My First Halloween Card

Violet received her first piece of mail (besides those pesky Dr. bills...) a Halloween card from Nana. She seemed pretty excited, and then proceeded to do her favorite thing with it right now, shove it in her mouth. Thanks Nana for the card!

Silly Noises

Violet has discovered her hands, not just in front of her face but in her mouth, and not just one hand in her mouth but both. On top of it she makes noises while both hands are in her mouth. This is a regular occurrence every evening right after she eats (so no she's not hungry) I also think she might know her name, watch what she does when Randy says "Violet"!

No More Laying Down

Violet has learned that sitting upright is much more fun than laying on her back (and now when she lays on her back she just rolls to her front). Here she is sitting in the boppy, and she is trying so hard to sit up, I don't think it's going to be much longer before she can do it on her own. Oh, and the smile is too cute.

A New Toy from Nana

Nana Lulu bought Violet a new toy. So far she loves it (although the age is 9 months to 3 years) so she won't be playing on it too much for now. It's a little rocking kitty (yeah like rocking horse, but it's a cat) it meows when you press one ear (which Diego loves) and plays Fur Elise when you press the other (the song Randy I walked down the isle to at our wedding). It's pretty darn cute. *disclaimer: I didn't realize my shirt was so low cut... sorry folks.*

I love my new hat

I wasn't supposed to buy this hat, Randy said "we have enough hats, she doesn't need anymore" then I went back and bought it anyways (sorry Randy). How can you resist? I mean come on! It's so dang cute! A girl can never have too many hats (oh, wait maybe that's shoes... or wait purses)

Just Rolling Around

Violet it getting huge! I think she must be close to 15 pounds now. Her latest trick is rolling over (see prior posts) I can no long lay her on her back and expect that she will lay there quietly. Nope she has discovered her arms and legs (and toys, and diego)

Diego coming to check on Violet (he's always close by)
Oh no, I rolled over and am very unhappy about this, yet I keep doing it over and over.
Diego to the rescue, like I said he's always close by
feeling better about being on my tummy, or just posing for the camera...

Mommy and Daddy - Can you tell who is who?

Sorry no Pictures

It has been an interesting day. I have no pictures to share (primarily because Violet needs constant attention today), but we've had a couple of interesting things happen the last few days that we can share!

• She's been sleeping ALL the way through the night. She's been going to sleep around 9pm and not waking until 7am. This is incredible! The first night it happened I bolted out of bed, running to her room to find out why she was so quiet. I found her peacefully sleeping. Night 2 same thing, I actually woke her to feed her. Keep your fingers crossed that this continues!
• She rolled from her back to front, another big moment! It's kind of funny actually since she really doesn't like being on her stomach, so right after rolling onto it, realized what she had done and wasn't very happy, but forgot how to get move to her back.
• She's been eating non stop today, hence the constant attention above, not only that she wants to "play" - let me define play: mom must talk to me constantly, hold me upright, and give me kisses or I wiggle and fuss until she does. Then she cries until I feed her....

Just another day in the DeGroot household.

Violet and Ethan Meet Again

This is Ethan, Nicole (his mom) was my best friend when I was around 16 (so yes that's 20 years ago!) Last time we saw Ethan I was 8 months pregnant so he hadn't met Violet in person yet. So last night they met again, Jen and Neel bought a new house so we stopped by check it out.
Needless to say Violet was a little fussy, but Ehan was more than happy to meet her! He has the biggest bluest eyes I've ever seen.

Right before the melt down...

Yummy

I have a little bit more time on my hands now. Not a lot just enough to do some fun cooking and baking. This week I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins with cinnamon and ginger cream cheese frosting. One of my favorite things at Starbucks is the banana chocolate chip coffee cake, so this is my fall version. I used this recipe, and made my own frosting. A great beginning to fall!

