2 year update!

Jaliyah is now 2 years old and is absolutely amazing. She is now 35 inches tall and weighs 31 lbs - her height to weight ratio is perfect. As many of you know, I co-slept with Jaliyah from a young age and for her birthday I purchased a toddler bed to being the "big girl"-ness. She is slowly but surely making way to her own bed and this transition has reassured me and my co-sleeping method. She is totally in love with reading and learning - she can now spell her first, middle, and last name. She can count to "twell" (twelve).

As far as her eating habits she still adores fruit and will eat fruit until it comes out of her eyeballs. Vegetables on the other hand, are no good. I give her the Gerber grabbers and similar products that mix vegetables and fruits together. I'm also giving her Pediasure on occasion to make sure she is getting her nutrients.

I had a few readers wondering about Jaliyah's night terrors. They have subsided quite a bit but do still rear their ugly heads sometimes. I still do not know what was causing them to begin with but she slowly grew out of them. She will have one maybe once or twice a month now - and they are still scary! I'm hoping with in the next few months she will completely rid them. Much of the research I did told me that night terrors can turn in to sleep walking as the babies/toddlers turn in to bigger kids, which scares the crap out of me! But I'll cross that road if we ever get to it..crossing fingers...

9 Month Update

Jaliyah's actually 9 and a half months but we just had her 9 month well baby check-up today. She is just getting over a little virus, she had a fever for about 5 days but it never got over 100.3 so the DR said to just let it run its course. So that's what I did and now she is all better. Other then that she has not been sick up to this point.

Stats/Accomplishments:

22 lbs and 6 oz
30 inches long
Pull herself up to stand
Walk along the furniture
She has taken one step unsupported :)
She likes to flip through "touch and feel" books and feel all the textures on her own
"ma-ma"
FINALLY crib sleeping

I think she has come a long way since 6 months - she can do so much more now. She has slowed down her weight gain - only 2 lbs since 6 months but has grown 3 inches taller so she is thinning out.

I am thinking about enrolling her and I into this class called "Junior Jam Time". Its an hour or so interactive music class with other infants/toddlers and their parents; I think it sounds fun and will help even further with development. Jaliyah has been saying consonant sounds for a few months now but now they are starting to get a meaning and SHE is understanding the meaning. She knows who da-da is, ma-ma, and she says na-na and I think that it means shes hungry. How exciting! Hope all is well with everyone <3

Resolution :)

I feel like every entry now starts with "I've been busy" or "I'll be posting more now" - but I swear this time! As part of my new years resolution, I will be posting at least once a week. I didn't want to get too ambitious and say everyday because I am a single working mother also going to college (as most of you know) - so I'm quite busy but at least once a week you will find me here!

I hope you all had an amazing holiday season and a happy new year. My new years resolutions are to (a) post at least one entry a week on my blog and (b) get all A's on my classes this year! What are some of your resolutions?

I think I may have already mentioned this but this semester I will be completing my associates degree. I will probably take the summer off before I start on my bachelor degree classes. Things are going great at my job, I am gaining more responsibilities as the time goes by - which is good and bad. Bad because I end up extending my hours sometimes but I'll work through it.

Jaliyah is 9 months today - omg omg omg omg omg - ok now that I am done freaking out - isn't that nuts?! She got way too many toys for Christmas lol but lots of books too. Actually, her new favorite toy is a book. It's one of those texture feeling books you know? She will sit there with it for several minutes and just rub the fur on the animal pages lol She also got a walker, blocks, puzzles, a music table, a leaning kitchen, and a bunch more!


I have a few reviews I am working on to bring to you guys and I am also working on getting a giveaway underway! So make sure you guys stay tuned and thank you so much to all my followers who have stayed during my MIA's :) Again, if there's anything you'd like reviewed or covered please leave a comment.

Santa's coming to town! (8 month update)

Have YOU finished your shopping?

I haven't! I am almost done though, I am always one of those frantic people at the mall spending unnecessary money to make sure I have enough for everyone. It is Jaliyah's first Christmas and I am SO excited. She's at such a good age for a first Christmas. I have to make sure my video camera is charged.

Jaliyah is 22 lbs 16 oz; She is in size 9-12m tops and 18m bottoms and can now..

