Happy Heart Day!

Instead of watching 20 hyper eight year-olds open their Valentine cards with glee, I will be watching one sweet baby girl sporting her Valentine pjs. I'm pretty sure she has already won our hearts.








I am so looking forward to the day I am helping her fill out her Valentine cards and watching her excitement, but for now, we are more than content just to watch her roll and spin around, play with her toes and clasp her hands, and of course, squeal and giggle with delight. We could not be more in love with our little valentine!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Dear Daddy,

Happy Birthday! I love you so much! You are the best dad in the world. Here are just a few reasons why I love you.
*You get so excited to come home and see me.
*You are disappointed if I am asleep when you get home.
*When you put me in my crib, you slept on my floor because you were worried about me being all alone.
*You always tell me how cute I am.
*When I get fussy you walk around and sing funny chinese sounding songs.
*You call me your little Chubaca since I make those sounds perfectly.
*When mom tries to give me some time on the floor to play by myself, you always "rescue" me.
*Snuggling me is your favorite thing to do.
*You can give me blessings and you read me scriptures every night.
*You are so excited to show me off.
*You aren't afraid to change poopy diapers.
*You get just as excited as mom to try out my new clothes.
*You give the best baths.
*You read me stories.
*You are always worried about me.
*You like being there when I have to get my shots.
*You are concerned about my thinning hair and love to brush what little I have left.

I can't wait to take a ride on your four wheeler and go camping with our family. Someday soon I will be anxiously looking out the window for you to come home from work. You take such good care of me and mommy. I am pretty sure I already have you wrapped around my little finger, but it looks like I will most definitely be a daddy's girl. I hope you have the best birthday ever.

Love, Heidi

An Eventful Day

My mother-in-law convinced me to post about today and after giving it some thought, I decided it would be fun to read about later.

So...here we go. It has been cold, cold, cold around here lately. Last night -16. Brrrr. It is times like these that I am so grateful to have a wood burning stove...there is seriously nothing like that kind of heat. At first Jeff would start the fire before he left for work, but then I was getting annoyed because it was way too hot to run (our treadmill is downstairs). I felt like I was running in the dead heat of summer. So we came up with a new plan. He would bring in wood and I would light it when I was done running. That was working great, but then I started having a hard time getting the fire going. New plan. Jeff would now build the fire, bring in the wood, and then all I would have to do is light it. Now this was really perfect...until this morning.

Heidi and I went downstairs and I had a great run...probably felt the best I have since she came into our lives. I was feeling great. I fed her, we played a little while, and then I realized I hadn't started the fire. I figured I would go ahead and do that so it would be nice and warm after my shower. I did what I always do...I lit the newspaper, opened the air intake, and held the door open a little bit until it got going. But today was different...instead of lighting, massive amounts of smoke started pouring out the door. I closed it a little more in hopes of stopping this, but it just got worse and started pouring out the back of the fireplace. Crap. I quickly called Jeff about 8 times, but he wasn't in his office. Now the fire alarms were going off because there was soooo much smoke. I quickly took Heidi upstairs and went back down to try to figure out what to do but the smoke was so thick, I couldn't breathe and now it was quickly creeping up the stairs and into the kitchen. I was sure I had started the whole house on fire. So, I did the only thing I could think of...I called 911.

I was glad I had someone to talk to while I waited for someone to come figure out what to do, but some of the things she asked me made me wonder what kind of an idiot she thought I was. Here is my favorite part of the conversation.

Her: You need to leave the house.
Me: I am getting my keys right now.
Her: Is there anyone else in the house?
Me: Yes, my baby.
Her: Are you out of the house now?
Me: Yes, I am in my car.
Her: Where is the baby?

Really? I felt like saying, "Oh, the baby? Well, she was taking a nap and I didn't want to disturb her." Honestly.

Anywho, so before long the first policeman arrives. He tells me that he will take the car out and park in the street running to get it warm. In the meantime he tells me to go and get in his police car where it is warm. So there I am with little bundled up Heidi in the back seat of the cop car crying thinking about how my house is probably ruined. (Heidi, by the way, thought it was great. She was talking and squealing the entire time.) Then, just to make sure everyone knows I'm having a bad day, 4 more cops arrive, 2 or 3 fire engines, and an ambulance. They then put cones out on the street to prevent traffic and that is when all the neighbors begin to emerge. Oh hooray. Now everyone can see me sitting in the back of the cop car crying and I'm sure they had all sorts of scenarios worked up in their head. I hate, hate, hate to be the center of attention and well, this was just perfect.

