What has surprised us the most about becoming parents...

This was the discussion question at Gymboree today.  When I think about this question I could come up with a list of 1,000 things.  There has been so many things that we have surprised us in the last year that I thought I would share...

1. Expect the unexpected.  That is probably the first thing.  What you think may happen doesn't and sometimes things don't go as planned. Be ready to get frustrated with this and it is ok to cry it out!

2. Be flexible! You are not just one person anymore.  You and the little person do not operate the same and don't have the same schedules.  Having a routine/schedule helps when trying to plan things. And even then things can go awry.

3. The first 2 weeks you are a zombie...but you survive!  I really don't even remember what happened the first 2 weeks after Olivia was born.  I remember being in a zombie like state.  Once you get through those weeks the kinks start to work out and you start figuring things out.  Brendon and I really appreciated spending the first 2 weeks by ourselves because we figured things out- well we at least attempted to!

4. Be ready for your life to change.  Oh boy does life change! You cannot just get up and go anymore. It truly does change- friendships change, running errands change, completing housework changes, and your own personal quality time/priorities changes.

5. Utilize and appreciate nap time.  Usually when I really need Olivia to nap she doesn't! I guess she knows that I have work to do and she would rather play with me.  But I try to get a lot done during that time when she does take a nap!

6. Give yourself an extra 30-45 minutes in order to get ready.  We used to be able to get ready and out the door in an hour before Olivia.  Now it takes us a tad bit longer.  For example we used to be able to get up at 8:00 a.m. to go to church and leave the house at 9:00.  Now we usually get up at 7:00 ish. 

7. Throw away your alarm clock! You do not need one anymore- sleeping in is NOT an option.  I usually set my alarm clock for work and that is it.  Olivia is the alarm clock now.  We can count on her to wake up between 6:30- 7:45.  7:45 is we are lucky- that is sleeping in!

8. Pack everything you need but the kitchen sink in your diaper bag.  I never knew how much stuff we would need in a diaper bag.  Diapers, wipes, extra clothes, toys, tissues, a pen and notebook paper, burp cloth, hand sanitizer, extra formula... I feel like this list is endless...

9. You never realize how strong you are as a person and how much love you have for your child.  There are things that I have done this past year that I never thought I could do.  Also the love you instantly have for your child is incredible.  You truly do love that little person before they are born and that loves grows even stronger when they arrive. 

Finally...

10. A smile and a laugh can make all of life's problems go away.  Gosh that little smile and laugh melts my heart and makes every problem go away.  Even when it has been a tough day, that smile can turn everything around.

These are just some of the things that have surprised us about becoming parents.  There is no instruction manual that comes with a baby.  You do the best you can with the knowledge that you have learned and most of the time you just figure it out somehow! 

Physical Therapy- discharged!

Today was a HUGE day! Olivia finally got discharged from Physical Therapy! She has been going to PT since about 4 months when she was diagnosed with Torticollis.  We have done lots of strengthening and stretching over the past 4 months to get her neck straight and turn her head to the right side.  We thought she would have got discharged last month but her ear infection set her back since she was comforting her ear infection by tipping her head again.  But today finally we got discharged! Olivia did great and our PT Theresa could not believe all that Olivia was doing from 1 month ago.  Olivia had to pass a test before she could be discharged and she passed in all the areas she needed to.  She even exceeded in one of the areas which scored her in the 11 month range.  I was quite surprised for little miss early bird to score like that.  We even got Olivia to cruise a little bit- cruising is when they hold on to furniture and move down/walk holding on to the furniture.  Theresa predicted that Olivia will be walking before she is 1 years old- we will see. We are so thankful for all that Theresa has done for Olivia and what she has taught us!!

Also, ever since I wrote about Olivia not eating- she has started eating. She woofed down everything today including her green beans and she ate 1/2 of an apple wheel thing! I don't get it... I don't think I ever will though since there is no instruction manual for babies!

Olivia with her Physical Therapist Theresa!

