Dada

After months of "mama" "mamamamama" and "moooom" when she wants us to come get her (I say us because I'm not convinced that mama means me- I think it means "hey you, parent,come get me!), tonight Sienna started saying "dada" with meaning.

J walked out of the room. She yelled "DA DA DA!" He came back in. She laughed and smiled. He walked out, she yelled "DA DA DA DA DA DA!" He came in, she laughed.

So here you are, Jamie, 11 months in and she's certainly a dada's girl. Yay!

Next Up: Kitchen Table

I've wanted a new kitchen table for awhile. Our was a hand me down, but worked just fine for awhile. Now it's harder to sit more than six people, four without the end chairsr. And the benches. They are good in theory, but NOT in real life.

So I am putting this out here to motivate us. We bought tools. We bought lumber. We are J is building a table. I will not pretend that I'll be a major part of this. I will cheer him on. I will pick out the stain color. Otherwise I don't think I'll be too involved. I'll be on S duty.

Here are some examples of what we are hoping to have this bad boy look like when it's all finished. We are still debating what finish, but are still looking around.

*images mostly taken from Ana White's wonderful website full of furniture plans.

Love all of these. I think I want to switch it up with the chairs. No matching dark wood. I want light chairs, maybe with a cool design on them. Here are some (of many) I've been eyeing up. Most are from Target! A few are from Home Decorators.

 

I am all over the place. But it's in the works. I can't wait to have a gorgeous new table to complete our refinished kitchen officially. Anyone have opinions on these chairs??

 

Finally back to renos and DIY projects...

Favorites.

We have a favorite diner down the road. 4 minute drive to comfort food. J gets the same thing almost every time we go. I switch it up. We order kids mac n cheese for S, then feed her the fruit & veggie packets, melon, and bread. We let her try new things. J and I eat most of her mac n cheese (it's so good- the baked kind).

 

Our 5:30 pm dinners with the grandparent aged folks make me smile.  

 

The waitresses who talk to S like they're having a real little convo make me smile.

 

And S getting sick of her high chair and wanting to sit with mama (but by all means don't stop feeding her!) makes me smile.

 

 

Bachelor Week 4 (ps next week has two nights woohoo!)

Oh goodness, I laughed a LOT this week. But the thing that made me laugh most? The bloopers from Selma's date when Sean kept stalling the Jeep. Hilarious.  Also Selma is a trooper. I think the no kissing ever is going to eventually do her in, but she's pretty and has a good attitude. She reminded me of Eva Longoria in this episode.

Other things that make me laugh include... Lindsay. Just in general. She is funny. I think she's quirky and weird but goodness I laugh every time she's on camera getting interviewed. She says the weirdest things! She may move up my list further once we see more of her.

Catherine, I am just sort of obsessed with her. I may have a rush crush (sorority vocab). She sits in my top place for a few reasons. One is because of the things Sean says to her. Two is because she's so cute and I have not heard anything not a single thing negative about her. She seems grounded and sweet.

Other random thoughts:

•  AshLee moved way up in my book this week with her sweet words to Sarah during the roller derby date. She is actually a kind person. Points.
• Leslie was going home before Sean ever took her on that date.
• But did she have to pick the ugliest dress ever?
• I would have ran with that necklace!
• Dramatic moment: When Sean drops the rose on the floor post Leslie leaving and says he isn't sure he will ever find his wife.
• And why did they have the guy sing to just Sean? Awkward.
• Tierra. Good lord. YOUR EARRINGS ARE THE WORST. Please get new ones.
• Also you are a bit nutty. We are not your fans.
• Sean was just getting a nice ego boost and thinking with his you know what when talking to Tierra post freak out. No guy likes that kind of drama.
• Poor Lindsay when Tierra stole away Sean. Fail.
• Amanda's outfit and messy bird nest hair style at the rose ceremony- no wonder he sent her home.
• Oh btw ABC, roller derby dates- not good.
• I wish Jen and I were sitting in the sorority suite eating take out food from our commons watching this together (that is not show related but personal related and super true.)

