5 Months

Caroline turned 5 months today and we celebrated by eating peaches! Yummy! I'm not sure she knew what to think of this new experience, but we'll give it another try tomorrow.
Caroline went to the doctor today. She got the Polio vaccine and barely even made a fuss. She is now:

Weight: 13 lbs 14 oz (10th %)
Height: 25 in. (36th %)
Head: 15 7/8 (>3rd %)

She's a petite little girl!

*This month she has just become more and more alert. She laughs, she screams in happiness... and sadness sometimes. *She can roll, but chooses not to most of the time. *She's getting closer and closer to being able to sit up on her own. *She can grab things. She grabs most everything in front of her and puts it in her mouth. *She now has her 2 bottom teeth. They are adorable, but very sharp! She has done pretty well getting her teeth in. We've lost a little bit of sleep, but still better then when she was brand new :) *She's a little flirt. She loves getting attention and smiles for almost anyone. Although, whenever we go to the grocery store she cries when people talk to her...don't know what that's about? *She went on her first airplane ride and was AMAZING! The second the plane took off she was asleep.

We're excited to see how she grows and develops this next month. We love you Caroline and think you are the cutest baby in the whole world!

Her first time eating is documented VERY well! I LOVE the facial expressions! Just like her daddy!

Angelo's Surprise 60th Birthday Party

New Years Eve is Toms dads 60th birthday. Tom and his brothers threw him a surprise party on Sunday at the Blue Lagoon. We all had a lot of fun. Caroline was so tired but managed to stay awake and very alert most of the time...probably because of the very loud Greek music!

Baby's First Christmas

Christmas day we spent with Tom's family here in New York! Caroline and I were both happy to be back with daddy, but we were both very tired! She had a great first Christmas and was spoiled by everyone!

Cheese!


Caroline and Papou



She was pooped!




Ted and Elizabeth


Nick and Christopher opening presents!


Angelo, Petroula, and Caroline

A Week in New Mexico

Caroline and I spent the week before Christmas in New Mexico. She got to meet lots of family for the first time and some for the second time. We were just missing Andrew, Sarah, Allen, and Andie.

I took a zillion pictures, but I'll try to keep it simple!

Jeannine, me, Kim, and Lizzie (my sisters)


Jeannine and Caroline


Me, Caroline, Dad, Liz, Jeannine, Olivia, and JD


Cousins Olivia and Caroline (Olivia is my step sister Lizzies daughter)


Caroline with her Great Grandma, Ruth...Carolines middle name is after her.


Caroline and her Grandpa


Caroline with Grandpa and Nana Cathie


Cathie, Olivia, and Lizzie


Me, Liz, Jeannine, Kim, and Grandma

Thanks for the fun visit everyone!

We Miss Daddy

Caroline and I are here in NM missing daddy. Here are some pictures and videos for you daddy! :)





Caroline and Olivia


Caroline and Olivia


Me, Dad (and Heidi), Liz, Jeannine, and Olivia

Address

I am attempting the Christmas card thing...they might be more like New Years cards because we have to wait to get Caroline's pictures back.
I need ADDRESSES please!! Email them to sarah.gounaris@gmail.com or get them to me any way you feel so inclined. Thanks!

4 months

Caroline is now 4 months (on November 28th). We went to the dr. today and she is now...

Weight: 12 lbs 10 oz(25th%)
Length: 24 in (25th %)
HC:15 5/8 in (5-10%)

Her dr. says that she is very petite, but that she is growing just fine so it's ok. She also says that I have an angel baby that every mother dreams of, and that I will probably never get that again. I agree, I do have an angel baby. Even though she is teething, she still sleeps pretty good...not as good as before, but still good. She eats well and apparently I am lucky that breastfeeding has come so easy. I love it, and it's good for her, so we both win. She is hitting every baby milestone right on time. Let's hope it continues!

Here are some things about her and what she has accomplished in the past month.

*She has discovered her feet. She likes to play with them, look at them, and even eat them :) *She now rolls over, but only when she has no clothes or just a onesie on. *She has become very vocal. She will scream (in happiness) at us when we talk to her. If we are doing something other than paying attention to her and she has no toys, she let's us know we need to play with her. Oh, and this morning, at 5:30, I heard her in her bed babbling away to herself. What a great way to wake up! *She now has a tooth! One of her bottom teeth has come in, which I discovered when she bit me! *The second she has no clothes on she will wiggle herself all over the room. It's so funny! When she has clothes on, she just lays there and looks at whatever toys are above her. *She likes to play with and eat her toys. She has a favorite toy...it's this little lamaze doll that squeeks and makes all kinds of noises. She could play with it forever.

Caroline is going on her first airplane ride next week. We are going to New Mexico to see my family. Any tips for flying with babies would be helpful. I'm curious how I am going to bring the stroller and car seat? I don't NEED to bring it, but I feel like it would be easier to transport her and my luggage around the airport if I had it. Or would you recommend the baby bjorn instead? Luckily I don't have to bring too many things because I am staying with my step sister who has a baby girl just a little bit older then Caroline.

Happy 4 months Caroline!

Teething!


You can see her little tooth in this picture...on her left side. And yes, she did get her ears pierced today. I feel really bad...I didn't think I would feel this bad, so please only positive comments about this...no "why would you do that?" comments!


I LOVE this picture. She look just like Tom. He makes that exact face all the time.




She will not roll over on camera...no matter how hard I try...but, she's still super cute!

Thanks

First of all, I really am going to change my blog to private... but every time I look at the LONG list of email addresses I need to enter into my computer I get turned off. So, it might be a little longer before I actually do it : ) One day!

...this is long so don't miss the pictures at the bottom...