Anyway...so while I am sitting there thinking and wondering what was ruined and how bad the damage is, the officer asks if I have been able to get in touch with Jeff. I told him that he must be in a meeting or something and he promptly calls the police dept. and has someone find Jeff. I found out later that two security guards came and pulled him out of a meeting of about 20 people...perfect. Now Jeff is the center of attention--which, he hates being even more than I do!

Anyway, after a little while the fire chief comes over and tells me great news...no fire, just smoke. What happened was that because it has been sooo cold, the fireplace pipe was too cold and the smoke was drafting backwards in the house. So the firefighters spent about an hour or so getting the smoke out of the house and making it safe so we could go back inside. I felt like a total idiot, but looking back, I'm not sure I would have done much different other than have Jeff light the fire. Jeff told me that even if I had closed the air intake, it would have been really smokey and would have still had smoke coming out the back, which would have still been bad enough that I wouldn't have known what to do and the house would still have filled with lots of smoke. Surprisingly, I haven't had to clean too much up except for where the firemen walked and touched the walls with their sooty hands. No damage. Phew. What a day. So while I am grateful to have a warm wood burning stove, I am also grateful to have a husband who will be lighting it from here on out!

Projects, Pacifiers, and the UPS man

My friend Stephanie and I made these calendars and I am so excited about them! I have the perfect place to hang it. I have been wanting a calendar for a long time and couldn't decide what I wanted to do. We went to a craft fair and saw something, but then when we looked online we found we liked better, but it was too much money. My friend's mom knew a lady who could do the vinyl and metal cheaper so we finally decided to do it! I just need to hammer in a few nails and have Jeff hang it. It was fun making them because my friend has a darling little boy who is 8 weeks older than Heidi. It was fun to put them next to each other and see them look at each other. We're pretty sure they will get married someday. :)

This isn't the most stellar picture of Heidi, but I had to post about how funny she has been lately. She loves her binky. I try to only let her have it if she's crying or sleeping, but the little sneak always seems to find it if it is anywhere near her. For about a month or so she would see you holding it and then grab your hand and bring it to her mouth. It was so funny. Now she just takes matters into her own hands. I'm not sure why it startles me to see the pacifier in her mouth when I haven't put it there, but it makes me do a double take every time. She is also learning how to pull the thing that makes noise on her bouncer seat. Whenever I hear a little monkey noise or music from the other room, I know she was successful. It's fun to see her learn new things, but it is also a constant reminder that she is getting bigger.

My next bit is quite humorous to me. When I explained the situation to Jeff I was laughing so hard that I had tears running down my face. I realize it's probably not that funny, but maybe I'm just a little tired and loopy. Anywho, so when I first brought Heidi home she was a delight. Then week 3 hit and I wondered when her parents were coming to pick her up. We went outside a lot to pace. At that time, we were in the process of re-financing our house to a lower interest rate so the UPS man came with documents on a pretty regular basis. The first time he came, I happened to be outside with Heidi tossing a diaper. He seemed all smiley and of course thought Heidi was the cutest baby he had ever seen. Well, two days later he arrived again and I was out on the driveway pacing. This time he gave me kind of a funny look and it was then that I realized he probably thought I was this stay at home mom who just sits around ordering stuff off the internet and waiting for it to arrive. Two days later, lo and behold, this happened again. I was feeling a bit embarrassed. Then on another day I was taking Heidi for a walk and seemed to be walking everywhere the UPS truck was driving...I really think he thought I was following him.

