This is our life now

Well I haven't been able to blog as frequently as I had originally planned.  Partly because miss Olivia mouse is awake a lot more these days so we have a lot more play time and I have a lot less computer time - not complaining there!  The other reason that I haven't had a lot of time to blog is we as a family have been busy busy.  Summers have always been packed with birthdays, parties and pool days but there is a whole new aspect to our "Sunday Fundays" now - kids!  On Saturday we went to Leigh and Donnie's to celebrate their daughter Sonnie's 1st birthday.  Rex and Angie were there with little Miles, Nicole with Scarlett and Mateo, and about 8 other couples with their kids.  Everywhere you looked there were kiddos playing with toys, eating goldfish (the crackers not the animals) and laughing.  Olivia was by far the youngest and there was a girl named Claire who was the oldest but most of the kids were crawling/toddling age.  Side note:  Claire is now Mike's best friend, they talked for quite a while and I think he knows her entire life story, all 7 years of it.  On Sunday, after spending some time at Pecan Street Festival, we went to Desiree and Dusty's for a family BBQ complete with a bouncy castle.  This time when you looked around you saw kids riding bikes and playing in the bouncy castle and families sitting around with the younger babies sharing stories and enjoying the beautiful day.  This weekend Mike and I had the "this is our life now" moment.  Instead of movies, late nights out and fancy dinners, our weekends are full of children's birthday parties and family BBQs and we wouldn't change a single thing.  Even surrounded by the chaos of children, I felt at peace.

The last week in pictures . . .

Last week Mom took me to her office to meet her co-workers.  A couple of the guys wanted to hold me (who wouldn't??) and everyone thought I was SO cute!  I was really good until right before we left and I needed a new diaper stat so we checked out the Wellness Room that the new Microsoft office has.

Here is me with my bear.  One of the last pictures that Mom took of me before the newborn napper was retired.

Passed out after breakfast.  Thanks Mom for leaving the burp cloth on my head!

Play time with Mommy.  Just look at that cute face.

Olivia's first big girl nap without the newborn napper *tear*

Awww, don't I look so cute propped up in my Boppy?  I sure do but want to know a secret?  I HATE being propped up in my Boppy and started crying 4 seconds after this picture was taken.

And I'm out.

Granny came to stay one night last week and the next morning we had some excellent snuggle time.

Really Mommy, is it necessary that you take a picture of every outfit you put me in?!

Me and my Daddy hanging out at Sonnie's birthday party.

Scored some more snuggle time.

Mommy giving me some milk at the BBQ.  Please notice that I've moved on to big girl bottles now.

Da Bears!!

So because it was 10 degrees cooler outside this morning, Mommy said I HAD to have socks on . . .

 . . . and insisted on bundling me up for our morning walk.  You would think we were going to the arctic or something!

Daddy and I successfully used the Jeep carrier today while Daddy did some stuff in the kitchen.  I was a big help until I passed out.

Retiring "Newborn"

Olivia mouse has already reached retirement age!  She has retired from "newborn" and is now entering the "infant" phase of her life.  At least this transition doesn't require a 401K.  I came to the sad realization that my sweet Olivia is no longer a newborn this weekend when I tried to put my favorite newborn outfit on her for a birthday party and it didn't even come close to fitting.  That's not the first outfit that has been too small either, we have already packed up quite a few onesies as well.  Then today when she was napping in the "newborn napper" part of her pack 'n play, I looked at her all squished up in there an realized that it's probably time to take it off.  Our little girl is growing up so fast and gets cuter, funnier, and more expressive every day.  I swear that today she looked at me and I could see in her eyes that she recognized me as her Mommy aka "the lady with the milk" and smiled.  My heart melted.

Olivia and I went to her 1 month appointment with Dr. Thorstad yesterday.  Notice the lack of Daddy presence in that sentence.  Mike had to work yesterday morning leaving me to brave the pediatrician's office alone this time and for an appointment that included a shot at that!  Olivia did extremely well and barely fussed when I undressed her for the big weigh in.  Drum roll please . . . 10lbs 7oz!  Our little piggy mouse is quite an eater as the Dr. put it.  She was 21.25in long which put her in the 50th percentile for height, 50% for head circumference, and 80% for weight.  Her joints, hearing, and vision are all great and when Dr. Thorstad put her on her tummy, Olivia picked up her head and showed her mighty strength.  Admittedly, we haven't been doing enough tummy time because she hates it so much but the Dr. said you can do anything for a minute and she'll be just fine even if she isn't enjoying it. With that in mind, we have diligently done 3 tummy times today and it's not even noon yet.  They save the shot for the end so you get to go home with an upset child I guess, but Olivia was a champ!  She looked at me like "what the heck just happened?!" cried (wailed) for about 7 seconds until I had her snuggled in my arms again and then she forgot all about it.  We were sent on our merry way with a Daffy Duck band aide and the satisfaction of knowing that neither of us shed a tear this time. 

I'm way behind on blogging so we have lots of pictures this time . . .

Look how clever I am holding my own paci!

That's me and my buddy Miles.  We were at Miles's house for a football party.  The Cowgirls lost haha!

Me and Aunt Lynn.  I love her . . . I love anyone who feeds me!

 

Look how smart I am holding on to my rings all by myself.

Aunt Tonya and my friend Hayden came to visit and Hayden sure loved my swing.

Here's Hayden giving me sweet kisses.  I don't like boys yet so I'm not thrilled.

