15.5 months

If ever there were a time that I've loved mothering, it is now.  This last month, especially this week has been wonderful.  We've finally found a sleep program that has worked, (Thank you Dr. Weissbluth!) so for the first time since she was a little baby, Hannah is getting the sleep she needs, and doing it without a fight. This has made such a difference, probably mostly because I am now getting the sleep I need as well.

At almost 16 months, Hannah says:
nose
hello
no no
ready
all done
yeah
dog
uh-oh
up
daddy
mama (I thought she was saying this a couple of months ago, but I'm thinking she wasn't associating it with me back then, and if she was saying it, she stopped all together.  I've been trying to get Hannah to call me Mama for a few weeks now, and as I put Hannah to bed tonight, I said "I love you, can you say mama?" and she finally did.  It melted my heart.

she also knows sounds for the following animals:
cow
sheep
dog
cat
donkey

Hannah continues to be such a joy to have in our family. She is so full of energy and spunk and sometimes sass that we are always laughing at the things she does.  She loves to dance to music, and you can tell what a bad dancer I am, by her moves.  She copies her mama, and it's only cute when she does it!  Hannah knows to fold her hands when we say prayer, and can identify so many pictures (where is the fish? chick? giraffe? coat? etc.)  I'm sure all this is normal for a 15 month old, but since she's mine, I'm pretty proud of her!

Today I weaned Hannah...I think.  I have a hard time committing to this, but I think this is it.  It has been a wonderful venture, nursing her, but she has gradually shown less and less interest, to the point of me offering and she saying no no, and pushing me away.  I had an errand to run at the mall today, so to celebrate Hannah taking this step as a big girl, we got Jamba Juice.  It's my favorite, and Hannah loves smoothies as well, so it was a hit.  I love her so much, and I'm so glad to be her mama.

little reminders

Hannah is having her afternoon nap and I was going to use this time before she wakes up to do crunches before I go out on a run with my friend Kim.  Instead, I started a load of laundry (towels) and found a wooden puzzle piece mixed in with the dirty laundry.  

I love these little reminders that I'm a mom.  It's a little pause throughout the day to remember that I have a baby.  What I wanted for so long, is happening.  Sometimes after Hannah's in bed for the evening and Daniel and I sit down to watch TV, I get so wrapped up in whatever we're watching that I forget there's a baby sleeping just one room away.  Then I see her pile of toys on the floor and smile.  It's the same realization: 'I am a mother'. 

I hope it doesn't sound callous to say that sometimes I forget that I'm a mother.  It's not like I actually forget, sometimes I just like the little reminders...like the rubber duckies in the bathtub.  The puzzle pieces in the laundry, the baby shoes next to our shoes at the door.  My recent favorite: coordinating outfits on Sundays.  If anything happened to me and I didn't get to watch Hannah grow up, I would hope she knew how much I love being her Mother.

mischief managed

Happy Weekend to all! I'm sure I'll keep busy chasing after this little girl.  This all took place in the short time I was washing my hands.  As her doctor said earlier this week, now is the time when I need eyes in the back of my head.  I have a feeling this is really only the beginning of the mischief...what fun!

At nine months Hannah has 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom) and is 20 pounds 7 oz.  Crawling all over and walking around furniture. Taking steps between objects and emptying any drawer, cupboard, basket, or box she can reach.  Such a sweet girl.  She's the best thing that's ever happened to me!

Photographic evidence of the last four months

Yesterdays post came so easily.  Even though it was so personal.  Then Hannah woke up at 4:30 this morning, and I wondered why on earth I posted all that.  Did I overshare? Am I crazy? Oh well. The comments are off on that post, so I guess I don't want to find out.

Prepare yourselves for a major Hannah picture overload! That's what happens when there's a 3 month blogging hiatus.  

 pre-crawling Hannah (April)

 Sunday afternoon snuggles with Grandma

my 25th birthday

 Oregon road trip with Nanna and Poppa

 in an airplane toy in Oregon

 At the beach in Oregon

 Cape Kiawanda, Oregon

 4th of July BBQ with Grandma

 the beginning of the pig tail era

 sitting like such a big girl

 nothing better than a sleeping baby!

 Watermelon for Hannah

 cherries for Hannah

 Family pictures. Hannah's holding her favorite stuffed unicorn.

 Skipper- the ultimate motivation

 so proud to be standing and playing with my laptop

 first time swinging- loved it

 mischievous Hannah found toilet paper!

 morning story time (she usually enjoys it a lot)

 why we stopped swaddling (and crazy bedhead!)

general cuteness!

