Sleep training.

It's not happening.
The Miss isn't as receptive to it as she was initially. So i've decided to throw out the whole idea and just go with the flow. She just changes her needs and wants so quickly it's hard to keep up sometimes.

Some weeks she's a darling and takes 2 two hour naps and 1 hour long nap around dinner. But other weeks, she only wants to sleep for 20 minutes 6 times a day and then go to bed around 6. Some times she wants to be held and rocked to sleep, others she'd much rather just be left to squirm around until she's comfy and drift off herself. She's getting to be hard to predict.

Also, she's suddenly decided that sleeping through the night is for suckers. Not cool little one. 3AM is not play time. And although you are still somewhat sleepy and oh so snuggley when we rescue you from your crib at this hour, we'd still prefer you just stay asleep.

At any rate, She's dang cute when she does sleep. :)

My little Chunk and Photos by Chauvin!

Here are two pictures of Noella wearing the same thing. One was taken a day or so after birth and the other was taken yesterday. Boy has she turned into a chunker! (apologies for the poor quality... both are cell phone pictures...)


In other news, it was finally cool enough to have a day without the AC on! We opened windows and slept with them wide open. Until about 3:45 when the delivery truck for McDonald's started crashing about loading and unloading things. That is one major downfall to this apartment. Also, the lack of control that parents around here seem to have on their children while dining at McDonald's. I constantly hear "Stop!", "Don't do that!", "GET. OVER. HERE!!!!". Followed by whining children begging their parents for an ice cream or asking "How come SHE got the cool toy!?". I beg you, if i ever have children like that, please don't hesitate to put us all in time out until we can learn to act like civilized human beings...

I've started taking pictures. Well, I'm trying to start to take pictures for real clients. I figured, I have some practice and do know how to take decent shots so why not? After all, how am i going to hone my craft if i don't get the practice? My little "business" is called Photos by Chauvin.

One of my best friend's older sister is helping me with the process of getting to know my camera a little better. She can explain things in plain english rather than the photography jargon i find on most websites and in most books. You can check out her blog here. I think she's super talented. And not uppity about it either which makes her perfect to be one of my mentors.

I also have another friend, Becky Trudell who is also helping me along in this journey. She takes such wonderful, natural looking photos. She too, is super talented and really relaxed about the whole process. (check her out here.) She and i share the same ideas about what a portrait should be. While there are many people who like the studio look for their shots (everyone is posed perfectly with adorable smiles in matching outfits), we like to capture more of the everyday sort of feeling in our pictures. Capturing the true dynamic of a family can make for a powerful shot. One that brings back memories for years to come. That's what i look forward to capturing for people. That's why i want to get into the photography business.

Wish me luck! My first shoot is on Friday. I'll post a sampling of pictures. Actually, maybe i'll start my own business blog... we'll see how ambitious i am.

4 months

Four months ago today we welcomed our little bundle of joy into the world. She is a totally different baby now than she was then.

She was so tiny and warm. She didn't fit into anything we brought to the hospital. She was alert when she was awake with big inquisitive eyes. She is the best thing that ever happened to us.

Now she's four months and so much has changed...
She's more than double her birth weight.
She eats solids now.
She LOVES peaches.
She loves to talk.
She hates to lay on the floor. She'd much prefer to stand.
She knows the difference between mom or dad and strangers.
She loves to sit up and look around.
She's an enthusiastic dinner participant.

But somethings haven't changed...
She still has her blue eyes.
She's still inquisitive with big big eyes.
She loves to hear mommy singing.
She loves to play with Daddy.
She's still a super snuggler when she's tired.

I can't believe it's been a whole 4 months already! Where does the time go!?

Giggles

This little giggle melts my heart. When i hear it i can't help but wrinkle my nose in delight and giggle right along with her. And no one makes her laugh like Daddy. :)

On Rolling over

Noella finally rolled over. From her tummy to her back. But only once. And can't seem to figure it out again. She lays on the floor now lifting her pelvis as high as she can letting out loud grunts of frusteration until finally, she collapses and whimpers, totally defeated, until i pick her up.

It's not from a lack of trying that she hasn't gotten it again. I've tried toys that rattle to grab her attention, placing something on her chest so that when she knocks it over she'll try to roll to grab it. I've tried helping her along by placing her on her side. That child just lays there and looks at me like i'm dumb until gravity takes effect and she's on her back again.

I wonder if she's just taking after me and doing things in her own time and by her own means. No help wanted or needed thanks.

I sure hope she gets over her pride soon and figures this out. It's getting tiring to hear her in despair time and time again.

On a slightly happier note, she loves the exersaucer. She loves to be able to stand. But only for about 10 minutes because her chubby little legs give out and she is forced to shlump forward and it isn't any fun when the toys are in your face.

I'm sorry for not having pictures for this post. Coming as soon as i can unbury my desk from the crafting disaster area it's become so i can get to my laptop.

Wish me luck.

A day of Firsts

Today was a lovely day. A day full of firsts.

It was the first time in a while i actually took a little pride in my appearance. Let's face it, who sees me lately other than Noella and Jason?

It was the first day Noella smiled at a stranger. A legitimate stranger. Not just a family member she only sees occasionally.

And who wouldn't giggle with glee at this little one?

It was the first day Noella went for more than 15 minutes without a fountain of spit up flowing out of her mouth like a slowly erupting volcano. We switched bottles on her to the kind with the drop in liner. She apparently can't handle the air she gets with the other ones. I'm happy to replace the bottles we currently have if it means no more moist, sour smelling wardrobe change every couple of hours.

It was the first time we went to the pediatrician for said spit up issues and it didn't result in any screaming or tears.

And it was the very first time Noella ate solids. Didn't just kinda look at them longingly or try to put her hands in my meal. She herself was able to eat. She ate applesauce watered down with a little formula. It was interesting to watch. She would open her mouth for a spoonful, willingly take it in and then proceed to make that face that all children make when they aren't quite sure what's in their mouths. Kind of like the "i just smelled something rotten" face. She even knocked a spoonful onto her high chair. She's growing so fast.


Oh how i love days like this!

Oh July!

July!
You're finally here! With promises of wonderful sunshine-y warm weather, fireworks, ice cream and cook outs. How i love this month.

We took Noella swimming for the first time ever. She seemed to actually enjoy it. She loved to people watch more than anything. Those kids running around and splashing fascinated her. It was a wonderful but rather tiring day for her.

here she is all ready to go!

We got a family picture. Of course she was much more interested in the water...

Gammy got lots of Noella time! Noella loved to swim with her.

And of course, the day ended with a sleeping babe. As any good day at the beach should.

Today was awesome. Tomorrow is the family cook out at my parent's house. I'm really excited. And so is the Mister as one of his favorite meals is hamburgers and hot dogs and all the fixin's that come with it.

I love the summer.