tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27253181500148540892024-02-20T01:31:16.132-08:00Petite VioletteStories of a little French girl the stork left on our doorstepUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-5307193197271919992014-10-17T14:44:00.001-07:002014-10-17T14:44:13.088-07:00Happy 3!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Dear Violette,<br />
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What a fun year it has been! I obviously haven't even documented anything since last year's Birthday post so let's go back and see what you've accomplished this year! Last winter you learned how to ski. We went with our friends the Schkrohowski's to Idaho for our yearly ski trip and after about 3 runs going down with me holding your little back pack, you pushed me away and said, "do it self, mommy, do it self!" You were determined to do it all by yourself and you did! You would start to go down and I would tell you to turn to stop and you did it perfectly many times, and fell a few times too. You have a "no fear" personality which sometimes scares me but it's also really fun to watch you climb up rocks, jump off rocks into my arms, run fast as the wind and play with all the big kids. One time you were walking the llamas and the one you were holding started to trot. I was too far behind to catch up with you, but you held on to that leash and ran in a full out sprint until the llama stopped. I fully expected you to trip and get road rash all over your face and body but you held on and was able to keep up with a trotting llama at two years old! I predict you will be my runner. <br />
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Vivi, you are definitely the most animated of all of my kids. You are always dancing all around the room and you're very inspired by music. Once while we were heading into a hotel in Las Vegas you stopped at the doors to listen to the swanky music that was being played and you thought for a second, cocked your hip to the side and started slowly bouncing up and down to the beat of the music. Everyone cracked up! You are always willing to perform in front of people and your dance moves are very impressive. Your favorite moves kind of look like Indian Bollywood dance moves. It's just the cutest! You also love to sing while you dance and constantly make up your own songs that are usually about the temple, Jesus, mommy, or how much you love to dance. You are constantly chatting and you move your arms and head a lot while you speak. Your facial expressions are also very animated and you are always smiling. Because of this, everyone tells me you should be in movies and many people have commented that you look similar to the Olson twins. Maybe an acting career is in your future! You started ballet class this year and I'm so excited for you to be in the performance with your sisters this summer!<br />
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This summer you took swimming lessons even though you were techinically not old enough to start. I had to fib on your registration so you could be in swimming lessons and you passed off the first two levels with flying colors! When you got to preschool level three, you had a lot of trouble because the teacher was a boy and you do NOT like being taught by a boy. You told me he was mean to you on the first day, which wasn't true, so you could go back to the girl teacher. You had no problems going down the water slide and jumping off the diving board at the last day of each session. Since then, you've learned how to tread water, so I'm hoping that this summer you'll be able to swim without your floatie! You and your siblings love to swim and your hair is constantly green. Speaking of hair, your sister Clementine decided to give you a hair cut the day before your Birthday photos. I hid it well and luckily you have a super short hairdo, but she got some right in the front and chopped off your curls on both sides. Ay yai yai...<br />
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This summer we went to Hawaii for the first time. You got to ride around in a convertible mustang the whole time but you didn't like the wind. Most of the time you would cover your head with your blankie. I would snorkel out and find tons of weird sea creatures and you had no problem holding all the crazy things I brought back to shore. You and your siblings created a "zoo" that other kids came to see. Most of them and their mothers were afraid to touch them and some of the moms even freaked out when their kids came over to look. You aren't afraid of anything though!<br />
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Another trip we took this year was to Havasupai, one of my most favorite places in the world. It's a subsidiary of the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon and it's also a Native American reservation. We got to fly in the helicopter to get there and back. While we were there we had to climb up and down a very treacherous cliff to get to the best part of the river and you did it with help from your daddy, but had no problems at all. Some adults that climbed down before us said that, "it was the scariest thing (they've) ever done" and you did it when you were 2 years old. Ha! <br />
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Most of your free time is spent pretend playing with Clementine and Bea, but now that Bea is in Kindergarten, you've bonded even more with Clemmie and you play and play all day long together. She is definitely your best bud! You love to pretend that you are a baby and when you play baby, your name is Rosie. Bea puts binkies in your mouth, makes beds for you and takes care of you. You always play along, crawling all over the place and pretending to cry. Bea is so lucky because a real baby would not obey all her demands. I am entertained all day long by your imaginative characters and voices. <br />
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Vivi, you are a big helper on the farm. You help me collect eggs, take the llamas on walks, feed the chickens and sweep up the messes. You aren't afraid of any of our animals and were picking up our giant turkeys until they were as big as you and got too heavy. You are an expert chicken catcher and people who come visit are amazed by how easily you can snatch any animal you have your eye on! <br />
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You just started going to preschool even though it's technically a year early. I didn't want you to be the lone child at home while the other kids got to go to school so you go with Clementine twice a week to a school that mainly focuses on playing and socializing. You're also learning your letters, which you love. You always sing the ABC song and are eager to learn. <br />
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One of my favorite things about you is that you always want to pray and you say such thoughtful prayers. Your prayers always include, "thank you that mommy will feel better(ankle problem), daddy will come home tomorrow, Jesus will come to our house, thank you for my sissies and brothie". It's just wonderful to hear what you're thinking about. You just have such a sweet little soul. You have such a darling little smile too. You have a slight underbite, but definitely not as bad as Bea, and you smile all day long. You're the only kid in the family that has a natural looking fake smile, which I appreciate when I'm trying to take photos!<br />
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One great thing about you is that you want to be friends with everyone you meet. You go up to strangers and melt their hearts by asking them, "are you my friend?" in your sweet little voice. You've brought 20 year old girls to tears and have made old hardened men crack a smile. When you were at the park with your Nanna B you asked a little girl if she was your friend and she turned to you and yelled, "NO!" You were devastated and cried and cried, but come to find out, that little girl had Downs Syndrome and wasn't expecting you to ask for friendship so quickly! I'm just proud that you see everyone around you as equals and want to befriend them. <br />
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Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our lives. Everyone loves you, especially your Father in Heaven. You love to sing about the temple and I know you'll get married there someday. You're sweet spirit fills our home with joy. I love you my wonderful little girl.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mommy <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-62194561440993007422013-10-21T22:28:00.000-07:002013-10-21T22:28:17.743-07:00Late Birthday Wishes for my sweet Vivi Lu<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violette enjoying her Birthday chocolate mousse. Yum!</td></tr>
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Wow Violette! I really dropped the ball and haven't even written to you on your Birthday! And, it's actually my Birthday today, so that's funny. Your Birthday was on October 6th and because I've been frantically trying to dry and preserve all the fruit in our garage, as well as making apple cider, and hosting many parties, I haven't had a moment to sit down and relax! We just had our apple cider party yesterday and now that that's done, I have some free time and I can't wait to talk about you!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping warm at Lake Tahoe </td></tr>
