Apple picking and the pumpkin patch (well actually just the pumpkin lot)

We had an excuse this year to go to the apple orchard, now that we have a child; well, I guess we did, she didn't exactly pick any apples or run through the corn maze... It was excuse enough for me (not that I need one, since Chris and I have gone the past 2 years). We had an unbelievably beautiful day for it. Here are a few pictures. There were great sunflowers planted too!



In our efforts to ease into night time, we've been taking daily baths and Becca loves it (usually). She's a ham about it. She loves to suck on a wash cloth and kick her legs up. My favorite part is when she gets wrapped up in her towel after the bath and then peeks out...

Not too much going on...

Well, no news is good news! Nothing too exciting is going on. I worked again on Saturday and Becca actually took 2 ounces by bottle from Chris. Aside from that she ate before I left at 7:15am and when I got home around 3:30pm; she wasn't upset about it either, so all were happy!

We've gone to another playdate and talked with more moms and tots, so that's good. Got together last night with all the old Weiss girls and their kiddos. It was so great to see everyone and amazing to see how much the kids have grown!

Here are a couple new pictures...

This is what she does when Chris or I come in after her nap and say hello!

Becca is ready for the playoffs...Go Cards!

Such a big help in the kitchen

Becca's first visit to Taco Bell....she likes it!

Oh yea, Becca continues to lose hair! We don't know yet what color is coming in next!

I'm getting out there!

So things with Becca are going much better since I've layed off the control factor; she and I are much happier. She even slept for 5 hours last night! BUT...the big news is that Becca and I are getting out to socialize with friends and to make new ones!!! Yesterday we met up with two friends and their kiddos at a local park and hung out for 1 1/2 hours. Today was our big plunge: It was a bit like my first day of school but it went very well! Becca and I went to our first official playgroup with Big City Babies, a local playgroup for stay at home moms, and lasted 1 1/2 hours. I went online to look for playgroups so that I could start to meet some local stay at home moms with kiddos around Becca's age. I found a great website http://moms.meetup.com/cities/us/il/chicago/ and saw several playgroups that looked appealing. I have officially joined two of them, Big City Babies and New Mom Network Chicago Meetup Group, and am waiting to be let into a couple others. The playgroup was great! It was just what I'm looking for. The group was going to met at a local bakery (http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com/) at 11am. Becca and I walked there, went into the bakery 5 minutes early, got a delicious scone (the "Take a Hike" scone is fabulous!) and then walked around the neighborhood for a bit--Becca was napping in the stroller, and I thought it was probably smart to honor her nap before we met up with everyone. We headed to the park when she woke up and I talked with several moms while Becca sat in my lap and played on a blanket. One mom in particular, I hit it off with. We have several things in common: she is a licensed social worker and used to work with kids in a local school district, she's a runner, and her daughter was born 2 weeks before Becca--it was great to talk to someone going through very similar things as us Joneses. (We even exchanged information!)

I have to say that I'm proud of myself for being proactive with getting Becca and I out there to meet new people...and super happy it went so well! Can't wait for my next playgroup meetup!

Super Cute, but Maybe Let's Not Mess With 3 Things at Once...

The seasoned veterans may have predicted this or at least foreseen the troubles...I'm not longer aggressively participating in three operations simultaneously. Becca's unhappy and so is mommy! Even though the first day and a half went smashingly, since then has not been quite as grand...too much crying, leading to not enough sleeping during the day, apparently not enough food consumption during the day, and then the old habit of waking up every 3-4 hours at night to eat....so while not giving up on everything, I'm going to tone it down a bit. A bottle every other day, rock her not all the way to sleep but a little closer than I previously thought and gently encourage bedtime up closer to 9pm for now...

"You want me to fall asleep in here?"

"I'm way cuter out here with you holding me."

But as the headline reads, she's still super-duper cute! We had a bit of a photo shoot yesterday as I am trying to learn how to better use our fancy camera (I even got a few helpful books out of the library today...)

**Had to do some editing so removed a couple photos**

3 months old, Las Vegas, Bottle standoff and Covert operations

Yes, it's been an eventful week! The family took our first plane ride together. Chris' best friend, Josh, got married in Las Vegas to his beautiful fiancee, Carly, and we were there to celebrate with them. Needless to say, Chris and I were more nervous about the flying than Becca was. She was a dream!! She slept for 2 1/2 hours of the 3 1/2 hours out there; she barely peeped. On the way home, she slept for 3 hours of the 3 1/2 hour trip and hardly made a sound!

Vegas itself was a bit overwhelming for our just turned 3 month old baby. Lights, noises, smoke...it's overstimulating to me and I understand the world (sort of). BUT, Becca still did great; no major meltdowns, she slept well, enjoyed her first dip in the pool, walked the Las Vegas strip, visited several over-the-top casinos and attended her first wedding.

We were glad to share in our friends' special day, but super glad to be back and settle back into our Chicago routine....well, not until Tuesday. I worked a full day on Labor Day Monday and in my absence, Becca did not eat. She and Chris had a fun filled day playing, talking and sleeping, but no eating, that is until he brought her to the hospital for me to feed her at 12:15p. She is not taking anything substantial from the bottle, but we keep trying!

And for the big covert operations...the bottle training, though an operation of sorts, is not covert, however, Operation Move Up Bedtime (aka MUB) is taking place under the radar, as is NMRS (no more rocking her to sleep). It's true, we are working on two simultaneous operations and last night and today have been a promising start! Detail of MUB: Becca was going to sleep consistently at 10p with an hour nap around 7 or 7:30p so we have decided to smoosh it all together and shoot for a bedtime of 8p. Last night she went down at 8:15, slept for an hour and then fought the going to bed idea (in my arms) until she finally gave up at 10p. She did sleep all the way to 5:45a and then was back down for 3 more hours (I think she's still catching up from our trip and the eating hold out of yesterday). As for the NMRS op, a little more tricky...Becca is a snuggler and loves to be rocked and gently bounced to sleep which she has been virtually every time she's gone to sleep since she was born. Yes, it's getting a bit old for mom and dad :) hence the more intensive covert operation. Last night, I got Becca sleepy and then put her down. She cried, but I stayed very close rubbing and patting her back and stroking her cheek. After about 5+ minutes (Chris had to leave because he felt bad that she was crying), I DID IT! Well, actually SHE did it...but we had victory! She went to sleep!!! Today for her nap, which she is still taking, I got her sleepy and put her down; she got unsleepy and cried for about 5 minutes while I tried to soothe her--I aborted the mission temporarily to soothe her in my arms and once again get her sleepy then put her down and within 1-2 minutes with a little cheek stroking I had victory again!! Yipee!

Ahh, it's the small victories...

Terrible, I know...

So I haven't been a good blogger...it is a bit of a committment, BUT, I'm ready to commit! Yes, it's true; once a week (hopefully on Mondays) I will be updating the blog. Don't expect a huge monologue, but there will be something new :) Hip-Hip-Hooray!

Becca is doing great and is such a fun little being! She'll be 3 months tomorrow and Chris and I still marvel at her and all the new things she does virtually every day. Here are some new pictures

She's 8 weeks here and is just starting to smile

This is one of my favorites: in the Bumbo flirting with the Bumble Bear!

Always practicing tummy time

Storytime with Mamaw

Hanging out with Mommy in the kitchen and yes, she's flirting with the Bumble Bear again!

She's so fun. She talks and smiles and loves when we talk to her (she's definately doomed with the gift of gab coming from Chris and I).

Tonight, we are off to Vegas--yes, Vegas!--Becca and my's first trip to Sin City. Send us good vibes as we take our first plane ride!

Talk to you Monday! :)