Brown, Party of 4: May 2015

Friday, May 8, 2015

Month 4

Dear McKinley,

Month four was my favorite so far. You smiled all the time! You got in a great routine with daycare and bedtimes. We didn't do a whole lot this month, but you learned so much! You started to grab everything you saw, you rolled over the day after you turned 4 months (while watching the masters), you were bigger size wise and were able to sit in your jumperoo, and you tried a little bit of cereal! I ended up not doing cereal with you because I had to mix it with breast milk and I was running low on breast milk for daycare- since cereal wasn't needed at the time, we just stopped it all together. You will start solids at 6 months! You also went through a sleep regression and o.m.g. I thought I would never sleep again. You went from sleeping so well to waking up every 2-3 hours a night. When I was working and not sleeping, I was TIRED. About 2-3 weeks later you went back to being somewhat normal during nighttime, but you still weren't as good as you used to be! Hoping that you quickly get back to only waking up once, if any, soon!

Things you like: your paci, your daddy's smile, watching your dog Sanford, face timing with Mimi, going on walks, riding to school.

Love you forever,

Mommy

Month 3

Dear McKinley,

Your third month of life is when you started to become a happy baby and so much fun! Shortly after you turned 3 months, I had to go back to work. I actually delayed going back by a week thanks to some snow days. I didn't want to go back but I knew I had to. I would have done anything to stay home with you but I knew you would be fine at day care. Mrs. Kelly watched you and you were hesitant at first, but you quickly started to love her and the the other girls she kept! Her house was also right across the street from my school so we were very fortunate.

This month seemed to come and go so quickly because of our busy schedule. You would go to day care, your dad and I would go to work, we came home and ate dinner, gave you a bath, put you to sleep and then repeat. This month you started to become very responsive and full of smiles. Those smiles melted my heart and I would do everything to keep seeing more! You started sleeping good at night- only waking up 2 or 3 times max, and going to bed between 7-8.

Things you liked at 3 months: listening to me read & sing, going on car rides, your paci, getting your diaper changed, going on walks.

Love you forever,

Mommy

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Month 2

Dear McKinley,

Month 2 came and went so incredibly fast! We had your Grandpa and Melanie visit at the beginning and we actually traveled with them back to Savannah. Melanie rode with me and you and we traveled the 8 (turned to 10) hour drive south. You actually did surprisingly well for your first trip in the car. We stayed with MiMi for about two weeks and your Aunt Mallory drove back to Virginia with us so I didn't have to drive you alone. When we were in Savannah you were able to meet the rest of the family and many close friends.

You were still colicky, but around 2.5 months we started to realize why. I realized that when I drank caffeine you would get stomach pains/gas, so I completely took caffeine out of my diet. Soon after this we read how dairy can affect babies if you are breastfeeding. SO I then gave up all dairy products. (I l.o.v.e cheese, so this was definitely hard) I was caffeine and dairy free and you were a whole new baby! You didn't cry nearly as much! The doctor also put you on some reflux medicine which also seemed to help. By the end of your second month, you were SO much happier! We also took a short trip to Savannah with your daddy for a wedding at the very end of February. You did great in the car and while we were at the wedding! You also started sleeping in your rock and play so momma got much better rest when you weren't sleeping on me!

Things you liked when you were 2 months old: You started to like your paci, being swaddled, bath time, laying on your changing pad, your rock and play, eating

Sleeping in your rock and play

Sleeping on Grandpa Finnegan

Your big cousin Cambria was so excited to meet you!

Your Aunt Mallory was too!

You loved your changing pad

One of your first smiles

We went on a walk with your cousins

And we went to the park with Uncle Chris

Your cousins Ezra and Avett giving you kisses

Bath time at MiMi's

When Aunt Mallory came back with us to VA

Finally loved your baths!

Love you forever,

Mommy

Month 1

Dear McKinley,

I am writing about your 1st month 3 months later, so I am sure I will miss many details but I do remember the big things. The first two weeks weren't terrible, but after that it all went down hill. Around two weeks you started to become very colicky. You would be up from 11pm- 2am just crying and nothing could calm you down. We thought it was gas pains, but we were never really sure. When you would fall asleep you wouldn't lay flat- every time we laid you in your co-sleeper you would wake right up! Eventually it led to you sleeping on my chest like a little tree frog. Every night. Every nap. To say I was exhausted was an understatement, but it was the only way any of us would get sleep. We ended up buying a rock and play sleeper (it was inclined) and you would sleep in there a little bit- eventually you came to love it and slept in it a lot-best 50$ I have ever spent. We eventually figured out why you weren't sleeping/crying non-stop but that doesn't come until you were about 2.5 months old.

Some things you didn't like at 1 month old: Bath time, being swaddled, a pacifier, getting your diaper changed.

Things your liked at 1 month: Sleeping on anyone, being bounced, eating

We had a lot of visitors your first month of life. It was also the holidays, so it was easier for people to travel. Your MiMi stayed with us for a few weeks- your Uncle Chris and Aunt Katelyn came to stay for a few days and your Aunt Tracy and cousin Reilly came up one day to meet you, too! Later that month your Grandpa Finnegan and Melanie came up to stay a few days.