That title is insane! But by the end of the week, Reese will be 2 months PAST 1!
First, here are some updated stats...
- At 11 months, she weighed in at 16.5 pounds and measured 28.5 inches (according to my measurements).
- At 12 months, she weighed 16 lbs, 14 oz and was 28 inches (according to the Dr's office, but I think the measurement wasn't accurate on her length).
- At 13 months, she weighed 17 lbs, 5 oz and measured 31.5 inches (according to the nurse at the pediatrician, but again, I think the length wasn't quite accurate -- the nurse was new and didn't seem to quite have it all together when it came to that part of the appt).
The past few months have busy, so I'll try to catch you up on the highlights.
Reese turned ONE! That's a big ONE for sure! We were blessed to have family come to celebrate the weekend with us. We enjoyed time together at the fall festival on the square and Calvary Home's Bluegrass & BBQ fundraiser on Saturday. Followed by a night of baking and prepping for the big "pumpkin" party. I stayed up to make Reese a sugarless "pumpkin" cake (don't worry, the icing was make of cream cheese and powdered sugar), popcorn with chocolate drizzled, and pumpkin-shaped cookies (that ended up looking like blobs. Other food items that were served at the party included some of Reese's favorite foods (grilled cheese sandwiches, Cheerios, carrots and broccoli), a "normal" cake, and some candy for treat bags (Reese's cups, Reese's pieces, and orange and black sixlets). The party was fun, and I will say VERY well attended. The kids (who were old enough to) participated in pumpkin painting. It was held at a picnic shelter, and the weather was simply beautiful. Reese wasn't so sure about the cake's icing, but once she realized there was cake under there to enjoy, she loved it.
Another new adventure for our family has been working relief at Calvary Home. At CHC, we have full-time houseparents who care for the children in each cottage, but the are supposed to get 7 days a week off each month. So, that is done by having relief staff come in and work 2 (3.5 day weekends each month). Well, we've started doing that! We have served 2 weekends, and while they aren't the most restful weekends, they are rewarding. It is a blessing to be able to serve and love on the kids that Calvary Home has been blessed to care for. The smiles and the laughter certainly outweigh the rest bickering and trouble listening. And knowing the stories of the children on campus makes it that much more rewarding.
12.13.2011
8.15.2011
10 months... what!?
Reese's 10 month birthday happened at the beach! We went with Dusty's mom and family to Topsail Island to spend a week in a great house on the beach! It was a special time for me especially to have Reese at Topsail, since I spent my first summer, and nearly every summer of my life, there. Although she got off her schedule while we were there and didn't sleep as late in the mornings as she does at home, she did great! We noticed that she has a top front tooth coming in! And in the last few days, I have noticed that there will be 3 top teeth (the other front and the ones beside them) coming in soon behind this one that is already starting to cut through!
But back to the beach! She loved the sand... but the ocean took a few days to warm up to. The first day, she SCREAMED any time you got her close to the waves. In fact, if the waves touched my feet when I was holding her, she would cry. But by the time Tuesday came around, she was okay to let the waves touch her some. And by the end of the week, we had her (in a life jacket of course) out in the ocean! Reese is truly a water baby! :)
She also started pointing while we were there. Valerie (Wes's girlfriend) had a kite that she flew several times during the week. And on Wednesday, Reese caught sight of it and pointed to it! Her sweet little finger was raised as high as she could get it... followed with a "buh" sound! Everything right now is "buh" -- from ball to bird (which kind of make since) to dog and food (which don't make as much sense). So the past couple of weeks have been pretty interesting trying to make everything in to a "b" word.
She also has been using the "wuh" sound. And one of my favorite memories from the beach was when Reese and I were taking a morning walk... to try to not wake others up who were still sleeping. She pointed to the waves and said "buh-buh" which I corrected as "wuh-wuh-wave." She started saying the "wuh" part over and over and as I continued to say wave, wave... I noticed that she was actually waving to the ocean! How sweet! I don't know how you explain that the 2 things are different but called the same thing, but it was precious all the same!