Mommy's Helper

Sometimes I ask Olivia to "help" me with things.  For example- laundry- but usually she unfolds the clothes and throws them around.  Today I asked her to help with Christmas cards.  I told her to hold the box while I put the stamps on the cards and put them back in the box.  She did a pretty good job.  She held the box and then would shake it, and we even got a lick.  Hopefully in the future she will be a good helper!

Shaking the box

I am a good helper

I don't want to help anymore...today I found under the table.

Playing with my nesting blocks

Busy Girl

Today I tried to capture some of the furniture Olivia likes to pull up on.  I didn't get everything though...I forgot...not forgot just got busy.  I feel like I have a never ending to do list and it never gets all done.  Finally today I bought stamps for the Christmas cards... now just have to find some time to stamp them and drop them at the post office.  Olivia did one new thing today and when she was playing with her nesting blocks she actually started pulling them out of each other.  What a fun discovery for her.  Little did she know there are more in there.  She would take one out play with it and then look back in and then take another one- makes a fun clean up job for this mommy.What a fun discovery for her!  She has also started playing more in the crib when it is time to nap or go to bed.  There is about 5-10 and even sometimes 15 minutes of her playing.  She talks, sits up, stands, and moves all over the crib.  I think she is going to be one of those kids that like bounce houses.  I swear she was jumping up and down this afternoon.  She is just a busy active girl!

A little bit of a breakthrough

Finally today a little bit of a breakthrough.  I am always so worried about Olivia's eating and feeding or should I say self feeding.  Compared to other babies her age she is not gobbling everything up in front of her which concerns me.  Maybe we are just cursed with a fussy eater.  But today we had a little breakthrough.  Olivia is getting better at holding her own bottle! Yay! I probably need to start transitioning the formula to a sippy cup- I tried that last week and it was a fail.  She loves water from the sippy cup and does great drinking it- but formula...not so much.  Today she held her own spoon and self fed herself yogurt.  I had to help her dip it into the yogurt but she put it to her mouth.  I gave her a different spoon today on accident.  So I thought I would try the same kind of spoon with her peas for dinner- not as good.  She ate about 10 bites of peas then wanted to quit.  She did about 3 spoons herself with me loading the spoon. Ugh... it is just frustrating.  Some days are better than others and she will gobble everything up and some days she wants nothing to do with food.  We go to the pediatrician in a few weeks for her 9 month check up and I am definitely going to talk to her about her eating.  She eats but I wish she would just eat better!  But I was happy with the little breakthroughs I saw today!

Getting better!

Love banging my cups on the table!

I like to try and fit between the chair and table.

Trying all on my own!

Bass Pro Shops

Today mommy and daddy took me to Bass Pro Shops.  I have never been there before.  Wait...I lied I have been there but I was still in mommy's tummy.  The first thing we did was see Santa...AGAIN! The background at Bass Pro is pretty awesome.  There are some stuffed reindeer behind Santa.  I was such a good girl.  I even smiled this time.  The workers at Bass Pro were so nice they gave us 2 free pictures.  We did some shopping and I got a few things that will be from Santa.  Then we went and checked out the Aquarium. I loved it! The fish were HUGE! We did more shopping and then went into the mall and went to the calendar store.  I was a pretty good shopper and only fussed once.  I can't wait to go back there!!

Picking out my future fishing pole.

shopping!

Checking out the fish tank!

Whoa... look at that fish!

Checking out the lights at home!

Thanksgiving Video

thanksgiving 2011 video

Olivia waving?!??

Baby got back and junk in the trunk

Baby got back

Junk in the trunk

Doing the weird waving/arm flapping

For some odd reason I think babies look weird in pants.  Plus they are a real pain to get on a squirmy baby! So here are some pictures of Olivia in her pants today.  They made her look like she had a huge butt! Maybe it was just the ruffles.  Also we may have some waving going on.  We are not sure if it is waving or just flapping of one arm.  She was super talkative after her dinner tonight and doing the arm flapping/waving thing.