Four Months Old!

I really can't believe it. Keeping this website up to date is getting more and more difficult for me because I actually have to write these things down and that makes them real. It almost feels like if I don't say it it's not true. But it is. Tula turned four months old on the 29th of October. Where did the time go?

This has been a great month, getting settled more into the house, John into his job, and Tula and I into a routine. And the consistency has paid off, her nighttime sleeps were getting longer and longer. And then, last night, it happened. She slept 12 whole hours. Twelve! Now you would think I had some amazing sleep because I haven't had the opportunity to sleep like that for so long, but that was not the case. I was up checking the monitor on more than one occasion. But I am still not complaining, it was a wonderful night. And the best part? She woke up happy! I thought after that long she would wake up starving and furious, but I was woken up to the sound of her cooing and talking to herself this morning, happy as ever. I couldn't wait to pick her up. I missed her.

She is still the happiest little thing in the mornings. Smiles and giggles and all that fun stuff. Tula is beginning to actually play. There are things that she finds VERY funny, and I know what they are. Little sounds I make or ways I tickle her. I love making her laugh, it makes my day.

She as started this new thing where she wakes up from her naps cranky int he daytime. She is very particular in that she needs to be picked up immediately and snuggled for a few minutes. It is so sweet to me though, because she is actually starting to cuddle. She just wants a couple minutes of quiet time and it reminds me that we all need that, and that the two of us need them together. And we have a little quiet snuggle and then its time to get up again. I never want to forget those little cuddles. It is the best feeling in the whole world.

I took Tula to the Doc's today just to get weighed and she was 13 pounds and 9 ounces. I measured her length at home by laying her on a roll of toilet paper, marking where the top of her head and the bottom of her foot were, and measuring with a tape measure. I got 25 inches, so it may not be exact but it's close enough. That would put her in the 50th percentile for her weight and about the 75th for her height. Those tall and slender genes are all me, right?

What else is new? Yesterday was Halloween. Tula dressed up as a pea in the pod, but hated her costume. I guess because it's one of those baby buntings, I really don't think she liked the feeling of her legs being forced together like that. I'm not gonna lie, that thing looked really uncomfortable, so I can't blame the girl. Good thing I was thinking earlier in the day to put it on her and get a few pictures because we tried that evening and she wasn't havin' it. I got a few great pics of her and posted them on her babysite. As fun as it was to dress her up, I look forward to taking her trick or treating for the first time. Some of the little ones that came to our door last night were so cute, I can't believe one day she will be that big. We had 66 trick or treaters, and though I had been told that my number was going to be alot higher from some of the people that have lived here for awhile, it still felt pretty busy to us and we basically had a steady stream of kids between 6 and 8 pm. We had fun last night, got to meet a few neighbors we hadn't met before and saw again what a great neighborhood we live in. The street was full of kids and moms and dads and it was just a really nice time. Plus, it was short and T shirt weather, and who can complain about that?

In other exciting news....I am going home on Monday! I am so excited! My sister Jenelle is here so I am going to travel back with her and stay with my Mom and Dad for a week. I am curious to see how Tula will do in colder weather. I don't think she has ever been in anything under the 70's in her life, so she is in for a shock. And I am PRAYING that the travels don't screw up the fabulous sleep system we have worked out. I think now is a good time to travel with her, as she gets older and more mobile those plane trips would get tougher and tougher so I am going to try and squeeze in as many as I can now. We are going to be in Canada for a week and I am really looking forward to seeing friends and family. It has been years since I have been able to go home twice in two months! I feel like I was just there but Tula has grown so much and looking back at pictures of our trip reminds me how much time has passed. Already she is a different baby. Next stop is Connecticut (I promise, Grandma Marianne and Grandpa Lee), if I can ever convince my husband to take a day (or two) off work!

It's getting late and I am sure there are a million more Tula "changes" to post about but that's all I can think of for tonight. I have three days left till my trip and I need to start packing. No more of this "throwing everything in the suitcase last minute" business. Travelling with an infant is no small task and there are lots of extras to pack and things that make life REALLY difficult if you forget them! Wish me luck!

