3 Months!!!

That's us!

Wow.. time sure does go by fast! I can't believe you are already 3 months old, little OG!

Let's see what have you learned in the past month:

Cute picture break!

-first shots
-grasping
-lots of smiling
-giggling
-cooing
-looking at books and pointing, grasping at the pictures
-playing with toys
-sitting upright (almost)
-standing A LOT
-dancing
-kicking
-turning over
-*almost* crawling (sort of)
-sleeping on your own and not needing to be rocked to sleep
-YOGA!
That's right Olivia, we went to our first 2 Mommy and Me Yoga classes and they were so much fun! Mommy stretched and made funny faces at you and then it was your turn. You touched your toes and we massaged your back as your rolled around.  And you love seeing the other babies, you smiled and cooed at them a lot!

awes...

Finally, this is the week we are going home to NC to see your Aunt Dani and Uncle Joe get married on the farm. Everybody is so excited to see you! Your Aunt Krissy and cousins Macey and Gray plus Grammy and Poppy and then we will see Grandma and Grandpa Goldfischer, your Aunt Aimee and Uncle Kevin, plus all kinds of new friends! Sydney is coming along too, which will be lots of fun.  We are driving down so it will take a while but we'll take lots of breaks for you to stretch those crazy legs and play with Sydney outside.  I hope you will be okay in your car seat for so long, I know you sometimes get cranky after a long drive.

Do you know what ELSE is this month? HALLOWEEN!!! We are so excited for you to go out on Halloween, we have the cutest little bear outfit for you to wear and Daddy is going to be a hot dog! I have no idea what I'm going to be yet, but I hope to come up with something soon.

whatchu talkin' 'bout??

We have been super lucky to have such great friends who have given us a TON of clothes for you! They are so cute and you will be able to wear them proudly before passing them on to the next baby friend. There are A LOT of babies around us these days! You've met Lily, Brigid, Ayela, Summer and the 3 other babies in yoga class and there are still more to meet like Marlowe and William.

Soon, you'll be going to day care where you will meet lots of other kids and learn how to play nicely and share. I have been a way from you only 1 full day since you were born and you stayed with my mom and dad.  I thought I would be okay because you are going to be at the day care at my new job. But, the closer we get to it, the more nervous I get.  I know you will be fine, because you are the most awesome baby ever, and you take everything in stride.  Just don't be surprised if you see Mommy every 5 seconds the first week!

If it's possible, Olivia, your daddy and I love you more and more everyday.  You are truly remarkable and we could just kiss and watch you all day long if we could. You are so open to new places and people, we can't wait to wake up everyday and see your beautiful smile. And every night when we read Goodnight Moon and put you to bed with a kiss we are already thinking about what the next day will bring.

Whirlwind

These last two weeks (and 3 days!) have been crazy, beautiful, stressful, wonderful and strange all at once.  Sometimes, I wonder how I lived 34 years without you, and others, I marvel how just a month ago, you weren't here. I'm so lucky I've been able to spend so much time with you, learning about you and loving you.  I feel bad for Daddy sometimes, because he has to go to work and misses all the fun we have without him.

see how sad he is?

Of course, I still have to be careful... I'm still having some recovery issues, but we hang out and talk, take small walks, play with Sydney (when she'll let us!).  We've also been getting so much yummy food from my friends at work! We took a short trip to the market the week after you were born and everyone loved you.  Yesterday, we took a trip to the farm & daddy's store. You slept most of the time (or so it seemed... I think you were taking it all in with your other ninja senses!) You met Milkshake the pig and Ping the duck and the turtles and the chickens too plus Uncle Nick was there and all of daddy's work friends.
We've had lots of visitors! Grandma Iline and Grandpa Mike were here for two whole weeks helping out; you've had Skype calls with Grammy Kay and Poppie Jim, Aunt Krissy and cousin Macey. Your Great-Aunt Ann and Great-Grandpa Paul (he is so excited about his first great granddaughter!), Aunt Dani and Uncle Joe and Aunt Aimee and Uncle Kevin have also seen you on live video--- you are an internet star, gorgeous!

Uncle Nick is in love!!

I can't believe how much you've changed already... you are just so beautiful, funny and smart. 

tough like your mama!

You've rolled over so many times, you love to watch the ceiling fan and one of your favorite things is to go outside and watch the trees. You are beginning to get the hang of the whole diapering thing and not crying EVERY time and you had your first big-girl bath!
All in all, you are just the most amazing person already and I can't believe how lucky I am to be your mom. I can't wait for every day we get to be together.

Vacation!

We were on vacation and therefore I didn't write to you. But you were THE topic of conversation all week. Both sides of the family are so excited about you!

