6-9 Months ... but only 3 1/2?

I spent last night taking tags off a whole new set of clothes for Finley.  She has hit another growth spurt and her 3-6 month clothes are getting snug.  So, laundry was done and drawers unloaded and reloaded with 6-9 month clothing.  Yes, she is only 3.5 months ... a little ahead of schedule, but she is a healthy, growing girl! 

Finley is also back to talking again, which is refreshing.  I love listening to her talk, especially since Pappy only has another week here, it's about to get awfully quiet around here.  But now my girl is entertaining me and I love it.  She's so sweet and getting so active.  She did amazing with her head this week while on her belly - I couldn't believe how high she got it and it stayed for so long! 

By the way, for Christmas, Finley does not need clothes!  We need books and toys believe it or not.  She loves her ocean play mat and seems to spend all her time under it because that's all she has besides some stuffed animals, which does not excite her at this time.  Things that roll or make noise, or are different fabrics and bold crazy patterns she loves.  We've also been reading a lot lately.  I brought some books from school that I own (the classics: Stone Soup, Tortoise and the Hair, Elves & the Shoemaker, Cinderella, Princess & the Pea, Three Little Bears, Little Red Hen, etc) and we recently purchased some Dr. Seuss (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Ten Apples up on Top, ABC Book, Tooth Book, etc), and a few P.D. Eastman (Go Dog Go, Are You my Mother?)  We could use some Eric Carle or even more Dr. Seuss - there's so many to collect!

No news

Sorry there hasn't been any updates in forever.  Life has been rather busy and I don't see Finley much, so my time is spent soaking her up and it's been rather simple around here.  She's doing great  - talking a lot (although we can't understand her), she's increased how much she's eating to 6 oz, but only eating 5 times a day.  She sleeps at least 8 hours every night, sometimes more, but she's been doing that for over a month now.  She's working on getting better on her tummy - she needs lots of practice though!  She's still very happy in her car seat and sleeps most of the time she's in it.  I know I'm always bragging about her, but honestly there are no complaints when it comes to her except that I don't get enough time with her.  Being a working mother is definitely the hardest job in the world.  I would give up so much to be able to stay home with her and take care of her.  Luckily she has her Pappy a few more weeks and then the dreaded switch comes.  We're so blessed to have such wonderful people to watch Finley, but it's still not good enough.  So, anyone that knows of any legitimate internet jobs out there .... I'm available!

Gulf Shores vacation

My sister, her family, and my parents were gracious enough to allow Finley and me to crash their annual vacation all because my school system switched calendar dates that messed me up.  Brian had football mini-camp and I was not overly comfortable with being left alone for much of the day with Finley.  She's still a perfect angel and a very easy baby, but it can be a little exhausting having full responsibility. 

Anyway, we pushed Finley to the max with a 10 hour car drive (which she only cried for 5 min of) and many loud restaurants (and not quite on her schedule).  She exceeded every expectation I had for her.  Not that I want to continue to live that lifestyle, but glad she could make it all work.  We had a great time and unfortunately had to leave early so I could get back to work. 

My dad has moved in now to help care for Finley while Brian and I are at work.  That has made the transition to work SO much smoother than I know it could have been.  I miss her terribly but she's in the best hands possible and in her own crib and environment.  It's nice having company here also through Brian's crazy football schedule.  Makes me wish we had family close by all the time. 

We also bought Finley's first car.  I sacrificed my dream car, the Jeep Wrangler, for a family vehicle that is much safer for my baby girl to be riding in.  I got the GMC Acadia which I am extremely happy with.  It's a great vehicle and has so much space.  Once again, having my dad, the grizzly bear, as Brian calls him, here to help us make a great deal happen really paid off.  Couldn't have done it and felt as good about everything as I do, without his help. 

Jekyll Island Vacation

We got home Friday from our first vacation.  We met Brian's family on Jekyll Island for our annual vacation there, but with one big change ... Finley!  She did an amazing job being around so many people and in a different environment.  We even managed to go out to two meals, which was very frightening for me because Brian has always said how he would never take a baby to a restaurant and I wanted things to go smoothly so Finley didn't ruin him trying it out.  I even had a terrible upset stomach worrying about it ... should have known my baby girl would do wonderfully - she slept like a champ the whole time, both times!  We even managed to go shopping (outdoor shopping) and to the beach (twice!). 

 All dressed for the beach - bathing suit & matching hat - all SPF protected, of course!

Finley and Mommy relaxing at the beach!

 Safe in the sun tent that her Aunt Leslie & Uncle Garry let us borrow - THANK YOU JENKINS!

 Getting fed in her pretty Antigua dress from Grammy & Pappy  - kept her nice and cool!

 Out to dinner for the 1st time - horrible restaurant, but Finley did amazing!

 All dressed up with Daddy!

