we seem to have the same facial expressions- weird
April 30, 2013
April 26, 2013
Happy Friday
Well, we made it through the week-and what a long week it was. I have done much better than I ever thought I would, and I have to say I'm proud of myself. I still have my moments of course, and will, probably for a long time to come. But knowing that I have a healthy, happy, beautiful little girl waiting for me to start each day with a smile instead of a frown keeps me going. I realized that no matter how much I am hurting, I can't be that person all the time Josephine. It's not fair to her. If I want to cry and fall apart, then I will after I put her to bed.
You hear how much stress effects the body and let me tell ya, that was apparent immediately. Josie knew mommy was sad and upset, so she of course, did not want to nurse because instantaneously my supply depleted. It's been a long week as far as nursing is concerned, but I think we are back on track now. I just have to keep reminding myself to stay calm and don't stress-easier said than done. Josie didn't realize, or maybe she did in her own little way, but at the beginning of the week after she was done nursing, she would just lay her head on my shoulder. She hasn't done that since she was a few months old, and it made all the difference in the world.
************
So, about this week. Not too many pictures, but she has tried a few new foods! I had to give her prunes last weekend because girlfriend was backed up! She hadn't pooped in like 4 days but she seems to be back on track now-by the way, she loved the prunes! She has also tried Acorn Squash (big hit), pumpkin and apples last night. One night this week, I went back to the beginning and gave her some avocado-gagged the whole time. She still loves her blueberries and pears the most, and of course bananas.
I also tried to introduce a sippy cup, but she was very confused and did not like drinking from it. So, I put some water in a bottle and she drank a little bit. It's the first time she's had water, I think she mostly just likes to chew on the nipple and try and feed herself. She actually prefers to drink from our cups- she's obsessed with glasses.
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You hear how much stress effects the body and let me tell ya, that was apparent immediately. Josie knew mommy was sad and upset, so she of course, did not want to nurse because instantaneously my supply depleted. It's been a long week as far as nursing is concerned, but I think we are back on track now. I just have to keep reminding myself to stay calm and don't stress-easier said than done. Josie didn't realize, or maybe she did in her own little way, but at the beginning of the week after she was done nursing, she would just lay her head on my shoulder. She hasn't done that since she was a few months old, and it made all the difference in the world.
************
So, about this week. Not too many pictures, but she has tried a few new foods! I had to give her prunes last weekend because girlfriend was backed up! She hadn't pooped in like 4 days but she seems to be back on track now-by the way, she loved the prunes! She has also tried Acorn Squash (big hit), pumpkin and apples last night. One night this week, I went back to the beginning and gave her some avocado-gagged the whole time. She still loves her blueberries and pears the most, and of course bananas.
I also tried to introduce a sippy cup, but she was very confused and did not like drinking from it. So, I put some water in a bottle and she drank a little bit. It's the first time she's had water, I think she mostly just likes to chew on the nipple and try and feed herself. She actually prefers to drink from our cups- she's obsessed with glasses.
drinking like a big girl
April 23, 2013
With Love
Thank you all so much for your outpouring of love for our girl Riley! All the texts, emails, phone calls, flowers are so much appreciated. She was so special, never knew a stranger, and never forgot anyone she met.
There were so many idiosyncrasies that made her who she was. The last few days I've been thinking about them and she was quite the crazy girl. Here are some of my favorites
There were so many idiosyncrasies that made her who she was. The last few days I've been thinking about them and she was quite the crazy girl. Here are some of my favorites
- She attacked anything with noise or that moved. The sweeper, mop, broom...we always had to put her outside or lock her up when vacuuming.
- She barked at every person and dog walking by our house but welcomed strangers in.
