6 months! (now almost 7 - oops).

Hi, everyone.  This post is long overdue!  Christmas is such a busy time of year!  I have actually consistently taken pictures of my little one...just haven't had time to post them all.  I just wanted to make sure I posted some with her 6 month sticker.

(I took these after I finished up a shoot in downtown Boise.)

Jovie sure has changed!  Up until 5 months she sort of just laughed if we were laughing or smiled if we smiled.  I can tell that now she is starting to understand laughter a little bit better...For instance, when we tickle her she laughs.  Or even when we pretend like we are going to tickle her she laughs.  She now knows what's coming and anticipates it...very cool!

She's been a bit more fussy, but still overall a happy baby.  She cries more when we change her diaper...but the poor thing is constipated.  If that's TMI, then wait till you have a baby.  All conversations end up at poop.  Anyways, we think she's having a hard time because she just started solids.  We gave her prunes (which she LOVED) and it seemed to help a little bit.  And boy, that number 2 is smelly.  I want to go back to when it didn't smell.

She sort of sits up.  I think she's a little slower on that one, since I think most babies do it at 6 months.  I can sit her up for maybe 30 seconds, and then she falls over or backward.  But that's okay.  She'll get it.  She's a super strong girl.

(this is her doing it all on her own.)

And lastly, she really didn't enjoy her 6 month shots.  They've been the worst so far in terms of crying.  But I think it's because they give her so many.  Poor baby.  The surprising thing for us was that she only weighed 16 lbs. 4 oz.  Two and a half months prior she weighed 15 lbs.  We were sure that she weighed at least 18.  Anyway...she's in the 50th percentile for weight and height.  I guess our chunky baby isn't so chunky after all.

And oh yeah, she still doesn't sleep through the night! Ha.  

Enjoy!  I didn't have time to pick and choose so I just posted them all!

(See you after the holidays!)

(And yes, my baby has a mohawk.  It's awesome!)

Can it be!? 6 months??!

I know it's been a while since I've posted...but I'd never miss this milestone....SIX MONTHS!

My little reindeer is six months old TODAY.  I snapped a few of these after getting that little reindeer headband at Joann's.  Maybe a Christmas tradition, yes?  I think by the time she's 5 she'll be tired of it...but oh well!

Anyways, I'll post again with her six months sticker and update you on all the things our little family has been up to.

Enjoy!

22 weeks...& new creations!

One more week until Thanksgiving!  November is going by so fast...but I think it's because we have an earlier Thanksgiving this year.  

Anyway, I'm sick.  Again.  Twice in about a month.  That's never happened to me before.  Yuck.  My nose is raw because I'm so stuffy (pretty picture, I know).  And my throat is so scratchy!  On top of that, my stomach is upset.  Once again I'm trying not to get Jovie sick, especially the week before she visits her grandparents in California. 

So nervous about another long trek home - 10 hours...if the baby didn't need to stop to eat and get her diaper changed.  We're in for a long drive!  

In the meantime, I've been super busy working on new patterns.  For week 22 I just have these pictures...for now.  My model was fussy and went right to sleep.  I might post a few more this week that I've taken...and also of my latest patterns to keep my little one warm this winter (boots, hats, and mittens). 

Daddy and Mommy are Californians, so we're always freezing.  Jovie will be more used to the cold than her parents!

But either way, she's ready for it.

5 months.

My big girl just keeps on growing!  And she's got such personality.  She certainly enjoys babbling if you talk to her.  But if she's not in a talking mood, she'll still give you the biggest grin!

Believe it or not, Jovie isn't really sleeping through the night.  With me home, I think she thinks she can eat anytime she wants.  When I was working, she slept a good 5 hours.  Right now she's eating every three hours, morning - noon - and night.

I've been told to let her cry it out.  I'm not ready yet.  Maybe when she gets to six months...but maybe not.  It's seriously like politics (I hope you voted, by the way!).  When it comes to mommy-land there always seems to be two schools of thoughts and you're on one side or the other.

Cloth diapers or disposable?  Baby food or home-made?  Babywise or Happiest Baby on the Block?  Attachment parenting or not?

Ahh!  I'm still trying to find where I stand on everything because this is my first little one...but I really think in the end it's different for every child - because every child is different!  By the way, I really suggest clicking those links above and finding out for yourself where you stand if you're a mom or going to be one!  Both have helpful stuff!

Jovie is also...umm...tooting a lot more.  The other day we were in Target and we're sure it lasted a good minute (non-stop).  Such a little lady!

She loves our dog, Tobias!  Even though Tobias is still feeling a little left out lately.  They'll be best of friends when she gets a bit older!  I'll have to get a picture of them together.

She smiles so much, not only with me and Rhett, but with other people.  Supposedly, the 'stranger-danger' phase comes in a little later.

Still no teeth, but she certainly likes to suck on her teether and Sophie the giraffe.  I bet she starts teething in a couple weeks when we go home to see the grandparents!

She still isn't on any solids.  Our pediatrician recommended she wait until 6 months so that she doesn't develop any food allergies.  Though, she certainly is interested in our food...and we'll do our best to hold out until 6 months, but might have to bring out the oatmeal a little bit earlier.

