Vivian at 8 Months Old

Our sweet little Vivi Grace is now 8 months old! This past month Vivian has really warmed up to solid foods and now eats one puree "meal" and one BLW "meal" a day which is always peanut, avocado and dairy free since she is allergic. Vivian has had sweet potato, apples, pears, cashew butter, almond butter, pancakes, walnut butter, eggs, chicken (disliked), carrots, peas, banana, spinach, kale and oatmeal. We luckily haven't had anymore allergic reactions, but I have been very slow with introducing new foods. I have avoided shellfish which is something Oliver is allergic to and I'm kicking myself for not having the allergist check when we did Vivian's testing.  I also give Viv a straw sippy cup with an ounce or so of water that she loves to sip throughout the day.

Vivian's skin is SUPER sensitive and dry. Even just wiping her up after meals her skin gets all irritated and pink. One week this month Vivian had a huge flare up with he face eczema and it was bleeding. I am not sure what caused it, but it healed after a few days of putting breastmilk on it and making sure we put mittens on her hands during naps so she couldn't itch it!

Day 1 vs Day 3 

Vivi naps two or three times a day one morning nap around 8am, midday nap and one late afternoon nap around 3pm. If she has a long nap midday she won't take a late afternoon nap. A few nights this month Vivian has slept 9pm -530am which has been AMAZING, but usually still does her one wake up around midnight which I do feel she needs! With her bedtime being around 6/6:30pm I wouldn't expect her to sleep 12 straight hours at her age. 

Vivian is still breastfeeding and it's going really well though having all the kids home still doing virtual learning causes her to be distracted and snack a lot more than getting a full feeding in. I like to feed her in her room with the lights off as much as possible.

This month brought a lot more babbling and high pitch shrieks along with Vivian's first word Dada this makes her no less of a Mama's girl though and everyone in the family will agree to that haha. The way she lights up when she sees me makes my heart melt. We all just adore her SO much! Viv brings so much joy to our lives. 

Vivian at 7 Months Old

 Vivian is officially 7 months old and this past month a lot has happened!

After Vivian's 6 month appointment I gave her a tiny bit of peanut butter since her pediatrician recommended doing so. Soon after she started throwing up! Vivian threw up three or so times and then she stopped. I called the on call doctor and they said that if the throwing up continues, she starts swelling or breaking out in hives or struggling to breathe to take her to the hospital. The rest of the night she acted normal and nursed as usual. 

The next day I gave her avocado.  Since she had it once before, I thought it was a safe food. Again she started throwing up, but this time she threw up about 15 times in 30 minutes. It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch her struggling between gags. Vivian started looking very pale and her throw up turned from breastmilk/avocado to full on thick mucus that she was choking on trying to get it out. Matt and I decided it would be best to take her to the urgent care. 

Matt stayed home with our other kids while I rushed her alone and terrified in the dark, throwing up in her carseat to the closest children’s urgent care! They gave her Zofran so her little body could have a break from throwing up and after a little monitoring I was able to take her back home. I watched her like a hawk all night. Vivian nursed well and slept normally. 

I took Vivi ASAP to an allergist where she got a skin test done to see if it was in fact an allergic reaction. The results came back that she is allergic to dairy, peanuts and avocado. 

I’ve been nervous to start up solids again after her allergic reaction, but I’m relieved to have some answers and to slowly start trying new foods. We also now have an epipen! 

When I gave her her first taste of food since her episode she wouldn’t even open her mouth as if she remembered what had happened. Vivi has slowly started getting better about foods and prefers to feed herself which is obviously messy, but whatever works, right?! 

So far she has had oatmeal, apple, spinach, egg, sweet potato, banana, strawberry and kale. 

If I had to say one was her favorite I’d go with sweet potato, but she really makes a yuck face for all of them haha. 

Obviously, Vivian being allergic to dairy isn’t ideal especially the closer she gets to a year when most babies switch from breastmilk/formula to cows milks, but I’ve done some research and think I might just keep nursing her throughout her second year when having cows milk won’t be so important. Really I’ll just cross that bridge when it comes. Other nondairy options are oat milk or almond! 

Also, I’d like to mention I had been having dairy during my pregnancy and since she was born while nursing without any issues! I’ve also had peanut butter at first we thought that might be the cause to her eczema, but after eliminating dairy and peanuts from my diet for a few weeks I haven’t seen that much of a change so I don’t know if I’ll avoid it any longer. 

