Yummy Sweet Potatoes and Carrots!

He ate two jars of baby food the other night! Here are some pictures of our messy little man!

Snot, Snot, Everywhere!!

So Daniel has his first real cold. I say real, because he had a sore throat for a couple of days a while back and I considered that a cold. HAHA, boy was I wrong! I feel so bad for him. I would do anything to be able to "fix" it. Brian picked up a cool mist humidifier on his way home last night and I got some Vick's Baby Rub. We are doing the "Saline and Suction" method and it seems to help a lot...for about 10 minutes then we have more snot! He is not sleeping well day or night. He does better if he is elevated so I thought his swing would be a good choice. It works during the day but at night he wants me to hold him. The past 2 nights I have tried putting him in the bed with me but he would not sleep. The only way he will sleep is if he is laying with me on the couch and that only lasts about 3-4 hours. Whatever works makes me happy. I am exhaused so I know he is! Brian has been such a big help, I am thankful for a great husband and dad!  My mom (Mia) came over and helped out yesterday so I got to take a nap. THANKS MOM!! I dont know what we would do without our families!

23 Weeks...

Our little man not feeling so well...

How Old? 23 weeks (5 months, 1 week 1 day)
Weight? Yesterday he was 13lbs 4oz. The doc said it could be partly the scale but he has definitely lost a few ounces. : (
Clothing? Still some 3 months and some 3-6 months! He is finally growing out of some of the smaller 3 months clothes. It is amazing how the sizes differ with the brands.
Sleep? He has been sick the last few days so sleep has been non-existent! He woke up about every 30 minutes last night cause he is so stuffed up he cannot breath. I held him and slept on the couch for about 3 hours and that was pretty much it. It is heartbreaking to have him feel so bad.
Best moment this week? Getting our family pics taken on Saturday
Sounds? He talks so much when he is feeling good. He actually was talking in he sleep the other night. It sounded like he was playing but when I went in there he was sleeping and talking LOL!
Toys? He loves this toy at Mia and Poppy's house. It lights up and plays music. He can also reach up and play with a few things on it.
Eating? He has now tried applesauce, bananas, peaches, prunes, squash, peas, pears and sweet potatoes.  His favorites are bananas and sweet potatoes.
Likes/Dislikes? He does not like Prunes or Squash. His favorites are bananas and sweet potatoes.
What I am looking forward to? Him feeling better and getting some sleep. It makes me so sad to see him feeling bad.
Milestones? Your baby may start showing signs of one of her first major emotional milestones — stranger anxiety. She may become clingy and anxious around new (and even familiar) people and may cry if a stranger suddenly approaches her. Keep this in mind when you're around people she doesn't know, and try not to be embarrassed when she cries in someone else's arms — just take her back and calm her down by holding her yourself. Tell your friends and family to approach your little one with slow, gentle movements. A case of stranger anxiety doesn't mean you have to avoid new faces. Your baby will benefit from being around people other than you and your partner. Just remember that she needs your patience and understanding to get through this very important stage of development.

When you were pregnant, you may have worried about whether your baby would bond with you. And now you may find that the two of you are so tight, she howls with protest if anybody else comes near — even your partner. When your baby rejects everyone else, it can be hard on them, and it means more work for you. That's why getting used to other people is an important part of your baby's socialization. A strong, lasting bond grows through regular day-to-day interactions, so encourage Dad or your partner to get involved in even the most basic baby care tasks, like changing diapers, bathing, and feeding. Have him carry the baby around when he's going about his day — and make time for play, as well. Keep your distance at first so your baby can't hear or smell you. One idea: Divide baby care chores so your partner handles the daily bath or the bedtime routine every evening. Expose your baby to friends and family, too. Try holding your baby while the other person talks and plays with her. Then hand her over to the other person and stay close. Eventually, leave briefly and come back. Repeat this step, making the interval you're away longer and longer.

First Professional Family Pictures!!

On Saturday we went and had our pictures taken at Portrait Innovations. It was a really cool place where the photographers use a hand held camera to give more freedom to the poses. Daniel did so well, he is at the perfect age to get good shots! Here are some, okay, quite a few pics!!

Wordless Wednesday!