I know, I know......

I got you all hooked to this site and now I never update it......SORRY! Tula and I have been so busy this week I really haven't had the time. For those of you who don't know, I started a Mommies Group online called First Time Moms with Babes Under One. I figured it would be a good way to get to know some other mommies in the Gilbert area, and within two weeks the group had over 20 members. I haven't met all of them yet, but there is a group of us who are stay at home moms and able to meet a little more often so we have been. I am meeting some great ladies and Tula is finding meeting all the other babies quite interesting I think. It is great for both of us and I am so glad I did it. But with that said, it has kept me very busy, and tomorrow morning is the first morning of this week I don't have anything going on. Phew..... Me and Tula need a sleep in day I think.

John has been getting lots of hours at his job and he really loves it there. It is so fun (and such a nice change) to see him smiling about his work. More importantly than the fact that he likes his job, he really likes the guys he works with and for, and it makes the days go by faster. John finding a job he was happy with was really the last piece of the puzzle for us out here, and now that he has that, we are feeling so much more relaxed at at home here. We really got lucky with this job and are so thankful.

Tula is growing like a weed. I haven't had her weighed in awhile but I will take her and have it done next week for her 4 month birthday weigh in. She has developed into this little giggly smiley ball of fun. She is busy but the great thing is she is now interested in things other than me and all the toys, excersaucers, and tummy mats are getting lots of use. She loves playing by herself, but it was cool to see her observing all the other little ones playing today. She was so cute. It was like every once in a while she would try and talk to one of the other babies and she even smiled at a few of the moms. She doesn't seem shy at all.

Not too much else is new here. Tula lets me get lots of sleep lately so I have been taking advantage and staying up playing on the computer or watching TV. She usually goes down around 8 and gets up to eat a little around midnight so I have been putting her down and staying up till that midnight feeding doing my own thing. It has been nice for me to have those few hours in the evening to unwind. I forgot what it was like to have this much privacy!

I have been really bad at taking pictures lately. I will try and get some new ones and update soon! In the meantime.....here's a funny one I sent out to our parents this week! It's a long story, but the picture will make ya laugh I bet........

Sleeping with Daddy...

Grabbing the Toes......

She Found Her Toes!

I guess it was two or three days ago now. I was changing her diaper and I had showed them to her a few days earlier. Anyways, she was on her back and she spotted them and grabbed right for them. Wouldn't let go. It was the cutest thing and her little toes are now one of her favorite toys.

She has been sucking on her fists for a few weeks now. Most of the time there are two fingers she prefers to gnaw on but every now and then she literally stick her who fist in there. It is quite a scene. And the drool......oh, the drool. It doesn't end. I think there is some action happening in the gums, let the countdown to teeth begin! Thankfully she doesn't seem upset or bothered at all, she just loves to chew right now. I have been giving her this one chew toy but John or I have to hold it in her mouth for her. Today I actually saw her trying to stick it in there herself, she was close and I think we are days away from that milestone. It is so amazing watching her little coordination skills develop. I see her grab things and open her mouth and move the object and it doesn't all line up and I just want to go do it for her. But she is so cute how if I just sit back and watch she will try again and again and I know one day soon she is going to be putting anything and everything in her mouth and I am going to be missing the days when she couldn't quite find it!

Not much else is new here. John's Aunt Gayle was here for a few days to visit. She stopped by on her way back to NY from LA and got a million pictures of her favorite great niece. She uploaded a few to an online album...here is the link if you are interested. There's some real cute ones. And no, I am not biased.

Click here and then under the album click "view as a guest".