When we got back, I had to take her to the doctor for a weight check. When we got in the office, I undressed her and we went to weight her. "15 lbs 9.2 oz" popped up on the scale's display! I literally cheered out loud! Reese just looked at me like she didn't know what the big deal was... and the nurse helping us looked at me like "umm, okay lady." Then we measured her -- 27.5 inches long and her head is 17.75 inches! Again, I cheered! I was so excited to see so much of a change in just 1 month! The doctor came in (a different person than the one we usually see), and he didn't seem to concerned or even proud. He apparently hadn't read the chart because he said that she had only gained 5 oz since her last appointment. When I pointed out to him that she was previously at 14 lbs 2 oz his story changed a little. "Wow! Let's keep her on the 1 formula bottle and we'll just see you again at 12 months." Okay. YAY Reese! :)
She is still pulling up on everything, and she babbles a lot! She has mama down, but I think she only uses when she's hungry (for milk) or when she's getting pretty frustrated/tired. Like I said... the majority of it now is "buh" sounds. She has a new "trick" if you want to call it that. We have noticed that if you hold a camera and count, she will "smile" for you! Below is an example. I help the camera and said... okay Reese; ready, 1, 2, 3!
It's really hard to believe that the summer is already winding down, and Reese is only a few weeks from being a year old! Time has flown by, but I'm not as sad as I thought I would be about it. I mean, I have days where I think... oh I remember when she was so tiny. But then I look at her, and I get so excited for her as she learns so much more! It really brings me joy to see her play and try to talk. And I love watching her pull herself up and get excited about things she is discovering!
What a blessing it is to be a mom... and to be the mom of that sweet baby girl I get to call my daughter! :)
But back to the beach! She loved the sand... but the ocean took a few days to warm up to. The first day, she SCREAMED any time you got her close to the waves. In fact, if the waves touched my feet when I was holding her, she would cry. But by the time Tuesday came around, she was okay to let the waves touch her some. And by the end of the week, we had her (in a life jacket of course) out in the ocean! Reese is truly a water baby! :)
She also started pointing while we were there. Valerie (Wes's girlfriend) had a kite that she flew several times during the week. And on Wednesday, Reese caught sight of it and pointed to it! Her sweet little finger was raised as high as she could get it... followed with a "buh" sound! Everything right now is "buh" -- from ball to bird (which kind of make since) to dog and food (which don't make as much sense). So the past couple of weeks have been pretty interesting trying to make everything in to a "b" word.
She also has been using the "wuh" sound. And one of my favorite memories from the beach was when Reese and I were taking a morning walk... to try to not wake others up who were still sleeping. She pointed to the waves and said "buh-buh" which I corrected as "wuh-wuh-wave." She started saying the "wuh" part over and over and as I continued to say wave, wave... I noticed that she was actually waving to the ocean! How sweet! I don't know how you explain that the 2 things are different but called the same thing, but it was precious all the same!
When we got back, I had to take her to the doctor for a weight check. When we got in the office, I undressed her and we went to weight her. "15 lbs 9.2 oz" popped up on the scale's display! I literally cheered out loud! Reese just looked at me like she didn't know what the big deal was... and the nurse helping us looked at me like "umm, okay lady." Then we measured her -- 27.5 inches long and her head is 17.75 inches! Again, I cheered! I was so excited to see so much of a change in just 1 month! The doctor came in (a different person than the one we usually see), and he didn't seem to concerned or even proud. He apparently hadn't read the chart because he said that she had only gained 5 oz since her last appointment. When I pointed out to him that she was previously at 14 lbs 2 oz his story changed a little. "Wow! Let's keep her on the 1 formula bottle and we'll just see you again at 12 months." Okay. YAY Reese! :)
She is still pulling up on everything, and she babbles a lot! She has mama down, but I think she only uses when she's hungry (for milk) or when she's getting pretty frustrated/tired. Like I said... the majority of it now is "buh" sounds. She has a new "trick" if you want to call it that. We have noticed that if you hold a camera and count, she will "smile" for you! Below is an example. I help the camera and said... okay Reese; ready, 1, 2, 3!