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Violette, you are so precious to me. I am cherishing every moment of your beautiful little life. You are a very lucky girl because you have never had to live with a pregnant mother and be neglected and yelled at because I wasn't feeling good or was too tired to notice all the cute little things you do. Your brother and sisters had some difficult years with me being sleep deprived and sedentary, but you have had my attention at my full faculties your whole childhood. You are loving it and so am I. It's funny that when you don't have a younger sibling, you still think of your youngest as a baby. To me, you're still a baby! It helps that you don't say much yet, but even though you're two years old now, I still baby you and I love doing it because I'm a baby hungry kind of girl and I hope I can live with not having any more babies, so thanks for still being my baby. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoR2sFEeIL6Q3E-9QiJ6UmDoPADeqY8rFiWmXiJSD_-Xpb9ZbeiunpOZDMtY7PJeS5EU4lxeqfbjdWvGZYVR8dx3RX3-mAsaNkJA5Gv1H8h91dSkGZCbW9FtsrwQ4jyH1Rq91tSwTnE1e/s1600/photo%252839%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoR2sFEeIL6Q3E-9QiJ6UmDoPADeqY8rFiWmXiJSD_-Xpb9ZbeiunpOZDMtY7PJeS5EU4lxeqfbjdWvGZYVR8dx3RX3-mAsaNkJA5Gv1H8h91dSkGZCbW9FtsrwQ4jyH1Rq91tSwTnE1e/s640/photo%252839%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You really love Clementine</td></tr>
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Violette, you are such a feisty little thing! You look and act just like I imagine your father acting as a child. Your face resembles aunt Courtney to me, who looks the most like Justin and you are an extreme sport junkie already. You have zoomed down the driveway at a million miles an hour, smashing into the rocks on the other side of the road in a walk along car toy, you climb up and jump off really high rocks, you are a super hiker and love going on fast rides like the alpine slide and mountain coaster. You truly have no fear. You get attacked by our mini roosters and you never hesitate to come out to collect eggs with me and still run right up to them, provoking a fight, but usually mommy launches them with my super kick before they can get to you. Maybe you'll be my pro mountain sport athlete! We've got to have one in the family!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiHdB5TAntTu_ZKNGoG6xBEr-tc1BHLn3baN7cjg0pMvgd5sBcYeVUSqjKJyGLIJAIVFBwdW91Z6MQJTbm4nAGADqduE9Oi7NYflCCRIImXJ_qKLb-Zx9fuF-PvmIT3tfm_P6EGif_vX2/s1600/photo%252846%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiHdB5TAntTu_ZKNGoG6xBEr-tc1BHLn3baN7cjg0pMvgd5sBcYeVUSqjKJyGLIJAIVFBwdW91Z6MQJTbm4nAGADqduE9Oi7NYflCCRIImXJ_qKLb-Zx9fuF-PvmIT3tfm_P6EGif_vX2/s640/photo%252846%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You and your sisters love eating apples!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIRijvlzwPkh__Go_5chUbbdHjzEV15xH-QYAxG9TBkIKaEOtOMM-ssdarveQa9yox5mwAg7CjTi4VxoBdiqlvWQ7wsNhwJriekP8bURhj0pmxpiD5y7bjKXUJSnV3IJ4cppOGyB_iii4/s1600/photo%252840%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIRijvlzwPkh__Go_5chUbbdHjzEV15xH-QYAxG9TBkIKaEOtOMM-ssdarveQa9yox5mwAg7CjTi4VxoBdiqlvWQ7wsNhwJriekP8bURhj0pmxpiD5y7bjKXUJSnV3IJ4cppOGyB_iii4/s640/photo%252840%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing in the cat tails in St. George</td></tr>
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Violette, you are so adored by all your siblings. You act like the cool kid in school who everyone wants to play with but doesn't care about it. Your siblings beg you to play with them and hug and kiss them and you usually just turn your head and say, "no", so that when you actually do interact with your brother and sisters, they really appreciate it. Clementine puts up with so much abuse just so you'll play with her. She lets you body slam her and tickle her and chase after her as you play monster. They are always holding their arms out for hugs and asking for kisses and you're very selective to whom you dole them out to. You're just a natural for leaving people wanting for more. Clementine is usually your first choice and you rarely leave her hanging.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ00JGunVPPogO2nD2lEAt7A8qwbHMY1cfD9tEGTWQF9TQoleac2S1rHwLiwz9L_lBQJh0LMTrSJGPfeOXT_3ZdEunsmtmXeb6Vi7GW6JnVacEYBrF1g44YH3CNXsNyjqrfFRkFcBN7WR/s1600/photo%252838%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ00JGunVPPogO2nD2lEAt7A8qwbHMY1cfD9tEGTWQF9TQoleac2S1rHwLiwz9L_lBQJh0LMTrSJGPfeOXT_3ZdEunsmtmXeb6Vi7GW6JnVacEYBrF1g44YH3CNXsNyjqrfFRkFcBN7WR/s640/photo%252838%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Zoo with your siblings(and cousin Colton picking his nose in the background)</td></tr>
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Because of the fact that you can wrestle with your siblings with no consequences, you think it's okay to wrestle with anyone, including babies. You are famous for wrestling boys a head taller than you to the ground and putting them in legitimate wrestling holds(saw it on tv once). You do have a tendency to push kids and body slam them if they fall to the ground, but you'll say sorry and give them a hug and usually stop when you're reprimanded. Which leads me to your best quality...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCTK5UWjrHW2AMMzFUyJ_p-KHawmUOU5KsC6BAQnDZgvnbykyaPxmPL6NH99eeeWOwlo836yuLQY2cXLVBTFjPmxEwdhKQftK3H_6CN9GG0OVrghVjaProc_LaPEePkWxIO0QDQWRcjUh/s1600/photo%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCTK5UWjrHW2AMMzFUyJ_p-KHawmUOU5KsC6BAQnDZgvnbykyaPxmPL6NH99eeeWOwlo836yuLQY2cXLVBTFjPmxEwdhKQftK3H_6CN9GG0OVrghVjaProc_LaPEePkWxIO0QDQWRcjUh/s640/photo%252836%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You took swimming lessons this summer and were the youngest one of them all. You're so obedient though that they made an exception and let you in. You really loved it!</td></tr>
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You're so obedient! Every time I tell the kids to get their shoes on because we're leaving, there you are finding your shoes, coat, blankie and baby and are waiting at the door to leave while the other kids haven't even budged. I never have to ask you twice to do anything. If you're on the table, I ask you to get off and you do it right away. I tell you to sit in your booster seat and you do. I tell you we're going to change your diaper, and you find another one and lay down with your legs in the air. Many other adults at church and out in public have also noted how obedient you are and I really appreciate it! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PzbBChTib6dibmeAqxUsFwpli1aVTDEFSDUKr9DG1JBmDUKrFgQRaXl1m4ovREK0JxyZ43wsS7bBRus7Y8Lklt4hlhv5Qn5BzboSXXz7m8pgCbzlH32su0B4xUA4GrbVGZsR9QPlpsCM/s1600/photo%252837%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PzbBChTib6dibmeAqxUsFwpli1aVTDEFSDUKr9DG1JBmDUKrFgQRaXl1m4ovREK0JxyZ43wsS7bBRus7Y8Lklt4hlhv5Qn5BzboSXXz7m8pgCbzlH32su0B4xUA4GrbVGZsR9QPlpsCM/s640/photo%252837%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly face at the Park City Arts Festival</td></tr>
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One fun thing you have just started doing is saying the prayer. Every time I ask who wants to say the prayer, you raise your hand and say in a loud voice, "me!!" One thing you can say is "thank you" which sounds like "Ae- yoo" so we just say a long list of thank-yous in the prayer and you just copy me. The kids can't help but giggle at your pronunciation but you do such a great job. You also copy them while they're saying their own prayers which usually leads to an angry Clementine or a giggling Bea and Henry. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcPxJcjuiQZfT1W6raRiszzU9mle14uhYGC2xItezHpvrecJmKsMIc_AK-gRnFIJeXSDjCVK7xyobWa58Ni4Ryxjt1BBGANxob3GjUwM5KV_1UvdR_Vjp1OcyVhK2hvsYR-YyvJ-iwAfK/s1600/photo%252845%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcPxJcjuiQZfT1W6raRiszzU9mle14uhYGC2xItezHpvrecJmKsMIc_AK-gRnFIJeXSDjCVK7xyobWa58Ni4Ryxjt1BBGANxob3GjUwM5KV_1UvdR_Vjp1OcyVhK2hvsYR-YyvJ-iwAfK/s640/photo%252845%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like you're going to be a pediatrician someday!</td></tr>
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Vivi, at this stage you're kind of a picky eater(compared to the other kids). You'll try anything and eat a little, but often you will abandon your plate and ask to be removed from your high chair only to find yourself on my lap eating the exact same food....which was mine. You walk around the house asking for apples, and good thing we have about 10,000 apples in our garage because you take them and eat them all day long. I frequently find apples with one bite taken out of them all over the house. I think you got one bite of a honey crisp and you'll never go back to an old mushy golden delicious again! You love to eat seaweed snacks, eggs, soup broth, pasta, fruit, dried fruit and nuts and fruit leather and any kind of delicious steak or fish. You still struggle with some vegetables, but as I always say, roasting tastes the best and you'll eat a roasted carrot but not a boiled one. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-x4cyKp2oirNG41gCcBhCh1q0KS-Vdh5v5woLbFjdACPEu0sQ4Y8eMccmQk-BXYP2XraetxxWKzmgvbCi_BZzQd-2sUZ6ytWZR11WFNB5WMoPs4dwdT__e_lST-gZRYaeACdBppeI_LB/s1600/photo%252841%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-x4cyKp2oirNG41gCcBhCh1q0KS-Vdh5v5woLbFjdACPEu0sQ4Y8eMccmQk-BXYP2XraetxxWKzmgvbCi_BZzQd-2sUZ6ytWZR11WFNB5WMoPs4dwdT__e_lST-gZRYaeACdBppeI_LB/s640/photo%252841%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will chew a carrot up, suck the juice out and spit out the pulp...and usually choke a little during the process. </td></tr>
