Obon

Violet is 11 weeks old now, and she is such a joy! This weekend, we visited Madge and her daughter and son-in-law. Madge is a longtime family friend of Sarah's maternal grandparents. Here is Violet getting ready to go, and a picture with Madge and Pat:



On Saturday, we went to the West LA Obon festival at the Buddhist church. It was a great community event, with DELICIOUS food and games for the children. There was also a fun dancing display. The availability of cultural celebrations and learning experiences like this is one of the reasons why we love LA! To learn about Obon, visit http://www.wlabt.org/activities/activities_obon.html. Here is Violet with Mom in the church, and with Dad in the garden:

Quick update on Violet's 2 month appointment Friday, 7/11. She is now 21 3/4 inches, and 11 lbs, 13 oz!!! That puts her in the 75th percentile (or between 50th and 75th)! At her 2.5 week appointment, she was in the 20th percentile at 7 lbs, 7 oz, so we're glad to see her grow. She's pretty chubby, and mostly wearing 3 month clothes. Our doctor said that breastfed babies are usually pretty chubby at this point! She also got her shots, and that was terrible. She screamed and cried like we've never heard (so did I), and she felt pretty rotten all weekend. I wish there were a better way to vaccinate! Here's a picture from last night (sorry it's not great quality) and a short video.

Violet's 2-month Appointment

Quick update on Violet's 2 month appointment Friday, 7/11. She is now 21 3/4 inches, and 11 lbs, 13 oz!!! That puts her in the 75th percentile (or between 50th and 75th)! At her 2.5 week appointment, she was in the 20th percentile at 7 lbs, 7 oz, so we're glad to see her grow. She's pretty chubby, and mostly wearing 3 month clothes. Our doctor said that breastfed babies are usually pretty chubby at this point! She also got her shots, and that was terrible. She screamed and cried like we've never heard (and so did I), and she felt pretty rotten all weekend. I wish there were a better way to vaccinate!

Here's a picture of a 12 lb Violet from last night (sorry it's not great quality) and a short video.

Violet Smiles!

Today is Violet's 7 week birthday, and she is smiling! I've been suspicious for a few days now, but she is definitely smiling and almost laughing now. It is so cute; she's missing out on naps becuase Mom is so bedazzled by her smile!

Here's a smile from yesterday:

Celebrating her 7 week birthday:

Bummer, she still cries, too:

"Studio" Pictures

Last week Violet and I went to JC Penny's to have her first official (6 week) photographs taken. I finally felt confident in my ability to get both of us clean, dressed, and buckled in the car in a reasonable amount of time, so I made an appointment. The photo studio seemed to be really organized, because someone called me the evening before our appointment, and reminded us to be there ten minutes early for our 10:20 "call time"... which is 10:10, right? So Violet and I arrive at the photo studio clean and dressed, with a diaper bag full of ironed outfits for baby at 10:07. Score one point for New Mom! I made it on time to an appointment!

The photographer showed up at 10:25 to open shop.

Why did I stay? Why did I wait around, you ask? (Unless you've tried to get a six-week-old to a portrait studio, because then you know.) Because it was, in actuality, a TWO day event to get the timing right, the stroller in the car, the baby clean, the outfits ready... we were there, and I wasn't leaving until someone took pictures of my cute little baby. So the photographer, without apologizing, took pictures of my baby long, long after our appointment... after two diaper changes, a spit-up disaster, and a feeding.

We waited for about 15 minutes while she uploaded all of our pictures, then we picked the ones we wanted, then we left. And I had a nagging feeling... the pictures were cute, but... I could do that, right? And save myself some stress and a day of traveling? So here is MY attempt to take "studio" pictures of Violet from Monday.



And next time we go to Penny's, I'm taking Erik, too.

Cute Six Week Pictures

That's all, really... I just wanted to post some pictures of six-week-old Violet!

Congratulations, Locke Grads

For the last three years, I've taught 11th and 12th grade English at Locke High School in South Central Los Angeles. I learned so much more than I taught, and I have my students to thank for that. With Violet's birth and Locke converting to charter status, I will not be returning next year, but Erik, Violet, and I did go to graduation to wish my seniors good luck and say goodbye. It was so hot! I felt really bad for dressing Violet in PJs... but she was sound asleep when we left the house!

