Out For A Stroll

  

Last week Mom Tobler and I went out on a little adventure to Red Rock. I miss our weekly hikes back in the good old days. I had a mad case of cabin fever so it was so nice to be able to be outside and enjoy the beautiful weather! 

 Not to mention the pretty landscape!

Of course we had to stop to take some pictures and document Ethnie's first walk outside.  

  She sure does love her Grandma. I think we're going to attempt hiking again with peanut in her backpack. Our stroller just isn't made for hiking terrain. We'll see how she takes it! I love the great outdoors!!

Cutest Baby Ever!

 

Alright I might be slightly biased. I do however honestly {love} the picture above. That smirk, those eyes, it just melts my heart! Here are some pictures off of my phone that I sent to my parents in Canada and to Daddy just to make them feel not so far away. (Even though Daddy's office is only 30 minutes from home, some days it feels like he's in another country.) Warning: there is a shirtless picture of Jakob ahead. proceed with caution.

 She has a wide range of sleeping poses. We call this one "The Thinker." I've also discovered Instagram on my Android phone and I must admit, I really like it!

  I love how itty bitty Peanut looks. So precious!

This is how she usually sleeps, like a starfish. She loves to stretch out! This time she fell asleep mid diaper change, silly girl!

 

She loves her piggy toy that Aunt Brenda got her. This toy is the noisiest toy known to man. The front two feet rattle, the back to feet have squeakers and the back crinkles. She loves playing with the crinkly back and will grab it with her hands or kick it with her feet. If I hold the toy like pictured about over her face she swat at the feet so they'll rattle. It keeps her entertained for quite awhile and I love watching her focus!

 On March 26th we tried Tummy Time for the first time. She has amazing control of her head so I never bothered with Tummy Time before. At first she thought it was alright....

 Then it wasn't so fun anymore. Needless to say she is NOT a fan of Tummy Time.

 That's our Bright-Eyed, Beautiful Girl. We just love her so much!

Immunizations

 

Last week Ethnie went in for her 2 month check up and to get her second round of immunizations.  She put her brave face on and only cried for a bit. She wasn't the only one however, they had me help hold her still and I didn't even cry this time. Don't get me wrong it wasn't easy, it still broke my heart but at least I wasn't bawling.

The Dr. informed me that she might be a little bit cranky and perhaps run a fever from the shots. That afternoon she was a gem, just sleepy. I was hoping that she may not even notice the shots. I took the opportunity to take some pictures in her little romper! I just love this outfit!!

 

 That night she ran a fever and was very uncomfortable. It was so sad, she just didn't feel good. I kept her in bed with us just in case she had another episode from the fever. She would eat and then puke it all up and she didn't hardly sleep. Having a sick baby is not fun! She was sick for two days but by day three it had run it's course and she slept all day! 

Its so nice to have her back to her usual happy self! She's such a wonderful baby! I am one lucky Moma!

2 Months Old

 I can't believe our little girl is already 2 months old!! I'm trying not to blink but is it just me, or does anyone else feel like April just disappeared?? Forget April, it feels like we should still be in January! Nevertheless, April it is and I am loving watching little Peanut grow. I am filled with mixed emotions as the days pass. She is learning so much and I love seeing her progress but in that same breath I want her to stay small forever! We are so blessed to have Ethnie in our lives. She brings such joy and love and we are very grateful. Here are her current stats and a few fun facts about her.

• Height: 23inches (in the 90% at 7 weeks)
• Weight: 11lbs (in the 75% at 7 weeks)
• Head Circumference: 39.5 cm (in the 75% at 7 weeks)
• Nicknames: For the most part everyone calls her Peanut, Ethie, Ethers & Cutie. Daddy calls her Toots, Love Bug, and Baby Doll. Grandpa calls her Pumpkin and Mini Muffins or Muffincita (Which used to be one of his nicknames for me.) :)

• She measures about the size of a 3 month old. She has outgrown most of her 0-3m outfits which is sad because she did even get to wear them all. Oh well, we'll save them for her future little sister!
• Whenever she bawls, I bawl. I simply cannot help it. When she is just whiny and crying that is one thing but when she is full blown screaming I just break down in tears too. It's especially embarrassing when people are over. Why do I always end up crying in front of everybody?
• There are plenty of smiles to go around. It melts my heart every single time (even if it is 2:30 in the morning)
• She can really hold her head up now! I think we're almost ready for her Bumbo.
• She loves to stand and for the most part can hold her own weight fairly well. 

• She slept through the night for the first time on April 22nd! I was a little bit shocked and I'll admit it, I did check to ensure she was in fact still breathing. We'll see if this is a new thing or just a stroke of luck. 
• She loves chewing on her hand. It's funny to watch as she gets frustrated because it doesn't fit into her mouth. She still hasn't found her thumb again since 11 days old. I'm sure it's only a matter of time though.
• She very rarely takes her soother anymore. 
• She loves her piggy toy and is working very hard on getting her hands to work. I think she's going to be a lefty like Opa since she seems to be favoring her left hand, I also could be just imagining that.
• She's slightly colicky from the hours of 7-9 p.m. It's not every night but when it happens she's a pain.  Poor thing!

