Life Update!

Its been a crazy month so far. I started working part time at my father in laws hat business and we also moved in to my in-laws house. Its been so busy with the business and the sudden move. I cant believe its almost October already. 

Sueng also started school full time + working full time so its been a tough few weeks adjusting to everything. Since Im working part time, my mother and mother in law has been watching Emma. I make lunch for the office, and go in at 1-5:30pm. Its not too bad other then missing my munchkin. 

Im still breastfeesing for the most part but  during the times someone else is watching her, she drinks formula. 

It was a tough decision to move back in my in laws (we lived in thier basement for a few months after we got married), but after thinking about all the factors and the money we can save, I agreed to do it. 

Unfortunately nothing is free and can be the way we want now that we are living with other people. We gave away Babie our cat and we are in the process of giving away Nabi our corgi. It was a tough decision for us but because suengs mom is sick and cant really care for both Emma and the dog we know it will be the best for our family. 

So far things are finally starting to settle down. Its been a rough few weeks but im hopeful that everything will work out to its best. 

My little munchkin <3

7 Month Update!

Its almost been a month since I blogged! There has been so much going on with our family and Emma that I simply had barely any time to myself. Before talking about family stuff, Ill start with Emma's monthly update.

Eating:

She is still loving solids! I was making her baby food in the beginning but because we have WIC, I just started to feed her the gerber jared food (fruits/veggies). I loved making her food but, its free, and plus now that I started working part time everyday, it just became one less thing to worry about. Nevertheless she loves it and has tried all the different ones. Sweet potato and pears are probably her favorite. We also gave her a few MUM MUMs to try out. She loves those as well.  We give it to her once in a while. 

So with the jared purees have been mixing them with either oatmeal or rice cereal. Morning its usually 3/4 jar with some oatmeal (mix so consistency is a bit thicker). Lunch is usually 1/2 jar veggie mixed with rice cereal and 1/2 jar fruit just puréed. 

Sleeping:

This month she has been sleeping pretty well. We dont have a strict sleep schedule because sueng takes night classes three days a week, so I have been picking him up from the train station. She has been sleeping at around 1100-1130pm and has been waking up around 8:30-9am. Yes its a very late bed time but we really have no choice for those three days. 

Other nights we try to put her in by 9-10pm. If she falls asleep around 9-10, she will wake up for a night feeding at around 2-3am then again at 6-7am and then wake up at about 830-9am for the day. But more recently I noticed if she falls asleep in the later time (11-11:30), she will sleep through until 5-6am. I guess because she is very tired from sleeping so late. 

Misc.

This month she reached another milestone of sitting up! She is still working on it, but for the most part she can sit up for a few minutes alone. Of course I put cushions around her just incase. She also has been trying to crawl. Shes not there yet, but she is maneuvering herself around very well to all directions. She is also rolling all over the place. Unfortunely one scare this month was she rolled off our bed. It was a real frightening experience, but thankfully she is ok. She did get a bruise on her forehead but it disappeared now. 

She has been loving her Sophie and other teething toys. We got her a booster high chair and she has been loving that as well. I just love to see her face after a long day of work. She gives me the brightest smiles all the time showing me she missed me. She reaches her arms out to me. It's the most precious thing. 

This month she also caught her first cold. Luckily she had no fever and only a runny nose and cough. It was pretty mild so it didn't last too long. That's was a rough weekend for us because we had to go to the doctor twice in one weekend about her fall and cold. It was a big lesson for my husband and I. 

A lot has changed the past month and will continue to change in our family. Its been very stressful but hopefully things will settle down and i will be able to feel a sense of relief and comfort soon. 

I love you baby!!!

-Jess

6 Month Update!

Im a bit late but Emma turned 6 months about a week ago. There are definitely a lot of changes that went on the past few weeks! Her weight is now 16lbs 4oz and her height is 24 3/4". She is pretty short!

Eating: 

In the beginning of her 5th month we started on rice cereal, but as mentioned in my last update, she was not swallowing properly yet. I stopped giving her the cereal for about 2 weeks and then instead of giving her rice cereal, i gave her pureed bananas. She loved it! Since then she started eating everyday.

So far, we tried bananas, avocados, peas, acorn squash, and carrots. No complaints from her yet :) I have been steaming and blending the veggies. Other then the solids, she has been breastfeeding as usual. 

Sleeping:

Sleeping has been a bit rough towards the end of her 5th month. She started to wake up more frequently. But after she turned 6 months we moved her in to her own nursery. I think it has been working out so much better. 

Now we don't have to be so quiet all the time when we are in the room while she is sleeping. As she is getting older her sleep has become much more lighter, so she will wake up to the slightest noises. After we moved her in to the nursery, she has been waking up only about once a night. Im so glad she is getting back on schedule. Hopefully it will stay like this for a while. Im still working on decorating her nursery though. I cant wait to finish it! 

