Tuesday, May 22, 2012

5 Month Recap

Every month flies by, but this month went especially fast! 
Your 4th month went by at the perfect pace.
I think because it was filled with so many milestones. 

This month was rainy for the most part so we spent lots of time inside playing. 
And the milestones that you reached were small, but of course still important!
It was more improving a lot of the milestones you've already reached. 

You bring us so much joy and we love watching you grow!

I weighed you about halfway through the month and you were 17 pounds. 
You wear 6-9 and 9 month clothing. Most of the clothes that are just 6 months are pretty snug. 
We switch between cloth and disposable. You are wearing size 2 disposable, I bought size 3 in the nighttime ones because that's all that was available- they fit you, but they're a little big. 

You still have beautiful blue eyes and light brown hair that is very fine, but getting longer.


You entered your 5th month with a high fever followed by a bad cough. It was the saddest thing. I ended up catching what you had, but thankfully you healed a lot faster than I did! 
We spent lots of time cuddling and  some time in the steamy bathroom. 

You love your sleep and you make it very obvious when you are tired and you typically go right to sleep when we put you in your crib. 

You sleep on your side and usually end up on your back in the middle of the night. 
You wake for your paci a few times throughout the night and then fall right back to sleep.
Occasionally you sleep on your belly, but your right side is the side of choice.
You wake between 6:30-7 have your bottle in bed with me and sometimes sleep until 8-8:30, but unfortunately this is becoming more rare. You take 2-3 naps a day that last anywhere from an hour to 3 hours. You're not too consistent with the length of your naps, but you are with the time of day. A morning, after lunchtime, and sometimes, late afternoon nap. I struggle with that last nap because if you don't get it you're so tired by 6:00 and daddy isn't home for another 30 minutes, then you eat too early and wake up too early because you're hungry. But if you do get a late nap in and nap until 5:45/6ish you wake up grumpy and still tired! So we are still trying to figure that out!

We still maintain your bedtime routine regardless of when we put you to bed though. 
You have a vegetable for dinner and then it's tubby time- which daddy usually does.
You still love your tubby time!
We had to switch tubs this month because you started to try and roll over in your other one, so we brought out the duck tub and you're loving the "freedom".

After tubby, I lotion you up and put on your PJs. 
I usually clean your ears a little and put some lotion behind your ears and you love it.
It's the funniest thing- you are so squirmy and the second I start doing your ears you just zone and relax.
Then I give you your bottle- depending on your mood, which is usually a wiggly worm distracted by everything, we watch Mickey Mouse so you can finish your bottle. 
You have a few long strands of hair on each side of your head and your newest thing is playing with that hair on your right side while drinking your bottle. 
You are capable of holding the bottle yourself, but you tend to play with it more, put it over your head, drop it, etc.

The beginning of this month you started sitting up. You've been able to sit, but would usually lean forward and it wouldn't last very long. Now you can sit up, but like to throw yourself back. I knew you were strong enough to hold yourself up, but you just liked flailing backwards so sometimes I put the boppy behind you. 
One day I took you outside for some pictures and you sat great! It clicked! And you've been sitting great since then- although for some reason you sit better in the grass.

You are also starting to roll or scoot to reach what you want. You grab anything and everything in sight. But I have noticed you being more specific with what you want and trying your hardest to get it.
It's been fun seeing you pay attention to the details of things. You are obsessed with tags- now I know why they invented "taggies"! I'm pretty sure the tag is your favorite part on your exersaucer. I've also noticed you now have {use?}peripheral vision- you will be zoning and reaching for something at the same time. 

05.06.12
You sat in the front of the grocery cart for the first time. You did a good job, but you seemed to lean a lot so I'm not 100% sure you were ready. The next week we went to Target and their carts were so much better- you did awesome!
That look you're giving in the grocery store is your new look when we are out. You used to smile at every one, but the "stranger danger" has set in. You are so different when we are out in public than when we are in the house. 

You've really started to notice and love Roxie. You always get a big smile anytime she enters the room.
Even though she tries to lick your face off, you still love to watch and touch her. 

