music, playtime, and a first kiss

Greta had a few playdates this week. On Thursday, we went to a playdate at Gavin's house. He's 7 months old and Greta had a great time playing with all of his fun toys. Greta was enjoying herself so much that she decided to lean over and give Gavin a kiss to show her thanks for inviting her over. She's been kissing me and her animals a lot more this week but this took my by surprise. On Saturday, we went to a music class at the library. Greta loves when they get to sit on the parachute.

She looks like such a big girl with all of the older kids. Tear.

So attentive to the instructor.

Playing with the rhythm sticks.

Her friend Harper was there too. We had a fun playdate at Harper's house on Friday. I need to get pictures from Harper's mom.

Greta loves the rhythm sticks and I'd love to get her a pair for home- to use under supervision.

Greta seems to really love music. We went out for dinner a couple times this week and both times she would start bouncing to the music in the restaurant. When she'd see us noticing her though she'd stop and get shy. I guess she's a private dancer. I've noticed Greta patting her tummy this weekend to the beat of music. She also has a new drum to play with. We had a popcorn tin from the holidays that is now empty and she loves to sit with her little legs around it and pat her hands on it or take some of her toys and tap them on it. It makes interesting sounds and it's her new favorite toy.

last day- part two

Last Tuesday, was the last day of our evening baby class. I am really sad to see this class end because it was a fun class for Chad to come to with us. Greta has known many of the kids in the class since she was 4 months old and it was wonderful seeing them and their parents on a weekly basis.

Greta loved playing with this hanging beach ball.

There is usually an activity during every class.
Daddy helping Greta with the handprint activity.

After we have an activity and some playtime, we gather in another room for circle time and parent discussion.

Greta loves the parachute. Here are all the kids sitting on the parachute during the "bubbles" song.

Now it's time for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" under the parachute. Greta usually shrieks in delight when they are doing an activity with the parachute. Notice how far she's crawling away from us. In just the last 3 classes, she's started to venture out on her own.

The parachute is going away but the kids start crawling over there because they aren't ready for the parachute fun to be over.

Requesting an encore of the parachute.

Greta with the wonderful instructors.

I can't believe how much Greta has changed since we started this class. When the class began at the beginning of this fall she had just mastered sitting and was just starting to hold 2 toys at a time. Now she's crawling all over the place and going from a crawl to sit position. She's also interacting a lot more with the other kids. We've learned so much in these classes and made wonderful friendships with the other families.

last day

A couple pictures of Greta this morning.

Today was the last day of the session for one of our baby classes. Greta was the only girl in this class with three other little boys. We've had a lot of fun in this class and gotten to know the other 3 moms and instructors really well. We aren't signing up for the next session because it conflicts with another activity we signed up for and I'm so bummed that we won't be seeing the moms and their little boys on a weekly basis. We are going to try and get together for playdates so hopefully that will work out.

Max, Asher, and Greta at class today
Having a little chat.

Greta with the wonderful instructors, Kari and Nancy.

Daddy reading "This Little Piggy" to Greta tonight.

Greta got this fun jumbo animal stacker from her great-aunt and great-uncle for Christmas.

It's bigger than she is!

This Saturday Greta pulled up to her knees for the first time.

She was practicing again today.

Greta was so outgoing in class today and was crawling all over the place. Everyday she is changing so much. I love to see her personality forming but it makes me sad that she's slowly becoming a little girl and not my baby anymore.

weekend recap

Another weekend is almost over. Boo hoo. On Friday, Greta and I had a nice lunch with 3 of my friends at the Tavern Grill in Blaine. On Saturday, Chad, Greta, and I drove to St. Paul for breakfast at the Twisted Fork Grille. I'm so happy that Greta does so well at restaurants. She's started to really enjoy eating puffs and the last few times we've brought her out to eat we haven't even pulled out the toys because she's happily eaten puffs the whole time we were at the restaurant. She sure makes a mess, though. More than half the puffs usually end up in her lap or on the floor. Sofie has quickly figured out the best place to be when Greta is in the highchair.

After breakfast on Saturday, we took Greta to a Sing Play Learn class at the library. I think the first time we took Greta to a SPL class she was 4-5 months old. It's amazing to see her change and become more of a participant in the class. At one point in the class they took out a parachute and Greta loves the parachute. The instructor said the kids could sit on the parachute and the parents held the handles of the parachute and walked around in a circle while everyone was singing. The class is for birth to 5 years old and the majority of the kids are probably 2 years and older. When Greta saw the parachute she immediately started crawling to the center like the other kids were doing. She is normally so shy so it was surprising for us to see her do this. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her laying on her tummy while the older kids were sitting around her and the parents were moving the parachute around in a circle. When Greta is on her tummy and happy she will kick one of her legs on the ground. She was doing this while they were on the parachute and a sweet little girl sitting next to Greta who was probably about 4 years old had her hand on Greta's back and was patting her and being very motherly to her. It made Chad and I chuckle to see Greta so involved with the other kids. We may have to get a parachute at home and we can tie one end to Sofie's collar and then Chad and I can hold the other handles and Greta can sit underneath. In our other baby classes, they usually bring out a parachute and will sing Twinkle Twinkle while the kids sit underneath and we move the parachute up and down. Greta will squeal in delight because she loves it so much.

