5 months

Laurel has grown up so much this month. She is truly a wonder and I'm so blessed to see her grow and learn. She finally rolled over a day before she turned 5 months, she had gotten so close sooo many times before. It kinda scared her the first time she did it and both Andy and I were there with her (glad we both got to see that special moment). 

Laurel also has chompers now! Beware they are sharp. The bottom two popped through without any trouble, I had noticed some congestion, but no fever. I was expecting some major fussiness, fever, rashes but so far we are good.  

I also started her on some solid food just before she turned 6 months it took a good two weeks before she decided she liked cereal. She seems to go for the rice cereal more than the oatmeal. 

Her excitement to see Mom and Dad is too cute. She straightens herself up and grunts and smiles. It feels so good to be loved and recognized. I can't wait for when she can walk/ crawl up to me and give me a big hug all on her own. 

She got the hang of how her exersaucer works and can fully rotate around and looks so busy when she is playing. There's a toy on there that she finds frustrating to get in the exact place she wants it, and grunts and cries when it won't do right for her. Its fun to see her personality blooming before my eyes.  She also figured out her johnny jump up, it took a while but now she loves it. 

My favorite time with her continues to be before bed when I can nurse her to sleep. I also love after she finishes eating throughout the day and I put her on my shoulder to burp her and she cuddles right in and lays her head down on me. So sweet!  

4 months

What our girl is up to this month:

• Starting to sit up better in exersaucer and bumbo
• Passing objects from hand to hand
• We think she might be left handed, all her toys end up on the left side of her
• Likes to pretend to drink out of our cups
• Enjoys being outside playing with wind chimes
• Still hates being in stroller and prefers to be held or in baby carrier
• Enjoying baths more, likes to look at the water going through her fingers 
• She can now show love in her own fun ways, like laying her head on our shoulder, holding Andy's thumb when she's tired, gives sloppy kisses. Not only that but she loves on us in different ways by giving me hugs and squeals when she's done feeding and laying her head on Andy's chest when she's tired.
• Likes to look at yoshino cherry trees in bloom at my mom and dad's 

Laurel meets Uncle David and Aunt Brooke

Glad we got to see these world travelers before they headed off again. Laurel was excited to meet them for the first time.

What a furry face you have Uncle David

They look pretty content with one another. 

Valentines Day

Andy has cooked me Valentines dinner for a few years now. I'm glad I married a husband who can cook, and when he does it's amazing!!! He outdid himself this year and made me shrimp for an appetizer! He knows me well. Thank you Andy for going through the trouble to make me a wonderful meal. I love you!!

In action at the stove.

Proud Handsome Man right there!

Steak, mustard roasted potatoes, asparagus, and salad!

Laurel Loves to look at the Valentines tree I made up.  I still have it up even though it's mid March.

Happy First Valentines Day Laurel. She even took a catnap while we ate.

Tea roses for Laurel and big red ones for  Momma.

3 Months- Where does the time go?

I can't believe Laurel is already 3 months, that's a quarter of a year. Each day I continue to discover more of here likes, dislikes, personality quirks and she is simply amazing.

