New Sleeping Arrangements!!!

I put Summer in her bedroom last Thursday night.  She got up around 5:30 to eat and then I took her to my room to finish out the night since we had to be up in an hour anyway.  She did not give me any problems when I put her to bed.  She went right to sleep as usual.  She is pretty good about falling asleep on her own.  The next night she spent the night with Auntie Erin, and last night I put her in her room again.  She got up to eat around 4:40, but went back to sleep in her own room afterwards.  She got up around 8:40 this morning.  When I got to her room, she had rolled over and was looking at her mobile.  I like this new bed better because there are more things to entertain her here when she wakes up than in the pack-n-play she has been sleeping in since we brought her home.  If she does manage to roll over in the pack-n-play, she is usually under the changing table and I can't imagine looking at it is very interesting.  I put her down for her nap about 10:15 and I can hear her sucking her hands now.  It looks like this was one of those short naps she has been taking since we have been home from San Diego.  Maybe I will get lucky and she will take a long one later today.  Anyways, my baby is growing up...she's in her own room now and seems to like it.  Time flies by........

Summer's 1st Airplane trip - San Diego

Where has the time gone?  I have been meaning to post since we got back, but it seems like time is flying by.  Well, here goes.....

We went to San Diego on August 18 for Amanda's program graduation.  This was Summer's 1st trip out of town and on an airplane.  When we were in the airport waiting on the plane, she was a little fussy so I decided to go ahead and give her some Tylenol just to be on the safe side.  We boarded the plane and Summer started freaking out.  She didn't know where she was and was not happy.  So, I decided it would be a good time to feed her so she would calm down.  That worked!!!  As soon as she started eating, she relaxed.  Then she went to sleep, so that flight went pretty good.  We had to change planes in Dallas.  This flight was not as good as the first.  She slept about half of the flight, but then was a little fussy for the remainder of it.  She wasn't too bad and overall I would call the trip a success.  The flights home were even better. 

While we were in San Diego, Summer got to meet her grandparents for the first time.  They kept her while Clint, Amanda and myself attended the seminar on Saturday and Sunday.  She took really long naps for her Nona and I must say I am a little jealous.  I thought when we got back home she would take naps like that too, but they have been much shorter since we have been back.  Anyway, she was pretty good for them while they kept her.  They all had a good time together and I enjoyed seeing them dote on her.  Clint's mom would sing to her and play patty cake with her.  I even got a little of it on video so that one day when Summer is bigger she can see it for herself since I doubt she will remember it.  I got some good pics of them together too. 

In the evening when it was time for us to go out and eat, she was pretty fussy.  With the time difference (3 hours), it was already past her bed time when we were ready to go out.  So, she was a little fussy and wanted her bed.  But, we managed to get to go out to eat both nights with minimal trouble from Summer.  I had to hold her one night while we were eating and she started chewing on my hand.  It was the first time she had done that and it felt really weird to have her gnawing on me.  But, it made her happy so I just let her do it.  The next night I took her car seat in and got her to fall asleep shortly after dinner arrived at the table.  The car seat Mom brought for me to use had a rocking feature which was pretty neat.  That made it easier for me to "rock" her to sleep while I was eating my lasagne. 

We went to the beach on Monday which was nice.  Summer did not like the ocean water...it was really cold.  I put her feet in it when the waves came up and it got on her clothes and in her diaper.  She wasn't happy about this.  I don't know if anyone has tried to change a diaper on the beach before, but it is not easy to keep the sand from getting all in it!!!  I got her changed with minimal sand in her diaper and she was happy.  I kept a hat on her and tried to keep her out of the sun for the most part, but later that evening when we were walking down the streets shopping we noticed her cheeks were a little red.  I started feeling bad that I had let her get burnt, but there was nothing I could do at that point.  The next day it didn't look like she had gotten burnt so I was happy.

