Prestyn's 3rd Month

Dear Prestyn,

Seriously! Slow down!! You're getting too big too fast! Mommy can't handle it! I am however very pleased with the strides you've made in your 3rd month! Read on to find out about them! :)

*So the things that really get you laughing and cooing is when we pretend to eat your piggies! You are just fascinated with our faces...darling, we could stare at you as long as you stare at us! You just smile! It's so sweet! You've been playing this new game when you're nursing where you stop to look & laugh at Mommy then go back to nursing...stinker! You need to eat!

*Since I'm up with you during the night, or sometimes nursing you in the car when there's not much going on I usually read baby apps on my phone. So you've gone through your 12 week growth spurt (you nursed for an hour & a half one day!), you're in your 3 month growth spurt right now. And coming up is 5 weeks of a stormy period according to Wonder Weeks...that just means your little brain is just developing away making another leap! So with all this growth you're not sleeping as good at night. Also Mommy had to work 4 days this past week so that kind of threw you off! You're doing good with your schedule during the day, but for the sake of sanity you have got to start sleeping more at night! I say that with love, my dear!

*Well big girl! You are now sleeping in your crib in your room! The first night we put you to sleep in the rock 'n' play in your room then after I dream fed you I laid you in your crib. We read to put a wedge in your crib to mimic the incline of the rock 'n' play. You surprised us, and didn't mind sleeping flat. You actually disliked the wedge so much that you would scoot yourself down, and lay sideways in your crib so that you were flat. It was funny when I'd go in to get you to feed you, and you were not the way I laid you down! So the wedge came out, and you sleep great in there! If we are home you usually nap in your crib unless we just really want to hold you. I figure you won't be this little for long, and you sleep in your crib at night so we can hold you while you sleep. :) Or you sleep in your swing if it's just a little cat nap! I should probably do some adjusting to your sleep though since you're still waking up in the night to nurse...you just love late night Mommy Time!

*You are doing great about waking up at the same time every morning. But since you're night time feeds are not always the same sometimes when you wake up in the morning you had just finished eating! I have tried to feed you when you wake up even if you just ate, but you just want to play! So if Daddy is home he gets up with you, and lets Mommy sleep a little. :) This morning time with you is just precious! You're so happy in the morning!

*I felt like you were in Newborn clothes for 6 weeks! Then I was so glad when we could move you up to size 0-3. Um you probably wore this size for like a week! You quickly started wearing size 3 month, and can now wear size 3-6 month clothes! I think you have a different bow on every day to go with all your outfits! It's so fun dressing you up!

*This month in your P-Pack from Aunt Kari you got some nail polish so Mommy polished your toe nails for the first time! This was fun since you went swimming for the first time too this month so you got to show off your cute piggies! Mommy got her toes polished in the same color!

*We got you a little pink plastic pool that we put on our back porch for you to sit and splash in. Mommy & Daddy had lots of fun entertaining you with bubbles! I think next time we'll put your bath toys in the pool for you to play with! You also went swimming at Papa and Nonna's house. Daddy carried you throughout the water in your little float. I think it took longer to get you ready for the pool than you actually spent in the water, but that's ok! We enjoyed it...and soon you'll go swimming at Nanny's house!

*Mommy really needs to invest in a rug for the living room! We are just laying lots of blankets down so that you can do tummy time! You love it!! We also let you lay on your back while you play on your play mat, but you're getting so good at tummy time! You have started scooting towards toys when you're on your tummy! We are so impressed, and think you'll be crawling before too long!!

*You still spend some time in the bumbo...I added the tray to it so that you can play with the toys on top of it. You really like this! We got you an exercauser & jumper that you sit in and play so you're getting lots of sitting time. I also like to sit down on the floor with you, and see if you can do it on your own. You will be soon! You're such a strong girl!!

