Livy Pie is 1!

Weight

20lbs 10oz - she actually lost about 5oz in the past week that the doctor thinks is because she is moving around so much.

Clothing Size

12-18 Month shirts, onesies and pants and some 24 month stuff.

Diaper Size

Size 3 diapers

Feeding

She has really taken off with the solid food in the past few months. She still nurses when she is around mama, but she is down to 4oz of mama's milk during the day + water. She is eating 3 to 4 solid meals a day + snacks. She LOVES meat and veggies. Even just last night she was asking for more beans and veggies! She eats so much! We are starting the transition of her from my milk to whole milk. Day 1 - no go she hated it, so I added a little honey to it today.

Sleep Schedule

We have been struggling with this the past month. With 4 and now 5 teeth coming through + colds it really throws someone off their sleep schedule. She got used to sleeping in my arms in the recliner. We started our version of cry it out (see my next post for more details). Which seems to be working. She is back to only getting up 1 to 2 times a night and sleeping from 6:3pm to 6:00am

Milestones

* You have 7 teeth now. You got your four upper teeth all at once - it was a rough few weeks

*You are signing like crazy, ball, please, thank you, more, all done

* You are talking up a storm too, you can say, dada, please, ball, bubble, hi and even started saying bye

* You are starting to try to walk more, but still not quite there yet, but I have a feeling it will be soon

* You totally love your sister and your puppy and you light up when you see both of them

Dear Sunshine! You are my little girl and this past year has been so amazing. I LOVE watching you grow and learn every day. You love your family and your teachers at school and to see that love come from your smile is truly amazing. You are one special girl and I want you to never forget that!! Your sweet sweet smile makes me laugh every time I see it. You are truly special in my heart.

I love you!
Mama!

Birthday Girl!

Here are the fun pictures from Gabby's birthday party.  We had a great time, it was a great day and the birthday girl had a ton of fun with all her friends! I want to thank all that came. It was great to celebrate her birthday with you all.

Mama did forget candles! I won't forget next year, at least we sang Happy Birthday to her.

Birthday girl posing for the camera before daycare.

Posing for Grandpa

Being a cutie pie

Our annual picture with the cake

Mama forgot the candles, but she wasn't sure about eating it in front of everyone

Much better! using a big girl fork

Yum Cake

Cousins and 2nd Cousins. my Cousin Kim and her daughter Cali

Not at the party, but the night before - hanging with daddy on the lawn mower

Birthday day at the Zoo with Daddy

Ice Cream Treat with Daddy

Play-Doh! She was very excited about it.

Tea party

her new princess wagon

Banner

Happy Birthday Gabriella!!

Dear Gabby.

Well little girl you are 2 and not so little anymore! You have been super excited about your birthday all week. We ask you when your birthday is and you say "Friday"!You are also so excited to be going to the Zoo with your dad. You were telling all your friends and teachers about it. You dad took off the day to take you there in the afternoon.

2 years ago your dad and I headed to the hospital, we were all nervous and excited in one. We really couldn't wait to meet you and I have to say I never imagined how fulfilled my life was going to be with you in it. You are our world and mean so much to us.

You are getting so big and talking up a storm. I feel like I say that every time someone asks about you, but your language is just exploding. You are starting to string together 4 word sentences and you pick up on SO much of your world around you.

On Monday you are starting your transition to the Early Preschool room at daycare. You LOVE EPS1 and talk about it all the time. In fact last week when you weren't allowed to go there for the entire day you threw a fit. Hopefully you won't miss the Toddler room too much. Luckily you will still see your two favorite teachers. Mrs R & Ms S.

You are starting to potty train and I am not sure I am quite ready for you to be out of diapers, but it will be such an achievement for you! I know you are ready because you keep telling us that you are poopy before you are. So I know once you transition to your new room it won't be long before you will be fully potty trained.

We got you a big girl bed for your birthday! You were so excited to pick it out and you sure told us what you wanted. We gave you three choices and you said no very adamantly to other 2. So we ordered that one, luckily it was the one that mama liked too.

Another big milestone was you had your very first haircut! It was only you bangs, because I can't cut those beautiful curls of yours, so we cut your bangs. Mama didn't do a very good job at it and I cut them a little too short. Luckily they will grow out.

We are so glad you are in our life and can't wait to see what you grow into. Your personality is wonderful and I love seeing what you come up with throughout the day.

Love always and forever

Mama and Daddy!

