Month 6 - Heidi

Month 6: Baby!

Age: 6 months

Weight: 17.9 lbs.

Major calendar events: Playgroup at church, getting baptized, first Rice football game

Milestones: Sitting up!

Sleep: Uuuhh.... where to begin... we FINALLY switched Heidi over to her own crib in her own room.  The first night or two went great.  She went down easy, didn't wake up in the middle of the night... however, at this point it takes HOURS to get her to go down.  She can be completely zonked and then the second she gets put down she's wide awake and screaming her head off.  After multiple hours, she eventually is tired enough to stay sleeping when we put her down.  Goodness.  I don't know how to fix this!!  We have tried to let her cry it out... however it's not like a "putting herself to sleep" cry it out - more like a "someone is surely trying to kill me so I will scream bloody murder and work myself up more and more until someone comes to get me" cry.  She is never so tired that she just gives up, slows down and eventually zonks out. So sleep is... not good.  Terrible.  Although finally moving her into her own room was major progress.  Somehow we have zero issues getting her to take naps during the day, perhaps because 99% of the time it's on mommy...oops.

Likes:  Shrieking and screeching, watching and smiling at the dogs, SHOPPING! phones and remote controls, bath time and yelling like someone is falling off of a cliff (AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.............)  

Dislikes:  Going to sleep at night.

Best moment:  Seeing Heidi baptized in the church that I grew up in and that we got married in!  Also, Ryan had to go out of town for work and I was super nervous about Heidi actually sleeping while he was gone - she did AWESOME the first night - yay!!  

Worst moment:  Nothing comes to mind

Eating: Still exclusively breastfeeding, every 4 hours. However, we have tried a few solid foods just for fun (and in an attempt to fill Heidi up a little bit more before bedtime!)  We have tried bananas, avocados and sweet potatoes!  Avocado was the only thing that she really didn't care for.

Things I want to remember:  Everything!

Month 6: Mama

I do still feel somewhat imbalanced... although just sometimes not very often.  Almost like a PMS kind of thing.  I am sure this is from the hormones that accompany breastfeeding.  I am also So. Freaking. Hot.  All the time.  I'm always hot and sweaty and I get hot flashes constantly.  If I had it my way, I would just hang out with menopausal women all the time because they know what I'm going through!!  Other than that I can honestly say that breastfeeding is not something that I hate.  It took me several months to get here, and for my boobs to adjust and stop making me feel miserable and gross all the time.  But we're here.  We did it.  6 months!!!  A goal that 5 months ago (hell even 3 months ago) I thought I would never make it to.  And guess what?  We're going to keep going!

Personal info coming your way.... but OMG yall major scare this month.  Remember how last month my period returned for the second month in a row??  Well.... this month the day came and went.  Nothing.  My brain was telling me "Surely, SURELY my body is still just out of whack and getting back to normal. SURELY."  However, there was a part of me deep down thinking... "WHAT IF?!?!?"  It's possible.  And it wouldn't be the absolute worst thing in the world.  But definitely not something that my body is ready for again quite yet.  So I was freaking out but trying not to jump to conclusions... but still freaking out... I refused to take a pregnancy test because that would make my fears more real despite the result.  I just wanted to stay in a world where that wasn't even a possibility.  I told Ryan while we were on a walk one day.  He just laughed.  For being such a planner, ducks-in-a-row kind of guy, he has always been super unconcerned (maybe unstressed is a better word...) when it comes to having babies (somehow!) and for that I am extremely grateful.  He said that I was probably right and that my body was still probably just adjusting to not having a baby in it anymore, but if that WASN'T the case that we would be okay. And he would laugh.  Even though I told him that it would NOT be funny.  One week later... my suspicions were right and everything was back to normal.   WHEW.  (Turns out there actually is a pretty decent amount of science backing up the whole "exclusive breasfeeding = birth control, which I might get more into later...it's pretty interesting!)  So I basically had a full week of semi-panic mode, but other than that there is nothing really new or exciting to report on my end.  

Here are some pics from our 6th month with this angel!!

Took Heidi to PetSmart (or as I like to call it the free zoo).  She's checkin out those mice!

Fish.

Grocery shopping is exhausting!

But running at Memorial Park isn't so bad.

Ready for the pumpkin patch!

Not feelin it...

Our little strawberry!  Heidi's 1st Halloween.

This is how we eat dinner around here...

A tree planted in my grandpa's name in Kingwood.  She was super happy to take so many pictures with it and I had a hard time holding it together!

Finally some cool weather so we can enjoy our little outdoor fire!