*We've gotten a lot more comfortable taking you out places. We just have to make sure you are fed, and well rested before going. Since we have learned what you're trying to tell us with your different cries it's made it easier to take you places. We can feed you, hold you to sleep, or try to burp you...you usually have a fussy period nearly every time we go somewhere, but then you let people see your true bright colors! :)

*You finally got to meet your friend Hayden! His mommy & daddy are Marcia & Kris! Mommy & Marcia were suite mates in college their Freshman year at SFA. Kris and Daddy instantly became friends when Mommy & Daddy started dating. Marcia was a bridesmaid in our wedding, and Kris read our favorite bible verse at our wedding. They are such sweet friends, and I can't wait for you to see Hayden again! We will be taking a trip to San Antonio soon, and making a stop at the Dunn house to visit with them.

*On Wednesdays we go to breastfeeding group. This is a good time for Mommy to ask Nurse Cindee questions about nursing. I also get to visit with other nursing mommas, and you get to see other babies! After group we take our weekly trip to your favorite store: Target! I can't help but go by the baby stuff every time we're there! And you always pick a toy out! You pretty much put all your toys in your mouth...I'm not sure you have a favorite right now...you do have a turtle and bee that hang from your car seat that you like to talk to! Too cute!!

*You're definitely getting more efficient with nursing...Sometimes you're done after 10-15 minutes! Oooook! If that seems to make you happy then that's what we'll do! You're also spitting up less since we started you on the Zantac so I think you're staying fuller for a longer period of time. You're pretty consistent with eating every 2.5-3 hours.

*Mommy & Daddy celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary during your 3rd month. Daddy was working, and Mommy had training the day of our anniversary. We still got each other gifts, but we haven't made it for our date night yet. With Mommy working lately she doesn't want to leave you! It's definitely going to be hard to go back to work in August!

*Things fell through with Miss Jennifer babysitting you so our plan is still for you to go to the Children's Lighthouse in the fall. We're still happy with the daycare, but we just thought it was going to work out so perfectly with you being at the sitter's house in the neighborhood, and Mommy teaching at the new school in the neighborhood. But that's ok...we know you'll be well taken care of!

*Since mommy had a week of training Miss Ricki & Miss Lisa babysat you on the days Daddy also had to work. You did great for them! You didn't however do so good for Mommy once I got home. You were so happy getting a bottle from them that you didn't want to nurse. We're back in our groove so hopefully once school starts you'll be able to go back & forth. :/

*It's amazing how you can go from happy & laughing to screaming in a matter of seconds! Sometimes you're just overwhelmed...sometimes you decide you're sleepy...your real tears hurt me, but they don't last long!

*Since you don't go to the doctor again until 4 months I don't have your stats on the WHO chart...and since we didn't weigh you last week since Mommy was in training & Nurse Cindee wasn't there we didn't go to breastfeeding group. So this week we'll weigh you & see how much you weigh...my guess is 11.7. Daddy's is 11! We'll see! 

We actually took your 3 month pictures on the day after you actually turned 3 months. On the day you turned 3 months you wanted to wear your weenie dog onesie to remember your 1st Puppy, Ryder. He really loved you! I'll be blogging about him next, but wanted to keep this one about you.

I love you sweetie!! Daddy says you're hungry so I'm going to feed you now! If your aunt Julia Gulia is reading this she's probably laughing right now! :)

Ryan's 1st Father's Day

After Mother's Day, my birthday, Husband's birthday, our birthday celebration, and our anniversary approaching Father's Day kind of snuck up on me!

Ryan had been telling me for a while what he wanted...I had planned to get some more baby specific things that he could use with Prestyn since she's the reason he's a father, but I decided to get him what he really wanted!

For his birthday he bought himself a new Weber grill that could be used for grilling or smoking. He's really gotten into using it. So for Father's Day he got: a Weber grilling cook book, a Weber smoking cook book, a charcoal caddy, and a weber apron that I had embroidered with "Chef Daddy." He was super happy!

When I asked him what he wanted me to make him for Father's Day he was like, "Oh no! I want to grill!" Ooook! He just said you  make your famous beans! Well my "famous beans" feed lots of people so I thought well let's invite some family over!

