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.

There nothing more precious...

than a sleeping baby with a finger in her mouth.

More Presents!

Violet received more mail this week, a special delivery from Grandma and Grandpa DeGroot. She loves checking everything out now, looking at it so intently. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa DeGroot!


This picture is pretty unflattering, BUT it shows her little birthmark (and her chubby cheeks, and thunder thighs....)

The Best of Friends

I have decided to stop fighting this. Diego loves Violet, so much so that he feels he must lick her whenever possible... non- stop. In the beginning I was pulling him off her, and asking him to stop licking (believe it or not, he already knows this command- before Violet he already had the monicker "lick monster") I was afraid of the "dog germs", after 4 months of trying to stop the lick-monster, I finally gave up.

4 Months Today

Today is Violet's 4 month birthday. I promise I will take some photos, but we had a tough morning, more shots to celebrate this joyous day, so she's soundly sleeping right now. Here are her stats from the doctor:

• 14 pounds 12 oz. and 25 inches long, she is in the 75% for both, good job Violet! The doctor said if she continues at that same percentile she could be about 5'7".
• I brought up some of my concerns, there are 3 right now: #1 is her rolling over onto her stomach nightly. We have stopped swaddling her since she rolls onto her face, and being the overly protective mother I am couldn't sleep with this. So she's been sleeping without blankets. He said this is fine since she is strong now, she can role either way, so it's safe for her to sleep on either front or back (WHEW)
• The second two are the ones that are hard right now: #2 is the waking in the middle of the night crying/fussing - she's not hungry just startled herself out of sleep, it happens about 2 or 3 times night, and #3 is what I call "stranger danger" she cries at the sight of strangers now. Anyone who is not her mother (apparently everyone is strangers at this phase, even Randy on random days) she is ahead of herself developmentally here, these two typically happen at 6 to 7 months, and she's experiencing it at 4 months. So what do I deduce from this? She's a genius, of course. So smart for her age. So don't be alarmed when you see her and she starts to cry, just remind yourself "my goodness what an intelligent baby" and not to take it personally. She'll grow out of this phase in about 3 years....

In My Stroller

Violet can now sit up in her stroller without her car seat insert. Once I put her in here, she didn't want to come out.

My First Halloween

Violet made it through her first Halloween, if you can believe it we got 2 whole trick or treaters to our door, how sad - who is going to eat all the left over candy?
Grandma DeGroot bought Violet this cute little cat costume last month, it was really big on her when I originally tried it on, and now it barely fits. Overall I think she had a good time, she eventually just passed out from all of the excitement.