Wrapped in Love

Julia is spoiled in love...and blankets. I can't think of a single witty thing to say about this post, so just enjoy looking at these beautiful blankets that were made for our miracle baby.

My Mom's Quilt

Connie Burgy's Afghan

Corinthia Baker's Afghan

Dawn Straub's Afghan

Diana Loesch's Blanket 

(Mother of one of my private middle school students)

Helen Abamonte's Quilt

Aunt Martie's Afghan

Michelle's Afghan 

(Greg's former co-worker)

Pam Lowdon's Afghans

(My high school orchestra teacher!)

And as an addendum to my original post, Aunt Chris and Cousin Heidi's blanket. Overlooked because it's on the changing table and used every single day! 

4 months

Julia had her 4-month (and 12 day) check-up on Wednesday. I made Greg come with me and left them all to themselves for her vaccinations. It made no difference -- I could still hear her crying across the building and I still cried. Sigh. I guess there's no way out of it! 

Here are the stats:

Weight

12 lbs 6 oz

15th percentile 

(she jumped up from the 10th percentile!)

Height

23 inches

6th percentile

Shorty!

Head Circumference

3rd percentile

 so yeah...if you're wondering why her birth was so easy it's because of this tiny head

 

BMI

50th percentile

which I guess means in her tiny little stats she is right on target

So at 4 1/2 months old, I decided to put away her newborn clothes. Well, most of them. There are a few she has truly grown out of, but there are others that are just starting to get tight. 

In case you're wondering, she had already grown out of all of these bows when I made her bow collage so these were not featured. We did get a lot of use out of them in the beginning though, although NONE of them would fit on her tiny little noggin until about a month old.

This T-shirt used to fit her! She's giggling because a) she knows deep down her mother is a ridiculous person, b) she knew she was being immodest and c) she's happy to get rid of these clothes!

 

She loves sitting in her Bumbo chair! 

(and for the record, this is still a newborn onesie and it is still big on her)

And she loves her exersaucer which is jimmy-rigged with a bear behind her for back support and blanket underneath her to help her touch the ground.

And at the check-up the Dr. prescribed Zantac for our little barfer who spits up CONSTANTLY and I guess has acid reflux. She said when we get her on solids in a few months it will stop completely. I figured we'd better start practicing with the rice cereal, so here is her first taste.

Not impressed.

Reasons Why I'm a Good Mom

Because I give my 4-month-old...

paper bags to play with....

And blankets to wrap around her neck and over her head

And mobiles to grab on to while she sleeps (she really is totally conked out in this pic)

And bows to pull off her head into neckties while sleeping

And super trendy toys like Sophie the Giraffe (okay, of course I didn't buy this for her, but I thank Trendy Laura who did!)

And shopping carts to push because as I tell her all the time, "We work hard in this family! You don't get something for nothing!"

And I am consistently putting super obnoxiously large bows on her head, poor girl!

And just because she hates it so much, I keep taking her swimming...

But life did improve when I got this little flotational device. My vampire baby can now be shaded from the sun and does a little better.

But the real truth of the matter is, she has 5 swimsuits and so we have to go swimming at least one more time to get through all of them! Waste not, want not as I always say!

Julia Goes West

You all know that Greg rarely gets vacation, so when a cheap flight came up to SLC, I decided to brave the airlines with just me and Julia. She really wanted her own seat, but unfortunately all the flights were full and she had to sit on my lap. I think she really missed her alone time, as did I. She was really good on the flight, but I missed my napping and reading time. When is she going to realize that life is all about me and not all about her?! :)

Ready to fly!

My first visitors were my cousin Justin (who looks just like both of my brothers who look nothing alike...don't ask me how that's true, it just is) and Angie and their three kids! Justin and I are only two days apart and are "twin cousins!"

Angie holding Julia - her kids wanted a piece of the love too!

Skyler and Julia met when she was a month old in Atlanta, but they enjoyed each other more this visit. They are three months apart, and can you tell what Skyler is eyeing?

With 3 big brothers, Skyler had never seen so many bows!

Lea and I took the kids to the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City across from Temple Square. Oh, Danny would have been a good pioneer! Look at those pushing skills! 

Speaking of pushing, one of my favorite exhibits at the museum was when Danny disappeared into the Men's restroom for 30 minutes and an old man offered to watch the Men's door while I had to go in and wipe him. That was awesome.

Julia seems to have enjoyed herself too!

My wonderful friend Susan met up with us for lunch!

On Saturday we went to the Payson Highland Games. It was pretty awesome watching these Scottish events. Julia seemed more interested in the grass...

...than in watching this amazing woman hoist and throw a log!

On Sunday the Utah Saville's (which consist of Lea's fam, Brian's fam and my parents) took a walk along the Jordan River.

Proof that Shayne is just a big kid. Yes, he stole the bike from Danny.

Three Generations

Shayne helping Danny ride his tricycle....or better phrased as: Shayne getting a free ride

Beautiful Devri pushing Julia

Ha, ha, I got out of pushing the stroller again!

Michael and Danny are best buds.

Maggie walking Michael

Beautiful Utah, where the weather was 80 degrees the entire week. Amazing!

Utter chaos all.the.time.

Lots of kids rolling around here

Danny was super good about playing with the babies

Papa and Julia - she'd never seen such big fingers and was fascinated!

Devri, Brian, Michael and Julia

Oh my gosh, who stole my baby and put a happy Buddha in her place?!

Julia borrowed Lea's extra car seat...it was a tad bit big

Michael loved meeting his cousin

The night before I left, Lea graciously allowed me to have an open house at her house to see friends

Heidi, who has been featured previously on my blog as one of my amazing oboe friends

Julia's great-great-aunt Lorrie. I'm so glad our trips coincided and they got to meet!

Dedee is a very special friend that was going through IVF around the same time as me and really encouraged me on the discouraging days!

My Aunt Martie (Dad's sister) and Skyler

My Cousin Cindi

Um... what can I say but "That's my dad!"

Emilee, Adrian and Eli. Adrian and Greg served missions in Berlin together and I hadn't seen them in years. This was my first time meeting Eli, and I have to admit he did not like it when his mom held Julia!

Julie and Julia

Cousins Todd and Joni

LauraDawn - I taught her oboe when she was in middle school and now she's married. Sniff, sniff...I'm getting old!

Barbara and I used to work at Summerhays together forever ago. I hadn't seen her in 8 years!

Stormi and Rick are very good friends from my BYU days, and now that they live in Pennsylvania I NEVER get to see them. Fortunately, our trips to UT coincided this year!

Francis and Randy Wadley - great family friends from Topeka. I'd like to say they came all this way to see me, but it just wouldn't be true.

My beautiful Mom

And for some reason I didn't get many pics of the woman behind the scenes - my sis Lea! After spending a week in her shoes I only have more admiration for all that she does in taking care of her 4 boys. 

For now, I'm happy to have just one little girl though. :)

And as a bonus I had a 2-hr layover in Phoenix and got to see Tammy!

Tammy has also done IVF so pictured here are 3 petri dish babies - aren't they just perfect?!