So anyway, yesterday I was anxiously awaiting the fedex truck. We FINALLY ordered new phones (I no longer have to walk around the house plugging my phone in wherever I go). I had also ordered some diapers and things from diapers.com, but wasn't expecting them until Thurs. Finally I hear the doorbell ring and it's the fedex lady. Whoo hoo! As I am standing at the door signing my life away I notice a big, brown truck pulling up to my house and parking right behind the fedex. At which point the fedex lady says, "Oh my, it looks like you are getting another package". Sure enough. The UPS man had come at the same time so now he really, really thinks all I do is order stuff and wait for it to come all day long. As he came on the porch and was standing next to the fedex lady with his package, it was all I could do not to bust out laughing. As they left, I noticed them standing on my driveway talking to each other for a good 3 minutes. Perhaps they were discussing the lonely housewife with the shopping addiction. Oh my.

Five Months

In spite of the fact that I am constantly whispering in Heidi's ear to stop growing up, it seems to continue happening. We think she is getting huge and are enjoying all her new little rolls, but when we see her next to other babies her age we realize she is still pretty tiny! When I took her in for her teary eye and congestion she was 11lb. 1 oz. She is probably going to be one of those kids that looks too little to be walking or crawling. All the teeny kids I know seem to have big, funny personalities to make up for their size, so we are hoping that is the case for our little munchkin.

*As long as Heidi is not tired, she is the happiest, most pleasant little girl.
*We think she might be on the shy side. When she is home with just us, she coos, squeals, and laughs constantly. If someone is over or we go somewhere she hardly makes a peep. We aren't sure if it's because she is shy, or because she is still so observant and is trying to take everything in.
*When you lay her on the floor, she usually spins around and around.
*Rolls over, but mostly from back to stomach and it's always when you least expect it.
*She doesn't really seem to like it if someone she isn't used to is at her house or in her space. It takes her a little bit to warm up to the idea of it not just being mom or dad. We wish she would show her best self to other people too!
*She likes to sit on the counter in her bumbo while I cook and watch and squeal at everything I do.
*Stares at you from across the room waiting for you to catch her eye then when you do, she breaks out in a huge grin and crinkles her nose.
*Her toes are her new favorite toy...and I thought keeping socks on was hard before!
*Her hair is getting very light and is thinning like crazy. She has a huge bald spot in the back...she really needs to learn how to sleep laying still!
*When she gets excited she kicks her legs and flails her arms like crazy.
*Her laugh is the cutest sound in the whole world and due to the fact that she is so ticklish, we have figured out how to hear it all the time. She likes squeal really loud right after she laughs.
*Still a big time cuddle bug. While sometimes it can be hard, I wouldn't want her any other way. She has to be snuggled when she wakes up from any nap and even when she is playing on the floor she likes to be picked up and hugged from time to time and then she is ready to play some more. She likes to grab our face and pull it right next to hers and rest her head on our cheek.
*Gets scared easily. She is very jumpy...just like her mom. If she doesn't know someone else in the room and then hears them or sees them she jumps.
*Likes to be read to.
*Likes music and laughs if you make her dance.
*Early to bed/early to rise. In bed by 7 or 7:30. She usually falls asleep while I put lotion on her and get her ready for bed--no matter how much sleep she has had during the day. She has been waking up around 3 and will usually take the pacifier until about 4:30 and then again until about 5 or 5:30. Then she eats and cuddles and goes back to sleep for another 30 min. to an hour. Sometimes she takes two short naps and one long nap and other times she takes 3 or 4 short naps a day. We need to start moving her to her crib, but mommy and daddy have more separation anxiety than she does!

We love our little cuddle bug to pieces and cannot imagine how we ever lived our lives without her. We are so grateful to have a sweet, healthy, happy little baby and really, really want her to stop growing up!

Routine

When I was teaching, I used to hate the days where the schedule was thrown off...assemblies, parties, fire drills, random announcements, etc. I like to have a plan and I like things to be predictable. That is why motherhood has been a little challenging...I haven't yet been able to get in a routine. Every time I would see some sort of a schedule, something would throw it off--sickness being the worst. Well, now that Heidi is feeling much better and is almost 5 months old (when did that happen?) I am starting to see a routine emerge and I am more than thrilled. The mornings seem to be more predictable than the afternoons, but hey, I'll take it.

