Olivia: 2 year checkup

Olivia had a her 2 year checkup on Thursday. She currently weighs 25 lbs. (50th percentile) and is 33 inches tall (27th percentile). She had her iron checked via a toe prick (which she didn't mind at all) and one shot (which she hated). Olivia is perfectly petite and healthy! We are so thankful!

Julianna was such a good big sister during Olivia's checkup. She wanted to sit on the table beside her to make sure she was okay. I love these little girls!

Olivia- 6 months

Olivia is 6 months old! In the last 6 months, Olivia has blessed our family with such a happy and sweet personality. She can sit up completely on her own and enjoys playing with toys, especially books. She had her first baby food, sweet potatoes:

At her 6 month check-up, she weighed in at 16 lbs. (50th percentile) and 25 inches (25th percentile). She's a happy and healthy girl!

And here she is playing at 5 months, 3 weeks old:

Olivia- 4 month checkup

Little Olivia had her 4 month checkup today. She weighed in at 14 lbs. 6 oz. and was 24 inches long. She's short, fat, and perfect! She didn't care for the shots but she was back to her happy self again when mommy picked her up for cuddles.

2 Month Check-Up

Olivia Grace is 2 months old today! Julianna and I took Olivia to the peditrician for her 2 month check-up. Our sweet Olivia weighs 12 lbs. 4 oz. and is 23 inches long! She's growing beautifully! She also had to get those dreaded 2 month shots. She screamed and cried when she was getting them but calmed down within a few seconds afterwards. She did great!

Big sister getting into everything as usual.

Olivia's camo bandaid.

Mommy and Olivia waiting to get her shots.

Happy girl when we got home.

sick day

I got a call at work yesterday that my sweet Julianna was running a temperature of 102. I raced out of work to pick her up from daycare and took her to the doctor.

She currently weighs 23 pounds and is 33 inches tall. I was thinking she may have an ear infection since she got so many last winter but it ended up being strep throat. We immediately went to Wal-Mart to pick up her perscription, popcicles, and jello. Poor thing threw up all over the place- probably the 2nd time she's ever thrown up (besides the frequent spit up as an infant).

We went straight home, cuddled, and she drank a whole cup of juice. Josh and I had to do some teamwork to get her to take her medicine. About 15 minutes after she took it, we noticed that she had a red rash around her mouth. Immediately I assumed it was an allergic reaction to her medicine because the only other thing she had was apple juice- which she has all of the time. It was scary! We called the physician on call and they told us to give her Benedryl. Josh was gone about 20 minutes buying the Benedryl and by the time he got back, the rash around her was completely gone. I have no idea what it actually was but we gave her the Benedryl just in case. Poor thing was so exhausted- put her to bed at 7pm and Josh got her up at 7:30am this morning. The rest did her good because she's back to her old self today- complete change from yesterday! Temperature is normal and she's eating again. I am so thankful that she got better so fast!

Josh spent the day at home with her. Check out the fun hair design that he created for Julianna today:

baby number 2 is on the way!

Josh and I are thrilled to announce that baby Soto #2 is on the way! We were in shock when I tested positive on Friday. We have only been trying since late June so this was quite a surprise! God has a plan, that's for sure. I am unsure of my due date right now. It will definitely be late March or early April but I don't have an exact date. I don't have a date for my last period for the ob so I'll have to go back to the doctor soon. We are so excited! Prayers for a healthy 9 months are appreciated!

four at once

Julianna was super cranky yesterday. More fussy than normal and just not herself. She was pulling at her ear so I was super worried that she had another icky ear infection. So I took her to the doctor, as a "just in case" appointment. She didn't have a temp but I just wanted to make sure she wasn't sick.

Well, she didn't have an ear infection. Just a little extra wax that the doctor cleaned out for us. No temperature. Weighed 21.6 pounds. Healthy! Only thing that could be causing the cranky Julianna would be ALL four of her molars cutting through at the same time. All four are really swollen. One of them is halfway through and the other three have started to cut through. I would be mad too.

