7 months!

Dear baby Rose,

You turned 7 months old on Monday.  I can't believe it! How time flies.  You are so much fun these days.  You laugh, and like to yell and hear yourself make noise.  We just got back from vacation last week.  We went to Lake Powell (Page, AZ).  We had basically two days of driving there and back.  You were such a good traveler.

Health
You are quite healthy now.  You had a bad cough before we left and while we were gone.  You were on a broad spectrum antibiotic for 10 days.  When we got back your cough was better.

Changes
I was offered a new job with an energy company. It is such a great opportunity to make a bit more, I had to take it.  There are great people that work there.  I also should be able to work from home on Fridays if we don't have too much going on.  However, the drive to Omaha has been a bit nasty with having to take you to Sandy's before heading over to Omaha.  We found a new daycare for you.  I pray it is a good fit!

Development
You are sitting up very well on your own now.  You will occassionally still fall back.  So we put a breastfeeding pillow around you.  You are not crawling yet.  You can push up with your legs though.  You are rolling both ways quite well.  You seem to roll where you want to go.  You give good hugs now.  When I pic you up in the morning you bury your head in my hair and wrap your arms around my neck.  It is the sweetest baby hug!  You also tried to give me your pacifier on Saturday of last week.  It was so sweet! You love to rub your face in a pink fleece blanket with a lamb sewn on.  I call it your lamby.  You still love your soothies. Although, we do not need them all the time.

Food
You are eating every 3 - 4 hours now.  We feed you purred food several times a day.  You are not a huge fan of green things.  But, if I mix fruit in you will eat it.

We love you so much! You are such a blessing.

Love,

Mommy

6.5 months

Hi Baby Rose!

It has been a very busy couple of weeks.  We went to the doctor on May 9th when you turned 6 months old.  You were over 17 pounds! Your stats were: 43 cm head. 25.5 in. Weight 17.5 pds.  We met with our new doctor, Dr. Carrie Dell.  Unfotunately our neighbor, Dr. Althouse, is moving back to Minden!


Health

You have been coughing again lately.  We think it may be allergy this time though.  Your dad and I both have allergies.

Food

You are eating solids several times a day now.  You do not like green things, like peas or green beans, without fruit in them.  We try to do cereal in the morning with your bottle, then solids at lunch and dinner time.  We try to do solids 7ish and then a bottle around 8:10.  Then you are in bed by 8:30.  You go to sleep in your crib now.  But, with your coughing again I am always concerned that you will get something stuck in your throat.  So I have been bringing you to bed with us when you wake up and cry due to your choking/coughing.

Sleeping

You were sleeping on your own all night until 5:30 or so.  You would normally wake up, and need your soothie to make it another hour or so.

Skills

You roll over very well all on your own now.  You push up on your arms so that you can see what is going on.  You can cover quite a bit of distance rolling.  You still stand up on your own legs quite well when someone holds you.  You are trying to crawl, but you do not get very far yet.  You normally push with your legs and rest on your head.  Your little arms need to get a bit stronger!

Personality

You are the sweetest baby.  You smile at most people (unless we are trying to take video or a picture of you).  The light seems to throw you off :).  You enjoy kisses and hugs, and even pat back sometimes now.  

I started working with a client a few days a week in Omaha.  They offered me a job that I have taken.  I will be making quite a bit more money.  But, we have to spend a bit more time apart.  I have to take you earlier to daycare.  I pick you up about the same time though (6:15 or 6:30).  I will also be able to work from home (hopefully with you) on Fridays unless we have something going on.  I am praying this is the right move for us.

We love you baby Rose!

Mommy

First Foods, Travel, almost 6 months

Dear Baby Rose,

You had your first real foods yesterday (aside from rice cereal).  You at squash! You did very well and ate it all.  We just got back into town from Texas.  You got to meet your Daddy's grandma and all of his side of the family.

You were such a good traveler.  You did not like being in your car seat very long towards the end.  You were held by SOOO many people while we were in Texas.  You did not have ANY melt downs while we were busy with so many people.  I think you like a busy house.  Once we went to Fort Worth and it was just your Ummuchi and Uppachen and us you had your normal fits when you get tired and don't want to sleep, or you are hungry.  You are a very good baby otherwise.

