6 Months

I'm one proud momma to see Laurel growing and loving life. She is one of a kind and I can't wait to see what God has in store for her in the future. As you can see, she still looks like her daddy, but thats ok. Her eyes have stayed a deep blue, and her lashes are to die for! Her hair is growing and is a pretty strawberry blonde. Maybe some day her hair will be long enough to put a cute bow in?

She is loving some cereal these days. She eats oatmeal in the morning with pears. In the evening she eats rice cereal with summer squash. Just this week (June 15) I added a third meal of sweet potatoes for lunch. I was going to wait till she was 7 months to add a third meal but I think she was ready. We have also started her on a sippy cup with only water and just give it to her after solid food. She only gets a few sips in but it sure is fun! It's so cute to see her holding it up with both her hands. Such a big girl!

I'm looking forward to trying more foods on her this month. Next up is bananas, then green beans (Yikes). So far I have made my own squash and sweet potatoes, and pears for her but in the long run if I have coupons I'll keep buying them pre-made. I've heard green beans are hard to get a good texture with if you make them yourself so I'll probably just buy those already made up too. I've also heard there is a nitrate issue with carrots, but I think as long as I buy them with the green stalks on them and make them right away and freeze right away we should be ok. Plus, its not like I'm going to feed her carrots every meal. I'm dreading adding meat into her diet, and think we might can do without? I may opt to keep feeding her iron fortified cereal and start her on lentils, yogurt, cheese, and eggs?

At her 6mo check up on the 13th of June she is back at the 25% for weight (14.12 oz) , at 4 mo she dropped to the 15% and it was questionable if I would continue nursing her, but we pushed through and I'm glad we did. Her height is around the 55%.

Her favorite thing to play with is probably a wet wash cloth. She loves playing peek-a-boo with it and chewing on it. I love to watch her excitement after meal times when I get the warm water going to wet a wash cloth, so funny. I call her my little swimmer/ froggie because she kicks her legs when she gets excited to be picked up or if she's really into what she's playing with.

Napping is still an issue sometimes, but I choose not to dwell on it. I'm thankful she sleeps anywhere from 11-12 hours at night and maybe someday when she's only taking two naps she'll get into a better groove. I can't seem to figure her out, but on most days she takes a 1 1/2 hr nap in the morning and for her last two naps she just does 30 min. I've been holding her for her last nap of the day and love seeing her wake up and rub her eyes and stretch.

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