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Even though you are quite rough and tumble, you also have a wonderful
nurturing side to you. You love babies and I watch you wrap them up,
hold them and shush them all day long. You love to push them around in
strollers and pretend to be their mommy. You love to read books,
especially the ABC book we read every night. I have read it to you
every night for a month now and I've taught you all the ASL signs to all
the objects and you are so amazing at doing them all! I decided that
because you have a hard time speaking I needed to teach you some more
signs to build your communication skills and boost your confidence and
you're really catching on and loving it! After we read your books at
bedtime, I turn off the lights and you fall to sleep on top of me as I
hold your tiny body and sing you to sleep. I just love how you try to
sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in my ear. Justin can't figure out
why I take so long to put you and your siblings to sleep, but that's my
most favorite part of the day. I love spending individual time with
each of you and snuggling with you one by one. I just love having your
little head on my shoulder and feeling your breathing and you heart
beating. I am so grateful for your presence in my life. Vivi Lu, you are such a blessing in my life and I couldn't imagine life without your fun personality and sweet smile. I enjoy every moment we're together and I just love looking into your super light blue eyes. You are so wonderful and I love everything about you. Love, Mommy<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvr3J-8Xzj5D0UrmW0SWrrn2LjwcJ9BH9OV1fL1cM7Gq6IFxISht2qocTpC0-mI9LsJi4D8YuyIEil7dX-cHsq91WU1FP8HxGe4vknCg7vNFb9Q81MhmC_A3oG-AJtexhesa_mhFyts_vu/s1600/IMG_7792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvr3J-8Xzj5D0UrmW0SWrrn2LjwcJ9BH9OV1fL1cM7Gq6IFxISht2qocTpC0-mI9LsJi4D8YuyIEil7dX-cHsq91WU1FP8HxGe4vknCg7vNFb9Q81MhmC_A3oG-AJtexhesa_mhFyts_vu/s640/IMG_7792.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You love the tire swing in the back yard</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-74445108460704353932013-06-25T22:27:00.001-07:002013-06-25T22:27:38.900-07:00Mute Child<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcb-5krLnG0ofXhNHkY5UzUwzrXkoqrKS-tuiLzeHkHlUpyRteDuzvjzI89uJBpynrAB2s02zTuBdulKoJrsxpMY5qIDzuVqC8tSc05Ju9PlQTU-wd0_H9noJjwY391f7-j6NlO5HiN13/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcb-5krLnG0ofXhNHkY5UzUwzrXkoqrKS-tuiLzeHkHlUpyRteDuzvjzI89uJBpynrAB2s02zTuBdulKoJrsxpMY5qIDzuVqC8tSc05Ju9PlQTU-wd0_H9noJjwY391f7-j6NlO5HiN13/s640/IMG_7639.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't wait to be in ballet someday! I think you'll have to wait another year though and you might be devastated. </td></tr>
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By now(20 months) all my other kids were talking up a storm and you are content to say just a few words and sign everything else. I'm pretty in tune with what you want and you're really great at gesturing what you want, but you won't say much you little trouble-maker! The only things you actually say are...<br />
1. Dada<br />
2. Mama<br />
3. Owie<br />
4. Vivi<br />
5. Heh-rie(Henry)<br />
6. Miao(cat noise)<br />
7. No(but only sometimes. She usually shakes her head for no and nods for yes)<br />
8. B-B(for baby)<br />
And that's pretty much it. Clementine would say Bea all day long, but you won't even attempt it! You're picking up a ton of signs so I guess that's great so you don't get frustrated, but we would like you to start speaking soon! <br />
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You take after your sister, Bea and are also kind of a baby killer, Vivi. I take you to the gym every morning and while your siblings take tennis and mommy exercises, you hang out with all the babies and you are so mean to them! I even caught you slapping our friends' baby in the face while no one was looking, over and over while his poor little head was in your lap. You pull hair and push the babies too. Your sisters don't do it to you, so I'm not sure why you feel like that's appropriate. I will attribute it to the fact that Bea had that same tendency and now she's super nurturing, so it means you're just ultra interested in babies but don't know what to do with them. The nature in you is just coming out very intensely. <br />
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Other than that, you're very obedient and you smile and laugh all the time. You're really fun to be around and you have a shy personality sometimes that's really endearing. You love everyone in our family and even when you haven't seen someone in 5 minutes you're excited to see them and give them hugs and kisses. Henry loves you the most and he tries to hug you, but you mostly just pull his hair...but you always say sorry(sign) and give him a real hug later. <br />
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I just gave you your first hair cut but I don't want to cut off the red. It's turning blonde just like all the other girls and I'm sad to see the red go. It's really streaky and thin right now and I feel like I want to give you that short A-line cut that Bea had for so many years, but I would have to shave off all your red and I just can't do it yet. Maybe at the end of summer. <br />
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You are still such a little baby to me and I love playing with you and snuggling with you and tickling you. You are just such a fun little addition to our family. We love you so much!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-54008623167379514922013-01-07T21:59:00.000-08:002013-01-07T21:59:18.895-08:00Vivi's shoes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3DN4rY61jx9dvK6PAy_RD4OqkK1UtSyrqwvggb9GvvFJ8_o3R9OP4rpbJaQqfUMPJYvnBUIaNfiMeHfJuerk7l5DrEItyrgTTflVFIELgzbi5_X1ItxczoHVPlHBRBwj8ztk0wdTO2HK/s1600/photo(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3DN4rY61jx9dvK6PAy_RD4OqkK1UtSyrqwvggb9GvvFJ8_o3R9OP4rpbJaQqfUMPJYvnBUIaNfiMeHfJuerk7l5DrEItyrgTTflVFIELgzbi5_X1ItxczoHVPlHBRBwj8ztk0wdTO2HK/s640/photo(19).JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violette getting into a cupboard while wearing Justin's running shoes</td></tr>
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Every morning Violette protests as I change her diaper, put on a new shirt, pants, and do her hair, but when it's time to put socks and shoes on, she's all attention.While I put her socks and shoes on, she sits very still and holds each foot out until I've finished. Vivi has a fetish with shoes more than any of my other girls. She will find any pair of shoes and put them on and walk around for as long as she can until someone takes them away. She is so confident in her walking ability that she even takes my step father's shoes, that are probably a size 15, and slowly tromps around their apartment. She tried to take Justin's giant clogs that probably weigh 5 lbs each and inched along all through the kitchen. She just loves to wear shoes and I love watching her adventures in them. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-53608441658922133462012-11-12T11:20:00.000-08:002012-12-30T22:08:12.715-08:00fifth generation snowsuit...maybe more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYvj8Pub1g3uY_lIBq7sX65ABquClbi0ee_pp57CBfdvEEwrdb4VxhctI1Los5nLh8ZWxqJLKL4g7SfSfV-VjLVbYuDHyhbKKZipvJHa1SZ2xguWZHIhkYndAWzkIc0z5zHgkaeYQTMtb/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYvj8Pub1g3uY_lIBq7sX65ABquClbi0ee_pp57CBfdvEEwrdb4VxhctI1Los5nLh8ZWxqJLKL4g7SfSfV-VjLVbYuDHyhbKKZipvJHa1SZ2xguWZHIhkYndAWzkIc0z5zHgkaeYQTMtb/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Many of you will recognize this snowsuit. It was given to me by my sister in law after her daughter, Kaitlin used it and then I used it for Bea. It was given to her by someone else who used it for her daughter, or maybe even daughters. Anyway, it's been used at least 5 times and it's still the cutest, puffiest and most hilarious snowsuit in the world. The sad thing is that Violette really hates being in it and does NOT like sledding at all. The other girls couldn't wait to bomb around in that suit at that age. I hope she bucks up and starts enjoying it soon. We have like 2 feet of snow on the ground with sledding hills, snow tunnels and snow caves all over our property!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-63136415669356040902012-10-08T22:17:00.000-07:002012-10-08T22:17:01.193-07:00Happy Birthday Vivi Lu!(October 6th)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My three girls sharing the umbrella stroller in France</td></tr>
