Sunday, March 23, 2014

Artwork

As Lottie is growing and moving up through different classrooms at daycare, the artwork/crafts OVERFLOWS.  Every week I check her folder at daycare, there must be at least 5 to 10 projects she has completed. 

As you know (well, if you have a child in school or daycare) Dr. Seuss week was a couple of weeks ago.  Lottie has several of his books and I must say every time I read them, they make me laugh.  We skyped with Steve's parents a couple of weeks ago and Lottie had me read Green Eggs and Ham to her.  Steve's mom was like WTH is that book - no wonder Charlotte is so awkward.  Steve and I were like, "AWKWARD?????"  Ha......

Here are just a couple of the latest crafts Stella and Lottie have done at daycare..............




Stella - 10 Months

Weight: I'm guessing between 22 and 23 lbs

Clothes: 12 to 24 months.  It's all about the fit.  Her chucky thighs can totally fit into 24 month jeggings but the length is long.  Her tops are mostly 18 months.

Diapers: Size 4

Eating: This child is an eater.  Her most favorite thing to do is EAT!  She is now taking in anywhere from 28 to 30 oz each day.  A typical day when she's going to daycare is:

6:00 a.m. - 6 oz bottle
8:30 a.m. - Morning snack at daycare (cereal bar, biscuit, fruit, etc.)
10:00 a.m. - 6 oz bottle
11:30 a.m. - Lunch off the menu at daycare (varies from chicken/rice to pork chop, etc.)
2:00 p.m. - 6 oz bottle
5:30 p.m. - SNACKS (puffs, peas, fruit, etc.)
6:00 p.m. - 8 to 10 oz bottle

Snacks: Puffs, yogurt melts, grapes, peaches, Mum Mums, honestly any and everything I can get my hands on!  This kid would eat all day if you let her!

This past month she started eating more off the menu at school.  Typically, I circle what I think is okay for her to eat through the week.  But over the last couple of weeks, we have not had to circle anything because she eats EVERYTHING!  Well.......almost everything.  We avoid bread, deli meats and cheese but other than that, the kid will down absolutely anything you put in front of her.  She does NOT discriminate! 

Sleep: She hates to nap.  She usually has ONE nap every day.  ONE nap - can you freaking believe that?????????  She usually goes down around 11:00 a.m. and sleeps for about 30 minutes to an hour and a half.   That's it - she rages for the rest of the day!  Awesome!!!!  :) 

However, the kid is a rock star at night!  During the week, she goes down anywhere from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.  Since using the "cry it out" method at 6 months, she pretty much goes down without a fight.  She may cry for a minute or two, but that's it.  I think she is so darn worn out from her day and lack of sleep.  I guess if she's going to sleep for 12 hours straight on the weekend, I will totally put up w/ no naps during the day. 

Crying:  Stella....................................... She is still crying!!!!!!!!!!!!  OMG - it has to be from lack of sleep right?????????  Lottie was never like this.  She was a pretty happy go lucky kid all the time.  I guess this is why date nights are few and far between.  I just feel so darn guilty leaving Stella with anyone between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m.  Stella goes nuts!!!!!!!! I think she's also suffering from separation anxiety as well.  Holy cow - the girl even goes crazy now when she can't see her mama after Steve gets home from work.  It used to be the opposite.  When I was on maternity leave, nothing made her happier than seeing her daddy walk through the door at night.  Now........ the poor guy can't even pick her up most nights without her pitching a fit. She needs her mama! 

Milestones: This past month has been full of smiles, laughs and very loud little girly screams.  Probably the biggest milestone has been her scooting on one leg with the other leg stretched out.  Sounds pretty bizarre right?  Have you guys seen the RHONY this past week? Remember seeing Kristen's little 17 month old scoot along the floor?  Reminds me of Stella.  That is exactly what she does, just a little bit slower.  I have seriously considered putting her in PT.  Although, her pediatrician thinks I'm nuts.  He swears it is because she is a big baby, maybe a little lazy and stubborn.  I am trying to chill out about it and have visited multiple forums, blogs, etc. to ease my mind, but I guess when you have a child who hit every milestone and some, it is hard to relax and not have that constant worry.  At the end of the day, we just want our kids to be happy and healthy, so for that, I know I am extremely blessed.  On a side note, Lottie has nicknamed Stella - Scooter!  Ha!  Cracks me up!  She shouts, "Come here Scooter".

In other physical development news, she is starting to really pull up on furniture, toys, my legs, arms, etc.  She gets so close to standing on one leg!  Her upper body strength is getting stronger and stronger.  Poor girl - she carries all of her weight in her donkey and thighs!  :)

So............................. when Stella's not tired and crying (ha), she has the sweetest, most genuine smile on her.  Her belly laughs make me chuckle and my heart just smiles!  She loves music!  She also loves "peek a boo" and when I make silly faces.  She is pretty much over her exersaucer.  She would much rather be scooting around the floor and playing with her toys or Lottie.  She occasionally still hangs out in her jumper in the doorway, but prefers scooting along the floor or EATING! 