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. We went to Tom's Aunt and Uncles place. Caroline was cute as a button as usual. At first I think she loved all the attention she was getting...but, by the end of the day she would pretty much cry if anyone looked at her.
Since I loved Finding Equipoise's last blog post about being grateful...I'm going to copy you just a little...thanks for the idea. 

Tom- What can I say? He's amazing! Not many people know him like I do. He is so smart, hardworking, kind, gentle, and an amazing father! We've been through so much together these past 4 years but we always have each other. No matter what anyone says or thinks about us it doesn't matter... we know each other and love each other through thick and thin. I have loved watching him be a father these past few months...he is so cute, always trying to make Caroline as comfortable as possible. One other thing that I LOVE so much about Tom is his kindness towards me. He has ALWAYS put me and my needs first. I try to do the same for him, but I can honestly say he does a much better job at it then me. :) I wish every one could know his heart and soul like I do! 

Home- This  year I am thankful that we have a home...a roof over our heads! In the past couple years we've met some very dishonest people and had some run-ins with just plain bad luck that quite possible could have taken that roof over our heads away. Thankfully things have always seemed to work out, and we are starting to see the end of the rainbow. 

A beautiful daughter- This year we finally met our Sweet Caroline! We love her so much and can't imagine life without her. So many people seemed to have their opinions,  but Tom and I KNEW it was her time to come to this earth...she belongs here with us. I have never been so happy in my life as I have been since I had her. Anyone who knows me knows that I have dreamed of being a mother basically forever. I finally feel like I am fulfilling my purpose in life.

Niceness- In a world full of so many mean and cruel people, I am grateful for those who choose to be kind to others. I'm not perfect by any means, but I hope that I can always remember to be kind to others. I believe that we can truly make this world a better place by simply choosing to be kind and charitable to EVERYONE...not just those who are easy to be nice to. I love the quote from a primary song "kindness begins with me!" 

Knowledge and faith in God- I am grateful that I have faith in God and I am thankful to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving his life for all of us. I am thankful that my parents taught me to pray. In this world it seems so easy to abandon faith in God...but after seeing my daughters face for the first time, and just seeing the stars at night, and this beautiful earth we live on, I will never be able to doubt that there is a God and that He loves me.  

So many family and Friends- I am so grateful that I have so many wonderful people that I call my family and friends. Unfortunately, I don't get to live by the majority of my family and friends...but, I am thankful for the wonderful friends I have met here, and for my in-laws who I know would do anything for Tom, Caroline and I. I also have an amazing Dad, and Step-Mother. After my surgery last year, my dad was here for me. My dad and Cathie came to surprise me for my baby shower, and Dad came out after Caroline was born. It's been great getting so much support from him and Cathie. My mom and I were very close...we talked every single day, and I miss her terribly. But, my mom had such a great heart, I know she would be happy that Cathie is helping to take care and look out for all of us since she can't be here anymore. I also have a pretty amazing brother and sister...I miss them terribly and wish I got to see them more often. I also have to say that I am thankful for the Internet! I love technology that helps me to keep in touch with all my friends and family so far away! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Caroline and Aunt Diana


Stuffed Turkeys!


Caroline and Eleni


All tuckered out...

Last Call...

Changing my blog to private. If you want an invite, make sure I have your email!

Knicks Game

Friday night our friends Dave and Julie invited us to the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. Dave's work has a suite that we got to use...and free food for us! It was super fun! Thanks for inviting us Dave and Julie! 

Caroline stayed at home with her YaYa! Of course I can't leave out a picture of Sweet Caroline.

Laughing All the Way....HAHAHA

Caroline has really started to laugh and it is so cute! Sorry the camera is kinda all over the place. I was trying to keep her from seeing it because she usually stops doing whatever cute thing she is doing if she sees it. Enjoy!

Private

I'm going to make my blog private... I've heard too many bad things  lately with blogs. If you read my blog and want to be invited leave a comment with your email address, call me, or give it to me on facebook. 

3 Months

Caroline is 3 months now...wow, time flies.

She went to the dr. the other day and she is now...

Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz. (50th%)

Height: 23 3/4 in. (50th %)

Head: 15 in. (10-25%)

She is doing all kinds of fun things these days.

*This morning I woke up to her "talking" to herself in bed. I listened for about a 1/2 hr and then went in to see her with the hugest grin on her face. I love the morning when she is all smiles. *She is grasping things now. I lay her on her little floor mat and she grabs her toys. She also likes to hold on to my clothes when I am nursing her...and the blanket, which often leads to her exposing her mommy. Oh well. We are still waiting for her to grab her feet. She kicks them a lot and looks like she wants to grab them, but just can't quite figure it out. *She gets so mad when I put her on her tummy. It only lasts about 2 minutes before she is screaming. She can lift herself,  but no rolling over yet. *She is so easy to put to bed at night. Around 7 she starts to get fussy. I give her a bath, feed her, wrap her up in her blankie, and then it's off to bed. Usually it's around 8 and then we don't hear from her till 8 or 9 the next day. She takes a little nap in the morning and then a longer one in the afternoon. *She giggles every time I make any sort of noise with my mouth. I just love her little laugh. I need to get it on video. *Whenever strangers talk to her she either coos back at them...or cries. I guess she knows who she likes and who she doesn't. 

Tom and I talk about how cute she is every night before we go to bed. We just love her so much and can't  imagine life without her. She has been a huge blessing in our life. I am so glad that Tom is willing to work so hard so I can stay home with her. I can't imagine if I had to let  someone else take care of her. I get anxiety just leaving her for 2 hours. The first month of her life was pretty hard, just figuring out what she wanted and such, but now...she's a piece of cake. 

I tried to take just one 3 month picture...but I ended up getting a bunch that I liked. She's just too cute!

On Halloween. I figured it was pointless to dress her up any more than this. :)