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My Dearest Violette,<br />
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Of all my children's first years, this first year has gone by the fastest. I feel as though I missed a lot of things you did that I was fully aware of with the other kids because of all the changes that have taken place in our lives this past year, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the love that I feel for you every time I see your smiling face toddling toward me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you not love a little squishy baby</td></tr>
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You have many nick-names. I call you "Vivi Lu", Lucy calls you "Vio" and your siblings still call you "the baby" or just "baby". I try to call you Violette as much as possible because I just love your French connection. In fact, when we were in France this summer, everyone was in love with your French name, fire red hair and your extremely clear blue/white eyes. Bea, Clementine and you all have blue eyes and with every child, the blue just kept getting lighter and lighter. I don't know if blue eyes could get much lighter than yours. Unfortunately, you also have a developing under bite like your sister Bea, so some serious braces or surgery might be in your future. So sorry little one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye Close up</td></tr>
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Violette, you are much like your brother, Henry in many ways, You have the same hair as he did, you have a similar round head, and you have similar temperament. You are very active and now that you started walking, you don't want to do anything but walk around. You also walked at exactly 11 months of age just like your brother, while your two sisters walked at 12 months. You are extremely vocal and you already act like you have your own language, which is also the same as Henry. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with Pinocchio in Florence</td></tr>
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Vivi, you love toys that can shake and you have so much fun walking around the house banging on a cake pan with a wooden spoon with your sister. In fact, you really love music and anytime you hear music you start to dance. I think you see your sisters dancing to music all the time, so you join along. We have family music time and you readily join in the fun, banging on drums, playing the baby piano or shaking things. Just like your siblings you love singing and I have already heard you start singing your own little tunes in the car. Now, I have four separate radio stations to listen to at the same time as I drive along. No other music sounds sweeter to my ears.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivi riding a very strange baby swing in France with holes that babies could easily fall right through</td></tr>
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Our house has three sets of two steps that go down to our living room, garage and off of our deck. I was dreading putting the baby gates up but just after you learned to crawl, you learned how to crawl down all three sets of stairs, head first and has never even had a fall yet! You also love to crawl up our long stairs but after almost falling down the stairs a while back, you never attempt to crawl down them. I'm so glad to be baby gate free!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violette posing with the most darling Asian boy we met on the street in Florence</td></tr>
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Violette, you love to eat any kind of food. You really love tomatoes and any kind of fruit, but will even eat what the other kids will not. You eat a lot of food and you have basically had diaper rash your whole life because you poop so much! You have an opinion about what you want to eat and get very jealous if the kids are eating candy or a Popsicle and I usually have to cave in and give you some. I agree, it's not fair little one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing on a giant fake ship that was used for an old movie. This is what we did when we couldn't find the church one Sunday:(</td></tr>
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Your siblings are obsessed with you and they are constantly trying to carry your places, hug you, make you lay down and put blankets on you, put you in doll furniture. I have to say, you're not a very good sport and you cry even at the sight of Bea. You don't mind Henry so much and Clementine is slowly getting on your bad list. Clementine usually sits on you or is holding your legs as you try to crawl away. You are loved by three sets of grandparents and many cousins. You and your sisters make up 1/2 of all the girl cousins in your extended family and everyone fights over who gets to hold you. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivi dancing to an all young boy band on the street in Chamonix. It was like the Jonas Brothers all over again.</td></tr>
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One thing I wish you did is give me hugs. You are so stiff and don't EVER hug me or put your head on my shoulder unless you're asleep. When you're sick you lay on my shoulder and that's always the silver lining to you being sick is that I actually get some snuggle time with you. Henry was also the exact same way, so I'm not too worried because he's always hugging me and wanting to snuggle now. So, I can't wait to snuggle with you someday<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violette eating peaches when we went peach picking. She LOVES peaches. You can see her under bite pretty well in this shot. Poor thing. </td></tr>
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Looking back on this year I have to mention that you were the only baby that I actually co-slept with, only because the closet was already taken up by Clementine. Justin left the bed after a few nights, so for about 6 months you slept on the pillow next to me, but I can't sleep snuggling, so you just slept on your side and I slept on my side, which I'm not sure actually qualifies as co-sleeping. You are my worst sleeper because I had to wait until you were 7 months old to teach you to sleep through the night and you still wake up frequently and have a hard time putting yourself back to sleep since you've been tended to every time you cried. It didn't help taking you to Europe for a month where you got even more attention at night so you wouldn't wake everyone up in tiny apartments.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping in the bike seat in Luca, Italy</td></tr>
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You crawled at 9 months, stood up at 9.5 months unassisted and you walked at 11 months. You have fire red hair, very light blue eyes, your body and walking style remind me of a baby gorilla, you have the largest head of all my kids(which explains the constant bruises on her forehead), and you are a walking maniac. You are a survivor, you constantly smile with your underbite, and every time I see you, you melt my heart. I love you little one and I am so excited for this next eventful year of your life. Happy Birthday Vivi Lu! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-59712864433874318202012-07-15T22:18:00.001-07:002012-07-16T07:59:15.066-07:00Standing<br />
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So Violette just started crawling a few weeks ago and only a week or so after she started crawling she started pushing herself up to an unassisted stand. That's all she wants to do. She's so good at it now that she can do her crazy baby double arm wave and still balance. I really hope she doesn't walk while we're in Italy. That's going to be rough since I had planned on carrying her everywhere. I don't want her getting any ideas that she's going to get any chances to walk on that trip! On the other hand, it's kind of nice because she's not that interested in crawling, so she doesn't travel around the house that much. As you can see, she has some pretty sturdy legs! I love to squeeze 'em:)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-10114392617677479332012-06-06T21:55:00.000-07:002012-06-06T21:58:31.468-07:00Bawl and Crawl<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have I taken a photo of any of my kids lately where they don't have something on their faces? It's impossible!</td></tr>
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Violette is exactly 8 months old today and she's just starting to crawl. As she struggles to move around the floor, searching for food scraps left behind by Henry and Bea, she breathes very heavily and moans and groans at the difficulty of movement. I know she'll be happier once she gets moving, but for now, she goes backwards more than forwards and she doesn't like being on her stomach. In the past week, however, she's become a pro at rolling over and pushing herself up to a sit from her stomach. Pretty soon she'll be totally mobile! It's been so easy having an immobile baby, especially during this time we have been moving into our new house and I'm dreading having to control two babies who have no concept of danger, but it had to happen some time! She is so happy though and just like all my babies, I don't think she would ever cry if she didn't have siblings fighting over her all the time. All the kids just adore her. Tonight Bea played mommy and I watched her put on an apron, cook dinner for Vivi, then make a bed for her on the floor with blankets and tuck her into bed. Bea will be a great mother someday, just like her clone who is Justin's sister, Stefanie who is also pregnant with baby #5(I'm praying for a girl!).<br />
