Sunday, February 24, 2013

Five Months Old: February 19, 2013



Five Months Old
February 19, 2013




Your Monthly Stats
**I did these this month since we didn't have a doctor's appointment.  

Height:  28 inches long

Weight: 17 pounds, 14 ounces

Head Circumference:  43 cm










Hair: Your hair has gotten so much thicker this month.  It is still coming in very blond and fine.  And--your hair always smells so yummy.  Love that baby smell!

Eyes: Your eyes are still the lightest blue.  I could stare at them all day....and sometimes, I do.

Diaper Size: You were having major leaks and explosions out of the size 2's, so we have officially jumped to size 3 diapers.




Clothes:
You are wearing 6 and 9 month clothes and 6-12 month sleepers.  Many people bought us short-sleeved clothes in the 6-9 month sizes thinking that you wouldn't reach that size until springtime.  Well--we're already there.  And you're growing so fast!  So, you still wear them with a long sleeved white onesie underneath to keep you warm.  We've had to buy some bigger socks, because your feet just didn't seem to fit in the 6 month socks anymore.  They were ALWAYS falling off!  

Eating:
You've continued to be a really great eater.  You still nurse every 2-3 hours during the day.  You usually make it through the night without eating.  Along with eating your hands, you're trying to put EVERYTHING in your mouth these days---especially your own feet.  You think it is SO funny!  We're still planning on holding off on solid foods for another month or so unless you seem to need them sooner.  This week, you did try to drink a little bit of water out of Lulu's glass---and boy did you think it was funny!  

Yummy Toes

MMMMMmmmm, I finally got you, toes!

Likes:
*giggling.  Mommy can get you to giggle until you are out of breath.  You love it when we give you lots of kisses on your belly and neck.  
*other kids and babies.   You're especially interested in watching other babies when they're babbling or crying. 
*bathtime.  This is still your favorite part of the day.  You love splashing and kicking in the tub.  
*mornings.  You are ALL smiles as soon as you wake up in the morning.  Occasionally you will cry because you're hungry when you wake up.  But, most days you just sit there with your eyes wide open babbling away to yourself.  
*the dogs' tails.  You LOVE to be held up on the floor as the dogs walk by.  Their tails wag in your face and you just smile from ear to ear.  You follow them as they move around the room, and your eyes get really big when they start to bark.  
*your exersaucer.  You're more into it this month.  You're grabbing the toys and lifting yourself out of the seat to stand and reach the toys on top.  You have figured out how to touch some of the toys that have sound effects.    
*the Sleep Sheep.  We started using this again to help you fall asleep. Your favorite sound is the ocean sound.  You're just like your mommy. 

Laying on your head---Getting ready for your favorite yoga positions--downward facing dog and the side plank. 

Dislikes:
*sitting still.  You're a wiggler, and like to be moving, bouncing, jumping, kicking as much as possible.  You're fine being held by someone as long as they are moving or bouncing you.  I don't think this will ever change.  
*naps.  Particularly being put down for naps.  Most days I am able to get you to nap, but only if you are asleep on top of me.  The minute I put you down, you are W-I-D-E awake.  We need to work on this.  

Social Skills: 
We've continued to go to our Babysteps class most Thursdays.  Here we get to hang out with other babies and their mommies.  Each week, we've had a few playdates with other friends too.  I've been researching other classes we can take together too, and I think we'll start music class, swimming lessons, or baby sign language soon.

Sleep:
Last month, we had a hard time getting you to like sleeping in your crib again.  Now, you are back to sleeping in the crib.  BUT, you went on a sleep strike for the past 2 weeks.  You have decided to boycott all naps and have started waking up in the middle of the night again.  WHAT IS GOING ON HERE??  Once again, you just don't want to miss anything!  The past couple of nights, you have slept for longer stretches again (8:30-4:00).  Phew!  When you were waking in the middle of the night (at 11:00, 1:00, 2:15, etc.)  you were not hungry.  So, we've been turning the Sleep Sheep back on, sticking the binky back in, and usually you're able to put yourself back to sleep.  I know that when you nap well during the day, you always have better nighttime sleep.  So, we need to get those naps figured out too!

Strength: 
You spend much of the day doing crunches, and everyone always says that it looks as if you're trying to sit up on your own.  You roll over easily and often from your belly to your back.  However, you've only rolled from your back to your tummy once.  At night when you're sleeping in your crib, I watch you on the video monitor.  Even in your sleep, your legs are straight up in the air as if you're doing a sit-up crunch.  Silly boy!