Overall, the trip was great.  It was nice getting to spend time with Clint's parents.  I know they enjoyed meeting their granddaughter.  Hopefully, we will get to go visit them in Las Vegas soon.  If not, I hope they will be able to make out here for Thanksgiving, Christmas or both!!! 

gotta love those naps

Well, my two are down for a nap right now (Clint and Summer).  She should be waking up any time to eat.  She was actually supposed to eat about 45 minutes ago, so I know she will be ready when she gets up.  I should really try to get her to start going longer in between meals...at least I guess I shouldn't always assume she is hungry at the three hour mark.  But, I guess I do if I really think about it.  I know sometimes she lets me know she is ready, but sometimes I am just ready to feed her.  Of course my little piggy always happily accepts my breast.  You can tell by looking at her she is not turning down any meals...LOL.  She is healthy and has her rolls, but she is not too big.  I really wonder how much she weighs right now.  My arms get tired when I feed her and especially when I try to walk around a store/mall carrying her.  I guess we will find out in a few weeks when she goes in for her next round of shots.  I must say that I am not looking forward to that.  It wasn't fun the first time and I'm sure this time it will probably be worse as she is much more alert than she was then.

I am starting to get nervous about our flight on Friday.  I really wonder how she is going to act and I pray she does not scream and cry the whole time.  I know how it is to be on a plane with a screaming baby...but I have never been the one with the screaming baby.  I used to get a little ill when the baby would not be quiet, and now that I have one I understand that the parents would prefer for the baby to be quiet...there just isn't a button they can press to turn them off.  It is more tricky than that.  I know from experience of taking Summer to restaurants.  Clint and I eat out a lot and it is not nearly as fun or relaxing as it used to be.  Now that Summer is getting bigger, she wants to be able to look around and see what it going on and she doesn't want to do it from her carseat!!!  So, when she starts crying and I can't pacify her, I usually end up taking her out and holding her so the other people in the restaurant can enjoy their meal.  I wish I could put her in a highchair, but she can't sit up yet so that isn't really an option.  Our anniversary is on Monday, along with my in-laws, and we are all going out to eat to celebrate on Sunday while we are in San Diego.  I am not taking Summer's carseat with us b/c my mother in law is going to bring one with her from Vegas so we don't have to worry about carrying it through the airport.  I am not quite sure how this dinner is going to work with the baby b/c I don't know what to put her in while we eat.  I hope it won't be my lap, but it just might.  I guess we will see how it works when we get there.  I'm not going to worry to much about it b/c there isn't a whole lot I can do.  She is already requiring more stuff than me and Clint put together for this trip.  We have her travel bed, bottle warmer, bottles, play mat, breast pump (well, I guess that is for both of us), diapers, blankets, and clothes.  I am also curious to see if they are going to let me on the airplane with frozen breast milk with all the terror alerts going on with the airports right now....oh yeah and the gas drops, Desitin, and baby Tylenol.  I don't know what I will do if I can't take the breast milk with me.  I guess I could try to give her some formula and hope she will take it.  She probably will since she never seems to turn away food, I just really don't want to give it to her for some reason.  I have this paranoia that if she doesn't eat on my breast regularly, they are going to dry up.  I know it takes a while for this to happen, but that is probably why I always feed her after 3 hours...just to make sure I keep that milk flowing.  Man, I am really rambling on today.  I hope I am not boring everyone, but these are just the things on my mind right now. 

We were up bright and early this morning to take Amanda to school.  I got Summer up at 6:35 and put her in her carseat and we were out the door a few minutes later.  She was awake and did not go back to sleep until we were working out (about 9:30).  But that was only for 10 minutes.  I put her down for her nap around 10:45 and it is almost 12:30 now.  So, she is getting a pretty good nap in.  She hasn't spent that much time with Amanda yet.  I think Amanda held her once yesterday for a few minutes in Wal-mart while we were standing in line to check out.  Then Summer spit up on her and she gave her back to her daddy.  She didn't like that her sister had done that to her and was still complaining about the smelllast night after she had changed clothes.  So, they haven't really begun bonding yet, but she has only been home for a day so I'm sure it will just take a little time for her to get used to her little sister.  Well, I want to get a few things done before Summer wakes up so I better get to it.