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Violette is also loving food! I didn't feed her until she was 7 months old because I was crazy with the move and all I could do was stick a bottle into her mouth, but she is loving the oatmeal cereal, which none of my other kids liked at all. She doesn't really love it when I mash up what we're eating yet, although I'm trying to get in as much Italian food as I can because I know that's what she'll be eating the entire month of August, She gets a few tastes in every day and then refuses it, but we'll just keep trying until she loves it. We love you Vivi Lu!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-53478428677740372792012-05-02T21:47:00.000-07:002012-05-02T21:47:02.441-07:00Sitting Pretty<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjBpNMSTVajGCSA6po0OlX28xOoWDHqASBN3rDUj4rZQoj_YDi6TzYumZzN5S4dk1lUDb2EFFj7WtmRm1HRCI3OSjlmJfPKVTi_Sdrgq1wpyBjJsn5wmiKa1_3PdLyJoTaIr-tdh9qcGR/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjBpNMSTVajGCSA6po0OlX28xOoWDHqASBN3rDUj4rZQoj_YDi6TzYumZzN5S4dk1lUDb2EFFj7WtmRm1HRCI3OSjlmJfPKVTi_Sdrgq1wpyBjJsn5wmiKa1_3PdLyJoTaIr-tdh9qcGR/s640/IMG_2165.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Violette is now sitting up very well. Her favorite spot is a really long tuft of grass in our back yard by the bird feeder where she is thoroughly entertained by birds, cats, dogs and the kids running around everywhere. Yesterday as I was cleaning out our yard, I felt truly relaxed and happy for the first time I had moved in. Even though I was doing work, it was work I actually wanted to do and enjoyed. I am surrounded by the beauty of the earth, my darling children, great neighbors and animals all over the place. I couldn't ask for more. Violette is such a sweet and happy baby and I am so excited to raise her on a farm. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-58369186197790266892012-03-30T14:00:00.003-07:002012-03-30T14:00:39.961-07:00First Food: Bananas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love those eyes</td></tr>
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I let you taste a mushed up banana the other day. You had fun chewing
on the spoon, but I don't think anything got down your throat. You sure
liked how it tasted though. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-43594213521838030862012-03-19T13:11:00.001-07:002012-03-19T13:11:21.760-07:00Noisy Tongue<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-VsnYck8GQX4ZainaEI7_xRfdV6p-9VQAqq92cGKCWNai0LydL0VMxoihhdGqKnDku2FBdF3RNE95k7Hzfhyphenhyphen4J79gT-5oYyktbbWBzjgeZGKHThj13pKa4LwRLsoDyKjsEXd-E0mT6Yo/s1600/IMG_1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-VsnYck8GQX4ZainaEI7_xRfdV6p-9VQAqq92cGKCWNai0LydL0VMxoihhdGqKnDku2FBdF3RNE95k7Hzfhyphenhyphen4J79gT-5oYyktbbWBzjgeZGKHThj13pKa4LwRLsoDyKjsEXd-E0mT6Yo/s640/IMG_1309.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out that tongue action</td></tr>
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Violette likes to stick her tongue out to the side and then vocalize making all sorts of inappropriate sounds during Sunday School and soaking all her clothes. It is pretty cute though. I caught her in the act while I was taking a photo with her and Henry. I just love it when personality starts showing through. She is such a sweet little one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-42960270646932371202012-03-14T23:21:00.001-07:002012-03-14T23:21:13.970-07:00Longing to grow up<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_Q2bWheAYfDoq2xJR8mzPYMfzxcqCxUoXV4XhyphenhyphenY-K7yUXEGbIxq8gEw25u3OHFRrjfQ38hvuNJVtYLIMCVCu2LXQEc_mNW7vrjaW4QjVGaqmlWM_3ABQSriOygONY61gzBIv3gK2d8Y4/s1600/IMG_1094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_Q2bWheAYfDoq2xJR8mzPYMfzxcqCxUoXV4XhyphenhyphenY-K7yUXEGbIxq8gEw25u3OHFRrjfQ38hvuNJVtYLIMCVCu2LXQEc_mNW7vrjaW4QjVGaqmlWM_3ABQSriOygONY61gzBIv3gK2d8Y4/s640/IMG_1094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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As Justin played baseball outside with the older kids, Violette looked longingly out the window, no doubt wishing she could participate in the fun. It was a sweet moment to see our little baby interested in the family activities. I, however, had to intervene. Hopefully she forgot that she had been left behind.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These photos are a little snotty and slimy. All my kids have colds right now. Sorry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPc_i0nGPPOQXIlctjlkk7Idn6axyP-sc2lZgFUVHl5794mP90juIQB80dWMOIJAnxZi_MexyWoXatUgDOHVBbwAiFzeXBrClOSDZXaUnkoGvPz5iseozWKsRRzGvcId5wqpM5UeMvrVV/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPc_i0nGPPOQXIlctjlkk7Idn6axyP-sc2lZgFUVHl5794mP90juIQB80dWMOIJAnxZi_MexyWoXatUgDOHVBbwAiFzeXBrClOSDZXaUnkoGvPz5iseozWKsRRzGvcId5wqpM5UeMvrVV/s640/IMG_1098.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that adorable smile though! She's a real sweetheart. </td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-11939362062517621942012-03-11T20:31:00.001-07:002012-03-11T20:31:46.356-07:00The Color Orange<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMy-byAFg6r3PJp_rQnlGwZcAY7yYJ9P2kL6PhAXiNOKbW5rNpBXUJnhov_raAxGv9w6g1SPoNL5KFuYyNEHfsuSRWWCOl34oc5t7UwkDCPVEESzJCQ-MSDU12iv2D8lL4ypZYdJiaI7T/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMy-byAFg6r3PJp_rQnlGwZcAY7yYJ9P2kL6PhAXiNOKbW5rNpBXUJnhov_raAxGv9w6g1SPoNL5KFuYyNEHfsuSRWWCOl34oc5t7UwkDCPVEESzJCQ-MSDU12iv2D8lL4ypZYdJiaI7T/s640/IMG_1076.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a happy girl</td></tr>
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I don't know how many of you know that I love orange. I love my orange ski jacket, orange puffy coat, I named one of my daughters after an orange and my babies are all born with orange hair. My favorite paint color is Saffron from the Restoration Hardware paint collection, which is the most perfect peachy yellowy orange color that changes when the light hits it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KRS2iYnNsTQNWiXspAJXRnsGcL86m2wb4SO63f1dwcPPRbNBUsw9rOo9fI39LHXoqMX567Up-wsIqlWGZiuXgYV02TYIZ5Hm3JyQP8so_5Mt0ZICtEkBuNn9T0it-dMORouzW4HOdVCs/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KRS2iYnNsTQNWiXspAJXRnsGcL86m2wb4SO63f1dwcPPRbNBUsw9rOo9fI39LHXoqMX567Up-wsIqlWGZiuXgYV02TYIZ5Hm3JyQP8so_5Mt0ZICtEkBuNn9T0it-dMORouzW4HOdVCs/s640/IMG_1075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little Henrietta. She is the female form of Henry. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Here is my sweet little Violette with orange hair, wearing a swimsuit with orange slices on it and holding an orange parasol that my mom got for her. Her cheeks and lips are even a nice peachy shade of orange. Orange just makes me happy. How about you?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-22554827397602418742012-03-05T13:05:00.000-08:002012-03-05T13:05:04.955-08:00Cute photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_SuiwS7xCfOmO8ugS_iA1kzFvzowmLJSWLkn2tm02LByqCIsPJPJ8vox8O7hmXkP2mqlZCEYBeeMYpA0c2oTYa_XJecvw5ROZfyjqiUlO2mU31JNe5gl8BsjV3gw2ArRKOSq6EqY-XxK/s1600/IMAG1030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_SuiwS7xCfOmO8ugS_iA1kzFvzowmLJSWLkn2tm02LByqCIsPJPJ8vox8O7hmXkP2mqlZCEYBeeMYpA0c2oTYa_XJecvw5ROZfyjqiUlO2mU31JNe5gl8BsjV3gw2ArRKOSq6EqY-XxK/s320/IMAG1030.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I haven't taken many photos with my camera of the baby but
somehow I always get some good shots with my phone. Here are a few cute