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/viewShare.do?shareInfo=qehO4z9cYllLHm4MGTv9bs0xPBjGevi26Xo8yPBR/9lWGd%2bBXiXp6w%3d%3d

Tula's New Tummy Toy

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

The "fall" weather has finally made its way to us here in AZ. No, this odes not mean a chance of snow or leaves falling. It does not mean that we need to bust out the fall jackets. It simply means that it is no longer consistently above 100 degrees outside. This week has brought such beautiful weather, and we are all enjoying it. I can finally walk with Tula outside in the stroller without feeling like she is suffering in the sweltering heat. In fact, we made friends with another Mommy and little 1 month old and we all go for walks together 3 mornings a week. Tula seems to enjoy the outdoors and the stroller. It is still warm enough that we have to go a little early to do our walking, we usually meet at 8:30 am which means I have to wake Tula up on those mornings. Yes....bless her heart....my child usually sleeps till around 9ish if I let her! Anyways, I feel so great finally able to be a little active since she was born. I really have been so busy since she was born that that was on the backburner, but is now a top priority again and I feel great just getting out, getting active, and interacting with other Moms.

Tula was three months old last week. This new stage of her life is so different. She truly is no longer a newborn. She holds her head up so well, she loves to be lifted high over our heads. She loves when I hold her up like that and sing to her. She laughs and laughs. She is still unsure if she likes being tickled. It's hit or miss. Most times she laughs, but its this really confused laugh where she is looking around wondering what the heck is going on. Honestly though, she seems so happy. This kid really loves to smile and laugh, and as new and unsure parents sometimes, it melts our hearts to hear and lets us know that we are doing a good job.

Tula also loves to chit chat. She loves the sound of her own voice and when everything else is quiet she loves to make some noise. CHURCH is a perfect example of this. She basically blabbed her face of the entire time today. Of course the talking thing is fairly new to us so we just think its adorable. I am sure there were some others who didn't see it the same. but considering she sits there for the whole hour and didn't cry or fuss, I did get a few more of the ...."My, what a wonderful baby you have..." comments that makes every mother swoon with pride, as though I have somehow already conditioned this child to behave in a manner that I desire. I am just enjoying it while it lasts. She is a joy right now.

The other thing that lets me know she loves the sound of her own voice is that she LOVES it when I cover her ears with my hands. You know how if you cup your hands and place it over your own ears it kind of makes that echo when you talk? And makes your voice seem louder to yourself and all you can hear? She loves that, and if I hold her head like that she could sit forever telling herself a story, and looking out of the corner of her eyes from side to side, wondering what she has done to make her voice do this. So cute.

Tula loves sleeping on her belly, and lets me know this by sleeping up to 6 or 7 hours straight the last few nights!!!!! Wahoo! As much as she still enjoys being swaddled and on her back from time to time, the tummy sleeping seems to be working for us and for her. She also still loves to be shushed to sleep by the bathroom fan. We have almost worn out the one in our bedroom I think....lol. Fan on, lights out, door shut. It's our recipe for a sleeping baby and it works every time. I love discovering those little tricks that wok and knowing her so well. Tula is developing this little personality more and more every day and I just feel so lucky and blessed to be her Mommy.

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving at home and the for me, the first year I really understand what it means to be thankful. In church last week they spoke about having an "attitude of gratitude" and I really do now, more than ever, have that. Tula brings a joy to my life that I never knew could be possible. She has ignited a flame in me that I never knew was there. This year, I have so much to be thankful for. But most of all, I am thankful that I realize this. That I have the ability to see how blessed I am. That I have instilled in me the knowledge that these are all great gifts that were given to me by God, that ALL good things come from Him. I am reminded to not take these things for granted. And I just feel blessed and humbled beyond measure that I have the honor of looking after God's precious child, Tula.

This Thanksgiving I have everything to be thankful for. My husband, who is my best friend. There is no one I would rather be on this journey with. And for Tula, of course, for everything about her. For our wonderful families, who we miss so much but are so lucky to have. For our health and circumstances that allow us to live free from so many of the misfortunes that people all over the world live with every day. I am thankful that I have the freedom to worship the God I choose, to wear the clothes I want, to marry who I love, and to work (or not work!). And as I list all these things I am thankful for, I am glad I am living my life realizing how blessed I am, knowing how wonderful life is and not taking one single thing for granted.

No new pictures....sorry. The "Mama-razzi" has been slackin'. I will try and get a few new ones up this week. Hope you are all enjoying your Thanksgiving at home everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!