- When she pooped in the house, she would give herself away by scratching her legs
- When she ran off the deck, she had to run the perimeter of the fence. There is now a permanent path in the yard
- If I gave her a liver treat (soft) she would eat it automatically, but if I gave her something crunchy or a "cookie" she would take it and enjoy it in her bed
- She attacked Simba every time he tried to go outside- he would only go if she wasn't around and lately, she would hide under the window and jump him as he was going to the yard
- She was my DQ and Tim Hortons partner- always looking for their treats
- Every time we got in the car to go someplace, she would put her front paws on the center consul and lick my nose-always
- Her toy of choice was a stick
- She would sit on the deck for hours and watch over her domain for any intruders in the yard
- When Nick left for the gym in the morning and she would get in bed with me, he would have to leave the covers unfolded because that's what she liked to sleep on
- At one point, she would only eat a carrot if it had vegetable dip on it
- She was a professional mouse catcher
- Every night she would curl up next to me in the leather chair
- She had a bucket full of toys and always, always wanted the one on the bottom
- She snored
- Nick and I called her "the warden"
- She absolutely hated her harness and would hide when we got ready to go on a walk
- She burped after every meal
- After getting a bath, she would run around the house at 100 mph and rub all over her bed
- Her beard would always end up smelling like garbage
- We would buy her a new toy, and it would be destroyed in 5 minutes
I could go on and on and on...there were a million little things that made her special and unforgettable. The house was quiet when she was visiting my parents, but now, its like there is a stillness. I know we will never know another dog like Rye- one who could play for hours on end, who loved being outside, who was back to doing the same pain in the ass thing you just corrected her for, and the one who love love loved everyone she ever met.
Forgot to add this the other day...
we toasted to our Irish girl
April 21, 2013
Did you ever have one of those days/weeks you wish you could relive? I feel like this week was especially bad for our country---Boston, West Texas, avalanche in Colorado, crazy weather, the gun bill rejection etc...Like those in Boston we are also mourning the loss of a loved family member. Riley is gone. There. I said it. I didn't know if I had the courage to write this post, truth me told, but I felt like I owed it to our girl because she was so special to us.
I wont go into the details, just know that it was a freak accident and she was gone instantly. No suffering. What makes this especially difficult for me, is I didn't get to say goodbye. She has been living with my parents for the past few weeks, and was supposed to come home with us yesterday after Frankie's party.
She was only with us 6 years....6 years. Wow, and in that short time she completely changed and enriched out lives for the better. Each and every little thing reminds me of her, I can't get her out of my head. When I was loading the dishwasher I expected her to be there licking the plates clean. The sun was shinning all day and I kept looking for her on the deck, where she would be sunning. When I go to the bathroom, I expect her to appear and beg for some toilet paper. Her crate, her bowls, her hundreds of hankies from all her haircuts...now what am I supposed to do with them? I can't bring myself to get rid of them, because then I feel like I would be getting rid of her memory. Nick laid his sweatshirt on the bed today and I lost it-he left it the same way, every day for her. She would sleep on it when we were at work.
Not only was Riley a part of our family, but for Nick and I she was our first family. I remember each and every part of the day "we" ( I use that word loosely because he was along for the ride) went to pick out a dog. I had another one in mind, but realized she was a wild ass and decided against her. For 3 hours we played with each of the dogs finally Nick said, "I like that one." There she was- cute as a button and chewing on a tree stump. We should have know then- she was way more interested in her owner then any of her brothers and sisters. She was so much apart of our family that Nick proposed to me with the ring around her neck, and we tried to have her in our wedding, but the church said no.
We expected her to be around for at least another 10 years, and Nick and I discussed recently how terrible it will be to explain to Josie that all dogs go to heaven...I guess now we need to remind ourselves that. Its funny because I just told Nick last year that when Riley goes, I want her cremated so we can be buried together. When that day came yesterday, it just didn't seem right. She absolutely loved being outside, so it was only fitting that she be buried in the back yard with Jiggs and Sparky.
I know that life will go on,and things will eventually get back to normal, but in the mean time our hearts are breaking. I don't understand how someone could not like animals or see them as a family member. Maybe we go a little overboard with our pets, but they are just as much a part of the family as anyone else.
So Riley, Rile, Rye Rye, Pretty, just know that you were loved beyond words and we will miss you every day until we see you again. You will always be my first daughter.
I wont go into the details, just know that it was a freak accident and she was gone instantly. No suffering. What makes this especially difficult for me, is I didn't get to say goodbye. She has been living with my parents for the past few weeks, and was supposed to come home with us yesterday after Frankie's party.