ones I got at church.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgrZT0TWtfLRXeYuUF4TL_w4YRqwnmFUYMdy7uhwEyN8CCkp9LXa0dmkC0_PziPdWIZSvdfHNnZ6o4v1L9QR8CqgfjeNL8_dd1ABz4fVG-dUHkS844GPVcOPueD0cw8cPBmIiDLpBgBZQ/s1600/IMAG1034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgrZT0TWtfLRXeYuUF4TL_w4YRqwnmFUYMdy7uhwEyN8CCkp9LXa0dmkC0_PziPdWIZSvdfHNnZ6o4v1L9QR8CqgfjeNL8_dd1ABz4fVG-dUHkS844GPVcOPueD0cw8cPBmIiDLpBgBZQ/s320/IMAG1034.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ4WuZLa9q_wQBQfKClDrPvjxprCbetZx6t_BHRcWIYEfZCs4c0Gr9LtOur-ZQhBHJqsVYV_EFVCXRBP6cvckHhg6S1FOmEnNvmNtY6J1UcmerJY9AQI_XWkfj4tDZwSe2vb-t432Pw9h/s1600/IMAG1068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ4WuZLa9q_wQBQfKClDrPvjxprCbetZx6t_BHRcWIYEfZCs4c0Gr9LtOur-ZQhBHJqsVYV_EFVCXRBP6cvckHhg6S1FOmEnNvmNtY6J1UcmerJY9AQI_XWkfj4tDZwSe2vb-t432Pw9h/s320/IMAG1068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tbyb6HH5-qDiuwm46N22hjCSTy_OI9BCclmHwj_O-R5gR76wxqyqgGRvYg5_MWwYxXOmj-x7sjgHNbWdKO9XreoCLe52RKgpwd45O6ZrnMdbJQTrsLjNJeSuLtD9h90V95i9Sjf9TL5v/s1600/IMAG1073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tbyb6HH5-qDiuwm46N22hjCSTy_OI9BCclmHwj_O-R5gR76wxqyqgGRvYg5_MWwYxXOmj-x7sjgHNbWdKO9XreoCLe52RKgpwd45O6ZrnMdbJQTrsLjNJeSuLtD9h90V95i9Sjf9TL5v/s320/IMAG1073.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-46Skc9ajs1UVU2LmzJ7CmWrVmCszbEng2DRe7suPv-2977rxfVv3qHDpaEFvLg46wSMyjVQZYzN6LL6q6BJQDokT8S2zx-OgAkJMBtXSW_ltY6HUbGVlKPz5jmo7CCuYm1EOzsFrUvE/s1600/IMAG1074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-46Skc9ajs1UVU2LmzJ7CmWrVmCszbEng2DRe7suPv-2977rxfVv3qHDpaEFvLg46wSMyjVQZYzN6LL6q6BJQDokT8S2zx-OgAkJMBtXSW_ltY6HUbGVlKPz5jmo7CCuYm1EOzsFrUvE/s320/IMAG1074.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is a hilarious face. This is what she looks like a lot because she's always saying something</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmknrccG_r6edRmQBVqmI_cU86mc7ihpz9-PqAX1kabGl4Jg9ZDcsc8ktXOFOay2Dbl1EXGkL0E1mjgimP82j0bgBiTknXi5lwBDSHcRYjWjhWyE2sCWC7VreY_MjF7jBCMvdS0YpG_E8d/s1600/IMAG1075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmknrccG_r6edRmQBVqmI_cU86mc7ihpz9-PqAX1kabGl4Jg9ZDcsc8ktXOFOay2Dbl1EXGkL0E1mjgimP82j0bgBiTknXi5lwBDSHcRYjWjhWyE2sCWC7VreY_MjF7jBCMvdS0YpG_E8d/s320/IMAG1075.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-78378553802013811232012-03-03T23:56:00.000-08:002012-03-03T23:56:19.035-08:00Prego no no<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2HkbXruOurv2oCGTbXcSiR5YQ6a1AFPnQ5ng4ANVYxGwGWFPOUlVVpSzZSAaKZ1sSy9k9AlJnjdFO3au6S5fWLptdggbadjqjw4_vuBiWP9u5XVFatrhm4rewJNKEvFUYpkcrYxjOaNf/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-04+at+12.47.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2HkbXruOurv2oCGTbXcSiR5YQ6a1AFPnQ5ng4ANVYxGwGWFPOUlVVpSzZSAaKZ1sSy9k9AlJnjdFO3au6S5fWLptdggbadjqjw4_vuBiWP9u5XVFatrhm4rewJNKEvFUYpkcrYxjOaNf/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-03-04+at+12.47.14+AM.png" width="612" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My one redeeming feature is my buff looking shoulder. Thank you Clementine for keeping my arms strong!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I got this amazing little collage from my friend Alissa in July when Justin finished taking his board exams, but just barely figured out how to take a screen shot so here I am, pregnant with little Vivi Lu. I'm wearing a dress that is not maternity and don't look at all as spectacular as I thought I did that night. I was trying to go for pregnant/sultry(with the red), but I'm just bulging out all over the place! haha! I pretty much had the fattest pregnancy ever with this tiny little girl. <br />
<br />
Anyway, this is the same day I forgot Justin's clothes and we all ate a super fancy dinner up at Sundance while we were all dressed up and Justin had no shirt on, a coat, biking shorts and biking shoes. He could have cared less though since he was so happy about being done with all his tests. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-3329543735483341632012-03-01T15:04:00.003-08:002012-03-01T15:04:57.901-08:00Neck Cheese<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CL8FhTn0-uMWJgs6sb45aukGOLwYw5CiuJD6g3Jb_X5FTmL5GEVr9BhzPzrQiMQpUiGg5SPp9_QwENtH_AGiu32AeCfw0MMqU-AeBMN2SOMeFQPLufpjlt-Bt4E10KO_WjAFUtfU3Wn1/s1600/IMAG1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CL8FhTn0-uMWJgs6sb45aukGOLwYw5CiuJD6g3Jb_X5FTmL5GEVr9BhzPzrQiMQpUiGg5SPp9_QwENtH_AGiu32AeCfw0MMqU-AeBMN2SOMeFQPLufpjlt-Bt4E10KO_WjAFUtfU3Wn1/s640/IMAG1055.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy, Chubby, and Clean!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have to admit that up until this month Violette probably had about one
bath per month. One day I was nuzzling her neck and smelled something
horrid. I looked in her neck folds, which wasn't easy btw, and saw a collection of all sorts of things from curdled milk to lint and spent the next half an hour scraping it off her neck and bathing her. Since then I have been more regular in bathing my little Vivi Lu. She actually enjoys her baths and she can't wait for the day when she can be in the tub with all her sisters! Clementine also had a bout with this stench, but it was in her armpit fold. <br />
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I have had such productive weeks lately and it's all thanks to my super sleeping baby! Violette sleeps next to me on the bed and now sleeps about 12 hours straight and she's the first baby I didn't have to do the transition with a few nights of screaming. She just naturally goes to sleep on her own with a binkie and a blanket over her eyes and falls asleep. I wish I had a crib I could transfer her to so I could get my room back, but hopefully soon we'll move to a new house that has more rooms and we can put all our kids in their own rooms. They'll eventually share rooms but not until they're a little older. Henry wants to be with Violette and Bea wants to be with Clementine. Sounds good to me. <br />
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Violette is getting close to rolling over. She tries to twist her body and I think she'll roll pretty soon. She is also close to sitting up, my favorite stage. I can't believe how fast this has transpired. The more babies you have, the faster life flows along. She smiles, talks a lot, is playing with toys, is holding her bottle and starting to enjoy being awake and isn't just sitting around doing nothing during the wakeful hours. Welcome to life little one!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-50923709026407386452012-02-15T21:33:00.000-08:002012-02-15T21:33:58.737-08:00Like Brother, like Sister<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy13DJqfrbZjywmtIA7vVDGfvgAuxN_xbIdv1r9dU7pL3d6OufHIsvY0G-CR7it4g5yerzYDU-5HBHoU2YW2YD_ZAZuUVt-BfXHmxFhF1UTaNFPl7HEIEpJ6ZI5r0cfufIhNB8DfcARI-C/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy13DJqfrbZjywmtIA7vVDGfvgAuxN_xbIdv1r9dU7pL3d6OufHIsvY0G-CR7it4g5yerzYDU-5HBHoU2YW2YD_ZAZuUVt-BfXHmxFhF1UTaNFPl7HEIEpJ6ZI5r0cfufIhNB8DfcARI-C/s640/IMG_0648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue eyes, red hair and red lips. Doesn't get cuter than that!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank heaven for toys that make the crinkly sound. They're the only ones that keep her attention for longer than 30 seconds. Violette is like Henry in so many ways, which scares me to death thinking about her as a toddler, not that anything could be worse than Bea right now. I just remember how hard Henry was too. Anyway, Henry wasn't that into toys and neither is Violette. Bea and Clementine would sit and play for long periods of time but Violette likes to be interacted with and held and looked at by people. She loves to laugh at the kids and it's a good thing I have so many kids who love her because she gets entertained almost all day long. Even though she gets bored quickly with toys, she doesn't complain too loudly and if she's cranky, she usually just whimpers until I can come get her. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXZxCfcZdDg-qS0DUgEHZ_uyOK7-8LLIW-zuP158TNv4pXV6JB6DpGZccywrzFmNum5qSfUccg4-_3XFMEWHKES-kA-6-E2m6P0kTW-GnXSlXFG2tVeGn2pIF9_sMOlhBw8Q17MHm2A7e/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXZxCfcZdDg-qS0DUgEHZ_uyOK7-8LLIW-zuP158TNv4pXV6JB6DpGZccywrzFmNum5qSfUccg4-_3XFMEWHKES-kA-6-E2m6P0kTW-GnXSlXFG2tVeGn2pIF9_sMOlhBw8Q17MHm2A7e/s640/IMG_0634.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My three girls! I'm the luckiest mom in the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Violette is growing well now and has a fair amount of chub on her tiny little body. She's still really short, fitting in her 0-3 month clothes still but her head and weight are back where they should be. Henry was also pretty small until he was about 9 months, got chubby and then around 18 months started to get really tall. Hopefully she'll be the same. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyBn_Ge2vXSz1g_AX0Fm6pXheMHODJy6gOJZg7-KdZh45ZRWhdysOwa1OJl2VYwar2SPVKbLfxm1IM6ABuY7mwJCOBUlsfO-zlqZfB2aYs2gWw9wmaXfijFSN7e3rI5cv7ce5_aCSMHJJ/s1600/IMG_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyBn_Ge2vXSz1g_AX0Fm6pXheMHODJy6gOJZg7-KdZh45ZRWhdysOwa1OJl2VYwar2SPVKbLfxm1IM6ABuY7mwJCOBUlsfO-zlqZfB2aYs2gWw9wmaXfijFSN7e3rI5cv7ce5_aCSMHJJ/s640/IMG_0645.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bea loves her baby sister</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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She is sleeping in my bed with me, which is different than all my other babies. It's just more convenient when she wakes up at night, plus Justin has decided to sleep in the guest room until next month when she'll be forced to sleep through the night by none other than mean mommy. The day you turn 5 months old, I'm not coming in anymore. Sorry baby doll. That's the way it goes. That's the day Daddy moves back in! Back to the sleep issue though. So, I never snuggle with her when I'm sleeping or anything so is that still called co-sleeping? I never got into that, but maybe I'm doing it now. I really don't know. <br />
