We Heart the Park :)

Earlier this week we had a brief window of wonderful weather! The second the temperature was just high enough that I felt comfortable taking Zoey outside, we got in the car and headed for our favorite park! I love going to the park just the four of us. It makes my heart so happy to see Lauren having so much fun. It has been a long winter cooped up inside, and this girl was so excited to run and climb and swing! Her little adventurous heart just needs to get out and run and be free sometimes :) And this was officially Zoey's very first outing in public. Having babies in the fall, I am super protective of them all winter long. But anyway, Zoey was so excited to be outside in the Baby Bjorn carrier with Mommy, just taking it all in :) 

4 Months Old

Dear Zoey,

Hello, my love! Another month has flown by and you are now four months old. I love things about every baby stage, but I have to say I LOVE the stage you're in right now. You are so loving, sweet, and happy! Your beautiful little personality is already so strong. You have very clear likes and dislikes and favorite things. You're so happy just to talk to me or play with your toes. And I can still soak up hours and hours of precious Zoey cuddles. Love. This. Stage!

Sleeping: I want to do some kind of celebratory dance! You sleep, on average, 10-12 hours every night. Occasionally you wake up once during the night for a bottle and cuddles, but that's the exception. And then you're right back to sleep. I think we're going to start transitioning you out of the sleeper you've been in and probably into bed with me and Daddy soon. You sleep great in it, but you're growing so quickly and I know the day is fast approaching that you'll have outgrown it.

Playing: You love to play! You LOVE toys! You love playing in your little baby exersaucer and you really do play with the toys on it. You also love to play on your baby play mat with the toys that go overhead. Your blue elephant is still #1 though! I love how your whole face lights up when you see it. It goes with us everywhere because goodness does it make you happy.

Learning and Growing: You amaze me, little bug! You're ALMOST sitting up on your own. You can do it if you're just holding on to my finger with one hand. If I let go you stay upright for a few seconds before tipping over in any direction. You've been rolling over for awhile now, and don't quite hate tummy time as much as you used to. You LOVE to talk and we can just sit there and talk to each other forever. As far as growing, you have a doctor appointment next week and we'll see just how big you've gotten!

Favorites: Your favorite person in the whole world is Lauren! You love it when she talks to you or when you play together. You both seem so excited that you're starting to do more things together now. You took a bath together the other day and you and Lauren both loved it. And we've started having family story time before bedtime lately. You and Lauren both get ready for bed, and then you both lay down in Lauren's bed and Daddy and I each read you a story. It's so sweet to watch you hold hands and lay next to each other while we read. It's my very favorite part of the day. We've had days where all you want is to watch Lauren be silly and she loves to entertain you. You watch her and giggle and laugh and it makes my heart so happy. And on those days, boy are you mad when Lauren takes a nap, lol. Another favorite of yours is still the Baby Bjorn baby carrier. You get to be close to me and go everywhere I go and you love it :) We took your first trip to the park the other day (the weather was nice and we just HAD to get out of the house!) I kept you in the baby carrier and you loved it!

Teething: Teething is rough. I know there's no avoiding it and it's something every baby has to go through, but it sucks and I feel so bad. We give you tylenol if we can tell you're hurting. Teething toys or chewing on your hands or toes seems to help quite a bit though too :) Still no teeth, but when you chomp down on my hand I can feel how hard your gums are so I know we're getting closer!

I love you so much, Zoey. You are so wonderful! It is such a blessing to be your mommy!

Superbowl 2014

There are no words to explain how happy we are!! GO SEAHAWKS! Our favorite parts of this Super Bowl, other than the absolute smackdown the Hawks gave the Bronco's:

1) Lauren's Seahawks dance that we got to see every time the Hawks scored a touchdown. (I wish I had pictures because it is ADORABLE! But she is a very cute little blonde blur in every one I took, lol).
2) My Richard Sherman jersey that I got for my birthday!
3) Yummy food (of course) and Seahawks balloons!

