Tuesday, November 25, 2014

13 months


So I decided (for the sake of cuteness) to continue our monthly updates/photos of this sweet baby girl.  It's so much fun to be able to look back and watch her grow before our eyes.  And to look back on all the milestones she was reaching.  It's priceless really.  And just think of all the new developments she'll be making this year! 

Her vocabulary now includes such big girl words as mama, daddy, sissy, baby, bye-bye, night-night, hi, no, go, yucky and shoes (among a few others I'm sure but it's so hard to keep track!) 

She still has no desire to walk but can crawl faster than we can keep up with her.  Still no more new teeth to announce but she's doing fine with the 6 she does have. She doesn't have much of an appetite and has (much to her mother's dismay) developed a picky palate.  My once "easy eats anything" baby has turned a sad corner.  While she ate every kind of baby food I made for her just months ago including squash, parsnips, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn... she has now decided that veggies are clearly not meant for her.  I can get her to eat an occasional cooked sweet potato or some steamed broccoli.  And once in awhile I can sneak a few green beans past her.  But otherwise this girl is a tough case to crack.  We often resort to trying to get her to eat at least one pouch of packaged mixed fruit/veggie baby food but even that can be a struggle.  And though the rest of her food preferences are touch and go too (she'll eat eggs, sausages, pasta, and cheese.... but only when she's in the mood...) it's the veggies that have me at my wits end. 

I recently proclaimed "I'm pretty sure our baby hasn't had a single serving of vegetables in the past three days!" to which Joe replied "didn't she eat one of those pouches of baby food?" 

"Half of it..." I said, frustrated. 

"Well then I think you're being a little dramatic" he smirked.  

So I try to let it go and just carry on.  She will not starve and she will somehow get all the nutrients she needs without eating her vegetables.  After all, the three things you can't force your child to do are eat... sleep... and go to the bathroom, right?  That doesn't mean I've stopped trying.  You can bet I'm still putting an array of choices before her, hoping one day she'll change her mind... 

She's still stingy with her kisses but gives hugs that are simply to die for.  She plays amazingly well by herself but when her siblings are around she wants nothing more than to be with them.  She's happy and sweet and her giggle is the best sound ever.  

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Another Birthday


Gymnastics and cupcakes.  And a few friends of her choosing.  That's all this girl wanted to celebrate her big day.  Of course at the age of 6 it's still hard to comprehend the fact that her party needed to be so much earlier than her actual birthday because of its ability to fall so close to Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving Day last year... Black Friday this year.  And since so many people travel or get overwhelmed with company for the holidays, we figure it's best to celebrate early (6 days early this year to be exact.) I let her browse Pinterest with me for the perfect cupcakes and she eventually settled on chocolate chip cupcakes with cookie dough frosting (I must say... some of my best cupcakes ever... bakery worthy in my humble opinion.) She enjoyed every minute of her special "party" day, playing on the gymnastics equipment, opening presents and having cupcakes with her friends.  But the one thing I loved the most was the look on that sweet beautiful face.  You see, that smile, it was classic.  Each time she opened a gift she was genuinely excited about it and thanked the giver profusely for knowing "exactly what she wanted!" Filled with joy seeing her bursting with so much excitement.

Friday, November 14, 2014

My 3 Kids


Seriously? I am blessed beyond measure.  There are no words to describe how full my heart is...

Adoration


If I'm lucky, she'll adore him forever the way she adores him now.  Just look at that face.  And he's so incredibly tolerant.  Letting her play along as he was trying so hard to practice.  He thinks the world of her too, proclaiming more times than I can count:

"Mommy, can you imagine our lives without Violet? I mean, I just can't imagine what it would be like not to have her.  She makes our lives so happy and complete..."

Oh buddy, you're so wise beyond your years.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Halloween

We were lucky this year that the weather was tolerable for trick-or-treating.  Rain was in the forecast but decided to hold off for just one night.  We donned the kids' chosen costumes (a fighter jet pilot, a princess *shocking I know*, and a dalmation - her sister's costume from her first Halloween.) We met our friends at Daddy's office for treats and a costume showing.  Then we came back to our place for some Chicken Tortilla Soup (that had been cooking in the crockpot all day...mmmm... warm delicious goodness) and took off around the block for trick-or-treating.