Savannah at 11 Months Old

Weight: 16lbs 12.5oz (04/08/13) I was WAY off on my guess last month.
She was 17lbs on April 23rd when I took her to the doctor. Found out she had a double ear infection. Bless her heart! She was pitiful!

Height: Not sure

Diapers: Still in Size 3

Clothes: Mostly 9 months but she is starting to 

wear some 12 month outfits already.

Sleeping: Savannah had been sleeping through the night for a couple of months until last week when she got sick with the fever virus. That lasted for 6 days! Those nights she woke up 1-2 times because she just didn't feel well. Now that she is over the virus, she is having to relearn how to sleep through the night again. She wants me to come in there and comfort her and most of the time I do. I don't feed her usually but I do hold her for a minute or so and then put her back down. Last night (04/17/13) she slept through the night again. Yay! So we are making progress and I'm sure she'll be back to sleeping through in another couple of days.

Naps: Her naps at school are still pitiful and taken in a bouncy seat. She only sleeps about 30 minutes on school days. When we're at home in the mornings, she will take at least an hour long nap and sometimes a little longer. Every afternoon she sleeps from about 1:30 to 3:30-4:00. That is so great because Brantley takes her nap from 2-4 as well, so I get a good break each day. Some days don't work out just like that, but most of them do.

Eating: Savannah is doing really well with eating table foods that she is almost totally off of baby foods. We have gone out for dinner the past few days (shame on me for not cooking) and she has eaten little pieces of whatever we were eating. Last night, a grilled cheese and tonight she had chicken and rice from Iguana grill. She loves fruits, veggies, turkey, ham, chicken, cheese, greek yogurt, crackers, toast, cereal, etc. I am introducing new things to her just about every day. She surprises me with how well she can mash foods up without having more teeth! I haven't found much that she doesn't like.

Bottles/Sippy Cup: I am starting the transition to a sippy cup but so far it is going very slowly. Savannah is still taking 6oz bottles when she wakes in the morning, before her afternoon nap and at bed time. In between those feedings, I give her formula in a sippy cup with breakfast, lunch and snacks but most days, I still decide to offer her a 4oz bottle before her morning nap and when she wakes from her afternoon nap. She will drink the formula from the sippy cup. She just doesn't drink enough to replace a bottle yet. 

Savannah is using a Playtex straw sippy cup because until today, it was the only kind she would drink formula out of. We have a few other kinds that she has been drinking water out of for months but she will not drink her formula out of those. So she is using a straw cup and so far is doing pretty well and getting better/drinking more from it everyday.

Note: Her bottles are warm and her sippy cups are cold.

Teeth: Savannah has not cut any more teeth since last month. I keep thinking that her top teeth will start to come in, but so far, I don't see any signs.

Hair: I really can't classify it as "hair" yet because it's still just fuzz. I think the fuzz MAY be starting to grow so maybe I'll have good news for this section by her first birthday. haha

Words: She has started saying "momma" more often, usually when she is hungry or upset.

Savannah's other Abilities at 11 Months, 2 days:

-Still shakes her head "yes" and "no" when we ask her questions. I think it is super cute!

-I hate to admit this but I just started including book reading in her bedtime routine this week. Up until this week, I was just trying to survive and get myself in the bed at a decent time. I realized after reading posts from when Brantley was this age, I am slacking and behind on what I need to be teaching Savannah. So that being said, we have been reading books after her bottle and she is loving it! She smiles, touches the pages, points to the pictures, and makes all kinds of cute noises! We are loving our new routine! I have reminded myself how important reading to children is so no more excuses, I'm going to read to her every night and much more during the day as well. Brantley LOVES books and I want Savannah to love them also.

-Savannah is pulling up on pretty much everything but when I try to get her to stand on her own she WILL NOT do it! She bends her knees immediately and tries to crawl away. I'm not sure she'll be walking by her first birthday, but that really is okay with me! Once she walks then I really won't ever sit down! 

Playing in the kitchen at school.

-She is cruising the furniture much more confidently now. She has even been using her push walker here at the house and there is one at school she walked behind the other day. She is so proud of herself! 

