6 Months

Daisy is 6 months old! She is just so much fun. Here are some updates on how she is growing:

17 pounds! She has gained 10 pounds since birth. Since starting solids, she has had a major growth spurt. Must be all those mangoes, bananas, and pumpkin (her favorites). 

We have started sleep training. Before I get into it, let me say that let this not be a place for debate as to what method of sleep training will scar your baby more. I welcome tales of what works for you though, I could use all the help I can get! Anyways, we have completed a week and a half of the Ferber method and I have decided that we need to try something else. Our experience went like this: We were in a three night cycle. The first night would be just awful. Lots of crying (from mom and baby), and eventual sleep, with just as much waking up in the night. The second night would be a little better, crying but not as much, but still just as much midnight wakings. The third night, there would be little to no crying, but all the nighttime wakings. Then it would start all over again, even though we were doing the same thing each night. At the same time, her naps were getting worst. They went from 40-60 minutes to 20. No good. Obviously, this hasn't been working. Right now I am doing what we did before I started sleep training-putting her through her bedtime routine, then rocking her to the point of intense drowsiness, and putting her in her crib. I don't mind that method of getting her to sleep at all-I love cuddling her. I started looking into different methods because she wakes up a lot in the night, and I would like for her to start sleeping more consistently through the night. I realized the other day that with pregnancy and having a baby, I haven't had more than 4 hours of sleep at a time in about a year. I am really ready to sleep through the night, and I hope daisy is too. Moms of the internet, what worked for you?

Daisy LOVES solid food. She loves trying new things, and she is just so fascinated with what we eat. She really seems to enjoy sitting in her little chair with us at the dinner table, eating food like us. I look forward to when she gets teeth, so we can start giving her little pieces of our food. 

Daisy has a new game, where she just HAS to get our hair in her mouth. She loves it. She lets out a screech, opens her mouth, and lunges forward until she has two fists and a mouth full of my hair or Jordan's beard. It's pretty funny, as long as her nails are trimmed and she doesn't get the tender temple hairs.

Case in point

Unfortunately with solids come lots of poop. The next picture contains poop, so beware.

(There are a lot more pictures after the poopy one, so maybe scroll fast if you have a weaker constitution?)

That is her worst blow out to date, after I had rinsed most of it off. I just had to document how high it got up her body. We have many baths and wardrobe changes in our home. She also has started to try to escape diaper changes...so I clean her changing table a lot these days.

Daisy is a pro at sitting up now, and she loves it. PHOTOBOMB:

Daisy also LOVES her dad. I am so so glad. I was worried that Daisy would be anxious around Jordan because he travels so much and works such long hours, but nope. She loves him. She is always excited to see him when he comes home, and I love seeing that. Our daily routine usually ends with me making dinner while Jordan plays with Daisy, and then while I clean up, he gets her ready for bed. I don't mind cooking and cleaning the kitchen each night because it gives Jordan a little more time to spend with his baby girl. 

Daisy also has become increasingly interested in my phone. Here she is trying to get her mouth on it. 

Daisy also enjoys running errands with me, especially since she is now being carted around in her stroller, or as I am sure she refers to it, her chariot. 

Daisy remains, as ever, our happy, delightful baby girl. She always has a smile and a laugh for her momma and poppa, and we love her so much. Being a mom just keeps getting better and better, even with the lack of sleep and perpetually stained clothing.

D: D: D:

Guyz.

I just checked the google analytics for this blog, and it said that some people found it through the google search, using "barefoot and pregnant". I thought I would try it out to see how close to the top by blog was.

Big mistake.

First off, I guess there are a ton of other blogs with this title.

Second, most of them talked about the oppression of women...and while I am all for some equal respect between men and women...I am a very young stay at home mom that does all the cooking, cleaning, and irons my husbands shirts. Maybe not the voice of feminism those bloggers are looking for.

Third, and most unfortunate of all...

There is a ton of pregnancy themed porn out there. Thankfully I didn't use the google image search, so I only saw the link titles and short descriptions. But I saw enough to know that once you get past the 5th page of a google search, no good can be found.


