my little ray of sunshine

 Is it normal for babies to be as happy and content as Savanna?  I wonder that every, single day.  I have yet to meet someone that doesn't comment on what an unbelievably happy little baby we have.  She is so social and flashes her giant smile to anyone and everyone she meets.  My favorite is the little crinkle nose she gets when she shows you one of her huge cheesers.  It feels so stress free to take her anywhere because she is so content and easy going.


Savanna is so happy when she wakes up.  She will just talk to herself and play happily with her binkys while she waits for someone to come get her...no matter what time of day or night.  As soon as she hears the door she starts flailing her arms and legs like crazy and giggling.  I get so excited to get her because it is seriously the cutest, most rewarding thing ever.  Heidi and I usually race in as soon we hear her because Heidi loves it too.  She jumps in the crib to greet her happy little sister.  No matter where we are, the second Savanna sees Heidi she just beams and starts laughing.

The only day that she is even slightly grumpy is Sunday.  This of course is because church starts when she usually takes her morning nap.  She does not like to be held or rocked to sleep.  She only likes her bed.  So she generally sleeps about 10 minutes and then is overtired the rest of the day.  She still isn't miserable, she just needs to be held more than usual.  She cracks me up because when she gets tired I go to her room and get her blanket and she just starts giggling...I guess because she is thrilled I know what she wants?  I hope this is her personality and that she will stay this happy forever because she seriously brings so much happiness to all of us.  It is impossible to be sad when she is around.  Since she is such a joyful baby, does that mean I am in for it during the toddler years? Perhaps, but for now we will just enjoy all the sunshine she brings.  We love you, happy girl!

i guess she really listens

Heidi is so hilarious.  Maybe it's her, maybe it's the age, or maybe it's her little voice saying and repeating things that makes me laugh so hard.  The constant hand gestures help make everything she says so funny as well.  She definitely listens to every single thing we say because I catch her repeating what we say to her stuffed animals, her sister, and to her mom and dad.

Talking to her stuffed dog while attempting to brush its hair:
"Sit still sweetie.  It will hurt more if you wiggle."

Talking to me:
"You better hurry to the bathroom before you pee your pants."

Talking to her dad:
"Good choice, dad!" or "Good eyes, dad!  You found it!"

Talking to me:
"Good catch, mom!  Thanks!"

Talking to her sister:
"You just have two more bites little one then you need a nap.  Is it yummy?  You like these pears don't you?  Let me wipe your face."

Talking to no one in particular:
"What is all that crap doing on the table?"  I would like to blame her dad for that one, but let's be honest, there is a good chance she picked it up from me.  It could be worse, right?

Oh and she has also been known to now call me "mother."  It cracks me up every.single.time.
"Where are you mother?"  "I'm hungry mother."  "Should we go to the park, mother?  Should we do that?"

I don't know what we would do without 

our little Heidi.  She definitely

keeps us laughing.

teaching license

So my teaching license expired in January.  I kind of forgot between the big move and having a newborn at home.  I knew I had plenty of credits and I have always had a goal to keep my license up to date because you never know what life will bring and I would hate to need it and not have it current.  Plus, it's a lot easier to just keep it current than to start all over.  So, I dragged the girls to the police department for fingerprints (I swear I have had my fingerprints taken 5 times in the last 5 years for teaching), I dragged them to find a notary, I used their naptime to fill out applications, I ordered my stinking Praxis scores again, I spent loads of time on the phone with PTSB making sure I had everything together, I paid a large chunk of money to renew the blasted thing, and then I dragged the girls to the post office to mail it all in.  It was such a pain and I wasn't sure it was even worth all the trouble.  After waiting 8 weeks, my new license finally came.  I felt a huge sigh of relief when I opened it.  I am glad I didn't waste the credits I already had and I feel the biggest weight off my shoulders knowing I have a current teaching license.  I don't plan on going back before it expires again, but as I mentioned before, you just never know what life will bring.

kitchen

Please excuse the crooked picture.  I probably won't post many more of the house.  I love the cupboards.  I love the granite.  I love the backsplash.  I basically just love the kitchen.  It's big, it's open, and I have empty cupboards and drawers.  When I was teaching my teaching buddies used to laugh at me because I liked to have at least one empty drawer or cupboard.  I liked having a place to put a huge project that I was working on because I hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE anything on the counters.  My home is no exception!  I am not even crazy about having the toaster or kitchen aid on the counter, but I have learned to deal with it because it is way more convenient.  Remind me why Heidi's OCD tendencies are a surprise to me?

sisters

This is the the latest picture that makes my heart happy every time I see it.  Savanna adores Heidi 100% of the time and Heidi adores Savanna 90% of the time.  Heidi is starting to love her sister all the more now that she realizes how Savanna laughs her pants off every time she catches a glimpse of Heidi.  Heidi's new thing is to run into Savanna's room and climb in her crib when she hears her in the morning and after naps.  It makes them both squeal with delight.  Heidi has also been saying the funniest things to her that I don't want to forget.