3 Months Old

Dear Zoey,

Oh sweet baby, I love you so much.  I guess I forgot how quickly babies can change, because how fast you're growing and learning is surprising me all over again just like it did with your sister. You are incredible, little girl. I look in your eyes and it just feels like there is so much going on inside them. Like if you could talk you would shock everyone with how much you already know.  You certainly have preferences and favorite things, with your very favorite thing being Lauren. You light up every time you see her, and she can make you smile and laugh more than anyone else can. Although to be honest, you're such a  happy baby it's really not hard to get you to smile. I love that about you, Zoey. Here's a little more about wonderful 3 month old you!

Eating: with my milk being officially 100% gone you are on all formula now. We switched to a sensitive formula and that seems to have helped significantly. You seemed so uncomfortable before and now that's gone, which makes you and I both very happy!

Sleeping: I know you were sent straight from heaven just for me and daddy when I think of how great a sleeper you are.  We love to sleep in this family, and have been honestly blessed with two girls who agree with that idea! Your bedtime varies, but we have a routine we stick to fairly closely. Diaper change, change into jammies, bottle and rocking in the rocking chair with mommy. You and I both love this and you sleep for about the next 7 hours, wake up for a bottle, then go back to sleep for at least another 2. It is beautiful :) Sleeping during the day, however, is a little more difficult. Mostly because you have a sister who 1) loves you and won't leave you alone, and 2) let's face it, is 2 years old and very loud, lol. So while you fall asleep easily throughout the day, you get woken up constantly. I'm sorry about that  honey, but our apartment is pretty small and there isn't much I can do about it.  I'm glad you're so happy just to be with me, daddy, and Lauren :)

Your favorite things: LAUREN. You love it when Lauren plays with you, gives you kisses, talks to you, etc. and I love seeing how much you both love each other. Makes my heart happy :) you also love our Baby Bjorn carrier! You love to be with me, and to be held and cuddled. But you also love to see what's going on around you. The Baby Bjorn gives you both of those things and you are so happy when you're in it. Another favorite is now baths!! Yay!! Grandma Mary gave you this huge bath flower/sponge and you now looooove baths. I think it helps you feel a little more comfortable and secure. Others favorites of yours: your blue toy elephant that you like to chew on, being naked, mirrors, YOUR TOES!, your baby play mat, the sound of rain.

Things you do NOT like: teething, your car seat.

Conversations with Lauren

Oh my sweet, wonderful, intelligent, manipulative toddler... how I love you!

Tucking Lauren in at bedtime...
Mommy: Time to go to sleep Lauren, I love you!
Lauren: *points to her foot* OWIE!!!
Mommy: I know your tricky ways! You don't have an owie.
Lauren: *laughs hysterically* Tricky, tricky, tricky!!!
Mommy: Goodnight, baby.
Lauren: BYE!!

2 Months Old

Dear Zoey,

Oh how I love you, sweet girl! I cannot believe how much you've changed in the last month. You're growing and changing so fast. Even Lauren noticed it yesterday because instead of just hugging and kissing you, she started playing with you- reading you stories and bringing you toys. You are so loved by your mommy, daddy, and sister, little one. Here's a little about you right now:

Sleeping: You have your first cold right now, and it's really making it difficult for you to sleep :( So at the moment you're sleeping on me, because I can keep you at an upward angle so you can breathe easier. But up until the past few days, you were starting to consistently sleeping 6-8 hours every night! You're generally wide awake until about midnight or so, but then you sleep straight through until around 7 am-ish, and wake up so alert and happy.

Eating: You like a calm, dark, quiet environment to breastfeed or you get overwhelmed and very upset. I'm so sorry I can't give that to you during the day, my love. For a few weeks you would nurse during the night and not at all during the day. Then we learned my breastmilk has extremely low fat content and it's not giving you what you need. Combine that with not producing enough milk in general, and it's just not working out for us baby girl. I'm so sorry. Thankfully you don't mind bottles and I can give you what you need with formula :)

Playing: You are so sweet, happy, and smiley! You love to cuddle and you love to have your own time laying on  the floor and looking at the lights on the Christmas tree. You laugh and talk to us in your sweet baby coos and I just love it! And you've started giving kisses! You are just so sweet, my love!

Nicknames: Zoey Bug. It started out as Cuddle Bug because you are so sweet and cuddley, and quickly morphed into Zoey Bug. Lauren calls you Buga Bug :)

Stats: 10 lbs 6 oz, 21.5 inches long

I love you so much honey!