And, we got a bunch more stuff for you; a bathtub, changing table, a ton more clothes and bath things and a hand crocheted blankie and hat!

I wish I had kept to the blogging schedule because today I am very cranky. We had a long ride home yesterday and I didn't sleep well. I woke up to a cranky Daddy as well and I have a lot to do today to get us back in the swing of things.

But I love you dearly, baby. We are nearing the home stretch; 6 months tomorrow, yay!

23 weeks!

First, the good stuff:
Look how big you've gotten!

not only have you been getting bigger, you've been getting CUTER (how that is possible, I have no idea)!

We've been getting baby gear deliveries all week... I can't wait for you to see your new home! We already have a nice stash of clothes to dress you in, a car seat and stroller so we can take you out into nature and the world, plus adorable bath stuff! I've designed the walls of your nursery; a big tree with jungle creatures and a pond with lillypads and frogs plus a nice big sky with puffy clouds.  It's going to look so great with your new crib and all the great blankies and sheets. I'm going to have a painting party when we get back from out trip home to North Carolina! I hope you are ready for all the yummy food that you get to taste while we are down there!

YUMMMY!

Now for the not so good...
It's been a tough week, baby.  You are kicking up a storm, expecially at night so I've been having trouble sleeping.  I've also devloped some serious self-image issues that I didn't take too much notice of for a few weeks, but has since come to my attention.  When I was younger, I always felt kind of awkward and weird but I was able to project confidence to the world.  Now, I am not able to... I just want to hide away in the house and not go out in public. I'm not sure if its fear of stangers touching me and making inappropriate comments or people just looking at me and thinking whatever they are going to think.  But, it's really bothering me.  Plus, I've been a little neglectful of daddy :(

Work has been very busy also, and there have been a few snafus that I can feel my emotions getting the best of me.  I feel weak, I can't lift as much as I used to and I am out of breath after one flight of stairs.  I'm having a hard time just letting people do things for me that I was able to do myself just a short time ago. I feel tired and a lack of the energy I'm usually so full of. I'm also scared about labor and delivery.  I know that my body is built to be able to handle it, but I'm scared that something bad will happen.  You move around so much, I get scared that you will get tangled in your umbilical cord and choke, or you'll start being born the wrong direction. All taken, just been a brain monstery week.

Scary :(

However, baby I want you to know, NONE of this is your fault.  These are just my old demons being dredged up and I have to be strong and fight them back.  I want to prove I can do it, so if it comes up for you later in life, I can help you fight them too. I'm not sure why it's all coming up now, maybe so I can beat them all down and be ready for you when you come.  I'm sure everything will be fine and you will be the most beautiful, smart and amazing baby this world has ever seen. I just have to be a good mom and be strong.

baby, baby baby oh baby

Well, we certainly had a whirlwind week! Most of it was spent making sure everything was ready for the baby shower and working. You were kicking up a storm earlier in the week, but it seems you have tired of the poke, poke you kick game... I keep trying, but you don't seem interested.  We've been playing music for you, which makes you swimmy!  Friday, Daddy and I went to school and picked up a bunch of plants to give out to our friends and family to thank them for coming.  We also walked around Philadelphia putting up posters for the beer store.

Not looking my best, but Batman doesn't seem to mind

 Before we knew it Grandma Iline  and Aunts Dani and Aimee had arrived and we were off to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. Chef Robert made us a delicious Pastrami burger, but you and I had already filled up on amazing pork belly and octopus fried rice! Apparently, all the foods we are introducing you to will help you be a good adventurous eater.

Saturday, Daddy and I were getting the final preparations for the party; he stayed up late to get the pork smoked just right, we orbdered buffalo wings and all the items Jodie and I bought were brought up to be placed out. But... we were so ready... we had lots of time left over! So, Grandma and your two Aunts and I had some time to sit and relax, we made signs for the soda and beer and soon, people starting arriving.

Baby, you are such a lucky kid... we have the BEST group of people who are so excited to meet and play with you.  Everyone commented on my pretty dress that Aunt Dani gave me (so comfy!) and how good I looked and what an awesome kid you are going to be.  Your daddy and I are so proud to have such good friends who love and support us. Oh, and we got so many amazing gifts! You are going to be the most stylin' kid!

Soon, Jodie and Erica and I will start painting your room... it'll probably take two days, but it will be really great.  I already have it planned out; big blue sky with puffy clouds and a big tree and a pond with lots of animals. Makes me want to paint something fun for Daddy and I to sleep with too!

You are the size of an Avocado!

That's pretty cool, becasue I LOVE avocados (as you've probably noticed by the way I've been gulping them down!)

not quite ripe yet!

