Party Animal

1:00 - 3:00 in the afternoon is a popular time for birthday parties. It also happens to be the same time Grace naps every day. We've gone to quite a few birthday parties over the past 2 months and Grace does really well with missing her nap. She's never been cranky during a party and we've only had a little meltdown when it was time to leave once. She often sleeps on the way home but is still in pretty good spirits for the rest of the day. Even bedtime goes smoothly as usual. I certainly don't want her to give up her nap any time soon, but I'm glad we can skip it occasionally and not have any ill effects!

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tune

Don't judge me on this one. I didn't purposely play this song for Grace. We were listening to the radio and it came on. She asked what it was called (as she does for most songs) and I said Gangnam Style.
"I love Grandma Style!" She has been asking to hear it ever since.

Visit the Tompkins Family for another Tuesday Tune (and probably a better song!).

Sleep

Our little Anna is a great sleeper - at night. During the day? Not so much. But, we've been slowly making some progress this past week.
The girl does not like to sleep during the day, unless it's on me. This would be fine if it was just me and her home, but I can't just hang out on the couch for hours with a 2 year old in the house. There were days when Grace was small that I would just relax and enjoy her sleeping soundly on my chest for hours on end. I loved it, and I do the same with Anna when I have the chance. The challenge is not getting her to fall asleep, but getting her to stay asleep. As soon as I lay her down she wakes up. She can be in a dead sleep and still wake up within minutes of me putting her down. It doesn't matter if I put her in the bassinet, playpen, swing, our bed, etc. The funny thing is, we lay her in her bassinet at night and she sleeps for 6-8 hours!
So, last week in a desperate attempt to get her to nap, I swaddled her. I haven't swaddled her since she was a few days old because she always fought it and hated it. Twice she slept for over 2 hours! Today she had a short 30 minute nap in the morning, and a 2+ hour nap this afternoon, both while swaddled. I'm very hopeful that we will have more daytime naps in our future!

Wordless Wednesday

Friday Night Leftovers

• It's been several weeks that Anna has not been sleeping during the day. She is usually awake from 6am - 8pm with a couple 10-20 minute catnaps throughout the day. She sleeps great at night, likely because she is exhausted from being up all day. At least she's happy (for the most part)!
• I'm checking out a few books for ideas on how to get Anna to nap. This is all new to us because Grace just fell into a nap & night sleep routine so easily and quickly. 
• I took the girls to a puppet show at the library on Tuesday. Grace wasn't very fond of the first puppet that read a story before the show. It was a witch and the girl used a really high pitched, screamy voice. She liked the show, though. Anna surprised me and slept through it. 
• Wee Bears started back up this week. Grace was excited to go back and always has fun there. 
• I'm hoping to get Grace in a Kindermusik program; I think she'd really like it. Unfortunately, the instructor told me there might not be enough interest. There is only one other child registered and they won't do the class unless there is at least 4 kids. Hopefully more people sign up!
• Find more leftovers here!

Wordless Wednesday (The Black Eye Edition)

Day 1

Day 2

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Tuesday Tune

Grace and Auntie Murr danced to this song recently and Grace loved it. We listen to it often now.
Listen to another Tuesday Tune over at The Tompkins Family!

Chatting with Gracie

"That was a close one!" - She says this a lot lately. Any time she slips, trips, or almost falls.

"I love Anna. I give Anna kiss!"

"I have a little snore" - Her way of saying she'll have a little snooze.

"I crash on my sled! I alright"

"I got something for you!" - This is one of her favorite tricks that she learned from Uncle Johnny. She'll hold up her closed fist and laugh when you see there's nothing in it. She thinks it's quite funny. When she sees Anna with her fist clenched she'll say "Mommy, Anna got something for you!" and giggle. It's pretty cute.

Me: "Stop whining and stop yelling."
Grace: "Let's dance?"

The other day I was listening to Grace over the monitor while she was 'napping' and this is some of what I heard:
"Go dog go! Vewy hungwy caterpillar. He still hungwy! You like blankie Gary? (her stuffed gorilla). You like this stinky old blanket? I cover your toesies. You nice and cozy, Gary? Have a nap! Climb! Climb! Your turn, Gary! My turn!" Then she started flicking the doorstop and said "Whoa, that's loud! You hear dat noise? You try, Bear?" Then she started knocking on the door. "Mommy! Mommy! Carmen! Anna!"

Two Months!

Time seems to be flying by even faster the second time around! What's new with Anna over the past month:

• She started smiling! Grace gets smiles from her so easily; all she has to do is look at her or say "Hi Anna!" and Anna is all smiles. 
• She's more content after eating. We had been supplementing with formula since she was a few days old but when we went to formula full time, we found she was gassy and uncomfortable too often. At our doctor's suggestion we tried probiotic drops. What a difference! I was amazed. We also switched to a lower iron formula. We've seen a huge improvement and she is much happier!
• Anna sleeps great at night but hardly sleeps at all during the day. She is the queen of the 10 minute nap. This is frustrating at times because I feel guilty that I can't give Grace very much one on one time. But, she does give us a 6-7 hour stretch of sleep at night so I guess we can't complain too much.
• She sleeps great in the bassinet at night but will not sleep there during the day. This remains a mystery.  
• She likes to be held. A lot. 
• She loves being in the Beco now. Almost too much. If she naps at all during the day, it's usually in the Beco. 
• She's enjoying tummy time more since we started the probiotics and her tummy issues have gone away. 
• She is trying so hard to suck her thumb and/or fingers. I'm actually hoping she figures it out soon because she refuses to take a soother (we've tried several different types) and the sooner she can self-soothe, the better! 
• She's already outgrowing some of her 0-3 month clothes and is moving into size 2 diapers.

Tuesday Tune

Visit the Tompkins Family for another Tuesday Tune!

Christmas 2012

We had a lovely first Christmas as a family of four, and first in our own house! We got together with my side of the family on the 23rd to read our Name Poems and exchange gifts. Name Poems are one of my favorite parts of Christmas, although we weren't as enthusiastic about them when Mom first proposed the idea when we were kids. We all draw names and write a poem about the person. There have been some great poems over the years; some funny, some touching, all very sweet and thoughtful. We had a great night hanging out and munching on some good food.

Brian had to work on Christmas Eve but was home early in the afternoon. Grace and I went to the Christmas Eve service that Zilla does at work. Grace was so well behaved and the residents were happy to see her.

Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning with just the four of us was really nice. We opened our gifts from Zilla on Christmas Eve - new jammies for everyone; matching sleepers for the girls. (We tried to get a picture of the 4 of us but it didn't work out so well). We put out cookies and milk for Santa, and a carrot for Rudolph. In the morning Grace was much more interested in seeing the partially eaten carrot than the presents! She loved opening presents and was concerned about Anna getting her presents too. Grace would open them and lay them on Anna while she was in the swing. "Look, Anna! Dis for you!" We had a nice breakfast and went to Zilla and Grampers' for a dinner (which was soo good).

We spent Boxing Day at Murr's. We all ate way too much food! It was delicious. It was a nice, relaxing day.

Christmas Eve

Putting out cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph

'Helping' Anna open presents

Grace made sure Anna checked out her new stuff

Grace showing Anna her new cars

Having a spot of tea using her tea set from Memé & Pepé

Excited about the harmonica!

Tired but happy. Cozy in her new blanket from Aunt Mary-Anne

Anna's First Christmas

Gracie and Susie

New shirts from Uncle Johnny

Happy New Year!

Grace rang in the new year with her first black eye. She was outside with Brian and slipped while she was playing underneath her slide and hit her face on the frame. Poor thing, but she didn't cry long! Tough little cookie.