Olivia: 19 weeks!

MONTH: 5
WEEK: 19
WEIGHT: 15lbs +
LENGTH: 25in +
HEAD: 42cm +
MILESTONES: Olivia went on her first slide on Monday. She seemed very indifferent about the whole thing. It was quite anticlimactic.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE:  Taken today. All of the photos I took today were so cute I could hardly choose.
EATING: Olivia is such an efficient nurser she only takes about 6 or 7 minutes to eat each time. Now that I have the My Brest Friend pillow that makes nursing so much easier it's almost like I don't even have to stop to feed her!
VISITS/OUTINGS: We have been visiting the park frequently today because Avery has so much energy to burn.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Olivia is a rolling machine. She has been able to efficiently roll belly to back for some time and had was able to roll from back to belly but now she is just rolling around like she's promoting peace in India.
MOMMY FEELS: Tired. We have been up since 4:30 this morning.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Sleeping. And going to the Discovery Museum next week.

Summertime fun!

Ice cream and paint. What could be more fun? Swimming maybe, but I can't do that with both babies by myself, so ice cream and paint it is. And Avery doesn't mind. In fact she loves it.

Olivia: 18 weeks!

MONTH: 5
WEEK: 18
WEIGHT: 15+ lbs
LENGTH: 25+ in
HEAD: 42 cm
MILESTONES: Olivia has officially found her feet. It's so funny.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: This one was taken on Friday thanks to a dead battery in my camera.
EATING: Lately we have noticed Olivia watching us as we eat. I think she is going to be a good eater when she is a little older because she seems so interested already.
VISITS/OUTINGS: On Wednesday we went shopping and got Olivia this new toy called Sophie the Giraffe. I have heard it is pretty magical with it's teething and soothing powers. I was skeptical because of it's $24 price tag, but after almost a week of having it I have decided it's actually pretty neat.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Olivia loves to listen to Avery talk and immediately gets a huge smiling and laughs for her like she won't for anyone else.
MOMMY FEELS: Great after a good night's sleep AND a nap!
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Seeing Auntie Mandy and Cousin Penny while we are in San Diego next month to watch Uncle Thommy graduate from USMC bootcamp.

Olivia: 4 months!

Weight: 15lbs 3oz
Height: 25.25 in
Head circ.: 16.5 in

THIS MONTH YOUR BABY MAY BE ABLE TO:

• squeal and laugh with delight Laughing is the newest trick and it is absolutely adorable! Listening to my girls' laughs is probably my favorite sound in the world.
• make "raspberry" sounds with her lips Olivia sure loves making raspberry sounds and bubbles with her mouth!
• experiment by making new sounds She has been "talking" up a storm lately and is such a chatter box.
• make sounds in response to you She even "talks" back when I make silly noises with her.
• track moving objects as her head and neck development work together Olivia is definitely gaining focus. She loves to watch Avery has she moves toys and books all around her head. She also follows my hand as it's between her face and whatever Avery has in front of her face so that when inevitably Avery drops it I can swat it away before it whacks Olivia in the face.
• roll over—usually from front to back—as muscles continue to develop As of Saturday Olivia can officially roll over from her belly to her back AND from her back to her belly. She is a real rolie polie.
• raise herself up on straightened arms while lying on her tummy, looking all around as neck muscles strengthen Olivia really hates tummy time and will only now tolerate it for more than a minute or so. She keeps trying to push herself up but she can't hold herself up for more than a few seconds.
• grasp a rattle with stronger hand muscles Not only can she grasp the rattle she can even pass it from one hand to another without dropping it. Totally advanced, I know. My genius.
• bear weight on both legs I swear if she had balance she would just walk away. She loves standing on both legs and even likes to bounce.
• start to sleep through the night Ya right. She still wakes twice a night to nurse, but I don't mind (too much, anyways) because I love the quiet time with just she and I where I don't have Avery jumping on my lap rushing me to get done.
• begin to show interest in solid foods by reaching for mom and dad's food at the table or other food in her line of sight Nope. She is not at all interested in food -- only the boob. For that reason we will not be starting any type of food for a while yet.