There's a highchair in my kitchen

Hannah is six months old today.  I know how cliche it is, but I simply cannot believe how quickly the months have passed.  I'm really enjoying it though.  I thought at six months I would be in a state of mourning, for the loss of Hannah's newness (anybody else love the newborn stage?) But she's so fun now.  It is so fun watching her learn new things and find her personality.  She's still such a sweet girl and I love spending all of my time with her!  We started solids a couple of weeks ago with applesauce and rice cereal, and the girl loves her food.  I should have known though, she's never been one to turn down a meal! Her six month appointment with shots is tomorrow, so I'll find out exactly how heavy this baby that I carry everywhere is, but I'm guessing at least 18 pounds.  She's fits anything between 6-12 month clothes, which has opened up a very cute new wardrobe!

The discovery that has revolutionized shopping

I typed the title of this post, and then realized it sounds like a cheesy tag line from an advertisement you'd see at the top of some website...but this is real!

This weekend, Hannah learned to sit up by herself.  She is still a little wobbly, but she really does a good job.  This makes her happy, cause she can now sit and play with her toys.  The more freedom she gets, the happier she gets.  (I can only imagine how happy she'll be when she learns to walk!). 

Well, I was out this morning running a couple of errands.  I had to go to the bank, and I realized Rite Aid was on the way.  I don't know about you, but I've noticed that milk has gotten very expensive over the last few weeks, and as a family, we go through 3-5 gallons a week.  (Daniel would go through a gallon a day, easily, if I let him).  Rite Aid has the cheapest milk that I've seen around here, so I've been doing my milk shopping there, to save a little change. 

Normally when I take Hannah on my errands, I remember to bring my sleepy wrap, so I can wear her.  This makes it a lot easier, since my hands are free and she's happier than being stuck in her car seat.  Today, I didn't even think to grab my wrap, so I was facing the prospect of carrying my 17 pound baby girl and three gallons of milk, with my own two hands.  You guys, when I tried that last week, and it didn't work.  I almost lost some milk and eggs with that stunt.

Today, I realized that if she can sit on a blanket on the floor and play with toys, there's no reason she couldn't sit in the cart.  As soon as I buckled her in there, I realized that my grocery shopping trips will be so much easier.  I'm almost done sewing one of those neat grocery cart covers so she won't even get germs on her next time I put her in the cart.  This is great!

sitting! and SO cute in her blue dress!

About the picture: I have such a hard time getting good pictures of Hannah smiling.  Whenever we pull out the camera or phone, she gets the most serious thoughtful look on her face. After five and a half months I finally have a picture (albeit blurry) of Hannah grinning.

the most magical sound

When I was pregnant with Hannah, and nervous throughout the first few months, I got an at home doppler so I could listen to her little heart beat whenever I wanted.  From about nine weeks on, it became a nightly ritual after my evening shower.  I'd spread baby oil all over my lower stomach and put on my headphones and search.  Before too long I'd find it and just soak it in.  As the weeks progressed and the belly grew, that little heart beat became stronger and wiggly.  We'd play a momma and baby game of hide and seek.  

Tonight, as I was getting Hannah ready for bed, I paused for a second and put my ear against her chest.  I heard that familiar little heart beating and beating.  What a comforting sound.  She's so full of life and light. I'm so blessed to be her mother.  I think in the stillness of these shared moments, our hearts have been forever knit together.

tiny baby Hannah

Scenes from a Sunday Afternoon

I love Sundays because I get to play dress up with Hannah!

This might just be the cutest dress ever.  Thanks Aunt Kayleen! 

Hannah likes it too.  Especially when she can get it in her mouth!

baby laundry

Isn't baby laundry so cute? All those tiny socks, polka dot burp rags, rainbow leggings, and stuffed elephants...and Hannah of course!  She's such a good helper!

Mondays and Tuesdays

Mondays are good days for me.  Now that I'm not working, somehow I enjoy Monday.  It's a new start, a chance to be productive.  On Mondays I do things like scrub the bath tub, vacuum carpets, load the dishes, wash and fold four loads of laundry, and make sure Hannah gets good naps.

Tuesdays, are not so good days.  Somehow all that productivity backfires or something, because on Tuesdays I fall asleep on the couch while Hannah plays on the floor.  Then I fall asleep on her bedroom floor while she sleeps in her crib.  Yesterday was a particularly vicious Tuesday for some reason.  I felt so foggy.  Around 12:00 I decided enough was enough, and that Daniel could take a break from programming to watch Hannah.  I got myself dressed in exercise clothes, pulled my hair back and went for a run in the rain.  Normally I hate running, and rain, but somehow this was what I wanted, needed, to get going.  I went on my old route, from when I was training for the triathlon.  I impressed myself with how much I was able to actually run, since it has been over a year and a half since I did much strenuous exercise at all.

