First Christmas as 3!

We made it home, safe and sound from our week long trip to Mississippi for Christmas!  :)  It can be so hard living far away, but it makes it super fun going home to see everyone.  Juliet's first Christmas was very sweet and probably more enjoyable for Joey and me than for her; seeing as she is only 2 months old.  However, we made a big deal out of it anyway.  I'm so not ready for the holidays to be over.  We began our holidays by taking my Mom to see the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.  Juliet came too and she was an absolute dream.  She got to sit in Santa's lap for the first time and tell him that she had been a very good girl this year!
Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip.

We also had our Christmas with Joey's family before we left so Juliet got to spend some fun time with her Pappy Joe, Aunts, Uncles, & cousins.  

Getting together also gave Joey's cousin & me a chance to get some adorable pictures of our sweet girls together. 

Don't you just love this one?  It was definitely an accident that I caught this moment... I was simply snapping pictures constantly and this is the reward result.  I should enter it into a "caption this photo" or use it to create some type of meme.  :)

And of coarse, we went to Mississippi for Christmas as well. We opened presents on Christmas Eve Eve night, because we are basically still children and can't ever seem to wait until Christmas morning.  My favorite thing that Juliet received for Christmas was the Mammas and Pappas Stargaze Playmat that my mother bought for her.  She spends 20-30 minutes playing with it each time.  It offers her the opportunity to interact by playing music and lighting up when she kicks.  Most activity gyms only provide baby with far away objects to look at, over-stimulating colors, and none stop annoying music, but this one has relaxing music, muted colors, and toys she can actually interact with using her feet.   

She also received the usual first year gifts, her stocking and stocking mantle hook along with baby's first Christmas ornaments.  It was a week full of lifelong memories and special moments with family... just what Christmas should be.

 It was a blast to celebrate the holiday and share our sweet Juliet with all of her family.  I'm still staring at my decorated Christmas tree and have no will power to take it down... maybe I'll get around to it next year.  I hope you all had a magical and Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year as well!

Sincerely, 

The Lishias

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*Month 2*

Juliet's 2nd month started the day after Christmas.  We were still at my mom's preparing to head back to Charlotte!  We had a wonderful Christmas with family; you can read that post here.  After we returned back home to Charlotte, Juliet had her 2 month check-up on the 29th.  This was the visit I had dreaded for, well, 2 months.  She was to get her first round of vaccinations.  I'm so thankful that we live in a country where these vaccinations are available, but I still hated to see her prodded with needles.  She is a very content and happy baby, so before her shots she had done nothing but smile and coo at her doctor and nurses.  It was terrible to see her go from extremely happy to completely devastated.

Here she is on her puppy pad... ready for her check-up.  HA!  

 Juliet weighed in at 11 lbs 9 oz and measured 24 inches.  I know it sounds cliche, but it really is amazing just how fast babies grow.  She can hold her head up independently now, which makes holding her feel completely different.  We no longer have to support her neck and head constantly.  She has also begun to take a bottle more easily, which is a huge relief.  I did not know what we were going to do, but thankfully she has gotten use to the idea and doesn't mind it so much now.  

My mom arrived at our house on New Year's Day!  She is going to be keeping Juliet while I'm away at work.

She is smiling and cooing more at us (and at her new BFF, the ceiling fan).  So far she has taken two road trips, one to Gran's and one to Asheville to tour Biltmore.  She didn't learn much... she slept through the entire tour.  Not sure where we will go next.  Maybe Charleston for a weekend trip once it gets warmer!  :)  Every Carolina girl has to visit Charleston now and again.

Her reflux has gotten much better.  We are now down to .6 ml once a day, if that!  We have discovered that she loves Winnie the Pooh.  She woke up one morning at 5:30 and wasn't interested in going back to sleep, and since I had to take a shower and get ready for work, I took a chance and played it for her on the iPad.  She coos during the intro song and when it goes off she starts grunting and whining.  Also, she still loves Amos Lee.  She always stops crying when she hears his voice.  Her  favorite lullabies are Jesus Loves Me, Stay Awake from Mary Poppins, Down in the Valley, Red River Valley, & her Daddy sings to her That's Amore in his best Dean Martin voice... she doesn't seem to mind.  Her new favorite toy is her purple glow seahorse that plays music.  It works wonders in the car.  It gets her mind off being in her carseat.