I like an appointment where I leave without needing to get medicine filled at the pharmacy. The only thing she needed was some homemade juice popsicles to soothe her gums.

And some fun pictures I haven't shared yet:

here we go...

Yesterday, I had a doctor's appointment with the baby-making doctor (aka ob/gyn). Amanda came with me to keep Julianna entertained in the waiting room. Last time I went there, Julianna was only 6 weeks old and could politely sit in the exam room with me. Not so much anymore! She's becoming such a big girl now. She did great in the waiting room. The receptionist even gave her a sticker for being good! Yay, Julianna!

Without giving all of the details of my appointment, Josh and I have decided to start trying for baby Soto #2. No hurry. No strict timeline. But we would love for Julianna to have a baby brother or sister. We have always planned for our children to be about 2 years apart and now's the time to make that happen. Please pray for us on this journey. We are so excited!

happy 15 months, Julianna Hope!

Yesterday, we celebrated Julianna turning 15 months. She was 5 months old when she started daycare and her last day for this "school" year, she turned 15 months. Time is flying by and from what I'm told it will continue to fly even faster.

I took her to daycare a little later than normal. She wanted to sleep in. Then I ran errands and cleaned the house. My house hasn't been this clean in months! Then I picked her up early. When I got there it was in the middle of nap time. All of the other babies were sleeping... except for Julianna! She was sitting in the dark beside one of her teachers playing with a cell phone. She slept for 45 minutes and then was ready to play. Go figure... she had to do it up big for her last day! That's my girl! :)

After daycare, she went to the doctor. She weighs 21 pounds and 8 ounces. I can't remember how tall she is but her weight, height, and head circumference are all within the 25th percentile. So she's very proportional... just still on the petite side. The doctor had no worries that she wasn't walking all on her own yet. She said she definitely has the motor skills to do it independently and she will walk alone when she's ready. We are just encouraging her by carrying her less and letting her walk holding on our hand more.

And then came those dreaded shots. Aunt Shandi gave them to her this time and Julianna wasn't happy before or after the experience!

After the doctor, my plan was to go Father's Day shopping. But that didn't work out. She was way to grumpy to go out in public. We made a quick trip to the post office, ate a snack in the car, and then headed straight home. After an hour nap, she was as good as new! She even tried hommus and loved it... just wish I could get her to eat all of her yummy fruits and veggies.

Happy 15 months, Julianna! You make mommy and daddy so happy! We love you more than you could ever imagine! :)

pretty in pink (eye)

My sweet baby girl just can't get a break. She has pink eye now! We have taken her to the doctor three out of the past six days. The doctor said it was just beginning so thankfully we've caught it and are treating it before it gets really bad. They also weighed her again today. On Monday, she weight 17 lbs. 14 oz. Today she was 18 lbs. 2 oz! She gained 4 oz. in 2 days. What a piggy!

She has actually been in a great mood since I picked her up from daycare. Super playful, giggly, and talking to everything and everyone. She's even trying dance now. Too cute! I love my little girl so much!

Julianna today:

Julianna a few days ago when she tried her princess tutu on for the first time. I bought this tutu for her the day I found out that I was carrying a little girl in my tummy. Her first teddy has been wearing it for her since then. It fits her great now!

well-baby check-up

Julianna went into for her "6 month" check-up on Thursday. Obviously she was supposed to go 2 months ago but with Josh taking a new job, he had to wait 90 days for his insurance to begin. Julianna is on his insurance because it's much more affordable.

She is currently 16 pounds and 13 ounces and is 27 inches long! Baby girl has come a long way. Birth weight was 5 pounds and 8 ounces and she was 18.5 inches long. Her weight still puts her in the peanut category at 10th percentile but her height is in the 50th percentile. So she's long and skinny! (But as you will see in the photos below, baby girl has rolls :)

Our pediatrician said she looked great. She has met all of milestones so far and is pretty much doing everything that a 9 month old can do. She has begun to pull up and is still trying to figure out how to crawl. She just scoots on her bottom where she wants to go or uses her old faithful trick of rolling.

