7 months

Vivian is movin' and groovin'. Ok, not quite movin' but is gearing up for life on the go.  She sits up on her knees and hands and rocks back and forth.  I have the camera ready all the time waiting for that first move.  She loves watching other children crawl and walk and I know she wants to move just like them.  For now she just lays on her tummy and twirls around in circles like a little tornado. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving at the Ranch this year and Vivian wore her special turkey outfit. gobble gobble.

We pulled out her walker a few days ago to see if she had an interest in using it.  See for yourself

Vivian's half birthday!

My sweet little angel is 6 months old.  She's already half a year old!  Where did the time go?  We went to the doctor today and she is 27" long (90%) and 16 lb. 12oz. (65%) She is long and lean.  The doctor said she is progressing perfectly and to keep up the good work. (insert pat on the back)

She is really sitting up all by herself now.  She used to need a little more support but has it down.  She is starting to figure out how to push herself back up she leans too far forward. She is grabbing for anything and everything she can get her little hands on. She can also stand really well if she is holding onto something.

On Saturday we started her on real food.  We tried good ole fashioned green beans.  I think Viv would disagree with the good part.

We went to a pumpkin patch on Saturday with Grandma and Mimi.  Like usual, the moment you try to get the camera out she shuts down. We did however get a few good pictures.

I'm 5 months old!

 

My little peanut is 5 months old today.  She is wiggling and giggling constantly.  It's amazing how fast she is growing up and growing out.  She can only fit into 9 month pj's and is quickly moving into that direction with onesies.  I have a feeling the onsies are about to hit the road permanently for this little tyke. Separates seem to have a longer shelf life.

She started eating rice cereal this month.  She cried the first time I tried it but that was due to the fact I tried to feed her right before she needed her next bottle.  She had no time for new tricks, she just wanted that bottle.  I figured out now to feed her the cereal in between bottles...fewer tears this way.

Her two bottom teeth are officially in.  I can see her top teeth getting ready to push through so I'm sure any day now those will make an appearance.  We may skip baby food and go straight to a rare rib eye.

She also loves to talk.  She sings to me every morning on our way to school.  I have a feeling she will do this for many years to come.  I also love how much she loves school and how much they love her. I dropped her off in the early risers room and then went to her room to drop her bottles off.  As I'm walking out, I see one of the assistant directors holding Viv.  I popped my head in and asked if she was getting special treatment with a grin on my face.  The director told me that Viv is one of her favorites at the school and loves holding her.  It's good to know she is well loved when I'm not around.

4 months

Vivian hit her 4 month mark on Monday.  We had her check up on Tuesday and she is growing like a weed.  she is now 25 1/4" long and weighs 14lbs. 1oz.  She is starting to get heavy which means I need to up the weights at the gym. She loves standing, looking at books and of course, her light up star.  She can be in any kind of mood and you turn her star on and she becomes mesmerized. She kicks her little legs and waves her arms as if she was at a rock concert.

Her first tooth is coming in.  I can't believe she is already teething.  I thought I might have a few more months before her tooth came through.  I need her to stop growing so fast. I keep trying to take a picture of it but everytime I try to snap a shot she covers the tooth with her tongue.  I'll try to steal a shot this weekend.

She is starting to roll to her side and does this primarily in her crib.  She usually wakes up crying because she has scooted so close to the rails that she can't turn to the side and cries for me to help reposition her.  I don't mind doing this, just wish she wouldn't cry at 1am.

3 months and counting

I still can't believe Vivian is 3 months old.  Time is just flying by.  She able to support her head now, can reach and grab toys and loves to stick her tongue out when you do it first. She just makes me smile every time I look at her.  She has been sleeping at night for 10 hours for the past month.  This girl obviously needs her beauty sleep.

We went swimming three weeks ago.  She wasn't too sure of the water but was a good sport.

Viv and Mommy swimming

Daddy likes to get real close with the camera

I'm apparently a show toy

We went home that afternoon to cheer on the Rangers

Two weeks ago we went to the ranch to spend time with the whole family.  I think she enjoyed all the attention she was getting.

Daddy kissing Viv

Playing with Grandpa

Chatting with Great Papa

Then this past weekend we celebrated her 3 month birthday...so we took her to a bar. It was a restaurant but we went there because of their happy hour.  I would have taken pictures of that but I forgot my camera.

Here are her 3 month photos 

  

I take my rattle with me everywhere

I didn't quite notice the placement of her middle finger otherwise I would have taken more photos of her in her bumbo. At least she's content.

