Tuesday, December 29, 2009

New Bedding!

Evan and I have decided to use our christmas money to purchase new bedding. I want our bedroom to be funky/eclectic/semi-formal. I believe I know which bedding I'm going to go with but I thought I would poll the audience and see what the viewers think. :).... ( I do realize my taste may be very different for some of you)

I will post a poll off to the side.

Bedding Choice 1.) I believe this one is my favorite. When I was looking for choice #2 I ran across it and loved it. If I were to purchase this one, I would paint our bedroom to match the green on the border of the pillows. It also reminds me of a cute boutique in "Old Town Spring" - I would also include antique mirrors/ empty frames/ branches etc. What I also love about this one is it puts me out of my comfort zone and incorporates new colors into our home.

Bedding Choice 2.)
I like #2 for many of the same reasons as #1, but my only hang up is it looks very similar to our guest bedroom bedding and is a little safe for me.

Bedding Choice 3.)
This one is my least favorite, but I love this room and its decor!!... The bedding is a tad more modern then I would like, but paired with the color of the room and the decor - I'm sold! I wouldn't mind putting this set on a guest bed.

Christmas!

Audrey's First ChristmasWith being out of town Dec. 19- 27th Evan and I decided to have our "own" family Christmas before we left on our journey across Texas. We discussed traditions we would like to continue each year such as letting our children open one gift on Christmas Eve.


Audrey's gift first gift was a pair of toy keys!


For dinner Evan and I had blue cheese burgers, chips, queso, guacamole, and grilled stuffed jalapenos.


Audrey's cookies for Santa
which he enjoyed thoroughly ;)


Audrey's goodies from Santa - Her big gift was a new car seat (not pictured)


Christmas morning!!

Stay tuned for more pictures from our Christmas in Dallas, Amarillo, and Lubbock. Yes, we did get stuck in the 287 traffic through Wichita Falls on Christmas Day, but thankfully it only took us 10 hours (normally 6) because we turned around and used our navigation system to bypass the city. It was awful!! Needless to say the car ride was pretty tense, but Evan did a great job and the Lord blessed us with safe travel to Dallas.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christmas Wreaths!


I'm a faithful blog stalker of Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour

http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2009/11/ornament-wreath-101.html

and the other morning I saw this post and knew I had to make a wreath! I showed Sandra and she agreed!... We got together and made some fabulous wreaths. Then Sandra got the idea to make letters!! ... She helped me make this precious "A" that will be apart of the decor for Audrey's First Birthday.

Enjoy!!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Our blog is going private!


After much prayer and a good conversation with my best friend I have decided to go private. I feel like going private would keep me accountable to my intentions behind blogging in the first place. I have definitely struggled with comparison when it comes to reading blogs and blogging. Some of the blogs that I read have lives that look rather "perfect". I admit, I have wanted portray this image on my blog as well, but this is definitely not my heart. My hopes for our blog is for it to be a documentation of how Audrey is growing, how our family is changing, and the exciting things we are up to these days.



If you would like to keep reading please send me an e-mail at nicole.gooch@gmail.com or leave a message with your e-mail so that I may send you an invite.



I am definitely a blog stalker myself and am not opposed to adding someone that I don't "know", but would love to know how you found our blog!

Here is a picture of Audrey and Annabelle (My best friend Jennifer's little girl who is 3 months) ... Audrey is 8 months old in this picture!! She is growing up so fast! I apologize for the white space my parents scanner/computer is not working.


Monday, July 13, 2009

3 months old


I know I'm a little late but here is what Audrey is up to these days:

  • She is sleeping 10-11 hrs at night and has just recently progressed to a 4 hour schedule. (Babywise)

  • She is now taking 3 naps a day and is taking 4 5-8 1/2oz bottles of breastmilk a day.

  • She is still sleeping swaddled and I think I'm going to continue this for another month and see she can sleep unswaddled at 4 months. She is still waking herself up when she gets her arms out. I've heard the Miracle Blanket works wonders - any feedback? But, I honestly would love to dress her in cute jammies and have her not be swaddled. :) She is still sleeping in "sleep shirts" and we are still swaddling with hospital blankets.
  • Audrey is talking up a storm and smiling constantly. Evan and I love it! She is very interactive and such a sweet joy to be around.
  • She can roll from her stomach to her back. She is also rolling from her back to her side and will also use her feet to scoot across the floor when laying on her back.
  • Audrey will begin cereal at 4 months! I'm so excited!
  • She is not enjoying her carseat these days. Our trip to Dallas was a rough one, we even left super early in the morning. I am hoping she will grow out of this, soon.
Audrey attended her first wedding, went swimming and will take her first flight here in a couple of weeks.