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She's not sitting up yet, or anywhere close to that, and she's not rolling over and hates to be on her stomach, so no serious progress yet. She's just smiling and laughing up a storm. We love our little redhead.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-54598060877282625462012-01-28T22:19:00.000-08:002012-01-28T22:19:11.744-08:00Poor neglected baby<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjA4EATPWKXBhNyRiOLXJO-g2cSNXJm1-pDVLl8CZcbgx9n6SFDjjHP6WpOTfLwMdZH3n24hyNgMFU0GBb6O2-OJoVmSeoq6kl82CZBMtAl4qG2W4CLcg2hTvFaQxxORR5gA83l6BaCBx/s1600/IMG_0415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjA4EATPWKXBhNyRiOLXJO-g2cSNXJm1-pDVLl8CZcbgx9n6SFDjjHP6WpOTfLwMdZH3n24hyNgMFU0GBb6O2-OJoVmSeoq6kl82CZBMtAl4qG2W4CLcg2hTvFaQxxORR5gA83l6BaCBx/s640/IMG_0415.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Smile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Violette, we took you up to Snowbird today at the end of the day to watch the kids ski and to go hot tubbing in the awesome outdoor hot tubs and you were miserable. By the end of the day your little eyes were red and your little voice was hoarse. It's probably hard to be the fourth child and be neglected, and less considered. I'm sorry that we drag you around, even when you're sick and tired and that you don't have a perfect schedule for your naps. I'm sorry that Bea hugs you too hard and sticks her feet in your face many times a day. I'm sorry that when you cry, I usually can't come to your aid right away. I wish I could just hold you and be sensitive to all of your needs. Just know that I have a special place for you in my heart and that I love you Vivi Lu. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-66735860542382922642012-01-10T23:39:00.000-08:002012-01-10T23:39:17.988-08:00For the Record<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTOgNBUAUc2Q3pJJoPNsy1__9Y0lxe5M7O_4aqY4BMMR9OId21S0TKP0ZkpgNU8Dpe9rYRbIjUAPX5BntdzUpcwaNDc6PmgrnH3Ng_lPkcvwI_mPK3laS8kM5DVCkF82YicU03Tr-pw_Q/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTOgNBUAUc2Q3pJJoPNsy1__9Y0lxe5M7O_4aqY4BMMR9OId21S0TKP0ZkpgNU8Dpe9rYRbIjUAPX5BntdzUpcwaNDc6PmgrnH3Ng_lPkcvwI_mPK3laS8kM5DVCkF82YicU03Tr-pw_Q/s640/IMG_0176.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at her double chin emerging and those rosy cheeks. No more starving baby here!</td></tr>
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So just for the record I have to document Violette's first few months of life since we basically have no photos because our camera broke and because it was the holidays and it got hectic around here. Also I have to document that I have been trying to breastfeed her and no matter how much I feed her, she doesn't seem to be getting enough milk, possibly because she sleeps so much at night and even if I feed her every two hours during the 12 hours she's awake, my milk supply seems to be confused. When I stopped pumping exclusively at around 7 weeks and just try to start breastfeeding I got thrush again for like the umteenth time and had to get on serious medication. Thankfully it went away, but during that time I was in such pain that I would just put off nursing for one more hour here and there until I was only nursing like 4 times in a 24 hour period and Violette had so little energy that she wouldn't even cry, but just slept all day long. She went 12 hours one day without even waking up and that's when it hit me, plus that same day I looked at her and she seemed to have that "starving child" look:Hunger in her eyes and cheekbones poking out. I took her to her appointment and she had indeed lost over one pound. I felt horrible and cried in agony at my neglectful behavior. How could I have not known? I guess it's because she never cried that I thought she was fine. Thankfully, our pediatrician immediately had us pump her full of extra milk and formula, which I did, and now she's three months old, doing great, gaining weight and smiling all day long. She still sleeps about 7 or 8 hours straight from when I put her to bed until I wake up in the morning, which is a huge blessing for me, then I nurse her and she sleeps until about noon if I want her to. If not, I get her up and she's awake for a couple hours before needing to take a really long nap. All in all, she probably sleeps around 18 hours per day still if I let her. The least amount she will sleep is about 14, but then she's usually really cranky and wants to be put to bed. All I have to do is swaddle her, nurse her or put her binkie in and lay a soft blankie over her eyes and she'll fall right to sleep. She really is a sweet and easy baby. I even love hearing her little cry because it's so soft and unoffensive. I just wanted to admit to your history that you had a continuation of a rough start and that I'm sorry little one. I felt horrible but now you're my 1st priority right now. I just love you so much!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-37170971790019962072012-01-07T14:10:00.000-08:002012-01-07T23:45:42.733-08:00What's in a name?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvi7oJAw9O8XVZZND8aqvuKX_YpNajSENX9sqlImFWRa2ww18WlWJVTUE8WHZmJWO-mSfXRCJrUhXL73Re-jcyBVps6AwMmHWa7MT6YLtygxgRwC-QOPt_i9GbwB-T-LSHSiOGFPSHJXn/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvi7oJAw9O8XVZZND8aqvuKX_YpNajSENX9sqlImFWRa2ww18WlWJVTUE8WHZmJWO-mSfXRCJrUhXL73Re-jcyBVps6AwMmHWa7MT6YLtygxgRwC-QOPt_i9GbwB-T-LSHSiOGFPSHJXn/s640/IMG_0174.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violette's blessing dress made by my mom</td></tr>
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So, "Violette?", you ask yourself? "What was Amelia thinking?" you say to your spouse? Well, I'll tell you. Justin has two grandmothers, one named Viola(Vai-O-la) and another named Violet. I always had Violet on my baby name list and it seemed to be at the top, but something just wasn't right. I didn't like any of my other names as much, but I didn't love just plain ol' Violet so I looked up the variations and when I read Violette, it just stuck and it was the one. I briefly considered Violetta, the Italian version, but for some reason I don't like names ending in an -uh sound because it makes our names sound like full sentences like Bea's middle name, Isabella which is gaggingly overused. I could make a sentence out of it. "Isabella Hohl" changes to, "Is a bell a whole?" There are so many names that we couldn't use because they either created bad concepts or other full sentences like my personal favorite, Phillipa, which is a name I would have totally used. I LOVE that name, but put it all together and it says, "fill up a hole". There is no way. A, P, and I names are out of the picture and then I have to be careful of names ending in -es -is or -as for obvious reasons. Since I like unusual names, you'd be surprised at how many names I couldn't use that I would have considered. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30iYbFcX8Z7izSoBY2FDnGC1ZrAt8prSpNZqJg2xjRQA2bJ4B4KuoVRiHzTXFwJFMVDFtei8_H0Hh2sEUsb5_dBCGi0OaDOvyMWjvs7gepURTcQM3p5rz00625azyfs2znSCrsNhbWGGf/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30iYbFcX8Z7izSoBY2FDnGC1ZrAt8prSpNZqJg2xjRQA2bJ4B4KuoVRiHzTXFwJFMVDFtei8_H0Hh2sEUsb5_dBCGi0OaDOvyMWjvs7gepURTcQM3p5rz00625azyfs2znSCrsNhbWGGf/s320/IMG_0176.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violette starting to smile. She looks just like Henry to us!</td></tr>
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I like my concept names like Jackson Hole, Whole Clementine, Be Whole and now Vivi Whole which also means "Live Whole" in Italian. I'm trying to embrace our last name and turn it into something interesting instead of naming my kids really boring, normal names to downplay it. All our kids have ties to ancestors, but have an international twist. Even Clementine is French. Henry doesn't respond to his name anymore, so I call him Enrico most of the time. So there you have it, we have two Italian and two French babies. Would you expect anything less from me?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-88696016327977352402011-11-06T22:13:00.001-08:002011-11-06T22:13:21.217-08:00mer baby<p><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQEtgWWXUILbW0kGnzyCwBbvH3jiOyMiR51j2wmCti11lKqyEJFdKqwoCn5vx55iEVlg_PGlx916xCZ5vX7Xxxz6y71Bn0OR2DTD4kVb-3XlTZbAolcg-mxeql_HmL7S51WakbrOR86Q0/'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQEtgWWXUILbW0kGnzyCwBbvH3jiOyMiR51j2wmCti11lKqyEJFdKqwoCn5vx55iEVlg_PGlx916xCZ5vX7Xxxz6y71Bn0OR2DTD4kVb-3XlTZbAolcg-mxeql_HmL7S51WakbrOR86Q0/s400/IMAG0873.jpg' /></a></p>This is Violette in her merbaby costume. It was a big hit and she was so warm in it. We didn't even have to wear coats this year it was so warm, then we woke up the next morning to snow on the ground. Perfect timing!<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-19037784920081319412011-10-16T15:33:00.001-07:002011-10-16T15:33:15.444-07:00Violette in action<p><object width='425' height='355'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/WqbB1Wr1Jbw&rel=1'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/WqbB1Wr1Jbw&rel=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='425' height='355'></embed></object></p>Just a short clip of my newest little pumpkin. Enjoy!<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725318150014854089.post-24390826049894231432011-10-15T15:00:00.000-07:002012-01-07T23:50:03.872-08:00Our smallest one yet...Violette<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6-1Nzu_3FGha04_bqOA9mXm_vjzkjmzCHaUt0wyPNKaykmjO8BzalSiUDFhvzHoD0N4rENtZ5aP8FQup_BBOGIS9X6tkt7D-QObh2oaMIvYlpouxCQhsmDOUqVH_OPnZc9GRzBnYAHyJ/s1600/Violette+2011+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6-1Nzu_3FGha04_bqOA9mXm_vjzkjmzCHaUt0wyPNKaykmjO8BzalSiUDFhvzHoD0N4rENtZ5aP8FQup_BBOGIS9X6tkt7D-QObh2oaMIvYlpouxCQhsmDOUqVH_OPnZc9GRzBnYAHyJ/s640/Violette+2011+012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First shot without all the cords. That paper bow was where the IV was put in</td></tr>