 -Has clapped her hands a few times but not on her own yet. I have to show her, then clap her hands together for her and then she will do it on her own once or twice.
-This is not an ability but she LOVES to take a bath. When I take her in the bathroom and stand her at the tub she starts to squeal and dancing. It's super cute! She splashes a lot once she is in the tub and usually gets me pretty wet before it's all over and I get her out. It's fun watching her have so much fun!
-Savannah is intrigued by hair. Since she doesn't have any of her own she will pull on Brantley's any chance she gets. She also pulls the hair of the other babies at school. Most of the time I can stop her before she actually pulls it, but she is definitely fascinated and trying to figure out what that stuff is. haha

Savannah's baby dedication is this Sunday. I am so excited! We have chosen a life verse for her and have been praying for her all week very hard. I know the dedication will be super special and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing God move, as we dedicate our baby girl back to him and declare that we will raise her in a Christian home and teach her all about the great love to Jesus Christ. I will at some point, post pictures from Sunday and details about the service. 

Another note is that, I have not started planning her birthday party yet! WHAT?! I know, right! It's less than a month away. I actually have decided that it will be June 1st and I've contacted our cake lady, Mrs. Pam. (Come to think of it, I was suppose to call her this week. I'll have to do that tomorrow! Add it to the list!)

The party is going to be at our house, I think, or maybe a park and I can't decide if I want to do a big party or a medium/small party. Brantley's 1st birthday was HUGE/lots of people, so I kinda feel like I should have a big party for Savannah, but then again she won't remember it. She'll only see pictures. Is she really going to care?! Anyways, I have a lot of decisions to make and planning to do over the next few weeks, including first birthday pictures. So much to do, so little time! Oh and I need to study and run my Thirty-One business, right behind taking care of my hubby and the girls. Wow! Life is so busy and crazy right now, but God continues to bless me/us with so much and I am truly grateful for it all and trusting Him to help me make this all work. To God be the glory!

Savannah Claire, you are 11 months old and loving it! You are a little firecracker at times and then a sweet cuddle bug at other times. I love every side of you, inside and out! You are my Doodlebug and I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you, baby girl!! Happy 11 months!!

Let's Get Together!

 After hosting my own Thirty-One party last month with my good friend Ashley Waldrop, I decided to become a Thirty-One Gifts consultant myself. I am in love with the products and I'm excited about sharing them with my customers and their guests! I'll be using the commission that I make to help pay for school when I start back at UAB in the fall.

Below is a picture of the beautiful products in the Enrollment Kit I received last week! The Spring catalog is filled with great new fabrics and product styles. If you haven't seen a catalog lately or ever, let me know and I'd be happy to send you one. Or you can view the catalog online at, www.mythirtyone.com/AllisonWilliamson.

Ever Thought About Hosting a Thirty-One Show?

I'm looking to book a few in-home shows and catalog/online parties over the next few months to help get my business up and running. If you've ever thought about hosting a party with Thirty-One, give me a call or shoot me an email so we can talk more about it and get your party booked. I'm already booking Summer shows too!

Thirty-One offers really great Hostess Rewards! To find out more about that, you can go to my webpage, www.mythirtyone.com/AllisonWilliamson and click on the "Host a Party" tab at the top of the page or give me a call. My #1 goal the night of your show will be to Celebrate YOU and Reward YOU with free and half-price items!

Be Among the First to See Our Newest Collection!

This month Thirty-One has released a new line called the Rec & Roll Duffle Collection.
As if that isn't exciting enough, the Rec & Roll Collection is also this months Customer Special. You can watch the video below to find out more information.

I have already purchased the Jr. Duffle in the Pink Lotsa Dots for Savannah. I, also, plan to get Brantley one of the Pro Duffles later this month as well. I can't wait! This is an opportunity you are not going to want to miss if you host or attend a party in April. My dates are filling up fast, so give me a call soon to get your party booked or to place an order.

Aren't Up for Hosting a Party?

If you aren't up for hosting a party but you'd like to attend a party let me know! I can tell you when my next in-home show is so you can come see the products I have on hand and meet some new friends.
OR if you'd like to simply place an order, give me a call!

So as you can tell from all my exclamation marks, I am super excited about my new business as a Thirty-One Gifts, Independent Consultant! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Williamson Family Update

Since I've been such a slacker on updating my blog lately, I've decided that I need to write an informative post for me to remember things that have been going on right now.