22 Weeks

How Old? 22 weeks (5 months, 1 day)
Weight? 13lbs 14oz!
Clothing? Still 3 months!
Sleep? Gets up at 1:30am or so to eat and then 6:30 or 7 for the morning
Best moment this week? Celebrating Daniel's first Valentines Day, playing in the snow and going to Target without him fussing one bit. He even fell asleep in the cart!
Sounds? He seems like he is really trying to talk now. He will have a conversation with me and sometimes it sounds like he is saying "yes" or "no".
Toys? He loves his new little duck bath toy mommy and daddy got him for Valentine's Day. 
Eating? He has now tried applesauce, bananas, peaches, prunes, squash, peas and sweet potatoes. He does not like prunes or squash right now. His favorites are bananas and sweet potatoes.
Likes/Dislikes? He has been very weird with people. If they come close too fast he gets upset. He needs a minute to warm up. (this is mainly with men)
What I am looking forward to? Nothing specific, but I am always looking forward to seeing what new things Daniel does. 
Milestones? By the five-month-marker, your baby's senses of hearing and vision are almost completely developed. That name you so thoughtfully chose for him and have been lovingly whispering and singing to him for months? He just might recognize it as his own now and turn toward you when you call his name. He's eagerly taking in everything around him (assisted by new motor skills, such as confident head control and strong push-ups) and trying to make sense of it all (hey, how did that happen?!!). He's also trying to let you know what he's thinking and feeling. It's probably already pretty clear to you when he's uncomfortable, mad, or simply bored, since he lets you know by crying, kicking, squirming, or a hearty combination of all three.

He may also start to reveal his strong attachment to you and other beloved caregivers by raising his arms to request a cuddle ("Pick me up, please, Mommy!") or crying when you walk out of the room ("Don't leave me!"). So it's quite possible that he may be showing the earliest signs of stranger anxiety—becoming clingy, shy, and fearful around unfamiliar people. Don't force the issue — instead, warn visitors (even Grandma) that new people and sudden advances scare him, and ask them not to pick him up right away. Keep your little one cozily on your lap while he warms to the idea of another person giving him a squeeze (he may or may not eventually give in — and it's okay if he doesn't).

Has it really been 5 months?

Daniel is 5 months old today!  He is learning something new all the time and growing so fast. He will be sitting up by himself before long. It is just amazing how God created us to grow and learn. I am amazed by how Daniel has learned so much already. When he sees his bottle now he tries to grab it and put it in his mouth. The same with his pacifier. This morning I was folding his clothes and walked out of the room to put them away and he yelled at me as if to say, "where are you going". I talked back and said I will be back in a second and it was almost as if he understood me. He got quiet and started playing again. He also seems to know when we say "do you want to take a bath?"  I love being Daniel's mom, he is the cutest and smartest baby ever! (i might be a little biased)

I am proud to say he has never had a drop of formula no matter how frustrated and tired of pumping I get! That was something I really wanted to do and being an exclusive pumper is hard. You do not get the satisfaction of breastfeeding so the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that BM is best for him. I have said I was going to quit a few times but the next day I am better. Right now my goal is to pump until he is 6 months and then start weaning myself. With the freezer stash I have and how long it will take to completely stop I am thinking it will last until he is 7 - 8 months. Who knows at 6 months I might decide to keep going. : )

The last 5 months have been great!

Fun in the Snow!

We had a lot of fun in the snow! It was nice that he was old enough to play a little!


His Sweet Little Face
 
























Daddy and Daniel

Kayla and Daniel

Mommy and Daniel

Our Little Family

First Time Sledding!!

Wordless Wednesday!