To my illustrious scholars: Congratulations! You have overcome, and I look forward to hearing of your future successes. You have made me so proud. If you can humble, teach, and inspire one person so deeply, imagine what you will do for multitudes in the future.

Erik is 30!

Well, Erik is finally 30! Sounds distinguished, doesn't it? We had fun celebrating in the park last Saturday with friends and family... good thing, because his actual birthday (Thursday 6/19) was a drag! He went to work in the morning, chaperoned Violet and me at the Locke High graduation, then started a new class that night. I'm so proud of what Erik has accomplished in his first 30 years, and I can't wait to see what the next 30 hold.

Five Weeks

We can't believe that we've had Violet for over a month now, but at the same time it feels like we've had her forever! We're getting used to sleeping less, although she's slept 3 seven-hour nights, and 3 five-hour nights (fingers crossed for more of those!). She's getting very big, and I think (weighing her on my scale) she's almost 9 lbs! I'm finally retiring some of her smallest newborn clothes, and can't believe that she's already growing up :) Here she is in her "Violet" outfit!

Fashion Show!

I'm so glad I have a little girl! Here she is at about four weeks wearing some new headbands from Grandma LaDonna and a pretty dress, too!

Violet's 2.5 week check up

Violet had her 2.5 week check up today, and she's doing great! She weighed in at 7 lbs 7 oz which is a great feat! She was born at 6 lbs 12 oz, and was down to 6 lbs 4 oz before we left the hospital. We were really glad to see that she's gaining weight so well, since she's exclusively breastfeeding. I'm glad to see that my hard work is paying off!
The Dr. also said that she's following objects really well with her eyes, and that she has a great disposition. We think so too :)

Violet's Poem

This is a poem that Violet's Grossomi (Erik's German Grandmother) wrote for her. I thought it was so beautiful, that I had to reprint it here! Before you read: "Grossopa" is Violet's Greatgrandfather, who passed away in 2000.

A Special VIOLET

Grossopa knew I loved Violets and therefor he bought
The prettiest ones, blooming each spring in our yard.
When he planted them so long ago whoever would have thought
In spring of 2008 a Violet would plant herself into my heart.

Precious little Violet
Your intelligence and good looks can be expected
Your parents' deep love and diligence will be also reflected
For letting into a healthy fine person you grow
A human being of substance and not just for show.

Enjoy a youth full of happiness, learning and play
We love sharing parts of your life as long as God lets us stay.
Our best wishes for you remaining, they will be left behind.
In little Claire and Presley the finest cousins you find.
On the horizon I surely can see
Future sisters, brothers and more cousins of quality.
Strive to become as good as your Mom, find a husband as good as your Dad,
And one day when you will be my age a great life you have had.

Alles, alles Gute liebes Veilchen
Hoffe ich bin noch hier ein Weilchen.

Love, Grossomi Jutta

Our Birth Story

Welcome Violet Jean Lima
Here's the scoop!
Violet Jean Lima Born: Thursday, May 8, 2008Time: 11:35pm Weight: 6 lbs, 12 ozLength: 17 in

Details:We went in for my induction at 7am on Thursday 5/8 (already 10 days late). Things really got rolling by the late afternoon, but the doctors noticed right away that Violet's heart wasn't handling the contractions well. I was taken off of all of the induction meds, but my own labor took over, and irregular contractions were coming fewer than 30 seconds apart. Violet's heart was not able to recover from each contraction, and her heart rate dropped dangerously low. The doctors told us that a c-section was necessary immediately to ensure a healthy baby, so we were off to the OR after 11. In the OR, her heart took another dip, so everything sped up, and she was out by 11:35... and EVERYONE IS PERFECTLY HEALTHY!!! No one is exactly sure what happened to Violet's heart during delivery (it's fine now), but given her teeny tiny size for 10 days over due, we're very grateful that she is here and healthy. To those of you who wished me a painless delivery... it was (haha!) thanks to a great (and speedy) anesthetist team... so thank you!

Violet is a WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL baby who sleeps 2-3 hours at a time, and breast feeds like a pro. Erik and I are completely amazed that she is OURS and we've never seen anything so beautiful!

Thank you to everyone for your phone calls, texts, and emails... we're on Violet time now, but we're trying to get back to everyone! I'll do my best to keep the pictures updated.

Welcome to our blog!