Violet - 2 months

Weight - 12 pounds 11.5 ounces

Length - 24 inches

Head Circumference - 15.5 inches

Dear Violet, 

We are having so much fun watching you grow as an infant. Technically, they say you are an infant until you are three months old but I think you are already turning into our little baby. Not only have we stopped using the infant sling in your bath but you are also beginning to be too long for some of the footed onesies we have for you. I don't know why they are labeled 0-3 months. 

Since our last update we moved you into your own room. We did that when you were six weeks old which may or may not have been the best timing. The first night you slept like you always did (8-10pm, 11:30-3:30am, 4-6), then your six week growth spurt from hell hit. We spent four nights of the next week hanging out with you every hour during the night. Thankfully this only lasted one week and then on March 30th you blessed us with your first 6 hour stretch of sleep. Now if only we could get you to surprise us with that a few more times a month! Right now you are sleeping a long stretch at the beginning of the night (4-5 hours) followed up by a couple of 3 hour stretches. Then you usually join us in bed sometime after 4am and sleep until we get up.

In the last month we also survived our first all girls weekend while Daddy was in Vegas. It actually was a lot easier then I thought it would be and it helped us figure out a little routine for you. Since that weekend we've been putting you to bed at 7pm every night. Daddy comes home from work at 6 and you two hang out while he completes the bedtime routine - change diaper, pajamas, swaddle, cuddle and nurse. During the day we have also been following the EASY routine as opposed to a schedule. This way you know that eating is followed by activity and then sleep. I think it's helped both of us make the days easier since your growth spurt.

During the day we have been enjoying your awake periods after you eat. Thankfully they are getting longer (45-60 minutes sometimes even a bit longer if you're in a really good mood) and we are able to play with you and see your little personality. You've started smiling and you also started showing interest in the books we read with you. I was so excited when you started smiling at me and only a little disappointed when you followed this up with a smiling session at the wall. Also, when we facetime with those we love you have started to show some interest in looking at the screen.

Physically we've also seen some changes in you over the last month. Obviously you are still eating well as you continue to gain weight like a champion. Your arms and legs are beginning to thicken up and your little thighs are showing the hint of rolls. Week 5 you developed a bad case of baby acne across your cheeks, chin, behind your ears and on the back of your neck. That only lasted 10 days or so and you were back to your normal beautiful baby skin. You've also started to have tears when you cry which almost broke my heart the first time I saw them. Thanks to your interest in the world you have also developed a bald spot on the back of your head. I'm not sure how we're supposed to let that hair grow back if you are constantly turning your head back and forth while lying in your crib and sitting in the ergo carrier or baby bjorn.

In the next month we're hoping that you will start to make more sounds and "talk" on purpose. I'm also looking forward to you showing interest in more of your toys and perhaps even enjoying some of the tummy time we do together. Regardless of what you are doing I really hope you are still our healthy little girl who is interested in the world.

Love,
Your Mom and Dad

Weekend Visitor

This past weekend our good friend Jennifer came to visit. She and I used to work together at WIC in San Diego. Coincidentally we both moved away from San Diego around the same time - she went to Wisconsin, we came to Vermont. The first time I had seen her since San Diego was when Marc and I went to Green Bay last December. Luckily this year not only did she come visit us but we will see her again at her wedding in June.  

Having a friend visit was the perfect excuse for us to get out and visit some of the places we have been meaning to go to. First on the list was showing Jennifer our maple syrup making process. So we put her to work on Saturday morning and had her help us bring in the sap from the maple trees. After that we decided to finally explore the trail across the street from our house. On our hike we were able to see more of the river that runs under our driveway, a waterfall that was partially frozen and this tree.

After our hike we drove up to South Royalton to try out Worthy Burger. I had heard about it when it opened a little while back and Marc's coworkers have all been raving about it but we had yet to make the time to visit. It is a craft beer and burger bar located in the old freight house right along the railroad tracks. We took advantage of the warm weather and sat in the sunny outside dining room. The sunshine combined with the wood stove in the enclosed porch meant that Violet could kick her socks off and I could sit there in my tank top. It was gorgeous and the food was delicious! I especially liked their pickled green beans and pesto mayonnaise.

Speaking of Violet, I had been saving the giraffe print onesie (a hand-me-down from Violet's cousin Josie) for Jennifer's visit because I knew she would appreciate the pattern and it would give me an excuse to squeeze a headband on our little girl (Marc's not the biggest fan). Little did I know that I would finally get the opportunity to also catch a smile on film. I think we're going to have to convince Marc that headbands are okay to use. 

On Sunday we headed down to Windsor for lunch at the Harpoon brewery. Afterwards we stopped by the sustainable farmer, which is located next door. They often have weekend events that I've always been meaning to go to. Specifically I have been wanting to go to their mozzarella making class or experience one of their beer and cheese tastings. Unfortunately neither of those were happening on Sunday but we did sample quite a few cheeses and came away with a jar of maple butter. Afterwards we drove into Windsor to drive across the covered bridge. 

I'm not exactly sure what we were doing in the above picture but we might have been yelling "bridge"! Regardless it's obvious we were having fun together. On Monday my amazing husband offered to stay home with Violet and a bottle of expressed breast milk so that Jen and I could enjoy a leisurely brunch together. On Marc's suggestion we headed to Four Aces Diner so I could finally have the Eggs Benedict I had been looking forward to during my pregnancy. The diner did not disappoint. Sadly, after brunch Jennifer had to hit the road to make it back to Manchester in time to catch her flight back to Wisconsin.

I had such a great weekend exploring new sights and hanging out with a good friend. I am also really glad that Violet got to meet Jennifer before Jen's wedding, as I'm sure that weekend is going to be very busy! It was the perfect preview of spring and a reminder that despite having a newborn we can still have a great weekend out and about.