Dear Saba (a.k.a. my big 3 month old)

My adorable little girl, you're getting so big!
You change daily! I swear, sometimes I blink and you're doing something that you've never done before! You watch me constantly with you big brown eyes. You now reach for every toy you can get your hands on and you ACTUALLY hang out in your swing and your vibrating chair! I love that I can put you down every now and then...but I think I love it just because you get so excited when I pick you back up again! Basically, I spend my day putting you down and picking you up just to see you smile. You can now sit in your Bumbo for longer amounts of time! We even let you sit in it when you're in the bathtub - you seem to like that (mostly because that's the only time you get a bath...mommy is a fan of having you shower with her when she decides to shower).
You had your first big holiday this past week. Thanksgiving was lots of fun...you liked looking at the turkey, but mostly you liked watching your cousins (you seem pretty excited to get your hot little hands on a little play time with them).Your daddy and I are so excited to watch you grow! You had your first big doctor's appointment this past month. It was so hard to watch you get your first shots in your chubby little thighs, but you were so brave and you stopped crying right after I picked you up and cuddled with you letting you know that it was all over. I don't know who that was harder for...me or you. I pretty much NEVER want to take you to the doctor's office again (but I know that I would rather see you stuck like a pin cushion for a minute than watch you get really sick)! Speaking of getting sick...your immunity is AWESOME. I can't count the times you've been around someone who is sick (i.e. your grubby cousins) and you've managed to stay perfectly healthy. I hold my breath every time you're exposed, but you always manage to stave off any sickness and continue smiling right through it all (even when mommy gets sick...like how right now I feel like my lungs are going to go on strike with all of my coughing). Last night (one day before you turned 3 months) you did the most beautiful thing. Daddy and I were in the living room, you were asleep on the boob and all of the sudden you started laughing. Not a quick coo like you've done before, but a good long laugh. I looked down because I wasn't sure what the sound was...until you laughed again! Daddy and I both started laughing too because it was such a beautiful sound...I think that the sound of our laughter kind of startled you- you opened your eyes a little bit, but when you saw us looking down at you, you just smiled adorably and went back to sleep. I think that's one of my favorite moments so far!Thanks for being such a wonderful baby.
Love, Mama

Long road trip!

And we're off! Leaving at 7am Lubbock time (6am Phoenix time)! Thank goodness we are gaining an hour! Thank you Lubbock for an awesome thanksgiving!
We will miss you and your lolly pop ways! See you guys at Christmas (and on isight every day until then)!

Can't type...

Too much shopping. (Not really, I just don't feel like posting)!
We leave Lubbock tomorrow morning to go back to Phoenix...I'm really looking forward to the 12 hour drive - especially because Saba LOVES the carseat (she loves it as much as she loves a diaper change on a cold winter day)! Wish us luck!

From Our Turkey to Yours

Happy Thanksgiving!Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

By no means a solicitation for gifts!!!!

In honor of Black Friday (why do they call it that?) and because Santa is ALREADY in the mall Saba thought that she'd post a little Christmas wish list. She would also, however, like it noted that there is nothing she NEEDS - she is a very privileged little girl who gets tons of hand-me-downs from her cousins and lots of presents from her Grandma Didi and Papa Bruce. To be honest, what Saba really wants for Christmas is an extra pair of Baa Baas for when her Mama doesn't feel like nursing...but apparently neither Amazon nor Target are selling extra Baa Baas this year.
So, until Baa Baas are in Macy store windows Here are a few things that Saba would be into:A Rody is one of Saba's cousin's favorite toys...because it can be used for so long it doesn't look like she's going to get that one as a hand-me-down, so she thought she should add it here! This is a cool etch-a-sketch that Saba's Daddy is particularly fond of. Wooden puzzles are also a big hit and this Pound-a-ball toy is pretty cool! Saba also thinks these stacking buckets are neat for when she starts to play in the sand (and they're always good for the bathtub)Lastly (and this is more of a Mama gift then a Saba gift) Saba's almost ready for a big girl car seat!
Mommy has had her eye on this Britax Roundabout for a little while now!

You thoght yesterday's post was weak?

Today it's going to be even worse. I'm sick...in that OMG MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE variety.
Both Ana and Emery have strep (luckily, Saba tested negative).
I don't know what I have, but I do know that it is awful (and probably strep).
I leave you with an image of what straight up germs look like when you gussy them up.Pretty deceiving, right?

I can see that the end is near

Things that make posting in November not so easy:
1. Saba wants to eat ALL of the time.
2. Megan's internet connection sucks
3. Saba wants to eat ALL of the time.
4. We have 7 adults, and three kids all in a house for an entire week and 4 computers (computer to adult ratio is not so bad...it's the 4 computers slugging it out for an internet connection that's troublesome).
5. Saba wants to eat ALL of the time.