You are a happy smiley baby, but I've come to the realization that you aren't a laugher. Some babies are and some babies aren't- you smile all the time, but you've only laughed a handful of times. You have little grunts as giggles and then get very serious. And your newest thing is holding in your breathe and laugh then letting out a squeal. 
You've become a lot more vocal and you like to screech and scream while you play.

You're ticklish now, too! It's hard to tell if you love it or hate it, but I think it's a mix of both!

You have a new scrunched nose smile that I love

You've really discovered your tongue and you've started twirling it in your mouth

In the morning, if you watch Mickey Mouse you always smile big when he says "Hot dog!"

You love to eat. There isn't too much that you've had that you haven't liked! 
Last month we were surprised how much you liked peas....this month it was a different story!
Could you be any more disgusted??

   Your favorites are still bananas, pears and sweet potatoes. I've also given you a few of the Earth's Best chicken dinners and you loved those. You love finger foods like Mum Mums, crackers, puffs and cheese puffs. 
You are constantly eyeing anything anyone else is eating. 
I enjoy sharing little pieces of my food with you through out our day.

This past week you've enjoyed a little taste of sweets too- some whipped cream at Friendly's and a bite of Papa G's banana ice cream!
And it looks like they were the best things that have ever happened to you.

You also started using a straw sippy cup and you do so well with it. I think it's due to the medicine dropper with your gripe water!


You had two little "pig tails" and we couldn't decide if it was weird or cute.
But you made it pretty clear- it was very cute and made you look like a big girl!

 05.13.12
We celebrated our first official Mother's Day.
I wouldn't be a mommy without you!
God is good!

We have lots of fun when we visit the farm- not only do you get spoiled by your awesome aunties and uncle {Uncle CJ is currently your favorite- you always smile for him!}, but
Papa G and Mimi spoiled you with some fun toys.

A couple weeks this month you were not like your normal self- it was like you went back to being a newborn...minus the sleep! You were taking short naps, not sleeping through the night and eating all the time- including a few times at 2 in the morning! I was convinced {and praying!} it was the 6 month growth spurt and not the "new you". And then it happened. Overnight you turned from baby baby to older baby and were back to being you...but bigger. You can definitely tell when you compare pictures from the beginning of this month to the end! 
Everything happens so fast.
Seriously, don't blink.
Thanks for being so sweet.
We love you to pieces!!!!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Half a Year

It happened. 

She's half a year. 

The fastest and most wonderful six months of our lives. 

I am still in disbelief, but I suppose it's time to start facing the reality. 

But I am already planning her birthday, so I suppose I'm not too in denial. 

We thank the Lord, are beyond blessed and filled with joy every day by this sweet little lady.

Of course, as always, this is a bittersweet time.

But we focus on the sweet and it's been lots of fun watching her grow and reach new milestones.

Every day is filled with more personality and bigger smiles. 

Speaking of sweets....
We finished the night with a special little treat.

She wasn't as into her mini cupcake as we expected, she preferred squishing it around in her fingers. And go figure she always has her hands in her mouth and she does great eating other finger foods, but when they were covered in cupcake they maybe made it into her mouth two times! Silly girl! The little bites she did have she enjoyed though!  

We love you, Adalyn Faith! 
Thanks for an amazing first 6 months! 

Friday, May 11, 2012

You Never Know Until You Are

You know the saying "You never know until you try"?
Well, it's true.
Although, sometimes I'd rather not know, never know or just think I am right and therefore there is no need to try. 
Especially when it comes to certain foods!

I feel like being a mom, understanding other moms and valuing and appreciating your mom is something you don't fully understand until you "try"...until you are one. 

This is technically my first Mother's Day. We celebrated a little last year when I was pregnant, but this year being a mom is different. My love for Adalyn now far exceeds the love I had for her in my womb. 
Which was a lot, by the way. 
Through these short, and extremely fast, 5 months that I have been a mom, my own love and appreciation for my mom, my mother in law and my grandmothers has increased. You see them in a different light- a new perspective.
 I am so thankful I am able to experience that. 

