and Dad

31 flavors of VaRonica

I wanted to describe myself for my own birthday… and since I am turning 31 today I decided that I would come up with 31 flavors of who I am

31. hungry

30. tired all the time (now that Alice has joined us)

29. busy

28. someone who loves my job

27. productive (most of the time)

26. talkative (which is good for my job)

25. loud (I don’t think anyone has ever accused me of being quiet)

24. someone who loves to laugh

23. a person who loves to nap

22. snarky

21. vacation lover (I would spend all of my money on vacations if I could get the time off)

20. consumer of trash TV

19. future/ closet biker babe

18. Pug tamer

17. movie lover

16. baker

15. an exceptional stacker

14. an “I’ll try anything once” type of girl

13. crazy/ funny singer

12. jokester

11. lover of animals

10. a person who actually likes change

9. an adventure seeker

8. a texter

7. friend who loves

6. an avid reader

5. aunt

4. sister (in-law mostly)

3. daughter

2. wife

1. A fist time MOM!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Alice… a week late on the post.

Alice

You turned 4 months old last Sunday, and you were in Montana to celebrate (hence the late post).

Stats

At your 4 month check you Weighed 13 pounds (34%) Head Circumference 16.1 in. (50%) and Height 24.5 inches (57%).  You are wearing the 3-6 month onsies and are finally fitting those 3 month pants without problems.  You are just getting into size 2 diapers (although dad thinks the size 1’s still work, you have too many leaks for my taste so I just moved you up in sizes)

Firsts

You got your first haircut when you were 3.5 months old. You went out of state for the first time, in fact you entered two new states just before you turned 4 months old!  You met a ton of new cousins and second cousins and first cousins once removed (I looked up all of the definitions of these and it’s true she met all of these relations)  You started sucking your thumb and you are putting everything in your mouth, it’s quite entertaining.

 

Tricks

You are rolling all over the place.  You flip from your tummy to your back regularly and at times you will roll from your back to your tummy.  You like to stand and are very strong.  You LOVE to arch your back and look at the word from an upside down perspective.  You are still a bit stingy with your laughs however you get the giggles and will laugh out loud for 15 minutes at a time with us. (we love these times)  You have also found your toes and you love them.  You are constantly pulling your feet up to your face and putting those little toes in your mouth (thanks to cousin Quinn for introducing you to your “toe guys”)  You are starting to put your binkie back in your mouth when you spit it out, but you don’t quite know how to get it in the right way.

Alice I have been so sad for you, this month your acid reflux has gotten worse and you are having problems with being gassy and it is very uncomfortable for you.  We have tried different things with your meds and can’t find relief for you yet, but we are still trying and working hard to figure it all out.  You still remain one of the happiest babies I know.  You are smiling, laughing and cooing most of the time, but when you are sad, hurting or hungry you cry which is hard to watch!  You are so loved by everyone around you and your smiles are contagious.  We love you and are excited to see what month 4 brings!!!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Happy 3 month birthday!

Alice,

Today you turned 3 months old, I can't believe you are getting so big!

Stats: You weigh a little over 11 pounds (according to our scale at home) and are 24 inches long.  You fit into size 3 onesies and most pants (some are still too big around your tummy) however you have to wear a 3-6 month size in dresses (your legs are just too long for the 3 month ones).

Firsts: You went to your first weddings (that's right two of them) and loved getting all dressed up and going out.  Your first parade was the Utah Pride Parade where you got all festively dressed and enjoyed the people, the colors, the noise and eventually the grass and falling asleep during this event.  You went to down town Salt Lake with your Aunt, Uncle, cousin and Auntie... you enjoyed being around the people and being outside.  You were exposed to your first virus (that we know of for sure) and didn't catch it!

Tricks:  You laugh out loud more and more each day.  You especially find Sir funny and follow him with your head all around the room and get a little sad when he leaves.  You roll to your side all of the time and sometimes you roll from your back to your tummy.  You rolled from your tummy to  your back once when you were really mad that I made you do tummy time, but you don't know how you did it, and looked very shocked when it happened.  You hold your head fairly well on your own but get lazy and rest it on us if you can.  You scoot all over the place.  You lay on your back and you bend your knees and then stretch out and arch your back so you slide across the floor.  You also find this action very funny!  You still love your baths and are splashing like a champ.  You have started to sleep in your crib at night in your very own room however you tell us that sleeping in cribs is for suckers most of the time, I am sure you will come around to the idea that your own bed and room are awesome soon.  You are really starting to like looking at yourself and others in the mirror, this makes you smile that wonderful toothless smile and coo.  Alice you are an amazing babbler!  You talk to us all the time, you talk to strangers all the time too, but never when others ask you to initiate the conversation.  You will do whatever it takes to get out of tummy time!  You cry, scream and go limp. But if those don't work at getting you out of it, you start to stand with your legs and balance, or try to at least, on your head.  You are really starting to like books and look at each page intently while I read to you.  You love you cousin Quinn and the two of you talk to each other, hold each other and basicly want to be as close as you can, physically, to each other all the time (it is the sweetest thing ever!)

You were lucky and got to spend time with Grandma LaDene and Papa Ron during the days before their vacation.  You got to spend time with your BFF Auntie Ali during the days when mom and dad were at work for a week.  Then Aunt Jessi, Uncle Dalan and cousin Quinn babysat you for a week too.  Right now your Grandma Saundra is staying with us and getting a turn to babysit while mom and dad go to work.  You have so many wonderful people in your life that are willing to spend time with you and give you all the love and attention one child can handle!