We invited over my mom, brothers, and nephews. We really had a good time hanging out with everybody while Ryan grilled. And the food was delicious! He smoked boneless ribs, and grilled corn on the cob that my mom brought over. Yum-O! We had a lot of fun!!

I had bought Prestyn a onesie that said: Happy Father's Day 2013, and was going to take her picture it to put in a frame about Ryan being a Dad that I bought in October! But since Father's Day snuck up on me I never got around to it...I did surprise him by dressing her in it that morning...still a picture was never taken since she pooped in and all over that onesie! haha! She sure loves her daddy!

Prestyn's 1st Swimming Experience!!!

Knowing we were going to have a baby in March we already started planning to take Prestyn swimming as soon as summer started! We bought Prestyn her first bathing suit before she was born, and once she was here she accumulated 3 more!

We thought we'd ease her into the whole swimming experience by taking baby steps...I mean she is a baby, right?! So we started with a small pool on our back porch. She was all happy to get another baby massage of sunscreen and a little swimmers diaper, but was a little confused with the bathing suit & hat and got a little fussy then...that was quickly eased with Mommy's silly noises & faces!

Ryan got in there with her first. She just looked so confused. She loves her baths so we thought she'd be comfortable with the pool...she was...just confused...I just imagine her thinking, "Ok...this is like a bath, but why do I have clothes on?! And why are they SO excited?!" haha! I was blowing bubbles for her to watch as she sat in the water...I think she was just observing & taking it all in!

I then had my turn to sit with her...I see us spending many afternoons of this this summer! That is when we aren't at the community pool or at my parent's house. We'll also be swimming at Ryan's mom's house! Fun times ahead!!

Letters to Prestyn Part II

Dear Prestyn,

I'll try to keep this short and sweet...but since I'm your mother you probably know that I am physically short and emotionally sweet, but when it comes to writing...this hardly happens!

This is one thing I wish you would have/will take after me...my love for literature! You seem to really enjoy when I read to you...I also love to write! Even if it's pointless and meaningless it's a part of literature, and gets your thoughts out!

So my question for you Prestyn is this:

What did you do for 9 months?! I mean I know you were busy growing bones and all, but seriously...could you not have written a book while you were in there?!

I wouldn't have minded giving birth to a baby, placenta, and book!

You know something that just gives your likes and dislikes. What you're trying to tell me when you're crying after you've been fed, changed, played with, tried to lay down, etc!

I love you dearly! Just sometimes I wish you came with a book! One that told me everything about you! The things you're trying to tell me when you cry...

I do the best I can to understand them, but sometimes I think I know then I have no idea! You're constantly changing! Maybe I should say it again...I love you dearly! I do! I really really do!!

Just keep being you & I'm sure your daddy and I will figure this out one day...maybe that day will be when you have kids of your own and we can say...you always liked this...yaddy yaddy yada!

Smooches!!

I Love Girls' Days with Mommy!

P has a onesie that says this...I love girls' days with her as much as she does with me! We definitely get these days when Daddy is working...the past couple of days have been busy and full of fun! I wanted to blog about every little detail so that when I print this one day Prestyn will understand why she loves to do the things I love to do...because I take her EVERYWHERE!

Sunday morning we got up to go to church. You'll notice in the pictures that we sorta match...yes this was intentionally...I dress Prestyn then see what I can wear so we match! Ryan had to work and I was asked to serve in the nursery (I did this before P was born). I wasn't quite ready to put her in her own room in the nursery so she went with me to the 6 month old room. She did so good! I rocked her for a while then she fell asleep...I thought it was time to put her down so that I could help with the other babies. I laid her in a crib and she woke up! But she was content playing with her dress...I began feeding a bottle to another baby which I realized I don't really know how to do since I've never given Prestyn a bottle...hmmm...one of the other volunteers wanted to hold her so I said SURE GO AHEAD! What do you know...P was content for um about 5 seconds then started rooting at the woman's breast...TMI? So once she realized there was nothing there she began screaming. Soooo I took her into the Mother's Room to nurse then she was once again happy baby! Happy and sleepy baby!

