Rice Cereal is YUMMY!

I've had a feeling that Lainey was ready for food for several weeks, but wanted to wait until our doctor gave us the go ahead at her four month check up to start it. Well, we saw him yesterday and he said she could start. She could not have loved it more. I mixed it with breastmilk last night and she ate all of it. She of course made a huge mess because she didn't quite know how to use the spoon, but she loved it. She really wanted to feed herself. She kept grabbing the spoon and the bowl. This morning I mixed it with formula to see if she loved it as much and she did not. She spit most of it out and did not finish her serving. What a silly girl! She is been so hungry lately so I'm really glad we are starting this. I know it will be a mess, but she only gets it twice a day until she is six months old so I think I can handle that.

The doctor said her heart murmur was gone! PRAISE THE LORD! We have been praying for the last two months that it would be and it is! God is good! She has also gotten much bigger. Lainey is now in the 70th percentile for height and weight. She is 24 3/4 inches long and 14 lbs. 7 oz. What a big girl! I can't believe how much she has grown. She handled her shots like a champ and overall had a great visit to see her doctor.

Here are a few pictures from her first big girl food experience.

Yummy!!

"I can do this myself mom!"

"Keep it coming, I love this stuff"

"Why have you been holding out on me?"

Wanting to get all of it in her mouth. What a funny girl!

4 Months Old!

I can't believe sweet Lainey is already 4 months old. She has grown so much this month. At three months she was only holding her head up for a few seconds during tummy time, now she just hangs out on her tummy for long periods of time and looks at everything. She has finally started rolling over and even scooting around a little bit. Lainey is officially sleeping in her bed all night long. I didn't think this would ever happen since she wouldn't even let us put her down the first couple of months, but she is doing much better. We have to heat her bed with a heating pad prior to putting her down, but it works like a charm! She still wakes up for a 3:00am feeding, but after that she will go back to her bed and sleep until around 7:00. She then usually wants to eat again and will go back to sleep until around 9:00 if I let her. I am so proud of all of the new things she is doing this month. She really has gotten to be an easier baby. The first three months were pretty tough for our little gal, but she is starting to spend a little more time entertaining herself and is doing a little better in the car. I've found that if I shake a bottle of mentos gum as a rattle, she usually falls asleep.

This week Lainey was sick for the first time and it was awful. She couldn't breathe to nurse, sleep or stay comfortable. We were using the bulb suction and saline constantly, but she was so congested. I took her to the doctor on Wednesday and they said she was too little to have any medicine. It truly was heart breaking. to see her suffer the way that she was. Luckily, she is finally getting better. She still is somewhat congested, but able to breathe a little better.

We have our 4 month check up on Tuesday. I do know that Lainey is 14 lbs. from our appointment last week. She is in size two diapers, some three month clothes, but her legs are a little too long for them so I've moved her up to 3-6 months. She's pretty skinny so the 3-6's are big in the waist, but at least her legs are covered. I'm so sad, but she is finally losing her hair. I hope she doesn't lose all of it, but it has been falling out like crazy. She has a headband line in the back from her crazy momma always putting headbands on, but they are just so cute.

Lainey loves going to outside and to the park with friends. She loves her jumper, her Sophie giraffe, her pink giraffe and her pink and green dragonfly lovie the best. She is not a huge fan of her stroller, but will walk all day in her moby wrap or baby bjorn. She still just loves to be carried. She is very talkative in the mornings and has really started to laugh. She is smiling so much more, but rarely does it in public. I think she's too busy taking everything in because all she does is look around when we are out an about. Lainey loves playing with her daddy and riding on his shoulders always calms her down when she is fussy.  She is so much fun and gets more fun day by day. I'm already getting baby fever for another because it makes me sad how fast she is growing up. Even though it's getting easier, I love her being little! She is such a joy. Here are a couple of pictures from this week.

When we ride in the car Lainey typically has 4-5 toys in her arms or within reach. It cracks me up!

Such a happy girl!! She loves the new quilt one of Brian's co-workers made her.

Beautiful Girl

This week our beautiful girl rolled over for the first time. It was so funny because earlier that morning we were at the park with friends and I told Mrs. Amanda and Mrs. Meredith that Lainey was not rolling yet. I guess she didn't like me talking about her, because when I went to pick her up from her nap she was on her back and not her tummy. She has only done this one other time since, but it is good to know she has the strength to roll. :)  It's hard to believe how fast she is growing up!  Right now she has a little bit of a cold so it's making it hard for her to breathe and sleep at night. I hope this goes away soon, but momma and daddy are sick too so I don't know that it will.

Here are a few pictures that I've been meaning to post. It's a catch up day because some of these are over a month old! 

Lainey's Valentine's Day Picture that Mrs. Jess took!

Lainey in the pillowcase dress
I made her for Valentine's Day!

Happy girl after church on Sunday

This face cracks me up!

Sweet baby!

My mom has a picture of me making this same face when I was little! So funny!

Little one in my baby dress!

"I like playing dress up in your clothes mommy!"

Finally getting good at tummy time!

Dancing with daddy to go to sleep!

Getting so big! She will be 4 months old in one week!

I love that face! So serious!

Super Weekend!

This weekend was so nice! It was the first weekend since Christmas that Brian didn't have to work or go to a grad school class. We enjoyed Gibson's first birthday party, shopping, going to dinner and a wonderful Sunday. Lainey actually stayed in bible class by herself today. She had gone before, but I stayed with her to make sure she was ok. This time, we dropped her off and let her be a big girl. She stayed half of the time and then got sleepy and wanted her mom. They said she loved it while she was there. I am so glad we have such loving bible class teachers and even more glad that there are TONS of babies for Lainey to grow up with. Friends are such a blessing!

Sunday afternoon my in-laws stopped by for about an hour to say hello and then we had a small super bowl party. It was thrown together at the last minute because no one really had a plan so we just had anyone we talked to come. It was fun! The kids made lace up footballs, played wall football, which was like pin the tail on the donkey, and ran around. The dads got to watch the game, stuff themselves and just enjoy being together. It was fun and the food was delicious!

It's hard to believe that one year ago we were doing IVF at this time and now we have our precious miracle girl that is 3 1/2 months old. God is so good. We are so lucky to have such great friends. A year ago, two of the three couples that joined us for super bowl had been over to bring food and play games while I was on bed rest in the living room. It truly is awesome to think about how blessed we have been this last year. I can't wait to see what the next year holds. Hope you all had a great super bowl weekend as well!

Sweet girl with her lovie on the way to church.

Lainey with her buddies in bible class.

Precious girl ready to learn!