Where Is Niva? Here She Is!

I feel like I've won the lottery! In addition to having Niva Josephine as my very own, I have discovered a song that soothes her about 95% of the time. A few weeks ago at our library storytime, we sang an oldie but a goodie called Where is Thumbkin. It was an easy song to sing and had cute little hand movements to go with it...so I started singing it to Niva using her name. Niva must love it because it gets her quiet fast when she's grumpy! I use it during Pajama Time, in the car when she's had enough, on our evening walks when she's ready to be home but we're not close....I don't mind singing it several hundred times if it keeps her content! What are the odds that I would just happen to find the song that does the trick?

Me? Grumpy? Never! Now sing me that song again!

In other news, the Baby Nursery has undergone a transformation. We moved the guest room bed so that there will be more space for Eggs and Bakey to play as she gets more mobile...here she is christening her new foam playmat:

Niva's Thanksgiving Feast

My, how things have changed in one year! Last year at this time, Niva Josephine was just a speck in my nauseous belly. This year, she tore up Thanksgiving Day! Here she is in action:

First, there was a Thanksgiving Baby Dance Party before the cooking commenced.

Then, Eggs and Bakey entertained us and herself while we were cooking up a storm.

The tryptophan starts to hit Niva...

...and then she's out!

Baby Sunshine wakes up just in time for pie, UT football, and a visit from family.

We even had a little Thanksgiving miracle: Niva finally pulled the yellow cord on her bouncer which plays music-- on her own! We were wondering when that day would come. I wonder what is in store for next year's Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful for my sweet girl!




Bonus Picture of the Day:

We had a big Baby Oopsie today. Here, Eggs and Bakey is modest in between outfit changes.

Tummytime in the Park

This afternoon, we gathered our quilts, toys, and our buddy Leo for some tummytime in the park. It was such a lovely day at Butler Park-- the kids really enjoyed the fall breeze through their hair as they watched trees and engaged in deep babble....

     


Bonus Picture of the Day:

Can you smell what Niva's cookin'??

Where's My Walk??

This morning, I made the mistake of skipping our Morning Baby Walk. We had to take Daddy to the airport early so I was hoping Niva would be game for a Morning Baby Nap instead because Mommy was still sleepy.  My grumpy little Eggs and Bakey wasn't having any part of that. The nap didn't happen until 4 hours later after a bath. The bath didn't go so well either....Niva spit up on her last clean gungee (before it was even on her) and then she peed on her last clean towel (before we dried her with it).  This made for a gungee-less, towel-less photo-op using a blanket:

This was not our morning!

The walk was postponed until the afternoon and I learned my lesson: Don't mess with a baby's routine!

A Christmas Affair

This afternoon, our friend Josie invited us to come to A Christmas Affair-- a huge market of booths selling all kinds of Christmas knickknacks. Niva was absolutely mesmerized by all the lights, sounds, and smells in the air. We met Leo and Karen for this event and here are the kids in front of their first Christmas tree...

This is the event that we learned how to wear the Baby Bjorn for-- let me tell you, walking around with 16 lbs of baby for an hour and a half is a workout! Niva demonstrates the way I felt after we got home:

Niva's New Buddy

Niva and I went to visit her new pal Sebastian today. He is eating and growing very well...

Ahhh! The good old newborn days!

However, I can't believe how much of a giant Niva looks next to her little friend. When did she get so big?? It feels like just yesterday, she was that tiny too...how time flies!

My Baby Kangaroo

At the urging of my friend and Leo's mom Karen, I have finally learned how to wear my Baby Bjorn! I got it secondhand without any user's manual so I've been a little intimidated to use it. Luckily, the Brains of the Family (Kraig) stepped up and figured it out...and Niva actually enjoyed hanging out in it! I actually made a whole lasagna this evening with Niva in the Baby Bjorn.

Daddy's so warm...

And Mommy's so soft and squishy!

Now, we can join Leo and Karen at A Christmas Affair this Thursday regardless of the "No Strollers" Rule. Hooray for my baby kangaroo!

Library Buddies

Another fun day of "Books and Babies" at the library today...

Miss Librarian had just poured out all the toys in the middle of the floor and the kids are fascinated! 

Following Yesterday's Post...

This is how I found Niva this morning when I woke up:

Just chillin', not making any noises, sucking her thumb...This is definitely a new development in the life of Eggs and Bakey! I guess she has come to terms with landing on her belly in the last 24 hours!

RolyPoly

After a long hiatus, Niva's new favorite thing again is rolling on her tummy....and she does it all the time! Luckily, she is much better at keeping her head up now so it's not too terrifying for me. BUT, about 75% of the time, she screams her head off when she does this. I don't get it-- why does she keep doing it if she doesn't like it this much? Last night was the first night she woke me up to tell me that she was on her tummy. Here are some snaps of her in action:

Bonus picture of the day...

We were celebrating our friend Susan's birthday this evening and Eggs and Bakey did so well hanging out with the big people....not a peep from her even though her bedtime was pushed back by 30 minutes. Such a good girl-- thanks for letting Mommy have a social life!

Niva eyes Daddy's beer...not for another 30 years, honeybear!

Welcome Sebastian!

Niva has a new friend in this world today...Baby Sebastian John Maki! He was born this morning and weighed 9 lbs, 2 ozs! Here are the kids meeting for the first time...

Sorry Seb, I got my shots today so I'm a little grumpy...

Can't wait to make a play date with our new pal...friends for life!

In other news, Eggs and Bakey had her 4 month check up/vaccines today. She weighs in at 16 lbs which puts her in the 90 percentile and measures a whopping 26 inches-- that's in the 95 percentile! You know I am definitely struggling with carrying the car seat now.

I dominate this scale!

Poor baby is unknowing of the shots that she is about to encounter.

Niva was so brave after her shots...here she is trying to keep it together afterwards.

Puppy Love

This morning, while we were all hanging out in the big bed,  Niva  acknowledged Momo P. Bonzek for the first time ever! Momo was jumping around all over the bed and Niva was staring at her and actually giggled out loud at Momo's antics. It was the cutest and I wish we had the video camera around at that time. Although we scold Momo for getting near Niva now, I know one day they will be the best of buddies!

Mmmm...Baby smells delicious!

Happy Diwali!

Niva wants to say Happy Diwali and Namaste to her family all around the world...

I hope I get a little brother one day so I can celebrate Bhai Tika!

Bonus Pictures of the Day:

Eggs and Bakey models her new winter gear.

Me and my Lil Pardner 4 Life!

Thoughts on Baby Clothes

Why do some baby clothes have pockets? Is it for the munchkin to hold her own paci? Is it so they can keep a spare Carmex for Mommy? Maybe it makes her more fashionable as shown below...

I'll keep your Carmex safe, Ma!

Instead of these silly little pockets, maybe they should add that extra fabric to make the clothes bigger! This jumper that Niva is sporting is labeled "6-12 months"...the weather is cold today so this is the first time she is wearing it. I could barely snap all the buttons! I know Eggs and Bakey is a pretty tall kid but not as big as a 1 year old. I want my money back, Old Navy!

Library Storytime

Today, Niva and her bestie Leo hit up the library for some storytime with a lot of other babies. It was so fun to see all the babies interact with each other! A few crawling babies cruised by Niva and checked her out....since Eggs and Bakey is not as mobile as some of the others, she just soaked it all in for now.