The day of her first pediatrician appointment:

The day of her most recent pediatrician appointment:

ah-choo times 2

It's ah-choo times 2 at the Soto house. Julianna is sick. I had to pick her up early from daycare today because she was running a fever and had other icky virus symptoms. I took her to the doctor to get her checked out. The doctor said it's pretty much just a run of the mill virus. All I can do is give her Tylenol for the fever and make sure she stays hydrated. She hasn't been to the peditrician since she was 4 months old because of Josh's change in jobs which equaled a change in insurance. Her new insurance just kicked in at the beginning of November. Well, Julianna is 16 pounds now! She is finally above the 10th percentile for weight now. She's close to the 25th percentile. Jules has come a long way!

Like I said at the beginning, there are 2 sick ones in our house. Josh is experiencing flu-like symptoms and a sore throat. Chicken soup and bedtime for him. Julianna can't go to daycare tomorrow. Josh has been required to stay home by his boss. So nurse Emily has to take the day off to care for the sicklings.

Get healthy, yall!

On the positive side, Julianna had a great time tearing up the paper on the examination table at the doctor's office today:

4 month well baby check

We just got back from Julianna's doctor appointment and my predictions weren't too far off. They were just a tad lower than what I had predicted.

Weight: 11.11 pounds

Height: 23.5 inches

She's in the 10th percentile for weight, 25th percentile for height, and also the 25th percentile for head circumference. Her peditrician was pleased with her development and wasn't concerned that she's still in peanut status. She said as long as a baby doubles his/her birth weight by 6 months then they are just fine. Julianna was 5 lbs. 8 oz. at birth so she's doubled her birth weight already.

Pediatrician also gain us the green light to start cereal and then progress to our stage 1 foods as we see that she's ready for them.

2 months old (and one day)

Julianna turned 2 months old yesterday!

We also had our 2 month well baby check:

-She's 20.5 inches long.

-She weighs 8 lbs. 14 oz. (birth weight 5 lbs. 8 oz.)

The doctor checked her out and said she's looks GREAT! A mommy loves to hear that! Then aunt Shandi came in to do those dreaded, awful, yucky 2 month shots...

Julianna only cried right when she gave her the shot but during that brief moment her face was as red as a strawberry. I didn't cry! I think I was so focused on making sure she knew everything was okay and that I was there--I didn't have time to think about it hurting her.

She got her cute little Bugs Bunny band-aids and we were done!

I had to go help my dad out at Ready Mart #1 so nana (my mom) came over to take care of little Julianna. This was the first time nana had watched Julianna. Maw maw (Josh's mom) watched her for a little while on Friday night so that Josh and I could go to the movies. We saw "The Back Up Plan"... and it made me miss being pregnant! I miss pregnancy. It's so special to feel those little kicks and flutters. However, I do not miss the morning sickness!

Then of course, we had her 2 month mini-photo shoot last night:

6 week checkup

julianna and i just returned from my 6 week checkup at the ob/gyn. this was the first time i've been there with her on the OUTside instead of the INside. it was fun for the nurses, staff, and my doctor to see her. they finally got to check out who they were seeing on the ultrasounds. It was awesome! she was soooo good while i was being "checked out"... everything has healed perfectly and i got mirena. no babies for the soto's for a few years. we want to enjoy julianna as much as possible. we plan to try again for baby #2 when julianna is at least 2 years old.

yay for a good visit and a healthy baby! she's 6 weeks & 1 day old!

1 month doctor's appointment

julianna went to the doctor yesterday for her one month checkup.

weight: 7 lbs. 6 oz. (birth weight was 5lbs. 8 oz.)

height: 19.5 inches (birth height was 18.5 inches)

little peanut is growing! she's still in the 10th percentile but that's to be expected due to a low birth weight and the fact that she was delivered 3 weeks early.

her jaundice has also cleared up so she's not as "tan" as she was when she was born. she's looking more like her mommy as far as skin color goes but she's definitely got daddy's big eyes!

the doctor said she looked perfect! we think so too!