Vivian had her first road trip this past week and her first beach trip! She was really good in the car considering she hasn’t been in it much since we don’t ever go anywhere. 

She’s such a sweetheart and lights up when she gets any attention from her siblings. 

Vivian loves being held, grabbing at everything, sitting, being in the carrier, rolling right out of tummy time, jolly jumper, baths and nursing. 

Vivian at 6 Months Old

You can find Rose’s six month update here and Trent’s six month update here

You’d think by baby number six I’d know by now, but my gosh babies grow fast! I feel like these past six months have flown by some where between the sleepless nights and the long days at home time has snuck by.

As hard as it is right now in the world I’m so thankful to be home with my family and enjoy all of these special moments together. I don’t have to be sad that Matt has missed her first roll or laugh, he’s been there for it all and so have all five of Vivian’s siblings and it’s been such a joy, she’s been a joy and our light during this hard time!

Vivian now rolls right out of tummy time! She’s not a fan of being on her tummy and never has been. Vivi can sit unassisted for few minutes.

As for eating this month she has gotten so distracted while nursing Vivian will whip her head around to any sound and just about take my nipple off with it. Ouch!

Last week we gave Vivian her first taste of real food. It was a mashed up slice of avocado mixed with breastmilk, she loved it! I have also given her some spinach purée that I made. I’m hoping to introduce more in the coming weeks, but I’m also in no rush! 

Vivian's schedule looks similar to this everyday:

6am wake up

8am-9am nap

11am-12pm nap

2pm-330pm nap

6pm bedtime

2 wake ups

Nurses around 8 times in 24 hours!

A few of Vivi's favorite toys are:

Haakaa Silicone Toothbrush

Baby Paper

Skip Hop Activity Center

BabyBjorn Bouncer and Toy Bar

Vivian has developed some pretty bad eczema this past month mostly on her stomach. I’m still trying different products to help it nothing has been a miracle cream yet. I’ve tried all of these and they work well for just normal dry winter sensitive skin, but none have cleared up her awful eczema.

Vivian loves to be held, cuddled, baths, nursing, bouncing, grabbing things, watching her siblings. Whenever I pick up Vivi from her crib she always rubs her face into my neck, it’s so sweet.

Dislikes, the car (the few rides she been in it she’s screamed), pacifiers, tummy time, being awake for longer than two hours during the day.

Weight: A little over 15lbs 

Hair: Light brown with a few golden strands 

Eyes: Hazel 

Here’s to hoping these next six months go slower than the past six and are spent more outside!

Rose and Vivian both at half a year!!! I don't think they look much alike in my opinion Vivi looks most like Landon and Trent. What do you think?

Ohhhh TWO-ODLES

Brooks is TWO!!! We celebrated our big boy at home with our family this past Monday! 

When I look back at Brooks’ second year of life I get sad thinking of all the fun things our other kids were able to experience at his age like Gymboree play group, music class, playgrounds, splash pads, petting zoos, shopping, eating out, daily walks, aquariums etc.

March 2020- Announcing pregnancy 

When things started shutting down around his first birthday he had yet to take his first steps, once he was able to start walking I was put on moderate bedrest (high risk pregnancy) and we were very busy with virtual learning.

April 2020- Easter egg hunt at home 

Brooks has been confined to just the walls of our house and hasn’t been around anyone besides us (and the few times he’s seen my parents in person.) We were so happy to be able to enjoy a week long beach trip in June with my parents and that was one of the highlights of the year, but welcoming baby Vivian was definitely #1 for 2020!!!

June 2020- Bethany Beach

Luckily, Brooks doesn’t know what he is missing out on though it still makes me sad and worried for his stranger anxiety when things eventually get better.

July 2020- Bedrest wasn't that bad when I got to cuddle these cuties

A big recent change for Brooks is about two months ago we transitioned him into a big boy bed from his crib. He has done so well and stays in his bed until we come get him after nap time and in the morning!

August 2020- Big Brother Brooks! 

At two years old Brooks is such a sweet big brother and enjoys holding “baby.” He loves playing with his big siblings (when they aren’t doing virtual school in the kitchen.) We are down to one nap a day for around two hours.