Chase: He is super busy at work these days. Some times he gets home late and pretty much always has to go in by 6am. I've missed him a lot lately and I'm ready for his projects at work to be over so he can spend more time at home with me and the girls. Chase just celebrated his 31st birthday last Sunday. We went to dinner to celebrate on Saturday night and had dinner with his parents on Sunday night. It was good but nothing to exciting. Chase is a wonderful husband and I am so super thankful for all his hard work that he does to provide for our family. I know I don't tell him or show him enough how thankful I am and how much I love him. If you're reading this Hunny, know that I love you more than I can every tell you and I am truly thankful for all that you do for myself and the girls. We are so blessed!

Savannah: I just updated about her in her 10 Month blog post. You can go back and read it HERE.

Brantley: Oh man do I love this girl but she is wearing me down. We are still having potty training issues and I have about had it. We have tried EVERYTHING we can think of in terms of rewards and consequences and she is still having accidents! AHH! I want to pull my hair out! We have resorted to taking away the iPad and watching cartoons/movies until she can keep her panties dry/clean for a whole day. That started last Friday and this morning was the first time she has watched TV since. I'm thinking about calling the doctor now to ask if there could be a medical reason (maybe a weak bladder) for all the accidents but I really just think she's being lazy. It's super frustrating!

Other than that, she is enjoying school and learning lots. She loves to sing and talk! Really! She is never quiet unless she is sleeping or watching a show or movie. She is also having a hard time learning to share with Savannah and there is a good bit of jealousy going on right now that I think may have something to do with the accident issues we've been having. We're working really hard to remedy these issues/problems so I'm hoping we can get it figured out and make progress soon.

Okay so on to Me: This one is a little hairy actually. I'm just going to be honest and say that I haven't been a super happy mom or wife over the past few weeks. I have put on a good show I think but on the inside I've really been struggling/hurting. I have been feeling extremely defeated over and over every day. I'm desperate!  I need help with the girls, the housework and my time management. Does anyone else ever feel like that?

I finally broke down on Monday and told Chase about how bad I've been feeling. It was such a relief to just let it all out and ask for help. I feel like I don't clean enough, cook enough, sew enough, love on my husband/kids enough, and I know I don't spend enough time with God each day. I've been SO disorganized lately and I just couldn't get a grip on it all. Now that I've talked it out and asked for more help from Chase I am actually feeling better and doing better. I love my husband and my girls more than I can express but life has just been tough lately and I'm just run down.

So I'd like to ask for prayers from you all that read our blog. If you feel led, please pray for me. For strength, comfort and peace. Thank you in advance!

Onto a more exciting development and part of my healing process: I'm going back to school! I've decided to apply to UAB's Alternative Master's in Early Childhood/Elementary Education program. I've been working on my application, talking to UAB personnel and friends, signing up for tests and planning all week. I'm really excited about getting my Masters degree! My goal is to graduate and have a job by the time Brantley starts kindergarten. Hopefully, it will all come together. So far this week I have really felt like God is opening the doors and making this all possible for me to do and have my application completed and submitted by July 1st. God is so good! I'll be taking the AECTP: Basic Skills test on April 27th and the Praxis II on May 31st. I don't have time to take them more than once before July 1st so I'll be studying like crazy to insure that I do the very best I can on these two tests. After talking with Dr. Emfinger today, I found out that as of last week the GRE nor MAT are required anymore for students that are applying for the Alternative Master's (5th year) program. I just about screamed Hallelujah on the phone today when she told me that. I have been super worried and anxious already about taking either of those tests and now I don't have to. Again, God is so good!!

A few times I have sat back and thought, "Allison, you are totally crazy for going back to school with a husband and 2 small kids," but then I feel this undeniable peace about it and I know that this has got to be in God's plan for me and our family. I am really looking forward to learning more about all that teaching has to offer. If you have any advice/tips or words of encouragement, I'd love to hear them. Email me!

So that is a quick update on life at the Williamson household. I hope everyone is doing well and is staying healthy! Hopefully, now that I'm getting a little more motivated and organized I'll find more free time to update the blog more often. I really do have lots of fun things to post about and pictures to share, so maybe I will get around to that soon. Stay tuned!

Here is an adorable picture of the girls that I took yesterday. I can't figure out how to put Instagram pictures on my blog so HERE is the link. Surely, it isn't all that hard but if you know, please tell me. Thanks!

