Right Where I Want To Be

The last 2 weeks have had significant improvement!

Last night, we had a fabulous night with our friends and kids. I was worried that we wouldn't have enough food, about the kids playing together, about a ton of things. But you know what? Everything was great. There was a surplus of food! I think everyone else had fun. I even woke up to a clean house and clean dishes, since I did them last night.

As for today? Most of you know that we already tackled bedtime with Emily and she goes down for the night with no fuss. Today, I decided to buckle down and begin working on naps. I have delayed it but this is better to do now. I am doing one at a time so it's smoother for Emily. She took about 40 minutes to go to sleep but that's expected for day one. 

AND Emily isn't sick anymore! That's the best part. She hasn't needed medicine for 3 or 4 days and hasn't even coughed in 2 days. For an easier comparison, here's the before and after.

2013 - You better be good!

I should start by saying that Emily has had a cold since the first day of the new year. Its slowly drifting away but the worst was day 3 - she barely let me put her down all day. She even fell asleep between her 2nd nap and bedtime. Her two normal 90-minute naps have been between 2.5 and 3 hours up until a couple days ago. She seems to be getting better but I have been keeping her home since day 3. Thankfully, my mom watched her on Monday so I could grocery shop.

Okay, enough with catching up. I have made a decision that I don't want to be the "no" person I have been for most of 2012. Now, I decided this on New Years Eve and I am 99% certain that Emily was sick from the New Years' party I said "yes" to attending, but there's no way I could've known that would happen. I want to actually have friends when we move back to Sierra Vista so I need to be a 50/50 person for yes/no instead of a 5/95 for yes/no.

My effort to make this happen is an easy rule - don't let more than a month go by without saying "yes" to plans or making the plans myself. The only way this will be changed is if the thing I am offered to do is dangerous/illegal/unsafe.

Also, I have a new goal for myself - I want to lose 5lbs a month until December. That will get me closer to the weight I want to be for our next pregnancy and it goes with the timing. Five pounds is manageable and achievable. Plus, the pace makes it easier to keep off.

Now, I will ask myself a question I miss hearing - how are you, Krystle?
Well, today, I am happy my daughter is almost better. Lonely, because my husband isn't home. Grateful, because my husband is sacrificing so I can continue to be a stay-at-home mom. Exhausted, because Emily seemed to get into everything tonight. And I am looking forward to relaxing while watching Desperate Housewives because I realize I am thrilled that their drama is not baggage for me.

The End of the Beginning

Is it only a shock to me that the year went by so quickly? All the birthdays, milestones, holidays... how did it all happen so fast?

Time for A Year in Pictures!

Snuggling with Grandma on her birthday.

Ringing in 2012

Getting some snuggles from Haylie.

First trip back to SVRHC.

First hospital stay at TMC.

Second family picture.

First outing to visit the Hideckers.

Falling asleep while waiting for her bottle

Snuggles with Auntie!

Bottle with Grandpa

First smiles

First hair turban

Meeting Minnie Diaz :)

Daddy time

Meeting Stephanie and her baby bump

Auntie Susan changing Emily's clothes.

Out to water plants with Daddy

First pedicure

First taste of rice cereal

Cuddling with Mommy

Bottle with Grandpa John

(They met her for the first time this week)

Awkward hug with Uncle Josh and Daddy

 

Last day of Grandma and Grandpa Morlock's visit

Sitting up on her own for the first time!
(5 Months)

First sippy cup

Relaxing in the backyard

Crazy faces!

 

Smiling with Auntie Melanie

Being cool with Grandma

Lessons in hygeine

Meeting Matt for the first time

Double-ponytails with Mommy!

Standing on her own!

(8 or 9 Months)

Yo Gabba Gabba with Daddy

Happy Halloween!

(And walking! Had been walking for about 2 weeks by the time this picture was taken. Could take up to 10 steps!)

Bath time fun with her buddy, Vivienne

So proud to be feeding herself!

Daddy is off to his first day of work at his new job :)

This is easily my favorite December picture.

Emily's first birthday!

Trying on her new boots

Christmas snuggles with Auntie Susan

Opening Christmas presents

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's

Showing off her teeth. I love this picture with her and my dad.

Still a happy couple. We have come a long way this year. It's been rough but I love that man.

Christmas family picture!

