Here are some pictures of Laurel kick starting her Halloween fun!
And negro doesn't know what to think of it!
furry devil eater!!!
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Sunday, October 31, 2010
Furry little baby
Here are some pictures of Laurel kick starting her Halloween fun!
And negro doesn't know what to think of it!
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Saturday, October 30, 2010
Reference in time - part 5
This is fresh! Just a few minutes ago!
The chair no longer has the additional padding in it. And soon she won't fit in it either!
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Another nap!
But a well rested baby is a happy baby that sleeps well. Unlike the old idea of getting them tired so they sleep at night.
Don't miss on the new 'moco' now shooting across from her nose to the crib's bedding!
Still tooo darn cute!
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Happy nap
She slept all night again! From 845 pm to 545 am. With the theething and now another cold. Seems like the all night sleep was going to disappear. The night before was real tough. Up every 1.5 hour.
Then we took a nap from about 9 to 1030. She laying on top of me. Wonderful!
When she woke up a bubble of 'moco' had exploded and formed a tunnel coming out of her left nostril. Too funny!
-elisa
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Its not just baby all the time!
Roasted cherry tomatoes, our garden's italian basil and burrata cheese. And roasted garlic, grilled apricots from Sharon's garden in nearby Mt Washington, Leigh's rosemary and burrata on this one a whole wheat dough -both dough from Trader Joe's.
Come over and we can make them again!
Enjoy!
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Second to fourth month letter
Dear Laurel,
I had intended to write you a letter every month to let you know about all the cute, wonderful or tough times we have shared. I guess I was too busy enjoying you, as well as juggling the house, work and your dad ;)
But I promise I will get back on this from now on. So here are tid bits of the past almost 3 months.
Your grandparents Roy and Lynn came to visit you. It was a very special occasion and it took great effort on Roy's part to make the travel. Lynn enjoyed every second with you. She was happy to see all her cute outfits being modeled by the cuttest baby Kleeger ever. Grandma Lynn got you a lavender cream to give you massages every night before bed time. But that has not worked yet.
At first, your night times were quite tough. You had gas problems that would made you quite uncomfortable and you also didn't seem to like to go to bed and miss out on the fun. Thank goodness that has changed since. You now have a very predictable bed time and you enjoy the small routine we have to put you to bed. I once saw you smile thru your pacifier as if thanking me for 'finally' putting you to sleep. It melted my heart. I now take your bed time very seriously.
You started disliking the baths. And you still do. But now you don't cry in the tub instead in the changing table. I have learned you like the water very mild. Not warm. I still need to figure out how not to get you to cry on the changing table as baths now can only happen before bed time the days you go to day care.
You have days were you eat every 1 hour and sleep for just 15 min. Those days are tough! But most days you are settling into 3-4 naps a day and night time is getting much better. Let's hope soon you will be able to sleep 8-10 hours straight. So far we got 7 as the record. You got a bold spot on the back all the way to the left side of your head from rubbing yourself on the mattress. We have now discovered that you sleep better on your tummy, hopefully the bold spot and little flattening of your skull will go away soon. Sleeping on your tummy though is causing you to have rosie cheeks, sometimes even top of your nose and your chin!
You are a talker! We love love to hear your noises and your day loves to talk your language back. The 2 of you sound like cats!
This was a special moment,w hen you finally took a bottle. your dad was so happy, all he kept saying was "look at you, look at you, you haven't blinked yet"
You farted on my hands! It was so powerful I can feel it still! And this happened over 2 months ago!
You still love to sleep on top of me in the mornings. And I hope that's the case for a long time.
You went on a couple of trips with mommy: Irvine for Jane's wedding shower, were all the ladies loved you. And Santa Barbara for work with Andrew Sussman. You behaved so well. Thank you!
You have been to our favorite bar, the Edendale, a couple of times and you are such a happy baby with all our friends who want to hold you. You then passed out in the sling and mom was able to socialize.
We all went to the Descanso Gardens with Ryan and Becket. That was a lot of fun. And I'm glad I finally made it there. Amazing oak forest.
We all caught a cold. That wasn't fun. But it sure was cute to her your tinny cough and sneezes.
Sadly I had to return to work. And you started day care. First day was so tough for me. I'm sure it was for you too. When I picked you up you were so exhausted, you really looked like ground meat!
The second day was the toughest for you, you refused to eat, I had to come an nurse you. Which honestly I was so happy to do. By the third day you were flirting with Jayden, a 7 month old boy with beautiful tanned skin and blue eyes. Good taste little one!
As I write this your dad is snoring loudly and you are not snoring now but fully asleep on top of me cranking smiles from time to time. I wonder what your dreams are like.
As for your character a lot has happened. You are fully aware of us. You know us and smile at us when you see us. You also recognize your toys and you love the bouncer chair with the lion that makes noises. You haven't figured out that you can make it do its noises, but you sure know that if you make noises we will play it for you!