It's really hard to believe that the summer is already winding down, and Reese is only a few weeks from being a year old! Time has flown by, but I'm not as sad as I thought I would be about it. I mean, I have days where I think... oh I remember when she was so tiny. But then I look at her, and I get so excited for her as she learns so much more! It really brings me joy to see her play and try to talk. And I love watching her pull herself up and get excited about things she is discovering!
What a blessing it is to be a mom... and to be the mom of that sweet baby girl I get to call my daughter! :)
7.11.2011
Reese's 9 Month Appt
Here are the stats: weight - 14 lbs 2 oz, length - 26.75 inchs (but I think that's a little less than her actually length), head size - 17 inches. Those equal out to under 5% for weight, 10% for height, and 25% for head.
All that to say, she didn't grow much over the last 3 months, and the doctor was "a little concerned" about her weight. I admit, I was prepared (and even a little anxious/nervous about what the would say) for it.
As far as developement... she's doing great! She claps and waves and pulls up on EVERYTHING she can manage to grab. She walks when holding hands and acts like she would like to stand on her own sometimes, but she hasn't quite mastered those skills. She babbles all the time, and there are a few words that she seems to say... "Mama" and "hey" are ones that are pretty consistent. But she has also said "Dada" and "bye" in the past month.
I am still nursing, and Reese seems satisfied when she's done eating with a little leftover. So the pediatrician recommended adding a formula bottle to her day. I will continue to nurse, but once a day, Reese is now having a bottle of high calorie formula to help fatten her up a little. The doctor did say that she could just have a smaller frame and smaller build, but they like for babies to have a little more fat on them than Reese does. So... we go back in a month to see how this added bottle of formula will change things.
She has a pretty nice schedule now too. She generally gets up between 6:30 and 7:30 but doesn't eat until 7:30 (or a little after). She nurses and plays for a little while. Breakfast (usually oatmeal and a banana) is generally around 8:30-ish. She plays a little more and is down for a morning nap between 9:30 and 10:00. This is the most productive part of the day for me! She typically naps until sometime between 11:00 and 12:00. At this time she nurses again and within 30 minutes or so, she has a little lunch (something like rotini pasta and yogurt). She is usually awake for a couple of hours and gets her added formula bottle before going down for an afternoon nap. This nap can last for a couple of hours too. When she gets up, she nurses and plays before dinner. Dinner typically includes rice cereal and some kind of veggie. We are trying to introduce some meat to her diet too. So dinner may get more interesting as more foods are introduced! :)
She loves to eat though! Until the last week... she loved to chomp on lump foods. However, she has been teething lately and hasn't eatten as much as she typically does. I think that her gums have been hurting, so it makes meal time difficult and she has been pretty fussy.
Reese is still a joy... even if she is a little small (still wearing 3-6 month and 6 month clothes). I am just going to enjoy her as much as I can, and we can deal with her size as needed and directed! :) Until we go back... I'm going to do my best to feed her healthy (but fatty) foods. And I'm open for ideas. :)
All that to say, she didn't grow much over the last 3 months, and the doctor was "a little concerned" about her weight. I admit, I was prepared (and even a little anxious/nervous about what the would say) for it.
As far as developement... she's doing great! She claps and waves and pulls up on EVERYTHING she can manage to grab. She walks when holding hands and acts like she would like to stand on her own sometimes, but she hasn't quite mastered those skills. She babbles all the time, and there are a few words that she seems to say... "Mama" and "hey" are ones that are pretty consistent. But she has also said "Dada" and "bye" in the past month.