Dear Mr. Max, 
     How is it that you are already 5 months old?  I feel like we just brought you home from the hospital yesterday.  Yet, at the same time, it feels like you've been with us forever.  I LOVE the fact that I get to stay home with you and see all of the new and exciting changes you go through each day.   You really are such a happy baby, and everywhere we go strangers comment on your sweet smile.  
     Through your struggles with sleep this month, I love our time we spend together in the dark hours of the night and early morning.  As we transitioned you back into the crib, I would often bring you back to bed with me in the mornings (especially when Daddy is away).  Sometimes if you aren't ready for sleep, we just lay on the bed and look at each other.  I rub your hands or your belly, and eventually we both fall asleep together.  I know that it's probably not a good habit to create, but I love that special time with you.  And you will only be this little once.    
      We've started to read more books together this month, and they hold your attention for longer than they have.  You especially like the tactile books that are fun for your to touch.  Looking in the mirror has also become a fun activity this month.  When I get ready in the morning, I will lay you down on the floor of my closet so that you can see yourself in the floor length mirror.  It keeps you occupied and happy while I am getting ready for the day.   I've started wearing you more again in the baby carrier too.  You love to face outward and look all around as I'm doing things around the house.  I can't wait until it becomes nicer outside so that we can take walks like this.  Happy 5-Months my sweet little punkin.  XOXO

Love, Mommy

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

February Fun

I've been way out of the blogland loop!  Baby Max has decided to go on "sleep strike".  So, this mama's been lacking some serious sleeptime and catching extra Zzzzzz's anytime I can.  Not much time to write before the little man wakes up, but here are some recent pictures to get you up to speed!  Later this week, I'll be publishing Max's 5-Month Post--I can't believe he's already five months old.  Time:  Please slow down!

Getting ready to play in the snow at Lulu's house

I love the snow!

Love that smile!

Jammin' with Daddy

Max is SO into music.  Whenever he is fussy, we crank up the tunes and dance.

Happy First Valentine's Day!

With my little LoveBug



Hope you have a happy day!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

GYB Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today I am excited to announce that that I am co-hosting a blog hop called Grow Your Blog, and this linkup focuses on networking bloggers.  Since I started blogging over a year ago, I have found so many fun reads by "hopping" from blog to blog.  During that time, I've gotten to know some really great women in the blogging community. If this is your first time visiting, welcome to A Southern Belle from New Jersey!  Please stay awhile and make sure to say hi.  I can't wait to meet you!

*****************************************************************************
Good morning and welcome to the Grow Your Blog (or GYB) blog hop, Valentines Edition! Paula and I are so happy to have you link up with us this week. And we happily welcome any new bloggers to the party! :) How has your week been? Do you have any plans for the weekend? What is the Grow Your Blog Hop all about? NETWORKING! Meeting new bloggers, finding new content to follow, building your readership. Why is blog networking great for you? Simply put, it increases readership and traffic to your blog. How do you network? Visit. Comment. Invite.
Communicate. These are key to growing your blog.

  growyourblog200a
THIS WEEK'S HOSTS & LOVELY CO-HOSTS!
WHEN YOU LINK UP TO THIS PARTY:
      • Follow your hosts and co-hosts
      • Link up the main page of your blog, not an individual post. You may link up your individual posts to Marvelous Mondays.
      • Visit and follow other bloggers
      • Comment to let them know that you stopped by and how you followed (Email, GFC, Facebook, Bloglovin, etc)
      • Invite them to visit your blog (be sure to leave your blog web address - too many times have i seen bloggers comment and request a visit to their blog without leaving their blog web address)
      • Communicate with them about what you like on their blog. Let them know you are interested in their blog. USE THEIR NAME! A simple "I'm so and so stopping by. I followed you please follow me." just isn't going to interest someone into visiting your blog. Sure, you can request a visit to your blog or a follow along but engage in some type of conversation first.
      • Grab a button and promote the party(you can get the button on This Gal Cooks right here.)
cohosting

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Is this normal??

I am SO in love with my little boy.  Like, I can't stand to be away from him for even a few hours.  Really...would you want to be apart from this sweet boy?

I have {maybe} left him 8 times since he was born.  I've been trying to get out a little bit more--grocery store trips, a few times to the gym, and doing some wedding planning with my sister.  I know {in my head, anyway} that it is good for him to be away from me and comfortable with other people.  And, it is good for me to have some "me time".  When I go out without Max, I will leave him with JB or my parents.  Even though JB is comfortable with him and spends lots of time with him when we're all together as a family, it seems like Max melts down and cries everytime I leave him alone with Daddy.  