Pull herself up on things - to standing
Walk along furniture
Stand alone without holding onto anything for a few seconds
Say da-da (and know who it is)
Self feed
Blow raspberries on me :)

Many of you know my struggle with getting Jaliyah to be independent. We are still co-sleeping but she can now put herself to sleep with no rocking/shhh-ing or anything. I just have to lay her down and she goes to sleep. She also is great playing by herself for awhile but she loves to follow mommy around too. She loves babbling and discovering new sounds she can make. I cannot believe how big she is getting. She is also (finally) on a great schedule for her and I! We struggled so much with this because I work and go to school, but I've had a few days off and was able to work on a good schedule. She is well rested and much happier, which means a happier mommy!

We did Christmas pictures on her 8 month birthday, so we will not be doing 9 month pictures. Instead we will wait until April and do her 1 year pictures! Wow, only 4 months away! I hope you all have an AMAZING holiday. Also, if there is anything you would like to see reviewed, discussed, or have any questions - leave a comment :)

6 Month Update

o-m-g, she is half a year old! I just can't believe it. Jaliyah now weighs 20.6 lbs and is 27.5 inches long! I swear she was going to weigh no less then 35 lbs lol but only 20! The DR said she looks great :)

Jaliyah can:

• Sit without falling


• Get into the crawling position to grab a toy, then get back to sitting


• Crawl backwards lol


• Eat all fruits and veggie baby food


• Fit into 12 month clothes (I know..)

She is now completely uninterested in her swing, I am debating on taking it apart and putting it away. Her acid reflux is pretty much gone now, she rarely spits up. She is on 4oz of formula along with her fruits and veggies. Oh, and she is looking more and more like her daddy every day..ugh..



aand since you all luv us tremendously you should cast your vote for her: HERE :)

Lifestyle Change

The past few weeks I have been trying a new approach to my everyday life. I did not want to write about it unless I actually stuck with it, so now I'm ready!

For a long long time, ever since I could remember, I haven't really been happy with my external self. I tried several different things and it just..didn't work/didn't stick with it/got lazy..whatever the excuse was. After having Jaliyah is when I think I really hit rock bottom. I didn't gain too much weight while I was pregnant, but I think just having this new wonderful being in my life made me put MY life in perspective.
I am also a strong believer that "diets" do not work. You can't be on a "diet" the rest of your life! It's setting oneself up for failure before even starting. So that's how I decided to do an entire lifestyle change.

Here is what I've changed:

• I have always been a snacker, so I just chose to put healthy snacks in my house so when I do want to snack, I have no choice but to choose a healthy one! These include:
  
  
  • Fresh fuits/veggies
    
  • 100 Calorie Packs - these things are AWESOME! They totally fill my chocolate cravings too!
    
  • FiberOne bars (BTW - the commercial is totally correct - they are SO good)
    
  
  
• I replaced all my lunch meat with fresh deli cut turkey
  
• I do not eat as much red meat - more chicken and turkey
  
• I do not eat bread, that was replaced with whole wheat or multi-grain tortillas for wraps
  
• I totally cut out mayonnaise (whoa) and only use mustard as a condiment on sandwiches and such.
  
• Biggest thing: I don't deprive myself of anything! It's all about portion control. But I do try and listen to my will power :)

I have noticed a huge change in m energy. I feel like I can function normally with just a few hours of sleep now. Like I said, it's been about 3 weeks that I have been doing this and it really is not that hard. I control the food I put in this house and if there isn't any junk food then I can't eat it, right? Right!

I really encourage all of you to try it, if you haven't already. It's really amazing how the food you eat effects your whole life. Let me know if you are going to take the challenge!

On another note: Chelsea (Dylan Daily) is a good friend of mine (outside of blogging too) and just started her etsy shop! You should ALL check it out - especially you pregger ones and nursing momma's! She has an awesome patented replaceable cup nursing bra for nursing momma's! SAHM Designs!

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

I finally have things together and I can come back actively again. I am so excited, because I missed writing in here. It made me realize how much my blog really is a great thing for me.

Biggest news....I GOT THE JOB!! I am so excited. I am officially a Sales & Marketing Administrative Intern - yes, it is just an internship but a paid one at that :) This will most definitely put my foot in the door in the business world and I am just happy. It is going to be really hard being away from Jaliyah everyday but it is only 4/5 hours a day. I think my biggest fear is that I will miss one of her "firsts". What if I miss her first tooth? or her first time crawling? walking? word?! That kind of discourages me from ever leaving her side lol But I know it's for the best.