She immediately fell asleep in the car, but we had more errands to run! We made a quick trip to her Nonna's house since I needed to use the restroom! haha! So Nonna & Uncle Rock got to hold P for a little bit then it was time to go on about our day! We went to Target to get some things for us, but also some baby shower gifts!

One of the girls from Life Group is expecting a baby boy so P joined me at the shower. She was an absolute doll while we were there! After we left it was time to go meet a nice lady who wanted to buy P's bassinet. Since she never really used it there was no sense in keeping it!

To take up time while we waited to meet the lady we went grocery shopping. At the grocery store we saw the wedding planner from the Wedding Chapel where Ryan and I got married. She was so happy to see that we were doing so well, and that we had this new little blessing in our life!

These days it's rare that I cook dinner, but when I do P likes to sit in her bouncer and watch me while I sing to her...she also plays with the plastic cookie cutters! So fun!! We made a yummy dinner for the working daddy!

Goodness I am rambling! Who cares...quit reading now if you want! :) The following day Ryan worked again... :( we certainly miss him when he's gone, but try to stay busy! Our dear friends Meghan & Saylor are home on Mondays so we got to see them! After a trip to Costco (first time in the Ergo=Success!) we went to Meghan & Saylor's for some play time! The girls ate then we were off the park! P fell asleep when we got in the car, and did not wake up the entire time we went swinging! I guess it was really relaxing for her! We had so much fun!

We were then on our way to Forney! According to Aunt Leslie Mommy has gotten a little carried away with the swaps with the groups on FB! But Mommy's obsession has gotten you 2 new exersaucers and a new play mat! It was a long day for you in the car, but you did great!

We then invited ourselves to Grey's house where you got to play with Amy & watch the Bachelorette! One of these days you and Grey are going to be happy at the same time & actually play with each other! Until then her mommy & I will enjoy time together. :)

After a long day you were ready to go night night! So we skipped your bath, and you went to bed probably the easiest you have since we had you! Can we please do that again?!

Girls Days continue! This week P has joined me to visit my school & classroom. She got to meet my kids and hear all the noise she heard when she was inside the womb. :)

Thanks for the great days P! Love you!!

Husband's Birthday

Husband was all excited about my birthday, but when it came time for his birthday he felt about the same way as I did...just kinda bleh to turn 29. We had already planned to have a joint birthday "party" so for his actual birthday it was pretty low key...

Husband actually had to work on his birthday. :( We went to dinner the night before at one of his favorite restaurants...On the Border! Ha! Not my idea of good Mexican food, but since I hadn't had it in a while it was pretty good! Husband of course enjoyed a birthday margarita. :) We were happy to take Prestyn with us, and she was well behaved the entire dinner!

Earlier this day I had to run out to get Husband's final birthday present. Once we got home from dinner I wrapped his presents...I thought about telling him he couldn't have them until the day after his birthday since we weren't going to be with him on his actual birthday...all along I had planned on visiting him at the fire station on his birthday, and was going to surprise him with presents. But then I didn't want him to get suspicious and wanted him to get presents on his birthday!

So Husband's presents were all wrapped, and ready for him for the morning of his birthday! I knew P and I would be up anyway the morning of at some point so we could watch him open his presents...Husband couldn't wait! He opened them while we were sleeping! haha! I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to see his reaction, but I know he liked them. :) He got:: a new phone, a personalized phone cover, Wheel of Fortune game for the Wii, and a collage to take to the fire station with pictures of me and P.

I kind of thought Husband suspected that we'd be going to the fire station since he never asked what we planned on doing that day. But as we were getting ready to leave I was telling him we were getting ready to take a nap. Much to his surprise we showed up at the fire station!

P picked out a special outfit for her daddy's birthday which included fire truck leg warmers & her Longhorns paci. I tried to match her outfit because I really wanted some good family pictures at the station! We got some! And I was so glad since we didn't get any newborn pics with Ryan's gear...that's another story...I'll post about newborn pics including the pictures after I finally send these announcements out!

