On a positive note...

Let me preface with apologizing for being such a "debbie-downer" lately.

My positive note today: Olivia is consistently getting from a sitting position onto "all-fours". She also almost got from all-fours back to a sitting position on her own. What a big girl!

I may be kicking myself in a few weeks for saying this is a positive note! :)

Something unrelated to Olivia: I hate when I watch movies after I have read the book and they are just not as good. It is so disappointing! I recently watched "Running with Scissors"...definately not as good as the book.

Question for my english major friend Delinda: Are movies in quotes or underlined? Maybe I should have paid more attention in school. :)

















She looks a little dazed...but still cute! :)

Nanny?

I am entertaining the idea of a nanny. Any thoughts? Anybody know any one looking for a part-time nanny gig?

Best fit??

When I dropped Olivia off at daycare yesterday, I sat down to have a conversation with Leah about her crying episode on Monday. I wanted to let her know the new strategies I was going to try to make Monday morenings a more pleasurable experience for all, as well as give her some suggestions about some things to help Olivia. She started the conversation by saying to Olivia, "Are you going to be a screamer today, or a good girl?" (Indicating of course that last time she was a bad girl.) Then she went on to tell me about how she has nicknamed Olivia "The Screamer". WAIT, It doesn't end there! THEN she told me about how her Aunt & Uncle were going to be coming by the house today so she made sure to tell them to come before 2 because that is when "The Screamer" was coming.

I was incredibly hurt by her comments and I was not confrontational enough to tell her about it at the time. I said I was frustrated and was trying to figure out what to do to make the time go better and proceeded to tell her my ideas. I have decided that Leah just isn't going to give me any sympathy in the situation. By the way, Olivia was very happy to see Leah and had a great day at daycare yesterday.

So I am feeling stuck now. I have been asking myself over and over, IS this the best fit for Olivia? Olivia was very happy yesterday and had a great day so I know she is getting good care, however, I don't know that I want her to be around someone who is going to call her "The Screamer". She has only had 2 bad days at day care, and both of those days just had bad chunks of time--meaning not the whole time was bad...I certainly don't think that's enough to earn such a horrible nickname. I really don't know what to do. I am working up the courage to talk to Leah to tell her that I don't appreciate Olivia being called that--without crying!! Of course, maybe if I cry it will make her feel bad...hmmmm...

Any suggestions about how I should handle the situation? I would really appreciate peoples comments--even if you don't have babies, or babies in daycare!! THANKS!

Silly sleepy babe

Last night I put Olivia down at 8:30 (a little later than usual because we were at church), she was so funny! She layed in her crib and talked & played (with no toys!) until 9:45. She hardly fussed at all...just hung out. Silly girl...

Mine is a world of Ups and Downs

Sometimes I feel like my days are a never ending ride of a roller coaster. Today Olivia had another rotten day at day care--2 hours of crying about taking a nap (supposedly??). I really like Leah, and I completely trust her, but I still can't help but question 2 hours of screaming. Olivia was sighing an hour after I picked her up, still, from crying so hard. I just can't help but wonder...

Ry watched her tonight while I had to work, however, and he did a great job. They had a blast together. It is such a blessing for me to be able to be able to leave her and trust Ry completely. He is so good with her. It is so fun to see them interact and have fun together.

So goes the world of ups and downs...At least we ended on an UP! :)

Reading List

For some blog reading fun, scroll down a bit and peruse my favorite daily reads...

The Next American Idol

I'm thinking of auditioning for the next American Idol.

I have had so much practice singing over the last 6 months, I really think that I have a good chance. Hopefully the judges wouldn't mind if my audition songs consisted of "You Are My Sunshine" or "I've Been Working on the Railroad".

bumpy gums

My baby has bumpy gums. Exciting because that means teeth are on the way. Scary because I know it may be fuss-city for a while! She was frantically clawing at her mouth this afternoon and was soothed by sucking on some ice chips in this fun little contraption I bought (you really can get everything you ever imagined, and more, at Target) combined with a shot of Tylenol. I'm sure it's only the beginning.

Any advice for soothing teeth??

Could it be??

I really hate to even write about this. I don't want to jinx myself! (I'm way too superstitious sometimes!)

Olivia and I have a morning routine! I feel so thankful. Each morning this week, with the exception of Monday because I work, we have had the same routine.
Up between 7-8 to eat
play and get ready for the day
Nurse & nap between 9-10 for about an hour to an hour and a half
Nurse & Lunch...then things change from there.

I am so thankful!

Thank you also to everyone for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers yesterday! I feel much better today about the situation and am just working on focusing on myself and Olivia. I don't need to worry about what others think--it's not about them!