She was only with us 6 years....6 years. Wow, and in that short time she completely changed and enriched out lives for the better. Each and every little thing reminds me of her, I can't get her out of my head. When I was loading the dishwasher I expected her to be there licking the plates clean. The sun was shinning all day and I kept looking for her on the deck, where she would be sunning. When I go to the bathroom, I expect her to appear and beg for some toilet paper. Her crate, her bowls, her hundreds of hankies from all her haircuts...now what am I supposed to do with them? I can't bring myself to get rid of them, because then I feel like I would be getting rid of her memory. Nick laid his sweatshirt on the bed today and I lost it-he left it the same way, every day for her. She would sleep on it when we were at work.
Not only was Riley a part of our family, but for Nick and I she was our first family. I remember each and every part of the day "we" ( I use that word loosely because he was along for the ride) went to pick out a dog. I had another one in mind, but realized she was a wild ass and decided against her. For 3 hours we played with each of the dogs finally Nick said, "I like that one." There she was- cute as a button and chewing on a tree stump. We should have know then- she was way more interested in her owner then any of her brothers and sisters. She was so much apart of our family that Nick proposed to me with the ring around her neck, and we tried to have her in our wedding, but the church said no.
We expected her to be around for at least another 10 years, and Nick and I discussed recently how terrible it will be to explain to Josie that all dogs go to heaven...I guess now we need to remind ourselves that. Its funny because I just told Nick last year that when Riley goes, I want her cremated so we can be buried together. When that day came yesterday, it just didn't seem right. She absolutely loved being outside, so it was only fitting that she be buried in the back yard with Jiggs and Sparky.
I know that life will go on,and things will eventually get back to normal, but in the mean time our hearts are breaking. I don't understand how someone could not like animals or see them as a family member. Maybe we go a little overboard with our pets, but they are just as much a part of the family as anyone else.
So Riley, Rile, Rye Rye, Pretty, just know that you were loved beyond words and we will miss you every day until we see you again. You will always be my first daughter.
I saw three rabbits in the yard today---I think they were looking for Riley
April 19, 2013
Happy Friday
Once again, things have pretty much been status quo- just waiting for the weather to stabilize so we can go outside and leave the windows open all the time. This week Josie has tried a few new foods. Of course, blueberries which she absolutely looooved, and green beans. She slicked down the beans as well. So far she is loving everything and enjoying my combinations. Sweet potatoes with nutmeg, pear/banana with cinnamon, peas and oatmeal, and green beans with carrot. I tried to find frozen mango, but not dice, so maybe I'll try a fresh one. I've never mastered the art of picking a ripe mango and successfully cutting it. We'll see.
She is loving her food sooo much that she pounds on her highchair for more, or cries when it's "all gone". I'm trying to teach her that phrase already so she knows. :) We'll see if she likes pumpkin tonight.
Here is another video if her in action- she def wants MORE MORE MORE.
And more pics from this week...
laaaaid back
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Happy 2nd Birthday Frankie Poo Poo! I can't believe he is turning two- where has the time gone!? We can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend at your Elmo themed party. Here are a few of my old favorites.
freshly home from the hospital
my all-time fave!
needs to be on a greeting card
April 15, 2013
April 12, 2013
Happy Friday
Things have calmed down around the house this week. Josie still has a little cough, but she is doing much better and back to her old self.
I gave her pears again on Tuesday and added a little bit of cinnamon and she absolutely loved them! I plan on adding a bunch of different spices to her food, I mean why not!? Dr. Niland said, add away so that is what we'll do. I also gave her banana on Wednesday and she was going nuts! Pounding her highchair for more, she couldn't get enough.
This weekend I will buy mango, green beans and blueberries to add to her repertoire. I also have some canned pumpkin I may try as well! I need to watch all the orange foods I give her, so she doesn't develop an "orange" hue to her skin.
This weekend we plan on just hanging around- the weather is supposed to be a bit cooler and probably rainy so maybe a few movies are in store as well.
I gave her pears again on Tuesday and added a little bit of cinnamon and she absolutely loved them! I plan on adding a bunch of different spices to her food, I mean why not!? Dr. Niland said, add away so that is what we'll do. I also gave her banana on Wednesday and she was going nuts! Pounding her highchair for more, she couldn't get enough.
This weekend I will buy mango, green beans and blueberries to add to her repertoire. I also have some canned pumpkin I may try as well! I need to watch all the orange foods I give her, so she doesn't develop an "orange" hue to her skin.