All in addition to a new spiritual perspective. A greater understanding of the love that God has for his children. I greater appreciation for the obedience and faith that Abraham had when he was going to sacrifice his son.
 Could I do that?!?! 

A couple days I was going through my baby calendar that my mom had for me. I am so so thankful that she took the time to write each milestone down my first year- at just the young age of 17. I am so thankful that she cared, that she valued those milestones- even the silly ones. 
I am forever grateful that she chose life. 
My life. 
I am thankful for the sacrifices that she made, and I am so thankful for that fact that she also chose joy. She didn't wallow in her new life, she embraced it. 
She noticed the details. 


This time of year I am always reminded and thankful for my Mother-in-law. For her and her husband who did a fantastic job of raising Mr. B. A man who is a hard worker, who values his family, who values the importance of letting me stay home with our child, who is a man after God's heart, who treated me with respect from day one. A man who loves his daughter and prays for her and her heart daily, who always strives to be the best.
 A lot of who he is is because of her. 
Taking the time to love, pray and demonstrate how a godly man should live. 


I am also thankful for the 4 great grandma's that Adalyn has. 
Some near, some far. She is surrounded by so much love. 
{She will be meeting Mr. B's Grandma this summer!}

The sacrifice.
The responsibility.
The balance.
The frustration.
The joy.
The overwhelming unconditional love.
The dependence on the Lord- knowing you can only do so much. 

I am thankful for their validation that I am doing a good job, the encouraging words that I am making them proud, the unexpected gifts "just because", the support, prayers and advice that come when needed. 

I now get the frustration of staying home all day, cleaning, cooking, laundry and child-rearing... only to have it messy again. I understand the need for feedback- for appreciation. To be told "thank you". To be told "You're beautiful", even when you haven't showered and are still wearing your PJs. 

I understand the deep love and the desire for only the best.
 The protection.
 I get it. 

I know as Adalyn grows I will learn more, my love will continue to grow and my understanding and my appreciation will continue to increase with each passing year.

 I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mom and to learn so many things in so many different areas of my life through this one very special "job".

And I am so blessed and so thankful that I never stop learning from the amazing moms in my life. 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Thursday's Thoughts

I am so super proud of Mr. B for finishing his first semester of grad school. Not only with good grades, but on top of being a wonderful l husband, daddy and hard worker to provide for his girls! He has two weeks off and will start a summer semester which will be two nights a week :(  But the summer semester is shorter and this whole MBA thing is for a season in our lives and it's better to do it while Adalyn is still little and we only have one baby!! {I have to keep reminding myself of that from time to time..}

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I finally made a new layout and it's all bright and springy...if only the weather here could reflect that.
This weather is seriously ridiculous. It's really amazing the difference that the sun makes in a day. Rain = lazy, eat everything, bored, PJ day....too many of those make for one scary looking mama. Trust me. 
And btw the phone is lying, it's not sunny right now it's overcast. It must've forgotten what the sun looks like. 

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I don't like how the side bar on the blog is now on the right side. It makes me feel all weird and confused like I'm a lefty or something.

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I know not everyone agrees with letting their babies watch TV, but we do let Adalyn watch a few shows here and there- mostly in the morning when she wakes and at night during her bottle.  Not only does she enjoy it, but I am pretty sure we have the wiggliest worm of them all and it keeps her still, focused on the TV and distracted from everything else that makes her not want to finish her bottle. And at night time I want to fill that tummy as much as I can before bed! Anyways, this week what she was watching really clicked for her and became more than just bright colors. It has been the cutest thing. She loves at the end of Mickey when they do the Hot Dog Dance, but her favorite part is when he shouts "Hot Dog!"- guaranteed smile every time. He shouts it twice and she always smiles, the rest of the song is apparently entertaining, but not as much as that part. 
Her mouth is moving at the end like she's trying to sing along too, ha!

Btw this video was taken this morning and I'm pretty sure over night she turned into a teenager. Ok, maybe not a teenager, but she's not a baby baby anymore. She woke up and she's basically all grown up. Seriously. 
 Sitting up in bed, watching her Mickey, she has a legit neck, longer hair {that happens overnight too} and sucking on her shirt like a big kid.

