Hello From California

Hello everyone, we are still visiting our family in sunny Orange County California (it was 70 when we arrived on Sunday!). Violet had a very exciting week, with many firsts.... some of them not as much fun as others!

• Her first time in California!
• Her first 18 hour car trip (with minimal fussing)
• Meeting Auntie Tree in Visalia (Mommies hometown) and some fun gifts.
• She also met her family here Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins for the first time.
  
• Her first visit to the Emergency Room the day after Christmas - She had a fever for 2 days, and has a cold over a week, so we called our doctor and he recommended that we take her. She is fine, no infections only a virus curable with love and Tylenol. The nurses were crazy over her though, they would peek their head in the room to get a look at the "cutest baby".
• She met Santa on Christmas, and was very excited to tear the wrapping off all of her gifts, we have LOTS of pictures of that! And she gets a second Christmas with the Barnetts next week.
  
• And the best of all! We see teeth, so after days of not feeling well, now she's teething, and just before our 18 hour (2 day trip) drive home.
  

Once we arrive back I will download all of our fun pictures! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

My First Teddy Bear

Violet received a very special gift today. A Vermont Teddy Bear She was very curious about him, I think they will be the best of friends. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa DeGroot, see you on Sunday!

An Example

Of why Violet cannot be left alone. She is very curious about EVERYTHING, she especially loves cell phones and TV remotes (I predict future engineer).

Busy Week!

It's been a while, work took up my extra time this week, and those 2 precious days I didn't work I spent with my favorite baby in the world. Violet has learned a few new things though:

• Yelling. although I think in her mind she is communicating somehow, but for us it's just yelling. She especially likes to do it when the television is on.
• She has tried banana, apple, and sweet potato and so far seems to enjoy all. Today she thought it would be funny to eat and yell at the same time, thereby spitting banana everywhere, she thought this was incredibly funny, I smell like banana's now.
• She's sleeping all night!!! I have had to wake her up in the morning to feed her. I've been able to sleep through an entire night. It feels wonderful.
• She scoots around, it isn't crawling but pushing her feet on the floor to move herself wherever she want to go.
• She loves shiny things, especially my necklace, earrings, and buttons. Hold on to your valuables!

bounce bounce bounce

Who loves Avocados?

I've been reading a lot lately about baby food. What are you supposed to feed them first ? When is the appropriate time to begin solids (can you really call something pureed a solid?)? Our pediatrician gave us the green light to try some very simple veggies or fruits. Breast milk has been Violet's nourishment since July 5th, and tonight that changed. I made a big salad for dinner, she eyed it mysteriously. So I mashed up a teeny tiny piece of avocado (my favorite!) and put it on my finger, well she gobbled it up. Grabbing at me for more. How exciting I think Violet just had her first taste of food, and enjoyed it.

Happy 5 Months!

We have had a very exciting week! Many adventures. Violet started daycare yesterday, and it went surprisingly well - and I went to work today, and now I'm exhausted.
She is not traumatized by the experience, and seems happy. I met some of her little friends in her room, they are slightly older (by about a month) she grabs onto them and holds on tight, its really cute. As you can see from the photos below, she is really trying to sit up on her own. I keep the pillow behind her, since she still topples over. I really can't believe its been 5 months, where did the time go?

Wish Me Luck

Violet starts day one of child care tomorrow. Pretty big deal for us, both of us. I think we both might cry a little bit tomorrow...

Family Time

My Grandparents and parents made the trip up to Portland this weekend to come and visit. They were predicting snow all day, so I was unsure if we would actually be able to see them, but as usual the weather reporters were wrong, it didn't snow. We spent the day just hanging out!

Lucy, Randy, Diego, Lisa, Violet (who really wants to play with Diego) & Betty

Fred, Robin, Lisa, Violet, & Joyce

Just Braggin'

After 2 full weeks of trying to get Violet to take a bottle on a consistent basis during the day, it happened! She finally drank 3 4oz. bottles (over a 7 hour period- not all at once) without screaming and trying to get to my boobs. It's a breakthrough! Thank goodness since she starts daycare NEXT WEEK! Good job Violet.

Silly Shirts

It says "If you think I'm cute you should see my mom". Silly.

