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

Olivia's Second and Third Month

I cannot believe that Olivia is now 3 months old! There is just too much to share about our little snugabug, so I'll just do a quick synopsis and post some of my favorite photos!

MONTH TWO

During her second month, Olivia went on her first plane ride, moved to Kingston, Jamaica, started sleeping through the night (lucky daddy- right as Adam started work, she started sleeping from about 9:30pm-7am), planted trees at a Peace Corps Volunteer's site (ok, we planted trees and she just watched), started wearing cloth diapers, and made her first visit to a beach. She also began cooing up a storm, she discovered her reflection, and she began batting her hands at her toys.

She celebrated her very first Chinese New Year (she's excited about the $1000 Jamaican!)

  

Planting trees at a volunteer's site

Month 2 was a lot of smiles and joyful looks! Doesn't she look jolly? :)

Batting at her toys

She didn't seem to mind the beach- she mostly slept!

The many faces of Olivia!

Cloth diapering- still trying to decide how I feel about it. It eliminates a lot of garbage but requires a lot of water and electricity. It is also difficult to use when traveling since I need to do a diaper load at least once every few days (I usually try and do it once a day so that I can hang dry the diapers).

Olivia on Feb. 20th (2 month birthday mark)- At Olivia's 2 month check up, she got her vaccinations She was such a trooper and only cried a little bit and didn't fever up too much. She weighed in at 12 lbs 5 oz and 23.6 inches long (95th percentile for that age!! Our big baby!).

Also the day she discovered her reflection! She loved meeting this beautiful new baby! Haha. 

MONTH THREE

Auntie Betty has been here to experience Olivia's third month. During this past month, Olivia started to grab toys with her hands (and she recently started to hold the toys up to her eyes to get a better look at them, and move them to her mouth to chew on), she is now rocking tummy time, she discovered her thumb and fingers to suck on, and she responds with coos and babbles as if she were having a conversation with us (which is just too cute!). I attempted a few nights of trying to put her to bed unswaddled (because she kept breaking loose), but she definitely isn't ready- she woke up every few hours due to her hands suddenly jerking her awake.

Look at those dimples!!

Grandma Margaret and Aunt Dorothy, Aunt Patricia, and Aunt Theresa sent a package full of cute outfits and bows

Picking up her toys now!

Proof that she does cry!

Rocking tummy time!

This is a video of Olivia cooing at one of Adam's baby toys that Olivia's Grandma Margaret saved (a Fisher Price Squeak a Boo!)

In this third month, she has traveled to Ocho Rios and to Port Antonio. She experienced her first overnight stay at a hotel, and she has taken a nap or two in her crib (she is still sleeping in the pack n play in our bedroom but will be transitioning to the crib soon!). She has also spent a lot of quality time with Auntie Betty, getting cuddled, snuggled, sung to, etc.

Relaxing in the grass at Ocho Rios Bay Beach with daddy

Relaxing at San San Beach in Port Antonio

 

Aunt Betty covering Olivia with kisses

Uncle Carlos & Aunt Betty got Olivia some cool shades

Hilarious photo- Olivia made a big poop and I caught Betty's reaction on camera!

In month 3, Adam and I also spent our first few hours away from Olivia when we attended an Embassy Mardi Gras event. We came back to Betty looking like this:

Apparently she started crying the moment we left and when Betty tried to prep a bottle of pumped milk, most of it spilled into the sink! But they both survived!!

Here are a few other photos:

We went to a blues concert at Emancipation Park sponsored by the US Embassy. Olivia didn't mind the loud music

Olivia with a little bit of milk dribble on the side of her mouth

And here is Olivia on March 20th- her 3 month photos!! Based on our measurements, she is approximately 25 inches and between 14 and 15 lbs