The Solo Sock

The weather has changed, it feels and looks like fall is here. This means I've dusted off the knitting needles and picked up some yarn, so far I have made: Violet some leggings, and Amelia a purple scarf, and this week I finished a sock, yes only one - I really thought the one skein of yarn I bought would be plenty to knit up multi colored socks- but no, it's never that easy. I need two, so off to the yarn store I went this morning, and guess what? They are out of the color I need. So now what? I only have one sock... next to a napping baby.

More Tummy Time

This is not her favorite position. We try each and everyday to make tummy time more and more fun, to no avail. Notice she's been wearing a bib lately, it's from all the drool that drips from her little mouth. Who knew there could be that much spit from a tiny baby? Notice Diego in the background? I think he needs to be in every picture, he's always lurking about to ensure Violet is okay, or maybe he just loves the camera.

Nana Lulu is very funny

There are only two things Violet will giggle at right now, Diego and Nana making horse noises. Priceless.....

Hanging out with Nana Lulu

Nana came to town on the train on Tuesday to visit. Violet had a great time, smiling and giggling at her grandma. Then she had so much fun she passed out on her lap, I love the fact that she is sucking on her finger.

The Pumpkin Patch

We had our very first visit to the pumpkin patch with Violet this weekend. We went with Jen, Jason, Amelia, and new friends. Thankfully it wasn't raining, it was a little foggy and slightly chilly but overall good weather to visit and find the great pumpkin. We went on a hay ride, picked out a pumpkin, went to the petting zoo, and sat in a mile long queue to get off Sauvie Island. Violet slept through about 70% of it.

The one eye look, right after a small melt down, notice the pacifier in her mouth and now she's facing daddy (other posts she's facing the world)

The pumpkin patch
She's bigger than the pumpkin!
See facing out? Prior to the little melt down. I think she also might be slightly over-dressed, underneath that jacket is a sweater and a shirt, at least she can't complain of being too cold!

Looking for the perfect pumpkin
The DeGroots

A Giggle

Violet loves to lay on her play mat. This week she giggled at the little stuffed animals hanging above her. I had to run to get my camera, but it's here, look closely in the beginning and you'll hear the end of the cutest giggle in the world.

Earlier last week!

I've been very bad, maybe it was the onslaught of the rain that prohibited me from posting, or that fact that I realized this week I had over 400 photos in 3 months of V. But, tonight I will upload some fun stuff. Violet hasn't been over joyed by toys yet, but she really loves this lamb (a lot) and in between trying to bite his face off she says "mom". Okay I kinda made that up but it sure sounds like it!

The Many Faces of Violet

Play Date with Theo

Violet and Theo met each other a few weeks ago, they had another play date this week. This time Theo slept and Violet played.

Rolling Over!

Yesterday I posted all of things that Violet can do at 3 months. I left one very important one off "rolling over" since she had not completed that task yet. Well, she did it today, and not just once but over and over. She isn't a fan of tummy time, and now she has full control of it not happening. She just keeps rolling over! So here she is, Diego had to be there too.

3 months old! Happy Birthday Violet.

Most babies should be able to . . .
Hold up head at 45 degree angle while on stomach
Hold head steady when upright
Laugh and smile
Recognize your face
Open and shut hands
Kick legs
Recognize your voice
Hold up head at 90 degree angle while on stomach
Bring both hands together
Squeal and coo in delight
Do small mini pushups
Bear weight on both legs
Bat at toys
Reach for toys and objects
Turn to familiar voices

Who keeps sneaking off with the pacifiers?

We have had to replace so many pacifiers in the last couple of months. They keep getting chewed up. It is not Violet who is doing this. Can you say jealousy? I just want you to know we did not place this in his mouth, he did it all by himself.

Talking to her lamb

It's been a little while since I've posted (sorry!) Violet has been a little under the weather, maybe growing spurts? maybe a mild cold? I'm not sure, she hasn't been sleeping as well, and crying a little more than usual. She seems back to her old self today, but this was actually taken over the weekend. She's discovered her hands and loves to touch things now, especially her lamb.