I reacted exactly as I thought I would the day I dropped Vivian off at daycare for the first time.  I bawled my eyes out.  We walked into her room and were greeted by the teacher.  I was already a little upset but after I pulled her out of her car seat, handed her to her teacher and she smiled at me, game over.  I just pulled my sunglasses down over my eyes and walked out of the room crying.  Spencer called me on the phone and I could barely talk because I was sobbing so hard.  I just felt like a bad mom for leaving my child with strangers.  I felt I was going back to work too soon but if I stayed home longer I think leaving her would have been even harder.  When I returned that afternoon she was all smiles.  This was the case for the rest of the week.  I think she really enjoys being around other children. 

Friday I got off work early and cleaned house because our back alley neighbors from my childhood were in town.  They moved away to Boston when I was 13 and now their oldest daughter is moving back to Dallas.  I thought it would be nice to reunite after 20 some years so they came over for dinner.  I put Vivian to bed at 8pm and when our guests left at 11pm I stayed up for 30 minutes because I figured she would wake up soon to eat.  She didn't make a sound so I eventually fell asleep.  I woke up startled at 4am thinking I had slept through Viv's cries during the night.  I went into her room and she was sound asleep.  She didn't wake up until 6am.  10 hours of sleep!?!?!  I couldn't believe it.  I thought it was a fluke.  Kissed my baby for letting me sleep and moved on with our day.

My cousin Jamie was in town from Colorado so went over to her in-laws house to finally meet her daughter Ainsley.  She was so precious.  She would just walk from person to person handing them things then taking them back and walking to someone else.  I think Viv was jealous of Ainsley's mobility. 

Viv pouting because she can't walk

Ainsley wanting my camera

Ainsley wanting Viv's bottle

Such a precious smile

Then Saturday afternoon Jenny stopped by after making her rounds around Dallas.  Vivian just loved Aunt Jenny.  They has a really long conversation about clothes, reality TV and dirty diapers...very fascinating.  We just wish Jenny could have stayed longer.

That night Viv fell asleep at 7pm.  I thought for sure she would wake up at midnight to feed  but once again she slept until 5am.  Another 10 hour night.  I like where this is going...keep it up VIV!

Sunday we went over to JT and Becca's and hung out with Viv's BFF Everett.  Everett was pretty enamored by Miss Vivian...she of course was more interested in the fan. 

Babies with their daddy's

I'm starting to teethe and it hurts

Last night we put her to sleep at 8pm and she slept until 6am.  Hopefully this sticks for awhile...at least until she starts teething.

2 Months

My baby girl is 2 months old.  I still can't believe it.  She is growing right before my eyes.  We took her to the doctor yesterday for her check up and she is now 23 inches long and 11 pounds 2 ounces.  She can no longer fit in 3 month old clothes because she is so dang long.  I also had to take out her infant support pads in her car seat.  Thanks Becky for the heads up on the weight limit for those things.  She seems to fit more comfortably now. 

She also got her first full round of shots.  I must say that was her least favorite part of the doctor visit.  She was all giggles, coos and smiles until the nurse brought out those dreadful needles.  You know they need their shots but you just cringe when your baby's face turns bright red and screams at the top of her lungs.  I just had to cradle her in my arms and sing to her to calm her down.  I feel bad for my mom who had to watch her the rest of the day because she was fussy and if you slightly grazed her leg she would scream.  Poor Baby.

Spencer and I went to her daycare later in the day and got her all squared away to start on Tuesday.  I know I'm going to cry when I drop her off.  I did fine leaving her with Grandma but leaving her with strangers is going to be hard.  Her teacher is very nice and her room is brightly decorated with tons of toys.  I know she will love it but will I?  I'll update you next week with how it all goes. 

Have a safe and fun 4th of July!

Meadow wanted to be in the photo

Got Milk?

I do.  I have lots of milk.  Milk in the fridge, milk in the freezer, milk in the deep freezer.  I have more milk than I care to think about.  I know many women would love to have an abundant supply of milk and I wish I appreciated the fact that I do.  Hooking my hooters up to a suck machine is not the most enjoyable task of my day.  I know it saves money, is good for the baby, is good for me, etc but I'm so ready for this little one to be eating solid foods and not my nipps.

I'm not a huge fan of pumping at work.  Having to get my gear prepared, head to a secluded, windowless room and pump my juices dry is just a hassle.  I know women do it all the time but I totally understand why they give up at 4 or 6 months...I will probably jump on that bandwagon. 

It's also difficult trying to make sure you drink enough, eat enough and sleep enough to get everything done in one day.  It was one thing if I was up all night before with her because I could cat nap during the day. Now I'm gone from the house from 7am-6pm and have a few hours to cook dinner, feed Viv, work out, try to clean something (Meadow's hair makes one messy house) and prepare lunches and bottles for the next day...and actually spend time with my baby.  Viv is sleeping pretty good but I'm still up for 2-3 hours during the night feeding, soothing or staring at the ceiling like a zombie. There is no time to catch up on sleep.