I have a list of new posts I am going to be working on. Now that I am working AND in school, I will probably post every other day instead of every day like I used to - but I am back being active - I promise.

WELCOME to the new reader's Baybee Luv has received while I've been out of commission.
Don't forget to vote on the side bar ♥

Do you miss me?

Hello my dear followers!
I know, I know - you do not have to tell me - I am being quite neglectful lately. I've had a lot going on with school and trying to get a job. So I decided to give you a little update in hopes that you won't leave me :)

I've been going through the interview process for a GREAT corporate job in my area - I am really hoping I get it. I already had my telephone interview and my face-to-face interview. Tomorrow I go to interview with the Human Resource department and then we will see! This will be a great stepping stone for career. By may I will have my associates degree in Business Management (effing finally after 4 years!)! I will, of course, continue on to get my bachelor's. This job is only part-time but it is better then nothing and with all the great experience it will give me, I am glad I found it. I will probably get a second part-time as well.

You know my mommy-do list that I have been doing so well at? ...not...well I have like 400 more things to add to it! I need to make Jaliyah's 6 month check-up and pictures appointments. Can you believe she is about to be 6 months? Because I can't - it's insane. I'll only touch on her update a little bit otherwise I won't have a 6 month update post. But she can sit up on her own!! yay! She's been able to do it for about 4 days, she only falls backwards when she tries to look up at something really high.

I will leave you with a few recent pictures because I suck at project 365 :)

What a slackerrrr!

Hi, My name is Elisha - and I am a slacker.

UGH! I am slacking on my Mommy-Do list like..REALLY bad. All that stuff was supposed to be done 2 weeks ago..oops :( I desperately want to start on my scrap-booking and thus start on "Scrap-booking Sunday's".

The past 2 weeks have been full of not-so-fun things. I was supposed to start my online class 2 weeks ago but of course, the book I ordered with over night delivery did not show up until 4 days ago...needless to say, I am VERY behind and I don't think I can get any points/grades for the last 2 weeks assignments. Since it's only a 7 week accelerated class, I pretty much have to get A's on everything else to do good. PLus all the dumb drama relating to my previous post Mother?! You're not a mother..!

On the other side, Jaliyah finally convinced herself to like tummy time enough to learn to roll from her tummy to her back - yipee! This means (possibly) less crying?! haha - we will see. She is scooting like a pro and sitting up on her own for about 40 seconds! WOOO!! She is going to be on the move in no time - that's gunna be fuuuun!

Stay tuned: I am working on a couple reviews right now for Elisha's Essentials. Also working on some haul posts of some winter clothes and things that I have bought recently for Jaliyah - and yes, I know I am far far behind on project 365 - this is due to my dumb camera. I should have the catch-up pictures in one big post in the next few days.

5 more days to get your entries in to win the Rattles CD! - Click here :)

It's Friday!

Hey all new momma's from friday blog hops!! Check out my blog hop page for more hops!
Jaliyah and I are excited for this weekend. Jason is getting the girls (Jaliyah's sisters) and that is always a fun time. Besides having to catch up on school, there is a festival here in my city that we will probably be going to. I love little festivals with fun face painting, food, walking around, art, and all types of things. I am also thinking about taking them to the cider mill. We are for sure going to the cider mill with Chelsea (Dylan Daily) and her LO Dylan on Tuesday.

I love, love, love the fall! I love the feeling you get from the season, the pumpkins, apple cider, caramel apples, Halloween, Thanksgiving, changing leaves...I could go on and on. I am excited for Jaliyah to experience it for the first time.

OH! How could I forget?! Miss Jaliyah sat up on her own last night for about 8 seconds! Wohoo!
Don't forget...
Check out the current GIVEAWAY
Be so kind as to vote for Jaliyah :) Here!

5 Month Update

I can't believe Jaliyah is 5 months old already! That means she is almost 6 months, which means she is almost a year, which means she is almost 16, and then moving out! :( How sad..

Jaliyah can..

• Push up with straight elbows during tummy time.
• Rock back and forth and scoot forwards.
• Sit by herself for about 2.5 seconds (lol).
• Throw toys across the room/drop things and look for them - She knows they don't just disappear now.