The end

Really, she's a HUGE help (disregard Saba's terrified look)

The older Ana gets the more involved she gets in "hovering over", I mean "helping" Saba. She "helps" me nurse.
She "helps" entertain Saba.
She even "helps" Saba sit under the Christmas tree. (Don't worry, Saba's bug-eye look isn't due to Ana's vise-like grip...I'm pretty sure it's due to the fact that there were about 3 cameras flashing in Saba's face).
Saba seems to understand that Ana is there to "help" her. But she never stops giving us a "who's in charge?" look every time Ana is holding her...she also never takes her eyes off of her!

Here's who I spent my morning with...

A little quality time with the Twilight crew was a morning well spent. My only issue with the movie (sorry to all of you die-hards) was the fact that the leading actress is kind of a mouth breather...sort of drives me crazy when someone keeps saying that they're "not scared" and yet they keep trembling and breathing heavy.
Other than that, the movie was really good...not as good as the book, but I don't know who EVER expects a movie to be better than the book.
I have to admit, one of my favorite parts about seeing the movie in the theater was being there to witness all of charged energy created by at least a hundred teen girls lusting after a (very likely not so) teen vampire. The theater was basically buzzing with hormones when the opening credits came on and one little girl squealed with delight and basically said what we were all thinking. As the words "I love you Edward" erupted from her mouth there was a lot of nervous laughter followed by a collective sigh...I'm pretty sure we ALL love Edward.

Have I mentioned that it's freezing here...and other stuff

Saba and I are incredibly cold - well, Saba doesn't complain much, but her little nose is often icicle-like, which doesn't seem to bother her and yet it makes me want to stuff her face under my armpit and keep her there until we return to Arizona where extremities don't fall off after opening the car door and stepping out into the wind. Okay, sort of an exaggeration, but I'm cold.

In other news, Uncle Alex (Saba's Uncle/my Brother) and Papa Bruce are driving down from Phoenix tomorrow to join us in all in our Thanksgiving glory! Alex recently moved back to Phoenix and got to meet Saba for the first time just the other day. Saba's middle name is Alexandria - after my Brother....so he was pretty excited to meet his namesake.I have to go now and bury myself underneath some blankets.

Happy Birthday Grandma Didi (sort of)!

My Mom's birthday is on December 8th, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to celebrate her birthday together (with Megan and her family) - Ana thinks birthday cake should happen on a daily basis (along with singing happy birthday at full lung capacity).
The birthday celebration was supposed to be a surprise until Ana announced in the middle of dinner that she and daddy "made a cake for Grandma Didi" (by made she meant bought - we taught her well). We tried to play it off by talking about something else but she was pretty insistent about the "birthday cake" out in the garage. It was a "kinda" surprise birthday (in the genre of "what the heck are we doing celebrating my birthday on the 20th of November).The totally shocked look was for Ana...but she was too busy staring at the cake to notice!Everyone got to help blowing out the candles (some used spit, but we try to look the other way around here).Saba had her Daddy so she was happy.
We had a great celebration with lots of cake and ice cream and a couple of gifts! Happy Birthday Grandma Didi!

Together Again

My post about the fact that Megan and I isight all day is no joke...we really are on isight all day, but not on the weekends. On the weekends we're on isight with each other AND my Mom! WE HEART APPLE! I am happy to announce that today my Mom, Saba and I are flying to Lubbock to "chat" in person with Megan and her family!

Dereje's big test

Where did Dereje go? Glad you asked. Dereje flew to Atlanta to take a test towards his medical license. This test involves consulting with 12 simulated patients (hired actors - way cool job) - not only does he have to come up with multi differential diagnoses (say that 5 times fast) but he also has to counsel patients, do a physical exam, and show a whole lot of empathy in 15 minutes flat (each patient) - that's not a lot of time.
Over the weekend my dad helped Dereje prepare.They actually really got into it - as in my Dad would prepare for his roles in depth (i.e. use makeup to make bruises, pretend like limbs were broken, and even pretend like he was basically deaf - oh, yeah, maybe that wasn't pretend)!
I think that Dereje got a better understanding of how "invested" my family is in his success - and I think that they were both impressed that I spent my time taking photos at opportune moments. Hey folks they don't call it NaBloPoMo for nothin' - I need blog fodder! Good luck Dereje!

Here's how single parents do it (so I've heard)

Dereje is out of town, so I'm on my own until Wednesday when I fly to Lubbock for Thanksgiving. So, PAAAARRRRRTTTTYYYYY, right? Not so much. Now I get to play the game of trying to get ANYTHING done. I don't know how single parents do this (heck, I don't know how people who don't live 30 minutes from their parents do this). So, My job has changed from mommy who can hold baby all (most) of the time, to WHERE CAN I PUT SABA DOWN WHERE SHE WON'T CRY AFTER TWO MINUTES. She's not amused by this game:But she does like sitting her tush down on all different sorts of surfaces that have been placed in my house (or Grandma Didi's house) solely for her tush.
Honestly, Saba's one job right now is to entertain me...and she's good at it!

This is ridiculous

I just got out of bed to write a post. Right now I think NaBloPoMo is just dumb. I promise to remember to post earlier tomorrow! (Because of the fact that I had to unlatch Saba to come out to the living room to write this post, she wants you to know that she thinks NaBloPoMo is dumb too)!

