Sleep Training: Step 1

I've been dreading this. Sleep training...it sounds so institutional, but it's the best way to describe it. I've been looking into the different approaches and Ferber is looking to be the best (as in most efficient.) So today Audrey and I went to Borders and picked up Dr. Ferber's book. Right now she sleeps in her Boppy bouncer on the floor next to our bed where it's quite convenient. When she stirs at night all I have to do is a) replace her paci b) restart the vibration or c) que the nature/heartbeat sounds. Sure it's a terrible habit, but it's helped me to realize that she can in fact sleep through the night and she does not need to eat every two hours.

We'll be starting mid-June when I'm out of school. I just don't know if we should put her in the crib and start Ferberizing that night or let her get used to her crib again for a few nights before starting the Ferber method. I'll take any suggestions!

Step 1 of Operation Sleep Training is complete- we've picked a method and have committed. It's going to take the next 3 weeks to get used to the idea of letting sweet Audrey Cate learn to soothe herself to sleep. I mean, look at this face!!

5 month photo session

A few of my favorites:

5 months!

What a big, beautiful girl!









I updated her 4-5 month page with adorable pics and video. Enjoy!!

That's My Girl!!

I recently came across some of my baby pictures. I don't have very many at all. We were shocked to see just how much Audrey looks like me:


Me


Audrey


Me


Audrey


Me


Audrey


Me


Audrey

Some strong genes I have!! But I have to say Audrey is much cuter...because she's got some Chris in her :)

Sitting Up....sort of!

Our new favorite thing to do is practice sitting up on the couch. She looks so freaking cute, like a tiny little person (ok, I know she is a tiny person, but you know what I mean!!)




I'm falling over...


Face plant!


But I'm OK!!

Randomness!

A potpourri of pictures if you wiil :)


Audrey prefers oatmeal over rice cereal. I think I'll wait a few weeks before mixing in fruits and veggies.


I love that she'll chill out pretty much anywhere you put her...the swing, the excersaucer, the Bumbo...which reminds me I need to pick up a jumperoo!


Her newest toy is a 6 foot long caterpillar that has the entire alphabet on it. We haven't decided on a name yet.


Nakey baby!!


Smiley girl :)

Next Sunday she'll be 5 months old. In a way time has flown by, but when I think back to those boring, stressful newborn days...well, it's about time she became more fun! She smiles so much. She still makes us work for a laugh though. I can't wait until Summer...I have so many fun things planned! I'm so lucky to have job that gives me 2 1/2 months off. Only 5 weeks to go!

Naughty Audrey!!!

She is soooo grounded!!



Is it just me, or does she look like she's talking back?



Back to being cute :)

Since when did allergies suck so bad??

I am miserable. I am stuffy, achy, my head feels like it's going to explode every time I move. My voice is completely shot (which makes for some creative teaching!) It hit me all of a sudden on Monday at school and by that night I was convinced I had the Swine Flu. I went to the doctor today only to be told it's probably allergies and they sent me home with a Rx for a Z-pack. My main concern was that I did have the flu or a cold, and was contagious...of course I was hoping that wasn't the case, but I feel totally sick! Since I have no voice it's pointless to go work and honestly I feel so awful that I wouldn't be able to make it through the day. I really hate missing school :(

Hopefully this passes soon. They told me not to start the Z-pack unless my symptoms persist for a few more days. I'll give it to the weekend. Damn allergies.

My First Mother's Day

It was wonderful! Last year Chris took me to Mother's Day brunch at the Mattaponi Golf Club. We were celebrating the fact that we were newly pregnant. So it was very fitting that we had brunch there this morning, but this time as a family of three :) He had to work the rest of the day, so Audrey and I hung out the rest of the day. The weather was beautiful and when Chris got home he snapped some pictures of us in front of the pretty flower bushes we have growing on the side of the house.









When Chris asked what I wanted for Mother's Day, I had no idea what to tell him. I did know that I wanted something "motherly"...something that would reminded me of my beautiful daughter. He picked out the perfect gift from Tiffany's:



It will also have Audrey's initials. I can hardly wait for it to get here!! Every time I look at it I'll think of my lovely Audrey and thoughtful Christopher. They are my life and the reason I'm a mom.

I hope all of the moms who read this enjoyed their special day!

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." ~Rajneesh

Solids

On Sunday Audrey had her first bit of rice cereal! It was so fun to put her in her highchair an slap a bib on her. How did we get here already?


Ready for action!




WTH?! Have you TASTED this??


Not so bad!


And of course we got it on video...click here!

Day two wasn't very successful. She was fussy and not at all receptive to my attempts (I was making funny airplane noises and everything!) So we'll just keep trying once a day until she gets the hang of it. It's hard to believe that one day soon she'll be shoveling food into her mouth just like her momma ;)

Happy Monday!

We hardly got any sleep last night....it seems like Miss Audrey was having some issues. She woke every 3 hours to eat and kept making these pitiful grunting sounds. Last night was the first time we tried rice cereal and I'm wondering if she was a bit stopped up. So, if you're like me and could use a laugh today, here's a cute video for you :)

AWWWWWWWWW

She does NOT like the song, "Love to Love You, Baby". This is what we get when we sing it:

4 month wellness check and photos!

Red, white and BEAUTIFUL!









Click here for the rest!

Her 4 month check up went well. She's 23 1/4 inches long and 12lbs 13 oz. She had to get 4 shots and she screamed so loudly! Poor baby. It took awhile for her to calm down, then she zonked out the rest of the afternoon. The pedi gave us the go ahead for solids so we might try some rice cereal this weekend. I'm excited to see how she likes it!