There are five minutes left of Wednesday.  Today I decided I needed to get out, so I went to playgroup this morning and skipped Hannah's morning nap.  Somehow that morning nap is much more important than most people give credit.  Without that morning nap, she struggles with sleeping the rest of the day.  Daniel is now having his turn at getting her to go to sleep.  It's a shame that overly tired babies fight sleep, the one thing they really need. 

Unrelated, but cute:

I sure do love her!

To answer some questions

A couple of you had asked some questions about the great deals I got while couponing.  I will do my best to provide a little insight/answers.

1. Where do I get my coupons?  Some I get from my parents Sunday paper, but most of them I print from various coupon websites.  Instead of listing all the coupon websites, or searching through them each time I want to find a coupon, the easiest way is to check out the coupon blogs.  The Krazy Coupon Lady has lots of deals, and is updated very regularly.  She also has an awesome section under the link 'print coupons'.  This goes through a huge list of products alphabetically, and will link you through to any coupons available.  For instance, I needed to get aquaphor for poor Hannah (who like her mother, suffers from dry skin). I was able to print a coupon for Aquaphor using her website.  Another website, which has good deals, especially on groceries and happens to be local to where I'm at, is Queenbee Coupons.  This is another site which links to coupon printing websites.  Those are the two main blogs I use, along with my friend Alyshia and her sister Audrie's shopping blog.  They have been so helpful cluing me into deals I might have otherwise missed. 

2.  How do I get such good deals?  Really, I'm just a novice at this whole coupon thing.  I've gotten a couple of good deals, but there are so many more that I've missed.  The trick is to match manufacturer coupons with store coupons/sales. The best way to get good deals is to stay on top of the blogs.  Last weekend I was alerted by the blogs previously listed that Albertsons would be doing 'double coupons'.  They then listed the appropriate combination of coupons and where they could be found or printed, in order to get things free (like the sweet potato fries) or really cheap (like my eye shadow).  Albertsons is doing doublers again through tomorrow (if you don't get the Sunday paper, you can ask the customer service counter for a copy, to get the coupons), so I'm hoping to get some good finds again! I have been kind of busy with Hannah over the weekend so I haven't had much of a chance to put together a shopping list yet, so I'll be looking for deals tonight.

Like I said, I'm really a novice at this whole thing, but if you have questions/want to talk coupons, I'm up for it!

Unrelated: Hannah tried her first momsicle tonight.  It's a hit!

4 Months!

Somebody had her four month check up today and weighed in at 16 lb 4 oz (92%)!  I think she's in some sort of race to grow up.  The hospital where she was born is on the way to get to her pediatrician, and each time I see the hospital now, I get chills, remembering how wonderful her birth was (it makes me want to do it again and again and again...although that's kind of crazy, and I'm in no hurry to have another baby).

I don't know how four months have passed already, but they have, and they've been the best ever. I have no regrets about my decision to stay home with her.  Each day may seem like we do the same things over and over, but each day is also full of love and smiles.

Hannah's blessing day.

I realized I haven't posted about Hannah's blessing yet. It was on December 26th, so yes, a little over two months ago now. It was in the middle of a couple of really busy weeks for my family, but I'm glad we could do it when family was in town, and before our good friends moved up north of Seattle. Hannah looked like a little angel, and was so good during her blessing. Daniel performed the blessing, and he had my Dad, his Dad, my brother Nathan, brother-in-law Tyler, my uncle Mike, and our friends Joey and Randall stand in the circle with him.

I've said it before...

...and I'm sure I'll say it again.

what a difference a year makes!

the camera battery is dead, so a phone picture will have to do!

I love her more than I could have imagined!

I'm in Love with White Noise

Any of my former roommates out there (Meagan, Sarah, anyone else???) may remember my air filter, and my love for it.  It was there by my side in the dorms my freshman year, off campus with me my sophomore year, and it came along when I got married.  It even spent the night in the hospital with me when Hannah was born.  Basically I can't sleep without it.  Apparently Hannah can't sleep without it either.  Her first night on earth was a very long, stressful night.  I'd heard babies were supposed to sleep all the time, and mine definitely did not.  The nurse pointed out that she had never known quiet before (what with all my digestive noises, and there were a lot of those during pregnancy!).  That hospital room was sure quiet.  I hoped that with some background noise, maybe she would be happier.  The second night I had Daniel grab my wonderful air filter from home to create beautiful white noise.  It was a better night.  Then we came home and she spent the next three months sleeping in her bouncer (vibrate turned on, please!) on our bedroom floor, sharing our white noise. 

