Monday, April 29, 2013
Funny Daddy
Audrey thinks it very funny when JT does burpees, pushups, mountain climbers, or any other kind of exercise he can think up. Here is video evidence.
Doots Goes to the Zoo
We were planning all week to take Audrey to the zoo on Sunday. We chose Sunday because 1) I wanted to go to derby practice on Saturday and I wanted to take Audrey to a baby fair thing (this did not happen, but I intended to go) and 2) all week the weather said Sunday was going to be nicer than Saturday. Until Saturday when the weather changed its mind. Stupid weather.
However, we were not going to let a little change in the weather deter us. So, even though it was cool and rainy Sunday we took doots to the zoo. It was still fun, but I imagine it would have been more fun if it was sunny and 70 like they said it would be. Stupid weather. Of course, today it is nice and sunny and warm.
Due to the less than ideal weather situation I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked. But I still got a couple and Audrey did enjoy the zoo. We thought she might enjoy looking at the animals because she loves watching the pets. She is always whipping her head around to see what they are doing and where they are going.
She did like watching the animals. She mostly wanted to sit in the shelter of her stroller, with the company of monster, and take it all in. We took her out to look at the big cats and the monkeys. She thought the little monkey (lemurs, I'm not sure sorry zoo people) were pretty cool. She was moving her head everywhere to try to keep track of them.
The penguins and peacocks were her favorite though. She kicked her feet and giggled while she was watching them. This made JT happy as the penguins are also his favorite. He would like to have one as a pet, he has it all planned out if I ever decide to give in. In fact, in honor of her love for the penguins he chose to read her "My Person Penguin" as her bedtime story last night. Daddy and doots, lovers of penguins.
In other news, Audrey still loves her monster (it is actually and owl but whatever) more than anything in this world. With that in mind, we ordered a backup monster. Now we can wash it and not live in fear of losing it or leaving it at daycare.
She loves that dude so much she always wants him nearby. She really likes this new owl toy, but not enough to put monster down!
Doots also loves to be outside. She likes to go for rides in her stroller, go for walks in the Ergo (as long as she is on your back, she does not like excessive cuddling), and likes to just sit in the yard and watch the world go by. Here's hoping she continues to enjoy the outdoors. She's going to have a hard time in this family if she doesn't like to be outside!
However, we were not going to let a little change in the weather deter us. So, even though it was cool and rainy Sunday we took doots to the zoo. It was still fun, but I imagine it would have been more fun if it was sunny and 70 like they said it would be. Stupid weather. Of course, today it is nice and sunny and warm.
Due to the less than ideal weather situation I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked. But I still got a couple and Audrey did enjoy the zoo. We thought she might enjoy looking at the animals because she loves watching the pets. She is always whipping her head around to see what they are doing and where they are going.
The penguins and peacocks were her favorite though. She kicked her feet and giggled while she was watching them. This made JT happy as the penguins are also his favorite. He would like to have one as a pet, he has it all planned out if I ever decide to give in. In fact, in honor of her love for the penguins he chose to read her "My Person Penguin" as her bedtime story last night. Daddy and doots, lovers of penguins.
In other news, Audrey still loves her monster (it is actually and owl but whatever) more than anything in this world. With that in mind, we ordered a backup monster. Now we can wash it and not live in fear of losing it or leaving it at daycare.
She loves that dude so much she always wants him nearby. She really likes this new owl toy, but not enough to put monster down!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Audrey 5 Months
Audrey is already 5 months old. That is almost half a year. What the hell. I swear she was just born.
She has been busy growing and developing. In the last month she has started to roll over a lot more, though she still only does it when she feels the need. She is an independent lady already.
She is super close to sitting up on her own, she can do it for about 5 seconds before she tips over.
She has learned to suck her thumb, she sleeps without her swaddle, she loves to eat milksicles from her mesh feeder, and she loves to giggle and play.
Audrey really is a very happy, fun baby. We are so blessed.
Of course there have been challenges this month as well. Getting rid of the swaddle took some work, and there is always sleep. But the hardest thing was Audrey getting sick for the first time. She is getting better now but she had a terrible sounding cough and runny nose for about a week. She still feels that having ones nose wiped or suctioned is pure torture. So that is fun. As if it isn't already hard enough to suck a babies nose, we got to do it to a screaming, flailing baby every single time. Joyful. Thankfully this sickness was not too bad, no fever, no doctor and she is starting to act like herself again.