We weren't at the station long when the guys got a call so off they go! We hung out until they got back, took our pictures, then P was ready to leave! Here's the kicker::

Every time I go to Watauga I have to make a stop to Rosa's! It just makes me feel like I'm in Lubbock, and I lubbock that place! Since I made this stop I went home a different way than a came...wrong choice! Detour! It took us about 30 minutes just to get on the highway!

Once we were on the highway it was smooth sailing...until...we hit rush hour traffic! We finally got to a point where songs & a paci were not going to hold P over any longer...I had to pull over at a not so safe area to feed her...we were fine though! And headed on our way home...it's a good thing I didn't wait to feed her since it took a total of 3.5 hours to get home!

I know this post is about Husband's birthday & all glory to him BUT...what ever happened to courtesy drivers?! uugghh!! I was getting so frustrated, but because I'm a lady...a southern lady...and a mother...I neither gave the finger or yelled curse words...although I kinda wanted to...learn some road manners people!!!

And that's all I have to say about that!

Cheers to turning 29 husband!! XOXO

Growth Spurts

"They" say growth spurts happen at 3 days, 7 days, 10 days then 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks and months...here's my thoughts on how these growth spurts have gone!

3 days--oh my! At this point I didn't know there was a 3 day growth spurt, but it TOTALLY explains that day in the hospital...talk about cluster feeding! You were just a growing, and wanted to do nothing but eat!

7 days--yeah right...like I remember what happened at 7 days. We were at home, and I felt like all you did was eat and sleep...which is what I did too...so yeah I don't remember much from this point!

10 days--This was right around Easter. You didn't eat or sleep anymore than before, but this is when we started noticing your growth in development. You started interacting with us after this spurt. :)

3 weeks--Yeah...I thought this was bad...until we got to the 6 week which I'll talk about next. At 3 weeks we started feeling much more comfortable with taking you places. We took you to Life Group for the first time. You SCREAMED when you were ready to eat & Mommy had to hurry to the Mother's Room to feed you...you wanted to nurse FOREVER...after about 40 minutes Mommy knew Daddy was waiting to leave so I unlatched you, and off we went...BIG MISTAKE! HUGE! Life Group was having a picnic after church this day so we took you to that...again...all you wanted to do was eat. Mommy still wasn't quite comfortable nursing in public so most of the picnic time was spent nursing you in the car...you finally went to sleep so Mommy could eat. :)

6 weeks--mmmm hmmm yeah....this one lasted FOREVER! You were wanting to nurse every 2 hours! And Mommy let you of course because I knew you were going through a growth spurt! At 8 weeks you were still nursing every 2 hours, and Mommy could not get anything done! You started having a lot more awake time with this growth spurt so you'd eat, play, barely sleep, then want to eat again! So...yeah...at 8 weeks Mommy thought...we've got to do something to get back to eating every 2.5 hours! It took 1 day of extended your nap 30 minutes then feeding you. The first 2 times we did it that day were a little difficult, but you did it! And we were back to eating every 2.5 hours!

9 weeks--I think this has been my favorite growth spurt! You began sleeping loner & going 3 hours between feedings! Mommy is able to get lots done, and may just finally send your birth announcements! ha! After this growth spurt I actually had to wake you for day time feedings! Daddy was ready to move you to your room at 8 weeks, but Mommy wanted to wait until 1 week after your 2 month shots...well...1 week after your 2 month shots was the 9 week growth spurt. It has taken you some time to adjust to sleeping in your crib, but you're doing it so no turning back! So I'm not sure if it's the growth spurt or sleeping in your box now, but you went from only waking up once at night to waking up 2-3 times. :(

We are in week 11 and I think you're getting back to only waking up once during the night. Knock on wood that this continues! Mommy makes it a point to thank Jesus every time you have a good sleeping session! I believe He is looking out for you kid. :) ... and Mommy too!

Up next:: the 12 week/3 month growth spurt. Oy! :)