The One About Thanksgiving

I had to the luxury to have off all last week. I had so much fun at home with my Peanut. I thought I'd get my house in a like-new condition or at least close to spotless  but boy was I wrong. Playing with blocks, singing socks, dancing around and practicing tummy time left little room for house cleaning. But that's okay, 10 years from now she won't remember this week probably, but I'll remember we spent a few days just the two of us bonding. And I'm okay with that. It made me wish I could stay home with her more often. However, we've gotten accustomed to having a roof over our heads, food on the table, and clothes on our back.

We packed up Wednesday after my husband got home from work and ventured the two hour car ride south where we spent the remainder of the week. We caught up with friends and family, found out two of our good friends will be welcoming a peanut of their own soon, took the Peanut to her first Christmas tree lighting, and attended an engagement party for our best friends. A great week for sure. It made us really miss being "home".

 This was the Peanut's first Thanksgiving and my husband's first Thanksgiving without his mom. A bittersweet day for him and his brother and dad. She was surely missed. The Peanut handled the mass of people (ie my family) great.She's finally gotten the hang of eating  with a spoon and is LOVES sweet potatoes. It's hard to believe next week she will be 5 months old.

We're decorating the tree tonight, super excited about that! Below is a pic of the Peanut and her cousin who is 2 months younger than her--yes, he is as big as she is.

50 rules for Dads of Daughters

I can't take credit for this but I love it! I had a rocky relationship with my dad growing up partly because I am a product of divorce. It wasn't until I was almost an adult that we found a middle ground and I'm happy to say that we're closer than ever now. I hope my daughter gets the benefit of having her father present every day and can look back at this list and say yes, he did do these things.

Here is the actual link http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters 

1. Love her mom.
2. Always be there
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you.
4. Savor every moment you have together.
5. Pray for her.
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.
15. Dance with her.
16. Take her fishing.
17. Learn to say no.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful.
19. Teach her to change a flat.
20. Take her camping.
21. Let her hold the wheel.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too.
30. Never miss her birthday.
31. Teach her to roller skate.
32. Let her roll around in the grass.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
42. Let her know she can always come home.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday.
45. Learn to trust her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart.
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
49. The dating day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.”

4 Month Regression?

The Peanut's 4 month appointment was Wednesday. She's now 11 lbs 4ounces and 22 3/4 inches long. She's still a peanut. She got her second round of shots and with that came a 102.5 degree fever that varied for an entire 24 hours. My happy go lucky baby is missing and has been replaced by a very cranky, very fussy 4 month old.

Last night she woke up crying at midnight, settled back down, and then woke back up again at 3am screaming. We introduced solid food to her and I think she had gas pains. Poor kid, I've never heard her scream like that. Couple the gas pains with the teething and girlfriend has it bad right now.

The introduction into solid foods was fun. She wasn't too sure about them and she gets more on her than in her but I noticed improvement last night. She's starting to get the hang of it.

Other than the shots and last nights debacle, the Peanut is doing fantastic! Hopefully her smiley self returns soon.

Leaping forward to another week!

Baby's First Halloween

Halloween is a big to do in our house. Every year the husband and I dress up, last year we were Mario and Peach, the year before Batman and Robin, the year before that Fred and Wilma Flintstone... you get the picture. We love Halloween. Our annual party took the back burner for several reasons, poor planning, a hurricane, and the fact that we can't really rage with a 3 month old at home, haha. However, despite all of that we had a fantastic Halloween celebrating the Peanut's first Halloween. I originally wanted to dress her up as an elephant, we do call her Peanut afterall, but the hubby vetoed that idea. He wanted to dress her up as R2D2 or Yoda and...well, let's just say that didn't happen either. We settled on a sunflower and what a cute sunflower she was!

Next week marks her 4 month birthday and oh what a fabulous four month it has been. But I'll save all that for next month!

Happy Halloween!