I recently finished reading Babywise II, I highly recommend it! I even enjoyed it more then the first book.

We love you sweet Audrey! You are such a joy!

Giveaway!

Head on over to "The Links" site for a Giveaway! She is celebrating her fabulous new look given by Fabulous K - another favorite of mine! I hoping to get a blog makeover in October for my Bday, but possibly sooner!

Check it out!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

These are a few of my favorite things....

Here are just some my favorites that I couldn't live without for the first 3 months....


1) Babywise - need I say more? Amazing book that has helped Audrey to sleep sleep sleep. She slept 8 1/2 hours for the first time at 5 weeks. After that milestone I was only getting up once a night to feed her. Since 2 months she has slept 8-10 hours a night and she is now working her way to 11 hrs. Some may have objections to putting your baby on a schedule, but it has made a world of difference in our house. I plan to continue on with Babywise 2, Todderwise, etc. I also believe that through this method Audrey has also become more independent and can play by herself for long periods of time. She is the happiest just laying down on her playmat or on just a blanket kicking her legs. She also can put herself to sleep now. I don't have to worry about rocking her, though sometimes I do it just so we can have that time together. For more help and info on using babywise check out : http://babywisemom.blogspot.com/

2) The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD - and I stress DVD! I am not one for reading and feel that watching the DVD is more effective in understanding the methods and seeing them demonstrated. We watched this DVD the day we came home the hospital and have been using the methods ever since. The DVD demonstrates the 5 S's on how to soothe your baby. Evan and I tell all of our friends about this DVD and have even given it as a gift! It is a winner and has boosted this new mom's confidence completely! (This is where we also learned how to swaddle Audrey the correct way)

3) MAM Pacifiers - Audrey did not take a pacifier when we first got home from the hospital. So after about a month I tried again and she seemed to really like the "old fashioned" kind of pacifier, the one with the ring on the end. But, would only take it when she was content- not fussy. I really wanted to find a pacifier that she loved all the time. A friend told me that she had experienced the same problem and switched to the MAM pacifiers, after that her little girl was hooked. I tried it and sure enough - it worked! Audrey loves her pacifier and when she wakes up a little early in the morning before her waketime - I just give her back her pacifier and she goes right back to sleep, at times up to an hour or longer. (You can buy these at any grocery store or Target)

4) Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump - As many of you know, Audrey was a tonguetied baby which made nursing very difficult. To get relief from the pain, I would pump. I had a lot of anxiety about going back to BF so I just stuck with pumping and I love it! It works with our schedule and gives me the freedom I love with the peace of mind that Audrey is getting the best milk possible! This is the breast pump that I got and love! There are multiple cycles and suctions so you are able to find the right one for you. It only takes me 10 min to pump and I am getting up to 12 oz!

5) Baby Gund Playmat - This is the mat Audrey plays on daily. I am able to change out the items that hang down by switching out the green hooks. Hours of fun!

6) Bumbo Seat - Audrey just got one of these this weekend. She enjoys it, but only for about 5 -10 minutes. Though she loves the new perspective, she gets frustrated when she can't move her legs back and forth like she is used to doing on the floor.




7) Animal Baby Magazine - I first heard about this magazine through my mentor teacher whose son got these in the mail. He enjoyed checking the mailbox to find himself a little surprise each month. This magazine is for kids and is more like a book. It is made of cardstock and has precious stories about animals and fun interactive activities for kids. I have began reading these magazines to Audrey and she actually sits still and looks at the pictures. I am so excited that she is already enjoying a good story! I am hoping to get a new subscription for Audrey for Christmas (This would make a great gift for any little one)

8) So Thats what They're For - This book is too funny! It gives a lighthearted approach to BF and shares mounds of information that you may not be able to get from just the BF class. This book really sparked my passion for BFing. I recommend this book if you are on the fence about BFing - It definitely opened my eyes!