Her naps are about every 3-4hrs. She has about 3x a day, 2 are about 30-40min long and 1 is about 1-1.5hrs long.

Misc:

She has been so rolly these past few weeks, its been hard getting her to keep still so I can change her diaper. She has been loving to grab everything and putting them in her mouth. Also she likes to push herself around while shes on the floor now, trying to reach toys. She loves me reading to her and also her jumper! She loves touching my face and pinching it too! Her laughs are getting cuter and her smiles are getting bigger. She is certainly growing in to the most beautiful little angel :)  

-Jess

First Family Beach Day!

This past Sunday some friends and our family went to the beach the first time this summer! We dressed Emma in her cute bathing suit and sun hat, it was so adorable. 

The weather wasnt too hot so it was perfect. Water was a bit cold but it didn't stop us from going in! Like most babies Emma loves the water and when we put her feet down on the sand by the shore she was enjoying herself. 

But after a bit of that, my husband started to put her legs in the water as the waves were coming to the shore and then she started crying. It was way too cold for her. Haha. Nevertheless we all had a good time! 

-Jess

Random Post

Emma is almost a half a year old. Ive been a mother for almost a half a year. Other than me not working, things have been pretty mellow. Sure Emma takes over a huge chunk of my day now, but it is what it is. She is such a treat everyday and Im just so in love with her. Im sure all mothers, esp. first time moms, go through pretty much the same daily baby routines and emotions. Its really wonderful, I still cant believe it sometimes.

But ever since we had Emma and her being the first baby out of my friends and my husbands group of friends, we noticed friends being a bit more distant with us. Its probably normal to think we are probably busy with our new family and all, but I cant help feeling a bit sad about it. I'm sure they mean well, but It makes me feel like they think because we have a baby now, we cant do anything anymore. Maybe I'm just being overly emotional with the new mommy brain.

In other news, now that Emma is coming close to half a year, I may have to start working. I always wanted to be a SAHM at least up till my kids start preschool, but what can I do? We do need more money and my husband really wants me to start working. Im very fortunate to be have been able to stay at home with her this long, but inside I'm still so sad when I think I wont be able to anymore. If I don't have to at all now then that would be great, because I was wishing to stay with her for at least an year since Im breastfeeding. 

Random, but I recently purchased this painting-print from TJMaxx and I would like to share this inspirational message. We hung it in our kitchen. I love reading it while eating breakfast. :)

"Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you", "I love you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself - plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment." -Bonnie L. Mohr

Hope you are all having a relaxing summer so far!

-Jess

June - July Update

Summer is going by way too quickly. What the heck happened to June!?? Other than Emma's 5 month update entry, a lot has happened in June and July.

Firstly my brother in law has officially returned from his work in Afghanistan. Right after he and my husband finished the Marine corp., my husband came back home and his brother went overseas. It has been roughly 9 yrs since he's been home. He visited from time to time but they were pretty short visits. We are all glad he is back safe and sound. So since his return, we have been catching up and spending a lot of time with family.

Welcome home party

Also the past month, we have been to two weddings and also two of our friends birthday parties, which one was hosted at our house.

For July 4th weekend, three other couples and our family, rented a house in the Poconos and stayed there for the long weekend. We all had a relaxing time. :) Emma had a hard time sleeping but it was bare-able.
Unfortunately, the week of 4th of July my phone got water in it and it died, so I wasn't able to take many pictures!

Riding on daddy!

-Jess

5 Month Update!

Its been a while! Things have been so hectic these past few weeks!

Emma turned 5 months last Sunday! Yesterday we had her 5 month checkup. She is now 15lbs 9oz and 24" tall. The doctor said she is growing well and developing on track :)

Eating:

At this months visit the doctor suggested she start her solid food diet. I plan to make homemade food once shes done with her level one rice cereal and oatmeal. But for the most part she is still being exclusively breastfed. 

Her first time trying rice cereal! She had no idea what to do with it. It just got all over her face. :)

Sleeping:

Her sleep is still the same as her 4 month update. We were away for a week so she was thrown off her average 4-5hrs straight sleep but ever since we got back she has been doing pretty good. She wakes up for the day at around 9-10am and takes about 3, 30-1hr naps. We put her to bed around 9-10pm. 

Misc.:

This month she reached her milestone of turning from her back to her tummy! She turned from her tummy to back only twice but now every time i put her on her back she will go on her tummy! She also loves grabbing her toys and trying to put them in her mouth. She also found her thumb so she has been putting only her thumb in her mouth opposed to her hand. We don't let her suck on it though. 

Also just like last month she has been so much more smiley and giggly. Its the cutest thing! 

Dressed for her first wedding!

Driving her first car with her feet!

Her hair was falling out a lot so we just shaved it so it can grow back evenly.

-Jess