Eating some bananies!  Hazel is wondering what the heck is going on.

Sitting in an heirloom chair at great-grandma Warners!

A baby owl spotted at the Rice football game!

The only picture I took of all 3 of us. Oops!

Aunt Carrie showed up in the middle of bath time - and Heidi was NOT a fan of that to say the least...

The cutest hats.

Dr. Davis baptizing Heidi.

The whole group.

Our girl on her special day!

Month 5 - Heidi

Month 5: Baby!

Age: 5 months

Weight:  Somewhere around the 16 lb. mark, although I never actually checked this month...

Major calendar events:  Attended her first birthday parties (Becca Rose turned 1 and Beau also turned 1!), 4 month shots, 1st overnight away from mom, met Jenny and Matt, first play date...WHEW busy month!

Milestones:  Nothing major that I can recall

Sleep:  Sleeping through the night although every now and then she will wake up to eat.  Still in our room (oops) and we said goodbye to the swaddle!  Now she just sleeps in her sleep 'n play jammies

Likes:  Laughing and smiling - smiles at just about everyone! Water bottles and just about any container of liquid

Eating:  100% breastmilk every 4 hours

Month 5: Mama

Well it's been confirmed.  100% positive my body is back on track reg. my ladyness.  Oh damn.

Got enough spit bubbles, Heidi?

Hanging out with Aunt Emily

This is one crazy lady

Happy girl!

Ready for her first play date

Friends!

Petting Hazel.

We love you "Uncle" Chris!

Anniversary Weekend!

On October 6th, Ryan and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary.  Now, this was an especially special anniversary for us. Why you ask?? Because I'm not currently pregnant!  We didn't quite make it to our first anniversary before finding out about our little Heidi (oops!) and if God chooses for baby #2 to come into existence sometime next year chances are I could potentially be pregnant for our 3rd anniversary... so we HAD to do something special this year of course!!

Ryan and I have a "no gift" policy.  We don't give gifts unless it's a birthday or Christmas.  Don't get me wrong - it's not that I don't LIKE getting presents (I mean come on, what girl's love language ISN'T gift receiving??) it's just that for us - spending time with each other IS the gift.  The time we have with each other is so limited and so valuable.  There plenty of people who may place a higher value on receiving that physical token of love, and that's okay.  But to us? Time together is the number 1.  How many times a year should I expect my husband to come up with some big (or small) gesture, search high and low to find something special to give me, spend money or precious time on etc. etc?  Valentine's day, mother's day, our wedding anniversary, my birthday, Christmas...the list goes on and on.  If you're one of those people who has found someone who is able to come up with super romantic/overly thoughtful/super planned out gifts for every holiday and occasion - congrats (and I don't mean that sarcastically!)  Don't let that person go - they are hard to find!  But I can honestly say as loving and kind and thoughtful as my husband is, I know it is unrealistic of me to expect that from him 5+ times per year (heck I can't even expect myself of that!)  These days, there are so many holidays focused around gift giving that we have decided that it's best for us to limit those gift-giving holidays.  And I have to say so far - it's been amazing!

For our anniversary this year, we got a hotel room at City Center (an area with lots of restaurants, shops, bars, etc.) and planned to just stay there, walk around and not have to drive anywhere!  Heidi spent the night with her Mimi and Poppy and it was the perfect little getaway for us.  (I did warn Ryan after we dropped Heidi off that chances were high that I would cry at some point [multiple points] because this was my first night away from her ever!  It was going to be so hard to wake up and not have her there.)

It was a Saturday, so we both wanted to watch football of COURSE!  Between the TV, our phones and iPad, we had 3 games going - and I am totally okay with that! We cracked open some beers,  and just relaxed.  Now, when you're a breastfeeding mama and you leave your baby... you also gotta bring the pump!!  Here is a picture of how we spent the first bit of our weekend together for you...

Football and pumping - does it get any more romantic than this??

Once the afternoon games started winding down and we started getting hungry we left the hotel and walked over to Yard House.  We didn't really have an agenda, just thought we would grab some dinner, drinks (and more football) throughout the evening.  It's lucky we share our love for each other, food and football.  He was truly made for me and I for him.  We decided just to stay at Yard House for dinner since we were already there and had good seats at the bar (with views of multiple football games - I swear we're not obsessed! Okay we are.)

Dinner at Yard House!

