Lola is 7 months old!

As of March 7th. We had her 6 month check-up late - here are her stats:

Weight: 20 lbs. 12 oz. 90th percentile

Length: 27.7 in. 90th percentile 

Head Circumference: 18.11 in. 100th percentile

Favorite things to say: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! And, "Ma-ma!" She is a total Mommy's girl :)

Rolls onto her side and props her elbow under her. It looks like she's a supermodel posing or just finished break dancing.

Loves to play with her big sis, and is very tolerant and tough. 

Waves hi and bye.

Has her two bottom teeth coming in! Two months earlier than her big sister got hers.

Loves to pat your face sweetly then GRAB your nose when you least expect it.

Has to have her face burrowed or covered to fall asleep.

Likes to click her tongue, blow raspberries, and say tah-tah-tah

Gets on all fours and rocks back and forth like crazy! It looks like she's going to take off!

Is crawling, pulling herself up on things, and standing. 

Likes being in the walker, but mostly likes to be held.

Loves bath time and sleeps really well afterward.

Has fair skin, straight hair, and blue eyes.

Has the sweetest cheeks you can't help but kiss!

Has rolls on top of rolls on her arms and thighs

Loves to smile!

Here Lola is doing her happy clicks:

Laughing with Papa:

I have finally realized that Lola has my Nana's eyes! Her whole life it has perplexed me. We were sitting in Relief Society this past Sunday, and Marilyn Rosenlof (who has known my Nana for over 30 years) said, "Alice, that baby looks just like you!" I looked at Lola sitting on Nana's lap and sure enough, their eyes are the same! I am so happy that her middle name is Jennie, after Nana. She definitely has her Papa's head shape and that Miller chin :)

Loves to balance with Papa!

 Lola is such a happy little girl. She is mellow, calm, and a perfect addition to our family.

Christmas Eve 2011

Warning: Gross, bloody pics ahead.

Leave this page if you don't want to see blood! And read about a nasty emergency room visit!

You've been warned.

This past Christmas Eve, I got really sick & started throwing up. It was so violent that I started throwing up blood. Through both of my pregnancies and extensive puking, I never threw up blood. Googled it and everything said, "GO SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!" I thought it was another gallbladder attack, but turns out it was a nasty stomach bug.

Matt had to work that night up in Santa Cruz, so the girls and I were down in Santa Maria without him. My sweet little brother drove me to the ER and sat with me for three hours while they tried to figure out what was wrong with me. What a guy! Ladies, he's single & living in Portland. :)

What they had to find out was if my stomach was bleeding. So they had to shove a tube UP my nose, then DOWN my throat, and into my stomach. It was AWFUL!!!!!!! I've never had a bloody nose in my 27 years...this will do it for ya! Not to mention your gag reflex trying to get that tube out of your throat. I threw up a ton as she was putting it in. So sick. Here's what I looked like after the whole ordeal! 

I look like I just left the boxing ring! (It's just runny mascara, not a real black eye). I sent this pic to Matt on his drive down and asked him if he still thought I was a pretty girl. :)

Everyone at the hospital was so nice, the nurse was joking with me about giving me a nose job. And the person on the other side of the curtain kept my brother and I laughing, he/she sounded like gollum and kept talking in their sleep! 

They flushed out my stomach and then determined that it was not bleeding. 

After waiting around forever they sent me home with meds to help with the nausea and said to take it easy. Mhhhm.  

Matt & Lindsay showed up at my mom's house around 3 AM after Sean and I got home from the ER. 

Ada threw up in my mom's bed at 5 AM. MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

We made it to church in Lompoc with Matt's family the next morning (anyone have that group pic we took?). Just as we pulled into the church parking lot, Ada threw up again. AWESOME! 

She was so sad and all I can say is thank goodness for baby wipes! And a change of play clothes in the trunk. She didn't get to wear her cute Christmas outfit, but looked like a little mis-matched scrapper. Poor thing. 

We were all so tired. Matt from working all night, then driving to San Jose to pick my sister up, then down to Santa Maria. Sean & I from being sick and at the ER all night and last-minute wrapping! Promising myself that I'll get everything wrapped before Christmas Eve this year because that was not fun at 3 AM. I felt so weak. Ada got it, Sean got it, and Uncle Devin got it. Terrible sickness.

Anyway, that's our eventful Christmas Eve. I had to document it because it was just so ridiculous. We had a wonderful Christmas which I will post about later, and I promise it doesn't involve any blood.

An Observation

This song came out last summer and I LOVED it! Still do. I played it over and over again when I first heard it. When I saw the video, I thought the guy was cute & hadn't heard of him before.

Warning: the second video is a bit scandalous.