21 Weeks!

How Old? 21 weeks (4 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Weight? 13lbs 4oz!
Clothing? 3 month! I am beginning to wonder if he will ever grow out of them!
Sleep? He has been getting up 2x in the night, but last night he slept from 7:30pm - 6:30am! It was great!
Best moment this week? The Saints winning the Super Bowl and getting to see old friends from high school and let them meet Daniel!
Sounds? Still the same noises but he has this "Darth Vader" breathy laugh he started. It is cute!
Toys? Anything he can put in his mouth!
Eating? He has now tried applesauce, bananas, peaches, prunes and sweet potatoes. His favorites are bananas and sweet potatoes.
Likes/Dislikes? Does not like loud noises all of the sudden. He jumps and screams. He has also been really picky with new people. He really LOVES his daddy now. He smiles so big when he comes in the door from work. He also really likes standing! I wish they had some kind of fake hands you could buy to hold your baby in a standing position!
What I am looking forward to? Taking him to Aunt Kayla's Child Development class today. They are talking about babies under 1 year. I love showing him off! 
Milestones? By now, your baby's physical developments are coming fast and furious. When lying on her back, she'll lift her head and shoulders as you reach to pull her up. If you place her on her stomach, she'll extend her arms and legs and arch her back. This is good exercise for strengthening her neck muscles, and it will help her develop the head control necessary for sitting up. When you pulled your baby into a sitting position a few weeks back, her head lagged behind her arms and shoulders. Now, she can anticipate the direction you're pulling her, and her head will follow right along with the rest of her body. What's more, her spine is straightening, allowing her to sit unsupported, which frees her hands for exploring, and she can pivot to reach a desired object. Once her back and neck muscles are strong enough to hold her upright and she's figured out where to put her legs so she won't topple over, it's just a matter of time until she moves on to proper crawling, standing, and walking. Until she can get into a sitting position without your help, you can prop her in the corner of your sofa or on your legs to steady her.


Your baby is adding new sounds to her language repertoire, and she may sound like a broken record. Babies this age often become so enthralled by a newfound ability that they get stuck on it for a while. This is normal — babies tend to master one skill before moving to the next. Hearing the same sound over and over can get annoying, but practicing patience now will prepare you for the endless string of "nos" and "whys" you'll be hearing from your child soon enough. Your baby may also watch your mouth intently when you speak and try to imitate inflections and utter consonant sounds such as "m" and "b."

Following a well-established nighttime routine, which might include a bath or a bedtime story, for example, may help settle your baby to sleep. It's a good idea to consistently "sequence" your baby toward slumber: Feed her, give her a bath, put her in her pajamas, play a game, read her a book, sing songs or play some music, then put her down. A beloved routine gives you and your baby plenty of time to connect and wind down. You may decide to alternate going-to-bed activities with your partner (you do the bath, he reads the story, and so on). Or, to give both of you a regular break, try taking turns, with one person responsible for putting your baby to bed each night.

Who Dat!

The Saint's won their's and Daniel's first Super Bowl!! We had a great time watching the game with some of our family and friends. Here are some pictures from the party!

My little man in his Saints gear!

Daniel, me and Kayli

Me and Daniel

Daniel already playing with the beads!

Using his Saints bottle for good luck! Looks like it worked!

20 Weeks!

How Old? 20 weeks (4 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Weight? 13lbs 1oz! He is so big!
Clothing? 3 months and he can still wear the newborn size shoes! He has tiny feet!
Sleep? LOL well, he was sleeping very well until Brian and I went out of town. He did great for Mia and Mimi. Now we are back he is up at 1 or 2 again! Oh well, I guess he missed us : )
Best moment this week? Seeing my little man after leaving him for the first time! I missed him so much!!
Sounds? He is laughing so much!
Toys? A wet washcloth, his hands, his play gym and he is starting to like his Jumperoo a lot more!
Eating? He ate bananas for the first time and seemed to really like them!
What I am looking forward to? Seeing what new things he learns over the next few weeks. He is trying really hard to roll over from his back to his tummy. He gets to his side easily but I have only seen him make it to his tummy once. 
Milestones? Even though crying is still your baby's strongest form of communication, he's also developing his sense of humor during his fifth month. He may start to laugh at pleasant surprises such as your face appearing from underneath a blanket or a toy popping out of a box, provided it isn't too loud or startling. Encourage your baby's laughs, giggles, and smiles with funny faces and lots of general silliness. Babies enjoy hearing a variety of sounds and you don't need special toys or instruments to provide them. Simply click your tongue, whistle, or make animal noises — your baby will love it!

Encourage your baby to experiment and play with a variety of objects. Something as simple as a clean cloth diaper might occupy him for several minutes. Watch him suck on it, hold it, and discover what happens when he scrunches it up.Give him a light rattle and see him delight in the sound it makes when he shakes it. An activity center or crib gym is a good choice for this stage, as your baby begins to explore the cause and effect of moving a lever and hearing a bell ring, for instance.


Babies see color from birth, but they have difficulty distinguishing similar tones, such as red and orange. (Babies can tell the difference between very different colors such as red, green, and yellow.) As a result, younger babies often prefer black and white or high-contrast patterns. At your baby's age, color differences become clearer, and your baby has started to distinguish between similar shades. Present him with a variety of colors in books, toys, and clothing.