Juliet 3 Months!

JuJu bug! You're three months old! I'm sorry I am very late in posting this blog! I had started writing one a while ago, but the website didn't save my draft! Boo! So here I am starting again and am trying to remember everything that was specific to you between 2 and 3 months. In truth you've had some big achievements since you've turned 3 months, so I'll have to save those for the next blog. 

Let's see... during your third month you celebrated your very first Christmas! 

You did well with meeting Santa. You're still pretty small and really had no idea who was holding you. But no tears = two thumbs up!

We went home to Atlanta to spend the holiday with family (you've already traveled so much in your short life with a couple of trips to Atlanta and one to Florida).

We spent Christmas Eve with the Abby and Papa. I can't wait till you're old enough to enjoy the traditional Cuban meal we have! I think you'll probably be a big fan of the black beans just like your sister! You slept your way through the day for the most part, but were pretty fascinated with the fire on the tv that we were playing while we opened presents. 

Christmas day we spent at Lolly and G-Daddy's house where Santa had left you some goodies since you were so nice!

Charlotte and you both got to experience your very first Christmas together! 

One of my favorite holiday traditions is our family table cloth. Each person present at Christmas dinner gets to sign and date the table cloth. When a new baby joins the family we use ink to make a handprint as their signature. This year we happily added yours! 

You started talking more and more and smiling more often and there is nothing cuter! This is the most fun part after weeks of long nights with little 'reward'. It's so wonderful to hear your sweet coos and see your face light up with a smile. 

By happy circumstance we captured your very first laugh on video! Daddy made you laugh when yall were singing patty cake!

You also experienced your first snowfall this month! We briefly took you outside (very bundled up) to "see" the snow and you weren't very impressed. Who knows the next time it will snow here in Savannah? But I'm thinking the next time it does you'll be more excited! 

You're still a champion nurser and are weighing in at 12 pounds and 14 ounces! You're in size 2 diapers and are my little chunky monkey! I'm so grateful you're such a wonderful eater as I think it helps you sleep. Again, compared to your sister before you, you sleep soooo well. Thank you, baby girl! 

Olivia is still really enjoying you and it's pretty precious watching the two of you together. You sleep in a little bit later than Olivia in the morning. Olivia always gets really excited when you wake up and  likes to "help" get you. It's pretty precious and I love that she is excited about having a little sister. She still helps with diaper changes and likes to "read" to you - which consists of mostly showing you the pictures. 

It can be pretty hazardous being a little sister, but you're a good sport! Olivia enjoys showering you with kisses, but also likes to shove your paci in you mouth, decorate you with stickers, and even shared her training potty with you one day! Not to mention over Christmas when we found she had given you a knife... (it was a decorative butter knife, but still!). 

Olivia for the most part has been a super champ with learning to share mommy and daddy and her space, not showing any signs of the pre-warned regression at all!

... I mean, okay, maybe she's doing this a little teeny bit... 😜

Mommy and Daddy are so enjoying the time we get to spend with just you. You are so easy and laid back (unlike your very demanding sister) that we try to make a point of getting some Juliet-only time when your sister isn't around. It's amazing to just sit back and soak you up. It's amazing how a mamma's heart can expand when a new baby is born! 

This is one of my all time favorite photos of you so far! Passed out safely and happily in your daddy's arms!

Hmm, what else is new this month? Well, you've started spending more and more time on your play gym and have perfected rolling over from your belly to your back. 

Somewhere along the line we started calling you by the nickname JuJu. Baby JuJu, JuJu Bug, JuJu Bean, etc. Up until now I'm pretty sure that Olivia thought your name was strictly "baby", but now she's started calling you "baby choo choo". It's pretty stinkin' adorable!

Oh sweet, sweet pumpkin, we love you so much! Every month is better than the next and I love getting to know you more and more! I'll say it again, and keep saying it forever and ever... I'm so glad you're here and a part of our family!!! Can't imagine our lives without you in it! Happy 3 Months baby girl! XOXO

Olivia's 2nd Birthday Celebrations!

Olivia turned two on December 22nd. First, let me say, I cannot believe my baby is TWO. Time really does go by so quickly. Since Olivia's birthday is so close to Christmas and we would be visiting family during that time and also since two isn't a terribly "big" birthday (not to mention we have a newborn), we decided to keep things pretty low-key as far as celebrations went. 

Since we had a family trip to Disney World planned at the beginning of December, we thought we would celebrate Olivia's birthday at a character breakfast there. Olivia LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and all the Mickey characters. We had a wonderful time celebrating with Mickey and family at Chef Mickeys. Olivia got to meet and hug Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy (who she adorably used to call "hat"). Olivia also got to enjoy a cute Mickey cake and open presents. 

Like I previously said, we were in Atlanta for the holidays on Olivia's actual birthday. I wanted to do something on her birthday to make it seem like a special day even if we weren't going to throw her a party. I had tossed around the idea of maybe taking her to the Atlanta Zoo or the Georgia Aquarium, but after being reminded that school would be out and there would likely be crowds at both places, we nixed those ideas pretty quickly. Next, we thought about taking her to the Pink Pig at Lenox and then grabbing a foodcourt lunch and having cake. The week of her birthday, however, the weather was looking rainy, cold, and miserable and the idea of tracking all the way down to the Pink Pig (which is only in a tent outside) sounded like not much fun. My mom then came up with the great idea of taking the kids to an indoor children's amusement center, Catch Air. I had never been before but it sounded like fun. This ended up being absolutely perfect and Olivia had SO much fun!

Catch Air was great and reminded me of an updated version of Discovery Zone where I used to love playing as a kid. There were slides, moving rides, ball cannons, interactive dance floors, toddler soft play areas, and more. 

We invited immediate family to come play and I know Olivia absolutely loved having her people there to celebrate and play with her! Our families live in the Atlanta area but not close to each other so I really appreciate the effort made by everyone to celebrate Olivia, especially on a work day too! 

Uncle Juan got right in there to play! 

Olivia and Papa

Juliet had a blast at her first birthday party! Thanks, G-Daddy for hanging out with the littlest grand

The way Olivia looks up to Karis and the way that Karis mothers Olivia is about the sweetest thing ever!

Trying SO hard to keep up!

Dance Party!

Spoiled little girl with her Uncle Juan

(this slide was way steep, steeper than the video makes it appear. Not sure this was the best parenting decision, but Olivia hung on the whole way up! Uncles and Daddies are the best!)

After an exciting few hours at Catch Air we went down the street to have lunch at Chick-fil-a. We took over basically the front section of the restaurant and enjoyed our nuggets and fries. A fast food restaurant is the perfect place for a bunch of tired, messy toddlers to eat btw. I for once didn't feel bad about the mess and noise and chaos that accompanies toddlers! 

We also had cake and sang to the birthday girl. I ordered the cake from a cute bakery near my parents house called 2B Whole. It's great because they could accommodate the allergies of some of my family members who cannot consume dairy or gluten. 

After cake Olivia opened some presents. December is definitely going to be Olivia's favorite month of the year! Between birthday celebrations and Christmas, she is a PRO at gift opening now!

G-Daddy picked this card out and Olivia loved it so much that we had to take it away from her so she could get back to opening gifts! 

This ended up being the perfect way to celebrate our two year old and I know Olivia loved every moment of it! Thanks again to our families that helped make the day so special (especially Lolly who came up with the idea of Catch Air!!). Olivia, Miguel, Juliet, and I love you each and are so grateful to have you in our lives! Thanks for celebrating Olivia and loving our girl so well!