We just got back from an impulsive 3 days at the beach. Olivia didn't have school this past week and my parents didn't have any renters in their condo. We rented a mini van, packed up the girls and the dog and met Gaga and Papa for the beach.
Olivia was great in the car. She was so excited that she wouldn't even get out at rest stops to use the restroom. "No mama. I yust went. I want to go to the beach!" I had wrapped all these fruit snacks and little toys for Olivia as "presents" to keep her entertained in the car. She didn't need any of them. She just wanted a direct shot to the beach.
Emma was a little bit of a mess, but we all survived.
Olivia kept telling me, "I love the beach! Last time I went I was a baby!" (She was almost two). She spent most of the time at the pool, and despite having an absolute blast building sandcastles and playing in the waves with Dan and my dad - she said "me no like the waves, me no like the sand."
By the last day she was "swimming" underwater and I couldn't be more proud. I have to put swimming in quotes because Dan said, "you mean drowning?" Well .. technically yes. But she wouldn't even get her face wet earlier - and here she was going under and kicking her feet until you pulled her up.
She kept calling her googles 'bubbles,' and telling all the kids she met, "My mama got me these bubbles for my eyes so no water gets in them." I just love how she thinks it's so cool that her mom bought her something. I said on Instagram that soon she won't think it's cool, she'll be 7 and be all "I just ubered to Target and picked up these sweet shades myself."
Olivia saw someone order a strawberry daiquiri at the bar. She HAD to have one. Creeping by the bar asking other people to buy one for her. When I finally caved, she chugged it. We will have big problems when she's a teenager.
Emma hated the sun and heat. We had a tent for her with a baby bath tub for kicking her feet. A little fan blowing on her. This whole set up! After 20 minutes of crying I called it quits and went up with her. We go back in August so hopefully she'll like it then.
On the way back both girls did great in the car. Olivia found my favorite movie from when I was little. Cinderella. She watched it 3 times and then asked if she could get back in the car (after an 8 hour drive) to watch it again. Sweet thing keeps saying 'bitty bitty boo' (bippity boppity boo).
And we stopped at a Dwarf House Chick Fil A and Olivia loved the "ah-yivia sized doort!"
The beach with little ones is definitely different. No more laying out from 10-2 (prime tanning hours). But its so much fun to live all the magic through their eyes.
Starting to look a little more different.
Height: 24.25 inches
Weight: 12 pounds
Sleep: I actually have good news to report! The Zantac diminished the night wakings for sure! She started to trust that eating wouldn't hurt her. Started eating more. And then started sleeping longer stretches at night, and is pretty much down to waking once per night. Olivia did the 4am feed until she was 8 months. I'm cool with that. Especially because work starts soon and I leave without seeing the girls in the morning. I kinda like an excuse to snuggle her before getting ready for work.
Eating: Still doesn't take the bottle. Work starts back this week, so hopefully daycare and our nanny will be able to get her to. I've heard that some kids will refuse to eat and then make up for it at night. Please Emma - keep sleeping!
Best Moment of the Month: The first time she laughed out loud. I had been rushing around, helping our dictator, getting snacks, the TV turned on, lugging Emma around through all of this. I set Emma down, changed her diaper while telling Olivia 'almost nap time.' I stopped for a second to look at Emma and smile. It was like she was just waiting for me. Her eyes lit up and she got this big smile and then burst out laughing. She couldn't contain her excitement that I was paying attention to her! She's going to be a little ham.
Parent of the Month: Let me take this time to tell you how Emma gets scared. When she was in my stomach if I patted my stomach or touched it, she would jump so hard I could feel her. She is still the little scaredy cat! If I laugh or speak after a slight period of silence, she jumps and screams with her bottom lip out like I was so mean to have scared her so horribly. When our dog barks, when I take her into Whole Foods and that breeze blows that keeps the bugs out, when we go into a store and there is a large climate change, when we enter an elevator, if I pick her up too quickly - scared, sad, screaming. Worst mom ever. She won't be riding the rollercoasters with Olivia!
Milestones: Emma is laughing out loud, 'standing' all the time, and really interactive. She can tell when we walk in the room. She lights up when she sees us. She loves holding her toys, bringing them to her mouth and chewing on them. Loves chewing her fists and drooling like crazy. She's also mastered the 'raspberries.' I just love how interactive she is at this age, but still such a baby. So much fun! Don't get any bigger!
Clothes / Diapers: Still in size 2 diapers but she's in 3-6 or 6-9 clothes. She's able to wear some of Olivia's spring stuff from when she was 9 months - which I love. Olivia's summer clothes are my favorite so I'm thrilled to reuse them.
Favorites: Emma is loving Sophie the giraffe. Olivia never loved it much - but Emma just loves to hold Sophie and chew. This is a great age for her play mat and hanging toys that she can bat and chew on. We've also been using the baby bjorn since Emma likes to look out so much - the wrap days are over.
