Stay at home Daddy updates

Things have been going really well. Jaycee is doing great! She is taking great naps, sometimes even hour and a half naps. The bottle has been a huge success.........today she drank 9 ounces. Can't believe how well she is doing. She has been drinking on average about 5 to 6 a day, which is wonderful, compared to what she was doing before. But today 9 ounces.........WOW! Great job Daddy!

Jaycee and Daddy have been having lots of fun! Enjoying the days, today they took a walk around our neighborhood and played on the grass outside. The last couple days have been really hot and it was cooler outside than inside today.

Keep up the great work Jaycee and Daddy too! I love you both mucho!

Today Jaycee drinking her bottle like a big girl. Daddy says she holds the bottle all by herself when he lets go. Too cute.

Smiles after having a full belly and Daddy telling her "BRAVO".

Happy 4 Months

I wanted to post yesterday, but it was a busy day once I got home from work and wasn't up for staying up late. Plus Jaycee was ready for me to come to bed or she wasn't going to sleep until I did.

Our little princess turned 4 months yesterday. Boy can't believe how time flys. She is getting so big and changing a lot. She is still wearing her 0-3 month clothes. She does fit into some of her 3-6 but most is still big on her. I'm sure she will be out of her 0-3 months before we know it. She has started to grab for things, it's really cute to see her try and play with her toys now. I even have a picture below of her grabbing her toes. Too cute! She hasn't started rolling over yet, but I'm sure that will be soon. Not really looking for her to grow up too fast. She is still my little baby.

Happy 4 months princess. Mommy and Daddy love you mucho!

All tired out after a nice walk with mommy.

Stay at home DAD!

Tavo has been out of work since last Thursday. Friday was Good Friday so the whole company had off, but Monday and today they didn't have work for him. We were hoping he would be going to a new job site tomorrow, but no he got 'Laid Off' instead. It's something we had been planning for just in case. He had been with the company for almost 5 years. Tavo stayed home with Jaycee on Monday while I worked and would have again today. But I had already made plans to watch Estella today so we both didn't work. Tomorrow I start work full time again and Tavo becomes a "Stay at Home Daddy". At least Jaycee gets to spend time with at least one of us all day long. I feel very blessed I still have a job and have the opportunity to go back full time.

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone had a nice EASTER! We enjoyed our day with some of our family and friends.

My sis the baker

Last weekend Tavo and I missed our niece and nephew's birthday party in AZ:-( Conor turned 6 March 23rd and Aidan turns 5 April 9th. They both wanted to have their birthday party together. The awesome mother my sister is, she made them both a cake and below are pictures. She really does a great job. They don't only look great, they taste really good too. I know I wasn't there to taste this time, but have been in the past and my sister can BAKE. Another reason I wish we lived closer to one another, that way she could bake a cake for Jaycee:-)

Conor's cake "swampie".

Up close of "swampie" with claws and nostrils.

Aidan's Lady Bug Cake.

Another picture of Davis's 2nd birthday cake.

Another picture I found of Conor's 5th birthday cake. I know I have more but can't find them. But I'm sure you get the idea of how good she is.

Jaycee talking it up

Jaycee has been doing some many cute things like the above video. She talks all the time now, she loves to hear herself. It's too cute! She has even started to laugh. The video isn't that great, it was taken with my cell phone. I was standing so she couldn't see me because as soon as she did she would stop and just stare at the phone.

She is starting to grab and hold things now as you can see in the above photo. Love her so much, she is really growing fast!

Cancer Sucks!

This post if for my brother-in-law Shane and my sister.........to amazing people!

Shane went in for a scan last week and the results are back and the ugly cancer is still gone. Yeah! Tavo, Jaycee and I will continue to pray that the ugly cancer never returns for Shane or my sister. You both are great fighters of the ugly cancer, keep up the great work. Both of you are truly amazing people. We love you!

The Bottle

Jaycee still struggles with taking a bottle. Before I started back at work, Tavo gave her a bottle once a day during the week and on the weekends twice a day. Each time she fights the bottle, it takes about an hour to feed her. We have even tried several different bottles and tired sippy cups. Now that I have started back at work and Sani has been giving her a bottle, she still struggles. Jaycee is with Sani for about 6 - 7 hours three days a week and the most she drinks is about 3 ounces during that time. Last week was my third week back at work. I thought Jaycee would finally break down and realize mommy isn't around so I have to drink from the bottle, but no. She is still a stubborn one. I know Tavo and Sani both are doing the best they can, but for some reason she wants nothing to do with the bottle. I hope she learns real soon, because I am going to have to start working longer days soon. Currently I am only working 6 hour days so I can come home and feed her after Tavo picks her up. When I get home she is ready to nurse for sure. She is a silly one. I am praying next week she will do better. Starting the week of April 6th my friend Maria is also going to watch her once a week. Sani will watch her twice a week and Maria once. Maria has a two year daughter and we are going to swap days. I'll watch her daughter Estella on Tuesdays and she will watch Jaycee on Thursdays. Hopefully Jaycee will take the bottle better for Maria. Come on Jaycee.........Mommy and Daddy know you can do it!

