Wednesday, March 21, 2012

More adventures of Olivia

Crying with Granddad


Not crying with Granddad!
More play time with Clarence :)

Tummy time


Playing with panda


We had a photo shoot with Kimberly!






One of Mama's favorites




Twins in pink :)

I never get tired of sleeping baby pictures


She thought it was so funny when Daddy put her shirt in her mouth-silly girl
We had so much fun with Auntie Kimberly

Another photo shoot with her diapers!



So precious!






Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Olivia Layne - 11 weeks

Olivia, you are 11 weeks old! Daddy and I got a bit scared this week when we found two tiny bumps on the back of your head. Just to be safe we took you to the doctor and were relieved to find out they are only 2 of many tiny lymph nodes you have. They are nothing to worry about! Since we went to the doctor we got to find out you weigh 11 lbs 8 oz and are in the 34th percentile there. But you are sure growing and I can't get over your chubby little thighs and wrists. You are so pretty! This has been one of my favorite weeks because you have really started smiling big! It is so fun to see and try to get you to show us those dimples. You have also gotten a few "words" out and it's awesome to see your little mouth working on those. The weather has been very warm and sunny for this time of year so it's been neat to take you outside for more walks or even to just walk around the yard. I can't wait for summer when we can play outside a lot more and enjoy the fresh air and nature. You are getting much better in the evenings which means your colic must be disappearing. YAY! You still get a little uncomfortable, but not for nearly as long. In the past week or so you've become more consistent at nap time and take a longer mid-day nap for about 1-2.5 hours. You're still a great sleeper at night, too, going usually for longer than 6 hours on your first stretch. Not all the time, but many times, and it's wonderful. The next 1-2 stretches aren't so great, but having a long first bout of uninterrupted sleep feels nice for mama. You really like sucking on your fists. Bath time is still unpredictable with you liking it sometimes and not liking it other times. You still always dislike getting OUT of the bath :( You're doing great at tummy time, but I confess I don't keep you on your tummy for long if it looks like you'll get fussy. Other things to remember: Grandma and Granddad Smalberger kept you on Friday night so Mama and Daddy could go to a movie. On the drive there I realized I forgot my cell phone, which is so unlike me even without leaving my baby at home! I started crying right away and Daddy offered to turn around. We would have missed the first part of the movie, though, so I decided to use a pay phone when we got there. They didn't have one but suggested I try the cafe inside. The employee there was a sweet teenage girl who let me borrow her cell phone! She probably thought I was crazy since I was crying and asked to use a phone to call my mom who had my baby. Grandma answered and said everything would be alright and if anything happened they would drive over to the theater and find us. I offered to tip the girl, but she wouldn't accept. I wonder what other crazy things I'll do in your lifetime!?
Mama and Daddy got sick with food poisoning and I even had to go to the ER. Daddy did an amazing job of taking care of you AND me and slept ALL day only getting to see you when you needed to eat. It was so sad, but I was really proud of you and Daddy. Our friend Kimberly came to visit and it was so fun. She brought you lots of adorable clothes and shoes that her little girl Avery wore 4 years ago when she was your age. We went to Hobby Lobby and Good Times and watched a lot of HGTV :) Hopefully we'll get to go visit them in Omaha sometime in the not too distant future. Mama has to go back to work next week, but at least it is Daddy and Cade's spring break so you'll get to spend quality time with them and Grandma and Grandpa Schurz. I can't even imagine what my first week and first day away from you will be like. If I think about it I just cry, so I'll stop right now. I can't wait until tomorrow morning since you are already in bed, when I get to hold and snuggle and play with you and soak up every minute for the rest of this week. You are a delight, little Livi. We love you!








Friday, March 9, 2012

It's all about the layers!

I love my fists



Daddy feeding Olivia so she can get used to a bottle

Auntie Lu visits!

Checking out the chickies on a warm winter day


Hanging out

We won't let winter keep us from our cute dresses!



An adorable outfit from Aunt Ann!





She gets this look when she feels scared, poor girl.




Tummy time is not her favorite, so it's hard for me to work on it with her. But she's doing great here!


Olivia Layne - 10 Weeks

Olivia Layne, you are 10 weeks old! You are clearly just as cute as ever. I had to throw a headband on even though it's not Daddy's favorite thing. (He worries it might bother you even though it's super loose and soft.) You are still about the same as far as fussiness, but I try and take you out a couple of times a week on errands, to keep my sanity, to get things taken care of and to get you a change of scenery. You usually do pretty well :) Maybe Target will become your favorite store, too. You spit up much less now, usually only if you're trying to poo right after you eat. You still have trouble pooing and you HATE water, so we gave that up, but it seems like maybe it's not quite as difficult as it was just last week. I keep hearing that 12 weeks is a big turning point for a lot of babies. Two more weeks will show us if that's true for you and I sure hope so. The colic doesn't seem to be getting better yet, but I'm really hoping we're on the downhill side of it. Your poor Daddy just loves you so much and has such a tender heart toward you that he can hardly stand to hear and see you cry in the evenings when you're going through the pain or discomfort that you're experiencing. Obviously we'll both be so relieved when you can be a happier more comfortable baby. I try to play with you on the floor each day, but it is a challenge since you aren't that happy a lot of the time. When we do play on the floor we look at the lights toy that plays music, we play with Raggedy Ann and Andy, Sophie the Giraffe and a few other toys. I brush your hair at night before bed and read you bedtime stories and then sing you lullaby's. I give you a bath about twice a week and it depends on the day whether you like it or not. You like to put your fists in your mouth and suck away and the sucking noise it makes just cracks me up! You don't put anything else in your mouth yet, but I can see that you'll probably love to when you figure out how. You usually like to ride in the car still, but last night you were so fussy that that was the only other thing I could think of to do (I was exhauseted!) and you cried the entire time we were in the car. Oops! But then we came home and you snuggled me on the rocking chair in the nursery, which was such a precious moment. You don't have a nap schedule yet. Sometimes you sleep for 30 minutes at a time, sometimes for 2 hours. Yesterday you snuggled on my chest for your 2 hour nap. I didn't get anything done, but I wouldn't have traded that! You've been sleeping between 5 and 6 hours for your first stretch at night for about a week and a half! It's amazing to get that much sleep at once. You then sleep for about 2 hours at a time, and I can hardly function when it's time to nurse, but we are making it work. We found a babysitter for you. We are going to visit her today so you and she can get to know each other a bit. I'm only going to leave you for an hour with her, but I know I'll cry even so. I can't imagine how I'll leave you all day in a couple of weeks :( I don't want to be without you, my little Laney Bug, even though our days can be long and challenging sometimes, I just love being around you all the time. Right now you're laying in your boppy while I type. You are so sweet! We can't wait to see what the next several weeks hold for you as you grow and develop even more. We love you and love being your parents!





An open letter to the school district

 So the plan for school this year, at the K-5 level, was pretty complicated to begin. (the plan was made after lots of meeting and planning ...