We are still at the stage where everything she touches goes immediately in her mouth.  I know that won't be changing for a very long time!!  Although, it has become a bit worrying.  While at the park this past weekend, she stuffed her face full of mulch and bark.  I literally put her down for two seconds while tending to Lottie and next thing you know, she was spitting up all over the place. 

It also doesn't help that Lottie leaves all of her "little" toys, jewelry, etc. all over the house.  I can't count how many times I have caught Stella trying to put stickers, rings, etc. in her mouth.  It's hard to baby proof when you've got a 3 year old in the house.  We've tried explaining to Lottie a thousand times that Stella can choke on those things, but it still doesn't stop her from leaving her stuff laying around the house.

We still have NO teeth. 

This may sound a little crazy, but I swear her first words have been Thank You.  She has mumbled mama and dada a couple of times, but not enough for me to believe she really means what she says.  However, we are constantly saying Thank You to her when we pass toys back and forth and every time, she mumbles Thank You.  So weird, but so cute!  She loves it, thinks we are playing a game.

Sibling Love: WOW, Stella loves her sister - well most of the time.  Her face lights up when Lottie enters the room or speaks to her. Her favorite is when her sister dances or bounces up and down in front of her.  She lets out the biggest belly laughs.  Lottie has become quite the little helper when it comes to Stella crying.  She has come up with something called "The Monkey Dance".  It is hilarious.  Anytime she hears Stella crying, she runs to her and does "her" dance.  Stella immediately stops crying and usually starts laughing.  It is AWESOME!  That Lottie really can be such a big helper when she wants to be! 

On the other hand....................Lottie is so selfish when it comes to toys!  I can't wrap my head around it because she shares and plays with kids all day every day at daycare.  Anytime Lottie sees Stella playing with something that is hers, she immediately jerks it out of Stella's hands.  At first Stella didn't seem to mind, but now she scoots as fast as possible with that toy in her hand and Lottie chases after her trying to get it.  So funny!

Lottie is still petting her head, trying to force a paci in her mouth, tugging on her hands and putting her feet all over her.  The tugging of the hands and arms has gotten better but now she's constantly got her feet on her!  I don't know how many times a day I have to tell Lottie to leave Stella alone!  I rarely leave the two of them alone in the room!  That Lottie can't be trusted!  Usually Stella is the one who's oohhhhinngggg and ahhhhhing over her sister. But this past month, Lottie has really taken an interest in Stella.  She's constantly telling me how much she loves playing with Stella.  Stella's eyes just light up when Lottie speaks to her, sings to her or dances in front of her.  Stella really is most happy when she's eating or playing with Lottie.

Likes: EATING, sucking on her hands, taking a bath, putting her warm jammies on at the end of the day, playing with sissy when she's not poking or prodding her, scooting around, throwing toys all over the house, being tickled, playing peek a boo, riding in shopping carts and having her hair brushed.

Dislikes: Being hungry and napping















Friday, March 21, 2014

2nd Annual Girl's Trip - Asheville

Gosh, I love these girls, we have been BFF for well - Jeanette since I was born (our parent's were friends and Ashley since I was 14).  They are honestly the best friends a girl could ask for.  We can go a few days, weeks, even a month or two without seeing one another and we automatically fall back into place.

Last year when I was preggo with Stella, we decided to take our first annual girl's trip to Asheville to spa it up before life became crazy once again.  It was great!  We visited the most ghetto "spa" in Asheville.  Oh my - the stories we have from that trip will be forever etched in our hearts and minds.  Let's just say that the "spa" was hit by a car driven by a lady who was entirely too old to have a license, the "spa" ladies made me have a leftover bath right after Jeanette (I swear they didn't clean it first), the pedicure was FREEZING because they ran too much water for our baths and after a really lovely dinner, some guy walked by and "crop dusted" us. 

So.................... after a great first trip, we decided that instead of exchanging Christmas presents this past year, we would take our $$$$$ and book another fun trip to Asheville. 

OMG - we had so much fun!!!  Between the off the beaten path vineyard, tarot card reading, tapas dinner, death metal bar and drag show, I would say our trip was once again a success!

Until next year......................................













Sunday, March 2, 2014

Lottie's Third Birthday - Princess Party

The last three years of my life have certainly been some of the most challenging, but most of all rewarding!  I wouldn't change or take back any minute or second of any time spent w/ this spunky, sweet little girl.  I hope to be the kind of mom to her that my mom was to me.  She is a great kid and I couldn't be more proud of her. 

This year, Lottie wanted a princess themed birthday party.  We spent a lot of time cutting, gluing and crafting with one another.  It was a lot of fun making her princess themed party come to life. 

Lottie is the biggest girly girl.  She loves wearing dresses, wearing my high heels, putting on jewels, getting her nails painted, dancing, singing and all things "GIRL".  It's so fun! 

Here's a look back at Lottie's big day.......... Photo overload!  BEWARE!



































Happy sweet, sweet birthday to my first born!  You will always hold such a special place in my heart!  Love you kid! 
 
xoxo