.: May 2018

Weight & Height - We assume she is about 14-15 lbs this month and probably 24" tall since we didn't have a doctors visit this month. She's looking less and less like our tiny baby. She is still in size 2 diapers but I'm debating moving her up a size soon after some nasty blow outs. 3 month clothing is now getting too small on her so she is in mostly 3-6 month.

Sleep - Grace slept her first full night (8 hours) for the first time this last week!!!! I forgot how good a full nights rest feels. In fact, I think my body thinks I overslept because I'm not used to getting that many consecutive hours! Grace had been sleeping around 4-6 hour stretches most nights, so I'm hoping she'll soon master the full 8! This month we started a more set nighttime routine that has seemed to help. We go on a bedtime walk around 7:30 then back for bath and lotion and a book or feeding before bedtime. She has grown a real love for the bath and gets so excited to stand up to the side of the tub. (don't worry, I'm still hanging onto her). It's really helped her to learn that it's time for bed and she'll wind down pretty quickly. She still naps about 4-5 times a day but they range anywhere from 40 mins to 2 hour. I'm pretty happy with where our sleep schedule is right now and that's all that matters. I think there are a lot of pressures and expectations out there to have your baby sleeping 12 hours by 12 weeks (example) and I just don't believe that every baby needs the same schedule or that moms need to feel the pressure of setting anything other than what suits them and their family at the time.

Eat - Grace is still just drinking 4 oz bottles every couple of hours. We started baby food this past month and she loves it! She has gotten much better and the texture and knowing what to do when the spoon gets in her mouth. She even opens and wiggles around ready before I even have a chance to scoop up the next bite! I try to feed her solids in the evening around dinnertime and it seems to help her be able to sleep longer at night! She looks so big sitting in her high chair and knows exactly what it means when I place her in there. If some of the food spills on the plate of the high chair and she starts to get distracted by it, all I have to say is "Good Job" and she'll immediately throw her head up and smile at me. I guess I say that too her so much that she's just excited to hear it!

Recent Milestones - We're having a hard time with tummy time now because she's officially learned to roll over. From front to back and back to front. She will roll over and then immediately look up at me and smile because she's just so proud of herself. We can no longer leave her on the bed or couch for even a second because she would just roll right off. She somehow moves herself in a circle when she is doing tummy time so she ends up facing the opposite way that we laid her. She's still a chunky little think however I feel like she may lose it soon because she's constantly trying to lean forward working her little ab muscles! ;) When I lay her down to change her diaper she will be lifting her head and trying to lift her body to sit up the entire time. She holds her legs up in the air for diaper changes and then just gets distracted with trying to eat her toes. She now reaches and leans for who she wants and is even growing out of her stranger danger phase! She still laughs a lot, especially at mom! Her love for being outside has only increased this month since we purchased a swing for the backyard. One for her and a big one for mom and dad! It makes me so happy that she loves being outside because it's a good motivator for me to get out and be active! We go for about two stroller rides a day when possible. We got called back to primary to teach CTR 7-8 and Grace loves primary!! We also learned how to make it through all of sacrament meeting by sitting on a side bench so that she can lay down or stand up to the bench and visit with the people behind us. It's been a long time since I was able to attend all three meetings of church and not just in the hallway!

Special Moments –

Dislikes -I think it's finally okay to take hating her car seat off the "dislike" list!! She has been doing much better now that she is old enough to really be entertained by toys and her mirror. Sure there will be certain car rides or days that she just doesn't want to be in there, but I now don't have to plan my days around activities that will result in the least amount of time in the car! She does dislike her bottle taking to long to be made or being left in her swing or seat while I get things done. The only way she'll allow it is if I bring her close to watch me.

Mommy Update: Mom is officially a working woman again. Still from home but last week I got about 12 hours logged. I am still doing social media for my old dental office and I recently picked up one of my old jobs working as a personal assistant for a lady I used to work for. I just do random errands and tasks that grace can go with me on so it hasn't been too challenging to jump back into. Last Sunday I was called to be an activities day Leader, so that's something I'll have to learn to do with a baby. I think she'll love having the girls over each month!

** Goals for next month **

1. Have more fun outings with the family!

2. Keep up with our bedtime routine.

3 . Leaving Grace to go on a DATE!!

Monthly Photo Dump

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