My peanut is growing up.

Within the last month or so Olivia has changed SO much. She has so much sas and such a little personality. She isn't a "baby" anymore (although she will always be my baby).

She is SO independent.
She knows exactly what she wants.
She wants to be around everyone, so social.
She wants to go pee-pee on the potty (although tells us too late).
She is starting to communicate so effectively. She lets you know what she has on her mind!
She LOVES her daddy.
She is obsessed with Dora and Minnie (that cracks me up that she is already partial to the "girly" stuff).
She is also obsessed with brushing her teeth. And painting her nails.

I just love to see this little beauty becoming a little girl :)

Piggy tails and Birthdays

Livi Kay sported her first pair of piggy tails today! Oh boy did she think that she was something special (well...she is)...she is just SO sassy and loves to look at herself in the mirror. As a mom, who is as girly as they come, this having a girly-girl is just too fun! Love that her hair is getting longer...and that she LETS me do it!

AND---it is my momma's birthday today! Happy birthday mom/nana! We sure do love you. We would be lost without you. I hope that you have a marvelous birthday and that the coming year is filled with happiness and fun!
The older I get, the more I realize how wonderful my mother is, and what a great job she did (and still does) of raising my sister and I. Love you.

Livi's 15 Month well visit

I just took Livi to her 15 month well visit this morning. Happy to report that all looks well. We just switched to a new pediatrician (for a whole list of reasons that I won't get into right now). Poor Liv is extremely scared of doctors and doctors offices...but I get it...typically every time thy go (to her specialist at U of M) they stick a scope down her throat. Thankfully those days are past us. Hopefully she can start to realize that not ALL appointments will be like that..and start to adjust a bit.

Liv weighed in at a whopping 20.5 lbs today keeping her right in the 10th percentile for weight. She was 32.5 inches tall...so in the 90th percentile for height!

She doesn't look TOO nervous in this pic..but as soon as the doc walked in she was just a screaming and a shaking....poor sweetie!


Luckily we wont have to go back for another 3 months :)

My baby girl is growing up!

Just within the past couple weeks Olivia has changed SO much. She is on a major growth spurt and is learning tons of new things.

She is pulling up on everything and standing for such long periods of time. I think that she is going to be walking in no time.

She has 2 teeth and one more on the way!

She is clapping, waving, and dancing upon request.

She is the sweetest baby girl EVER!!

Olivia is 10 months old!!

Olivia turned 10 months old on Saturday. 2 more months and my baby will be ONE!! Makes me sad!!

She is SO fun right now. Learning new things every day!

We had a well-visit today and she is doing great!

She weights just over 18 pounds. She is 29 and 3/4 inches long.

Her head circumference is 17 3/8.

Length = between percentile 90 and 95

Weight = between percentile 10 and 25

Head Circumference = between percentile 25 and 50

She is waving bye-bye and it is SO cute!

She also kisses us all of the time.

She is crawling everywhere...so quick!! She is into everything. The house has to be baby-proofed again!
She laughs and giggles all of the time.
She is a big eater...likes everything!!

She wears a size 9 mo or 12 mo.

Size 3 shoe.

Size 3 diaper.

She loves her big brother so much. Always wants to be right next to him!!

We just love her so much!!

Hungry girl!

Little Olivia Kay has been eating real food! We started about 3 weeks ago, and she is really getting the hang of it! She has had rice cereal...and then we started on green veggies, so peas and green beans....and we have just added sweet potatoes to the mix as well! Once we get all of the veggies down we will add fruit to the mix as well! She is growing like a weed and really filling out!

She wants to feed herself!

Yummy :)

Such a big girl!!

Olivia Kay!!

Tomorrow marks 2 months since the day of Olivia's surgery. It seems like just yesterday, but at the same time it seems like a lifetime ago. She is doing SO great. She is growing like crazy and really starting to make some changes in her appearance and behaviors.

Last week we went to her pediatrician for her 4 month well visit (although she is almost 5 months now)...we are a little behind on these visits. She still weighs below the 5th percentile...but she is in the 50-75th for height and 25-50th for head.

She is almost outgrowing her 3 month clothing because she is so long! She is still in size 1 diapers. She still eats about 4 oz. every 4 hours...but we are starting on some rice cereal. She doesn't quite get it yet, but will with some practice!

She still wakes up a couple of times a night...but I am ok with that, because it is just to eat and then back down.

She can roll over....but prefers to be on her back all of the time. She has great head and neck control! She smiles ALL of the time..and laughs a ton! It just melts my heart!

These are pictures taken just before we left for her second surgery on 04.26 that she didn't end up even needing!! YAY :) I just love this little peanut!

Olivia is 3 months old!

Today my baby girl is three months old. This past month has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. The poor girl has been through a lot. I think that it is safe to say now that she is quite the little trooper. I am so proud of her! She is doing so well.

When I posted her two-month post I had no clue what month 3 would have in store for her. Hopefully things will only be on the up-and-up from here on out!

Olivia weighs 9 lbs. 10 oz. now. She measures in the “less than 5th percentile” bracket…so we will be trying hard to put some weight on during this next month. She is already eating better since her surgery…so I am hopeful that we will be able to do that.