I am still nursing, and Reese seems satisfied when she's done eating with a little leftover. So the pediatrician recommended adding a formula bottle to her day. I will continue to nurse, but once a day, Reese is now having a bottle of high calorie formula to help fatten her up a little. The doctor did say that she could just have a smaller frame and smaller build, but they like for babies to have a little more fat on them than Reese does. So... we go back in a month to see how this added bottle of formula will change things.
She has a pretty nice schedule now too. She generally gets up between 6:30 and 7:30 but doesn't eat until 7:30 (or a little after). She nurses and plays for a little while. Breakfast (usually oatmeal and a banana) is generally around 8:30-ish. She plays a little more and is down for a morning nap between 9:30 and 10:00. This is the most productive part of the day for me! She typically naps until sometime between 11:00 and 12:00. At this time she nurses again and within 30 minutes or so, she has a little lunch (something like rotini pasta and yogurt). She is usually awake for a couple of hours and gets her added formula bottle before going down for an afternoon nap. This nap can last for a couple of hours too. When she gets up, she nurses and plays before dinner. Dinner typically includes rice cereal and some kind of veggie. We are trying to introduce some meat to her diet too. So dinner may get more interesting as more foods are introduced! :)
She loves to eat though! Until the last week... she loved to chomp on lump foods. However, she has been teething lately and hasn't eatten as much as she typically does. I think that her gums have been hurting, so it makes meal time difficult and she has been pretty fussy.
Reese is still a joy... even if she is a little small (still wearing 3-6 month and 6 month clothes). I am just going to enjoy her as much as I can, and we can deal with her size as needed and directed! :) Until we go back... I'm going to do my best to feed her healthy (but fatty) foods. And I'm open for ideas. :)
5.31.2011
scooting, sitting, and teeth -- oh my!
I'm way behind in this posting thing. So, let me get to the stats first...
6 months: 13 pounds (30%) and 26.5 inches (75%) long. (these measurements are from Reese's 6 month appointment at the dr -- where she also got another round of vaccines.)
7 months: 13.5 pounds and 27 inches long.
8 months: (I'll post these on Thursday, or I'll at least take them then).
In the last few months, Reese has mastered sitting up! She has learned to scoot... rather quickly I may add. And she has 2 teeth (both on the bottom). She is eating all kinds of things... mostly veggies, but fruits are slowly being introduced. She can now wave and clap, and this past weekend, she said "mama" without being coached and I think it was when she really wanted me to pick her up! She is kind of in this attachment phase -- meaning, if I'm in the room, she may only want me to hold her or she'd rather sit and play by herself. But she's still happy and seems pretty health.
Reese got a new cousin this weekend too! I will wait for the baby's info to be posted elsewhere by my sister. But let's just say that the baby was several weeks early and surprised everyone with that early entrance into the world. But I think there is a lot of spunk and determination in that little one!
I'll fill in more later, but at least I've got a start on something! :)
6 months: 13 pounds (30%) and 26.5 inches (75%) long. (these measurements are from Reese's 6 month appointment at the dr -- where she also got another round of vaccines.)
7 months: 13.5 pounds and 27 inches long.
8 months: (I'll post these on Thursday, or I'll at least take them then).
In the last few months, Reese has mastered sitting up! She has learned to scoot... rather quickly I may add. And she has 2 teeth (both on the bottom). She is eating all kinds of things... mostly veggies, but fruits are slowly being introduced. She can now wave and clap, and this past weekend, she said "mama" without being coached and I think it was when she really wanted me to pick her up! She is kind of in this attachment phase -- meaning, if I'm in the room, she may only want me to hold her or she'd rather sit and play by herself. But she's still happy and seems pretty health.
Reese got a new cousin this weekend too! I will wait for the baby's info to be posted elsewhere by my sister. But let's just say that the baby was several weeks early and surprised everyone with that early entrance into the world. But I think there is a lot of spunk and determination in that little one!