We're addicted

Honestly, Megan and I are usually on isight from morning till night. We are known for getting online with each other and then going about our daily business as if the other person was in the room just hanging out - it really freaks my Dad out when he walks into my house and he hears a kid crying and it's not Saba.
Megan and I love always being able to see each other throughout the day and seeing how the kids are changing from day to day!
Ana, however, is showing steady signs of being completely unimpressed with the powers of isight as of late. Yesterday I was "playing" play dough with Ana - Megan asked her "where Aunt Manda was?" Ana didn't even bat an eye my way - she promptly told Megan I was "over there" - nothing impresses that lady anymore.

Exhibit A as to why Saba is NOT "so tiny"

As you can see Saba now uses her cheeks for pillows All she has to do is tilt her head a little bit down and she can sleep comfortably resting her dear little head on her cheek pudge...could a "tiny" baby do that?? Could they???
I all seriousness Saba had a doctor's appointment today (the one with all of the shots) and we found out that she now weighs 11.6lbs and is 23in long - she's in the 75th percentile in both categories...her head is out there in the 90 something percentile which is why I never could get those cute little newborn hats on her.
To sum it all up...she's 'uge!

Watch out...

Dereje got his driving permit today! (Hence the very cheesy grin - ahh to be fifteen again)!

Saba's Sunday outing

On Sunday Papa Bruce and Grandma Didi took Saba and I on a little field trip. Where did we go, you might ask? Well let me set the scene. We went to a place where Buffalo and wild cats can be viewed roaming all around. Where trees are showing their beautiful fall colors and airplanes fly so close to the rocks you could swear that they almost touch.We went to a place where someone always seems to be looking over your shoulder.
A place where little girls awake from their slumber to find that their mother has just plunked a big 'ol coon cap right on their head.
We went to a place where camouflage is in abundance - so much so that it's often hard to find the elusive Saba...or, god forbid, the elusive Papa Bruce.We went to such a magical place where even the snowmen and reindeer have the right to bear arms for some good old fashioned holiday cheer.
We went to a store called Cabela's - where I spent pretty much the entire time with my mouth hanging open in awe, shock, dismay and just a little hint of disgust...I had no idea people pay over $300 for a camouflage jacket.

Happy Veterans Day

Hope you had a great Veterans day with lots of beautiful sunshine!

Yoga Community

I started going to prenatal yoga when I was 18 weeks pregnant...it was one of the best things I did for my pregnancy! Because of yoga I was able to build some upper body strength (a must for lugging this heifer I fondly refer to as "Saba" around), channel a whole lot of the energy and hormones that pregnancy threw my way, and best of all I made some great friends and was surrounded by a community of pregnant ladies.
I'll admit, often our yoga classes contained a whole lot more processing of being pregnant than downward dog positions, but in the end we really created a bond because we had basically gone through pregnancy together. The best part about my pregnancy community is that it has extended to my baby community.
So, on Saturday night Saba and I went down to the yoga studio with our little tray of veggies and we bonded once again with the mamas (and some papas) and all of the little babies in the exact same place that we practiced yoga, meditated, and bonded with our ever-growing bellies! It was fantastic! We basically sat on the floor and ate dinner while trying to entertain the babies and talk to one another! Saba, of course, needs to eat whenever ANYONE else is eating so she spent a good amount of time nursing...but when she did come up for air I'd like to think that she recognized the faces and the voices that surrounded her during my pregnancy.
She's not quite ready yet for sun salutations, but she is ready for a yoga "mommy and me" class that we are going to try out this week - I have to get her to fold into a pretzel before she gets too old and rebellious! She'll thank me for the pictures later!

It's only November what?

I've decided that since we're going to Lubbock for Thanksgiving I would much rather be able to come home to decorations then have to put them up in what I deem as "last minute".
So...this weekend I decorated the house for Christmas. (Yes, I do die inside a little because we're using a fake tree for Saba's first Christmas but we'll have a real tree at my parent's house and this way I get to have a tree up at the beginning of November)!
Stockings were hung by the chimney with care (Saba's stocking to come)!And snowmen and nativity sets were strategically placed for maximum Christmas fun!
Say what you will, but I say that if it's good enough for Nordstroms (who am I kidding - I haven't seen the inside of a Nordstroms in a very long time- so if it's good enough for Target) then it's good enough for me!

The wonderful world of Costco

Seriously. Where else can you buy 5 pounds of cheese AND a new pair of pj's for the baby? I love this place. It's where I got my wedding flowers, where I got my favorite set of sheets, and it's where I buy skinny cows in bulk - doesn't get much better than that.
Lately, my mom has brought home the cutest outfits ever for Saba...from Costco.AND I would like to point out that Phoenix is now a beautiful average of 80 degrees these days...so we actually have need to wrap up in the mornings and look like we're actually experiencing Fall. Note the mittens (Grandma Didi seems to think we're in the dead of winter over here)
Best of all is that it's now weather for footed pajamas! (I told Saba to do her best impression of a frog catching flies on a lily pad - this is what she came up with).