Then this song came out. I saw the video and thought he was NASTY! What the heck?

I decided it was because my type of guy is: athletic, happy, laughs & smiles a lot, funny, and carefree.

NOT: pouty, whiney, girly (referring to the obviously straightened/styled tresses), and depressed.  

Case & point: Matt mountain biking last weekend.

That's my kinda guy :) 

My Post-Pregnancy Must Haves

Now that Lola is 6 months old, I'm starting to feel more like myself again. It's always right around 6 months post-partum that I feel like I'm getting my body back, can workout like I could before having a baby, and fit back into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. 

I thought I would put together a list of some of the things that help me get through the not-so-cute months after having baby. Luckily, most people are looking at the adorable baby in your arms and not the things you'd rather not draw attention to :) 

1. Assets (Spanx)

I bought these sexy things after I had Ada. I was a bridesmaid 25 days after having a c-section, a scary thought indeed! I found that wearing these actually helped my stomach get back to it's pre-pregnancy form faster! I've worn them some since having Lola and they help suck your tummy in and keep the jiggle at bay. Today was the first Sunday I didn't wear them to church! It's slower goin's the second time around. Woohoo! 

2. Garnier Spot Reducer

I get the pregnancy mask pretty badly. It looks like I have a brown mustache and patchy freckles on my cheeks...attractive, I know! This has helped keep the discoloration at a minimum. I didn't have this with Ada and I can definitely tell a difference this time. It doesn't completely get rid of it, but it's great for the price and fades acne scars as an added bonus!  

3. MAC Concealer

I've used MAC concealer as long as I can remember. It's become my best friend through the ups and downs of pregnancy and motherhood! It will make the dark circles under your eyes disappear, cover up zits, and help blend in blotchy freckles. 

4. Benetint

I did have Posietint before, and used the whole bottle! It's a more peachy color and great as well.

This will give you a nice rosy glow on your cheeks and a base color that will last on your lips. I love it under some gloss. 

It makes you look alive and rosy when you feel dead. ("Are we dead?" is a common phrase in our house after long nights. Up All Night anyone?)

5. High Beam 

Another great product from Benefit! This bottle has lasted over a year. Use this to create highlights all over your face and recapture the pregnancy glow! The first time I went out with the girls by myself I was told that I was literally glowing. Little did they know it was because of this little bottle :) I like putting it in the corner of my eyes, under my eyebrows, down the bridge of my nose (makes it look smaller...it's an optical illusion ooooh!), and if I'm feeling generous - on my cheekbones too.  

6. Old Navy Active Control Max workout pants 

I am in LOVE with these workout pants! They are made of a nice thick material that holds you in, but doesn't restrict your movement. The top has a panel that can be worn up to hold your tummy in, or folded over. I got them on sale & am so glad I did! Nothing like your stomach bouncing while you run : /

7. BANGS

This one has been the biggest confidence-booster of all. Thank goodness for sisters who give really good haircuts (and let you pay in cookies)! :)
After Ada was born, my hair could be found everywhere. It was like I was a moulting bird. But I never felt like my hair was any different. After Lola was born, my hair still fell out all over the place. But I got bald spots on my temples this time! I had a mean peninsula going that rivaled David Letterman's. It looked awful and made me feel so ugly. Enter bangs! I had them before, grew them out my whole pregnancy, and they've returned to help me get through the Patches O'Houlihan stage. Now that all of the little baby hairs are growing in, they are covered and can do their thing to give me a normal hair line again.

Well, there's my list of things that make this new mommy feel better about her appearance. Have I missed anything? What are your go-tos after having a baby?

Those Moments

For Christmas, one of the gifts that my Nana gives to all of the families is calendars. I look forward to them every year and the beauty they bring into my home. This Christmas, she gave us a calendar with art by the great artist Del Parson. He has painted some of the most familiar images of Christ.

This was January's picture, Lovest Thou Me, of Jesus with his disciples. Ada called it, "People's Talkin'" :) During her nap on January 31st, I flipped the calendar to February in preparation for the next day. 

This is February's painting, Hope in the Second Coming. At dinner, Ada looked up and noticed that it was a new picture. Here is how our conversation went: 

Ada: "Ohhhh! Jesus!" 

Me: "Yeah, it's a new picture of him, huh?"

Ada: "Yeah."

Then, her voice changed. She has this special, loving voice that she reserves only for Matt. "Paaapaaaaa," she says to him. It was like that voice, but even softer and sweeter...more reverent. 

"I wan' give Jesus hugs and kisses," she said. 

At that, my eyes filled with tears. It was such a sweet, unexpected moment. She was looking up at the picture of Him with such adoration in her eyes. She asked, "Mommy sad?" and I said no, they were happy tears. And that she would definitely be able to give Jesus hugs and kisses again one day when He comes again.