Anyways, the following pictures were taken yesterday (when she actually turned 5 months)...but I realize I forgot the little sticker and it was already dark..so I didn't have time to put it on.  So I snapped a quick one with her 5 months sticker (which you can find on etsy by the way).

Update.

I just wanted to update everyone on how I'm doing post working-world.  Well, I'm still in the working-world.  BUT, I'm getting much more sleep.

I'm working at the nursery, where I'm blessed to be able to take Jovie.  I'm also continually blogging for a real estate company - and still learning the ropes there.  I'm taking pictures.  And..I've put up my etsy shop! Sounds crazy, but I do those things during normal business hours...and Jovie is always with me!

In the meantime, since quitting, I have much more patience with Jovie and with Rhett...but I admit, I'm still working on it.  I still get upset if we don't get things done on our to-do list.  

That's because...the news world is a world of getting things done...now.  You're always on deadline because you're going on TV whether you're ready or not.  I've had that mentality for about 4 years now, if not before then...throughout college as I was preparing for a job.  

I hope Jovie doesn't develop that same characteristic - always go, go, go.  I'll be honest, I make myself so busy I hardly do quiet times with God, lest I need something.  I find I always pray when I need something, so when I don't need something...I'm almost embarrassed to come to Him.  And because I'm so used to things being on deadline, when God doesn't answer right away, I get frustrated.  That just sounds ugly coming out...but it's the truth and I know God loves me even though I have that issue.  We all have issues.  I'm working on it though, I promise.

I hope that soon I'll be able to slow down mentally.  Meanwhile, Jovie isn't slowing down because she's growing up SO fast! 

 

Today, I'm thankful for God's grace.  I know I need it.

21 weeks.

Every year after Halloween, Rhett and I get into the holiday spirit.  That's not to say we go straight to thinking about Christmas...we love Thanksgiving, too.  But, we DO get out the Christmas lights.  

No, we don't have the tree out yet or anything.  But we love the lights, and don't think they just have to be out during the month of December.

And Jovie was FASCINATED.  Although, she kept trying to put them in her mouth - much like her foot.

And..she still doesn't enjoy being on her tummy.  She might not cry as often, but she rolls over RIGHT AWAY.  But I caught her a couple of times sitting up on her tummy...and then I caught her a couple of times starting as she started to roll.

So, officially, Happy Holidays everyone!

P.S.  Today I'm thankful for my joyful baby.  Jovie was the perfect name for her.

 

20 weeks.

I barely made it to our 20 week pictures!  It's been a pretty rough week.  I haven't gotten back to anyone really about pictures or crochet orders!  I'm SO sorry.  I've been ridiculously sick.  

So weird how it becomes a big deal to be sick when you have a baby.  Thankfully, Jovie hasn't caught anything from me.  But I most certainly caught it from Rhett.  And worse.

Now it's time to catch up on my work.  I hate playing catch-up.  :/

Anyways, I wanted to snap a few pictures before she turns 21 weeks tomorrow!  And...soon after that...FIVE MONTHS OLD!  Yikes.

::sigh:: 

Stay small, child.

Too big, too fast.

Everyone says it.  Babies grow up so fast.  But I don't think I truly felt it until today.  Tomorrow Jovie will be 20 weeks old.  Not all parents count the days, count the weeks.  But I do.

Maybe I should stop.  Because there's something about week 20 that makes me a little emotional.  I'm probably crazy.  But, for some reason, to me, it's a big girl age.  It's a new stage.  It's where, in my mind, you somehow transition from newborn to infant.   

So, as I looked at my babe all emotional like, I said "we're going to take some pictures of you just 'being'".  No props.  Just sit there and be you.  And she did.  

Then she pooped on the white blanket 5 minutes into taking pictures.

Love it.

Enjoy the 5 minutes I was able to capture.

(look at that face in the middle!)

If her hands aren't in her mouth...

...they're grabbing her feet.

(safe!)

19 weeks.

19 weeks already.  Sheesh.

Needless to say, I felt rushed taking these pictures - which is typical when you are taking pictures of a 4 month old.

But, it's just been an extremely busy week.

I've been working at the nursery, finishing up crochet orders, taking photos and prepping for two shoots this week, and learning the ropes on another blogging job I'm starting (good point about that one - I get to stay at home with Jovie while doing it).  The rough part - it deals with real estate (not my expertise).  

But, I really am blessed to have the opportunity to stay at home with my little girl.

Hopefully this week we can squeeze in some more pictures... :: crossing fingers for no rain::

Enjoy!

Sundays.

Under recent circumstances, I would never have been able to take pictures on Sundays.

At this hour, I would have just started to drift off and get read for work in a couple hours - that's all the sleep I could really muster with having Jovie and working overnights.

So, in honor of my first Sunday without having to work Monday morning, I took pictures of my baby.

We lost a headband out there in the backyard area :(  I hope we find it tomorrow.

Either way, Jovie seemed to enjoy the leaves.  Or, at the very least, she was curious about them.

Enjoy!

18 weeks.

Slightly bummed because we weren't able to go outside for Jovie's 18 week pictures.  After my last day of work, we went out and then by the time I came home I was too tired and slept until about 8 p.m.

Then when we were going to take pictures today, it started raining outside.  So, we set up inside and put Jovie in a girly little outfit, seeing as her mom and dad rarely put her in anything SUPER girly.  

So, we went all pink today.

Enjoy!