 Here are the rankings. Top 5 in order now.
1. Catherine
2. AshLee
3. Lesley
4. Desiree
5. Lindsay
6. Selma
7. Sarah
8. Tierra
9. Jackie
10. Robyn
11. Daniella

Happy Bacheloring ;) xo

Bachelor Rankings: Week 3

Okay we've been a little too serious around here with the bachelor blogs. There were some hilarious moments in episode three and I couldn't stop laughing.  Let's start this off by saying this: When you are on national tv, your dress should probably cover your ass and other private parts. Lesley and AshLee, I like you both. You're pretty. But I saw more of you than (self-proclaimed Christian goodie goodie) Sean will see on your fantasty suite nights.

Moving on... The breaking the guinness world record was comical to me. I couldn't watch the tv for a whole 3 minutes and 15 seconds of kissing. I just kept telling J how weird it was, and then giggling like a five year old would. And umm... if Sean doesn't choose Lesley in the end (I don't think he will) he better break that record with the winner on the After the Final Rose show or else he might be in big trouble with his fiancee.

Overall, I like Lesley. Not sure she will get to the winner's circle, but she's a solid choice.

The group date. Anyone else love Catherine's spunky attitude? Or think Des looks like someone you know but you can't figure out who or is that just me? Who does she look like? Someone help me? Katie Holmes circa Dawson's Creek years is the only person I can think of but it's not quite right.

Kristy, Kristy, Kristy, you cried over losing a volleyball game- but I guess rightfully so since you ended up going home anyway. Also your bun on the top of your head later on was the biggest thing ever. Were you hiding a dead animal in there?

Kacie was going home from the moment she started talking about drama. And while she was edited to say that she was going to use it in her favor, she's no dummy. I actualy think she may have wanted to go home. But watching her and Sean converse during those moments was like watching a delusional person tell their paranoid stories. So confusing. Also can we talk about Kacie's matching dress and (lime green) hair tie at the rose ceremony? WHAT was she thinking? Nice body, Kacie but bad combo.

Ummm I don't even remember who got a rose at the group date. Couldn't have been that impressed by it. Oops.

AshLee's date to me was a total mix. I think AshLee and Sean had more "fun" than we saw because who doesn't have fun on an amusement park date? But her dress... the short dress high heels were killing me. I do have to say that Sean and the Bachelor show get an A for doing something for others- but if they really cared about those girls vs caring about the ratings/viewers they would have done that behind the scenes. While it was awesome, I can't imagine those girls want their lives displayed on TV. Also I think Sean is enamored with AshLee (she's quite pretty) but not positive how great of a spark they have yet. Her story is sad and I am glad she has a positive outlook, but I could also see the whole background scaring Sean off a bit. Just being honest. I'm getting to serious agian. let's talk about Tierra's earrings instead. 

Tierra, your damn earrings. FOR REAL. Could you have at least gone with current trends instead of plastic cheapy chandelier style if you were going to buy all your jewelry for the show at Claire's?

Rose ceremony was straight up drama and girls pulling Sean all over. Word on the street (aka the bachelor alum blogs) is that those rose ceremonies can last allll night until 2am or 4 am, so they have way more time than we see on TV. Makes sense. Not surprised he sent home Kacie... or Taryn or Kristy. Maybe he was afraid Kristy's hair was going to fall on him and crush him.

And that's it for this week. I can't wait for next week. Also do you know that in two weeks Bachelor is on Monday AND Tuesday?

Updated Ranking: 
Desiree
Catherine
AshLee
Lindsay
Lesley
Selma

Sarah

Tierra
Robyn
Amanda
Daniella
Jackie
Leslie H.

PS this is the last week my top 5 will just be my "top 5". After next week's episode (assuming they all are still present) I will actually rank them.

PPS My friend Jen and I combined our two rankings together to get the final outcome; we each had a few girls in a few different places originally.

Handmade

S has this blanket. It's blue and green and yellow and white. It's an afgan style with holes in it. It is the only one I feel safe putting her down with in her crib.

Today, she cuddled in. Breathed it in. Pulled it up a little more. And drifted off to dreamland.

There's something about this blanket. It was made with two hands by a person who loves both me and S in a way only certain people can love you. It is uneven, and it has a few pulls. I can't quite fold it over her crib without it sliding one way or the other in or out. But it's more meaningful than any perfectly square blanket ever was.