As she grows, she is becoming a lot more fun and getting more of a personality each day and that makes these spurts slightly acceptable.


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This is usually what tubby time looks like. Both cute and annoying.

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Adalyn seems to be ready for bed lately between 6:30/7, it used to be tubby around 7:15 and bed around 8/8:30. Mr. B doesn't get home from work until 6:30/6:40 so I've been trying hard to keep her up so he can at least give her her bottle and say goodnight. 
But it's not easy!
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The problem with her going to bed so early is she is ready to rock n roll in the middle of the night. This was her last night at 2:30 AM
It's been 7.5 hours of sleep. I get it, but um...go to sleep. 
Mommy has only been sleeping for 3 hours. 

And 4 AM
Thankfully she did what she needed to do and fell back to sleep on her own, but what happened to sleeping through the night?? So we are trying to figure out that new schedule...add in her growth spurt and we have good nights and bad nights.

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I feel like more teeth will be popping soon, although I am not sure where yet. I keep looking, but I don't see any. The only places that are really white are where her molars will be and I don't think girlfriend can be getting those already, right?! I think they are just there, but not coming anytime soon. 

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Roxie sleeping last night.
So classy.

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 I've had instagram for a couple months and never used it because I couldn't really figure it out. It seemed like a lot of work at the time {am I that lazy? yes.} But now pretty much everyone and their mom are using it so I want to too {do I hop on every bandwagon? you betcha.} So I am going to try and start using it, but I don't want to look like I am because everyone else is....but well, that's exactly why I am doing it. So I just want it known that I did have it before it was totally "in" I just was using it, ok? OK. 
Good glad that is cleared up.

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I got the devotional "Jesus Calling" for Christmas and I just love how simple yet profound each one is every day. 
 Highly recommend it!
I thought I would share a little excerpt from today that I found to be encouraging. 
Although I am currently not going through a particularly stressful situation, I have been there and I know I will be there again at some point and this is a great reminder:
"When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us."


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Dates and Dishwashers

A few weeks ago, over April vacation, we got the pleasure of going on a lunch date with Uncle CJ.
I was the driver and he was the treater.
He had a gift card to Quiznos and he searched his room and the house for any extra money. {so cute}
Adalyn was so excited for a special day with Uncle C- she even wore her special Uncle bib!

He had a little over $8 on his Quiznos gift card and I told him that I could just pay for my own lunch and not to worry about it and he said "Well it wouldn't be a date if I didn't pay for your meal."
 So off to the mall we went to have lunch at Quiznos where he used both his gift card and his money.

Since he couldn't buy Adalyn lunch he took her on her first ride instead.
I just love her face in that picture looking at the train- she thought it was the coolest thing.

Then, he surprised us and bought her a cute outfit from Target!

When we got back to the car and I was folding up the stroller, he was standing out there with me and I was wondering why he wasn't getting into the car. Here's why....
What a gentleman! I didn't even tell him to do this! 

Then we walked around Toys R Us for a little and he surprised us again and bought Adalyn a little toy.
And we finished off a date with a Sundae from McDonalds- extra hot fudge, of course!
We had such a great day! He spent every last penny on Adalyn and I and one little toy for himself- and that's the perfect example of the type of boy that he is! It's never hard for him to spend his money on others. CJ has such a good heart and sweet spirit and it was so nice to spend this time with him. We are 11 years apart and between that age gap, being different genders, video games, different houses, and different likes - I am so thankful that I live close enough to make these memories and have the opportunity to go on dates together!

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And now onto dishwashers....we have one in our new place again!
Woohoo! 
No more washing all those dishes and the million and one bottle parts!
But my question is....

What's your favorite detergent??

There are so many different types I'd rather not try them all out to see which one works best. 

Are the little packs any good or a waste of money?
Powdered or liquid?
With Dawn without Dawn?
Do you make your own?
Do you use rinsing agent? I've noticed a big difference with that!

I just bought Cascade Complete with Dawn, but just a little one in case you all could tell me if there is something better out there.
So please let me know!