3 became 4

My mother and I are very close, I call her almost everyday. Her mother and my grandmother lives 5 minutes up the road. She babysat me growing up and the three of us went shopping together almost every Saturday when I lived at home. 

Two years ago we took this picture:

Last weekend we took this one:

I hope that Charlotte calls me everyday when she grows up. My mom often used to say I told her everything even the stuff she didn't want to know. I wish for that openness between Charlotte and I. I also hope she has a strong bond with her Geandmothers. This was such a special relationship for me growing up. I know it will be harder since neither one is 5 minutes up the road, but definitely will be worth every extra effort.

Halloween 2014

Halloween is a lot different these days. If you think about how the Facebook pics have changed in the last 5 years- it's pretty hilarious. We've gone from women trying to make every cute costume from childhood a little bit sexy to sweet babies in fleece costumes of cute animals. Charlotte had 3 outfit changes on Halloween, and it was definitely fun to dress her up and take her picture. Next year we might actually go out trick or treating!

2 Months

Well, we're two months in, and as you can tell from the photo below, we seem to be starting to get the hang of things! I am still holding out for the miraculous 3 Months I keep hearing so much about, but month 2 was pretty good.

Charlotte is now smiling, and she really wants to laugh (trust me, she has plenty of material to laugh about).

She likes the sounds of our voices, and really likes her woozit toy we affectionately call Mr. Bo Jangles.

She is officially in cloth diapers during the day.

She is outgrowing her 3 month clothes

She slept for 5 hours straight twice now at night 

I have also been keeping up with my weekly photos- here are the first 8 weeks. Funny how much can change in a year- I recall posting weekly photos of my harvest basket last year. This subject is definitely cuter, although produce is definitely quieter and easier to photograph!!!

Fall Family Photo DIY

Fall is a great time to take family photos because the backdrop is beautiful and free! A couple weeks ago we grabbed a quilt, put on a sweater and had my dad take a mini photo shoot under a colourful tree down the road from our house. I am pretty happy with how our first family photo session turned out:)

Ambition or "While Charlotte was Sleeping"

I'm not sure when (or if) I will actually get to this list, but I wanted to write it down, so that it is out there, and I can hold myself to it as best as possible! This is the list of everything I would like to accomplish while Charlotte is sleeping on my maternity leave. I have friends who have said forget it, but I am going to try!

Maternity Leave To-Do List
- Paint the hallway
- Paint the master bath and update the lighting and vanity
- Refinish the shelf that's in the shed
- Host a yard sale
- Add shelving to the sitting room and spare bedroom

- Strip the wallpaper in the spare bathroom and paint or update wallpaper

- Master white bread making

- Attempt sourdough bread making

One Month In

Well, we're officially one month in last weekend, and I can say that this has probably been the most challenging month of my life. I think Charlotte's expression in the picture below sums it up pretty well- we're all learning. She's learning how to be a human outside of the womb, and we're learning how to be parents.

Here are some of my key learnings:
- Everyone has an opinion, and the more you read, the more confused you will be. I actually ordered two books from Amazon last week on sleep, and they are literally polar opposite and contradictory in terms of their advice!
- Everyday is different...every baby is also different, so feel free to nod and smile when someone tells you their child was on a schedule at 4 weeks, and then disregard.
-Pack an extra shirt for yourself in the diaper bag when you go out
-Get out- for me, getting out helps me to maintain some sense of normal
-Things will never go back to what they were, so embrace the change and create a new normal, and then get ready for it to change again just when you're getting comfortable.

And just when you think you can't take it anymore- they do something like this, and it brightens your entire day!

Charlotte at 1 Month Old
- She is very strong, can hold her head up and move it from side to side
- Likes her play-gym, although doesn't really play at this point
- Likes eating on one side per feeding
- Likes fighting sleep in case she's going to miss something
- Likes open air time and her bath
- Dislikes being put down
- Dislikes every apparatus we have bought with the exception of the Mammaroo (thank you Kijiji)!

Nursery Update

The nursery had a bit of a do-over once the crib arrived as it didn't quite fit where I thought it would. We moved the change table to the other wall, and it seems to be working quite well.

Funny story about the crib- it's not the one I thought we were getting, but I am so happy it turned out this way. I was expecting a white crib , and when it arrived it was grey. I love how it fits in the room and pulls grey from the polka dots and stars. I still have to add the yellow chevron crib skirt I made.

Chris gifted me the balloon print that says The Best Is Yet To Come for our first anniversary . The nursery chair was a Kijiji find.

The reading nook got a brand new pink colourful clock and a repurposed red side table.

All in all I am pretty happy with how this space turned out for our little girl .