March 23rd, 2003

Today is a speical day, it's our nephew Conor's birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday buddy! We love and miss you BUNCHES!

The little NBA star!
1st hair cut, no more curls!
Uncle Tavo and Conor looking handsome!

Chillin in the wagon.

Cheese.
1st day of kindergarten!

Daddy-O

Happy Birthday to you.........Happy Birthday to you..........Happy Birthday dear AMOR/DADDY-O.........Happy Birthday to you.........and many more!!!!!!!

Today is Mi Amor's 32nd birthday! Happy Birthday Daddy-O! We love you!

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

FRIDAY!

Yeah it's Friday and I survived the first week back at work. It took me a couple days to get back in the swing of things, but today I really worked hard and got a lot done. I had to leave a little earlier to pick up Jaycee because Daddy was working overtime.

It's going to take sometime to get used to being a working mom and I'm only working part-time right now. This helps out a lot so I can get errands run on the days I have off. It's really going to be rough when I have to start back full time. There isn't enough time in the day to get things done. Right now I'm still doing laundry and just got done cleaning up the kitchen. It sucks too because Jaycee goes to bed between 7pm and 7:30pm and I feel I don't get much time with her in the evenings by the time I get home from work. I have to make those couple hours great quality time. I am extremely grateful that both my husband and I have weekends off so that the three of us can spend the time together.

Jaycee also survived her week with Sani; she was a happy little girl today when I picked her up. I think she is enjoying her time with Sani and the other kids. I just wish she would learn to take the bottle. On Tuesday she ate 1.5 ounces, Wednesday 1 ounce and today only 1 ounce. Concerned mommy called the pediatrician today. The doc said to give it some time since this is her first week and if she continues then to call back. The reason I called was because at night she is sleeping so good and not eating, so I'm afraid she is not eating enough. She only nurses 2 or 3 times in the morning before going to Sani's and then again 2 or 3 times when I get home before going to bed. I pray she starts eating soon.

Jaycee's new thing.........her fingers make her happy. I'm always asking her what favor are they?This is one way she soothes herself and falls asleep. ROCK ON!

the no-cry sleep solution

I am currently reading this book called, "the no-cry sleep solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. Gentle ways to help your baby sleep through the night. So far the book is great and is really helping with Jaycee. For those parents that don't like the cry it out method, I highly recommend this book. Tavo and I weren't crazy about letting Jaycee cry and cry; we tried and did let her cry for a half hour. But after finding that it didn't work and she wouldn't sooth herself, we tried plan B. My sister recommended the book; she used it on her second child. Tavo and I were one of those parents that thought if you put your baby to bed later she will sleep longer, we were wrong. Something the book teaches you. Jaycee is currently sleeping through the night and taking naps through out the day. Her naps are not very long but we are working on it. At night she has been going to bed at 7pm and doesn't wake up till 4:30am-5am then goes back to sleep. I wish we could either get her to wake up earlier than 5am or sleep till 7am. When she wakes up at 4:30am - 5am it's so close to the Tavo's alarm time for work. Alarm goes off at 5:30am. We are still working on it. The author also has other books........

• No-Cry Nap Solution
  
• No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers


• No-Cry Potty Training


• No-Cry Discipline Solution


• Gentle Baby Care


• Hidden Messages


• Perfect Parenting


• Kid Cooperation

Back at work

Today was my first day back at work. Boy was it a rough morning. I cried in the shower, I cried getting dressed, I cried driving to Sani's and I cried all the way to work. I even cried last night while getting her things ready for the morning. Jaycee and I arrived at Sani's 8am and I didn't leave till 8:50am. I was taking Kayla (Sani's daughter) to school so she could be there by 9am. We got to Sani's early so I could hang out with them before leaving. I didn't want the first day to be rushed. Over all it was a good day, pretty relaxed getting back in the swing of things. I missed my little princess like crazy and the day couldn't go fast enough.

Sani's report............she was really good. She didn't cry but once when she woke up from a nap and only for about 2 seconds. Her first nap was at about 9:45am for 30 minutes; her second nap was around noon for almost an hour and then she fall asleep right before Daddy came to pick her up. She took her naps sleeping by herself like a big girl. She only ate 1.5 ounces from the bottle, so she was hungry when I came home from work. Stubborn little turkey!

She is doing so much better about sleeping on her own. She is still doing really well at sleeping in her bassinet at night, going on 6 nights in a row. Now we are working on getting her to bed earlier. We used to put her to bed with us around 9pm, but now we are trying to get her down by 7 - 7:30pm. Last night she didn't do well with going to bed early, tonight she is doing really well so far.