Olivia: 17 weeks!

MONTH: 5
WEEK: 17
WEIGHT: 15+ lbs
LENGTH: 25+ in
HEAD: 42 cm
MILESTONES: Today we had family pictures. The photographer is a friend of ours, Melinda, and she asked if Olivia would sit up so she could take her photo. I said she had never sat unassisted. I was holding her hands and she let go and sat all by herself for about 20 seconds!
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: Today Olivia was all smiles.
EATING: Olivia has been struggling on one side so I hope she can focus and get back into a routine.
VISITS/OUTINGS: Today we took family photos and had a blast hanging out with each other as a family.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Olivia has really taken to playing in her jumperoo and still loves that silly pink playmat of hers.
MOMMY FEELS: Shocked that almost 4 months has gone by since Olivia joined us. She has already changed so much.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Seeing the photos that we took today.

    

Uncle Jake

On Friday Uncle Jake called and invited us to dinner since he was in town with his girlfriend, Amelia. Jake and Amelia have been dating for a little over a year now and I had still not met her so I was of course excited to join them.

Jake and his dad cooked and I was able to chat with Amelia and get to know her a little bit. She is a great girl and she and Jake seem to really click. I am happy I finally got to meet her and that Jake has found someone to put up with his shenanigans.

Jake has only met Olivia a few times because he has been so busy with school and work. Living about 90 minutes away he doesn't get to come home very often. I am so glad we got to have a little time together while he was in town and that I snapped this adorable photo of Jake and Olivia.

Olivia and her hat

A good friend gave me this hat for Olivia. It looks so adorable on her I almost can't stand it. Thanks, Liz!

Olivia: 16 weeks!

MONTH: 4
WEEK: 16
WEIGHT: 12+lbs
LENGTH: 22+ in
HEAD: 14+ in
MILESTONES: Olivia LAUGHS!!!
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: Usually it takes me several shots to get a good one where her hands aren't in her face and she is smilig (or just not looking generally unhappy). Today this was the very first picture I took. I took a few more to see what else I would get, but this was the best one! It's adorable.
EATING: Eating is definitely not an obstacle for us. Thank goodness.
VISITS/OUTINGS: Saturday we had Avery's birthday party so we saw lots of family and friends. Today we went to the Napa Town and Country Fair. Avery wrote her first fair ride with Daddy and Olivia slept through the whole thing. 
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Olivia really loves sucking on her thumb and playing on her playmat.
MOMMY FEELS: blessed to have two healthy, adorable, lovable little girls. 
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Olivia learning how to sit unassisted!

Avery's 2nd Birthday Party!

On Saturday we celebrated 2 years with Avery. It's hard to believe she is 2 years old. It feels like she just got here, but at the same time it also feels like she's always been here.

We celebrated with a monster-themed party at Yountville Community Park. We had lots of family and friends join us. Even with the unseasonably cool and windy weather we had a great time; Avery especially enjoyed herself.

Olivia: 15 weeks!

MONTH: 4
WEEK: 15
WEIGHT: 12+lbs
LENGTH: 22+ in
HEAD: 14+ in
MILESTONES: Olivia has officially found her thumb...
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: ...which you can see here in this super cute picture.
EATING: Olivia is an eating machine. And hardly a spitter at all.
VISITS/OUTINGS: Aunt Stacy came and stayed with the girls on Wednesday so Justin and I could have an anniversary date night out.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Obviously eating is #1 activity in Olivia's mind, but chewing on her thumb is a close 2nd as of late. She has also been practicing trying to roll over from her back to belly, but keeps getting stuck on her arm.
MOMMY FEELS: like time is going too fast. I can't believe Avery is going to be two and Olivia is 3 1/2 months old already. Slow down, time!
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Avery's birthday party!