lazy sunday

We didn't have anything planned for the day so we all lounged around in our pjs until late morning.

In the late afternoon, I took Greta with me to run a few errands in Minnetonka and Hopkins while Chad went to Target Field for an evening work event.

Here's Greta modeling an outfit from Grandma G:

mall of america x2

Greta had her first experience at the Mall of America on Friday. We met my friend, Nicole, for lunch at CRAVE and then Greta and I spent a few hours shopping. Greta did really good at the mall. I think the loud noises lulled her to sleep. When she was awake she was fine just looking around as I pushed her through the mall. Greta was a hungry little girl at the mall and I underestimated how much milk to bring with us. While I was shopping and had my hands full of lots of items I wanted to try on, Greta had a major meltdown and wanted to eat NOW. I didn't have any more milk with and needed to pump so I took this as our cue to leave. After I pumped and fed Greta, we met Sarah at Costco so she could let us use her membership to buy some Cutey Baby cloth diapers they had on sale there. Sarah and I ate dinner at Pei Wei before leaving.

On Saturday, we took another trip to the MOA. I had wanted to finish my shopping and we were looking for a little outing to take as a family so a trip to the mall fit the bill. When we got to the mall it was around noon so we were hungry. Chad got to pick the restaurant and he chose, Famous Daves. Of course, one of the only restaurants we have up by our house:) After lunch, I did some shopping and Chad took Greta around the mall for a few hours. It was a fun day.

pretty in purple

I love the way Greta looks in purple. It just makes her blue eyes pop. Greta got this cute purple dress from one of Chad's co-workers. She matched her Bumbo chair so of course I had to snap a picture.

We also spent the afternoon running errands. We stopped by the St. Anthony area of St. Paul to check out a possible bridal shower location for a friend's shower in June and did a little shopping as well. We grabbed a quick snack at the Finnish Bistro and Greta took a little snooze.



It was a gorgeous day. It's so nice to get out of the house and explore the beautiful areas of the cities.

movie time

Greta had her first experience today going to a movie theater. A local theater has Matinee Movie Magic for moms (and dads) where they show first-run films in the theater and have the lights a little less dim and the sound not as loud. We went to the movie "Death at a Funeral" with our friends Heidi and Mike and their one year old son, Caden. Greta was a good baby during the movie. She only requested a snack once and took a little nap for most of the movie. She usually does really well in places where it's noisy so I think Chad and I could try going to a normal movie and see how she does. It was a fun outing for us today.

bandaids and tears

Greta had her 8 week doctor visit and received her first shots. She did pretty well. She cried big alligator tears when she was getting the shots but by the time the bandaids were on she was all better.

Here are her stats from her 8 week visit and where she ranks among other babies her age:

weight=10.05 lbs. ~ 15th percentile
height= 22 inches ~ 17th percentile
head circumference= 15.5 inches ~ 45th percentile

The pediatrician examined Greta and thought she was doing great. This was our first time to this clinic and I really liked it. They only see kids and have a special waiting area for sick kids, well kids, and then have a waiting area for babies. This clinic is about 15 minutes from our house but I think we'll continue to go to this clinic since they see only children. They have extended hours for urgent care appointments and also have a pediatrician during the day that doesn't have any scheduled appointments and sees only sick kids that don't have an appointment but need to be seen right away. I love living in the cities and having access to all the great medical care but sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to find the "perfect" doctor. I'm excited to finally check "pediatrician" off our list.

Greta tolerated her first vaccines really well. She was pretty sleepy when we got home and didn't eat as much as she normally would throughout the day but she wasn't fussy or running a fever which we were happy about. She wasn't as smiley as she has been lately though. When Chad got home he was trying to get her to smile and she would crack a little smile and then immediately turn it into a frown. It was almost like she wanted to smile but then remembered that she was mad about her shots and pouted. She just cracks me up!

2 months

Dear Greta,

I can't believe you've already been in our lives for over 2 months. The time has just flown by. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. I'm trying to capture and cherish each moment with you because I know in a blink of an eye you'll be walking, driving, and then off to college.

I think we're starting to see your cues for when you are hungry, tired, need a diaper change, or just want to be held. You are such a good baby. You've been sleeping so well lately. We haven't had another 7 hour night of sleep but you usually sleep between 5-6 hours before waking up to eat and then immediately go back to sleep. You usually don't even open your eyes the entire time I'm feeding you. You usually sleep about 12 hours at night and get up twice. So if we put you down between 9:30-10:30pm you will usually sleep until about 9:30-10:30am before you are ready to be up for the day. You are so smiley in the morning and even though you are hungry you like to just look at me and smile and coo. It's cute because it's like you realize you haven't seen me for awhile and want to have a little chat first before your breakfast.

