South Padre Trip

Today we returned from our yearly trip to the wonderful South Padre Island.  We had a great time and enjoyed some much needed relaxation and family time.

Some photos from our trip!

Happy 5 Months Benjamin!

Benjamin,

You are five months old today!  I cannot believe you are almost 1/2 a year old!  You are growing up right in front of our eyes.  Your personality has really come into full gear this last month!  You love to smile and talk!  You love to coo and are super talkative in the mornings in the car.  I look forward to you learning words and often wonder if you will be a little chatter box when you get older!  I can't wait!  I look forward to hearing your sweet little voice and sounds every day!

A little about you:

We know that you are 17 pounds 12.5 oz because we took you to the dr. this weekend because you have had a terrible cough... but thankfully the dr. said it is just a virus... no infection so just lots of love and care for you.  As for your bottles... you are taking 5 bottles a day and all are 7 oz.  We officially dropped your dream feed 3 weeks or so ago and it didn't effect you one bit!  You are still in 3-6 month clothes and have moved to size 3 diapers!  Your 6-12 month clothes are washed and ready for you any day!

When it comes to sleep you are doing excellent, except for the last 3 nights since you have been sick :(.  Our typical routine this last month goes something like this... Wake up around 7:15/7:30ish, bottle, change and out the door to Aunt Frannies, then momma goes to work.  You then play and take a nap and take your 2nd bottle around 10:15am, play/nap then 3rd bottle around 1:15pm, play/nap then 4th bottle around 4:15pm, play, them momma comes and picks you up... you take a little power nap on the drive home, then we play, take a bath and have your 5th and final bottle at 7:15 and are in bed asleep by 7:30pm.  You are a baby that loves your sleep and needs 11-12 hours of sleep a night!  Also, we broke the swaddle this last month and you have done great!  I was worried, but so happy you made the transition very easily!

When it comes to sleep you are doing excellent, except for the last 3 nights since you have been sick!  Our typical routine this last month goes something like this... Wake up around 7:15/7:30ish, bottle, change and out the door to Aunt Frannies, then momma goes to work.  You then play and take a nap and take your 2nd bottle around 10:15am, play/nap then 3rd bottle around 1:15pm, play/nap then 4th bottle around 4:15pm, play, them momma comes and picks you up... you take a little power nap on the drive home, then we play, take a bath and have your 5th and final bottle at 7:15 and are in bed asleep by 7:30pm.  You are a baby that loves your sleep and needs 11-12 hours of sleep a night!  Also, we broke the swaddle this last month and you have done great!  I was worried, but so happy you made the transition very easily!

As for playtime you have really started to interact and play with your toys a lot more this last month.  And since you started sitting up a week or so ago it has really enabled you to be able to play with so many more of your toys!  We love to watch you play and learn your new toys!  Your favorites are your barn house and the baby einstein music box!  Maybe that means you will be musical one day!  You also love your blankets and snuggle with them.

Other milestones and firsts this month included sitting up on your own, more rolling over from your tummy to your back and a few times from your back to your tummy, sucking/gnawing on your thumb, sleeping without the swaddle, dropping your dream feed and going to 5- 7 oz. bottles a day, and being away from momma and daddy all day at Aunt Frannies while we are at work.  You love being with her and have made a new friend in their dog, Gus!

Benjamin, so much has changed this last month and you have shown that you are so easy going, and are one happy little boy!  We love you so much and can't believe how big you are getting.  It is amazing to watch you sit up and roll over!  You amaze us everyday and are so proud to be your parents!

Happy 5 Months baby boy!!  We love you to the moon and back, Momma and Daddy!

Baby Benjamin: 20 Weeks!

Weight: We weighed him on our scale the other day and he weighed 17.5 pounds! 

Health: Benjamin is over the little virus he had last week and is one happy little boy!

Sleep: Baby boy has been doing excellent in this department this last week... back to sleeping through the night... and sleeping between 11 and 12 hours... goes down before 8pm and wakes up a little after 7am.

 Social: Benjamin has been super talkative this week!  He is just babbling away and has so much to say!  We also had a little play date with baby Ellie!  Love this photo of the two of them!!

Ben held her hand!!!