She wears a size 1 diaper.

Wearing a size 0-3 month. Her size 3 month outfits are still a bit too big.

She is eating about 3 oz. every 3-4 hours. Hoping to increase that now.

She sleeps from about 10p.m. to 4:30 a.m., wakes quick to eat, and then sleeps again from 4:40-8:30.

She started daycare, but only made it for 3 days or so until we had to pull her out for her surgery. The days that she was there were great. Her teachers said that she never made a peep!

Her hair is getting a bit lighter, and she is losing a patch in the back where she is rubbing it off.

She smiles ALL of the time. Her eyes light up when she smiles.

She loves to lay under her Baby Einstein play gym and look at the lights and colors.

She is SUCH a joy, and we are so lucky to have her!

Please forgive the jammies today...we are still in post-surgery mode:

A little IV poke mark is the only trace of surgery from the outside...

Olivia’s 2 Month Well-Visit

I took Livi to her doctor on Tuesday for her 2 month well visit (even though she is already 2.5 months…that’s just when they could schedule it). She was such a doll while we were there…and we were there for a LONG time!

Stats:
9.7 pounds (about 10th percentile)
23.5 inches long (between 50-75th percentile)
15.5 inch head circumference (between 25-50th percentile)

She is growing nicely and doc said that she is tall and skinny….just like her brother!

She is doing well on hitting all of her regular milestones. She did have a slight cough though, so we were sent down for X-Rays of her chest. The cough and her breathing issues b/c of the laryngomalacia were enough cause for concern. Doc said she would rather be safe than sorry. We waited at the lab for a LONG time. Poor Livi did not like the X-Ray. She was too tiny for the tube thing, so I had to hold her down, on her side, with her arms over her head…..needless to say, she was pretty mad at me. This was just after 2 shots, so she was already a little cranky! BUT, luckily the doc called back soon and the X-Ray was good…her chest looked clear.
We go down to U of M Children’s Hospital next week to see the specialist….and if all goes well we don’t have to see the regular pediatrician until her 4 month well visit (knocking on wood).

Cell Phone picture of my happy girl :)

Olivia Kay is 2 Months Old!!

I can’t believe that our Livi is 2 months old already! She is such a good baby and so happy.

*Her 2 month well-visit isn’t until March 1st, but I am guessing that she weighs close to 9 pounds or so? She is getting longer, but is still so slim!

*She is wearing her newborn clothing still…but onsies are getting too short!

*She is in newborn diapers, but next time we will switch to size 1

*She eats about 2 oz. every 3-4 hours during the daytime. At night she will sleep for about 5 hours the first time, and then 2-3 after that. Last night she went down at 9:30, woke at 3:30…5:30…and 7:45. She is quick to eat and then goes right back to bed!

*She is still sleeping in the bassinette in our room.

*Her hair is getting a bit lighter, but is still darker than Blake’s ever was. Her eyes are very dark blue.

*She is SO alert and looks all around. She loves to lay under her play gym and is just mesmerized by the lights and toys.

*She smiles all of the time. Has the cutest smile and her eyes light up when she smiles :)

*Still breathing very heavy and loud…goes to an ENT on Feb 28th for her laryngotracheomalacia. We are getting more used to the sound…but it still kills us to hear her labored breathing. Luckily it doesn’t seem to bother her!

*Other than that she has been very healthy…knock on wood!
We are SO lucky to have such a beautiful baby girl! We love her so much.

Olivia Kay is 1 week old!

Olivia Kay is one week old today! This first week with her here has been really great. She is such a good baby! We had her 1st well visit yesterday with the pediatrician. She did great and looks as healthy as can be. Doctor said that she is growing well and that she loves her beautiful "pink color"..ha!

+She now weighs in at 6 lbs 12 oz. (10-25th percentile)

+She is 20 inches long (75th percentile) (I THOUGHT that the 22 that they had originally said seemed quite long). The nurse at the doc office said that it was often hard to get an accurate read in the delivery room...so she is actually much closer to 20 inches!...still long but not as long as we were originally informed).

+Her head measures at 14 inches (75th percentile).

+She is a really good eater. I am breast feeding as much as possible...and then when she needs more I have to supplement with formula. She switches between the two with no issues at all.

+She sleeps pretty good at night...but she would prefer to be held by me while she sleeps. If I let her sleep on my chest she will sleep like a log. When I put her down she sleeps for awhile, but then fusses to be picked up.

+She goes about 3 hours in between feedings and sleeps pretty much the rest of the time!

Blake is still doing really great. I think that it is harder on Ryan and I than him...we just get sad every once in awhile when we think that he isn't our baby anymore...and he seems so big and old! He is at school today. My dad came and picked him up so that I didn't have to pack up Livi and take her out in the snow to get there. (Ryan goes to work at 6a.m., so he can't take him). I was a little worried about Blake getting confused or sad if Papa was taking him and dropping him off...but I talked to my dad and he said that Blake did great. No issues at all..and he was proud to show off his Papa to his friends :)