Friday, August 31, 2012

What's for dinner?

I forgot to do this post last night, sorry.

Callie is moving on in her food choices; today we decided to have peaches for dinner. I whipped up a batch in the new vitamix. Fresh peaches and breast milk, peaches and cream sounds more like dessert than dinner! Callie was eager to try a new food and while I think she liked the taste she wasn't too sure about a new texture. She made a lot of faces while she was eating it. She ate the whole bowl I had for her so I would say that's a success. I also made extra and froze it. And for other choices I made apples and cauliflower. Lots more baby food making soon now I have my vitamix. It's so easy. For me I made homemade peanut butter, a smoothie and fresh fruit juice. Yummy!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Reading with daddy

Juan usually does the reading of the story at bedtime for Callie since I do the feedings. She always looks so cute sitting with him. She has been helping turn the pages and trying to eat them, although she doesn't like the taste. My two loves just sitting together reading. She is going to grow up to be a daddy's girl I think!

Baby Blue

My favorite outfits for Callie are blue ones as they make her eyes look even more blue. I also love the color blue and as most of you know I love stripes! So this outfit was just perfect. Big thanks to whoever bought it for Callie.
She is so beautiful! Here are more photos of my love.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Sewing safe bumpers

Callie has been getting her arms and legs stuck in the crib lately with all her acrobatics in bed. It's a big problem at Grandma's house as her rails are more flexible and she can really get wedged in there. At our house the slats are wide and thick so they don't budge but she has still gotten stuck. I was going to buy mesh bumpers but after looking at them online I thought I can make that! It's just mesh sewn to size with trim for decoration. I did some research on the best way to attach them and Academy of Pediatrics or something similar said bumped with ties are a hazard so ties were out. I went with Velcro as its secure, hidden when it's stuck together and shouldn't pose a hazard.
My crib has a changing table as well so the standard ones wouldn't fit. I made mine with only 3 sides.
Ok so to buy them it's $40. I made 2 sets for $15! I could have done it for less than 10 but I had poor planning and bought twice as much mesh as I needed because I forgot you could cut it in half.
I also made mine taller than the standard ones so she couldn't get her arm in there no matter what when she rolls. These are just going to be used a few months as once she can crawl and sit and stand in her crib I don't we will need them. So I'm happy with my creation and they look really good. Here they are.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

First Earthquake!

Callie experienced her first earthquake today. Guess its part of growing up in southern California. I wasn't home and didn't feel it because I was in the car. Juan was home with Callie who was napping. He said as soon as the earthquake happened she woke up crying, but just for one minute and fell right back asleep. Ha ha it's like someone shook her bed and she got mad just for a second. What a trooper.

Also today I sanded down Callie's door so it actually closes. We thought it might dampen the crying sound at. night for Jorge.
We have decided she needs to start learning to sleep at night and not eat so I am only feeding her after 4 hours even if she is crying. So far 2 nights in and she complains a lot but only cries around 4 am. So I'm hoping all the crying results in longer periods of sleep but for now it's still tough! I'm not even asking sleep through the night, I'm just requesting 4 hour blocks. I'm sure once we reach that I'll try to move on to 6 hrs, that's my ultimate goal. One night feeding sounds reasonable to me :)
Callie is still very interested in her feet. I put her down for a nap today and couldn't quite see what she was doing on the monitor so I went to check on her. This is what I found... Callie trying to pull her sock off and eat it. Very adorable but wasn't helping nap time!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Callie's First Meal

Callie had her first real meal today, organic rice cereal and breast milk. I made a really runny version since it was her first day and I had low expectations but figured we would at least attempt it. She did great! She really seemed to like it and was opening her mouth and swallowing. Granted she still made a big mess but she tried hard. I even let her hold the spoon and she put it right in her mouth! She's one smart cookie and apparently loves to eat too! Here she is, so proud of my little munchkin.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Time for food

Callie's pediatrician gave us the green light for starting her on simple foods. I always knew I wanted to make all her baby food using organic ingredients. I mean I already make my own soap, laundry soap, cleaners, and butt balm how hard can it be? I have been wanting to buy a vitamix for awhile but couldn't convince myself I needed it that bad. Now that I'm planning on baby food I just went ahead and ordered it. I hope it lives up to the hype! I'm planning on instant soup, lots of baby food and smoothies. Now I just can't wait for it to get here. Hurry up UPS man!
Heres a photo of the wondrous machine.
Tomorrow we will try rice cereal for the first time and of course I'll take a bunch of photos. Big day tomorrow....

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Look! I found my feet!

Today Callie discovered her feet. It was like a switch went off. She found them in bed in the morning and then wanted to hold them and play with them all day. She could find them in her carseat and when she is sitting on my lap. She kept touching and holding her toes and grabbing her whole foot. It was pretty cute. She is really starting to explore her environment and be more aware of her body and her surroundings.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Mommy the photographer

I have been playing with my fancy dslr camera and am getting better. I bought a flash thingy (don't know what to call it) that helps with the light without flashing in Callie's eyes. I think it helps me take better photos. I am actually pretty proud of these few that I took(all from Monday again). Pretty professional looking if you ask me! Of course it helps when you have such a beautiful happy model!

