Florida Part 2, Papa cuddles, sandy beaches and cousin time! *archive

A week of vacation is just enough time to start to feel relaxed and truly begin to unwind. Two weeks sounds like heaven... We didn't get two weeks. BUT we made the best of what we had. We decided ahead of time that we were going to do a lot of pool lounging, napping, loving and laughing. Daddy was able to squeeze in a visit to a couple of friends up towards Orlando (we stay outside of West Palm Beach which is a couple hours South).

Olivia and her Papa. I love this photo so very much.

Olivia and Mim's sharing precious smiles.

Mommy's attempt at fancy 3 month photos was almost spoiled by the Torrential Rains outside. 

Cousin time!!

We were not sure how Olivia would do her first time in a stroller, babywearing issues over here, but when we looked down she was sleeping!

These two slept amazing, where ever they landed. Shane and his brilliant double foot rest look pretty comfy to me right now!

Olivia and her Great Aunt Audrey.

Another plane ride, this one taking us back home.

I am pretty sure I speak for all of us when I say we are counting the days until we come back for another amazing visit. I can not wait to see Olivia carefully stepping on the sandy beaches while laughing at big brother Shane jumping the cracking waves!

Florida Part 1: Plane rides and Mimi meets! *archive

Over the Summer we planned on taking a trip down South to visit my parents who had not yet been able to meet Olivia. Shane is amazing on a plane and feels at home very quickly. This was Daddy's 2nd trip out to Florida and 4th time on a plane and I think he was feeling less anxious, especially with such a fun distraction as our sweet Baby O. And speaking of the baby, she was amazing! Slept practically the entire time. Daddy was a gem and gladly took on diaper duty, where apparently there is a tiny changing table somewhere inside the tiny airplane bathrooms! One of the Flight Attendants had a little boy Olivia's age and it was her first day back at work and she just fawned over Olivia!!

*warning picture heavy post.

We generally get to the airport a couple hours early, but this time our plane was delayed an additional 2 hours :( So there was a lot of this...

And this....

And then there was a tour of the various shops. One was a particular favorite.

If only Shane was allowed to live everyday this way.

This was the wonderfully FA who Olivia was kind enough to give her sweet cuddles for a Mommy recharge.

After a long delay landing us in around 2am EST Mimi finally gets to meet her first granddaughter.

They are both so very exhausted! Let's get home and go to bed!

We of course came baring gifts from a few N. CA local wineries, Coffee, Candy and Salami.

I don't know what it is. When I lived here, for years I couldn't stand DD and I didn't get the fuss. But know that I am older and it isn't around the corner, I totally get it. Every day that I am in town ;)

Testing the (salt) waters.

Cousin time!!

All a Mama needs, a little sun and watching her babies having a great time.

O's Three Month Update *archive

3 Month Stats

Weight: 9lbs 5oz (8%)

Length: 23.25 inches (85%)

Head Circum: 

Diapers: Size 1

Clothing Size: 0-3 Months

A little comparison fun!

Very first playdate. Your buddy Trevor was born 6 weeks after you.

Trying out our sunglasses for your first trip to Florida.

Getting ready for your first time at the beach!

We didn't attempt going in the water, but brother sure did.

Your brother loves you so incredibly much. I have lost count how many times he begs to hold you in a day.

Weekend recap

This weekend was exactly what I needed. I have been fighting a cold for weeks now and it finally got me good on Friday. But after shots of emergenC and vinegar (swear it helped) I was feeling worlds better in Saturday. Which was just in time for my Office's Christmas Party at Silverado Cooking School. Nick was able to take the whole day off and we had a lazy morning that included going to a late breakfast and taking the kids to the pets store so the oldest could spend his birthday money on a hermit crab. Which by the way he is obsessed with!! 

Later that evening us grown-ups headed up to Napa while my sister was awesome enough to watch over the babes. We learned how to make a gorgeous salad which included goat cheese and persimmons, carrot ginger soup (I could have eaten bowls of it!), boeuf bourguignon over homemade egg noodles and a trio of sorbet (green apple, pear and lemon). It was a beautiful meal with great company. 

The weather has been below freezing here, and terrible it seems for most everyone we know in the country. So it was really nice to have a Sunday filled with a warm oven and Holiday goodies!  Shane was flipping through the December issue of my Happy Mommy Box magazine that had just come in and was begging to make the recipe for peppermint fudge that was featured. So simple and easy to put together while a certain someone was napping ;) 

We also put together and decorated some gingerbread houses I picked up. Unfortunately Shane was getting a little excited adding decor to the roof that it eventually caved in >:/ poor guy handled it really well after the initial shock wore off. 

We ended the weekend rolling out a few gingerbread snowmen and did a simple outline with icing. 

Just an all around refreshing weekend. 

Ah ha!

There is no better feeling than the confidence in knowing what you child needs. Those cries in the early weeks, maybe even months, when you are unsure or try a few things and pray something works all lead up to that magical moment when it all clicks. Your infant fusses, you picked her up and with a pat on the back out pops a burp. Your little one fusses and you both nestle in for a nursing session and they lull to sleep in your arms. 

There won't be many moments that you won't have to think or second guess you will just know. 

::high five:: 

But this one, this moment, you got in the bag! 

She speaks!!!

She speaks... Sort of. All day long it's been "yayayayaya" so much so I just assumed she had been doing this for Daddy while I was at work until I brought it up to him and he said no. 

It's such a rush watching her discover the world. I wonder what her first actual world will be? I bet it just might be an animal or the sound one makes. Quack, quack!