He is loud! That’s the only way to put it, Brooks has no inside voice and I’m always worried he will wake Vivian up. He can link five words, enjoys coloring, baths, books, running up and down the hall, making food in his pretend kitchen, puzzles and Mickey Mouse!

October 2020- Halloween 
(The kids dressed up, but we didn't actually go trick or treating this year and decided to stay at home.)

Brooks is such a little actor and loves to fall over and yell “help me, help me” or "ouch, boo boo" until someone asks if he’s okay. He is also really grossed out by strings, fuzz and hair. He will point and yell “ew, ew, ew GROSSSS!” Until someone gets it off him or the floor. Another thing Brooks likes to do is yell “ROARRR” and pretend he is a dinosaur.

Brooks likes to eat pico de gallo, kiwi, blueberries, apples, bananas and mac and cheese specifically from Chic Fil A. He twirls his hair to fall asleep in result his hair is thinning in that area. We are going to start to work on potty training in the coming weeks. I feel like Brooks has a general idea about the potty, but it will probably take some time for him to really get the hang of it. At least we have nowhere to be!

Happy 2nd Birthday Brooks! We love you so much!!

Rose at 2 years old

Vivian at 5 Months Old

What a month it’s been! Our sweet little Vivian Grace is now 5 months old. Right around 4 months her sleep schedule changed. Vivi went from waking once a night (bed at 8, wake up around 1 and then back down until 6ish) to waking every 2 hours and some nights even worse! I blame the four month sleep regression. We tried swaddling her, unswaddling her, sound machine, no sound machine, bath before bed, bottle (total fail), paci (another fail) and so much more. After weeks and weeks of very little to no sleep I can finally say we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Vivian wakes twice a night to nurse and goes right back to sleep! 

Since coming home the excitement of Vivian has calmed down some from the kids. I think it’s because they’re with her all the time since we have all been home for a whole year come March. We have our four

oldest (9,8,7 and 5 years old) doing elementary school on the computer. 

Also, Brooks who will be two next month is at such a fun age where the kids are constantly laughing at what he says and does. 

Vivian was born at 36 weeks and 1 day due to preterm labor. At only 4lbs 10oz she was tiny, but mighty! I’m so thankful she had no nicu time. If you have had your baby spend time in the nicu you know how hard it is mentally and physically. I’ve unfortunately had to experience it four out of six times.

Like I mentioned above she was only 4lbs 10oz at birth and now is around 14lbs! Just like her big sister Rose she won’t take the bottle or a pacifier. All that weight gain has been from me and I’m proud of that. Breastfeeding is exhausting as it is, breastfeeding a baby who won’t take a bottle is so much pressure, but things are going well. I feed Vivian on demand and when I record it she usually eats 9 or 10 times in a 24 hour period. Bedtime for Vivian is around 7pm and she will wake up anywhere between 10pm-12am to nurse then again anywhere between 2am-4am then goes back to sleep to 6am or 7am. 

As for personality she’s such a sweetheart so pure and precious. We all adore her so much! Vivian loves to watch her siblings and if she’s on my hip and they’re talking to me she will smile so big and giggle. Vivian loves nursing obviously, baths, being held, gentle face kisses all over almost always guarantees smiles, sitting up (with help) and standing (with help.) Dislikes include, having her nose suctioned, not being held, tummy time, the wind.

This month has brought a lot of drool!!! Vivian loves to suck on her hands and become a huge wet mess. We do our best to remember a bib, but end up usually just changing her outfit 100 times a day, 

At her four month well check up her pediatrician said we could start solids, but we decided to hold off until she’s 6+ months. I feel no rush this time. 

We love our Vivi girl so much she brings so much joy to our day! 

G.H.Hurt Shawl

 I received this gorgeous shawl from G.H.Hurt & Son and I wanted to share a little more about the company that is based in the city of Nottingham in the UK. Since 1912 they have been creating unique and luxury clothing accessories that have been featured on many including when Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry’s son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was introduced into the world he was wrapped in their ivory white leaves and flowers baby shawl. The tradition actually began with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip when they swaddled Prince Charles in a blanket from G.H. Hurt & Son's! I brought ours to the hospital and got so many compliments! I highly encourage anyone who is expecting to consider buying one of these gorgeous shawls it will be cherished for my years as I know ours will be.