Miss Vivian in her crib last night.  She cracks me up.

Insomnia

It's amazing what I'm able to accomplish each day with such little sleep.  I actually think I'm more productive with less sleep (don't tell Spencer I said that). Since I'm up at 2am every morning and can't run the vacuum I'm usually surfing the net or browsing through old photos on the computer.  I came across my baby photos and started comparing them to Vivian.  Do you think there is a resemblance?

We do look pretty much alike.  I'm curious how much she will look like me as she gets older.  I have a feeling no matter what though, she is going to be a beautiful little girl.

Memorial Weekend

We survived our first road trip with the baby.  The drive to the ranch is usually a little over an hour and half so I made sure we timed her feeding just right so she would sleep in the car all the way there.  I don't think I could have planned it any better because we got caught in traffic and it took us 3 hours to get there.  She didn't wake up until I got out of the car to open the gate at the ranch.

Vivian had a great time hanging out with family. I can't wait to take her back out there.  We got a little side tracked and didn't get to introduce Viv to her cow Velma so we will make sure we do that next visit.  I was able to get some much needed rest as Sherrie watched her all night on Saturday.  Vivian did great too...she is such a good baby.

Not very excited about her bath but boy did she need it.

Resting with daddy

Not quite sure what Panda is doing here so we will move right along

She loves her grandpa

Getting her grub on with Grandma

Chillin with great grandpa

She sure is a daddy's girl

We then went to Lana's on Sunday and grilled.  Spencer wanted to baptize her in the water which I quickly put a stop to but I did let him dip her toes into the water.  She didn't care for it too much but I'm sure that will change as she gets older.

Unhappy face

Lana holding our little bundle

1 Month

Yesterday Spencer and I took Vivian to her 1 month check up.  I still can't believe she is a month old.  She was so good at the doctor.  She barely cried when they gave her her Hep B shot...I'm sure that won't happen next time but I have my fingers crossed.  She is now weighing in at 10 lbs 2 oz and is 21 3/4".  I can't believe how much she has grown.  I thought maybe she had gained too much weight so I checked my baby book and at my 1 month check up I weighed 10 lbs 4 oz.  She is the exact same length as me at that age.  It's nice to have all of my birth and growth information to compare to her.

She is perfect!

Miss Vivian has rocked my world in ways I never thought possible.  She has made me more sensitive, alert, protective and vulnerable than I thought I could be.  I know I'm her mom but she really is the perfect baby.  She eats vigorously every 4 to 5 hours, sleeps through everything and has a smile that can warm anyone's heart.

She had her two week checkup this morning and is weighing in at 8lbs 14oz.  I was concerned at first at how long she was sleeping in between feedings but knowing that she is gaining weight successfully will hopefully ease my mind.  The doctor said she is in the 50 percentile for her weight and height which is average.  She was well behaved at the doctors office.  The nurse practitioner said she was a perfect and beautiful baby.  She even showed her off to another nurse in the hallway when we went to weigh her.

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful baby and caring husband.  I must be doing something right.

When we got home she was so snug in her car seat I just left her there to continue sleeping.  She is so cute.

Look at that belly!

She has arrived

I can't believe she is finally here.  Many months of planning can't prepare you for the way you feel the moment they put your precious baby in your arms.  She is absolutely perfect in every way.  I can't begin to describe the way I feel when I simply look at her let alone hold her.

We went to the hospital on Thursday night at 9pm for our scheduled inducement.  They hooked me up to the machines and saw that I was already having contractions on my own.  I have a feeling she was going to make her debut whether we liked it or not.  I didn't feel any of the contractions...yet.  I was still only 2cm dilated so they inserted a pill to help soften my cervix.  Nurses came to check on me every hour or so to see what changes were being made.  At 2:30 in the morning one of the nurses began to roll me over and my water broke.  What a weird feeling that is.  I completely soaked the sheets.  30 minutes later I started to feel the contractions.  Props to all the women out there who bare through labor with no drugs but I can tell you it's not for me.  I was crying, wailing, grasping Spencer's hands so tight trying to fight through the pain.  The nurses then called my doc to get my permission to administer the epidural right away.  Right away means an hour and half later.  I started to feel ten times better by 5am.  The only thing that kept me focused during those few hours of contractions was the royal wedding.

By 10am I was dilated to a 5 and figured it wouldn't be until the evening that I would begin pushing.  I told Spencer to get out of the hospital for a bit and have lunch with his parents.  He got back just before 1pm and the nurse came in and checked on me and I had dilated to a 10.  I couldn't believe how quickly I jumped from a 5 to a 10 in just 3 hours.  20 minutes later I started pushing and 40 minutes after that she was here.

Vivian Grey Mitchell was born April 29th at 2:02pm weighing 8lbs and 10oz and was 21and 1/4" long.