Diet: Momma's Milk!  And has been a hungry boy lately... the other day he took 10 oz before he went to bed!

Clothes: Mostly 3-6 months but some 6-9 and size 3 diapers.

Baby Gear Loves:  Bumbo Seat!  This little seat has been a great tool to help Ben learn how to sit up! And he thinks he is such a big boy when he sits in it!!!

Crying:  Ben has been a little fussy in the early evenings... I think he gets a little overtired and needs to 

LOVES: Ben loves to talk!

Postpartum:  I am officially back to work 100% and it has been another adjustment to say the least.  I love my job and enjoy the people I get to work with, but it is hard being away from my sweet boy.

Milestones:  Ben is officially sitting up unassisted and on his own!  He leans over a little after sitting up for a few minutes, but he has really good balance and can correct himself if he starts to lean one way!  He is growing up so fast!!!

Baby Benjamin: 19 Weeks!

Weight: Yesterday he weighted in at 16 lbs 8 oz... so lost an ounce this last week. 

Health: Our little man had a rash yesterday so we took him to the Dr. and they said it is a virus.  Nothing we could do just let it run its course and keep an eye on him and his temperature.  No temperature, but he just isn't himself.  Hoping he kicks this virus soon and is back to his normal self.

Sleep: Sunday night was the worst night yet... He just couldn't get comfortable in his bed so he ended up sleeping in his momaroo!  But thankfully he slept 11 hours last night and we are hopeful he is feeling better and will go back to his good sleeping routine!

 Social: This week my hubby's mom is in town taking care of Ben and they are having a great time playing and having fun!

Diet: Momma's Milk!

Clothes: 3-6 months and size 3 diapers and size 3 night time diapers.

Baby Gear Loves: Love the little taggie toys  He loves the stand up mirror Tag n' Smile Plushie Mirror!

Crying: Since he hasn't been feeling well the last few days he has been a little fussy... I think he is feeling a little better each day!

LOVES: Ben loves to smile!!

Postpartum:  Saturday night hubs and I attended the Chairmans Ball and enjoyed getting all dressed up for an evening out!  Also, I'm still pumping and started eating "Lactation Cookies" a friend of mine made (and is selling) in hopes to drop a pumping but keep my supply the same... not sure if it will work, but I'm going to try.  If you are nursing/pumping and are interested in the cookies let me know and I'll pass on the information to you.  I had my first cookie yesterday so I'll keep you all posted on how it has effected my supply.

Milestones:  First sickness and rash this week... very sad to see him not feeling well.

Baby Benjamin: 18 Weeks!

Weight: Yesterday he weighted in at 16# 9.5 oz!

Health: At his 4 month dr. appointment yesterday Ben received a great report of health!  Growing big and strong!  80% for weight and 85% for height... 26 inches long!

Sleep: Still doing really well!  Last week he started this new thing... he would wake up around 7ish then talk and babble for 10 min or so... then go back to sleep till 7:45-8ish!  We loved watching him in the monitor and listening to his sweet talking sounds!  He did have one bad night last week when our air conditioner decided to go out on us... so we stayed at my sisters for the night... but now he is back to his good sleeping and we are very happy!  And last night he slept 12 hours... I had to wake him up so we wouldn't be late.  I hate waking him up!  He is so peaceful when he is sleeping!

 Social: Ben is still very generous with his smiles and laughs, but has started to fuss some when he is held by unfamiliar people... he does warm up to them, but it takes a little time.

Diet: Proudly serving Momma's Milk!

Clothes: 3-6 months and size 2 diapers and size 3 night time diapers.

Baby Gear Loves: Anything he can grab and put in his mouth... including blankets!

Crying: He typically only cries when he is tired and or hungry.  But now has started to fuss when new people hold him... not sure if he is experiencing separation anxiety already... sure hope not.

LOVES: Ben loves to laugh!  And we LOVE to hear it!

Postpartum:  I have to brag a little bit... I'm officially under my pre prego weight!!!  I wasn't sure if I would ever get there, but I'm super excited I am!  I have also noticed I am starting to lose some hair... not fun, but I knew it was coming!

Milestones:  Ben continues to roll over and grab and play with his toys!  He also loves to put everything in his mouth!  I know I have been saying this for a while now... but I think teeth are in our near future!