This weekend we plan on just hanging around- the weather is supposed to be a bit cooler and probably rainy so maybe a few movies are in store as well.
another selfie session
starting early
playing outside at Jen's
Oh yea, I forgot to mention that Aunt Colleen got engaged on Easter! We are so happy for her and can't wait to celebrate on November 2nd! :) Check out her gorgeous ring!
April 9, 2013
6 Months
Her first year is halfway over?? How the hell did that happen!!? Seriously, time has been flyyying by and I feel like our little girl is growing up way too fast. March was a very busy month for us and big month for Josie. Probably the biggest milestone is she started eating solids. So far she is doing pretty well and not allergic to anything.
She is always hesitant at first, but then ussssssssssually likes what I give her. So far she has tried, Avocado, Oatmeal, Peas (woof), Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Pears (gag). I thought she would love the pears because they are so sweet, but she gagged the whole time and pulled them out of her mouth! Hmmm. So far, oatmeal and carrots are her favorite. Later this week we will try a banana.
She has been sitting up for weeks and loves to play with her new toys. She especially likes to play with our phones and always wants what we are drinking (must think she's missing out!) She is still obsessed with her socks and feet and wants to crawl so badly. I'm sure she will be doing it in no time, and she can even balance herself and stand for a bit alone.
She has started to become hesitant around some strangers, especially men. Hmmmm sounds familiar (I was scared of men except for my dad when I was little!) They say around 6 months they can start to have separation anxiety- she does really well over a Jen's, but let me tell you...as soon as I walk in the door she is smiling and kicking for me! It just makes my day. Any now, when we are playing on her mat, she reaches around for us, and if we leave the room she lets us know she is not happy. It's not all the time, she's still pretty independent, but nice to know she misses us! :)
She is a master at pulling her paci out and putting it back in. I wish we could record what we watch on the monitor because she's cray. She will pull out the paci, start screaming, put it back in, and repeat about 20 times before she falls asleep. If she wakes up in the middle of the night sans paci, she will find that damn thing and shove it back in! I have no idea how we are going to break her of that habit.
***********
And now, a quick summary of our Sunday escapade...
I'm sure you heard that all of Sears Portratit Studios were closing. After her 3 month shoot, we thought it was pretty corny and lame, so we would try someplace else for her 6 month. Well, try someplace else we did. I would give anything to go back to that corny sears sanctuary instead of the nightmare we walked into on Sunday. I thought it was odd that all the shades were drawn in the front window and now I know why. If parents walking by, looked in, and saw about 30 people plus 20 snot nosed kids running around, they would just keep steppin. I literally turned to Nick and asked if he wanted to bail before we checked in- that's how bad it was.
And then- all the parents feel the need to chat with one another. I use the term "parents" loosely because Nick was literally the only man there- apparently Dad's weren't invited, nor wanted to go to this gawd forsaken place. We noticed this after some grandma told us we had a big 6 month old. I'm sorry grandma, my daughter is healthy and happy, unlike your 9 month runt of a grandson who doesn't have any teeth! Haters gonna hate.
In the end it didn't end up being that bad- we got some really great shots, the photographer was nice and it didn't take too long. I just hate when they try and sell you $500 worth of shit you don't need! No, I don't need 30 prints, plus 3 books, a calendar, a coffee mug, a canvas print or mouse pad! NO! This poor 15 yr old kid that was helping us was probably dying for us to leave. All I wanted was the CD so I could print whatever I wanted, but I had to spend $100 to get it! WTF? So I finally narrowed down my top 15 prints and made the mistake of asking Nick what he thought. He said, and I quote " I'll pay whatever just to get the hell out of here." baaaahahahah so on that note, we left.
Here are her pics from that photo session and of course mine at home! :)
She is always hesitant at first, but then ussssssssssually likes what I give her. So far she has tried, Avocado, Oatmeal, Peas (woof), Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Pears (gag). I thought she would love the pears because they are so sweet, but she gagged the whole time and pulled them out of her mouth! Hmmm. So far, oatmeal and carrots are her favorite. Later this week we will try a banana.
She has been sitting up for weeks and loves to play with her new toys. She especially likes to play with our phones and always wants what we are drinking (must think she's missing out!) She is still obsessed with her socks and feet and wants to crawl so badly. I'm sure she will be doing it in no time, and she can even balance herself and stand for a bit alone.
