Back to Work & Off to Daycare

Tomorrow is my first day back to work and Amelia's first official day at daycare. Last Thursday we had a trial run and Amelia did great according to the daycare lady. The picture below is before we left - she was all smiles! I have loved my time with Amelia over the past 3 months and I will always cherish the time together. I wish it could continue, but I need to get back to work. Please be praying for all of us as we make this new adjustment!

Night Time Update

I thought I would give an update on Amelia's sleeping habits. Amelia continues to spoil us by sleeping on a typical night around 8.5 hours! I have no idea how we got so blessed, but we continue to be very grateful for the long sleep periods. Last night she slept 9 hours and I think she could have easily gone to 10 hours.

I have also been working on nap times with Amelia. On Sunday, we had a successful, full sized nap in the crib. We haven't had a chance to work on nap times much this week, but I felt it was a huge success especially since there was not much crying involved.

Patrick and I do continue to let Amelia fall asleep on us, which we will eventually wean her from; however, we both cherish the opportunity to hold her. Lately, Amelia has started to laugh in her sleep! It is absolutely adorable!!!! She smiles and her breathing goes to laughter. Patrick said she giggled last week with him - I didn't see it, so I'm looking forward to seeing her laugh when she is awake.

Amelia and Mommy's First Trip Alone

Patrick and I thought it would be a good idea to go visit Liz, my cousin, and her family before my maternity leave is over. Liz was my maid of honor for our wedding and she has been like the sister I never had, especially growing up. Visiting was a great opportunity to introduce Amelia and see Liz as they are expecting their second child in February. Plus, it is always fun to see Ayla! While there, Liz and I decided it is too difficult to say "2nd Cousin Liz", so she is Auntie Liz.

Auntie Liz holding Amelia

Ayla was showing Amelia how to play with the elephant and she also was describing the feet and trunk - it was so sweet.

Amelia watched Ayla just like she understood what she was saying.

Ayla loved 'the baby' and sat next to Amelia for quite some time while she was in the bouncy - especially for a 2 year old!

Ayla also loved giving Amelia kisses - it was so cute!

Auntie Liz, Ayla and Amelia

Ayla wanted to hold Amelia. She did really good and was really gentle with her.

Ayla has such sweet curly hair and blue eyes

Ayla wanted Amelia to wear one of her headbands - I had to take a picture!

Taking a trip with just Amelia and myself also gave good practice for taking care of Amelia by myself. Liz was very helpful; however, the experience made me appreciate what Patrick does everyday for Amelia and me.

Trying New Things....

Amelia has been trying some new things, most good and one bad. Amelia has her first cold and she is being such a trooper! She's had the cold since Labor Day and hopefully the end is near.

Now on to the good things.....

Amelia has almost figured out how to roll over! Supposedly getting the shoulder out of the way is the hardest part; which she has that down! She's still working on the rest of the body though.

Today Amelia tried the bumbo for the first time - she did great!

She seemed to like the ability to look around.

Amelia is also grasping onto things a lot more. This was the first time she had a toy like this and she played with it for a good 10 minutes. She was quite perplexed by the crackle noise it made - I don't think she realized she was the cause of it!

Amelia studies her hands often and so she decided to study the toy.

Here are some fun pictures of Amelia and some facial expressions.

Right before a sneeze

Mid-yawn

Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day weekend, along with Great Grandma Betty's birthday celebration, we were also able to spend some time with Patrick's immediate family (with the exception of Mark and Alaina. Alaina was running a temperature and wasn't able to come :( We missed them greatly!)

Amelia helping Nana play cards

Now its Papa's turn to get help from Amelia

Melanie and Olivia

Patrick, Olivia, James and Amelia. I took two pictures and James' eyes were shut in both...so I tried to get the best one.

On Sunday, we went to the Apple Orchard in Fort Dodge. We went there a couple years ago with Russ and Sue (prior to them being Nana and Papa for us). Here is the most recent picture (with Paige) and then the same picture from a couple years ago. It may be a bit difficult to tell them apart considering Russ is amazingly wearing the same shirt...what are the odds?!
The sign has seen better days....but the guys are still lookin' good!

Look at the mustache!

This year.... all smiles!
Russ is had a little more sass in his outhouse experience 2 years ago!

This year.... not so smiley!

Patrick seems happier 2 years ago in the outhouse!

Group picture!

Papa and Amelia

Paige riding the heavy duty trikes!

After the Apple Orchard, we went to go see sky divers.

Daddy and Papa

Melanie, Amber and Nana

Melanie explaining the skydivers to Paige

Those glasses are so cute!

Amelia sleeping....again!

Paige, Melanie, Amber, Amelia (in the car seat), Nana, Mommy and Papa

Aunt Amber taking a nap with Amelia

Amelia, Daddy and Papa

Nana and Papa loving on Amelia

Amelia

Aunt Amber and Amelia

The dogs also got a treat over Labor Day, Papa made a new gate for them! It looks so much better than what was there before! Thank you so much - it is sooo great!

Great Grandma Betty's Birthday Party

This summer, Great Grandma Betty (Patrick's Grandma) turned 80, so the family had a get together over Labor Day weekend to celebrate. This was also an opportunity for Patrick's extended side of the family to meet Amelia for the first time. It was great to see everyone again - we had a great time. Amelia handled all the attention very well too! Amazingly she slept during most of the days and 9-10 hours at night! It must have been the stimulation and possibly a growth spurt. Either way, Patrick and I were happy we could sleep at night!

The Garber families

Great Grandma Betty holding Amelia for the first time.

Aunt Amber holding Amelia for the first time

Amber, Olivia, Amelia and myself eating and feeding

Aaron, his little guy Austin, Patrick and Amelia

TJ, Raina and their family - Jaron, Jaden, Aubrey and Ansley

A mixture of family!

Wendy, Anna, Josh, and Noah

Aaron with either Kane or John one of Tom and Sheryl's twins. They are identical and I can't tell them apart! Evan is also in the picture - Aaron and Erin's little guy.

Naomi (Josh and Wendy's little girl) with Tiffany (Tom and Sheryl's little girl)

Wendy, Anna and Amelia

Naomi. Wendy and I look fairly similar and Naomi kept thinking I was her mom. She is a fairly shy little girl, but as soon as I walked in, she was grabbing my legs thinking I was Wendy. The confusion peaked when she came running towards me in the afternoon saying, "Mommy, Mommy". It was so sweet. Each time I would talk to her outside of these situations or after she would come up to me, she would just look at me with the facial expression of 'Who are you???' Wendy and I laughed together, especially since she had the same confusion when Wendy, Josh and their family visited us a year or two ago.

Wendy, Amelia and Melanie

Aaron, Tom and Patrick

Ethan, Aaron and Erin's little guy, doing a cartwheel

Anna helping Paige do a cartwheel

Erin, Austin and myself.

Mike sitting and enjoying the festivities

Evan pondering what he should do next.

Paige watching the guys play basketball

Great Grandpa Irvin with Olivia

Some of the little great-grand kids gave cards and sang to Betty for her birthday. Here is Ethan getting a hug.

Evan is so excited in this picture! How adorable.

Erin, Amelia, Austin and myself. Baby swap! Austin is about 4 months older than Amelia - look at the size difference! He is such a cutie and has such great control over his head.

Carla holding Amelia

Steve feeding Olivia

James, Amelia, Ketan and Jenna

Happy Birthday Great Grandma Betty! We hope you had a wonderful birthday!