Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A Day in the Life of a 5.5 Month Old

I wish I had done something like this a few different times before now. Time goes by so quickly. That and I feel like I live in a fog most of the time. Having a baby that doesn't sleep much, and 2 very busy and active older children, will do that to a person. That fog is totally worth it, I mean look at the sweet kids I have, I just don't remember much about how we spent our days.
During the week, everyone gets up about 6.  Some mornings Reece is up then, some mornings he is still asleep.  This morning he was up.  I had time to nurse him as Hannah and Eli got up and ready for school.  After he was fed and everyone else was dressed and in the living room and kitchen, work and our day began.  I didn't take any pictures first thing because it's still dark here and that makes for crummy pictures.  I made Hannah and Eli breakfast.  As they were eating, Reece was playing in the living room.  The kids ate breakfast  and I had lunches to make and coffee needed to be made for Cody and I.  Teeth and hair brushed, shoes on, last minute check of bags, coats on and out the door.  Once the kids leave it is quiet in the house, most of the time.  This morning, after the kids and Cody left, it was time for Reece for take a nap.  Most mornings, I hold him for this first quick 20-30 minute power nap.  I know that eventually this wanting to be held and snuggle time will be a distant memory.  He's going to be so busy in a few weeks and months that this time will fade.  I enjoy every moment I get of this precious snuggle time.  After his first 40 minute nap and then a nursing session, he was ready to play for a bit.  While he sat in his saucer and stuck his tongue out at me, I folded laundry and started a new load.  This time of being happy playing lasted about 10 minutes.


Then we moved to the kitchen.  I had another 10 or 15 minutes that he was happy playing and talking to me while I unloaded the dishwasher, put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, wiped down the counters, and swept the floor.  After the kitchen was clean we played and talked and sang a song or two.


Like clockwork with him, 1 hour after he nursed, he was ready for a nap in his swing.


While he napped I did some yoga.  I wasn't sure if he'd stay asleep the whole time.  Sometimes I have a partner who likes to practice his savasana pose.


He did stay asleep, mostly.  I had about 5 minutes left and I was greeted with this sweet face.


After a diaper change, I got him dressed, and we had another nursing session, I had a laundry folding buddy.  I love folding laundry with him.  He talks and laughs and tries to help me :)


I knew he wasn't going to sleep, but I really needed to take a shower.  I like being able to hear him, so he sat in his bouncy seat with some friends while I got rid of the baby spit up smell.


After getting ready for the next half of the day, he nursed again.  He rocks this 2 hour start to start routine.  He is incredibly predictable with that.  I know how much time I have if we venture out and when doing things at home.  I haven't nailed down eating during the day, I'm all over the place with meal times!


After he ate, we read stories.  Feet make all books better.


He loves to help me turn the pages.


This book is one of our favorites.  Cody got this book for Hannah and Eli when they were little.  Still a huge ht.


He laughs EVERY.TIME. READ.


Who can read a book without trying to eat it!


After some more play time in the highchair and then the dreaded tummy time, I failed on taking more pictures the rest of the day.


He finally took a long nap at 3:45.  I was holding him so we didn't get to venture out.  Another nursing session after he woke up and we played for awhile.  H & E had to go to a showing with their dad so when they got home it was busy.  Homework, dinner for Cody and I, showers for the older 2, bath for Reece, lotion and jammies, medicine, and them into the woombie.  Reece is still in his woombie.  He has no desire to sleep outside it.  Who knows when he'll decide he's ready to sleep without it.  He nursed for the final time about 9:15, a little earlier then most nights (9:30 usually), so he didn't get to listen to bed time story(s) and the nightly devotion.  He laid down about 10.  I didn't get to go to bed right after him, I had to finish an assignment :(  Bummer too, he ended up sleeping 9 hours!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Tiny Fingers

Reece has been working hard at using his hands and fingers.  You can see the concentration in his eyes.  He thinks so hard about what he's doing, what he's reaching for, and what he's trying to keep a hold of. And once he gets a hold of it, most everything goes into the mouth.  I love watching him.  He changes so much and so quickly.  I am so incredibly thankful and blessed to be home with him.  I love seeing the new things that he learns on pretty much a daily basis.








Those eyes...I love that face and those eyes so very much.




Friday, March 1, 2013

5 Months!

5 months. Hard to believe! Time goes by soooo fast. He's getting way too big too fast. We decided to go ahead and get a highchair this month. I wanted him to be a part of dinner. He looks so tiny in the highchair :)  

We decided to try him in the Bumbo.  Not quite strong enough yet.  He tries, but gets tired so fast.  Even with the tray on, not steady yet.