 Dinner by the lighthouse with Daddy - he loves his baby girl!

She has two more trips coming up before the summer is over - her cousin's 5th birthday party next weekend and another trip to the beach at the end of the month.  So many adventures for our little one, but that's our life! 

While on vacation, her cord finally fell off, so when we got home, we were able to give Finley her 1st bath, and being Finley, she did wonderful - no tears, no fussing.  Brian took over and I assisted with pointers - she is Daddy's little girl after all and I know better than to turn a willing to help Daddy away! 

After snuggling with Daddy all swaddled up in a blanket to warm up from our bath, we all enjoyed some play time with her toys and on her ocean mat - Thank you Loren & Matt Mathews for our playmat, we love it!

2 weeks old

Our baby girl is 2 weeks old today.  We visited the pediatrician for her 2 week update and had many questions ready to ask.  I was able to breastfeed Finley for the first 9 days, but then I seemed to quit producing and we had to make the switch to formula.  Making the switch when we did ended up being a good thing having my parents around to help with the transition and getting the "proper procedures down" as my dad would say :).  With the switch, Finley's body had to adjust and we had a few concerns that the switch went well for her ... without getting into details - needing poopy diapers and such. 

Anyway, Dr. Nave assured all of our fears away and we have a healthy baby girl who is up to 8 lbs 10 oz.  She's gaining as she should and looking good.  We're still massaging a blocked tear duct, but that's very common in newborns the Dr said.  Grammy & Pappy left today after we got good news from the Dr so Brian and I are on our own now.  Getting good updates from the Dr though has me feeling pretty good about taking care of her.  Brian's schedule is good too with football only Mon - Thurs from about 4:30 - 8:30 so I can handle that pretty well.  All in all, it's been a great 2 weeks and I'm loving life with our precious baby girl.

Welcome Finley Jane!

Our precious baby girl arrived AHEAD of schedule!  I love that she waited till I had a plan and then decided to make her debut on her own time ... which is what we wanted!  I'm so relieved that my water broke and my body was ready rather than going to be induced and have it all occur through medicine.  I was ready for inducing, but this was better and more fun for us.  Fun, until the medicine wore off, or whatever it was that went wrong.  I didn't plan to sign up for a natural child birth, but that's exactly what I got!  Now that she's here, I wouldn't have it any other way 

  She has been unbelievable this first week.  Her pediatrician visit went well ... all good news except for a blocked tear duct - a very simple problem to deal with.  Finley doesn't even fuss when given her eye drops, thank goodness!  In fact, she only fusses if she's hungry, dirty, or gassy.  She's been quite the dream baby, and I'm hoping this fabulous pattern continues.  Our only complaint is that she sleeps ALL the time!  We're trying to keep her a little more stimulated during the day to get her on a good schedule. 

Life with Finley is so much more amazing than I realized it would be.  I'm trying my best to relax a little more.  The first few days were a little rough trying to be perfect and have it all figured out.  After a scary little incident with some blood in her spit-up (I'm breastfeeding and had to work on positioning with a lactation specialist - got it all solved and good to go), I've felt much better.  Having my parents here to give me support and offer guidance has been unbelievable.  They're not getting to help with all the feedings and stuff like I think they thought they would be, but just the security of them here for questions and reassurance has been invaluable.  I'm a bit afraid of the day they leave and it's just Brian and me.  Then when Brian leaves for football each day and I'm home alone with her. 

If Finley continues on the path she's on, then every thing's going to be ok.  She's truly a wonderful baby and way more beautiful in person than in the pictures (which are gorgeous already!)  I'm so thankful for this wonderful baby and her terrific daddy.  Brian has amazed me already as a father.  She is definitely daddy's little girl.  He's there for every feeding with me, and he likes to handle all diaper changes and burping.  He's given up a few diapers for my parents, but he wants to be so involved and I don't want to turn him away from helping ... I need him desperately!  God has blessed me with a loving husband, a healthy and beautiful baby girl, 2 supportive parents, and a supply of family and friends that have blessed us with their presence and prayers. 

Cabin Fever

Brian and I have been going a little crazy lately with not being able to get out and go see anyone.  I wish family lived closer; instead, we've been having to improvise.  He was begging me yesterday to go to Tybee and I kept refusing because it was so hot.  Instead we hung around here and had the LONGEST day ever of trying to find things to do.  Today I gave him his wish.  Luckily it's about 45 min away and my hospital is about 15 min from it, so we took off for about 3 hours.  They had a swing on the beach where we spent the majority of the time just rocking and feeling the cool ocean breeze.  2 more days to make it through.  Thankfully my best friend, Loren, and her husband are in Statesboro so we'll see them tomorrow and then Mon we pack, go to Savannah, eat, and check in the hospital.  I can't wait!!!!