Aliya Juel at 16 weeks

*Sorry for the over abundance of pictures, but this is my journal/scrapbook so enjoy*

Aliya Juel is changing so much everyday. I wish I could just stop her for a little bit so that I could enjoy her more. She is such a happy baby. She is continuing to roll over more, laugh louder, and smile more often. She is also sleeping about 9-10 hours at night. This morning I had to wake her up to feed her. 

Aliya is only taking 2 ounces of formula a night right before she goes to bed now. For a week we had to feed her 2 ounces after every feeding because she was still hungry so I decided to take a prescription to increase my milk supply. It WORKED!!! Within 3 days we quit formula during the day and I am able to pump more than I did in the beginning. It has boosted my confidence and gotten Aliya to fill in a little bit. She is 10 # 7 oz. which is still on the small side, but healthy. 

I love her little hands and feet, she is exploring them more and more everyday. I am loving every single moment of being a mom to my two children. 

This is Aliya (16 weeks) and Shia (6 weeks)

Shia is Jade's little boy (Juel's sister) They are the same size. 

Jaxon's playing soccer...

Jaxon had his first soccer game yesterday. He had been so excited all week for his first game. When game time came he got shy and didn't want to play with his team. He did play on his "own" field with Dylan, Aspen, Mark, Ruby, and Stella. My family was very supportive and cheered him on. He loves playing soccer, but it takes him awhile to warm up to new groups of kids. We are OK with him taking things slow. 

Dylan stayed by Jaxon the whole time and was giving him pep talks, as was Jer. It was so cute how Dylan was acting with Jaxon. Jaxon thinks he is a saint and really looks up to him. I don't think Dylan will ever know how much his support meant to me and Jaxon. 

Jer was so proud just to have Jaxon be there. I think Jaxon looked so cute in his little uniform. Jaxon is the smallest kid on his team, the Blue Lizards, most of the other kids are 4 and have already played 2 seasons. Jaxon is the one that wanted to play soccer so I think that he will really get into the game in the next few games.

Check out that form!

At least he had a good time playing soccer. We will always support Jaxon wether he thinks inside or outside the box. (ha! ha!)

By the end of the game he was at least on the field, and Dylan remained by his side. 

The Blue Lizards

His buddy Mason was stoked to be playing. Jer works with Mason's mom and we have been going to Utah football games with them for the past 5 years. 

Shia Scott

Jaxon's supporters

Bumbo... at last

Aliya loves to sit and watch the world around her. So when she goes to Grandma's she acts a little high maintenance and wants to be held the whole day. After much thought Jer and I decided it was because she doesn't want to miss anything, since she is always happy at our house. We decided it wasn't fair to grandma so we decided to buy her a bumbo seat (since we had a coupon and knew we had 90 days to return it if it didn't work out) to take to grandma's house every Wednesday while I work. Aliya LOVES her seat. She loves to sit in it and watch Jaxon play. Jaxon loves that he fits in it as well, a plus to having skinny kids. Jaxon requested I take these pictures so here they are.

 

A great start to a beautiful day!

I slept in until 8:30, I came downstairs and made some coffee and got to enjoy the nice brisk morning in silence. A little after 9 I heard Jaxon talking upstairs so I went up there to listen to him and Aliya Juel talking. Aliya was in her crib cooing and Jaxon was saying, "Good morning Liya Juel, are you awake baby? You want to get out and play with brother. OHHH baby you want to get out. I will go get mama. Aliya Juel, I have to go potty, OK! I will be right back after I go potty OK Liya Juel." It was a great way to start this day. I will be smiling all day. Then Jaxon goes and picks out his clothes and comes back with some boxers. He puts them on and says, "Look mom, these have a pocket in the front, it's a hole. These boxer undies are broken, we fix them just later." Now he is talking to his "little friend" while he eats saying, "we just hanging out, you and Jaxon. I am not sharing my breakfast, OK. Ever, ever, ever" I asked him who he was talking to and he said, "this guy" now he just said, "yep, mm hmm. Oh you did it. Good job!!" I had an imaginary friend until I was 8 and I survived, so I encourage this friendship. Oh, I love him and his independence and imagination.

Aliya Juel

My baby girl, Aliya Juel all dressed up for a girl's day out. We went to her future little buddy, Zoey Sophia's baby shower. Aliya wore some hand-me down boots with a cute little skirt. She looked so cute I had to snap some photos.

Her cute little chicken legs. I have decided to add formula to Aliya's diet. We are just giving her 4-6 ounces a day to add a little extra calories and give me a little more freedom in being able to let others feed her. Aliya Juel hit 10# today (at 3 1/2 months). She has been lingering around 9# 15 oz for quite a few days. I am glad she has hit that little mark. My pediatrician is not worried about her weight/health at all. It is more of a personal thing for me. I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing for my baby girl. As soon as I quit stressing about it my milk increase and I told myself it was OK to add a little formula everyday. It helped me relax a little bit.   

Aliya Juel is such a happy baby, she always is smiling and laughing. Everywhere we go people stop to admire our sweet baby. I pretend not to hear them so that I don't have to talk to everyone, but it makes me smile. I love that all of us mom's think our baby is the cutest. I absolutely love her smile. It is so cute, she will smile and stick her tongue out a little bit, such a flirty smile. Aliya is also starting to blow raspberries and cooing a ton. She really thinks she is talking to us. We have conversations all day long. Jaxon sings a goo goo ga ga song to her. She is always happy as long as she can watch her brother. He lights her up whenever he talks to herm she follows him wherever he goes.

Aliya Juel loves cuddling with her little "cuddy"

Jaxon

My sweet boy Jaxon wanted to be a "burrito" Jaxon. He loves being by his sister and cuddling with her. 

Jaxon showing off his muscles.

I LOVE this picture of Jaxon. He is my little buddy. I am absolutely in love with him.

Aliya Juel is 3 months... What?

Aliya Juel is 3 months today and she is adorable as ever. We love having her in our world. It is so much fun to watch her giggle and grow up (I say that, because she is definitely not getting bigger).  I looked at the pic from when she was draped over Jer's arm when she was 2 weeks old. She looks smaller at 3 months. But her personality is sprouting more every day. Her little giggle is enough to brighten any ones day. Her eyes follow her big brother everywhere. She loves it when he kisses her and he can usually get her to calm down... If he isn't hugging her too tight. She is very loved by everyone that meets her. I love being her mother and look forward to all the milestones she will reach. 

 took Jaxon to gymnastics today and enjoyed the quiet gymnasium, since all the kids are in school. I got to play with Aliya for an hour. She was giggling, kicking, and being her sweet self. This is going to make Mondays a favorite for me. I do not get a lot of one-on-one with Aliya. y time is spread thin and usually Jaxon gets it because Aliya is mellow and can just watch us play... for now. 

The pediatrician is not worried about her weight. The cookies are definitely helping with my milk supply and the lactation specialist also recommended coconut oil. Thank you for all the nice words of encouragement. I feel confident that I will continue to nurse my baby. I felt relieved and justified that the pediatrician, midwife, and lactation specialist was Happy with what I am doing and confident that it will work out. Make today a great day!!