Letting it go.

I really need some strength to let go my concerns about people's perceptions of Olivia. We had another little incident at church last night and I just can't get it off of my mind. Say a little prayer for me today if you would! Thanks! :)

A perfect day!

If there were such a thing, yesterday would be it! Olivia was up at 8, nap about 10 for an hour and a half, up for a few hours running errands etc. (even fun in the rain!), then 45 min. nap, fun all evening, and bed at 7:45. A great day!

Mom even got a lot done--like supper! And Olivia got a free flower in town just because her name is Olivia! :)

Check out this link for video of Delinda & Josh's wedding--they are the 2nd one down.
http://dvartistry.blogspot.com Awesome!

Started new class today-- Amazing Babies! So fun--there are 12 babies in the class. Olivia had a great time playing with all of her friends.

Please don't think she's a bad baby.

I have been struggling lately with people's perceptions of Olivia. She recently had a bad day at daycare, and she also stayed with Ryan's Grandma Ginny for an afternoon where she cried almost the whole time too. I, of course, can explain away these behaviors. (Possibly teething at daycare--fussy with me that day too, tylenol helped...she hasn't spent much time with GG so she isn't comfortable to be left with her for an afternoon) ETC!

But I really struggle with people thinking that she is a "bad" baby. Hear me out--SHE ISN'T! Yes, she prefers to be with her Mommy sometimes (Who doesn't?!), but she's perfectly content with others most of the time. It is hard not to take it personally when people comment about her behavior as if it is either MY fault or that she is a bad baby. I know I just need to take people's comments with a grain of salt because I know Olivia better than anyone, but it is still just emotionally draining some days!

I'm not a milk machine!

So I can't keep up with pumping as much as Olivia eats when she is away from me! Yesterday with Grammi and Grampy she ate 10 ounces! That is a ton for her! I have really dwindled my supply and can't possibly pump that much during the day. I feel like I need to start waking up in the middle of the night to pump. That's not going to be fun. Do I really need to do that? Any advice from any of you mom's out there who breastfeed??

Should I pump during the night?
Pump more during the day?
Give her some formula?

I DON'T KNOW!

Stinky @ day care

Olivia was a little bear at day care yesterday. Leah said she cried almost the whole time, hardly slept, and didn't really want to eat. What's up O?
It's hard to go to daycare to pick her up and have to hear all of those things.
It's hard not to take it personally.
It's hard not to feel like it is somehow my fault.
It's hard not to feel like people think your baby is flawed.
It's just hard.

Even though I know those things aren't true, and it's not like Leah was harsh in telling me about the day (she was just telling me how it went!), I still can't help but feel bad about it.

Hopefully Thursday will go better.

6 months!

I can hardly belive that Olivia is 6 months old. This past half a year has absolutely flown by. Ryan and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful little angel. She is such a joy and has filled our lives with tiny miracles every day.

At her 6 month check-up, she weighed 14 lb. 6 oz. and was 26 1/4" long. Little peanut! Dr. Berry says she's doing great!

A few more pics...

D & E
Surfer Dude
Lovin' the sand

Back home...

What a great trip! It is so good to be back home though. Miss O is glad to be back too-yesterday morning she was so excited to wake up and look around her bedroom! She's still on California time though! This morning she slept until 11 am! I had to leave for work around 12:15 so I hardly had time with O this morning!

Delinda's wedding was beautiful--perfectly planned with every little detail! Olivia was a hit at the wedding & reception with the photographers. I think they took more pictures of her than anything--except maybe Delinda!

Vacations sure are a lot more work with a baby. I told Ryan on the way home that I felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation. Luckily Olivia has been tired out so she has been sleeping a lot and giving Mommy some needed R & R as well.

Sunny San Diego!

Luckily Grammi brought her laptop with to CA so I can update my blog while we have some free time! We are relaxing in our hotel room this morning, the
day of Delinda's wedding, and taking some much needed R & R. Olivia really needed to take a nap this morning, so it worked out well to have some free time.

We are having a blast so far--we went to the zoo (O loved the flamingos! So we bought her a stuffed flamingo that we named Mingo), went to the Rehearsal dinner (see pics below), watched Ry surf yesterday (all of our bags-cameras included-got soaked...not so fun), went shopping, Ry & Rog went to the Padres' game last night, etc. We have been busy. We got some great pics of Olivia at the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night. Delinda picked a little park over looking the water on this great grassy knoll--Olivia loved sitting on the grass! Enjoy the pics!

My favorite Auntie Delinda!!!