I'll fill in more later, but at least I've got a start on something! :)
3.07.2011
Another month bites the dust. :)
The little one has reached another milestone... she's 5 months old!
On her 5 month birthday, I measured her at 26.75 inches and weighed her to be 13.4 pounds. I can only guess from the charts in my baby books, but I think she's still pretty long and fairly lean.
Newest developments include rolling from her back to her tummy. She did it will a little help last Monday (2/28), and when I picked her up from daycare on Tuesday, the teacher had left a note on her daily sheet that Reese "rolls from her back to tummy so well!" She has started taking some "steps" (with assistance of course). But when she stands and is leaned forward, her little legs start to go to work! :) Reese continues to LOVE to stand, and she is now utilizing the play gym that Grammy got her. Reese is a very long baby, but most 5 month old babies aren't ready to get in those things... and her legs don't quite reach the ground. So, I put the Wii board underneath it -- and it's perfect! She LOVES it! She bounces, she plays music, she plays with the frog and flowers that are attached to it. It's great... especially since she has "outgrown" her bouncy seat. In her attempt to stand whenever possible, I have caught her trying to stand in her bouncy seat. Therefore, it's being retired!
For some good news on my part... I have a new job! That's right, I've been offered a position with Calvary Home for Children (in Anderson). It's more of a commute that working with the City was, but I anticipate it to be much more rewarding, and the schedule will be perfect for Reese's daycare schedule! I will have a training day on Wednesday and will officially start on Tuesday of next week. I am thankful for God's hand in this job opportunity, and I am thankful for the prayers and support that I have received along the way!
On her 5 month birthday, I measured her at 26.75 inches and weighed her to be 13.4 pounds. I can only guess from the charts in my baby books, but I think she's still pretty long and fairly lean.
Newest developments include rolling from her back to her tummy. She did it will a little help last Monday (2/28), and when I picked her up from daycare on Tuesday, the teacher had left a note on her daily sheet that Reese "rolls from her back to tummy so well!" She has started taking some "steps" (with assistance of course). But when she stands and is leaned forward, her little legs start to go to work! :) Reese continues to LOVE to stand, and she is now utilizing the play gym that Grammy got her. Reese is a very long baby, but most 5 month old babies aren't ready to get in those things... and her legs don't quite reach the ground. So, I put the Wii board underneath it -- and it's perfect! She LOVES it! She bounces, she plays music, she plays with the frog and flowers that are attached to it. It's great... especially since she has "outgrown" her bouncy seat. In her attempt to stand whenever possible, I have caught her trying to stand in her bouncy seat. Therefore, it's being retired!
For some good news on my part... I have a new job! That's right, I've been offered a position with Calvary Home for Children (in Anderson). It's more of a commute that working with the City was, but I anticipate it to be much more rewarding, and the schedule will be perfect for Reese's daycare schedule! I will have a training day on Wednesday and will officially start on Tuesday of next week. I am thankful for God's hand in this job opportunity, and I am thankful for the prayers and support that I have received along the way!
2.11.2011
4 months of love! :)
Reese started her 4th month with colds and what I thought was a possible ear infection. So, I took her in to check. She weighed in at 11 lbs. 10 oz. at 3 months, (and I measured her around 24.5 inches which is probably not the most accurate). The doctor took a look, and even though she squirmed and cried when he checked one of her ears, he said she looked good. Apparently, babies can get pressure in their ears that comes and goes. We haven't had that problem since then, so hopefully it's gone!