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Violette Lucienne was born at 10:25 in the morning on October 6th 2011. She weighed in at meager 7lbs 6oz and 19.5 inches long and has dropped down below seven pounds giving me a tiny little six-and-change pounder to take care of which I have never had the pleasure to experience. She is so tiny and delicate AND is the most content and wonderful baby we have ever had. To quote Justin saying to his friends how it is being a father of four, "I don't even know if I've heard the baby cry yet!" Well, he hasn't because she rarely cries and sleeps for about 23 hours per day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IDByJP-909vYZ3hkA4MZNghCnAKR08RzXwsGVgW8VhpKAV6V__n9FWdb7Hdwi_9w8SLy9dy-F1_X68klMIkzjx1SHcd1nGRAI29jw6bnCLCS9IR1V0q3WOFzQB8BxVuJEbQK5ePNvX43/s1600/Violette+2011+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IDByJP-909vYZ3hkA4MZNghCnAKR08RzXwsGVgW8VhpKAV6V__n9FWdb7Hdwi_9w8SLy9dy-F1_X68klMIkzjx1SHcd1nGRAI29jw6bnCLCS9IR1V0q3WOFzQB8BxVuJEbQK5ePNvX43/s640/Violette+2011+018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First family shot</td></tr>
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As most of you know I have wild birth stories and this one is no exception. at 1:30 in the morning I felt my water break slightly and since I had only been asleep for a couple hours I spent the next few hours in delirium and denial wondering if I was actually in labor and if my water had actually broken. That day we were supposed to have spent the day in Logan interviewing so luckily we had a babysitter all lined up to stay two nights, so when I finally mustered up the courage to tell Justin I thought I was in labor around 4am we left our kids in our baby sitter's capable hands. Arriving at the hospital around 5am and not really feeling contractions we got all set up in labor and delivery and now I was safely in the hospital I could relax and spent the next few hours sleeping while Justin researched minivans online. Around 9am I could feel some more significant contractions coming on, but I was able to talk through them until my OB arrived at 9:45 to check me out and have a chat. He said I was only dilated to a 7 or 8 and believed I still had at least 15 minutes left before I was ripe to deliver so he unwisely left around 10:15. About five minutes after he left I had a very serious contraction, the kind I call the "why didn't I get an epidural?!!" kind of contraction and then I felt the pushing contraction and everyone who doesn't get an epidural knows it's impossible to "hold on" or "not push" because not pushing hurts significantly worse than pushing a baby out since that's the way nature intended it. I had to push her out. No one was scrubbed in, the nurse was frantically paging the doctor to get back here because baby was coming and Justin wasn't about to deliver her since his hands were also dirty. Violette had the cord wrapped around her neck and because of that and because no one was helping pull her out, she started curving upwards, causing me to tear(I could totally feel that one) so I reached down and pulled her out in the right direction and basically delivered her myself. The OB rushed in 15 seconds too late, sewed me up a little bit and it was finally over.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wspG9lvIAGamJjQdiejRvqh5WDn09S23IAw_tlIeDDGd82Xy2EgdOV5_VBF1J2shhNmvzNeMgUg6cGehQHelw_TopN3JrhmzQoLWljuWO7-WALHwh59lgSiKxC34ajyQNJ-L4IDz5iZ5/s1600/Violette+2011+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wspG9lvIAGamJjQdiejRvqh5WDn09S23IAw_tlIeDDGd82Xy2EgdOV5_VBF1J2shhNmvzNeMgUg6cGehQHelw_TopN3JrhmzQoLWljuWO7-WALHwh59lgSiKxC34ajyQNJ-L4IDz5iZ5/s640/Violette+2011+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the NICU</td></tr>
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She looked remarkably like Henry with yellow/orange hair and strikingly similar features including long toes and fingers. Perhaps she'll be one of my tall ones. Violette let out a few little cries but the nurses noticed she was turning a little bit blue so they rushed her into the nursery to do some tests and found out she had amniotic fluid in her lungs, possibly because the cord was around her neck, causing her to breathe shallowly which also caused her heart rate to slow down. They rushed her to the NICU where she spend the next three days being pumped full of fluids, and antibiotics and filled up with oxygen. The amazing nurses took such good care of her and I spent a lot of time in there just holding her and trying to snuggle and nurse her, even though it was almost impossible with cords coming out of every direction, especially the IV coming out of her tiny little head which was heartbreaking. Every time I moved her, an alarm would go off. She was so calm and sweet and the nurses almost never called me to say she was crying or cranky. I spent a lot of time in my room listening to General Conference over again on the Mormon Channel. I am now addicted to listening to the various programs on that application and it makes it easier to wake up for night feedings when I get to listen to Uchtdorf. I usually wake up every morning tired, but uplifted by the spirit and I have to say that I feel so much support from the Lord and so blessed in every way. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc6PSaCZxWOTMVAH4BDAuyQ84lrXbpKEH2boKEAyFD5DkwhnvWLTt6hI2bcfpGf9iI3L7c2KOeqsZm_imh3J1YsoqXQU0VDBM4FO4TBJrxg0ATVM46_S14qM_KxCx_CKfJ6IDzGG6aEhW/s1600/Violette+2011+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvc6PSaCZxWOTMVAH4BDAuyQ84lrXbpKEH2boKEAyFD5DkwhnvWLTt6hI2bcfpGf9iI3L7c2KOeqsZm_imh3J1YsoqXQU0VDBM4FO4TBJrxg0ATVM46_S14qM_KxCx_CKfJ6IDzGG6aEhW/s640/Violette+2011+003.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta get some oxygen little girl!</td></tr>
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The day after I had the baby Justin called me to come outside and I met him in a new(used) white Toyota Sienna in almost perfect condition. He smiled and announced, "Happy Baby!". It was definitely the best baby present I have ever gotten. I thought I was spoiled when he got me the ipod shuffle after Henry was born. haha.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82SqCa2pZ7dnG27SaEPFnzwxhjtQG_j7XTN90sk0L0mpurQfqklzdS1PsVFSWgaUTJ6bD7ME7rZuFZ3itwkFXRxf4LQ3dmWO6NT8DNQYxM8Ej7q1RaEM9chdGH_G9MQV5DrrP79V1ZX-Z/s1600/Violette+2011+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82SqCa2pZ7dnG27SaEPFnzwxhjtQG_j7XTN90sk0L0mpurQfqklzdS1PsVFSWgaUTJ6bD7ME7rZuFZ3itwkFXRxf4LQ3dmWO6NT8DNQYxM8Ej7q1RaEM9chdGH_G9MQV5DrrP79V1ZX-Z/s640/Violette+2011+039.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the kids on the couch. Can you tell my kids were a bit neglected while I was gone? </td></tr>
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We stayed in the hospital for an extra day and then Violette was able to come home. I have had an extra swift recovery and I'm already up and out and about with the kids and the new baby doing all the fun fall things we love to do. I have a helper staying with me just in case I need an extra set of hands while I get the milk flow going, which takes a lot of time sometimes but I feel confident that after next week I'll be able to do it on my own.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKKxHB-857TylwQfEjIXx_AlDBj0Y3xSLmwF-pUPZcdCcHwK-ZMPiXry4fKsiB1CM8NAZXlzisA2ZqheZOOYF2tB0CfAd4NRGDzs9bK2e_C_X3Q0t3_KVoB01Mf6PapuqRwlv_nramKQO/s1600/Violette+2011+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKKxHB-857TylwQfEjIXx_AlDBj0Y3xSLmwF-pUPZcdCcHwK-ZMPiXry4fKsiB1CM8NAZXlzisA2ZqheZOOYF2tB0CfAd4NRGDzs9bK2e_C_X3Q0t3_KVoB01Mf6PapuqRwlv_nramKQO/s320/Violette+2011+028.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone's happy:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0Mr-oLak7eyJZ3v1sxm9AiLanuuezEyXwApRbmni6K9phlr2jL7A6_qPUIoqlAwHPckStkQyI5yiTQ1yrg7Mnm4mRKfAUHnJmJ3K5xxGtoMaq6UFIFI7LnVXtOzL8SigW_YCDVsiD3sC/s1600/Violette+2011+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0Mr-oLak7eyJZ3v1sxm9AiLanuuezEyXwApRbmni6K9phlr2jL7A6_qPUIoqlAwHPckStkQyI5yiTQ1yrg7Mnm4mRKfAUHnJmJ3K5xxGtoMaq6UFIFI7LnVXtOzL8SigW_YCDVsiD3sC/s320/Violette+2011+030.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye Baby Killer</td></tr>
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I feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude because of the wonderful blessings I have in my life and for my beautiful and wonderful children. I feel the presence of the Lord in our house so strongly and I know he's sent us a special spirit who will be a sweet and calming presence in our home. Thank you for coming into this world my darling little daughter. Mommy loves you sweet one. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4