That pretty much covers it.  I hurry home each day to see her and snuggle with her on these cold winter nights.  However, I'm loving being back at work with my colleagues and students.  It really is food for my soul.  It's made me a harder worker actually because I definitely do not want to take anything home.  I manage my time better so that I can get everything done and head home as soon as possible to my sweet girl.  Being a mommy really does change you... for the better.

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8 Days 'til Christmas!

Everyone else is out shopping... which is probably what I need to be doing, but we're inside staying warm.   She literally napped ALL DAY so I took advantage of the moment and "staged" a couple of pictures with our Christmas decor.

We're happy to acknowledge the fact that last night she slept through the night for the first time.  She has always been a good sleeper right from the start and we are so thankful!  For the past week she had been sleeping from 9:00 - 4:30, but last night she slept from 10:00 - 6:45!  For the rest of the day she only woke up to eat.  She's the best present we could ever ask for!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday!  8 more days!

Sincerely, 

The Lishias

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Universal Baby Registry Sites

Along with a few items from my registry, I'm also going to share with you the best way to simplify registering for baby!  When I found out that I was pregnant I began doing research by reading reviews, blogs, and talking to other mom friends.  During all my searching I stumbled upon 2 sites where you can compile every item that you want to add to your registry.  Having a registry on these types sites will eliminate you from having multiple registries at multiple retailers.  The first site is actually Amazon, which is what I used.  I created a registry through Amazon, but I also added the Amazon "wish list" button to my browser which allows you to add any item from any website to your Amazon baby registry or wish list.  The other site is one that I just recently found post-pregnancy, and it's called Baby List.  Baby List is also universal; you can add any product from any online store.  It's kind of like Pinterest but for a baby registry.  You chose.  They are both pretty awesome!

Here are a few items from my registry!

Rockaroo  /   Nuna Sena Mini  /  Be Ready Stroller  /  Summer Changing Pad  /  Puj Compact Tub  /  

Tommee Tippee Bibs  /  Ubbi Diaper Pail  /  Latch bottles  /  Crane Drop Humidifier

Sincerely, 

The Lishias

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*Month 1*

It's so fun getting to know her!  As little as she is, she already has her likes and dislikes.  She has always liked her bath time.  She makes the sweetest sounds when she feels the warm water, plus she yawns the whole time- it's seriously the sweetest thing to watch!  And when all else fails this little girl loves to rock; in her glider that is... I think it has to do with the reflux.  Also, she loves to hear people having discussions.  When Joey and I are talking or when we're listening to NPR, she gets really quiet and concentrates as though she's really listening and contemplating the discussion.  :)  Lastly, to all who have little ones at home or about to have a little one of your own, the Sleep Sheep is well worth every cent!  It goes everywhere with us.  I use it every night and I also attach it to her car seat when we go places.  It immediately calms her down!  The only thing I do not like about it is the fact that it has a timer and sometimes when it goes off, she wakes up.  Other than that it's an awesome product... definitely needs to be on your "must haves" list.  

As far as things she doesn't like, she does not like getting dressed or being on her tummy.  We've tried tummy time already a couple of times to help with the reflux and she gets really upset.  However, she can hold up her head like a champ!  So... no worries. 

Speaking of things we like, here are some of my favorite things to use since I've become a mommy.  

Links to the items are listed below.

Baby Bjorn /  Summer Monitor  /  Baby Magic  /  Scalp Scrubbie  /  ThermaPearls Breast Pads

Sleep Sheep  /  Boppy Insert  /  Boppy Cover  /  Pampers

We love the baby bjorn; it's not bulky and hard to strap around your body. Plus, it makes carrying your baby effortless.  We took it to Biltmore with us and she slept in it during the entire tour!  

Any monitor is a must, but this is the one I liked best because of the night vision.  I can literally see her little chest moving up and down, and also because the camera moves in all directions. 

And don't even get me started on Baby Magic.  I love that the smell doesn't wear off; I can still smell it when I snuggle her the next day!  

Scrubbie brushes are mostly used to treat cradle cap, but I bought them because you can use them so easily in the bath.  I use the sponge side to apply shampoo and then gently comb through her "hair".  I've noticed a couple times cradle cap starting to form on her head, but using these has pretty much prevented it from continuing or getting worse.  Also, these brushes smooth down fly aways on baby, (and mommy on the go), when they have longer hair.  

I haven't had any pain from breastfeeding and not many other issues either, but these thermapearl pads are amazing feeling when you put them on warm.  You just pop them in the microwave for a couple seconds and apply them a couple minutes before baby nurses.  They can help increase your supply too.  (Better than eating those nasty cookies.)  