Thanksgiving with the Barnett's

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving in Eugene, it was a big event with my family travelling all the way from England to have some turkey (oh, and see Violet of course).

Grandma Betty, Violet, Randy, and Auntie Joyce

Grandad Fred & Grandma Betty with Violet
Nana Lulu, Auntie Joyce, Violet, & Granpa Paul.
Nana Lulu and her Priness

One room - we had to have two seperate table, this was the rowdy one.
Diego wants to know if he gets turkey as well?

Happy Thanksgiving

From the
Smy's (Grandparents from England)
Carey's (Great Aunt from England)
Barnett's (Mom Dad and sister)
DeGroot's
Yes, this is what we did this week, I haven't taken a family photo in about 20 or so years. It was a special occasion to have 4 generations together. I have more fun photo's that I will download later tonight.

Its been a while!

Well, we've had a busy week, and then the camera ran out of batteries. So what's going on here? Well, Violet and I went to visit her daycare center this week, it went really well. She hung out with the teachers, I've been a little nervous about this process, but she didn't cry at all, it's only the beginning but it's a big step!
On another note, she has been exclusively breastfed since birth, we gave her a bottle at about 3 weeks, she did pretty good, but we really haven't been very good at giving it to her regularly. So this week is bottle week, she will take a bottle of breastmilk 3 times a day (the time she will be at daycare) to get her ready. She spits it out, refuses it. We've tried multiple bottles, but she is having a hard time, so now it takes a full hour to feed her again (like a newborn!) I think it will only get better, but it will take some time. Wish us luck on the bottle feeding!
Here she is during tummy time today (she actually prefers being on her tummy now) oh and Diego in about 1/2 of the pictures.

Happy Birthday Papa

Sunday was my daddies birthday. It was super fun. He turned 39 (gosh that's old huh?) Mommy made him roast beef, roast potatoes, asparagus, and yorkshire pudding for dinner . Here is the cake they ate (maybe next year I can have some) mommy lost the candles on the way home from the store so it looks a little plain, but I think they had fun. Happy Birthday to the best papa in the world!

Just Playing with Daddy

Okay, I know it's been four whole days since I've posted anything. Sorry, I really have no excuse, it's not like I've been super busy, I'm just hanging out with Violet. In a mere 3 weeks she starts daycare part time. This is both for her and for me. Can you imagine if we spent all 6 months together then suddenly I drop her off on January 3rd and say "see you in 8 hours"? She'd freak, and I would probably have a nervous breakdown. But, on another note, here are some really cute pictures of Violet and Randy just playing around. She loves to listen to him tell her stories, and sing, they make a cute couple.

Baby Brunch

Last year if you asked me how many friends I know that have kids (or babies) I would say one, Jonica (Avery is 11...) But in the last year I have had a number of friends have children (is it our age?). It has been great to have a group of people who have had their world also turned upside down this year (in a good way of course). So they all came over for a little brunch (how suburban mom of me). There were five in total: Amelia , Violet, Dalia, Theo, and Henry. It was too cute - just look at the photos below! We had a great time swapping stories, and listening to babies fuss, thanks for fun day ladies!

An Early Christmas for Violet

Violet received an early Christmas present from Nana and Grandpa Barnett, a rainforest Jumerpoo. They came up for the day to visit Violet, and brought lots of presents (surprise surprise). I have a feeling Violet will get lots of use from her new jumperoo. Thanks Nana and Grandpa Barnett.

Theo & Violet BFF's

Remember before when I told you Violet cries at people she doesn't recognize? Well, simply put: anyone that is not her mom and dad? Well last night we had a little party at Damon's, she still cried at everyone who looked at her. We thought that maybe she would be okay next to Theo. She seemed okay in the start, she just made sure and looked away, but as Theo began to slide towards her, the tears started. Theo is completely oblivious, just smiling away and inching closer and closer to Violet.

In the Jumperoo

We went to visit Theo today (happy 2 month birthday Theo!) and he had this really cool toy. He is still too young to play with it, so Violet went ahead and tried it out for him. She had a blast, jumping up and down and playing with the toys. She spent an hour in it (the longest she's ever played with one thing EVER) she had so much fun she wore herself out, and is now soundly sleeping.