When we went to the tri-cities last month, (air filter came along, of course) Hannah made it very clear she was done sleeping in her bouncer.  She wanted nothing to do with sleeping scrunched up anymore.  She was ready for her crib.  So as soon as we got home, we had her start sleeping in her own room, in the crib, and I gave her my air filter.  She obviously needed the white noise more than I did, and her room is right next to the living room so it helps muffle any noises we make while she's sleeping.  She started sleeping through the nights, but I would wake up and struggle to go back to sleep.  I'd go check on her, find her peacefully sleeping, but toss and turn myself.  Enter my parents and the wonderful world of Good Will.  They found us a second air filter, so now we're all happy. 

I know this is a lame post idea, but I'm curious who else has to have white noise to sleep? I know Hannah and I do!

All in a days work

Why I think Hannah's advanced:

Last night while I was getting Hannah's bath ready, Daniel was working on a computer program he's been writing for an optical scanner.  I left Hannah in his able care, and when I returned I was informed that she had mastered the "alt tab" shortcut.  Twice!

Seriously? I was a sophomore in college before I learned that trick...Kids these days!

sometimes

Sometimes Hannah takes her binki and naps in her own crib just like the books say she should. Sometimes like today, she won't have anything to do with her binki and starts gagging if I try to encourage her. She'll sleep for 45 minutes or so, and wake up. I wasn't sure she was ready to be awake yet, so we remedied the situation. I've found that sometimes being a mother means dropping everything and just snuggling.

Happy weekend to all!

Already

It has already been three months.

Three months of:

joy
learning
worry
guesswork
wonder
awe
curiosity
work
naps
growing
selflessness
hope
and sleeping on my stomach again!

Hannah my dear, you get cuter every day and I'm grateful you're such a happy baby.  You give your smiles so freely (except for the camera), and everyone around you loves you.  You've all but doubled your birth weight, and you're back to your cheerful happy self.  Sometimes I still can't believe you're mine.   

Date Night

We'd been having a rough time last week.  Hannah had regressed to waking every two hours though the night, and was fighting going to sleep daily, along with general fussiness. (I'm chalking it all up to her shots she got the previous Friday)  So on Friday as soon as my mom got off work, I called and asked if she and my dad would be able to watch Hannah for a couple hours so Daniel and I could go on a date.  Our last date was a long time ago.

Saturday evening rolls around and I get Hannah ready to go have some Grandma and Grandpa time.  I send her off with a couple of bottles to hold her over till I'm back, and Daniel and I had the best date ever.

It may have just been a quick dinner at Arbys and a stroll through target, but it was so very nice to be out together. 

As a side note:

I have begun the great postpartum shed.  It is as nasty as I'd heard, and I thought I'd be lucky enough to avoid it since I'd made it almost 3 months without it occurring.  If I'm bald within a month, don't be surprised. Also,  it turns out Hannah's getting the worst of it.  She gets my hair stuck in her fingers (which then go straight to her mouth) in her neck, and I've even seen hairs in her diapers.  Not sure how that happens, but yuck.  Poor Girl.

Have any of you seen my camera cord?

Neither have I.  Which is why this post is pictureless.  Which is really sad, because I have so many cute pictures and even a couple videos of Hannah.

I'm enjoying Hannah so much lately.  She gets more and more fun each week, and continues to be a very good baby.  Her most recent achievements are finding her voice (she has the cutest coos, and has perfected her sigh), learning to use her hands to grab her toys, and sleeping all night long.  Her longest stretch has been 9.5 hours, and it felt so good!  Unfortunately, she doesn't sleep that well consistently...for example last night we were up every 2 hours.  I suppose it'll come with time, and at least it's nice to know she's capable of such things.


The last month of our lives has been so busy.  We had a bunch of Christmas festivities while my siblings were home from college.  Then my sister got married on December 28th, so we had wedding stuff going on.  Then we had New Years, and things calmed down for a little while until we made a quick trip over to Eastern Washington last week for my grandma's funeral.  Hannah has been so good through all this, and I think I'm pretty lucky to have such an easy going baby. 

Hopefully I'll be able to find my camera cord soon...Daniel cleaned the living room, and while I appreciate it a ton, I have no idea where it went.  Wish me luck!