Savannah at 10 Months Old

I've gotten so bad about doing these posts late. Late is better than never, right?! Oh and this one is going to be brief since I'll be doing another one in 2 weeks. (Hopefully I can do her 11 Month post on time!)

 Weight: I'm not sure but I'm guessing around 17.5 lbs.      Height: I'm not sure about this one either.

Diapers: Size 3        Clothes: 9-12 months        Foot/shoe: She measures a 2.5 but I haven't bought her any shoes yet. We have size 3.5 Stride Rites from when BR started walking so I'm hoping she will be able to wear those when she decides to start walking.

Sleep: Thankfully, she is still sleeping through the night. I actually don't remember the last time she woke in the middle of the night. That is so nice! Her naps are kinda hit or miss right now. At work/in the nursery she only takes 30-45 minute naps while we are there from 8:15-1:15. It's rough but she does okay. Usually by the time we get home and a give her a bottle she is out for a couple of hours but then again some days she mysteriously wakes up after just one hour. She is a bear when that happens!

Foods/Eating: She is still drinking Similac formula and eating lots of solids. She is getting anywhere from 24-28 ounces of formula a day. I think she has hit a growth spirt here over the past week or so because she is always hungry. It's crazy! She will still eat baby foods when I offer them but she LOVES to eat finger foods. Some of her newest foods are yogurt covered raisins, sliced turkey, cheese and blueberries. She loves bananas a lot and Ritz crackers.

Teeth: Savannah now has 2 teeth. They are the front 2 on the bottom. The first one broke through just before she turned 10 months and the second broke through last weekend. They still aren't all the way in but I can definitely feel them.

Hair: It looks like the fuzz might have grown just a touch but it's not enough to actually get excited about. the fuzz is still very blonde but that's about all I can tell as of now.

New Abilities at 10 months, 2 weeks:

- Savannah learned how to shake her head 'Yes' last weekend. It is adorable! Bebe taught her at Kohl's last weekend while feeding her Cheerios. When Bebe would ask her if she wanted more, she started out shaking her head 'No', aka back and forth. But then after Bebe corrected her and showed her how to shake her head up and down for 'yes', she has been doing it ever since. So cute!

- She pulls up on everything! She still isn't all that interested in walking yet if you ask me. She is still a little unsure of cruising along furniture and such so I'm not sure when she will take off walking. I'm not rushing her though because once she starts walking I'll never sit down. It will be on!

- She has become very gassy and poops at least 3-4 sometimes 5 times a day. It's ridiculous! I'm considering calling the doctor about it because it's outfit ruining poop. TMI! Sorry! LUVs diapers have been letting me down. But I switched back to Pampers Swaddlers to give them a try and they didn't hold up much better. Bummer!

Her laugh is contagious, her smile is adorable and her eyes are still a beautiful blue! I think it's safe to say that she is going to stay my blue-eyed girl and I couldn't be more happy about it. Savannah is smart and loves to play but also slows down for a cuddle every now and again. She is perfect in every way and I am truly thankful that God chose Chase and I to be her parents. She is such a joy and definitely completes our family!

Below is a video I took of her at the park on her 10  month birthday. She was swinging in a park swing for the very first time and she loved it!

Mountaintop Egg-Stravaganza

Last Sunday, Mountaintop Church had their Egg-stravaganza Parenting event. It was really fun and I'm glad we were able to attend. There was ice cream, an egg hunt and each family got to make a set of Resurrection Eggs to take home. I'm really excited about them! We're going to open one a day during the 12 days before Easter. This is going to be a tradition for years that I hope the girls learn so much from.

Getting pictures of the girls looking at the camera at the same time with a smile on their faces is so hard these days. This too shall pass, right?

We all had a great time! Happy Easter!

Savannah at 9 Months Old

 Weight: 15lb 15oz       Height: 28 inches     Head Circ: 17 1/4 inches

Diapers: Size 3 in Luvs      Clothes: Size 9 Months 

(I've packed up almost all of her 6 month clothes at this point. There are a few stragglers, but not many.) 