He is not putting everything in his mouth!  His hands are constantly in his mouth.  Fingers, one fist, and he tries to get both fists in there!


He is getting very vocal.  He is starting to talk all the time.  He is most talkative first thing in the morning.  I absolutely love listening to him!  Makes my heart swell.


This picture cracks me up!  He is so vocal and animated now!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Feet!







This is how Reece spends much of his day!  He has found his feet within the last 2 weeks.  I wish his feet didn't get so cold, then I could leave his socks off all day long, but they turn into icecicles when uncovered for long.  That's all right, he just tries to take those yucky socks off when he wants to eat his toes!  Can't resist those yummy toes!!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!!


Reece and I started our Valentine's Day off making this for Daddy. Let me tell you, trying to do hand prints with a 4.5 month old is INSANELY hard!! The proof is in the hand prints. One you can kind of make out, but not so much the other. The feet were much easier.


I'm trying to increase our face time.  Cody and I don't have a lot of one-on-one time, but when we do I feel like it's centered around what's on T.V.  For Duck Dynasty, this is totally acceptable, love that show!  In trying to increase the face time, I wanted to get something for him that we could do together, that is fun.  I love the Settlers of Catan game (thanks to my brother and sister-in-law), but it's hard to play with 2 people.  I'm looking forward to playing these when the kids go to bed.


Speaking of kids, these 2 crack me up!  Cody knows them soooo well!  He got them the candy and popcorn for V-Day.  Best. Gifts. Ever!


I made these cookies in honor of Valentine's Day.  I have cut dairy out of my diet.  Reecy doesn't tolerate the milk protein well.  Dinners have been fine, but sweets are hard.  The secret ingredient in these cookies is SOOO surprising.  I'll never tell the kids, but they loved them!  They really are awesome, like a cookie, brownie, cake combination.





Our sweet, sleepy, and very handsome Valentine.  This outfit didn't last long.  Explosive diapers will do that!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

4 Months


4 months already!!  Time sure is flying by.  It's actually been a quiet month.  The craziness and busy that comes with having older siblings starts in less then a week.  We will go from being home with nothing to do and nowhere to go, to Hannah playing basketball and volleyball, and Eli playing basketball.  Hopefully Reece will adjust to being busy in the evenings.  Reece went for his 4 month visit and he's growing beautifully!  He weighs 12 pounds, is 24.5" long, and his head circumference is 16".  Still on the small side, but growing well.  In the last month, the larangomalacia has seemed to calm down during the day.  Still squeaking when nursing and snoring loudly at night, but the random squeaking during the day seems to be getting better.  He is working on getting his feet in his mouth.  So very close!  Rolling from tummy to back is making tummy time difficult.  Most of the time Reece just flips over.  He likes to bang his feet up and down in the crib.  We moved up to a different size swaddle.  He loves his new Woombie.  Much easier to move arms around without being totally free.






I put the crib up in our bedroom!

New Milestones:
found your feet, working on getting them in the mouth
much more control over hands
starting to grab at toys
holding your head up with much more control

Likes:
blankets next to your face
talking to us
giggling when tickled on your back

Dislikes:
sleeping for longer then 30 minutes during the day
playing on your tummy

Monday, January 7, 2013

3 Months




I can't believe Reece is 3 months old already.  It doesn't seem possible.  He is still little, much smaller then other babies his age.  We don't mind him being little, he is more snugglier since he's little.  In this month he's really starting to smile.  He smiles so much now.  He is starting to smile at people he recognizes.  Daddy really likes that when he gets home from work.  He giggles a little.  I think he'll be ticklish around his neck.  If we play with his neck he will giggle sometimes.  He is starting to discover his hands.  When they come into his line of sight they are instantly in his mouth.  Hannah decided to get her hair cut because he is starting to get ahold of our hair.  She looks beautiful with her new do (and way more grown-up then 10).  We are so lucky that we have a happy baby.  Still not one that sleeps much during the day, but he still remains happy.  I think he'll be like his Aunt Fofo and not sleep much during the day.  Reecie doesn't really care for tummy time, but he has figured out how to roll from his belly to his back this month, so problem solved.  He turns tummy time into back time by rolling.  




Likes:
 swinging in his swing
playing in his bouncy seat
playing on his play mat
sleeping in Daddy and Mama's arms

Dislikes:
tummy time
being by himself for too long
sleeping during the day

New Milestones:
smiling daily
giggles sometimes
rolling from tummy to back