Hot child in the city

Nearly every day I am going back and forth between sobbing into a size newborn diaper and swaddling blanket and being completely marveled by my growing tiny human. It's a conundrum I must say.

She explores, she walks, she runs, she waddles, she sways, she to- and fros-. I am amazed by this little person who is developing before my eyes. It's one of those things that stops your heart and widens your eyes. 

But every once in a while, she looks around to find me. She gives me a wave and makes sure that I am near. For as much as she is developing her independence, she still needs her mama. It's a good thing that I am planning on bunking with her in her college dorm.

I mean it about moving away to college with her. 

It’s Spring, she’s sprung

There’s nothing like a little sunshine, a set of overalls, and beautiful baby chub.

This girl has mastered the eyebrow raise. 

Baby Emma | Eleven Months

The butterball turned eleven months old yesterday. Elevensies!

I finally bought some party decorations for her first birthday. Now I actually have to invite people. I suck at this stuff. If you are in SF during her party, you’re invited! Spread the word. 

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This girl is walking everywhere. EV. REE. WHURR. It is pretty cool actually. You know, besides the intensified worrying that she’s going to walk off a cliff or into a lion’s den. It could happen. 

So we have been having great conversations with Emma lately. We ask her if she’s hungry, she shakes her head “no”. I ask her if she’s tired, she shakes her head “no”. We ask her if she wants to play with her toys, she shakes her head “no”. Really deep stuff.

It’s amazing watching the little personality emerging from this one lately. She shows us her excitement and gives us little screeches of delight. I am pretty sure she thinks she’s running the country. 

Currently we are on the tail end of another little road trip to visit our families. Of course, she has them all wrapped around her little fingers. And by wrapped, I mean chained, straight-jacketed, and duct taped. Even Chris Angel wouldn’t be able to get out of that one.

Emma is also quite the little daredevil. She regularly slides off the bed, climbs over obstacles, squeezes through tights spaces, and sky dives. I don’t even know what to expect day to day. It’s frightening fascinating.

We have also moved to exclusive breastfeeding at night and formula during the day. I cannot tell you what a weight has been lifted off my shoulders that I no longer breast pump during the day. I was barely making enough to make a dent in her daytime feeding anyway. Having our snuggle time in the evenings is good enough for both of us. 

Okay, I am having some serious trouble with the realization that she will be one year old in one month. I am dying. Where is my baby going? She prances around the apartment and completely looks like a toddler. Is this real life? If you hear any sobs in the coming month, it’s probably me crying into a pile of baby photos and newborn sized diapers.

I know, I’m a mess. 

On to photos.

I swear. She’s going to be a heartbreaker.

Now we are off to celebrate Paul’s birthday today!

As always, check us out on Instagram and get all your Emma updates here.

Struggle, juggle, then snuggle

The post formerly known as On life, lately.

Okay, I know your eyes are darting back and forth looking for the exit, but I promise, you’ll survive. 

This has been a busy couple weeks at the Wetterholm headquarters. If you follow me on FB, the grammage, or the twittersphere you’ll have caught a whiff of my screaming, crying, tantrum-throwing, complaining about Emma’s teething. Well my friends, she finally cut her first tooth! I know there is another one following suit any day now because the teething symptoms haven’t completely stopped. Oh joy. How I love 2 am screaming sessions, they are my favorite. It’s a party here at HQ.

Emma has decided that she will have no part in staying in one place and would rather watch me pluck my eyebrows than play with her mountain of fancy toys. Go figure. If that means plopping her in her high chair while I chop, stir, and over-salt my food, then so be it. If that means letting her roam around the apartment with my hawk eyes zoomed in on her, then God speed warrior princess.

Now that her tooth has peaked its razor sharp head through, we are on to brushing every day. It’s a good thing she doesn’t mind the toothbrush because Samantha tiger mom will be having no cavities for all of ever.

Grace snapped this gem. Now if only only she could change her own diaper.

A little bit on teething. One, it sucks. Like seriously? I hate teeth a little bit right now. It’s a good thing teeth are my chosen profession, right? Two, the only thing that seems to help is her new amber teething necklace. Praise the Lord. 