• Laurel is now sleeping in her crib, we started this a couple days before she turned three months. 
• Nursing is getting better, last month was bumpy to say the least. 
• Sleeping between 10 and 11 hours a night, usually winding down by 7pm and up by 6 or 7am. Back to waking up once a night now, was twice for awhile due to a growth spurt. 
• Naps are 30 min. on the dot unless I hold her or sleep with her beside me. I've been letting her do this at least once a day for the past couple weeks. I may be creating bad habits, but I love it.
• Sometimes when she wakes up super early I slip her in-between me and Andy and she'll usually sleep another hour and a half. 
• Laughed for the first time when I kissed her belly and neck! The best feeling ever!!
• This girl is strong, she can now undo any swaddle with a regular blanket so I've started using the swaddleme and kiddopatamus for naps and at night and even then those little hands find their way to her mouth. I wish her hands would self soothe her back to sleep, but she still wants a paci for that. 
• Oh, she has a new trick. She loves to stick one or both of her hands so far in her mouth that she gags herself and throws up her entire meal. Bulimic baby??? She is completely happy before and after this happens, it's only 20 min later or so that she gets cranky because she has a empty belly. I've tried pulling her hands out and putting a paci in, but she either spits out or pulls out the paci to get her hand in there. I'd say she was teathing, but she has always loved her hands in her mouth. I have ultrasounds with her hands in her mouth or right up against her face and many of the pictures we have from day one are with hands hands in her mouth.
• Feeding every 2 -3 hours. She would last longer if she would stop gagging herself. 
• We are now cloth diapering. I have a good routine down and love the accomplished feeling I have after hanging up a fresh load of diapers to dry. 
• Laurel loves to lay on a blanket on the floor and coo and squeal.  She even does this when she is alone sometimes.
• Definitely a people person. She stayed in the nursery the first time on 3-5 and did great. Her first Sunday in nursery went well too.
• We learned she travels well at night if we need to be in the car for a few hours. 

2 months

Little miss Laurel is starting to show some personality.

Here are a few things she has been up to:

• Sleeping 5, 6, or 7 hour stretches at night. Not consistent on which one bc. sometimes she will do a dream feed and other times I can't wake her up to do one. 
• Likes to kick and pump her legs up and down, especially likes the rocker chair we have on the wood floor, she can really get it going
• Has started to focus on her hand, she gets cross-eyed when she brings her hand really close to her face.
• Loves her new mobile and likes to coo and talk to it
• Best time of day is in the mornings
• Still likes to be swaddled for naps and at night
• Doing well for the most part when I take her into church, sleeps most of the time.
• Loves taking naps on her Daddy
• If I can't get her back to sleep at night I put her next to her Daddy and she falls right back to sleep
• Does not like tummy time! Can't stand it for more than a minute
• Still takes one longer nap around 1:30pm
• Poops are starting to slow down, she now has one or two a day (if just one it's usually a blowout)
• We were using the Fisher Price Rock n' Play for her to sleep in at night, but we have transitioned her into a flat bassinet so she will be ready for the crib. The first couple of nights she had an extra feed, but she is sleeping just fine now. 

Yay, Dad is home bc. of snow!

Best naps are on Daddy's chest.

First Snow

This mirror has already provided hours of entertainment!

Looking at Daddy, she loves that boy!

Vitamin D face, she loves this stuff

One month with my new love

Laurel is one special girl and we continue to thank God for the blessing she is in our lives. This past month Laurel has amazed is in so many ways.

What Laurel is up to this month:

• She continues to smile (she has been doing this since day one in the hospital)
• Likes baths if you keep warm water on her, does not like getting dressed afterward
• Started taking a paci at 2 weeks old (the day my mom left from helping us out was when she decided to take one)
• First road trip to my mom and dad's for Christmas and Gran's Funeral 
• Loves to be soothed by being held in the upright position while you do the baby dance with her and say "SHhhh" over and over
• Likes to have her diaper changed and looks at herself in the mirror
• Feed every two hours during the day
• Takes cat naps throughout the day and one big nap around 1 or so in the afternoon
• At night she goes 4-5 hours and then wants to be fed, so I'm getting up with her twice at night
• Is ready for the new day around 7:30am and loves it when we unswaddle her, she gives the biggest stretches by putting her hands above her head and pointing her toes
• Does a cluster feed at 7, 8, and 9 then is ready for bed
• Liking her car seat more and more, she has her best naps when we are out and about
• First walk around the neighborhood was at one week old
• First restaurant was a Chinese buffet at 10:00pm (this was at a week old too, had a unexpected trip to the hospital due to me hurting my back)

8.8 lb, 20.5 in

Christmas Day

Pawpaw and Laurel

Pappy, Darla, and Laurel

Aunt Callie and Laurel

Aunt Virginia and Cousin Ashlyn holding Laurel