Grandma and silly Emily!

Grandpa getting his time in :)

This has been a very rollercoaster-type year and, to fully express it, I would have to literally post every single picture. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I know God has watched over us this whole year and I am so happy that I have this beautiful girl in my life. Thank you to everyone who has offered me a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on or made me laugh when things were rough. I love you all.

Wait, where were we?

We made it through the holidays!!

I should catch up because a lot has happened in the last two weeks...

First, I had a small get-together a few days before my birthday. My whole family was able to make it and a couple friends. I had a good time and enjoyed an afternoon focused on me, as selfish as it sounds. Emily gobbled down one of my strawberry cupcakes and really enjoyed playing with her pal, Vivienne.

A few days later, we celebrated Emily's birthday on the day before her birthday. She was able to Skype with Eric's parents but was very tired. When I took her upstairs for her bottle, she threw up. I thought it was a one time thing but she threw up a few more times before 1am. We were hoping she would wake up on her birthday and feel better but she was sick for 3 days :( I felt so bad for her but she seemed to have a great attitude and was only upset when she threw up. Also, her birthday brought her a new tooth and a new word: "Pretty." This was mostly in reference to the Christmas tree but she's working on the meaning. As soon as she was better, Eric spent the night throwing up.

The good news? They were both better by Christmas AND I didn't get sick. Emily was excited to open gifts but she soon was bored with that and just wanted her toys. Between her gifts from us and my parents, I don't know what to get her with the gift cards from my mother-in-law and Eric's grandmothers.

Emily had her one-year appointment yesterday and she is still in the percentile bracket that Dr. Smith said she needs to be at. She is 30 inches tall and 23lbs 1oz (2lbs grown since her 9-month appointment). I think she would've weighed more if she hadn't been sick but Dr. Smith said she is perfectly proportional. He gave the okay to start switching to milk and said it's time to say bye-bye to the bottle. So, today, we went out and got a transitional sippy cup that is supposed make it an easy transition. We shall see about that!

I think that catches us up. Oh, and Emily is finally eating well today. So she is basically stealing my food.

Freedom (written 12/13/12)

Emily is almost free from food restrictions! I love being able to give her new foods that aren't mashed or baby food. Since the month began, we have let her have potato soup, corn, hamburger helper, tilapia, chicken cordon bleu (minus the ham), grilled cheese, french toast (with and without egg) and we haven't had any belly issues or allergic reactions. I am waiting to start eliminating formula until after her Well Baby checkup.

I had some FREE AND ALONE time out of my house yesterday. Had lunch with my mom and two doctor's appointments but the point is, I went alone. Eric stayed with Emily and he said they made a fort. He still has a problem getting her down for a nap but I will be solving that soon.

Emily goes to bed for the night on her own without rocking or a bottle in her crib. All I have to do is give her the cupcake blanket and a pacifier and she will lay in her crib and go to sleep with her Billy Joel music-only CD. For her naps, I have still been holding her to get her to sleep. I realize that I should've started her naps as soon as she was good with her regular bedtime but I wasn't ready for that freedom. I am waiting until after the holidays since there is no way I can be consistent right now (since we will be out and about) but my goal is to have her napping without me holding her to fall asleep by the end of January.

Thanksgiving, Ebay, and New Jobs!

Well, we have made it almost a year. This month is busy!

First of all, Emily is practically running now. I am so proud. She's eating all of her snacks on her own and I am working on getting her to eat some of her lunch on her own. She is eating at least half adult food now.

We had a great Thanksgiving. All three of us went to my parents house and my sisters got to see her walking around in person for the first time. She had Thanksgiving dinner (more like lunch) with us and she ate pretty well. She is really getting the hang of regular food. We did our "i'm thankful's" and any time she was what someone was thankful for, she leaned her head to the side and smiled. She sure is loved!

This month, I started selling stuff on eBay and, yesterday, I made my fourth sale! With Christmas and Emily's birthday coming up, I can't wait to shop! Hoping to be able to spend a little extra on Eric for Christmas.

Speaking of Eric, a lot of you know this but he got a new job at Aaron's as a manager in training. He is excited and starts on Monday. Luckily, we are planning to use our tax return to move to town so we will be back in Sierra Vista in a few months!

Overall, life is good. Can't believe Emily is turning one in less than 3 weeks!