• She's totally a Moma's girl which I don't mind one bit. 
• She's talking more. I sure do love hearing her little voice.
• She loves being held. I'm trying to get her to "entertain herself" by having some in-chair-while-mommy-works-time but she's not a fan.
• I have started a bad habit. Yes, It was me and I take full responsibility. More often than not I put Ethnie in bed with us. It's horrible I know but I love snuggling with her. I think Mommy likes it more than baby so the past week I've been trying to break my habit. It's hard but I know it's better if she sleeps on her own
• If I rub her hand on one of those touch and feel books she'll try to touch it again on her own. It amazing to watch her try to use her hands. 

• She's also learning to mimic you. If I stick my tongue out she'll try to stick hers out too. 
•  She loves to be held over your shoulder and either rock or sway while you pat her back. She is totally a snuggler and I {love} it!! 
• She likes to look at books as you read them and she loves staring out the window. Lots of things to look at! 
• She gives the biggest smiles when you change her diaper. 

A Very Special Woman!

Although I have only met Grandma Palmer on few occasions I still love her dearly. Mom Tobler has shared many stories with me about her and I feel privileged to get to spend time with such a wonderful woman. She has such a spunky sense of humor and I often find myself cracking up around her. She also has such a bright spirit that just makes you want to get to know her. You may be wondering what sparked this post...

It was Grandma's birthday not too long ago. Every year for each grandchild's birthday Grandma would always send them a very crisp $5 bill. While talking with Mom Tobler we thought it would be rather neat to repay the gesture. Mom sent out the e-mail and then we waited. This year Grandma got over 50 letters from her family sending their love and wishing her a happy birthday all with a crisp $5 bill! (I admit I had to straighten mine.) I hope you had a wonderful birthday Grandma Palmer! We love you!!

Fun Filled Day

 Chris got to stay a day longer than my parents. It was the perfect time for some sibling bonding. He had been such a good sport grocery shopping, baby sitting and just chilling at the house for two weeks I figured we should make his last day fun! :) He has never seen the Hoover Dam so off we went! 

 

I decided that the new bridge was the best location for some pictures. It was SUPER windy and packed with people but we didn't let that stop us! 

 

 Straddling the state line. He's "in two places at once"(name that movie)

 

What a stud!

In an off hand comment Chris mentioned that he had wanted to go to an aquarium. I really wish the pools were open so we could go the the pool that has the water slide that goes through the aquarium! I mean honestly wouldn't that just be the coolest thing ever?!  Instead we settled for the Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay.

 

My crazy inner mother bear kicked in as Chris put Ethnie near the Komodo Dragon exhibit. I realized it was all enclosed and such but I didn't like the thought of something lethal near my baby. Yup, I realize I'm way over protective... she's just going to have to live with that! :)

He didn't look in the mood to eat anyone however.

Christopher had to inform me that these are in fact called Lion fish. I simply called them spike. I thought it fit better :)

  

Peanut and I in front of the "Spike" fish! :)

 Have you ever seen a jellyfish in the water?? Golly they are beautiful! I kind of wanted to see them eat so I could watch them in action. They don't look all that dangerous. I mean where does that little fishy go? They are totally see through... on second thought, perhaps I'm glad I didn't have the opportunity to witness that. 

"I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine, and he shall be my squishy." (Name that movie)

 I know I've mentioned it before but I shall reiterate for those that do not remember... I am terrified of the ocean. I mean if I were in an airplane about to crash into the ocean and I had a chance to jump, it would be a serious toss up whether or not I would just go down with the plane. BIG, dark water where I have no clue what is under me, or worse yet I know what's under me and it's hungry. Yup, not okay. I am even freaked out by the mean whale in Pinocchio. Pathetic I know. Octopuses are one of those things. Cool in theory, even in cartoon, but in person... not okay. 

He came out to say hello, I'm very grateful for glass! 

Further testimony of big FREAKY things under the water. I do still want to go in a Shark cage, just for the experience. I'm almost positive I'll pee my pants, thankfully we'll be in the water so no one will know. Awkward.... Moving on. 

We got the opportunity to touch some sting rays. I'm pretty sure their stinger things were cut off or under developed. Most of them were pretty tiny aside from the one Chris touched.

 Oh boy they felt funny!! Like a rubbery leather. So weird!!

 

It was a lot of fun spending time with my little big brother! (Little because he's younger and big because he's much taller). Thank you so much for coming to visit us!! We love you!! 

Bye Bye Oma & Opa

  Oma and Opa's last day was an eventful one. We started out the morning by going to Red Rock buffet for breakfast. It doesn't get much cheaper than a $5 breakfast buffet! It was delicious! Red Rock only gives you the discount however if you sign up for their card. When you sign up you can get anywhere from $3 - $500 of free slot play as well. Daddy only got $3 but he made it back playing poker.

 Adam on the other hand was incredibly lucky and ended up getting $500!! He only came out with just over $100 but still... $100 is $100. 

 Oma, Peanut and I at some restaurant. We ate out an offal lot. I had to capture at least one restaurant experience. :) 

After a full day of adventures we came home and the rest of the afternoon was spent cuddling with our little love bug. 

She loved playing with Opa.

There were lots of kisses to be shared.

 

Our farewell photos.

Bye Oma and Opa!! It was so nice having you visit!! We can't wait to see you again in the summer!! Love you Lots and Lots!!