You just love baths. I think you like being naked. So far, you've never been upset when getting a bath. Even if you are a little fussy before the bath, it seems to relax you. Daddy usually gives the baths and I just look at you and comment how big you've grown.
You are really starting to show your personality. You are so happy and just love to smile and stick your tongue out. Daddy taught you how to stick your tongue out so now you use it as a form of communication. You will often stick your tongue out and wait for us to do the same back to you. It's too cute. Hopefully, you don't continue this little trick into grade school.

You are starting to really recognize our voices. Sometimes daddy will be holding you and I'll come into the room and start talking and you'll hear my voice and try to turn your head to hear me. I love that you are starting to recognize us.

We've started to venture out of the house a lot more and take little day trips around the city. I think you like the change of scenary and are usually just happy sitting in your stroller. The only bad part about going somewhere is that it takes forever for us to get out of the house. No matter how quickly we try to get ready it usually takes us from start to out the door- 2 hours. No worries- we just plan accordingly.

What are you up to at 2 months old?

- smile at the sound of our voice and you will smile at other people

- you can raise your head and chest when lying on your stomach

- roll over from stomach to back

- hit the objects on your activity mat

- recognize yourself in the mirror on your papasan chair and talk to yourself

- coo and try to talk to us

- you have good neck strength and can sit in your bumbo chair for a short amount of time.

- you eat about 4 oz. at a time

- wear size one diapers

- still wear newborn clothes and are in some size o-3 month clothes

- you love music and it's even better if mommy dances around a little bit.

- You are getting along great with Sofie and Bijou. Sofie will get up with you in the middle of the night and come into the nursery when I change your diaper. This is huge for Sofie because it sometimes takes a miracle to get Sofie up in the morning. Bijou doesn't really pay too much attention to you. She will sometimes lay by your bouncy seat though or come over to you if you are crying.

Your mommy and daddy couldn't love you more. We're excited to see you grow and change, but not too fast there little missy. Time- please stand still.

Love,

Mom

a case of the mondays

Greta and I had a busy day today. We started our morning driving down to Bloomington to stop by our vet clinic to drop off a urine sample for Bijou. Greta got a tour of the vet clinic and got to meet everyone that was there. When Bijou was really sick last June, I had just found out a few days earlier that I was pregnant. It was such a bittersweet time for us being we had just found out we were pregnant and then less than a week later nearly having to put Bijou to sleep. I had confided in a few of the girls at the clinic during my long days spent there with Bijou that I was pregnant. At that time, we never thought Bijou would have still been with us to see the baby. It was so nice to bring Greta in and let her meet some of the sweet staff that were some of the first ones to hear about the pregnacy. They are the most caring people and I can't imagine anyone else taking care of our sweet Bijou. I completely forgot to take a picture while we were there but I'm sure we'll be back soon.

After Pet Crossing, Greta and I met my friend, Cathy, at Red Lobster. It was Greta's first trip to Red Lobster and I'm sure it won't be her last. Cathy is a dear friend from my days working at Kinko's and it was so good to catch up with her.

After we left Red Lobster, we went to my 6 week midwife appointment. Here's Greta with the wonderful midwife, Mary, who helped deliver her.

seven

Greta slept SEVEN HOURS last night! She's started to have a fussy time between 6-10pm and last night was no different. Chad and I gave her a bath around 8:30pm and then I fed her a bottle and she was out and slept from 9pm - 4am. This is her longest stretch yet. Before last night the longest she has slept at night is 5.5 hours. I hope she starts to make this a habit and we will have one happy (and rested) mommy!

easter bunny

rolling over

Here's a video of Greta rolling over for the second time. The first time she rolled over was on 3/31/10-one day shy of being 5 weeks. Unfortunately, we didn't capture her first time rolling over on video but luckily Chad and I both saw her do it. She was on her activity mat for tummy time and she just flopped to her back from her tummy. Chad and I both looked at eachother and said "is that rolling over"? Sure enough she's done it since. I'm glad I was able to record it on video. I'm going to have to start babyproofing the house before I know it. (she rolls over at 2:16)