And, apparently, your ear bones are forming so you can hear me! The ear, specifically the middle ear, consists of 3 bones known as ossicles. Since the human body has 2 ears, there are a total of 6 middle ear bones.These bones function in transmitting sound waves to the inner ear.  Interestingly, ossicles are the three smallest bones in the body.

3 little bones are we!

What else?  Well, we've been talking about names.  If you are a boy, we have a name all ready for you! But, if you are a girl, we are having a bit of a harder time with it.  Not to worry, we won't let you go to school with no name, I think once we are closer to the time you are ready to see the world, we'll have it figured out.

I can't WAIT to get started on your nursery! I'm excited about spring because that means GARAGE SALES and I can't wait to see all the cool stuff I can pick up and repurpose for you.  I hope that you are into that idea, because I'm feeling like being pretty crafty.

Also, I am planning a nice little party for you in a few weeks.  All of our friends (your soon to be aunts and uncles) are going to be there, just to celebrate YOU! It's a tad early but we figured it would be okay due to how awesome it's going to be.  AND... as if that wasn't enough,  we are heading to our homestate for ANOTHER party and lots of family time soon after that! Of course, you are the major topic of conversation already but by then, all the family will be busting at the seams (it's a Southern thing, you'll see soon enough)!

Woops!

Been a couple days since I posted something. It's not because I haven't thought about you, baby... I've done little else, actually! My job is gearing up again, so I'm a little bit busier. Plus, we were still a little unsure about how old you really are. Remember I said 2 weeks ago you were 13 weeks? It turns out, you are 13 weeks NOW!

So let's see, what's been happening... we saw you the other day!

what's going on in there baby?

You look so comfy in there. And you were moving around and doing somersaults... you made me laugh and the technician couldn't do his job! If you felt some poking, it's because he needed you to move so he could look at you all sides. Also, I got the all clear to tell the whole world! There are lots of people who are VERY excited to meet you; lots of family here in Philadelphia! Oh and all my friends at my work. Did you know I work on a farm?

Looks fun, right?

I can't wait to introduce you to my chicken and pig coworkers, as well as the human ones. I work on a project that is a bit closer to home. I drive a big yellow truck:

mmm... fruits and veggies!

and go all over bringing folks fresh fruits and veggies. You are due to be born right smack in the middle of the season! My own little veggie!

I missed 2 yoga classes and was trying to get it in by doing it on my own, but I missed going to the studio, and today I was able to fit it in. I was soooo happy to get back to it. I hope you felt all the stretching and positive energy I was directing toward you.

I've been kind of lazy about keeping track of the food I'm eating, but I feel like I'm back on track now.

Daddy is re-doing the bathroom and so there is a bit of a mess in the house, but once it gets done, we get to work on your room! Any suggestions? I was thinking about light green with brown accents, I'd paint a BIG tree on the wall and have birdies and flowers on it. I've also been thinking about things that you will need; bottles and clothes and all kinds of things.

The other evening, I was so tired and I laid down on the couch. Your fur sister, Sydney (you've probably heard her barking) decided she wanted to lay with me and put her head on my tummy, she laid there the whole time! She doesn't like to stay still for long, so this was really cool. I think she wanted to know how you were doing. Here's what she looks like:

Ready to party!

I think that's all that's been happening. I hope you are continuing to grow and be healthy. I can't wait to feel you kicking and see you again in a few weeks!

Oh Baby!

Hi baby!

Your Daddy and I knew you were coming over a month ago, but we couldn't be sure until we went and saw a doctor.  Over the month, I started taking special vitamins and going to a yoga class special for mommies to be.  I knew I had to see a doctor soon to see how you were doing, but I also knew that even doing these two small things would mean a lot to you as you were growing.

Daddy and I talked a lot about you, and named you "Rufus" so we could make you seem more like a little person and not just a little pea sized entity in my tummy.  We don't know if you are a girl or a boy, but we figured either way, you were going to be the coolest kid ever and you wouldn't mind.

A week ago, I went to see my big girl doctor, Dr. Doshi and she told me that yes! I am pregnant! Then I made an appointment with a special nurse called a midwife named Dr. Bobbi and daddy and I went there yesterday.  Dr. Bobbi told us you were maybe a little older than we thought, 13 weeks! And then she brought out this special machine that let us hear your heartbeat... THAT was so cool!

We had broken the news to your Grandparents after our appointment with Dr. Doshi and they are so excited to meet you! So are all your aunts and uncles and cousins.  Your fur sister Marbles isn't so sure but Sydney seems pretty excited.  It's okay, it won't take long to be able to tell them apart.

this is how big you are!

I can't wait to show and teach you everything.  Daddy and I are so excited to be able to share our lives with you.  Oh, one more thing... don't let anyone tell you you were an "accident".  You, baby, were a surprise and we couldn't be happier when we found out.

Big zerberty kisses!