In the grass

The Babysitter III

Excuse the sweat pants that I am wearing. You caught me! It's taco night, and Vivienne loves to watch me cook in her tubtrug. Whatever floats your boat! I think she likes all the little snacks I slip her (avocado = yum).

WARNING: contents will explode with cuteness.

Mitch and Viv went to our local neighborhood park today after he got home from work, (YES we have a park), and it was gorgeous. Not surprisingly, no one was there. How come we've never gone there before? It's literally one block away and massive. Maybe it has something to do with the name of the park? It's called Young Blood. I am dead serious (PUN INTENDED). Apparently it's named after someone. Okay, sure! At least Bayview has a decent park. If you're unfamiliar, Google the Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco.

The resemblance in these pictures is uncanny. It's official, I gave birth to my husband!

Happy birthday to me

Since this is my blog, and I usually say whatever I feel like, I guess it's appropriate to wish myself a happy birthday. Things have definitely changed that's for sure. This year, the year that I turn 32, (OMG) my birthday has fallen on a weekend that Mitch is out of town and Vivienne is cutting her first teeth. HAPPY FREAKIN' BIRTHDAY. My dad and stepmom came to town to say hi and see Viv which was great and by the time they left, Viv had had enough and was in full blown teething mode. It was like she planned it for the second they walked out the door. I spent the rest of my afternoon/evening carrying her around listening to her moan/whine/whimper. If you have been through a teething experience with a child, it's horrifying. Her little gums look like hamburger meat, and there are two little teeth that have just barely broke the surface. I wish I could take it away for her, but unfortunately she needs teeth in her life so this is what has to happen. I knew things were not going well when she cried for most of her bath. Vivienne LOVES the bath. I mean, LOVES THE BATH. She will play in the tub for 30 minutes if you let her. Tonight she just cried or whined the whole time and reached for me from her little seat. After an early bedtime for Viv (5:30, and has only been up screaming once) I am having some wine and watching Avatar that I purchased at Target. Woohoo. PAINTIN' THE TOWN RED!! Probably be in bed by 8pm. YES! Here is a shot of Viv today, one of the only things that made her super happy, rolling around in mommy and daddy's bed nakey! Don't expect a smile.

Uma

These pictures crack me up for two reasons. One, my mom's hair is all sticking up in the front in one of these pictures because Vivienne's new thing is PULLING HAIR. Pulling anything really and Uma was wearing a necklace too. It was like Disneyland for Vivienne. Secondly, my babe LOVES to study people she loves, she just does it. It's like she memorizes them. Sometimes it can make you uncomfortable as she pulls her little face an inch back and just STARES at you for an undetermined amount of time. If you try to move your face or laugh, she grabs it with her little hands as if to say, "I'm doing something here, HOLD STILL!" Needless to say she had a great morning spending some time with Uma, despite being in the middle of getting her two bottom teeth. My mom even sat in the back of the car with her while she (finally) slept and I ran into Target. I should mention that she had an ENORMOUS bowl movement on the way there too, and my poor mom sat there in the back of the stinky truck as she slept, not wanting to disturb her. Pretty cute!

Where did my little baby go?

OK, I know that Vivienne was never ever that "little". But oh my lord, when I looked at her today in this outfit before we went to the beach, it was like she was ready to grab her backpack and head to school. Nothing like Sunday brunch and then the rest of the day at the beach with the Oh-Schrobsdorff's. San Francisco is like none other. Breathtaking!

Water is where it's at

All Vivienne wants to do lately is sit in the tub and drink the water from the tap. No issues whatsoever with water in her face and/or eyes. IS THIS MY CHILD? And she so has that little safety seat licked. She can climb out of that thing in an instant. Nothing can stop her! Swim lessons are in our immediate future at the JCC, can't wait.

Flashback

Here is a picture from my mom of me in my highchair. She found one where my mouth is open. It is genetic then! Pay special attention to the wallpaper in the background, she would love that. Sorry mom, I couldn't resist! Enjoy this irresistible baby!

Weathers household status update:

This is where my day job is blending into my personal life. This is literally a placeholder for me to come back and fill in the blanks on our little family and how we have been doing lately. Here is the quick and dirty version.

For one, Vivienne is getting her first tooth. Do I have to say anymore? Yes, it's a little early but I really don't have a choice in the matter. If it were up to me, she wouldn't get teeth until she was 2 years old, somewhere in the lineup after potty training and big girl bed transitions. I mentioned at the beginning of the year that this would be the "Year of Sleep" for us. Turns out I was wrong. I thought about that post Sunday night as I was holding my baby from 2-4am, finally bringing her into bed with me.

I'm not sure if I have ever felt this stressed out/tired in my entire life. We are in the middle of a ton of transitions and let's face it, I HATE transition. A few on the list this week have been looking for a new car to fit our family in, to stay or not to stay in our house, adjusting to work and the demands that it brings to my time (I basically have none), juggling Mitch's constant traveling schedule, Vivienne army crawling now, headaches up the yang (just like the word), and many many more things. OH, Vivi just grew overnight out of ALL of her clothes. That's been fun!

It may sound like I am complaining, and I kind of am. But mostly I am just plain overwhelmed. I'd love to write about all these little things in detail with pictures to come, so I am simply reminding myself. What better way to remind yourself than a PUBLIC POST-IT NOTE?

Some pictures in the meantime..btw, Vivi's new game is peek-a-boo and she will use ANYTHING she can get her hands on. Thank god for that little cherub.

