Five Months!

(On the 23rd... I'm a little late)

Weight/Length- No official doctor's weigh in this month, but our home scale says that you're about 15.6 lbs! (And, on that note, the scale also says that Mama lost 5 pounds since last month!  Woo!) =)

Eating- You're eating about 12 oz a day at day care, but we've started supplementing that with formula, so you're having about 3 4-oz bottles (2 oz each milk and formula).  I have a feeling that you may be transitioning to formula full-time in the coming months (as you are already eating more during the day that Mom is able to provide while at work).  We'll see how this 50/50 thing goes.

Sleep- Sleep is not going so well.  The past few weeks you've been regularly up every 2-3 hours during the night.  We are NOT too fond of this, especially since you were pretty much a rock star sleeper there for a while!

 Clothes- You're wearing anything from 3 months to 9 months.... I've discovered that baby clothes are just like adult clothes... the actual size is really just dependent on the manufacturer!

Personality- You're still a pretty happy, mellow baby.  You need to be constantly moving/entertained though.  I don't think it's an issue at day care, but when you're home with mom or dad you're fussy a lot... I think because there isn't as much stimulation/things to play with/kids to look at.  We've been trying to get out of the house and do things with you (took you to the zoo last weekend and you LOVED the birds!) to keep you entertained.  For the most part you also really like taking walks in your stroller or in a carrier on mom or dad.  You like touching leaves/flowers/etc and exploring your surroundings. =)

Likes/Dislikes-

• You like seeing mom and dad in the morning.  You're always all smiles in your crib when we say good morning.
• You like walks and being outside.  You like touching and feeling all the different leaves/flowers.
• You like "chasing" the cat.  Whether that's rolling to try to get him, or following him around the house in mom's arms.
• You like water.  Whether you're in it or watching it doesn't matter.  You are intrigued by it.

• You don't like sleeping somewhere that's not your room/bed.  We've traveled around too much this last month and you weren't a fan... totally screwed up your sleep routine.
• You don't like your sleep sacks anymore.  We think you need/want to be able to move your legs around at night.

Milestones-

• You are now rolling over as transportation... we are going to be in trouble when you're crawling/walking!
• You have figured out how to make all kinds of noises... including the raspberry/farting noise.  You do that  LOT... cracks us up. lol
• This month you had your first beach trip and you rode on a ferry for the first time!
• You attended your first wedding!  You got to see your Uncle Scott marry your Aunt Jennifer!

Two Years Already??

This post is almost 2 weeks late... but, better late than never, right? =)

Way back on August 14th Jacob and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary.  I wanted to do SOMETHING special to celebrate, but, with both a baby and very busy weekends, it was a little difficult to plan anything too elaborate... but, thanks to Costco, and some discounted tickets, we had a memorable day*. =)

The Sunday before our anniversary we left Emily with her Nana, and Jacob and I drove out to Cascade Locks to board the Columbia Gorge Steamwheeler for a brunch cruise!  Buffet style breakfast with all you could drink champagne!  I took advantage of the lack of baby needing a boob and indulged in a couple of mimosas. ;)

It was a gorgeous day to be out on the water, and I was very impressed with the food. lol  All in all, great way to celebrate. =)

*Our car broke on the way there... which made it memorable, too... but I'm choosing to focus on the positives. =)

It's a Love - Hate Thing

Why I HATE being a working mother

• During the week, I only see my daughter (awake) for roughly 2 hours a day;
• I have to pump at work;
• I have to find TIME to pump at work
• I have to pump in a bathroom with a really loud fan and terrible lighting
• I can't relax and "let down" enough while at work to get her enough milk to get through the day at day care... my freezer stash is almost gone;
• I'm contemplating supplementing with formula... which is not "bad" by any means, I'm just mad at my own body for failing her/me,
• I don't want to/can't do anything social after work because:
• I want to actually SEE my daughter that day;
• I don't have any extra bottle for Jacob to use to feed her
• I know that I'm going to miss MANY of her "firsts"

Why I LOVE being a working mother

• I get to have my own life outside of the house (this sounds selfish, but I enjoy being "Brittney" from time to time);
• My daughter gets to go to day care and socialize with other kids (she loves it... and sleep really well at night! lol)
• I'm helping to provide, financially, for my family... including good insurance coverage.

Please, help me add to the "LOVE" list... it really needs to be balanced out a bit. =(

Four Months!

Weight/Length- 14 lbs, 9 oz and 24.5" long!  =)  50 percentile in both areas.  Yay for "average"! lol

Eating- Getting much better at bottle feeding... you're now eating 9-12 oz a day at daycare... which is causing mom to struggle to keep up with you.    Trying all kinds of things to increase my milk production, but, as of now, I'm worried that you may not make it to the 6 month mark as an exclusive breast feeder. =(

Sleep- You like your sleep... and I appreciate that. =)  You're going to bed at roughly 7:30 pm, waking up once or so before 5 or 6 am, and then you usually go back to sleep until 7 or 8 if we let you (i.e. it's a weekend and I don't have to get you ready for day care).  The past week you haven't slept as well as you haven't been feeling good, but last night you slept from 7:30-6, so I think it's getting better. =)

 Clothes- Still wearing a variety of clothing sizes, but mostly 3-6 months.

Personality- You are going to be a mover and a talker!  You are a real wiggle worm right now and LOVE to kick your legs!  You are really starting to enjoy the water (tub and baby pool).  You are also trying out your voice with some really adorable "talking" sounds.  It's going to be really weird when you actually start to form "word" sounds!

Likes/Dislikes-

-You like, no, you LOVE to kick around naked! lol  Whether it's on the floor or in the pool.  If your diaper is off, you're ready to party. Hope this isn't foreshadowing. lol

-You like to explore your surroundings via your stroller or your Snugli.  You get bored when you stay at home, inside all day.

-You like to suck on your fingers, your fists, blankets, mom and dad's fingers, toys, pretty much anything that you can get in your mouth... and you drool all over EVERYTHING.

-You like the wind blowing in your face, whether that be from a fan, the wind outside, or dad blowing on you.
-You like playing with your feet.

-You don't like sitting still in front of the computer with dad... which means that dad gets to spend less time staring at a monitor.  ;)

-You don't like either of the other two carriers that mom has that are actually comfortable for mom... nope, you scream until you get your Snugli.

-You don't like being on your belly... but you have just learned how to roll over onto it and you do it all the time... and then you scream about it.  I flip you over, and you do it all over again!

Milestones-

-You can roll over!!

-You went to your first bachelorette party... more about that later! =)

-You were sick for the first time.  Stomach bug of some sort... mommy REALLY didn't like that! =(

-Participated in your first Relay for Life!

-You're starting to "talk".  Not forming any real words yet, but starting to test out your vocal cords with real noises!  You talk to the curtains in your nursery a LOT when mommy's feeding you! 

Family Photos

While we were back in Junction City for the Relay for Life, we had the opportunity to get our first set of family photos taken!  An old classmate of mine does photography as a side gig and came out to my parents place to photograph us.  Here are some of my favorites:

And here's a bonus shot that I took of Emily this same weekend... she's adorable. lol