35 Weeks

That's right 5 weeks to go, give or take a few.I had a great appointment today with my Midwife. She is really amazing. We went through the Birth Plan. She said that if everything goes well and the baby isn't measuring big then I can go through with my waterbirth, otherwise she said I can labor in the tub and then have her outside of the tub at the end. So either way I will be able to use the tub :)

She is measuring at 34 1/2cm so right on target. Jamie said that she hasn't dropped, she is head down, but not dropped into position yet. Which is fine with me, her feet are definitely what has been kicking me in the ribs the past few weeks. Her heartbeat was about 130 bpm and Jamie said that she was about 5 or 5 1/2 lbs.  Next week is my next appointment with the other midwife. It will be nice to meet her, I feel comfortable with her over the phone, so I can imagine I will be when I meet her and it will be nice to be able to meet her in case she is the one that is on call when I deliver.

We had a few full weeks which is why I haven't blogged in awhile. We had another shower - given to us by my Mother in law and two of her friends. It was a joint shower with my friend Alicia who is due a few weeks before me, also having a girl. They spoiled her so much by giving us so many things. Her nursery is filled, we have to get a few more things here and there, but 90% of what we need when she is born is here. We went and got our car seat and I think Mike is planning on putting it in tonight.


We also interviewed our first pediatrician last week. We interviewed the Pediatrician and her Nurse Practitioner. They were recommended by a friend of mine from work. I really liked both of them. Mike is holding his judgment until we meet with the next one on the 20th. They are both close and both were recommended, so we will see what happens.

We were up at the lake for the fourth of July as usual. It was a lot of fun. A little too warm for me so I was a bit uncomfortable, but still nice. We went out to the sandbar on Saturday, I floated in the water for a bit and sat in a chair that Barb brought out there. It was super nice. Mike and I took some pictures (see below) because he wanted some of me pregnant up at the lake.

The weather was pretty good. On the 4th though it rained all day, it cleared up for the fireworks, but then the fog rolled in, so it was really hard to see the fireworks through the fog, especially the white and gold ones, but we still had fun. I also finished Peanut's blanket up at the lake. My in-laws say that I cheated, but really I just made it smaller. I was getting so tired of knitting those squares, so I just made it a bit smaller, but it's still pretty large and she will get some use out of it.

Mike is turning 30 on Thursday! Happy Birthday Daddy...I am taking him to his favorite pasta bar with some friends of ours. It should be a lot of fun!!  I am also planning a special date night for the two of us for Friday night :) I will post pictures of his birthday afterwards.

Party with Crunch!

It was Alyssa's First Birthday Party today and it was such a great time. My in-laws have season tickets to the Timberwolves Basketball team and they won a free party for 20 people with the Mascot Crunch. So he came to Barrett & Leah's house! It was a great time.

Here are some pictures and videos from today

Alyssa & Crunch - The basketball was her gift from the Timberwolves

Crunch & His Assistant getting the Hulu Hoops ready - That's the hubby in the background - probably wondering what he was getting himself into :) Anything for his niece.

Alyssa's Cake

Messy Baby! Enjoying her cake. She stuffed the entire cake in her mouth.

Turning 30

Well we had a great Christmas! It was a bit different this year because of the storm. Normally we Christmas Eve with my Dad's side of the family. But with the storm we postponed the Flipp Christmas until Sunday. So Mike and I took the pup for a walk and then made a lovely dinner of Fettuccine Alfredo and Beans :) We opened gifts Christmas morning with the three of us (Mike, myself and Mac). and then got ready to head up to his parents. The roads were pretty crappy heading up there, really slushy and stuff. We had a great day at his parents, took the dog for a walk, played a fun game of risk. Watched Alyssa open her presents which was a lot of fun. She helped me open a few of them as well.

Saturday Mike and I decided to trade in all of our games from our PlayStation 2 and the game system and we got about 80.00 off of the Wii. We were super excited. So we spent all day on Saturday playing the Wii and just hanging out the two of us. Yesterday we went to my Cousin's & her Fiance's in Forest Lake to have the Flipp Family Christmas. It was a ton of fun! Wish we could have stayed longer, but we had to head to the Meyer Family Christmas for the afternoon. Also had a ton of fun there too. We were pretty tired when we got home around 7 last night. Overall it was a wonderful holiday.

I celebrated my 30th Birthday on Sunday. My family as always made it a wonderful birthday! I walked into the Meyer family Christmas and they sang Happy Birthday to me. Very embarrassing. Mike was a sweetheart and got Peanut and I a $100.00 to Aveda Sanctuary Spa so later on when I am wanting to be done being pregnant and just treat myself I can get a prenatal massage :) What a sweet husband.

Hope everyone had a great holiday!