Lastly, our house is going to get pretty interesting in about 2 weeks when I run out of my freezer stash of frozen breastmilk. I've been exclusively pumping since Greta was born and am still pumping but only twice a day. I cut down to only pumping twice a day in the beginning of October when Greta was around 7.5 months old and was still able to get enough to feed her for the whole day without dipping into our freezer stash for about the first month when I cut out the mid-day pumping session. While my supply has started to decrease these last few months and I'm only getting about 20 ounces total per day and Greta is eating about 30-35 ounces of breastmilk per day. I had over 1300 ounces of frozen breastmilk at one point, then donated 300 ounces, and the last 1000 ounces has started to disappear quickly these last couple months. We've started to add a little bit of formula to Greta's bottle but she is so picky she will usually refuse the bottle. When I say we are adding a little formula I mean about 1 oz of formula to 4 oz of breastmilk. The only time I've been able to get her to drink the bottle is if I use it for a dream feed and get her up while she is sleeping so she is pretty much asleep while eating. Last night was pretty rough. Greta woke up at 3am and was hungry. I tried to feed her a bottle with breastmilk and an ounce of formula and she completely refused it. She was so mad and was up for about an hour fussing in her crib. After several minutes of her crying, I tried to give her a bottle of just breastmilk but she was so mad about the previous breastmilk/formula concoction that she refused that bottle too. She ended up falling asleep around 4am and slept until 8am so she went from 11am-8am without eating. So now I know she can make it through the night without eating. It's just frustrating when you are up at 3am delirious trying to console a screaming baby. We've tried a few brands of formula so far and I have a friend giving me a sample of Good Start this week. I've heard that tastes similar to breastmilk so I'm crossing my fingers it works. I know she'll eat if she's hungry enough I just hate to waste breastmilk when I mix it and she refuses the bottle. I would like to stretch out my stash with mixing it rather than getting down to having nothing left and she has the option of drinking all formula. I think I have a picky eater on my hands. One thing I am hoping if she ever starts drinking the formula is that she sleeps a little better at night. Oh, I hope sleeping longer than 4 hours stretches are in the near future.

That's all I've got! Have a great week!

45 weeks

Greta turned 45 weeks today. We're inching closer to her 1st birthday. Yikes.

I love these two. Not trying brag, but I'm definitely the center of their world.
Sofie is so attached to me since I'm home all the time. She follows me everywhere. Into the nursery, downstairs, upstairs, the kitchen, and yes- even the bathroom.

And likewise for little Miss Greta.

Tonight, Chad was playing with Greta upstairs and I had been downstairs doing a few things. When I came into the living room Greta stopped playing and immediately started crawling towards me. I stepped into the kitchen to get dinner and I think she was hurt that I didn't immediately acknowledge her and she started to cry. I went over to pick her up and she gave me the biggest hug. It was so sweet. She kept opening her arms and hugging me and patting my back a bit. She has given me kisses before but not hugs. It was so sweet. I just love seeing her show affection. I want her to have a kind, gentle heart.

Greta got to see her friend, Harper, twice this week. I snapped a few pictures today during our baby class.

Happy Thursday!

tuesday

Greta and I stayed in all day today and didn't leave the house until our evening baby class tonight. It was fun to have a lazy day and just play, sing songs, read books, and cuddle. This afternoon, I was holding Greta's baby doll and rocking and singing to her doll while we were playing and I think Greta got jealous and wanted me to hold her. So she held her baby doll and I rocked both of them in my arms. I guess she still wants to be my baby too.

I'm happy to report Greta has started to finally enjoy eating puffs. She is getting better at eating pureed foods too. Once we are finished with the baby food jars we currently have I probably won't buy anymore and will just feed her finger foods. Greta enjoyed the confetti tub at our baby class tonight.

Greta was probably the most interactive tonight that I've seen her at a baby class. She was crawling all over the place and loved this xylophone. We may have to get one of these. I don't know what's up with this funny face she is making.

Yesterday, we made an awesome toy in our baby class. They gave us a dozen metal juice lids and then a Folgers plastic container and we cut a oval hole in the top of the container. Greta loves banging the metal lids together and putting them in the container. She played with it all day today.

We only have one week left of our baby classes before the session is over. We'll be sad to say goodbye to all the fun teachers and friends we've made over the past few months.