Sleeping Babes

Check this out.  I'm so proud.  She fell asleep for a nap in her own crib after only about 3-5 minutes of light fussing.  Yay!  Isn't she beautiful!?!

Almost 4 Months

Ivy's really growing up fast.  She took well to daycare and is quickly making friends.  Maybe a bit too close of friends - in four weeks, the household has already seen two colds.  That's just how it goes, I hear.

We've already broken out the saucer for her to play in.  Daycare graduated her to the 'exersaucer' so we decided to do the same.  (Sorry - these are blurry action shots - she doesn't like to take a break for a photo shoot).

She's eating solids.  Ha! Ha!  Just kidding - she's helping me cut the brownies in this picture by Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Don't worry, I was very careful not to leave her alone with the plastic knife....for too long.  (Or at all, for those of you who don't know me well enough to know I was kidding)

Today, I decided to set her in the rocker to see how long she might fuss before falling asleep.  And, - thanks to daycare, I'm sure - it took her 3 minutes of complaining and rubbing her eyes to fall asleep.  She abruptly stopped with fist still attached to eye lid.

My Pre-Pregnancy Jeans

I was able to comfortably button a pair of my pre-pregnancy pants the other day. They are not my 'skinny' jeans, but I'm happy to be making progress towards a pair of pants that do not have a large panel of elastic sewn into them. Granted, they were only one pair of the many that I hope to fit back into. My recent bout of stomach flu provided an unwelcome loss of another 5 pounds.

As much weight as I've lost, Ivy is starting to gain to become a grown up little 13 week old. This last week was both my first week back at work and Ivy's first at daycare.  She did great all week, despite my developing a stomach bug midweek and Ivy getting the sniffles at approximately the same time. 

I wanted to post some images last week, but got caught up in getting ready for the first work/daycare week.  Here are some photos pre-infirmary.

Mug Jacket

My postings have become fewer and fewer and my baby girl gets more and more active everyday.  I have several craft projects started and not progressing but I'd much rather be spending time with Ivy anyway.

I have been able to knit a little during her naptimes, which are short but frequent throughout the day.  I've knitted a new mug jacket during that time.  I had another cup jacket, one that fit nicely over the cafeteria cups, but I ruined it by stretching it around my water bottle in an attempt to keep my water cooler longer and keep the bottle from sweating.  It worked as an insulator, but requires me to knit a replacement that I can use on a mug that I can use around the office (when I go back....tear.)

I'm currently blocking the finished product (or for you non-knitters - I washed it and formed it to dry).

Mug jackets really do work.  Let me know if you want me to take any orders. :-)

Baby at Play

Sigh...only a couple weeks until I go back to work.  Luckily, it will be part-time only.  I've been pretty good at appreciating every moment with Ivy, even after a night like last night (yikes).  I took a couple pictures this week of her at play for us all to remember.
She recently discovered her arm and hand, and she stares at them for quite awhile.

She still loves Mr. Giraffe and frequently reaches out and catches the flower in his mouth and pulls him close.

She discovered her hair with her right hand.  When she leans to the left, she does the 'fencing' reflex pose with her left hand and plays with her hair with the other hand.

More hair play and an attempt by Mom to get an artsy picture, which just ended up looking like some strange circus mirror image.

I put a rattle in her right hand today, which she found interesting.  It took her awhile to let it go, but in the meantime, she flailed and delighted in the fact that it continually moved and made noise.

And, finally, just a picture of her enjoying her playtime and wondering what that crazy shiny thing was in Mom's hand.

Silly Family Pictures

The baby is sleeping soundly - at least, for the next couple of minutes.  So, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures while I had time this morning.

I had set Ivy down to play on her playmat, but found her watching the TV instead of talking to Mr. Giraffe.  I shielded her view from the TV with a burp cloth, but she grabbed at the cloth and pulled it to the side to peak around.  She can't get enough of the Today Show, I guess - all 16 hours of it.

 

We haven't had to buy Ivy a single outfit, even though she is now wearing 3-6 month clothing.  We put her in a '6-m' Ralph Laurel outfit (given to us from Jason's Aunt and Uncle - Thanks!).  She looks very chic and was super comfortable.

  

Chuck was reading the PET store advertisements this past weekend.

 

 We had to scold Ivy for walking all over Chuck.  Like he hasn't been tormented enough with the new baby in the house.

 

Jason's parents cleaned up this 19th century cradle this past weekend at the farm.  We put Ivy in it to get a picture of yet another generation (maybe 3rd or 4th) enjoying the beautiful piece of furniture.  Safety standards weren't what they are today, but it was really fun to see where Jason once slept and share that with Ivy.

The Battle of the Naptime

HaHa!  Parent 1 - Baby 0.  (Whatever, we all know I'm down about 100, but I have to act like I have the upper hand in this parent-child relationship...at the very least to maintain my sanity.)

I got her to sleep in her crib.  That's right, Ladies and Gentlemen.  After the first nine weeks of struggling to get Ivy to sleep in her crib during naptime, I have succeeded.  Her father will be so proud.

Proof lies in the images below.  I apologize for the poor image quality again - I did not want to use the flash in case it might wake the sleeping babe.

 

  

Ok, ok...probably not the ideal situation, but I have to be happy about the baby steps.  I'm worried about Ivy going to daycare in a few weeks, so I had to convince myself that it could be done and that the daycare would be able to get her to sleep under their terms (ie. not being held all day).  

Worst case = the daycare can get her to sleep in her car seat, and 

Best case = I can slowly acclimate her to 'sleeping in her crib' via the car seat and maybe get her to eventually actually sleep in the crib (whatever makes me sleep at night, right? - when I am able to sleep between feedings, anyway).