Unconditional Love

I really feel tht I know what the term undconditional love means now that I am a mom.  Having Summer in my life has really made me aware of how it works.  I love her when she is smiling and happy...even when she is fussy and crying, I love her to death.  There are no conditions on my love for her.  I hope I can learn to apply this to all those I love.  I think I do for the most part, but sometimes when things are not so great or I don't get my way, it is easy put conditions on things or get mad and not be nice like I should be.  There is that saying, "Treat others as you want to be treated."  It is not always easy to apply, but it is something I want to do more.  I think it will make my relationships with others...especially my husband...stronger.  Clint and I do have a great relationship.  I don't think I could ask for much more.  I know he loves me and I love him too.  But, of course every relationship has its moments.  It does seem like our love is growing more and more as the days go by and that is a great feeling.  It is pretty easy to unconditionally love Summer...although sometimes I do get discouraged.  But, all it takes is a little smile or coo to snap me out of it.  I would never be mean to her though.  It just doesn't seem possible to me right now.  Although one day when she is older I'm sure it will seem to her that I am being mean. 

Anyways, I am just sitting here listening to her on the monitor waiting for her to fall asleep.  It is time for her morning nap.  I really like this whole schedule thing.  Although the times aren't always exact and sometimes I am on the go, it is nice to know that she is about ready for her nap so I can get some things I need to do done.  She usually takes about 3 naps a day, and I don't really count them if they are less than a half hour.  5 minutes is not a nap!!!  She eats about every 3 hours and in the evening between her last two feedings, I give her some fruit.  Yesterday she had applesauce for the first time and seemed to enjoy it.  The only fruit that hasn't worked so far is pears.  I think it gave her a tummy ache, but I'm not positive.  I might try it again in a few weeks. 

Well, Clint just called and ordered some lunch.  He just picked Amanda up from her boarding school for the last time.  She is coming home to stay this time and we are excited to have her back with us.  I really want her to build a relationship with Summer, and I hope she does too.  She is 16, so we will see how they do with each other.  Okay, gotta get to that lunch before he gets home.....

Oh yeah, I didn't take many pictures this week, but here are the two I did take.  She got a swing from my friend and she seems to like it. 

Consignment Sale Shoppers

Summer turned 3 months old today.  We went and got her picture taken at Olan Mills.  They did a great job on her 2 month pics, so I went back...plus I had a coupon.  It was so hard to pic the pose I wanted because she took at least 10 different pictures.  I might get a few other poses when I go back to pick them up if I can get a good deal on them.  Before that we went to the JBF consignment sale for the 3rd time this week.  Today was the last day and almost everything was 1/2 off.  So I waited until today to get clothes for the winter.  Earlier this week I bought Summer some toys and a few movies.  She went with me all 3 times and Clint joined us the 2nd time.  The first time we went, we were there for 2 hours.  Summer was ready to go by the time I finally checked out.  She even took a nap for a little while during that trip and the one today.  After we went there and to get her picture taken, we went to the mall to shop for her sister some pants for school.  We did not find any, and all I ended up with with a tired left arm!!!  I left her stroller at home because my trunk was full of toys from my trips to the sale earlier this week. 

Last Sunday I put Summer in the Johnny jump up for the first time.  At first she cried, but after she realized she could stand up she looked like she enjoyed it.  She stayed in there while I showered and got ready.  She almost fell asleep in there and I had to check and make sure she wasn't choking herself on the side.  By the time I was finishing my make up, she was ready to get out.  So, now if she is up while I am showering, she is in the Johnny jump up.  Pretty soon I am going to try the walker, but I am trying to hold off a few weeks until we move since it is still in the box and will be easier to move this way.

She has been doing pretty good eating her fruit and cereal.  I think pears hurt her stomach, so I am not going to give her those for a while.  She really likes peaches.  I am going to try bananas again tomorrow.  That was the first fruit I gave her, but I haven't given her any since then.  I got a few plastic bibs at the consignment sale which are great because they don'tstain like the cloth bibs.  I guess I will just use the cloth bibs for catching drool which she is doing more and more every day.  I guess I better go put her clothes in the dryer before I go to bed.  Enjoy the pics!!!