See??  Look how happy they are together.  :-)

I'm not talking a few tears and some whining.  I mean that I get home and my little man is sobbing and whimpering with bloodshot eyes and a bottom lip sticking out.  And, my husband looks so frustrated and upset that he can't calm him.  It breaks my heart.  I know that we just need to keep trying, and hopefully it will get easier for all of us.

But, in really good news---JB worked VERY hard again this past year, and we just found out that he made President's Club again this year.  That means that we will be going on an all-expenses-paid vacation to the Rosewood Mayakoba Resort in Mexico in April.  Doesn't this look amazing??



We've been extremely fortunate that JB works for an incredible company that treats their employees (and spouses) very well.  This means that for the past 4 years, we've been able to go on 100% free vacations to Mexico, Turks and Caicos, and St. Maarten.  Don't hate me!  I am so proud of JB for all of the long hours, late nights, and traveling that he does all year in order to earn these trips.  With all of that being said, I am EXTREMELY anxious about leaving Max for 5 days.  He knows his Lulu and Pops (my parents) very well, and they are SO excited to be watching him while we're away.  I know that they will be just fine, and Max will have so much fun with them.  After all, they did raise 5 kids of their own.  My anxiety has nothing to do with that.  It is more about me.  For the past 4 1/2 months, I've not let him out of my sight for more than a couple of hours.  Even during the night, I have one eye on the video monitor watching him.

What if he cries the whole time we're gone?  What if he refuses to sleep or eat because he's so upset?  (That's a whole other issue---He only takes a bottle every once in a while.  Most of the time he is exclusively breastfed.  This is also something we'll have to start practicing.)  What if he forgets about me?  I know what ya'll are probably thinking.  Meg--you are crazy.  Get on the plane, enjoy fruity cocktails on the beach, massages at the spa, and SLEEP.  I hope that I am able to relax once we get there and do just that.  I am really looking forward to spending some quality time with my hubby and reconnecting with him.  So, mamas out there--Please tell me you've felt like this too and it's normal.  I just need to hear that to make myself feel better.  Thanks--xoxo.


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

A Very Minnie 1st Birthday


Happy birthday to our sweet little friend, Mia!  Mia is our neighbor across the street, and I cannot believe that she is already one year old.  She is always smiley, has crazy wild hair, and loves to dance!  Max loves Mia, and Mia loves Max--and I think her Daddy is already worried about that.  :-)

Jess (Mia's mommy) spent SO much time and energy making sure that everything was picture perfect for Mia's first birthday party.  Between the food, the party favors, the sweet treats, and the adorable cake, everything was perfect!  Here are just a few pictures to share of her special day.
Favors for all of the guests 
Lots of Pinterest treats here--I got to help with these.  It was so much fun!
One of Mia's first birthday pictures--enlarged for everyone to sign!

We can't wait to see how you grow and change even more this year, Mia.  Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Mia and her mommy, Jess

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

College Roomies Reunion


Though it seems like a lifetime ago, I have some of my greatest college memories with these girls.  We all met during our freshman year--through mutual friends or in classes together.  Our sophomore year, six of us  lived together in the Seavers apartments on Shippensburg University's campus. We shared clothes, got all dolled up for frat parties, and spent many afternoons watching reruns of the Golden Girls together.  Since college, we've stayed in touch, but the time between our visits has stretched out longer and longer. There are rare occasions (like our weddings) when we all get together.  And, it seems like time has stood still when we do get together again.  I would love to plan a weekend when we ALL get together again, but this past Friday, Mary and Ang were able to come and visit us at our house with their sweet babes.  

Times have sure changed since those college days.  Gone are the nights of Jungle Juice out of a garbage can and nights dancing on tables.  Instead, we have playdates with babies and talks of sleep training and breastfeeding.  (By the way--I cannot even imagine acting like I did in college now.  I know for sure that I would not be able to recover from a hangover like I did back then!)  But, our friendships are still the same---we laugh, share stories, and all have those crazy memories to share.  Here are a few pictures from our visit!  

Max giving Gabriel a kiss.  Don't you love this hat??  Thanks, Mary!


Reading the ABC book

"Napping" together

Here comes trouble--She is ALMOST on the move!
Haha---chaos.  


P.S.  Next time, we need to get all of the posse together for a reunion.  Love you girls!  XOXO