At her 4 month appointment, Reese had gained a little weight and grown a bit more! She measured in at 26 inches (still 95%) and weighed 12 lbs. 6 oz. (40%) with a 16.5 inch head measurement (75%). She has grown 5 inches in 4 months! She's still a string bean, and her head is still a little above average, but we have concluded that's simply for that advanced brain. :)
As far as her development... she loves to stand! In fact, when being pulled up to a seated position, she plants her feet and stands up! She holds her head up very well and started rolling over (first time - 1/12/11) and laughing out loud (first time - 1/24/11)! I would say she is considered a "supported sitter" at this time, but she sat on her own for a couple of minutes last weekend (2/5/11). She is working on making new sounds too. She loves to talk, and the newest sounds in her vocab include squeals (almost a whistle pitch -- started 2/7/11) and "mmm" (started 2/8/11). I have heard what sounds like "muh muh" a couple of different times when she had gotten fussy, but I haven't counted it yet. It's close, and I am certainly hoping "mama" will be her first word. She's such a joy! And she really is a happy baby -- we are so incredibly blessed with an amazing baby! It really is amazing how much I am able to love her!
The last few weeks have given me some ups and downs. As some may know, I'm no longer employed with the City of Clemson. It was a bittersweet ending, but an ending all the same. I am currently looking for another part-time job, but until I find something else, I am trying to simply enjoy time with Reese when she's here. She is still in daycare 2 days a week (to keep her spot and to keep her in her routine). I think having those days to get other things done around the house, I feel really blessed to be able to just enjoy her. So if you know of any part-time jobs in the Clemson area (or that I could do from home) please let me know!
In the meantime... I will be here with enjoying my growing and developing baby girl! :)
At her 4 month appointment, Reese had gained a little weight and grown a bit more! She measured in at 26 inches (still 95%) and weighed 12 lbs. 6 oz. (40%) with a 16.5 inch head measurement (75%). She has grown 5 inches in 4 months! She's still a string bean, and her head is still a little above average, but we have concluded that's simply for that advanced brain. :)
As far as her development... she loves to stand! In fact, when being pulled up to a seated position, she plants her feet and stands up! She holds her head up very well and started rolling over (first time - 1/12/11) and laughing out loud (first time - 1/24/11)! I would say she is considered a "supported sitter" at this time, but she sat on her own for a couple of minutes last weekend (2/5/11). She is working on making new sounds too. She loves to talk, and the newest sounds in her vocab include squeals (almost a whistle pitch -- started 2/7/11) and "mmm" (started 2/8/11). I have heard what sounds like "muh muh" a couple of different times when she had gotten fussy, but I haven't counted it yet. It's close, and I am certainly hoping "mama" will be her first word. She's such a joy! And she really is a happy baby -- we are so incredibly blessed with an amazing baby! It really is amazing how much I am able to love her!
The last few weeks have given me some ups and downs. As some may know, I'm no longer employed with the City of Clemson. It was a bittersweet ending, but an ending all the same. I am currently looking for another part-time job, but until I find something else, I am trying to simply enjoy time with Reese when she's here. She is still in daycare 2 days a week (to keep her spot and to keep her in her routine). I think having those days to get other things done around the house, I feel really blessed to be able to just enjoy her. So if you know of any part-time jobs in the Clemson area (or that I could do from home) please let me know!
In the meantime... I will be here with enjoying my growing and developing baby girl! :)
1.11.2011
3 months already!
I have had every intension of writing more often than I have. But who know that having an infant at the house would make time disappear! :) With that being said, I would like to at least take the few minutes that I have while Reese is napping to write what I can about the past 3 months with our new addition.
We have had a very busy past 3 months. Not only have we been adjusting to having a baby, but we've also had quite a bit of company and holidays have come and gone too!
Month 1: October 2, 2010 - November 1, 2010
The first month almost seems like a blur because it came and went so quickly! We had a LOT of family visit -- our moms, our dads, our siblings, my grandmothers, some cousins, an aunt, an uncle, and many, many friends! The first month also included a doctor's visit (at 2 weeks) -- Reese measured 21.75 inches and weighed 8 lbs 15 oz. The doctor said she was perfect! She measured in the 90 percentile for height, 50 percentile for weight (and head circumference). Reese's first month also included her first Halloween! We dressed up as the Black Eyed P's (pictured below).