I wonder if she is so young that she still remembers being in His presence? Or if she is so innocent and pure that she can see his picture and be filled with His love. 

I had to write this to make sure I never forgot it. It was one of those moments...a brief flicker. The next minute she was noisily counting her noodles and spilling them all over the place. It was a moment that put into clear perspective what truly matters and what my duty is as a parent: to teach her the way back to Christ.

Lola is 5 Months Old!

Or was, on Jan. 7th :) Where has the time gone? Where has my sleepy little newborn gone?! This babycakes is babbling away and rolling all over town. Check it out:

Ada is crying for me at the end because Matt accidentally kneed her in the head :( That boy is just too big for this little world we live in. Always knocking things over and bumping into stuff. (Ada was fine, just needed a kiss to, "make eh all be-her")
...
Lola's 5 month stats:
Height: 2 ft. 2.5 in. 90th percentile
Weight: 18 lbs. 95th percentile
Head Circumference: 44.8 cm. 100th percentile!
Her doctor marveled at her perfectly round, large head! Once again, a trait from Papa :)

Lola is the smiliest baby I have ever met. She will give you a smile and melt you into a puddle on the floor.

She loves to be burrowed while she sleeps, her favorite place is right in the crook of my neck. I love it :)

She is a mellow, happy girl that is such a blessing in our home. I know Heavenly Father knew I couldn't manage without a calm baby like her. I thought that Ada was an easy baby, but Lola is even more so.

The church dress was made by a sweet woman in our ward. I absolutely love it! The blue brings out her blue eyes. And look at that smile! She had just recognized herself on the screen when I took this one of us.
She loves to grab & pull things. Hair, earrings, faces, you name it.
Also, everything is going into her mouth. Eeek!
It sounds like she says, "Hey!" and "Hi!" when she babbles. She kicks her left leg repeatedly while getting her diaper changed and sometimes while falling asleep. Her arms are also constant motion, patting your shoulder or arm rhythmically.
She has started using the walker and really likes being upright vs. just rolling around all day.
Her favorite place to be is in someone's arms though :)  

She is the squishiest, most kissable baby ever. We love you Lola J!

Thanksgiving 2011

We had two Thanksgivings this year! 

Wednesday was spent with my side of the family.

Bobba was so excited to give Ada her birthday present that we let her open it when we first arrived :)

She loves her trike but needs to grow into it a bit. 

 I made Nana's incredible rolls!

Matt took this picture of me in action. Can you believe how high my left eyebrow is?! I died when I saw this pic! 

I'm like Two Face from Batman. 

Ada wanted to be just like Auntie Rach (technically second cousin Rach but that's no fun to say).

 And what's Thanksgiving without a little nap time? :)

 

Good thing you didn't come out Linds, I would've caught you! 

Lola & I hanging out and being awkward after our delicious dinner.

Thursday we went down to Lompoc for Thanksgiving #2! 

We started the day off with a 2.5 mile run, the 2nd Annual MiMo Turkey Trot! 

(Mi = Millers & Mo = Morgans)

Kandie put it all together and it was so much fun! It was my first long run since having Lola 3 months earlier, and she pushed me to keep running when I wanted to walk! My hips felt totally shifty and weird but it felt so good to run. That's one thing I really miss when I'm pregnant. 

Kandie even made finisher medals for us all that Ada adored. 

Here's the first group of us that finished.

Kathleen, Kandie, Kristina, me, Matt, Marsha, Glen & Marc. (Kids stayed behind with grandma)

Then once Ben & Alissa's fam joined, we all walked it again, this time with babes in tow.

Me, Matt, Kandie, Ashley, Ben, Alissa, Eve, Kathleen, Glen, Marsha, Ada, Claira, Kristina, Dylan, Evelyn, Marc & Lola. 

Kandie & I walking it the second time.

Then we went to Marc & Diana's and got cleaned up, then headed back to Marsha's for a wonderful turkey dinner! Everything was delicious.

I had to post this picture because it cracks me up! We were all on our phones playing Uno and this is how it shortened our names:

Ryan = Captain Faggy (or something like that)

Matt = Farty Pants

Kara = Smelly Cat

Marc = Marc

And sleepy Ada on the drive home after a long day of running and playing with cousins! 

We went to pick out my mom's Christmas tree the next day and Ada was so cute running through the "Kissmas Tees!"

I love watching her make memories where I have so many fond ones.

We have so much to be thankful for!

Wonderful families who love us, the fact that we live close enough to drive down to see them, two beautiful, healthy daughters, and on and on and on. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.