The blanket is sort of like life with a baby. It's cuddly and warm, it's full of love-the most beautiful kind of love. It has life knit into it. It is comfortable. It's unpredictable- sometimes we use it for sleep, sometimes for hide and seek. It's not always perfect. Nothing that's this precious ever is.

But when I pick up my sweet, gorgeous baby girl and envelope her in hugs with this blanket, I am reminded of how masterfully my friendships are woven together and how inevitably lucky I am that to have friends who are so connected to my heart.




[From one S to another, thanks for the sweet love Aunt Sarah. You're quite simply the best.]

eleven

Oh Sienna. We missed the 10 month post I think. We are so busy lately, I don't know how to keep up. Between 10 months (Dec 20) and 11 months, we've celebrated Christmas, mommy and daddy had a stomach flu, celebrated New Year's, and have been on the move constantly!!

The big developmental updates are important (you started to stand and cruise on your own, you are pushing walking toys, you are "talking" up a storm), but the small ones are even better. You continue to be the sweetest little munchkin we know. You are a loud screaching screamer at dinner when I don't get your food to you fast enough. You are a thoughtful little one. You study toys before you make your move. You effortlessly pick up new tasks. You are kind, I can already tell. You crawl to me or daddy for hugs and kisses if you are sleepy or just need some love. You're an explorer. An animal lover- cats, dogs, horses.

You smile for the camera, on command. Yes, you oversmile and squint and face your head up in the air but it's hilarious. You loooove bath time. The other night we tried to skip bath and you crawled right into the bathroom, stood up at the tub, and tried to climb in on your own. We laughed, and then gave in. You splashed up a storm and were tired out for bed time.

Oh! Bed time. So between six and ten months your sleep was really sporadic. Sometimes you were up at 6 am with no wake ups, sometimes 4:30 am screaming. It was hard to get you on track. Especially because your mama kept giving in if you woke at 5 ("I'll just nurse quickly to get 2 more hours of sleep in!"). But sometime between the 10 and 11 month mark your quality of sleep changed. No more random wake ups. No more whining at night. Just straight 11-13 hours and a smile in the morning.  It's a huge success for all of us.

We are starting to see signs of baby fade and toddler emerrge. You whine when you want something, and reach to things to show us you want it. You actively go exploring. You seek out other babie! Your days of snoozing after nursing are few and far between, but occasionally on the weekends you still take cuddly naps with me on the couch and I live for those moments.

You're the best baby girl. A perfect mix of mama and dada if you ask me. We love you.

xoxo
Mama

PS the blog won't let me upload photos today for some reason, so the monthly photo dump will have to come later....

The Switch

Anyone have any brilliant advice on weaning from breastmilk to regular milk once we pass the one year mark?

As much as freedom sounds great, I think S and I will continue past her first birthday at least for bedtime for awhile.

But we are reading and hearing from mom friends and want to make this the least traumatic we possibly can for both of us.

Thanks mamas!

Sienna + Sienna

My girl met her first name twin today! We were waiting in line at the starbucks in Target (hello suburban SAHM world) and there was a four week old little peanut in her carseat waiting in line with her mama behind us. Sienna was doing her normal flirty smile, look away, smile, wave, look away. Other mom called S a Gerber baby.

We chatted for a few (I miss the tiny fingers and toes and cuddles, other mom can't wait for more smiles and a tooth or two to show up).  Target was our normal trip when baby S was just a little darling too, she hopes that it will continue to be theirs.

As I grabbed my decaf latte, we waved goodbye, and I said "say see ya later to your friend, Sienna"

The (newby) mom said "WHAT?! What's her name??" I repeated sweet girl's moniker. She stared back for a second and said, "That's her name too!!"

Sienna clapped, as if on cue. Name twins!!! First one we've ever met. A good day, indeed.

Overheard: In our Kitchen

Me: How do you think babies know what's food and what's not?

J: They are like sharks. Food good. L key from the keyboard, yuck.


(Meaning, sharks bite to taste and see if it's worth it. And last week Sienna tried to eat the L key)