First day of Daycare

So I guess this title is a little misleading because Mak's first day of  real daycare was actually back in August and since then she has gone a couple more times. (She's been babysat a few hours here and there with family and friends ever since she was itty bitty).

We are fortunate to live only a 3 minute drive from the daycare. In fact, if I stand in my driveway I can actually see the building from my house!

The daycare offers hourly care so it is perfect for what I need it for....dropping her off when I have meetings or appointments or heck, if I just want to get a pedicure.

I like the daycare and feel comfortable leaving my little girl there. There are several adults in the room at all times, and cameras running 24/7. They give me a sheet upon picking her up that details every diaper check, every bottle and every nap. They also give me verbal updates when I pick her up, which is sweet.

If a child takes formula, they offer several kinds that they supply for you. Since Mak is a breastmilk girl, we just bring labeled/dated bottles of breastmilk for her.  They also offer age appropriate food for your kiddo if you're interested. All included in your hourly charge.

Before I took her the first time they told me I have to label EVERYTHING of hers. So I put together a "daycare diaper bag" and labeled her bottles, her pacifier chain, and her clothes.

After I picked her up, I saw they had also labeled her LOL. Guess I didn't know she was included in the "everything."

By golly, gotta label that baby!

The first time I took her she did GREAT, but this most recent time she struggled a little. She's been a bit of a mama's girl lately, so she didn't like mama leaving her. But I have decided that daycare is good for her and for me. I like that she gets used to being around other adults and children alike.

After I picked her up last time she was "talking" much more than usual. I like to think she gave me a run down of her day. She gets to socialize and see how other babies and adults work, which is great. The added bonus is I get some time to do my own thing.

The plan is to start taking her at least one day a week for 2-3 hours. Independent woman, holla.

Let's go to the beach, each, let's go get away...

Guess who went on a mini-road trip to Panama City Beach?!

That's right, we did. One perk of our new location is that we are only 2 hours from some gorgeous white-sandy beaches.

Truth be told, I'd been feeling a little burnt out on the 'bama. Life was feeling a little repetitive and this is exactly what we needed to spice it up. The fact that baby girl actually slept in the car for the first time in a long time really sweetened the road trip deal. 

The hotel we stayed at was family friendly, but there weren't many kids around being that most schools down here are already back in session....jackpot. 

The weather was picture perfect and comfortable, and this is coming from the girl that gets moody in the heat. We enjoyed hanging out by the pool and taking Mak for a swim. The child loves to kick kick kick, I could see her little diaper butt going up and down all the way from the other end of the pool. 

Did I mention we started out the stay with some free drink coupons? Of course Mak came prepared with her own special cocktail. 

As per usual, we stuffed our faces and then asked each other whyyyyyy we allowed ourselves to overeat again. But in the heat of the moment, countless shrimp and crab legs are impossible to turn down. We've all been there, am I right?

We enjoyed a walk along the beach before bed. The sand was heavenly. Like the kind you can actually go barefoot on without cutting your feet on rocks and shells.

At night the resort also put on some fun shows. There was a magician, there was a hula dancing show (the cutest hula girl is pictured below) and right before bed time they even brought out a huge outdoor movie screen and played a movie poolside.

In the morning we got up early (no need for an alarm clock when you've got a baby that is hungry every few hours...) and went down to the beach to take a dip in the gulf, and contraire to what the picture looks like below it was NOT a skinny dip, haha.

The little girl loved having her toes in the water, ass in the sand piggies in the sand, and she loved going in the Gulf, however, she did NOT like standing on the shore and having the water pull the sand away from under her feet. Gotta draw the line somewhere. Sheesh. 

After hanging at the beach, we got some yummy breakfast and some of us took naps. Not going to name any names....

Then, I went and got a massage, a lovely much-appreciated birthday present from the hubs. It was just what I needed and daddy and daughter got some one on one time at the pool that ended like this...

We didn't want to leave. I must admit, the south is growing on me. This was a great overnight trip that I hope we can do again soon. We've heard great things about the beaches in Destin and want to check those out as well. 

And I would like to end with a little PSA if you will. I'm going to have to assume that second to last bullet point had to be added after some sort of "incident." I have no words. 

Busy body baby

This little girl is forever on the go lately. She always wants to be doing something (she gets it from her daddy). Oh to have that energy...

By noon we've already played in her activity center, spent time on her playmat, played with toys and the dogs during tummy time, gone on a walk and helped with chores. 