Alice Your dad and I love you so much!  We are excited to see you growing and learning new things every day.  I can hardly believe that we are this lucky and get to have you as part of our family!  Thank you for being a wonderful baby.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Memorial Day 2012

I have struggled this past year with a lot of loss.  I can't begin to describe the feelings that arise when I start to think of all of the wonderful, amazing, talented and loving people there are in my life and to lose any of them sucks!  I have lost two amazing people in my life within the past month and that is who I wold like to focus this entry on today.

Jamaica.  Where to even begin.  Jamaica is my cousin, she is 6 days younger than I am.  Jamaica is so talented in many different area's.  She played piano, tumbled, danced, cheered, wrote poetry, taught herself different languages and truly loved people.  Jamaica is beautiful beyond description, funny and smart.  I was and always will be jealous of Jamaica and the things that she is.  I was saddened to hear that she died at the young age of 30.  She had so many things in life that she wanted to accomplish and so much that she already had.  I will miss you Jake and all of your passion.

Joel.  I am sad to say that I have only known Joel for a few years.  I met Joel when we were both in graduate school at the University of Utah together for our Masters in Social Work degrees.  He was quiet and funny in classes and would always encourage me and invite me to play basketball with him and a friend (a horrible sight to see).  Joel graduated with me and subsequently got a job at Valley where I work.  I began working with him in February of 2011.  We had so much fun at work.  We would compare notes on supervision, run idea's past each other about treatment options and would talk about our "outside lives".  Joel is an amazing musician, a funny funny guy who would always find the lighter side to every situation and a smart man.  I was shocked and upset when I found out of Joel's passing at the young age of 30 this year.  He left behind a wonderful and beautiful wife and two dogs that he loved dearly.  Joel accomplished so much in his short life and definitely lived life with no regrets.  I learned a lot from him and will miss him.

On this memorial day I am thinking of many that I have lost over the years but most of all I am thinking of these two wonderful people who I lost at 30.  I have had extreme high points during this, my 30th year of life, but the loss of these two have really made this year miserable as well.

Happy 2 Month Birthday Alice!

Hello my baby, happy 2 month birthday!

Starting off with your stats.  You weigh 9 lbs 11 oz (28%). You are 23.3 in long (87%). Head circumference 14.9 in (35%). You wear 0-3 month tops and onesies but still need to wear new born pants even though they are kind of floods now, they are the only things that stay up on your little tummy and slim legs.

Alice you are feisty, funny and full of energy!  You are opinionated smart and love everyone.  You are strong and lift your head on your own and almost roll over from your back to your front.  You smile all the time and are so close to laughing out loud, I can't stand not hearing if for much longer.  You babble a lot and say guy-ya guy-ya guy-a.  Another favorite babble is oye.  You continue to stare at people's faces and "talk" to those you find interesting.  You mostly talk with dad, mom, grandma and cousin Quinn. You love to watch Sir, your puppy, where ever he goes in the house, you could watch him for hours if he didn't get so annoyed with being followed.  You also try and watch TV and despite our attempts to stop you, you sneak in time here and there for your favorite shows, Mythbusters, Glee and The Devil's Ride (motorcycles are cool).  You are learning how to manipulate your hands into grabbing things and hitting your toys.  You enjoy playing on your mat where toys dangle overhead.  You are not a huge fan of your tummy time but you tolerate it fairly well.

Alice you are so lucky to have an amazing, loving and attentive dad who spends all day Monday and Wednesday with you.  You also have wonderful, caring and patient grandparents (grandma LaDene and Papa Ron) who play with you on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays while mom goes to work.

Alice you have struggled with thrush and acid reflux, but both are getting under control now, thank heavens.  It is hard to see you upset because you are normally such a happy baby!  You have big man farts and big man burps still, which make your dad laugh out loud all the time.

You went to your first funeral, moms cousin Jamaica. You also went to your first wedding, dads cousin Jason.  You slept through your first 5K, March of Dimes walk for babies.

We love you so much and are continually excited to have you in our lives and as our daughter

Love
Mom and Dad

Happy 1 Month Birthday Alice

I can’t believe that a month has come and gone since you entered our lives. Alice it seems like you have been a part of our family forever yet it feels like you were born just yesterday!

You have grown so much and you are learning new things all the time. You like to snuggle with your family. You enjoy the lights and the ceiling fans. You still love eating and are continuing to do well in this area. You have been enjoying our family walks that we take when it gets warm. You love to hear anyone sing, and you are really good at looking at someone when they talk or sing to you. Alice you are starting to babble, Dad and I love this and are so excited for this to happen more and more. You are getting better at sleeping, I have decided to let you get into bed with Dad and I, which makes you super happy and makes you sleep a lot longer than when you are on your own. You continue to be insatiable with the sucking. If you are not eating you are chomping on your binkie, someone’s finger, your hand, a blanket or anything else that you can get near your little mouth. You are starting to see things at a greater distance and tend to look at Sir Winston when he comes by, the TV when we are in the living room and new people when they come into the room. Alice you are starting to smile more and more. When you recognize someone’s voice when they start talking to you or when you like the activity we are engaging in you give us a huge smile. You have an amazing and huge dimple in your right cheek and two small dimples on the left cheek.

We are so lucky to have you as part of our family and can’t wait to watch you grow and change as time goes on. We love you!

Love

Mom and Dad

(Photo’s courtesy of Stacy Chamberlin who took them today on your birthday)