Monday, January 25, 2016

4 Months


My big girl is 15.5lbs and 24.5 inches! She did great at her 4month check up and surprisingly well with her vaccines this month. 



Another milestone. We have made it 4 months! Woo hoo!!It is a piece of cake now. On January 1, 2016, I started back to work full time. While at work I pump for Sydney and I nurse her at night. The pumping isn't easy, but it is not as much of a pain as I thought it was going to be.  I only pump 3 times a day and right now get about 15oz a day from that.  She only takes 12oz in bottles so I have extra to freeze at night to build a nice emergency stash. 


We started to get ready for the holidays by taking the kids to see Santa.  Sydney wasn't impressed, but Carson was as happy as can be. 

Sydney celebrated her first Christmas and it was a busy one. We hosted Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day had the family back over for breakfast and dinner.

The kids Christmas morning
 The day after Christmas, we made our way to Melbourne to celebrate with Geoff's family.  We had such a wonderful time.  Sydney handled the drive like a champ, 2 months ago, that never would have happened.
Melbourne for Christmas dinner

While Carson was on winter break, we went to Lion Country Safari.  Sydney slept almost the entire time we were there, but she looked so cute when we were getting ready to leave.
Lion Country Safari

First photo of 2016

New Years Eve, we had all of our friends at the house and celebrated. There are alot of kids now. 

So right around Christmas time, Sydney started to laugh.  We had to work for it, but once she did, it was wonderful.  Absolutely love hearing her laugh and you can really get her going now.  





On January 3, 2016, Sydney rolled over for the first time.

I always wanted a child that would sleep, easily.  Carson is 6 and we lay in bed with him to go to sleep and he just has always hated going to sleep. I can now put Sydney in her bed awake, swaddled and she will put herself to sleep. It is glorious and wonderful. But, here is the even better part. SHE SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT! She was going from midnight/1am until 6 something, then she went from 1030 until about the same time and now it is at 930 until about 6 something. Sweet Jesus it is wonderful. It is a game changer.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

3 Months


We did it. We made it through the 4th trimester. You may have heard of the fourth trimester. Basically, it’s the idea that the first 3 months of life are very much an extension of life in the womb for baby. Baby has spent 40 weeks (or there abouts!) having her every need attended to. She never knew hunger, was always rocked, and could always hear mama’s heartbeat. Given that, it seems pretty unrealistic to expect a newborn baby to adjust to life on the outside instantly.  Let's just say, I did alot of baby wearing these past 3 months. I fed on demand for 3 months.  For 3 months, I have been at her beckon call.  The princess rings and I am there. I slept with her, rocked her, loved her, coddled her.  As we got closer to 3 months, she didn't need me to sleep with her as much, she didn't need to nurse as much.  Syndey was in control and I followed her cues. 


Sleeps at night from 11/12ish to about 630/7. 
She LOVES bath time. It doesn't matter what is going on, I put her in the bath and she is as happy as can be.

The dr says she is doing great.  I decided not to get her ears pierced. I was going to and I was all for it, but something about her little innocent ears, I changed my mind.  


I am so happy that I have made it 3 months, it is a milestone, every month is.  That being said, it has been SO MUCH EASIER. Wow, it is like at 3 months, someone flips a switch and says, you made it through hell and back and now your road is paved for a much smoother ride. 

In December, I started back to work 2 days a week and Sydney has been spending her days with my mom and also getting bottles.  She wasn't a fan at first, but she is doing much better.  

She has also been doing great in the crib.  So much different than Carson.  I swaddle her, put on the blow dryer on my phone and out she goes.  Of course like anyone she has her bad days, but for the most part, she does great.  

My aunt Carol wasn't feeling well and my mom wanted to take a trip to Ft. Myers to see her.  I was very anxious about driving that long with Sydney in the car, I had no idea how it was going to go. She made it over to Ft. Myers without a peep.  That night was her first night sleeping somewhere other than her house.  She was up and didn't go to sleep until 3am.  I was exhausted the next day.  We spent the next day at the hospital and spent alot of time with our family and my mom and I drove home that afternoon.  We made it half way across the alley and had to pull off at a rest stop because little miss wasn't having it and screamed for about a 1/2 hour before we were able to stop.  Once I nursed her and she calmed down, we were off and she made it home. 

Sydney also started really, really smiling this month and man oh man does she make your heart melt. She has one of the biggest, most consistent smiles I have ever seen on a baby.  I just love it.  

Thanksgiving we went back to Ft. Myers and it was by far, the best Thanksgiving ever.  We spent a few days with all of our family and everyone got lots and lots of snuggle time with that little babe. She did wonderful and just rolled with the punches.  One night, she had a serious bout of gas.  Thankfully my mom was still at the house and had not gone back to the hotel and she helped us out because it was 11pm that she started, wailing and screaming, tears flowing.  It took us about 45 minutes until she calmed down.  It was absolutely heartbreaking, there was nothing we could do to calm her.  I gave her mylicon and she did eventually calm down.

Geoffrey and I also had our first night out, together, since she was born. Sydney and Carson stayed with my mom and dad for a few hours.  My bestest friend Danielle, the kids know her as Aunt Danielle, got engaged. Congrats Danielle and Lucas.  We are so excited for you!!! 

It is unbelievable how fast 3 months flew by, but it was the hardest 3 months so I am not too sad to see it go. :)