Guess you can I say I went back to work!

Well it really been since July since I did a post- WOW! Thanks for my followers who are still out there! Kate is growing so much and such a joy in our lives. So here I am to catch up on the past 5 months. I am finally feeling a sense of routine of working and being a mommy. It sure is hard but I know we are doing the best that we can at this time and I love seeing her face light up when I walk into her classroom.

Here are the highlights for August-October

August
*Aug. 4-8 Kate took her first Southwest flight to Dallas for 5 days to visit her grandparents and celebrate her cousin Dayne's 3rd birthday.
*Aug. 9th She started going to her Child Development Center and Mommy went back to teaching 2nd grade.
*Aug. 12th- Started sleeping with arms unswaddled at night
*Aug. 17th- Rolled over twice
*Aug. 20th- Started rice cereal
*Got her 4 month shots on Aug. 26 and we had a fever for 2 days after those shots- no fun, daddy stayed home with her and took awesome care of her.
STATS: weight: 15.1 lbs. height: 23 1/2 inches head: 39 1/2 still short with a small head, but she is on her own growth plan
*By Aug. 29th- NO MORE SWADDLE!

September
*By the 4 month appointment Matt and I were ready to get some sleep and we both felt like Kate was just waking in the night because it was becoming a routine. We noticed she did not have any more dirty diapers in the middle of night, and we were lessening her formula, so really she just loved the feeling of mommy or daddy and a warm bottle to put her back to sleep. Dr. Basey suggested just letting her put herself back to sleep and not go get her. So we were ready and we started the cry it out method on September 1st- she slept 10 hours that night
*Sept. 2nd was a bit hard- she slept till around 2:00, but mom and dad somehow stayed strong and did not get her, she cried till 3:15- yes that was 75 minutes but she put herself back to sleep and we have not had any issues unless she was sick since then (almost 5 months later!!!)
*Her teachers even see a change in her now that she can soothe herself either in her bed and also when she needs something she has a little more patience!
*Sept 12th- laughing for the first time, also rolled to her tummy from her back for the 1st time
*Sept. 18th- attended her first wedding- Cree and Christina Teel- Congrats to them!!
*Sept 24th- 1st tooth bumps on the bottom
*Sept 27th- 1st taste of solid food- homemade sweet potatoes- LOVED THEM!
*Sept 29th- 2nd bottom tooth coming up
*Sept 30th- ate homemade carrots for the first time

October
*Oct. 3rd- Kate got Baptized what a wonderful weekend full of family and friends!!
*Oct 4th- sitting with support from the boppy pillow
*Oct 5th- Dr. appt because the chunky baby was still having yeast problems on her neck, we got some stronger ointment
*Oct. 10th- apples and cereal- she did not like them very much
*Oct. 12th- our FIRST ear infection, mommy got a class from her teacher and we got into the dr within an hour. That medicine helped, but she was not feeling back to her happy self for about 2 more days.
*Oct. 13th- Kate ate homemade butternut squash - she really liked it
*Oct. 22nd- the day she turned 6 months mommy stopped pumping
*Oct. 24th- She is doing the plank move- supporting her body on her forearms and toes- bottom off the ground
*Oct. 28th- 6 month check up and shots
STATS: weight: 18.3 lbs height: 25 inches head: 41
*Oct. 31st- First Halloween our sweet girl was strawberry but she also had a stomach bug so she was not too happy that day!

Ok more to come, I promise!!

3 Months!

Kate turned 3 months on July 22 but I am just now blogging about it. They say just make it to 3 months and things will be so much better. WE COULD NOT AGREE MORE! This was a rough beginning but Matt and I are figuring out parenthood as well as Kate is figuring out living in this world. She is such a happier baby, good eater, and getting better at sleeping.

Here are a few things this chunky kiddo is doing:
*I stepped on the scale with her so this is not accurate but maybe a ballpark figure with her weight of - 13.3 lbs.
*Sleeping in her big girl bed all the time, this started the day she turned 2 months!
*Will sleep about 6 hrs at night, up for a bottle, then back down for 3-4 more, and 3-4 more depending on if she can sleep or we need to leave the hours. Pretty much is in her bed for about 12 hours just broken up with 1-2 feedings.
*She is eating 4-6 ounces at each feeding, about every 2-3 hours during the day and is starting to go a little longer
*Usually takes a big nap somewhere in the day for 2-3 hours, but not totally consistent yet
*Level 2 Dr. Brown nipples- feedings are faster now!
*Started one bottle a day of soy formula on July 28, 2010 at 13.6 weeks old.
*Still loves to be swaddled to sleep
*Has found her fingers and thumb to suck
*Can roll from her back to tummy easily in her bed when she is swaddled
*Starting roll from back to tummy unswaddled on the floor play mat, is just getting one arm stuck
*Smiles a lot, cries less!
*Makes conversations with mommy and daddy-cooing, blowing bubbles, screeching
*Calms at the sound of our voices, unless just too upset and needs to be held as well
*Starting to wake up and just hang out in her crib being a very happy baby
*Is liking the car more and more
*Is wearing 3-6 months clothes and some are getting tight

So many changes and they happen so fast with babies. I only have 2 more weeks until I have to be back at work everyday. It's going to be hard but I know she will be in great hands and it is the best for our family. We love you sweet girl!

First Time in the Pool!

Kate had her first experience in a pool on Sunday, July 18th. We went to my San Antonio KD Alumni Chapter Annual Luau. We had not put her swim suit on but I thought a 0-3 month suit from Gymboree that Zach, Dea and Haisley sent would be just the right size. It was a little tight on my chunky kid! But she only got in for a few little dips. No crying but no smiles either! We will try again very soon!

My Baby Doll

My mom wanted Kate to try on an outfit that I wore as a newborn. Here are the two best pictures I could get of her. She looks like such a baby doll in this 30 year old dress.

Uncle Darren, Aunt Emily, and Cousin Dayne come to visit

Darren, Emily and Dayne got here Friday, July 16th. They had a longer than planned drive from Dallas but we were happy they got to meet Kate and spend the weekend with us. Saturday after dinner D, Em, Dayne and Alli went to the Riverwalk to ride the river boat. Dayne was not too sure at first but quickly warmed up a had a great time. He really liked the octagon building the best! Thanks for making the trip you guys! We love you and will see you for Dayne's 3rd Birthday!!!!

Grandma's Visit

Matt's mom (Grandma) came for a visit the weekend of July 9-11. It was a pretty laid back weekend. We took Kate to her first Farmer's Market at the Pearl Brewery on Saturday and happened upon a great restaurant La Gloria Ice House. Melissa had a two day class in Austin so she was able to stay until right after dinner on Sunday. It was wonderful to have here for about two and half days and we get to see her in Houston this coming weekend.

Happy July 4th!

Our Fourth was pretty low key here in San Antonio. We went to church and out to lunch. Then came home and hung out till we went up to New Braunfels. Matt's co-worker Virginia was hosting a retirement party for her husband David. It was a nice evening and we were able to pass the baby around to different people. The only time I had Kate was when she was hungry the rest of the time she was being loved on by other people.

David congrats on your retirement from CPS Energy even though the t-shirt business keeps you more than busy! At least you can do shirts during the day and only have 1 job for now!

Since we live outside the city limits when we got home around 9:30 the neighborhood kids (and adults) had already started shooting fireworks. Buckner did ok and only barked at the really big ones. Kate was able to fall asleep and only woke up once when a really loud group of fireworks went off but she was able to go right back down. Maybe next year she will be more interested!