Well, I hope this list helps! Please give me your feedback and feel free to share your ideas with me! I would love to add more to this list!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Dress






I bought this dress off of Etsy for Audrey to wear to Jennifer's shower. She would have nothing to do with it! She cried when I put it on her. I tried again last weekend and she did the same thing. Ha! - This time I knew when I put the dress on her I had to take pictures because this maybe the last time she wears it. - It actually wasn't too painful for her and I got some sweet pics. I apologize for how dark they are.

Summer Smiles!






I know some of you are wondering what the little red spots are on Audrey's face. She has "stork bites" - also known as Nevus Simplex - The doctor says it goes away by 18 months and is fairly common.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Miss Audrey - 2 months old!

Sweet Sweet Audrey!

This month you have come alive! You smile all the time and are constantly cooing and "talking" to us as you play. Your Gigi and I recently discussed how you are not a baby who likes to be cuddled. Your favorite place to be is laying on a blanket kicking your legs or on your playmat batting at your toys. Your waketime is getting much longer. You are up anywhere from 45 minutes - 1 hr and 15 minutes. Each week it seems to get a bit longer. Yesterday was your 2 month check up, you now weigh 11 lbs 4 oz - 75 percentile - Your head (can't remember the measurements) - 50 percentile - and your length (can't remember measurements) 50 perecentile. I'm going to have the nurse write them down for me next time! She went super fast! Which was a good thing when it came to your shots. During the shots, I put my hands on your chest but closed my eyes. I did not want to see your expression. In less than15 seconds it was over and I gave you your bottle. You had no waketime and went right to sleep !

Dr. Pope said your are "snack feeding" and that I need to increase my time between feedings to allow you to take in more. You are now taking in 3-4 oz at each feeding - He says babies at this time are taking in around 6 oz even as much as 8! I'm a little nervous because you are sleeping 8-9 hours at night, but it will be nice to go longer in between feedings - which means less pumping for momma! :)

With you apart our lives now, it makes every event so much more fun! I love going to the grocery store, seeing grandparents, going outside etc. I keep telling your dad how much fun summer is now! I feel like a kid again and am experiencing life all over. Sweet Audrey you are such a little love. You have made being a mom such a joy! Your dad and I love you more than words can express!

So far this summer, Gigi has come to visit for 4 days, you have gone to Dallas for 5 days, and attended Jennifer's Baby Shower for Annabelle. This weekend your great grandparents are coming to see you from Lubbock!

This is my friend Angie from college holding Audrey! She was such a big help during the shower! By the way, I have to brag on her, she has lost 38 pounds on Weight Watchers and looks incredible!!!


Audrey had a rough time during the shower. She doesn't do well with tons of stimulation and being passed around. :( This picture was taken after she had missed 2 naps and finally fell asleep in my arms. Poor girl! She had the cutest dress on but it was quickly removed when all the fussiness started. After the shower was over, Audrey went back to her old self!

Jennifer's Kindergarten team from Groves welcoming Annabelle!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

An Update on Miss Audrey








Things I don't want to forget:

  • When Audrey drinks her bottle she makes the sweetest noises and moves her hands as if to say "Mommy this milk is so good, keep it coming" - She is definitely is a Gooch because she is already talking about her food :) She also begins to fuss when I take her bottle away to burp her

  • Audrey loves bath time with Daddy! She splashes in the water and looks around. We are so thankful the fussy bath times are a thing of the past!

  • Audrey is sleeping very well - I've been following Baby Wise since Audrey was born and it has helped out tremendously. She feeds every 2 1/2 hours - has wake time of about 40-50 minutes then sleeps till her next feeding. On her 5 week birthday she slept 8 1/2 hours! - But on average it is about 6-8 hours a night. Her last feeding is at 11:30 - Last night she slept from 11:30 - 5:30. I'm hoping the 5:30 will soon turn into 7

  • Her cry is no longer the "infant cry" if you know what I mean. It is more of a "talking cry". I love to listen to her on the monitor as she is waking up.

We have a busy summer of traveling and seeing friends and family! I can't wait! Summer has definitely become more special since Audrey was born.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Cousins!

Casey, Trichelle and Parker came to visit this weekend. We had a great time with them and was able to get some good pictures of the kids together. We all enjoyed the dynamics of having two children in the house - what fun it was!