Paul and I have been busy at our respective jobs so squeezing in our Emma time in the evenings has been crucial. Because she’s only good for about 43 minutes between when we pick her up from daycare and when she starts pterodactyl screaming with teething and general night time fussies.

One of our favorite parts of our night time routine is reading. I have practically memorized all of her books. But the best part is that I can tell she wishes she was the one holding the book and reading herself. (#gloatingmom) She even knows which way is up and which is down. The consensus is, she’s a genius. I am not biased at all. Moving on. 

One hand for holding, one hand for turning pages, and one foot for holding. Sounds about right.

This animal book is a favorite around these parts. She has decided that this rooster is her spirit animal.

Lately, I think that Emma is trying to emulate us by…

…sitting on the couch. 

This is a mini couch at her daycare and all you need is a cup of coffee and a macbook and she’d be the spittin’ image of her momma…which has promptly urged me to get outside more. Emma and I have been playing on our little plot of grass by my apartment. She stares at it for a good 17 hours before she ventures out on foot. Apparently grass is synonymous with lava.

I think she’s pointing to higher ground.

My friend’s instant reaction was paddington the bear, so I think we are doing something right. 

She only took her hat off 43 zillion times before I just gave up and called it a day. She was also insistent on eating grass so fiber right? Besides this look of deep confusion, she has been enjoying the grand old outdoors. And by outdoors I mean 12 steps from the entrance to our building. Aww, my little city mouse. 

Can I just say? I will never be as cool as she is. She’s got that James Dean, daydream look in her eyes.

There are about five things she zeros in on in our apartment. One, her hairbrush. Two, the refrigerator magnets. Three, the bag of chewy sprees. Four, the kitchen trashcan. And five, the tv remote. None of these things are toys Emma. Get with it woman. 

Speaking of non-toys, cardboard boxes are all the rage this year. And every year. However, she drew the line at letting me shut the lid and urging her to take a nap.

Darn. 

Any who, that’s just a little snippit into our lives lately. Just a peak. A snoop. A whiff. 

Ew.

The Wetterholm trio is going on a road trip to visit our families tomorrow because, SPRING BREAK. I am going to take advantage of the Emma worship sessions and put my feet up for longer than two minutes. Living large.

It must be so hard to be a baby. Excuse me while I squish those thunder thighs. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram for trip updates and general baby face delivered straight to your eyeballs. 

Have a great week friends! 

Awkward and awesome

AWKWARD

- Coming to terms with the fact that I never read the Terms of Service of anything before I accept. It’s going to come back to bite me in the butt one day.

- The stinking no sleep, post daylight savings time, time change punch in the face. As much as I love that extra sunlight, I do not love the constant feeling of grogginess. My cooling eye mask has had quite the workout lately trying to carry these eye bags.

- Not being able to pry my still-attached head hair out of the talons of my charge. She has an iron grip. Tears have been shed trying to de-clamp my hair. My tears, not hers.

- Having serious angry feelings about my lack-luster nursing bras. Can Victoria please make some of those angel bras in those sassy colors for the mommy section?

- “Oh you’re a full-time student and you have a baby? But who watches her during the day? Oh daycare? Oh.” Yes, because heaven forbid a young couple utilize the magic that is daycare. Can we all stop judging everyone else’s childcare situations. Stay-at-home moms rock! Stay-at-home dads rock! Working parents rock! Families helping watch the little ones rock! That is all. #endrant

AWESOME

- NOT studying for boards this past weekend because that ship has SAILED. Yes, I am done with boards and I happy-danced all the way to my bed where I napped for 47 years.

- I am still dreaming about our delicious trip to that castle winery. We definitely will be heading back this spring. Slurp.

- Watching Emma’s problem solving skills. Her newest trick is scooting to the edge of the bed, rolling on her tummy with her feet dangling off the bed, gripping the comforter, and slowly sliding off the edge and landing on her feet. She then proceeds to walk out the bedroom door like she owns the planet. Ten months old, guys. TEN MONTHS.

- Blue Apron deliveries.

- Listening to Paul give Emma a bath while she plays for a good 30 minutes. They have more fun than two kids on splash mountain.