Eating: Unfortunately, I am finished nursing Savannah. Shortly after she turned 8 months old, I came down with a terrible case of bronchitis. The antibiotic I had to take kept me from being able to nurse for a whole 7 days. In order to nurse after, I would have had to pump 5-6 times a day. That was totally out of the question, because I just don't have that kind of free time. So by the end of the week I was only pumping twice a day (morning and bedtime). Savannah switched to bottles beautifully and didn't seem to miss nursing at all (which made me a little sad), but she is happy so that's all that matters.

- She is now on Similac formula. She drinks 5oz bottles upon waking in the morning, middle of the day and at bedtime. She has 4oz bottles for her morning and afternoon snack. That is all the formula I can get her to drink. I have tried and tried to get her to take at least 5oz every time, but she just won't do it. Petite!!

Savannah really likes to feed herself so foods she can pick up and feed herself are a must these days. She still eats baby food but I don't think it will be long before she is refusing to eat from a spoon (like her big sister did).

Solids: Finger foods she is eating now: sweet peas, lima beans, green beans, carrots, cut up chicken, puffs and lil' munchies, bananas, kiwi, eggs, cheese cubes cut up into small pieces, yogurt puffs and crackers (ritz and saltines).

Teeth: Still no teeth! I keep thinking one is going to pop out but so far, nothing. 

(Update: Since I'm posting this so late I'll just add that on Feb. 28th we noticed that she is cutting her first tooth. It's not of the front bottom teeth. Bless her heart! We didn't get much sleep last night.)

Sleep: She is consistently sleeping through the night now!! YAY!! This is way before Brantley started sleeping through the night so I am super pumped. Her morning naps at school are really crappy. They are only about 30 minutes, on a good day. When we're at home and she's in her bed, she'll sleep for an hour or so. Her afternoon naps have been 2-2.5 hours lately, which is wonderful! 

Words: "dada" all the time. She is starting to say "momma" more and more but she still doesn't say it when she is referring to me. She also says her /b/ sounds every now and then.

Abilities at 9 months, 13 days: (Wow, I'm really behind on this one! Oops!)
-Crawling EVERYWHERE! She has the full crawl down to a science now and she is super fast.
-Pulling up on lots of stuff. She has been pulling up to her knees for a few weeks now, but she is getting braver each day and is now pulling up to her feet. Yesterday, 02/28, was the first time she pulled up to standing in her crib. She does it all the time now. Last night while protesting bedtime, she busted her lip/tongue on the edge of her crib. :( I felt so bad for her. Of course, that didn't stop her from doing it again though. Her favorite place to crawl to is the bathroom and then she pulls up on the tub. I can find her there most times I go looking!
-Still needs her pacifier to go to sleep and likes it in the car as well. I've been consciously trying to make sure she only has it at these times so maybe she won't become as attached as BR did.
-Loves bath time! She is no longer using the Bumbo seat in the bathtub. I have a mat in the bottom of the tub and she can sit on it just fine and doesn't scoot or fall over. Now she splashes like crazy and gets me totally soaked. haha!
-Savannah loves her walker. She has gotten really good at it! She will walk in circles around the island in our kitchen. It's pretty cute!
-Her interest in Brantley's toys is growing more and more every day. She enjoys playing in BR's kitchen and doll house.

Savannah is such a happy baby! We love her so so much! I can't believe she will be a year old in less that 3 months. Wow! Slow down time!!

Brantley's 3rd Birthday Party

 I'm finally getting around to posting these pictures from Brantley's birthday party. Pictures were taken by my good friend, Brittany with BG Photography. Thank you so much, Brittany!!

Pam Franklin outdid herself with the cake this year. I couldn't have been more happy with how it turned out. Thank you SO much, Pam!

 Brantley and her friends had a blast jumping on the trampoline.

Brantley is so lucky to have so many people that love her and came to celebrate her birthday with us. I was totally overwhelmed once everyone was there and in all the corners of our house. I couldn't believe almost everyone that I had invited was able to be there. We are truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. Thank you so much to everyone who was able to be there! I promise that I'm sending out thank you cards, they'll be going out this week.

 Jeremy was getting a little practice with holding and playing with a baby girl. He and Ashley are expecting a baby girl in August, Karleigh Ann.  

Brantley received WAY too many gifts, but loves every one of them.  

Savannah was perfect and had a great time as well!

 Thanks again, Brittany for being here to take the pictures for me. Love you!!