Development

You are sitting up quite well on your own now.  You are still a bit wobbly, but on someone's lap you can hold yourself up straight.  You are trying to crawl.  You move across the floor pushing off with your legs and resting on your head! You can also hold up your head and upper body in a "King Cobra" pose.  I'm sure you will be able to put it all together soon.  You are enjoying rolling around on the floor more now.  We can put some rattle toys down for you and you will play with them.  You babble quite a bit now.  You have started making sounds like mamama.  I am just waiting for you to say "Mama" and that's it" :).

Personality

You are such a happy baby (most of the time), especially in the mornings.  You smile quite a bit now and have started laughing at time. It is the sweetest and most pure sound.

Health

You have been quite a bit more healthy since you took amoxxicilim before we left for Texas.  You had it for 10 days.  You still have a bit of congestion, but it is definitely not as bad.

Sleeping

We have started putting you to bed in your crib now.  You often wake up lightly crying around 3 or 4, and we bring you into bed with u.

You are such a precious gift! I am so thankful that God sent you to us.

Love you,

Mommy

5 months

Baby Rose! I cannot believe that you turned 5 months told this week! Time has really flown by.  You have quite a few nicknames now.  The new favorite is "Poncho Rojo".  You are quite slobbery these days, so we have started putting cloth bibs, or ponchos as your daddy likes to call them, on you all the time so your outfits are not soaked.

Food

You are still eating 6 ounces at a time of your bottle.  But, we are also giving you rice cereal twice a day also.  Last night you actually ate 3 ounces of rice cereal.  You were still a mess, but quite a bit of it got into your tummy!

Development

You have started "talking" quite a bit more lately.  You even yell some, especially while you are waiting for bites of cereal.  You sound like a taradactal or some animal!  You are holding up your head very well now, and trying to push up.  You can even scoot yourself across the floor a bit.

Sleeping

You have started sleeping in your crib in the last week or so.  I still bring you into to bed with me if you start crying and your dad is working.

You did have your first "incident" at daycare this week.  A two your old little boy bit you! The marks are still there right now.  Luckily he did not break the skin.

My fitness/weight

I am within 3 pounds of my weight just before I had you! That was still a few pounds over where I wanted to be. So, I still consider myself as having 8 pounds to lose.  I don't think that's too bad though.  I am trying to be more active.  I have found some good yoga videos on youtube that I like.  This one is especially good

4 months old!

On Sunday you were four months old!

Here's an update on you!

Size

You weigh almost 15 pounds! 14 pounds 15 ounces to be exact.  You are in the 67th percentile for weight. You are officially in size 2 diapers full time now. Your clothes all have to be at least 3 - 6 months now.  I am trying to weed out the 3 months things now.  Most of them are too tight.

Feeding

We still feed you every three hours during the day right now.  They are ideally at 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, and 9:30 or 10.  You were getting 5 ounces until yesterday, when we increased it to 6 ounces.  You have not had any solid food yet, but we are meeting with the doctor today. We might be able to start giving you rice cereal.  While we were in Kansas City we had our last nursing session.  You were having a hard time nursing since you have been sick.  We made it almost 4 months! I think that is legit :).

You have had a lot of drainage and coughing for at least a month now.  I hate it.  But, the doctor says that you are fine as long as you are not having a hard time breathing or running a fever.  You have not had issues breathing, except when you are coughing and something gets caught in your throat.

Sleeping

You should be in your pack and play more, but you seem to sleep better with me and your dad.  I usually have you sleep with me when your dad is working.  We just make sure you are above all of the covers and not right next to our pillows.  There is a bit of controversy about the "family bed".  We try to have you sleep in your pack and play when your daddy is at home.

You normally sleep from 10 until 5 am.  You were back to waking up from 2 to 4 am recently, until we started giving you 6 ounces.   Yesterday you took 6 ounces very well, and have done well today so far.