She finally enjoys her bumbo seat now that she can support herself well. She likes to sit in it and watch out the window (Note to self: get bumbo seat tray). She is growing so quick, I need to invest in a scale too, but I think she weighs around 17.5 lbs now.

I am buying some veggies today, we will try them tonight! I think I am going to get squash - how exciting! I know I say this all the time but it is seriously so amazing to see the new things she can do each and every day.

Current giveaway: The Rattles CD
PLZ Vote for Jaliyah: Just click here!

Labor Day :)

I'm sure most new mom's are like this, but this weekend I kept saying "OH! This is Jaliyah's first _____!" Everyone would laugh at me lol But really, it was her first Labor Day, her first boat ride and her first beach trip! So I was quite excited and carried my camera all day.

On Saturday we went up to my dad's cottage for the day with my brother and new niece, Ariana. It was rainy and cold so we couldn't do much but just hang out - but it was still fun!


Sunday we just hung out with daddy and Jaliyah's sisters and went to the park, it was a much needed relaxing day for the both of us.

Monday was the best day by far! We went to my Aunt's cottage, where I grew up, and had a blast. It was kind of cloudy but we still made the best of it. Jason AND Jaliyah had their first boat ride - both of them loved it. The boat ride put Jaliyah to sleep, so cute.


Her first boat ride!
She had fallen asleep so she was zipped into Daddy's jacket to stay away from the wind lol


And it was Jaliyah's 5 month birthday! ♥

Summer is officially over..

..for me anyways. Why? Classes started! Argh...even though its one semester closer to a degree - it still sucks! When I graduated high school I said ex-nay (no) to a scholarship at a 4-year university and ran away to Atlanta with a guy I got engaged too. Needless to say, him and I are no longer together and I have been working full-time and going to school to get my edu-muh-cation. Doing it this way instead of how I originally should have is taking MUCH longer then it would have - but oh well.

So Monday's I am gone all day at school while Jaliyah stays with my mom. I was worried it wasn't going to go so well because last night Jason took me out for a night out of the house (I haven't done that since Jaliyah was born) and we went and relaxed on the water and stuff. Anyways - while we were gone, Jaliyah was NOT happy and cried herself to throwing up 3 times! She is so dramatic and so very clingy, so this Monday separation will be good for the both of us. BUT I was extremely nervous Jaliyah would not remember who I was! Jason and I left last night when she was sleeping and left this morning before she was awake (we leave at 6am for school and he goes to work). So she didn't see us again until this evening. My mom said she did not cry one time, so that's awesome! I was still nervous she had forgotten about me :(

..SHE DIDN'T! I was soooo happy to see her big smile when I picked her up. Ugh...I love her.

I'm still here!

I know, I know, it's been forever since I updated. Jaliyah has been quite a handful this past week. If you read my last update, I am trying to get Jaliyah to play on her own without needing me right there in her face. She is not quite catching on - there a few times that she passes out on her own from being so tired but other then that our days are filled with a lot of crying because she wants to continuously be held.

Along with all of that, she is teething really bad right now. She is constantly shoving things in her mouth, gnawing on her tongue or bottom lip and of course - crying. Orajel does not work for her, so I let her gnaw on her frozen teethers and we have these popsicles that are wrapped in like..hard plastic so the plastic gets frozen too - so she sucks on those.

I am not doing so well on my mommy-do list lol I've crossed off one! I'm hoping to get the carpets washed this weekend. I need to get a cutter for my scrapbooking before I can start that But I am determined to finish before classes start!

Right now she is (kind of) napping. I see her peeking her eyes open lol I'm glad that she is going through this while I'm on break from school. I go back next Monday for Fall semester - phew. I almost have my associates degree, then on to my bachelor's!

HI to all my new subscribers! I swear I will go through all the comments later tonight or tomorrow and follow you all back :) Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!

YAY!!!

Hey everyone! Look over there ------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and then scroll down a little bit..what do you see?!
100+ FOLLOWERS!
I am sooooooooooooo excited! Thank you guys soooooooo much, and I appreciate all of you! SO much in fact that I will now be doing my first GIVEAWAY! So make sure you look out for that in the next few days!

Jaliyah's sisters are coming over for the weekend, I know she is excited - she loves them. They always try and help me change her diaper and feed her (they are 3 and 4). It's a lot of fun having them here to visit Jaliyah. We will probably take a walk to the park like we always do, get a few movies, and just MAYBE take another trip to Chuck-E-Cheese - wohoo.
Jaliyah is trying so hard to roll from her tummy to her back, but gets super frustrated that she hasn't figured it out - but I know it's coming. Then crawling, then walking, then running, then she's 18! Holy crap..phew.