(Of course, as I was pumping before going to sleep, the pump died and I had forgotten the charger.  The next morning I found myself standing over the sink milking myself to relieve some of the pain.  Life after a baby is SO romantic!)  The next day we woke up and went straight to pick Heidi up!  (Thank goodness she was hungry!)  And guess what?!  I didn't even cry once while we were away from her.  I never thought I would be that kind of super-attached and emotional mom but-surprise! I am.

Reunited at last!!  Missed her so much.

Once we picked Heidi up, we headed to San Antonio to celebrate Beau's 1st birthday fiesta!  Just a few pictures from the rest of the weekend....

Heidi with her "Uncle" John, aka. The Experience.

Happy 1st year of life Beau-man!

Friends!

Grabbing faces.

Happy baby at the hotel in San Antonio!

Last bottle of wine from our "Milestone Wine Basket" from Ryan's sisters!  (Other milestones include: The very first night in our house together, first dinner party, first fight, and cider for when we found out we were pregnant!)

Intended for last year ;)

Happy 2nd anniversary to my wonderful wonderful husband!!!  I love you so much and I love our time together.

Month 4 - Heidi

Month 4: Baby!

Age: 4 months

Weight: 15 lbs. 9 oz. 

Major calendar events:  Heidi's first Baylor football game, her first overnight away from home, first wedding and first run!

Milestones:  If she hears my voice but doesn't see me she will look around and try to figure out where I am!  I love this!

Sleep: Sleeping through the night at this point although sometimes it takes a little work to get her to go down.  She is still sleeping in her pack n play in our room and still swaddled - although her arms are out at this point bc that startle reflex seems to have finally disappeared.

Likes:  Hanging out in here mamaroo "pod", laughing at mommy working out, shopping, sleeping during mommy's runs, chewing on Sophie the giraffe's face and watching her mobile in her room

Dislikes:  Long-ish car rides, napping by herself

Best moment:  Heidi did SO great when we stayed overnight at a hotel in Waco for the game.  Went right to sleep, no waking up and no crying yay!  She also hardly complained during the drive up there - which was a surprise!  She usually gets VERY mad if she has been in her car seat for too long.

Worst moment:  Screamed ALL the way home from Sugarland to our house.  Yikes that was rough.

Eating:  100% breastmilk - every 4 hours!  It feels SO different having that extra hour between nursing Heidi.  Before it felt like all I did was nurse her.  Once one feeding ended it was almost time to start the next.   I feel like I can do so much more between feeding her - it's amazing how crazy different it!  It's awesome!

Month 4: Mama

Overall this was a good month.  It finally feels like we are getting into the swing of things.  I do still struggle some during the day, because Heidi REALLY does not like to be put down for naps by herself.  We typically take all of our naps together (which - let's be honest - isn't the WORST thing in the world) but if I NEED to get something done it is impossible at this point for me to move her or put her down while she is asleep without her waking up and getting mad.  And forget about putting her down while she is awake!

Heidi and I went on our very first run together since she has been on the outside and it was so good to have my running buddy back with me!  I definitely thought running with a stroller would be harder than it actually is, however it will take some getting used to.  I also started doing some circuit work, but I'm trying not to do too much too suddenly and mess with my milk supply.

TMI update: I also think *I think* I got my period.  I was quite surprised because I am exclusively breastfeeding. so I assumed that it would hold off a little bit longer but we'll see I guess... (I think Heidi sleeping through the night has something to do with this... not waking up for that middle of the night feeding could possibly be giving my body just enough time to reset those hormones!)  If that's what it was then I got a whole year off exactly, which was SO nice... however I do have friends that got almost 2 full years of no cycles!!  Oh well.  As nice as it is to not have to worry about having a period once a month, I feel like I don't really know my body.  It definitely makes natural family planning difficult (although typically if you are exclusively breastfeeding you're covered for at least the first 6 months [and YES there IS science to back this up it isn't just an old wives tale] which maybe I will post about later) and I really miss the confidence I used to have in knowing my own body.  Things are still out of whack and I hope my body is still adjusting to not being pregnant... and hopefully getting back to normal! 

Just a few pics from Heidi's 4th month with us!

Great Grandma with Heidi.

Church!  Heidi is pumped.

Mornings :)

Visiting the Great-grandparents Kresta at their farm - their first time to meet Heidi!

#LongCarRides

Baylor game!

Hotel sink baths.

Awww they fell asleep holding hands!

The morning that I was in labor, we picked some bluebonnet seed pods on our walk.  We decided to plant them in the backyard!

Heidi is participating.

She's just so strong!  Knockin her toys down...

Galleria time!

Wedding time.

Me and my man fixin to tear up that dance floor!