We put you in a sleep sac overnight, rather than giving you your own blankets.

Development

Last Sunday you really started sitting up on your own.  It didn't last long, but you're trying!  You can also stand quite well when someone gives you stability.  You are putting many things into your mouth.  You do not like to hang out flat on your back, you like to be up seeing what is going on.  The Bumbo chair is helpful in the kitchen so you can be up on the counter seeing what I am doing.  We also decided to buy a bouncy chair with things that hang down, and that keeps you busy.  You like to kick your legs and make your bouncy seat move.  You are starting to try and hold your bottle.

You flail your arms quite a bit, so people have to watch out! You also have a very good grip.  You use it to hold people's finger while they feed you AND to pull hair! I have to wear my hair up quite a bit these days to keep it away from you

Sickness and Maladies

You have had a cough and drainage since around February 20th.  We took you to the doctor that week, and he said you had good oxygen levels.  So, we just keep an eye on it to be sure you don't have a fever or a hard time breathing.  Your breathing is fine unless you get something caught in your throat while you are coughing.  Your face is much less red and not as try.  Your forehead still has some odd things going on, so I try to put Mary Kay botanical moisturizer and Aquaphor on it.  

You definitely still have reflux.  Your daddy forgot to give you your medicine (Ranitidine I think it is) the other night, and the next day you definitely threw up more than normal.  As long as you have your medicine you don't throw up often.  You do occasionally in the evening.  The Dr. said we could give you 1/2 of your normal dose in the evening and then the rest at bed time if we want.  We have not tried that with you yet.

We still have to be careful to check your neck for milk and slobber.  Your neck sometimes is totally clear and other times has the red areas again, so we put more A&D ointment on them.

You like to scratch the areas on your head behind your ears.  There is a small sore behind your left ear.  We will ask the doctor about it.  We have tried putting a benadryl creme on it, but it is a bit difficult because you would touch it and then put your hands in your mouth.

Firsts

I worked from Kansas City for a week while your dad was doing training (Feb 24 - 28).  You had your first swim while we were there!

Personality

You are becoming your own little person.  You are usually in a very good mood.  You do like to be moving though, and you do INSIST on eating every 3 hours.  You smile at everyone very easily.  You have ticklish feet and you love to be touched and to touch others.  You will rub your face on blankets.  You are like your daddy and are very tactile.  You will rest your hand on people and occasionally try to give them a pat.

My journey

I am still working on losing weight.  I have a hard time sticking to a good diet these days.  I will do good for a few days and then regress a bit.  I am under 130 now, but just barely.   I need to lose 15 pounds by the end of April or end of May for a few trips that we have coming up!

3 months - a bit late

Dear Baby Rose,

In some ways it is a surprise that you are already 3 months old.  The time has flown by.  In some ways though, you are such a treasured part of our lives I cannot imagine our lives without you!

We took you to the doctor today because you have had a nasty cough. You seem to have some drainage that is making your tummy a bit more upset than normal.

Your height is 23.5 inches, you weigh 13 pounds and 14 ounces

You sleep very well.  We do your last feeding around 10 pm, and then you generally sleep until 5 or 5:30 a.m., then you go back to sleep until 7:30 or 8 am, when I nurse you.

You are a morning baby.  You are full of smiles and love to hang out on your changing table a bit.  You always seem to stare just off to the side a bit.  I ask if you are smiling at your guardian angel.   You have started laughing just a little bit.  I'm excited to hear more of that.

You are not rolling over yet, but you can definitely shift onto your side.  You love to be out facing the world.  When we hold you, you prefer to be facing out.  You enjoy laying on your activity mat with things hanging over you, but you still prefer to be up and able to see.  We decided to buy a different bouncy seat that has an bar to hang items down, so you can play and be sitting up a bit more.  You also will sit in your bumbo chair for a bit while I get food ready, or clean your bottles.

Sleep Arrangements

When your daddy is working days, we sleep in your room.  You were sleeping in your crib, and me in the bed.  But, now you have a bit of a nasty cold.  You cough quite a bit sometimes.  So I like to be able to sit you up and pat your back to help you get things down.