The sweet stuff:

*When I walked out of the bathroom and into the closet to find some clothes Savanna started to fuss.  Heidi sweetly went over to her, bent down and said, "It's okay, sweetie pie.  Mommy will be right back".
*When Savanna starts blowing raspberries while eating, Heidi will sweetly say, "No, no sweetie pie.  Like this..." --then she will imitate how to chew and swallow.
*Heidi is constantly saying things like, "Isn't sissy so cute?"  "I can't stop kissing her sweet little face."  "Savanna loves me".  "Savanna wanted to come to our family to be with me."  "Savanna is my bestest sweetie pie friend."
"You're my little grabby goo!  Oh yes you are!  You grab everything sissy!"

6 month shots and stats

My sis-in-law took cute pics of Savanna when they came to visit. I think she is actually more like 5 months in this picture.

Savanna had her 6 month shots today.  I know this is going to shock the socks right off you, but she is still measuring quite small.

Length: 24 inches--below 5th percentile

Weight: 12 lbs. 13 oz.--below 5th percentile

Sadly it is looking like she is even more likely to be a major shrimp like her mother.  It shocked me that she now weighs less than Heidi did at this age (only by about 4 oz) but she is now an inch shorter than Heidi was.  Time will tell, but they are definitely different in build because clothes and diapers fit completely different on Savanna than they did on Heidi.  

Savanna is still showing signs of reflux and has a nasty sore on the back of her throat...still.  Her ears looks okay though. The doctor wants to put her on prevacid for a few weeks to see if it will clear it up or if we need to see if it is something else.  

Of course she was an absolute dream the whole time at the doctor and the doctor and nurses all commented on how they had never seen such a happy little baby...we get that everywhere we go and it is one of our very, very favorite things about Savanna that we hope never changes.  We love you, Savanna!  It's impossible not to smile when you're around!

trained

I am happy to say this little gal is now fully potty trained!  It took less than 2 days.  On day 3 she ended up with a nasty cold and double ear infection (isn't that how it always goes?).  She still didn't have a single accident.  On Saturday she had a small accident...not totally her fault.  She was outside helping Jeff stake out for sprinklers and he didn't hear her say she needed to go inside.  She is quite proud of herself and likes to announce it to the world.  Jeff had a meeting at our house on Tuesday and she proudly yelled over the stairs, "I PEED DAD!!!  WHOO HOO!  WHOO HOO!!!  ARE YOU PROUD OF ME?"  Then today at church she loudly let me know she needed to go and then kept saying, "I don't even know where the bathroom is in this place."  As soon as she spotted her dad on the way back in she said, "I PEED, DAD!!!"  You could hear the entire chapel chuckling.  That's my girl.

And as a side note, poor little Savanna now has her nasty cold.  Poor baby.  Good thing we have her 6 month check up this week so they can check her ears.  Grrrr....isn't cold season over yet?

six months

 Savanna is six months old today.  Wow.  Time is flying even more quickly the second time around.  Her 6 month appointment isn't until next week, so we will get her stats then, but she seems to be growing a ton!  Oh my goodness do we love this girl and as Heidi always says, "I'm so glad Savanna came to our family."

*Savanna is still just about as happy and easy going as they come.
*Starting to show more separation anxiety, but is easily calmed by the sight of mom or dad.  (Unless she is extra tired or hungry, then she wants mom)
*Rolls from her back to tummy.
*Spins and spins while on the floor.
*Enjoys playing on the floor with toys more than being held most of the time.  Of course she wants someone to talk to while she is playing and Heidi is her favorite person to have around.

*Starting to eat solid food a little better, but absolutely will not touch cereal if it isn't mixed with breastmilk.  Has only had squash and sweet potatoes besides cereal and prefers the sweet potatoes.
*Giggles constantly. Heidi will walk in the room and she will start laughing.  She is also very ticklish especially her ribs and toes.
*LOVES peek-a-boo and will laugh hysterically every time you reappear.

*Almost every person who meets her thinks she looks exactly like Jeff except for the light eyes.
*We are wondering what her hair will do.  It seems to be getting lighter but I am still crossing my fingers it will be dark.
*Can only sit on her own for about 1 second before toppling over.
*Still inconsistent nighttime sleeper, but fairly consistent napper.
*Loves to lean, reach, and grab anything and everything.
*Flails her arms and legs like crazy when she's excited....mostly as soon as anyone walks in the room to greet her.
*Has started to growl.  It is the funniest little sound and we all laugh heartily when she shares it with us.