Father's Day and Olivia at 6 months

On June 14th and 15th, Adam celebrated his first Father's Day! We attended the Embassy Father's Day Pig Roast on Saturday, and I also had Olivia wearing a special Father's Day onesie (that was a bit too large for her). Adam allowed me to take a few photos after I guilted him about Olivia needing photos with her daddy. On actual Father's Day, we went out to the pool for a nice swim and then had dim sum for lunch. Olivia loves her daddy!

Right now Olivia is 6.5 months old! I cannot believe that Olivia is already well past the 6 month mark! At 6 months, she is sitting up all by herself, and she pivots in circles when she is on her tummy (making her semi-mobile, but not so much that I have to watch her every second), and during her 5th month was when she started to sleep on her tummy and side. We also moved her to her crib in her own room and now she doesn't get woken up every time Adam turns or I get up to use the bathroom! She prefers napping in her crib over the swing too- I think she outgrew the swing and it isn't as comfortable. She is still getting up a few times a night to eat, but she is doing awesome with going down for naps and she only cries a bit at bedtime before she falls asleep.

Naptime on the baby monitor

Happy in the morning when she wakes up!

She started solids during her sixth month and so far she has tried rice cereal (she didn't like it on day one, but then I made it thicker and she went to town!), bananas (she likes that- makes her poop super gross though!!), and homemade pureed pumpkin (she did not like that, but if I mix it with banana, she tolerates it). I'm not sure what we will try next- maybe carrots or Jamaican sweet potato!

Day one- why, mama, why?!

Day two- mmmm, this isn't so bad...I think I like it!

And when we moved her to bananas a week later- GIVE ME THE BOWL! FEED ME!

When we gave her pumpkin- "Uh...wait...this is not banana. What is this?"

"I don't know if I like it. Is Daddy going to try again?!"


"Ok, I definitely don't like this. Wahhh!!! Wahhh!"

She isn't spitting up as much anymore, which is totally awesome. We aren't frantically searching for burp cloths as often (though she did spit up a tiny bit this morning). She's still full of smiles and laughs, and she will "talk back" to us like we are having a conversation. Too cute! She also started blowing raspberries- meaning lots of spit spraying everywhere. She is definitely chomping on things but no teeth yet!

At her last check up, she weighed in at 16.75 lbs and 26.75 inches in length, but I'm sure she has already gained in just the past few weeks! She cried when she got her shots, but then was back to her happy self in no time!

Poor baby didn't like her shots! Adam and I are alternating each visit with who gets to hold her so she doesn't have any "shot associations" with us!

Meeting Grandma & Grandpa in Albuquerque!

Adam was going to DC for a weeklong training, so we decided that it might not be a bad time to also take a trip to New Mexico. Olivia hadn't met Grandma Margaret and Grandpa David yet, so it was an exciting and fun trip!

We were a little scared about how Olivia would do on the airplane, since she had been fussing a lot when it was time for bed, and she hadn't slept in our arms since her newborn days. However, she did awesome on the flights (other than a mini meltdown getting her diaper changed on the plane- she did not enjoy being on her back while the plane was moving). She gave lots of smiles to everyone and slept a good amount- I guess the airplane white noise helps!

Our first week in Albuquerque was FREEZING!! I was shivering and I think Olivia wasn't sure what to make of the chilly temperatures. Luckily it passed and the second week was nice and warm. During our time in Albuquerque, we went on walks in the stroller around the neighborhood, in shopping centers, and at the mall. We had a ham, a turkey, and lots of delicious New Mexican food! I also ate as many berries as I could handle (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) and drank coffee with real half & half! The little things that we had been missing in our few months in Jamaica.

 

Getting spoiled being held for her naps- she wouldn't nap in the pack 'n play (probably she felt like she would miss out on the excitement happening in the rest of the house!)

Super excited! Strawberries for 99 cents per package! What!!?? 

Aunt Dorothy came by for a visit and joined us on a shopping trip to Target where Olivia got oodles of attention while I picked up teething tablets and saline drops!

I wasn't sure how Olivia would do with Cuba, but she didn't seem scared by her at all, and Cuba was so good with Olivia (though I think Olivia's crying freaked her out a bit!)

What an ordeal to get this little girl to sleep! I guess unfamiliar places can mess a little one up, huh?

So so happy to be with Grandma and Grandpa!

Enjoying the views from the back porch (air balloons in the early morning)

Who gets to hold her next?

Reunited with daddy! Adam missed her while he was in DC!

See? She was spoiled! Getting cuddly nap time with grandpa. Look at those chubby little legs!

Morning walks in the stroller around the neighborhood. The first week it was too cold, but by the time Adam came, it warmed up and we had to get out there early.

Went to El Charritos for some New Mexican food with Aunty Dorothy & Uncle Michael

Adam's stuff sopapilla drowning in red & green chile

Button buster! Best steakfingers (doused with a mix of red chile and their hot sauce, yum!)

Olivia is inheriting the elephant quilt that once belonged to Adam and made by his grandma

During this trip, Olivia started rolling on her belly when we put her down for bed. I was a little worried, but she wouldn't stay on her back!

 Enjoying a little bit of desert before heading back to Jamaica

Happy little girl on the plane! She had a fabulous time in NM! We miss everyone already! :(

Betty's Trip to Jamaica

Betty left last week and it's been pretty sad around here! :) Luckily, we have Facetime, so we can chat while we watch Price is Right together (since I get the west coast channel and can watch at the same exact time!).

Betty stayed with us for almost two months and it was so nice having company around while Olivia is so little. We did go on a few outings away from Kingston to Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and the Blue Mountains, but mostly we just hung out at the house.

Betty reading magazines on her iPad while Olivia has sweet dreams in the background

Breakfast in Port Antonio

Visit to the National Gallery- super interesting!

Who knew that doing day-to-day stuff, including grocery shopping, tidying the house, working out to Jillian Michaels, going out to eat, and cooking meals would be such fun! I think Betty loved not having to go in for work each day, though she did put in a lot of work helping me out!!

Having an extra hand to help with sweeping all the tile was awesome!

"Chop chop, ladies, chop chop"

So fun making breakfast every morning- anything from pancakes, waffles, omelettes, egg scrambles, cinnamon toast, to banana bread

Jerk chicken! 

Devon House Ice Scream (sorry we didn't get to go again on your last night- next trip!)

Having some American treats- KFC

And Wendy's Frostie!

Betty was also "Super Auntie," taking tons of photos of Olivia, playing with her, and even going with us to Baby Group with some other mommies around town.

Storytime!

Olivia's favorite- Squeakaboo!

To cap off Betty's time with Olivia, we did a photo shoot, which was lots of fun! I think that Betty and Olivia look amazing!

 

Betty and Olivia with Mr. Howard, one of the Embassy guards that patrols our area

Betty can always get Olivia to smile!

We read some books together (we finished reading Ready Player One, and it was fun doing a "read-aloud"), watched a ton of Netflix, and Betty watched all the seasons of Game of Thrones in a week.

Although Betty didn't get to sleep in much, she did get to take in a good number of naps. This is just a small sampling of the "Betty napping" photos. Hahaha.

How is this even comfortable?

Or this??

My two sweethearts!

Betty was with me as I learned to navigate the roads and drive on the left, and she was with me when I got my phone stolen out of Olivia's diaper bag. Those were two times that I was definitely glad that Betty was with me!

Thanks Auntie Betty for coming out to Jamaica and visiting us! I am so glad that we were able to make that happen (in January, I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't actually happen).

Olivia looks sad because she knew Betty was about to hope on a plane for the USA