There clearly has not been a shortage of food in this house. That little lady is starting to make that purple mouse look like a mouse. Getting big so fast.
To sum up your month my sweet baby I will again, list a few things you do and do not like.
Things Audrey Loves Right Now
I can't believe Audrey has already been with us for 5 months. She is such a blessing. We love you to the moon little lady!
She has been busy growing and developing. In the last month she has started to roll over a lot more, though she still only does it when she feels the need. She is an independent lady already.
She is super close to sitting up on her own, she can do it for about 5 seconds before she tips over.
She has learned to suck her thumb, she sleeps without her swaddle, she loves to eat milksicles from her mesh feeder, and she loves to giggle and play.
 |
| Sucking her thumb. |
 |
| Riding on a horse with daddy. |
Of course there have been challenges this month as well. Getting rid of the swaddle took some work, and there is always sleep. But the hardest thing was Audrey getting sick for the first time. She is getting better now but she had a terrible sounding cough and runny nose for about a week. She still feels that having ones nose wiped or suctioned is pure torture. So that is fun. As if it isn't already hard enough to suck a babies nose, we got to do it to a screaming, flailing baby every single time. Joyful. Thankfully this sickness was not too bad, no fever, no doctor and she is starting to act like herself again.
There clearly has not been a shortage of food in this house. That little lady is starting to make that purple mouse look like a mouse. Getting big so fast.
Things Audrey Loves Right Now
- Watching the pets
- Her monster (we need to order a backup she loves that little dude)
- Old McDonald
- Her swing
- Teething rings
- Milksicles
- Pirate sounds
- Kicking her feet
- Talking (some may say screeching)
- Freddie and Morty
- Rolling around
- Getting her face wiped
- Getting her nose sucked
- Riding in the ergo
- Being sick
- Cuddling
- Forced tummy time
- Not being able to see what is going on all the time
- Mommy and me yoga
I can't believe Audrey has already been with us for 5 months. She is such a blessing. We love you to the moon little lady!
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Fickle Thing Called Sleep
First of all, I understand there are many opinions on what healthy baby sleep looks like. I understand that. I am talking about what has worked, and hopefully will work, for our baby and our family. Every family is different and has different needs, let's not judge one another.
I'm doing it. I'm jinxing all of us by writing about Audrey's sleep habits. The thing is, I really need some blog therapy on this one. Hopefully I won't be sorry I did this.
Here's the thing, Audrey has been a really good sleeper from day one. In fact, we often had to wake her to eat at night when she was a wee little thing. She even started sleeping through the night before she was 3 months old. It was glorious we were riding high. Feeling like we might know what the heck we are doing. We were putting her down awake, she was falling asleep on her own. Going from 7:30 or 8 until 8 am with one dream feed around 10:30.
Heaven.
We savored every night for fear it would be the last. That was a smart thing to do.
Because at about 4 months changes started creeping in. She started waking around 4 am wanting to eat. We obliged feeling she was probably having a growth spurt, and really she is quite young and eating once at night seems reasonable. We were OK with this new wake once to eat go right back to sleep thing. A bit more tired but OK with it none-the-less. We give her a bottle at night so we can trade nights. It was OK.
Then the time she woke started getting sporadic some nights 2 am some nights 4, but still only once a night and still back to sleep pretty quick, so again we felt OK. Until...
Almost 5 months when she has started to get really good at getting out of her swaddle. Which translates to waking up every time she gets out because "oh crap I'm unswaddled! what do I do with my hands". The easy answer is leave them in the damn swaddle, but alas you can't reason with babies.
This means things have regressed. There has been more rocking to sleep and lying down asleep than I am comfortable with. She is waking up more than once, which is too much for me. I have high standards, I know. But we like to sleep in this house. Something has to change.
It seems the only thing to do is wean her from that swaddle. Crap, that's not going to be easy. I think she will like it once she figures it out, she has been sucking her thumb a lot lately. But I fear the learning curve will be high.
So starting tonight we are going to try to get that baby sleeping with her arms free.
I am terrified.
JT is terrified.
We like to sleep. There may be earplugs involved (for the parent who is not on duty). We may be going to bed at 9 again. But it is all in an effort to get that baby sleeping well again.
Please send sleepy, peaceful thoughts to our house. I think we are going to need them.
I'm doing it. I'm jinxing all of us by writing about Audrey's sleep habits. The thing is, I really need some blog therapy on this one. Hopefully I won't be sorry I did this.