She has started to become hesitant around some strangers, especially men. Hmmmm sounds familiar (I was scared of men except for my dad when I was little!) They say around 6 months they can start to have separation anxiety- she does really well over a Jen's, but let me tell you...as soon as I walk in the door she is smiling and kicking for me! It just makes my day. Any now, when we are playing on her mat, she reaches around for us, and if we leave the room she lets us know she is not happy. It's not all the time, she's still pretty independent, but nice to know she misses us! :)
She is a master at pulling her paci out and putting it back in. I wish we could record what we watch on the monitor because she's cray. She will pull out the paci, start screaming, put it back in, and repeat about 20 times before she falls asleep. If she wakes up in the middle of the night sans paci, she will find that damn thing and shove it back in! I have no idea how we are going to break her of that habit.
***********
And now, a quick summary of our Sunday escapade...
I'm sure you heard that all of Sears Portratit Studios were closing. After her 3 month shoot, we thought it was pretty corny and lame, so we would try someplace else for her 6 month. Well, try someplace else we did. I would give anything to go back to that corny sears sanctuary instead of the nightmare we walked into on Sunday. I thought it was odd that all the shades were drawn in the front window and now I know why. If parents walking by, looked in, and saw about 30 people plus 20 snot nosed kids running around, they would just keep steppin. I literally turned to Nick and asked if he wanted to bail before we checked in- that's how bad it was.
And then- all the parents feel the need to chat with one another. I use the term "parents" loosely because Nick was literally the only man there- apparently Dad's weren't invited, nor wanted to go to this gawd forsaken place. We noticed this after some grandma told us we had a big 6 month old. I'm sorry grandma, my daughter is healthy and happy, unlike your 9 month runt of a grandson who doesn't have any teeth! Haters gonna hate.
In the end it didn't end up being that bad- we got some really great shots, the photographer was nice and it didn't take too long. I just hate when they try and sell you $500 worth of shit you don't need! No, I don't need 30 prints, plus 3 books, a calendar, a coffee mug, a canvas print or mouse pad! NO! This poor 15 yr old kid that was helping us was probably dying for us to leave. All I wanted was the CD so I could print whatever I wanted, but I had to spend $100 to get it! WTF? So I finally narrowed down my top 15 prints and made the mistake of asking Nick what he thought. He said, and I quote " I'll pay whatever just to get the hell out of here." baaaahahahah so on that note, we left.
Here are her pics from that photo session and of course mine at home! :)
6 Month Stats
Height- 27in (88th %)
Weight- 18lb 3.5oz ( 85th %)
Head- 17in (75th %)
Diaper Size- 3
Clothes Size- 6 mo. 9 mo sleepers
Eye Color- Hazel
post vaccines, nap, dinner and bath
= happy girl :)
April 5, 2013
Happy Friday
Happy Friday to all! I hope you're week has gone much smoother than mine...
Dealing with a sick baby is no fun. Snotty noses, blowouts, irregular sleeping, hacking up a lung, going through 4 outfits in one day, terrible, horrible, disgusting gas, I could continue but I won't. And what baby gets laryngitis anyway????
Hopefully she is on the mend, and will be a trooper for her 6 month photo shoot this weekend! It's supposed to be around 60 ( FINALLY) so maybe a walk or two will be in our plans as well.
Even though she is 6 months today, I will post all of her photos and stats next week after her appointment. Get ready for her weight stat- its a doosey.
Here are this weeks pics
Dealing with a sick baby is no fun. Snotty noses, blowouts, irregular sleeping, hacking up a lung, going through 4 outfits in one day, terrible, horrible, disgusting gas, I could continue but I won't. And what baby gets laryngitis anyway????
Hopefully she is on the mend, and will be a trooper for her 6 month photo shoot this weekend! It's supposed to be around 60 ( FINALLY) so maybe a walk or two will be in our plans as well.
Even though she is 6 months today, I will post all of her photos and stats next week after her appointment. Get ready for her weight stat- its a doosey.
Here are this weeks pics
her snazzy, trendy highchair!
loved carrots despite her face
should have known it was going to
be a rough week
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