You have good appetite and your cute fat rolls and your sounds have caused me to call you Chunky Monkey.
Looks like your eyes are turning brown. Your hair is getting fuller and even though I see some blond and one long random gray hair (i love to show off!!!)... I also think your hair will be light brown. Just like your parents.
You still look a lot like your dad, but people are starting to see more of me in you. All I see is cute!
We love you chunky monkey!!!
I had intended to write you a letter every month to let you know about all the cute, wonderful or tough times we have shared. I guess I was too busy enjoying you, as well as juggling the house, work and your dad ;)
But I promise I will get back on this from now on. So here are tid bits of the past almost 3 months.
Your grandparents Roy and Lynn came to visit you. It was a very special occasion and it took great effort on Roy's part to make the travel. Lynn enjoyed every second with you. She was happy to see all her cute outfits being modeled by the cuttest baby Kleeger ever. Grandma Lynn got you a lavender cream to give you massages every night before bed time. But that has not worked yet.
At first, your night times were quite tough. You had gas problems that would made you quite uncomfortable and you also didn't seem to like to go to bed and miss out on the fun. Thank goodness that has changed since. You now have a very predictable bed time and you enjoy the small routine we have to put you to bed. I once saw you smile thru your pacifier as if thanking me for 'finally' putting you to sleep. It melted my heart. I now take your bed time very seriously.
You started disliking the baths. And you still do. But now you don't cry in the tub instead in the changing table. I have learned you like the water very mild. Not warm. I still need to figure out how not to get you to cry on the changing table as baths now can only happen before bed time the days you go to day care.
You have days were you eat every 1 hour and sleep for just 15 min. Those days are tough! But most days you are settling into 3-4 naps a day and night time is getting much better. Let's hope soon you will be able to sleep 8-10 hours straight. So far we got 7 as the record. You got a bold spot on the back all the way to the left side of your head from rubbing yourself on the mattress. We have now discovered that you sleep better on your tummy, hopefully the bold spot and little flattening of your skull will go away soon. Sleeping on your tummy though is causing you to have rosie cheeks, sometimes even top of your nose and your chin!
You are a talker! We love love to hear your noises and your day loves to talk your language back. The 2 of you sound like cats!
This was a special moment,w hen you finally took a bottle. your dad was so happy, all he kept saying was "look at you, look at you, you haven't blinked yet"
You farted on my hands! It was so powerful I can feel it still! And this happened over 2 months ago!
You still love to sleep on top of me in the mornings. And I hope that's the case for a long time.
You went on a couple of trips with mommy: Irvine for Jane's wedding shower, were all the ladies loved you. And Santa Barbara for work with Andrew Sussman. You behaved so well. Thank you!
You have been to our favorite bar, the Edendale, a couple of times and you are such a happy baby with all our friends who want to hold you. You then passed out in the sling and mom was able to socialize.
We all went to the Descanso Gardens with Ryan and Becket. That was a lot of fun. And I'm glad I finally made it there. Amazing oak forest.
We all caught a cold. That wasn't fun. But it sure was cute to her your tinny cough and sneezes.
Sadly I had to return to work. And you started day care. First day was so tough for me. I'm sure it was for you too. When I picked you up you were so exhausted, you really looked like ground meat!
The second day was the toughest for you, you refused to eat, I had to come an nurse you. Which honestly I was so happy to do. By the third day you were flirting with Jayden, a 7 month old boy with beautiful tanned skin and blue eyes. Good taste little one!
As I write this your dad is snoring loudly and you are not snoring now but fully asleep on top of me cranking smiles from time to time. I wonder what your dreams are like.
As for your character a lot has happened. You are fully aware of us. You know us and smile at us when you see us. You also recognize your toys and you love the bouncer chair with the lion that makes noises. You haven't figured out that you can make it do its noises, but you sure know that if you make noises we will play it for you!
You have good appetite and your cute fat rolls and your sounds have caused me to call you Chunky Monkey.
Looks like your eyes are turning brown. Your hair is getting fuller and even though I see some blond and one long random gray hair (i love to show off!!!)... I also think your hair will be light brown. Just like your parents.
You still look a lot like your dad, but people are starting to see more of me in you. All I see is cute!
We love you chunky monkey!!!
First time alone
We were gone for about an hour. He claims she cried the whole time. But this is what I found once I got home.
Cute aren't they!?
Jeff was exhausted after that!
Ha ha.
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Giggling jelly!
Background is on our 'tree house' new dining nook window.
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Granparents visit
This is Lynn's first grandchild and a girl! So Laurel is getting lots of her attention and love!