Reminders: Today is Friday so make sure to check out my Blog Hops page and click on the Friday hops!
Also, I just made my Facebook page - you can "like" it HERE!

ATTENTION!

You're reading it here first! Remember reading about how I let Jaliyah cry it out for a few minutes? Well..this morning we came downstairs for a morning bottle, after she ate I laid her on the floor for some play time like we do every morning. I went on to check my blog and realized it was suddenly VERY quiet, so I go to check on her and find this....

Yes people, that's right - That's Jaliyah sleeping. No - your eyes are NOT playing tricks on you. It must have been a fluke.

So our day goes on and it was just lunch time so she drank her bottle, I put her down for tummy time and folks...it happened again. She laid her head down and talked herself to sleep! No patting, rubbing, bouncing, singing, nothing. I am sooooo proud!

Facebook Page :)

Hey momma's!

I just made a Facebook page where you'll be able to get all the links to my posts, but where I will also provide even more information that you won't be getting on here. This will include different articles and extra entries for giveaways.

Please go "like" the Baybee Luv Facebook page in the right side bar or just click HERE!

Thank you guys SO much,


BTW - When I get 100+ followers is when I will be having my first giveaway so watch out for it!

What to do...What to do..

I know this is a touchy subject and everyone has their opinions, but "crying it out" seems to be my only option now. Jaliyah is a little over 4 months old now and she cries every time someone is not in her face or playing with her. Some may think 4 months is too early for this, and I used to think that. But I go to school full-time and have serious homework to do. Usually I just wait for her to go to bed and I do it, no matter how late I stay up, but now I'm getting behind - I only have 6 classes to go until my degree. Finals are this week - its crunch time. I'm doing all this to make a better life for us. Plus when I go back to work, I'm not going to be around her all the time and then what? I don't want her miserable while I'm at work crying and screaming the whole time. I know no one said this was going to be easy, but why does it have to be so hard? It breaks me heart. I love her!

I decided that it's time. I knew I wasn't going to let her cry for hours, only 7ish minutes. Then I would just come in her sight so she can see me but not play with her. So that's exactly what I did and she did surprisingly well - yes she cried the entire time. But as soon as she saw I was in the room she calmed down to just a whimper. She now is just playing and rolling around.

I know it's going to take a few times doing this and it's going to be a process but I know it'll be good for both of us. I want her to know that yes I will always be there but she can be by herself and be okay too - that I will still be there when she is done.

Momma time - almost!

Guess what I got to do today?

Just guess..

TAKE A REAL SHOWER! I know, I know - you are jealous, and you should be - nanananana! It was a REAL shower, not a jump-in-speed-racer-3.5-minute-cut-yourself-shaving shower. I got to relaxxxxxx for a whole 15 minutes. I even got to do my version of a mommy-no-time pedicure. Whew, how exciting.

Anyways..Miss Jaliyah rolled from front to back today! So proud and don't forget to look out for her link to vote for her in the Gerber contest - It'll start in the beginning of September. You know..I am 4 months postpartum now and I always heard that it was possible to lose a lot of hair postpartum but it never happened to me...until now. I lose clumps and it's totally pissing me off because I already have thin hair. ugh. But on a bright note - I just signed up for my Fall semester classes - only 4 more classes until my Associates!

I decided to cut down on the overload of posts, every Monday I will be doing the 30 Day Challenge questions a week in advance in one big post. That is what the post is below me for this week.

4 Month Update

Today Jaliyah turned a whopping 4 months old (at 10:03pm to be precise). She can now..

• Roll from back to tummy, and tummy to back
• Yell at me
• Give me quite the attitude when yelling at me
• ALMOST push up on her hands when she is having tummy time, but completely mastered on the elbows
• I've heard her (a few times) graduate from cooing to babbling
• Hold her bottle when she feels like it
• Reach out for things/toys
• Eat cereal!
• LAUGH!

She got her second set of shots today, she did slightly better then the first time - but still had the no-breathe-cry. She checked out good with just a few spots left of thrush to get rid of. Jaliyah weighs in at a whopping 16.10 lbs and 25 inches long