Monday's Child

37 Weeks!

 

 Loving that eyebrow!

The post is late, I know, and I haven't updated in a while. Apologies. We were busy leaving on a jet plane. Massively fun update to come (once I have a second to organize my life) full of pictures regarding Violet's first plane ride and our time in Texas. Until then, enjoy Violet's 37 weeks!

Update from the Highchair

So Violet tried peas yesterday, to much greater success than the peaches. It was our turn to eat with the neighbors, and sweet K had fixed Violet her own tray full of bread pieces and peas. (Violet is not really that short, by the way, she was just flirting across the table by pretending to peek over the tray.) And the verdict is... she likes peas! They fit nicely in her hand, were fun to smush when she banged on the tray, and apparently weren't too offensive taste-wise. So score one for us. But learning to eat finger food also means that Violet is learning to get food all over herself. So while it may be less work during dinner since she can get her own food in her mouth, the aftermath means bathtime is about to become a nightly ritual. Score one for the kid.

Violet Started the Fire

Today was freezing cold, miserably wet, and the kind of all-around day that makes you want to stay nice and snug inside. Keep this small fact in mind as I tell you the rest of this story.

Have you ever wondered what a daycare does in case of a fire? I did, and asked during the first few days of Violet's enrollment. The big kids get lined up and walked outside, of course. But the babies? Well, all the cribs have wheels. In case of a fire, or a fire drill, the babies get plopped two to a crib and simply rolled outside. Smart, huh?

Well, today a child pulled the fire alarm.

On the other side of the wall in Violet's room, the babies were stripped to their diapers so they could enjoy a birthday party treat of cupcakes with colorful icing. They had to be thrown in a crib and taken outside, in the cold, in the wet, with whatever blankets the harried staff managed to grab on their rush out of the building. On Violet's side of the wall, things were no less stressed (as you can imagine). A wailing alarm overhead, babies screaming, Violet refusing to lay down in her crib but trying to sit up as they pushed her outside. Apparently it took a good 30 minutes after they got back inside before the hysterical, shaking babies could calm down. Poor things. Dra-ma.

Although it's nice to know all the preparation and practice actually work in case there is ever a real emergency.

Violet is all fired up in her new red-hot pajamas! (See what I did there? So punny!)

Musical Beds

Remember those allergies I thought Violet had? Well, I'm revising my hypothesis - I think it's a cold. The poor girl (and her poor parents) couldn't get any sleep last night. Violet went to bed just fine at 8:30. But by 10:30, just as we were nodding off, the tell-tale coughing came rattling through the baby monitor.

So we brought her downstairs and put her in the pack-n-play next to our bed. The coughing continued. We tried the car seat. Then Matt had to get up and move the car seat so he could have a better view of the babe. Then I held her. Then she went back in the pack-n-play so I could change my shirt because it was soaked in her drool. More coughing. We tried the car seat again. I'm not sure when anyone fell asleep, but daycare's only comment today was "she had a rough day" (understatement!) and I hit a wall around 2 p.m.

It didn't help that the weather was so cold and dreary that all I wanted was my pj's, a cup of hot chocolate and a big, fluffy blanket. Of which I got none. I settled for cooking chicken tortilla soup and beer bread for the usual supper crowd and received good reviews from all. (Although I'm starting to wonder... the praise tends to be resounding... a bit too good, if you catch my drift. K once made the comment that I tend to not have a lot of confidence in the kitchen (completely true) so everyone should make sure to let me know when I've done a good job, but I wonder if everyone is now on a secret mission to lavish praise one me. If so... I'll take it!)

Oh, and Violet had some canned peaches today, at the urging of my mommy mentors (my neighbors). We are moving the kid on to finger food! First Cheerios, now peaches, and soon the rest of the world! Alas, Violet didn't appear to love the fruit. She's had the baby food version, but I think the texture of the real thing bothered her. She would eagerly pick up a piece from the tray, nonchalantly plop it in her mouth, and immediately start crying. Oh well. We'll try something else tomorrow.

The kids come back to school tomorrow, but at least the week will be halfway done. Here's hoping my Baby Love starts feeling better. We have a big weekend planned and I don't want her to miss a thing (not to mention my life will be that much more stressed and miserable if she's not happy).

Holding the bottle by herself like a big girl!

Monday's Child

36 Weeks

Well, we are just now recovering from a non-stop weekend of celebration. Fortunately, today was a furlough day (hey, at least we didn't have to deal with the post-sugar apocalypse!) and tomorrow is a teacher work day, so I can ease back into things. Today we took Violet to the outlet mall so she could spend the money Mimi sent her for some new clothes. We picked out some really cute pj's since Violet's toes are trying to push out the ones she has. Thanks, Mimi! In other news, this marks one of the first times I've had to buy clothes for Violet since we are still plowing through the bags and bags of things my pal Heather gave us. I hardly knew what to do with myself! Everything was so cute, it was definitely overload. In the end I just grabbed some stuff and paid for it before I got too overwhelmed with choices.

Violet also learned how to finally get that elusive Cheerio into her mouth. Until now, she's done a great job picking them up and then flinging them around the room. But now she can plop them into her mouth like a pro. Now we have to work on teaching her to eat one at a time... Still, this means we're on to finger food - whoo hoo! Ah, soon she'll be feeding herself entire meals! And not a moment too soon, since rumor has it my Friend will be moving over the half-wall into the "big kids" side of the infant room at daycare. There she will transition to table food and give up the bottle in favor of the sippy (she actually did great drinking her formula out of the sippy cup tonight at dinner).

These pictures should give you a good idea of what our day looked like. I think Violet has allergies. Her entire face just dripped today. Her nose ran, her eyes leaked, the drool faucet was dripping overtime. I'm hoping it clears up soon.

 Sporting the unbuttoned jumpsuit Elvis look, thank-you-very-much.

Trick Or Treat!

Violet's First Halloween (Continued)!

 After a chili dinner with the neighbors (and a dozen other people) Sunday evening, we were back in costume and almost ready to hit the Halloween trail to get some candy! 

 Mmm, a tasty glowstick wand, fit for a princess and even better than candy!

 I want candy! (Dum dum dum, dumdum.) I want candy!

 Heading out for our first trick or treat stop. Violet collected a grand total of six pieces of candy before passing out cold in the stroller.

 Fortunately she caught her second wind just as we turned around to head home.

Boo!

Violet's First Halloween!

Saturday night we headed next door to the "adults only" Halloween costume party. However, I considered Violet an accessory to my outfit, so she got to come too. Here we are, 1/3 of the Musketeers, a Damsel in Distress, and a Pretty Pretty Princess. What this picture doesn't show is the way Violet flipped out after we first entered the party (the house was very dark and spooky, and I think seeing one of the guests dressed as Slash put her over the edge). However, she settled down and started enjoying herself after awhile.

The fourth Musketeer!

Once Violet went to the babysitter's, the real party got underway, complete with silly games (find the candy corn on the golf course, anyone?) and a costume contest. I've never really been to a Halloween costume party before, at least not one as elaborate as this one (have I mentioned my lack of experience when it comes to this holiday?) so I had a blast.

 The "Best Costume" winners - All for One and One for All! (Costumes handmade courtesy of my lovely and talented neighbor (and party hostess) K.)

 And the lovely ladies.

Now then, I guess it's time to start thinking of next year's costume... I'm thinking something that can incorporate wearing pj's... this holiday is exhausting!