Heidi usually goes to bed around 7:30 but she would go down at 5:30 if I let her. She is just like her mother--not a night owl. I have tried to give her a cat nap to hold her off until closer to 7:30, but she wants none of it...it's the real thing or nothing! Sooo...we do cereal around 6:45, bath, nurse, bed. Sometimes she can't even make it getting dressed and she has been known to start dosing off while she gets lotion rub down. And trust me--it doesn't matter how much she sleeps in the day, she does not like to see anything past the 8:00 hour!

Around 3 or 4am she wakes up. Her congestion is SO much better now so she makes it much longer, but that is about the time she starts getting stuffed up again. She will usually take the pacifier until 5 or 5:30.

Then, I get her up to feed her. Would she take the pacifier and hold off a little longer? Probably. The problem is, I am so excited to see her and kiss her little cheeks that I get excited to hear her stirring and she usually wakes up chattering and it is just too cute. After I feed her she HAS to have cuddle time. If she does not get this time, she is clingy and crabby. She likes to lay with me and snuggle. Sometimes she falls back asleep, sometimes she just likes to be held close. She loves Sat. and Sun. when dad is there to snuggle too. It is all of our favorite time and even though we know there are critics of this time, we don't really care because she will only be this little once and our next baby probably won't be so cuddly.

Around 6:30 she gets dressed and watches me run on the treadmill. Now that she is sleeping better, I am desperate to get the rest of this baby weight off. I was doing so well and then I was exhausted from only catching a few hours of sleep that I made excuses. No more. I need to get back into it so when the weather finally gets warmer we can try out the jogging stroller. Heidi loves this time. She uses this time to squeal at the treadmill and practice rolling over. When I finish and do push-ups and sit-ups she finds it extremely hilarious. She giggles and giggles. Then we usually play awhile and work on rolling.

Then it's shower and another feeding for the little one. She usually plays 1-2 more hours and takes a nap. Then it's chore time for me. I try to get all the big stuff done during her first nap, and yes, she still naps in the swing. I need to start getting her to nap in the crib, but until Jeff gets the monitor hooked up, it's easier for me to listen for her in the swing. Sometimes she takes a short 30 min. nap, sometimes closer to an hour and half. When she gets up we use that as our reading time and mat time until the next feeding.

After her third feeding she usually takes another nap and that's when I usually work on projects for the school or scrapbook. When she wakes up I feed her again and then we play until it's time to make dinner. Once dinner is made, we anxiously wait for dad to get home. It's still not as scheduled as I would like, but hey, it's a start. I feel so blessed to get to stay home and watch my sweet little girl...who is growing way too fast. Everyone told me how hard motherhood would be, but not many told me how much fun it can be--what a pleasant surprise.

Giraffes

Is it possible for a 4.5 month old to have a favorite animal? This girl seems to love giraffes. She has one that someone gave her and she always holds it and sucks its ears. Then my friend gave her this one for Christmas and she is in heaven. This one even sings the ABCs. As soon as she sees it, she starts squealing. It is so funny.

Heidi has definitely found her "outside voice" the last few days. It is the funniest thing in the world. She squeals at the top of her lungs...it is the highest, most ear piercing sound I have ever heard-- and I thought her other squeals were loud! It is quite funny, but not so easy to have a conversation around!

I took my little monkey in to a different doctor today to see if we could figure anything out about her congestion and teary eye. Much better experience. We have tried everything for 2 months--saline drops, humidifier, vicks baby rub, elevation of the mattress, etc. This doctor is putting her on an antibiotic so we are hoping that will work. He mentioned that sometimes reflux shows itself this way (this kind of congestion) around this time. Isn't that bizarre? He suggested putting her on an acid reflux medicine if the antibiotic doesn't work, but I'm not sure I'm game for that one. If she is still really bad at 6 months, he suggested going to an ear/nose/throat doctor. I don't think we will need to do any of these things. I am hopeful the antibiotic will work. Last night Heidi slept a lot better because she didn't seem as congested so I am pretty sure that is why she isn't sleeping.

The funniest thing lately in our house has been reading scriptures. We started reading while feeding her cereal in the evening. The second Jeff starts reading she starts babbling and squealing non-stop while trying to feed herself with the spoon. We usually end up with 2 or 3 spoons out and very little food being swallowed! She talks so much it all comes spilling out! It's always quite the mess and probably the funniest time in our household. We just love this little girl!