Here's the thing, Audrey has been a really good sleeper from day one. In fact, we often had to wake her to eat at night when she was a wee little thing. She even started sleeping through the night before she was 3 months old. It was glorious we were riding high. Feeling like we might know what the heck we are doing. We were putting her down awake, she was falling asleep on her own. Going from 7:30 or 8 until 8 am with one dream feed around 10:30.
Heaven.
We savored every night for fear it would be the last. That was a smart thing to do.
Because at about 4 months changes started creeping in. She started waking around 4 am wanting to eat. We obliged feeling she was probably having a growth spurt, and really she is quite young and eating once at night seems reasonable. We were OK with this new wake once to eat go right back to sleep thing. A bit more tired but OK with it none-the-less. We give her a bottle at night so we can trade nights. It was OK.
Then the time she woke started getting sporadic some nights 2 am some nights 4, but still only once a night and still back to sleep pretty quick, so again we felt OK. Until...
Almost 5 months when she has started to get really good at getting out of her swaddle. Which translates to waking up every time she gets out because "oh crap I'm unswaddled! what do I do with my hands". The easy answer is leave them in the damn swaddle, but alas you can't reason with babies.
This means things have regressed. There has been more rocking to sleep and lying down asleep than I am comfortable with. She is waking up more than once, which is too much for me. I have high standards, I know. But we like to sleep in this house. Something has to change.
 |
| You once were so happy to sleep all swaddled up. |
It seems the only thing to do is wean her from that swaddle. Crap, that's not going to be easy. I think she will like it once she figures it out, she has been sucking her thumb a lot lately. But I fear the learning curve will be high.
So starting tonight we are going to try to get that baby sleeping with her arms free.
I am terrified.
JT is terrified.
We like to sleep. There may be earplugs involved (for the parent who is not on duty). We may be going to bed at 9 again. But it is all in an effort to get that baby sleeping well again.
Please send sleepy, peaceful thoughts to our house. I think we are going to need them.
 |
| You will be just as happy with free arms, right? |
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Audrey 4 Months
I apologize my darling daughter. This post is really, really late. I anticipate this will be a problem as long as this blog exists. I am operating on a better late than never premise, but I am sorry I am so late on your four month update.
You have changed so much over the last month. And have gotten so big. You are bigger than that purple mouse now! You two were about the same size at month 2.
You had a lot of firsts this month - your first airplane ride, first time in Minnesota, first night away from home, met lots of friends and family for the first time, and rolling over for the first time (back to front and front to back). Sheesh, that's a lot of stuff for one little girl to do in a month.
You rolled from your back to front for the first time in Minnesota for aunts, uncles, and grandparents to see. That was very thoughtful of you. You've only done it a handful of times since and refused to roll over at all while your Thomas grandparents were here babysitting. Not so nice little lady.
You did roll from your tummy to back for the first time while your grandparents were here, but of course they were out at the time and didn't get to see. I didn't get to see either, but I am sure there will be many more rolls in your future.
Your grandparents came and babysat you while daycare was on vacation. You had an absolute blast hanging out with grandma Nancy and grandpa Val. I think they had a pretty good time too! They even brought you an Easter basket to celebrate your first Easter.
You continue to be a super easy going and fun baby. My only complaint is that you do not like to snuggle. Neither your dad or I did as babies either so I guess we got what we deserve, but it is not fun. I just want to snuggle you!
You are so big and so interactive. You are getting so good at picking up your toys and putting them in your mouth. It is so much fun to see you change and grow every day. You even have specific likes and dislikes.
Thing Audrey Loves Right Now
You did roll from your tummy to back for the first time while your grandparents were here, but of course they were out at the time and didn't get to see. I didn't get to see either, but I am sure there will be many more rolls in your future.
You are so big and so interactive. You are getting so good at picking up your toys and putting them in your mouth. It is so much fun to see you change and grow every day. You even have specific likes and dislikes.
Thing Audrey Loves Right Now
- Funny noises
- Being tickled
- Talking
- Giggling
- Standing
- Freddie the Firefly
- Songs (Old McDonald is a favorite)
- Laying on the changing table
- Watching the dog
- Daddy
- Monster
- Mobiles
- Being swaddled (you still sleep way better this way, sorry baby girl you're not ready to give it up)
- Getting your snot sucked
- Getting your nails cut
- Cuddling
- Getting your face wiped
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