In other news, I am determined to look good when we go to the beach this July, so I am really amping up my weight loss efforts. So far I'm trying no sugar, no white flour, and pretty much no carbs. It's hard to fit in workouts with a baby, but my goals are to go jogging at least three times a week (I'm trying for every day, but I am also starting to sleep train Daisy...so she is not the happiest of campers) and I am doing a Pilates video I found on netflix. The great thing about that, is I don't feel super awkward because no one can see me if I close the blinds. I've been to workout classes before and just feel like a big clumsy fool. This way, I get to exercise without feeling embarrassed about messing up the moves! My point in telling the internet this, is I need some help. What do you do to stay fit? How do you ignore those raging chocolate/ice cream/fried chicken cravings? What has worked for you? If you have kids, how do you fit in working out?

Thanks, internet. You're the best.

Firsts

Daisy has reached some milestones lately. 

Daisy loves to sit up. Also spit up and drool, by the looks of her shirt.

Ever since we had our visit to North Carolina, Daisy has been very anxious to grow up. I really do believe that spending so much time with her cousin Liam, who is two months older than her, influenced her desire to move around. Before our visit, she hated tummy time and only rolled occasionally. Since we have returned, she has mastered rolling, tummy time, and recently started trying to sit up. She can now stay sitting up if we place her there, but can't get up on her own. 

We have started giving Daisy solids. She loves it. Her favorites so far have been mangoes and bananas. She tolerates sweet potatoes, and seems to enjoy other vegetables like squash, carrots, spinach, and peas. Until I replace my blender, we are using these organic foods. Once I get a new blender or a food processor, I will probably start making our own baby food-especially if our garden goes well.

Daisy had her first cold.

She kept pretty good spirits throughout the ordeal. This is a  picture of her enjoying the evenings we would have in the bathroom, hoping the steam would help with her congestion. Thankfully, we are finally on the tail end of her first illness. She still has a runny nose, and her sleeping isn't back to what I would like it to be, but what her sleeping ever really great? No. It wasn't. 

Catching Up

So I meant to blog more this past month, but of course other things got in the way. We have had a busy month. Here are some things we have done (or stuff Daisy has done, because I basically only take pictures of her):

Daisy mastered use of her hands

Found her feet

Got a Bumbo

Made some pie

Enjoyed the freak warm weather down town

Daisy is now much more comfortable about tummy time, and has really mastered rolling

Said goodbye to Sam

Coordinated with cousin Liam

Went on walks with cousin Max and Uncle Kevin

Went down the slide with Uncle Thomas

Swings with Mom

Got cute new clothes from Grandma Day and Aunt Ashley

Was bored by the animatronic dinosaurs at the NC zoo

Made more pie

Celebrated cousin Max's 3rd birthday at the discovery museum

Confronted a turkey with cousin Max

Greeted by Jordan at the airport with beautiful flowers

Had a beautiful Easter dress made by Grandma Day

I got a lovely surprise from the Easter Bunny

It has been a really fun, eventful month. We went to North Carolina to see my brother Sam, off on his LDS mission to Brazil. Jordan could only stay for the weekend, but I was able to spend two weeks there with my family. My older sister was also visiting with her two boys, so the house was very full and very fun.

I love my little family! Life is pretty perfect right now.

Daisy Pie!

Daisy is four months old today!

I know. It seems incredible to me as well.

Daisy is just the best. She continues to be the happiest and calmest little girl in all the land.

Daisy loves:

Peek-a-boo with Dad

Pig wrasslin

Tummy time

Walks with Mom

Looking at everything-paintings, pictures, illustrations, and yes, tv

Bath time

Daisy is starting to get favorites. She has her favorite toys (her stuffed alligator and pig), a favorite blanket, and a favorite pacifier.

When she cries as she wakes up from a nap or in the morning, as soon as Jordan or I poke our heads over the bassinet or crib, she breaks into a huge grin and starts waving her arms and legs around. She just can't wait to play with us!

She is much better at taking naps, and we are starting to get on a much more predictable schedule. Her naps are still short-40 min to an hour, but I'm hoping that will change. She still wakes up twice during the night, but once every 3-4 hours is a lot better than every 2 hours, so I'll take it.

Daisy is starting to use her hands to grab things she wants. Sometimes its really cute-she will put her hand on my cheek, grab my shirt when she wants my attention, or hold onto my hands. Sometimes it's funny-she grabs toys right out of my hands and put them directly into her mouth, and tried to catch the water during bath time. Sometimes it hurts-my hair is now always up, and I'm considering cutting quite a bit of it off.

Daisy loves to babble, and I just love having "conversations" with her.

Daisy we love you! We love having you in our family!