By the end of her first month, Reese was thankfully sleeping with only one nightly feeding, and she was eating on pretty regular schedule! We have been very blessed with a baby who sleeps well at night and who was pretty easy to get on a 3-hour feeding schedule! I typically stayed up until nearly midnight to feed her the last time each night, and she usually slept until 4:00-4:30 before waking up to eat. After that, she would start waking up 3 hours later to eat. She was pretty easy to get on a schedule too -- another blessing! Reese slept in a bassinet in our room which made late night feedings as easy as possible. But again, we are very thankful for the way that she started falling into a routine and sleep that she did get!
Month 2: November 2, 2010 - December 1, 2010
The second month was a another eventful month! Reese had some pretty big devlopement milestones too (at least to us). On her 1 month birthday, I weighed her at 10.3 lbs and measured her at 23 inches. It was also a time of "firsts" -- 1st outing alone with Mommy, 1st baby sitter (by a non-family member), 1st roadtrip and Thanksgiving, and the 1st time sleeping through the night! That's right, at just around 6 weeks, Reese started going to bed around 11:30 or so, and slept until 6ish! The nights gradually extended to about 7 hours, and by the end of the month, 8 hours were becoming the norm -- WOOHOO!
The second month also brought on my first day back to work and Reese's first day of "school" at The Growing Place. It was hard leaving Reese while I went to work, but once we got in the routine, it was kind of nice. The Growing Place is the daycare (child developement center) at our church, and Reese attends 2 days/week (Tuesday and Thursday). It's nice to have her at a positive place where we know the teachers and they know and love Reese. And it's nice that Reese gets the opportunity to interact with other babies a couple of days a week, but still gets to be home with me for the majority of the time.
Month 3: December 2, 2010 - January 1, 2011
Month 3 started off somewhat difficult -- for me more than for Reese! Her first set of vaccines were horrible! She measure at 24 inches (95% -- definitely from her Daddy), and she weighed in at 10 lbs 15.1 oz (50%)... so she's essentially a string bean! She did great for the appointment until the shots! I survived it with only a few tears! And with a little tylenol, Reese made it through the rest of the day just fine.
More pleasant firsts in her third month included her first Christmas, first 9-hour night (that’s not the norm yet), her first snow, and her first New Year's! Christmas was long, but good. We spent time in Winston with Dusty’s family, then headed to Roanoke Rapids to spend time with my family, then back to Winston to before finally making it home a week later. But while we were in Roanoke Rapids, we got “snowed in” with nearly a foot of snow and all the excitement must have worn Reese out because she slept for 9 solid hours! Both the snow and the sleep were beautiful! :)
The last 3 months have been fun to say the least! Reese is very alert (and has been from birth really). She has great head control and loves to "stand" (she only needs help keeping her balance since she still wobbles a little). She is a talker too! She has been cooing for a couple of months, but she has started "singing" in the last week or so. She takes a big breath and holds out a note until she runs out of air! She's certainly training her lungs! She is such a happy baby most of the time, and she seems really inquizative when meeting new people and seeing new toys. She loves listening to music and watching lights (she LOVES watching TV, but I try my very best not to let her watch it)! We are still nursing, and I have somehow managed to make it work so far with 2 days at work.
Like I said, it's been a busy past 3 months. But I couldn't imagine it any other way! I have had several people say that we will forget what it was like before Reese came along. I don't know about that... I mean, I certainly remember what life was like before her... but I am certainly enjoying life with her now. :)
We have had a very busy past 3 months. Not only have we been adjusting to having a baby, but we've also had quite a bit of company and holidays have come and gone too!