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La visita de los abuelos
Aqui estan ellos, en el jardin de la Casa Nancina, disfrutando de su bebita fresquesita vestida con el ajuar que le trajeron.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
One month letter
for the first year to document her growth and doings. As a kid
hearing stories of us and what we did made me so happy. So this is
the best way to remember things :)
I wrote this on June 19th. Here its unedited. I hope I sound somewhat coherent!
Dear Laurel Aven:
You are a month old. Actually 5 weeks and one day today, but we will
focus on your first month of life.
You were born on a beautiful LA morning. Your dad and I, as well as
all your family and good friends, had been waiting for your arrival for about 38 hours straight. Once you came out you made the cutest little 'ah ah ah' that melted my heart.
While the nurse staff was prepping you and they had you on your stomach, you lifted your head to find us and that impressed everyone.
You were a beautiful baby, with your full head of hair and your rosie chubby cheeks. Our nurse, Angela, made you a hat with a bow. You looked adorable in it!
During our hospital stay, you were such a sweet, soft, strong and peaceful baby, you gave me so much inner peace. You also showed how skillful you are immediately by latching on and giving us no problems nursing you. Your dad was a pro at cleaning your diapers!
We had many good friends visit us at the hospital, in order: Corin and Jeremy kept a vigil in the waiting room before you were born, Fawn, Rachel and Randy also came by. After you were born, Eliot and Jane were the first ones to visit, then soon to be your favorite (wink)aunt-cousin Amy came and stayed with us for a couple of nights playing tag team with Dad so that he could rest and work on the house for your arrival. Amy was very sweet and played with bells over us that made me think of angels protecting us. Our neighbor Jim Reed said a beautiful blessing while holding you that made us all tear up. All these friends came and brought us flowers, gifts and or food: Fawn and Jeremy,
Joanna and Bianca, Liz, Chiaki, Corin and Leigh, Randy and Rachel, Brian and Kara, Ryan, Sandy and Carmen.
Our room was beautifully decorated with all the flowers we received.
Since you showed up a week early and we tend to wait until the last minute, the house was not ready for your arrival, so we stayed for a week at Nancy's guest cottage with your excited grandparents, Victor and Vicky. Nancy was very sweet and set us up nicely.
That first week in her garden, after our 4 day hospital stay, felt like we were on a vacation in paradise! Your cousin Alberto and Indhira visited us 2
different nights. Abuela Vicky cooked great meals and abuelo Victor fixed just about everything that needed fixing at Nancy's house! My good friend Ryan had us over for dinner one evening and then picked you and I up for a fun saturday afternoon with her family: Josh, Owen and baby Beckett.
We headed home finally and after a couple of days of hard work from your grandparents and dad we were settled and the house started to feel like home again. Only nicer with the beautiful job of paint that your dad did and the new windows he added as well as the reorganized and more comfortable kitchen.
You made us laugh a few times with the cute faces and effort you had to do in order to poop. A lot of messy runny poop! You also started showing the fire in your character with your cries that leave you breathless and purple. We try hard not to see those, but sometimes we aren't quick enough figuring out what is it you need, and sometimes
they make us laugh a bit, because its impressive how much character such little person has.
Your dad has become convinced that you are his spitting image not only because everyone says how much you look like him, but also because your colic night time sounds just like he used to be. Grandma Lynn is having fun seeing history repeat itself and is teaching us what she discovered worked for her, and its working for us too!
You have gain weight and grown like a weed. Born at 21" and 8 lbs 4 oz, then your weight dropped to 7 lbs and 6.9 oz. By your 12 day check up you were 8 lbs and 12 oz ! By the month you were 11 lbs and 4 oz and one inch longer to 22". That's about a pound and 1/4 inch a week you've gained! By the end of the month the size 0-3 month clothes were
becoming too small for you!
Finally our pet, friend and your older brother, Negro is becoming more
used to your presence and returning to his comfort levels. He has been a great trooper thru all the changes going on around him. Someday soon you two will be cuddling happily!
We are so glad to have you join us and make us a true family.
Welcome little Laurel Aven Kleeger-Read. We love you!
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Our first hike
Catching up...
This is one of her first pictures.
At just 2.5 hours !
She was born in Los Angeles, California on May 13 2010 at 11:41 am. Weigh 8 lbs 2 oz and measured 21 inches of peaceful, beautiful baby bliss.
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And we begin here
As a birthday gift to myself I decided to start a blog about our life in LA with our little Californian.
This blog is to bring our families and friends closer to us. This idea its just following my awesome cousin (in-law) Sonya's footsteps (once again) because I have enjoyed her baby related blog so much but most importantly it has brought us closer.
I also can't keep up with sending update emails to all. But I am sending daily pictures to the grandparents. And so now those will now be uploaded here!
I hope this little effort on our end helps in connecting all of our dearest family and friends with our life in California (food, fun, plants and house projects) and most importantly with the joys of Laurel's growth.
Love, hugs and many kisses!
Elisa
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