Four Months Old!

Today Callie is 4 months old! She is getting big fast and learning lots of new skills. She loves to stand on her feet with help and pushes up and down. She is trying to sit up more by herself but still topples over. Rolling has become easier and she uses her strong legs to get up in a modified quadruped position on her elbows and knees.
Now we just need her to start sleeping longer periods at night so I can get some more rest. Hopefully this will come with Month 4.
When I look back at photos of her it's amazing how much she has grown. It's wonderful to see her smile and laugh and how excited she gets to see me when I get home from work. It's all still an incredible exhausting journey but I'm loving every minute. I just hope all this sleep deprivation doesn't make me forget! Good thing I have the blog to go back to if I forget, he he.
Here are some photos I took of her yesterday (one day early I know) because I had to work today.

Enjoying gifts

Today was all about enjoying gifts. We used the high chair GaGa got us for the first time. She really enjoyed being able to sit with me at lunch and have her toys on the tray.
Then we dressed up in the jean skirt GiGi sent her. She looks like a big girl with her skirt on.
Then we played with Violet the dog, a wonderful gift from Karly and Charlie in FL. Callie loves to hear it sing and say her name.
Many thanks to all the people who gave us gifts that make our days easier and more fun!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Birth shadow box

Nicky has been helping me work on a shadow box for Callie. We finally got together and finished it today. It came out really good and I am so excited to hang it on my wall. It seems pretty crazy that she was this small not too long ago! The hand an footprints are from day 4 of her life and the photos from day 11. We also saved her anklet name tag from the hospital. We added all her stats and birth info so we won't forget. Thank you Nicky for helping me make this so cool.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Teddy bear bedtime

I've been trying to make bedtime somewhat more comforting and routine for Callie. She still tends to cry quite a bit at bedtime. Sometimes she cries more than 25 minutes and then I will go calm her and try again. Lately it seems even harder for her to fall asleep. I decided it might be nice for her to feel comforted by an item. My choice was this very soft flat bear that has no hard parts she got from the DeBiasi family. It's very soft, you could lay on it because it's flat and it has nothing to hurt or scratch her. Lots of her other toys have eyes or have a rattle in them even when they are meant for bedtime. I keep putting it under her arm when I put her to bed. Some nights she sleeps in the same spot with it under her arm and other nights she rolls or crawls away from it. Either way it's too darn cute so I had to show you. Hopefully she learns to love it and it comforts her so one day we have a no crying bedtime.

Trying to sit up

Callie is really trying to sit up now. Yesterday she was sitting between my legs when all of a sudden I realized she was leaning on her arms and totally supporting herself! Callie's first prop sit. She was pretty hunched over and it only lasted maybe 20 seconds but I snapped a quick photo. She tries to use her head to pick herself up more which doesn't work but a good try if you ask me.

Friday, August 17, 2012

LT too

LT must be jealous because I posted Callie and Manny because this morning he came up and laid down right with her. They sure do love her. Although Manny was in for his first rude awakening that Callie could hurt him. She got ahold of his ear and she has a serious grip. Poor manny!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Good morning

Callie was up early this morning and was hanging out in my bed waiting for me to get dressed. Her and Manny were perfectly content just laying there watching me. My two babies together so happy this morning :)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Pacifier leash

We still keep trying to get Callie to take a pacifier but with no avail. I have it on a leash clipped to her carseat so I can try whenever she is fussy in her seat. She still hates the pacifier but she will hold and play with the leash. She also likes to put the fabric of the leash in her mouth. Notice the pacifier just hanging below her mouth. I don't think she is ever going to change her mind about the pacifier. I just hope she isn't so stubborn when she gets older!

Monday, August 13, 2012

3/4 month checkup

Callie had her checkup with the pediatrician today. She is doing good and growing fast! She weighs 16 lbs now, which puts her at the 85th percentile for weight. She is 50th for height. We love all those rolls and pudge and are glad she is such a good eater.
She is teething and chewing on everything! Its hard to get a photo without something in her mouth.
The dr doesn't have any great ideas why she wants to eat so much at night. She is going to ask around and call me back. She has never had a kid that wants to do most of their eating at night.
She was tough and got another shot today. We decided to spread them out after the last time when she got a bad rash. So we have to go back over the next 2 weeks to get the rest of the vaccines she needs.
Also today I got a break for mommy to go get a massage. Uncle Christian came to babysit and give me a break to relax. It was nice, I could have just fallen asleep on the table.
Here's hoping that month 4 brings me more consistent sleep! Only 1 week away from 4 months.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Taggies

Taylor sent Callie this cool taggie blanket long before she was born with her name on it. She hasn't really liked it before now because she couldn't hold on to much. Now she puts everything in her mouth that she can get her hands on an really likes fabric. She eats burp cloths, wash cloths, car seat straps, you name it she eats it. So I reintroduced the taggie blanket. She really likes it! It has soft minky on one side and silky satin on the other with lots of different ribbons coming out the sides. She likes to put the ribbons in her mouth although she sometimes chokes herself trying to swallow them. Here she is enjoying her blankie. Thanks Tay!