Awwwww, it's Daddy/Olivia snuggle time.

I've got my bear, my paci, and my Daddy.  Life is good!

Mommy took this picture because I'm SO pretty.  I'm lying on the soft blanket that my brother Cooper gave to me.  You can't see it but it has my name on it, Olivia Helen.

Now if you'll remember, this is the pretty outfit that I unceremoniously barfed on the first time I wore it.  This time I was more respectful aka I hadn't just had lunch.

Here I am at Haylie's birthday party at Emma Long park.  Hello!  Sun in my face!

 

Just hanging out with Granny.  I had just eaten and she was asking me nicely to burp because she doesn't like to pat me on my back too hard.

 

Me and my Mommy getting ready to watch the Horns play.

Must. Stay. Awake. For. Game . . .

 . . . nope.

Good morning!  This is my sleepy face.

Having an in depth conversation with the window at Granny and Paw Paw's house.

Wrapped up like a glow worm at Katy's baby shower.  It was freezing in the restaurant but I was snuggled up with Aunt Amee.

Here I am chillin on my blanket watching Mommy "make the milk".  She only puts this blue onesie on me at home so as not to confuse the little old ladies at Walgreens who ask if I'm a boy even though I'm sitting in my BRIGHT PINK car seat.

Mommy, these pants are too big . . .

 . . . so this is what I wore to the Dr. instead.

 I sat in my bouncy for a whole 5 minutes yesterday.  I'm not strapped in but am being closely monitored.

Here I am taking my morning nap being closely guarded by Zoe.

Pump, pump, pump it up!

We have had a great week.  Mike is back to working his regular schedule so little Olivia mouse and I have
been figuring out our routine at home.  Olivia and I appreciate our time with him so much more now and it's so sweet to see him bonding with his daughter after a long day at work, bath time is their favorite.  When his schedule permits, he takes a feeding at night so that I can get a few consecutive hours of sleep which has definitely helped me maintain my sanity.  Our biggest transition this week has been around feeding.  Olivia and I mutually decided that nursing was not working out for us which was a heartbreaking choice for me to make.  It wasn't fun anymore - let's be honest, it was never fun.  Instead of a beautiful bonding experience between mother and daughter, nursing was a frustrating and stressful part of our day that usually left at least one of us in tears.  I still think that we were not give the support in the hospital to properly establish the connection that is so important for a new Mom and baby, but I can't and won't dwell on that.  Because she is no longer getting breast milk directly from the source, the electronic breast pump that I got as a shower gift from my mother and sister in law has become my best friend.  We are bosom buddies if you will and spend quality time together at least 6 times a day.  Olivia mouse is eating up to 5oz a feeding now so I have to be diligent in order to keep up.  When you see me on Facebook at crazy hours of the night, you can bet that I'm pumping.  I've gotten quite good at typing just with my right hand.  We successfully haven't had to give her a formula bottle in well over a week, a huge victory for us!  Just because the milk buffet is closed doesn't mean that you can't get milk to order and believe me, she ORDERS us to give her milk. The atmosphere at home is noticeably calmer which makes being a Mommy a lot less intimidating.  At the end of the day, we have a healthy and happy baby which is all we could ever ask for. 

Take a look at what mouse has been up to this week . . .

In my swing that the Silhavy family passed on to us.  I'm not quite sure about this thing yet.  By that she means that she won't stay in it for more than about 4 minutes.

Now my play mat on the other hand, this I like.  I spend a lot of time talking to myself in the mirror.

 

Dear Lord, please bless this milk for the nourishment of my body.  Amen.

Olivia tolerates her bouncy seat more than her swing, she stayed in it long enough for me to pump ONCE.  It's her fuzzy sister Machaya who really likes it.

And  . . . I'm out.  Several baths later, I am still finding glitter on her from this super cute onesie.

Mommy insists on "Tummy Time" in the mornings.  I just don't get it yet.

My first appearance at Sam's Boat.  Everyone thinks I'm sooooooo cute.  Duh!

We went to the grand opening of Bryan's Corner Store at The Domain.  My ride is parked next to my buddy Miles's.

Olivia's first photo shoot

One of Mike's long time friends, Jenna, is an amazing photographer and came to the house to take newborn pictures of little Olivia mouse.  Olivia's a little stubborn (she might get that from her Mom) and refused to go to sleep until 5 minutes before Jenna left.  Sleeping babies might make for very cute squishy baby pictures but awake babies make for smiley baby pictures!  We got the best of both worlds.  The photo shoot was not without incident though.  Our sweet little mouse took it upon herself to pee all over her Mommy for the first time although I'm sure it won't be the last.  There was also a little mishap on a blanket, but we won't go into details there.  You can't really blame her though, that's what happens when you take the diaper off a little baby girl just to try and get a cute picture.  Jenna emailed us these pictures today and is sending us the rest on a CD . . . I can't wait!!

Our first official family portrait.  Our little Olivia mouse has been smiling at us since before we left the hospital and now we have it on film.

Mike said today that he doesn't know if he could hold her like this anymore, our piggy mouse is a growing girl!

I'm looking at my Mommy with love in my eyes.

I have to say that this is my favorite.

Our wedding rings on Olivia's little toes.

Our funny little mouse has her hands clasped together a lot.

My two favorite people.

Mommy is ALWAYS kissing me . . .

but that's OK because I love her and she loves me.