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!  

Snuggle Time

This week Lainey has pretty much just wanted to be held. She is teething and is miserable. Three nights this week she didn't sleep longer than an hour and a half without waking up in tears. It was so sad. We are using orajel and tylenol, but hoping the tooth trying to come through will hurry so she won't be in pain for long.  She is getting better about holding teethers, but still not great. We got her a sophie giraffe this week. I've heard they are wonderful for teethers, so we shall see.

When we aren't snuggling she is loving her exersaucer and reading books. I've been working on setting up our front room as a playroom and we love spending time in there. I am loving being home with our precious girl even on days that she fusses most of the day. It can be super tough, but so worth it. We are very ready for Brian to be finished coaching so that he can spend some more time with us. Just one more week! 

One of our happy moments in the exersaucer!

The shirt says it all!

Our precious girl all ready for church.

3 Months Old!

Wow, time has flown by. It seems like just yesterday that we were heading to the hospital to have Lainey. She has brought so much joy to our life and each day gets even more fun.

At three months Lainey is sleeping in her own crib! Finally!! She slept with momma and daddy until about a week ago, but I finally gave in and let her cry. She now cries about 10 minutes and then falls asleep for 5 hours. She still wakes up for a middle of the night snack, but she goes back to sleep in her crib until 6:00 or so. After that she eats once again and then sleeps until around 8:30.

We are still breastfeeding, which I love! It is such a special time for us that I don't think I'll be giving it up any time soon. She is getting harder to control, because she's so active, but I love it.

Lainey weighs about 12 1/2 lbs. and is still in her three month clothes. She has just moved up to 3-6 month PJ's because her legs are too long. She is also still in size one diapers.

Lainey loves her bumbo, her jumper, and is finally pushing up during tummy time. She still doesn't love tummy time, but she is getting better.  She enjoys standing with help much more than laying down. Go figure. :) We also still don't do great when it comes to car rides, but once we arrive somewhere she does great. She loves to be entertained and will go to just about anyone. She is smiling more, which I love and really beginning to play. We love reading books, going for walks, and just hanging our. She also really loves football. I don't know if it is because that is the only TV she really gets to watch, but when football is on TV she just stares and stares.

Lainey is still quite the snuggle bug. She is in the sling or the baby bjorn a lot and loves it! I figure she will be mobile soon enough so I might as well enjoy it.

Today was the first time she went to bible class and she loved it. I knew she would, but didn't want to take her too early because of germs. She sat for 40 minutes and did not cry at all, I was so proud! We are loving the joy that our little girl brings us and thank God for the chance to be her parents. I can't believe how fast she is growing up!

Happy Birthday Brian!!

This weekend was great! It was the first birthday in three years that Brian did not have a tournament on. We spent the weekend just hanging out, enjoying our sweet girl, eating out and then seeing Contraband. My parents kept Lainey for a few hours after church on Sunday and it was nice. I did realize that being away 4 1/2 hours is about the most I can stand so I'm so glad that I decided to stay home. We were both ready to be together after that long. We also enjoyed time with our great friends the Coleman's. Jess made Brian a birthday dinner and we got to go spend some time with them. It was so much fun having Lainey around this year for Brian's birthday, it just somehow made it sweeter. I can't wait to see what God has in store for our guy this year!

God's Provision

When I was pregnant with Lainey I prayed and prayed that God would make a way for me to stay home with our sweet girl. I knew how hard it would be when I looked at the numbers, but I trusted that if it was his will he would provide a way.  He has provided a way with a couple of work from home opportunities, but he has done so many other things as well. I've started a journal about his provision for us since Lainey was born and I have a feeling by the time I decide to go back to work it will be filled with stories of his Love and power. Some things are big and some are little, but it is so neat to see him working in our life.

When friends tell me they can't afford to stay home I want to be able to say, "Me either, but God can!!" He works in such amazing ways when you let him.

I know that God has blessed us with jobs that provide income, but on top of that he has provided in ways that cannot be attributed to working. This month alone God has provided the unexpected blessings of a free oil change, another check from CISD, (I haven't worked since October 14th and am still getting paid. That is GOD!) money from a training that I did, but was not expecting, a credit on my meat for meat day making my total much less than expected, a hand me down extra Britax carseat, $30 worth of formula for $1.20, a refund check from our OBGYN, a $50 check because an order I placed could not be filled, and a free Valentines Day present for my hubby. I won a giveaway!

So many blessings that I can't help but give God credit and be amazed at his works. Everything that we have comes from him, but it is so incredible to see him hard at work in our life. I encourage you to sit back and really look at the unexpected blessings God has given you. I hope you will be encouraged by his Love and by the ways that he provides for you as well. Have a blessed week!