After all that, I usually panic for a moment and wonder to myself how I'm ever going to keep her occupied for the rest of the day...thank goodness for naps, story time, bath time and days at the pool. 

Just the other day she scooted herself (backwards) across the entire living room and ended up under that table. It was hilarious peeking at her through the glass.

We also can't get enough of pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo.

All in a day's fun my friends!

First Freckle!

I spy with my little eye someone's first freckle....

It's difficult to see in the photo, but it's real and it's there...right below her arm crease. When I first noticed it I thought I had spilled food on her, and I tried to wipe it away....oops.

I'm sure there will be more to come. She has her fair-skinned, freckle-face parents to thank for that. 

I've already got my eye on these freckle-related items for the princess girl. Who doesn't love a little freckled cutie?

Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore

A girl without freckles is like a night without stars <3

It's Friday, Friday....gotta get down on Friday

Makaela has been into "singing" lately. Depending on the situation she sings different "songs." Clearly this is her pumped-for-the-weekend song. What a voice, hahah. 

She also does a little lullaby type "mmm mmm mmm" song before bed. It is darling. 

Move over Rebecca Black.

You're welcome. I know you missed having that phenomenal jingle stuck in your head. 

Apparently Moms Don't Need Sleep

Hi, my name is Makaela and for the past two weeks I like to wake up every hour during the night.

Napping? Ain't nobody got time for that. During the day I go hard. I rock that activity center like it's my J-O-B.

I heard a lot of 4 month olds go through this thing called 4 month sleep regression, so I figured I'd hop on that train. Toot toot.

What's that you say? My mama is tired? No way. Moms don't need sleep.

Oh and see that face I'm making in the picture above? Yeah, I just peed all over my changing table. Take that mama!

Love triangle

For anyone who may be having a case of the Mondays hopefully this video will make you smile. Warning: It is REALLY shaky, the good stuff is the audio :-)

Makaela has her first boyfriend....and he is of the K9 variety. I catch those two swapping spit multiple times a day. They border on inappropriate. Like that couple in HS that is always making out in the hall. Eww.

Taylor is a little jealous of this new romance, but CLEARLY Makaela is in love with her too. It's a bit of a love triangle. Makaela pets lovingly grabs fist-fulls of their fur and they lick her toes, hands and face. Excessively.

I'm quite certain that she will say "Rocky" or "Tay-Tay" before she says "Dada" or "Mama." The girl is IN LOVE. She gets the biggest smile on her face watching these weirdos frolic around the house...which brings the biggest smile to my face.

4 month well baby check

Makaela had her 4 month well baby check up on Tuesday. She is growing into a big, strong girl. She weighed in at 15.7 lbs (82th percentile) and 26 inches (95th percentile) and she had a check in the right box for all the major developmental milestones they look for. Ain't no stoppin' her.

This was our first time at our new clinic and things went well. Everyone was very friendly. I'm sure the TRUE test of how happy we are with the facility will be when Mak is actually sick....which we hope doesn't happen for a verrrrrry long time.

Big girl got 4 shots and an oral vaccine. She loved the medicine in her mouth, and of course was SUCH a helper and held onto the nurse's hands to guide it into her mouth. Can't trust those nurses....gotta take things into our own hands. What a little control freak.

She cried for about 30 seconds after the shots....then she transitioned to sniffles and the pouty lip...then once the nurse told her she did a good job she shot her a smile. Phew.



The nurse advised that she would probably be extra sleepy (which sounded good to me at the time) and maybe a little fussy. She was right. Mak seemed a bit restless for two days and felt warm to me, however, every time I checked her temperature it was nothing to worry about (of course I was convinced the thermometer was broken the first 3 times). She just needed lots of extra snuggles and attention. I didn't mind tucking away my to-do list to love on her. I still can't wait till the day when I can take her to get ice cream after her shots, like my mom used to always do with me. Ice cream makes almost anything better.

This video was taken the day before the doctor visit. So sweet and unsuspecting. I feel evil!

First Pedicure!

Twinsies!

I painted Makaela's toes for the very first time today. Of course we had to go with hot pink. Look at those painted piggies....don't you just want to eat them up?!

And let me say it was easier said than done. You know the girl is a wiggle worm. This is how they looked at first...LOL...

Amazing right? Hahah. It was pretty cute seeing her face once she noticed the pink on her toes. After she woke up from a nap she stared at them and reached for them with a perplexed "what the whatttt" look on her face.

Can't wait to see what daddy thinks when we get to see him briefly tomorrow!