Vintage Amber

This is my Dad with me on his shoulders. I'm probably around Viv's age now, according to him. It's cute to see this picture and how similar some of our features are (Viv and I). Of course she is most definitely a lot of Mitch as well...
My dad is rockin' the style too! We are quite a pair if I don't say so myself.

"Go Climb a Rock"

Apparently, a popular saying in Yosemite. According to Mitch. Believe me when I say that his eyes were ROLLING to say the least, when I didn't know this fact. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Weathers for the jumper! Doesn't she look excited to be wearing it?

For the love of water

Time for SLOP

It's true that I have been blogging a whole HELL of a lot lately. The cuteness factor is OFF THE CHARTS. Seven months is an incredible age, but I personally don't believe I have ever laid eyes on a more adorable, sweet, jolly little babe. And that is the gods honest truth. Not biased AT ALL. Just a fact.

Another afternoon stroll to our favorite garden center

Vivienne has been making this face today, all day long. It's such a mature little expression. I'm not sure why she's doing it. Could she be upset about something? Pondering the state of the world? Thinking Mommy is ridiculous? Who knows. I know she's only 7 months old (7 MONTHS OLD!) but sometimes when I look at her all I see is 17. It scares me to DEATH.

Nono and Vivienne

All Vivienne wanted to do was look at, inspect, eat, touch my dad's WATCH. She loved it, and she loved her day with Nono!

Tubtrugs

These rubber trugs have served as Vivienne's toy chests/miscellaneous household "holders" for quite some time now. When I purchased them for the purpose of organizational tools, months ago, I never imagined the cuteness that would unfold.

(By the way, you can get them at: http://www.tubtrugs.com, they are AMAZING for anything you can think of storage wise or any reason you would need a bucket. All different sizes and colors. Completely FLEXIBLE -- thank god, PERFECT for a 7 month old. We have 3 of them in various places in our house.)

Enjoy.

Mitch, taking it for the team

PEEK-A-BOO

Vivienne will sit like this FROZEN while you say really sing-songy "Where is Vivienne?!"
Then she gets the world's largest grin ever while pulling the cloth down herself. I'm not gonna lie, it's one of my favorite pastimes.

Just some more 7 month portraits, because one is DEFINITELY not enough

Month: 7

Vivienne is now into her 7th month and probably cuter than she has ever been (ok, I say that every month, I know)! Somewhere around 22+ pounds, about 27 in long (or more) and just happy as can be. We've nicknamed her "jolly". I could barely get her to sit down for this portrait. My little baby is already growing up...

Marley

The world's MOST ADORABLE NIECE. I'm not even joking, this kid is to die for. I can have entire conversations with her and I'm not even sure sometimes who is in control of them. This is my brother's daughter and will most likely be a frequent presence on here because Vivienne ADORES her. What's not to love?

Peace and quiet

This last Tuesday was my first night ever away from Vivienne. Since I had to work both Tuesday and Wednesday and Mitch is on Spring Break (as is his mom), he took her to Galt to spend a night there. It was my idea and I had tons of logic behind my decision. I mean, it's been 7 months since I have had a night to myself. Longer if we count pregnancy because come on, you're not really "alone" when you're pregnant right? I had major plans for my night ALONE. I was either going to drink some wine and watch some trashy movie that Mitch would never watch with me (oh and turn up the volume past 12!), OR go to bed early while playing on my computer in bed. Two very lovely things right?

As it turns out, having a night to yourself is not all that it's cracked up to be. I spent the whole night thinking about Vivienne and what she was up to. With my sometimes psychotic mind that is NOT a good thing. At one point I got all philosophical and started imagining what I would ever do if suddenly this was my new reality and they were instantly gone from my life. Trying to stave off a panic attack, I then decided that I would wash her ENTIRE crib set because what better time than when she won't be using it! One thing led to another, and I ended up CLEANING. Yes, cleaning. Finally, I dropped into bed at 11pm, totally exhausted and lonely. Maybe it's just because it was my first one and the next one will be better, who knows. All I can say is I'm not really looking forward to my time alone anytime soon.

When they got home, and later that night we were all together again it was as if order was restored. Viv making TONS of noise, pulling my hair and giving me hickeys, and Mitch walking around the house obsessing about some noise or other that he heard from the neighbors house (sorry babe), all I could think of was the fact that this is how it should be. Peace and quiet is SO overrated.

Focused

For awhile now we have been talking to each other, Mitch and I, about how focused Vivienne will get on textures and patterns. Any pattern or texture will do and it will capture her attention in an almost obsessive way (see: eyebrow furrow above). She tends to zone out and rub the fabric or whatever it is in a robotic way, until we remind her that she has to eat or that she has OTHER toys. Our little engineer we call her. In no way do we want to push a career on her or "label" her in any way, especially at 6 months old. I just find that it sounds much better than "our little OCD"! It wouldn't surprise me if she picked up a little OCD -- she does come by it naturally on her mom's side.

June

Pretty little June, our SANE cat. She deserves all the extra treats we give her for putting up with Sam and all those times he provokes her by running around the house howling like a DYING HYENA. She's MUCH too refined for that kind of behavior.

Where's Vivienne

One would think that I'm sorta into stripes. It's never my intention but I guess this may prove a point. Poor Viv has no choice! Also, she LOVES to play with the cream I keep on my nightstand. I'm sure it's totally natural and 100 percent organic. Yeah.