Month 1: October 2, 2010 - November 1, 2010
The first month almost seems like a blur because it came and went so quickly! We had a LOT of family visit -- our moms, our dads, our siblings, my grandmothers, some cousins, an aunt, an uncle, and many, many friends! The first month also included a doctor's visit (at 2 weeks) -- Reese measured 21.75 inches and weighed 8 lbs 15 oz. The doctor said she was perfect! She measured in the 90 percentile for height, 50 percentile for weight (and head circumference). Reese's first month also included her first Halloween! We dressed up as the Black Eyed P's (pictured below).
By the end of her first month, Reese was thankfully sleeping with only one nightly feeding, and she was eating on pretty regular schedule! We have been very blessed with a baby who sleeps well at night and who was pretty easy to get on a 3-hour feeding schedule! I typically stayed up until nearly midnight to feed her the last time each night, and she usually slept until 4:00-4:30 before waking up to eat. After that, she would start waking up 3 hours later to eat. She was pretty easy to get on a schedule too -- another blessing! Reese slept in a bassinet in our room which made late night feedings as easy as possible. But again, we are very thankful for the way that she started falling into a routine and sleep that she did get!
Month 2: November 2, 2010 - December 1, 2010
The second month was a another eventful month! Reese had some pretty big devlopement milestones too (at least to us). On her 1 month birthday, I weighed her at 10.3 lbs and measured her at 23 inches. It was also a time of "firsts" -- 1st outing alone with Mommy, 1st baby sitter (by a non-family member), 1st roadtrip and Thanksgiving, and the 1st time sleeping through the night! That's right, at just around 6 weeks, Reese started going to bed around 11:30 or so, and slept until 6ish! The nights gradually extended to about 7 hours, and by the end of the month, 8 hours were becoming the norm -- WOOHOO!
The second month also brought on my first day back to work and Reese's first day of "school" at The Growing Place. It was hard leaving Reese while I went to work, but once we got in the routine, it was kind of nice. The Growing Place is the daycare (child developement center) at our church, and Reese attends 2 days/week (Tuesday and Thursday). It's nice to have her at a positive place where we know the teachers and they know and love Reese. And it's nice that Reese gets the opportunity to interact with other babies a couple of days a week, but still gets to be home with me for the majority of the time.
Month 3: December 2, 2010 - January 1, 2011
Month 3 started off somewhat difficult -- for me more than for Reese! Her first set of vaccines were horrible! She measure at 24 inches (95% -- definitely from her Daddy), and she weighed in at 10 lbs 15.1 oz (50%)... so she's essentially a string bean! She did great for the appointment until the shots! I survived it with only a few tears! And with a little tylenol, Reese made it through the rest of the day just fine.
More pleasant firsts in her third month included her first Christmas, first 9-hour night (that’s not the norm yet), her first snow, and her first New Year's! Christmas was long, but good. We spent time in Winston with Dusty’s family, then headed to Roanoke Rapids to spend time with my family, then back to Winston to before finally making it home a week later. But while we were in Roanoke Rapids, we got “snowed in” with nearly a foot of snow and all the excitement must have worn Reese out because she slept for 9 solid hours! Both the snow and the sleep were beautiful! :)
The last 3 months have been fun to say the least! Reese is very alert (and has been from birth really). She has great head control and loves to "stand" (she only needs help keeping her balance since she still wobbles a little). She is a talker too! She has been cooing for a couple of months, but she has started "singing" in the last week or so. She takes a big breath and holds out a note until she runs out of air! She's certainly training her lungs! She is such a happy baby most of the time, and she seems really inquizative when meeting new people and seeing new toys. She loves listening to music and watching lights (she LOVES watching TV, but I try my very best not to let her watch it)! We are still nursing, and I have somehow managed to make it work so far with 2 days at work.
Like I said, it's been a busy past 3 months. But I couldn't imagine it any other way! I have had several people say that we will forget what it was like before Reese came along. I don't know about that... I mean, I certainly remember what life was like before her... but I am certainly enjoying life with her now. :)
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