First Trip to Nonna's House

This weekend, we traveled up to Jax to visit LL's Nonna.  It was also LL's first trip to a farm!

Papa Tom & GG!

Postpatum Hair Loss. Yikes!

4 Months 1 Week

YIKES!  My hair is falling out by the handfuls.  Kind of scary. It's all over my floors and my bathroom is a mess.  I've been wearing my hair in a ponytail everyday because I'm shedding so bad.  Does this stop? 

LL Graduated to Her New Car Seat!

We transitioned LL into her convertible car seat this weekend.  Out with the infant bucket seat, in with the big girl seat.  A big thanks to Aunt D & family for gifting us this seat!!

LL was using this Baby Trend bucket seat along with the Snap N Go stroller.  But, lately she was looking a little cramped in her seat plus, we have this InStep Grand Safari stroller we use now whenever we're out and about.  You can read my review about the InStep Jogging Stroller here.

Now this means we have to carry LL down to the car..no more toting her anywhere in the car seat.  But this is OK as we have the Bjorn Active Carrier for trips to the store, doctor, etc.

Rice Cereal

4 Months

So LL and I took a trip to see MeMe and PawPaw this week (I needed a major re-charge).  While there I made the executive decision to introduce cereal.  I've had this gut feeling for a couple weeks that her liquid diet just wasn't cutting it anymore...she just didn't seem satisfied after nursing. Plus, B and I were noticing her eyeballing our food.

We mixed it with formula, put the spoon in her mouth and she gobbled it right up.  Kicking her legs and saying "Mmmmm"  the whole time.  She looked at me like, "What took you so long?"

I NEVER thought I'd try cereal before 6 months, but Momma has to listen to and follow her instincts.

I bought both the Rice and Organic Oatmeal to try.  I'll update with the results of the oatmeal when we try it.

UPDATE: Sleep Schedule at 3 Months

3 Months 4 Weeks

So it's been a couple weeks since I've starting Baby Sleeping Boot Camp.  I did not have LL on a day sleeping schedule but I did have her on somewhat of a night schedule...down with me for the night at 9:00pm.  She was really great at this routine up until month 3.  Her naps during the day were just whenever and wherever.  She slept mostly in the swing for hours at a time.

Well, after reading Baby Wise and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (and some of Baby Whisperer) I got her on an eat, play, sleep routine.  I can't do the CIO.  I just don't have it in me.  I got a spiral notebook and am keeping a schedule of her whole day...the time she wakes up, times she eats, when she sleeps, how long she sleeps.  I also was determined to get her sleeping in her crib both day and night.  At night she was still next to me in her Rock N Play and during the day she was in the swing.

example of her daily schedule

During the day I look for sleep cues...the 7 mile stare and yawning.  By the 3rd yawn I scoop her up and tell her it's time for her nap, take her in her room, say, "let's turn off your light...now let's close your blinds and when you wake up we can play again", I put her in her straight jacket, give her her pacifier and stand there rocking her gently and humming.  Now, this did not go very well at first...for me or her...I felt like a slave to the house and she couldn't understand why no more swing.  But by day 5, she was closing her eyes the moment I put her in the straight jacket and asleep by the time I was holding her. *huge sigh of relief*

LL's wake time is also very short...maybe 50 minutes in the morning and up to an 1 hour in the afternoon.  She takes about 4 naps a day sometimes 5 and they are short ones...about 30-45 minutes. So, this process was very time consuming and we didn't venture out much because I was always doing the nap routine.  But, I'm so glad I did it because it has really paid off.

Now, at night we have a routine down.  Boob, Bath, Book and Bed. Our goal is to have her in bed by 7:30pm.  I usually dream feed her around 9pm when I go to sleep.  She is still pretty inconsistent with times she wakes up at night and the time she wakes in the am, but at least I feel better about putting her on a schedule/routine and I honestly think she likes it too.  Stay tuned!

Milestone: Rolling Over

LL and I took the Activity Mat out onto the porch today (I'm convinced she hates it inside).  Thank God we live in Florida because the weather was just perfect.  I got her settled on the mat, I sat on my chair and  low and behold I look up from what I'm doing and she was on her stomach...I was all like "wait.....WHAT?"  So, I rolled her back over, stepped back and watched her flip right back over to her stomach.  Wasn't expecting that at all especially since I've read that babies typically roll over from their stomach to their back first.

Here's the mat we use.  Gifted to me from the gals who threw me my baby shower.  Love it b/c it folds up for easy travel and the bottom unsnaps for easy washing.

Starting a Sleep Schedule/3 Months

3 Months 2 Weeks

I am seriously sleep deprived.  LL went from sleeping from 9:00pm-3:30am then down again till 7:30-8:00.  It was amazing.  Then, a few days before her 3 month birthday she decided to switch things up on us...throw us a real curve ball.  Waking every 2 hours to eat.  Really?!  Every 2 hours?

So, I've gone to the library and checked out a few books...Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and BabyWise.  I'm starting 2 weeks of Baby Sleeping Bootcamp.  I'm getting this little mama on a schedule if kills me. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I went to bed at 8:30 last night but LL woke me at 11:40 just in time to ring in the New Year.