Hats, Flowers, and Bows

I recently taught myself how to crochet...well, actually I should thank the Klutz books. I learned how to make Kufi hats. They are pretty popular these days for baby girls. You can weave some ribbon through it or just add a flower or bow. I also make bows and flowers.
If anyone wants one just let me know. For now hats are $5 or 3 for $10 and can be made for any size head. Set of 2 little bows are $2. Flower clips and bigger bows are $2.50. I can also make the headbands that the bows and flowers hook on...you can either have a crochet one or a nylon one. Email me at sarah.gounaris@gmail.com and we can coordinate what colors you would like since I don't have all the colors on here. You can also make a request for any color.
I'm working on making a non-private blog so you can see all I can do.
For all my family with baby girls, I already gave most of you some or I am planing to. If any of your friends want some too, let them know that I can make them!
I'm also in the process of learning how to make the gourmet crochet patterns...like baby booties and mittens for boys and girls and also hats for boys. :)
Sometimes I go to craft shows around here and nobody has anything like this yet. I am thinking of getting a table at an upcoming craft show and selling my hats and bows. If you live in NY, what do you think? Are these hats and bows just a west coast thing, or do you think they would sell here? I guess I will find out.

Sweet Potatoes

Caroline is now a pro at eating. It took her a couple weeks of eating once a day to figure out that she needed to open her mouth and not just stick out her tongue. Here's my cutie eating sweet potatoes.

My Little Piano Player

We're starting early with the piano lessons. Haha! Every time I play the piano she watches me so I figured I would let her try. She seemed to really like it! She has perfect piano playing hands...long fingers like her daddy. A couple weeks ago I tried, and she cried when she heard the noise it made. Today I tried, and she seemed very interested in the sound... as you can see in the video.

Random

Caroline has decided to start smiling for the camera which makes me so happy! She used to just stop and stare...now she is trying to steel it from me, like in this video. Enjoy!







For Christmas Caroline's Yaya got her the Baby Signing Time videos. She LOVES them! Every time I put them on she smiles and starts waving her arms and bouncing. I don't like her to watch TV, but I'm ok with these videos...they are educational and help me get the dishes done! :)





And this picture is just because she's so cute... even when she's sleeping! She fell asleep while Tom and I were playing a game of scrabble...which I won! :)

"Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath"

Caroline LOVES her baths! She loves to squirm around and splash. I can't wait to take her swimming for the first time. I think she will really like it. Just ignore me in the video...I told Tom not to film me, and he filmed me telling him not to film me. Haha!



Splish Splash


All ready for bed!

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!