Weight and Height

We took you to the doctor on Wednesday to check out your cough.  The doctor said you are fine, and that you weigh 13 pounds and 14 ounces! You are almost 14 pounds.  That means you are almost out of size 1 diapers.

Schedule and Feeding

We are still on the every 3 hours feeding schedule during the day.  You usually nurse between 7 and 8, then have a bottle at 10, 1, and 4.  At 7 we usually nurse.  My supply has been a bit low so when we nurse at night you usually also get a bottle.  You usually wake once at night.  Most nights it is between 4:30 and 5:30 am, so we are quite lucky.  Lately you have started taking a nap in the afternoon after your 1 pm feeding.

You are starting to be awake and alert much more.  You still really love to be held, so I am learning how to do most things 1 handed.  We have not found a carrier that does not make my back feel weird.  You are able to hold up your neck quite well now.  So, hopefully we can try the ergo soon.

I am about 130 pounds.  We have now scheduled a houseboat cruise on Lake Powell for late May.  So I have some serious motivation to lose the last 10-15 pounds!  I have had a hard time working out much with your daddy's tough work schedule.  I have started doing some yoga in the mornings while you sleep around 6:30 a.m.   Hopefully I can do more of that.

We love you baby Rose! You are such a sweet reminder of God's love.  We are so lucky that he has entrusted you to us.

Love you!

xoxo

Mommy

2 months - a week late

Baby Rose,

I can't believe that you are 2 months old (and a week) already!

Your Auntie Daisy was here when we took this pic, so she was able to help me get a smile :).

Sleeping - You were doing very well and sleeping from our last feed at 10 - 10:30 through until 7:30 or even 8:30 if we slept that long! Your daddy and I got sick last week and for some reason after that you have regressed a bit and have started waking up at 3:30 am every night.  Then you come into bed with us and sleep another few hours.

Feeding:  We are on a pretty good schedule of feeding you.  We nurse you if you wake up overnight (3:30 a.m. lately) then a few ounces at 7 or 8 am (I nurse you then if you did not wake up overnight), then 4-5 ounces at 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, then I nurse you at 7 pm. And you get 4-5 ounces at 10 pm before we go to bed.

Activities:  You are not a huge fan of your swing.  You will stay in there sometimes.  We do tummy time with you several times a week.  Your babysitter Sandy told us that you did well in the Bumbo chair, so we have been doing that for periods of time now.  You really want to sit up, so the Bumbo is great for helping you see more.  You also are wanting to roll.  We have to watch you more carefully and cannot leave you on furniture now unattended.

Cute things:  You are smiling a lot now.  We get the best smiles from you on your changing table oddly. There seem to be some shadows on the wall that you like.  You make the cutest baby sounds.  Your Daddy's mom (Ummuchi) loves to talk to you on the phone.  The other night she talked to you for 20 minutes! I have no idea what she says to you.  It is all in Malyalam.  But, you do smile some, and try to lean into the phone.  You often fall asleep while she talks to you.

Personality:  You are awake a lot more now.  You like to talk some and make cute sounds.  You are less irritable now unless you are hungry.  You really are a pretty easy baby.  You like to be bounced.  So, if you are upset and the soothie doesn't make you happy I can usually calm you down by bouncing.

Three Month Rundown:
Weight: 12 pounds at your appointment on 1-10.  You are in the 67th percentile for weight
Height: in the 87th percentile, I can't remember what it was!
Bumbo: Just started this week – still a little wobbly in it.
Boppy Lounger Pillow:  You have started sliding out of them some. They can still be helpful though.  We have one in your Moses basket which is on the ground, so you don't ro
Car Seat:  You are not a a huge fan.  You often cry for the first few minutes you are in it.  But then you usually go to sleep.
Bottles: You do really well switching between nursing and our Tommee Tippe bottles

Pacifier: You LOVE your green infant soothie.  We try to sanitize it every day when we sanitize your bottles.
Teeth: Zero, but some
drool and chewing on fingers.