And like I mentioned before, the Sleep Sheep.  Winner!

Also, I have found that Pampers work best for us.  I think this is probably a preference thing, but we don't have to change clothes a million times when she wears Pampers... if you get my drift.  I initially was on the Honest bandwagon, but when I actually used them I didn't like them.  Like I said, it's a preference thing.  They are adorable, but I didn't like how they felt or fit on Juliet.  And just like the Honest Co., you can get Pampers shipped directly to your front door each month through Amazon Mom, just click here and sign up!  

Lastly, I added our boppy to the list.  DON'T JUDGE ME, but Juliet slept in her boppy for the first 3 weeks.  I put it in her sleeper, (we have the nuna sena mini), and she would sleep 3-4 hours at a time from the first night!  It helps with her reflux as well.  I don't use it for breast feeding much, but it's essential for tummy time or just for relaxing.  

 Here are some pictures from the weekend.  

Like I mentioned earlier, our Jules loves her thumb! 

And she has to be able to see what's going on... so curious!  

(This tummy time lasted all of 2.5 seconds.)  HAHA!

Sincerely, 

The Lishias

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4 Weeks of Juliet

It doesn't seem possible that Jules is almost a month old.  When you say 4 weeks, it sounds sooooo long.  When you live it, it goes by toooo fast.  I no longer live for Fridays...  I live for everyday; including Mondays! :)  We've enjoyed every minute of being parents, even the rough parts!  Here are the last 4 weeks in snapshots.

Week 1- Her first week in the world was spent mostly going to the doctor.  She aced her first well check at 4 days old and mommy and daddy got a "keep up the good work"!  She weighed 6 lbs 10 oz, which is what she weighed when we left the hospital.  My lactation consultant did noticed, however, that Juliet, (in simplier terms), was a bit tongue tied.  The correct terminology is a short frenulum.  She was feeding like a champ, but I wanted it clipped for fear that it might have caused her to have speech issues in the future.  So we went and saw the EENT Dr. on Friday.  He took her back, clipped it, and it was all done within 3 minutes.  Believe me, it was 3 minutes.  I was the anxious mom in the waiting room looking at my watch the entire time.  We also celebrated Halloween during her first week, (hence the purple glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajamas), by putting a basket of candy bars on the porch and making cupcakes- very festive, I know!  We'll participate more next year.  Some of her cousins and Aunt Chantelle came by to get some sugar that week too! 

Week 2- We mostly spent her second week at home watching Hallmark Christmas movies.  We did run into another problem, though.  Her umbilical cord.  I had some concerns about it so I called her doctor, took her in, and he had to cauterize it with silver-nitrate.  They called it an umbilical granuloma.  They also weighed her again and this time she had gained 10 oz!  She was up to 7 lbs 4 oz.  On another good note, she took her first bottle with no confusion!  Woo Hoo!  Also, Joey's sister and dad came down from PA and OH to see her for the very first time, so we ate pancakes, played at the park, and just chit-chatted the weekend away.

Week 3- She got to experience the wonderfulness of a hot bath!  I loved listening to her little sounds when I poured warm water over her belly.  We also found some time to take a few newborn pics in her nursery.  The mornings are her favorite- and mine!  We snuggle on the couch by the fire.  She smiles so much in the mornings and I'm not sure if it's sass or gas, but it's adorable either way.

Week 4-  We've feared from day one, that our little gem has had to fight reflux, but wasn't quite sure until this week.  We had 3 days of straight tears; no naps; uncomfortable feedings; lots of gushing, spitting, gurgling... One thing that we found to relieve some of the discomfort was for Daddy to bounce her around the kitchen while whistling.  So off to the doctor we went... again.  He prescribed some baby Zantac for her and gave me some pointers that might help.  He also had to cauterize her belly button again; surely for the last time.  She weighed in at 8 lbs 4 oz, so I know that she's getting something inspite of all the spitting up.  We started her on the Zantac as soon as we got home and everyday she seems to be better.  Thank goodness!  We celebrated by taking her Christmas shopping on Saturday.  She was so content with only a few hungry and tired tears.  We even ended the night with dinner at Carrabbas!  It was her first time in a restaurant.

You know us... We are so excited about making Juliet's first holidays memorable.  These pictures of us in front of the gigantic Christmas tree at the mall just makes me giddy!  What are your plans for the upcoming holidays?  

Sincerely, 

The Lishias

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