Mommy and Jaycee

Jaycee being a big girl sleeping by herself in the bassinet.

Things you must have in your purse…..

Last weekend I was with my girlfriend Monica driving in the car to our girlfriend Maria's house. While talking I noticed she had something in her teeth, so I let her know. I hate that embarrassment, I always let people know. She couldn't get it out so I pulled out dental floss from my purse. She said, “Heather you always have everything.” She suggested I should post on my blog what to carry in your purse, so here are some items I usually make sure I have.............

• Driver’s license
• Bank card / credit card
• Sunglasses
• Cell phone
• A small hairbrush
• Dental floss
• Pen and/or pencil
• Hand sanitizer
• Hand lotion
• Chap Stick
• Lipstick
• Gum
• A small daily planner
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Baby wipes (must better than a tide pen, wipes get out any stain, almost any)

Sleeping

Our little princess is doing much better at sleeping on her own. Tuesday she took two 25 minute naps all by herself on the couch. She fall asleep on me first then I laid her down. Not to the stage of her soothing herself to sleep yet. When we were at my sister's last week she did sooth herself to sleep a couple times. My sister has one of those old swings that winds up and Jaycee liked that for some reason. I need to find one. Yesterday she napped a lot in the car while we were running errands and took little 10 minute naps on the couch. Last night she was a big girl. She slept 5 hours in her bassinet. Daddy and I actually got to cuddle for awhile. She woke up at 2:30am and wanted to nurse. I woke up and fed her, but couldn't get her back to sleep in the bassinet so she slept with us till she woke up at 7am. We need to keep working at it and she will get better. Big improvements so far. Now if we can just get her to do better at taking the bottle.

Currently she is laying on the couch asleep........wonder if she will last longer than 10 minutes. Go Jaycee go..........I have faith in you.

My sweet angel sleeping on the couch.

Back to work soon

I only have one more week before I have to go back to work :-( I start back March 10th. Not looking forward to leaving Jaycee. Even thought I know she will be in good hands. I have really enjoyed the time with her, ever minute of it. I am so thankful my work is letting me start back part-time. Working part-time makes things a little easier. She is doing so many things right now and changing everyday, feel like I am going to miss out on things. Never thought being a working mom would be so hard.

Sani you'll have to take pictures through out the day on your cell phone and send to me and Daddy.

Our road trip

Jaycee and I have returned from Zona. We had a really nice visit, but it was TOO SHORT. Wish we could have stayed through the weekend and part of this coming week. Since Daddy didn't go we didn't want to be gone that long. Daddy missed his little princess BUNCHES and thought she grew in the time we were gone. She started sucking her thumb while we were gone and daddy felt he missed out.

It was really nice to hang out with my nephews and nieces. I miss them already, they grow so much each time I see them. Of course it's always nice to hang out with my sister and brother-in-law Shane also. I wish we lived closer. Zerah the little one, who is 5 months old, is really going to be different next time I see her. When we returned home Jaycee was trying to be like her cousin and roll over, yesterday she rolled her whole body over. It was too cute; of course after she rolled over she was stuck and needed help.

Jaycee got to hang out with her cousins all week, along with her auntie and Uncle Shane. She also got to hang out with grandma and grandpa, great grandma and grandpa, second cousin Caylee and great aunt Linda.

Auntie Shelly, Zerah and Jaycee. They are both wearing their cute little octopus outfits.

Cousin Davis and Jaycee. Davis likes to give lots of kisses to the babies. Jaycee just loved Davis, he is always moving around and she loved to watch him.

Big cousin Conor and Jaycee. Jaycee missed cousin Conor when he was at school during the day.

Cousin Aidan and Jaycee. The big princess and little princess.

Great Aunt Linda with Jaycee.

Second cousin Caylee with Jaycee.

Auntie Shelly with Jaycee.

Great Grandma with Jaycee.

Great Grandpa with Jaycee.

Uncle Shane playing with Jaycee and making her smile.

Grandma with all her grandchildren. Look Jaycee's hair makes Grandma look like she has a beard.

Grandpa and Grandma with Jaycee.

Sunday visit with Belita

Last Sunday we went to Belita's (grandma's) for a visit. Below is a cute picture of Belita and the princess sleeping.

Goin to Zona

Jaycee and I are making a trip to AZ to visit my sister and her family before I have to go back to work. We are leaving this coming week. Daddy has to work so he will be staying home. We will miss Daddy very much while we are gone and I know Daddy will miss his two girls too. I'm looking forward to the fun time I'll get to spend with my nieces and nephews. Plus hanging out with my sis and brother-in-law is always fun! The family is looking forward to seeing Jaycee also. I'll post when I return.

My beautiful sister with Jaycee when they visited back in January. Auntie look out Jaycee has grown lots since this picture.