Busy Baby

Lauren has been a very busy baby lately. Even less napping than before, which wasn't much to start with. She constantly needs to be doing something. I told our pediatrician that she was eating 4 oz of formula every 2 hours. But the days that we left the house, she'd go 4 to 4.5 hours without eating. They explained to me that there is a thing called "bored eating." Great! So we are needing to plan more activities out of the house. Water babies will be a nice one! They did tell me to up her to 6 oz at a feeding and that has seemed to help as well.

This weekend she played a lot. She's strong enough now to press her drums and create music. These are some pics. She's not quite sitting up on her own but she tries very hard. We are going to try to sit her up with help of her boppy. The Bumbo seat has been great, but I don't think she's gaining much muscle because she doesn't have to work to sit up. But she really likes to make music and even acts like she sings during some songs! And she gets very frustrated when she tips over!

This is a pic of her in a snowsuit from one of my cousins! It reminds daddy of "The Christmas Story" and the bunny suit Ralphie gets from his aunt! It's been good for traveling in the jogging stroller which she is now able to sit up in. We toodled around the mall this weekend in it! So we have upgraded from using the cocoon in the jogger which has been a life saver this winter (thank you Hitner family!).

Our big 5 month old!

Last Friday Miss Lauren turned 5 months old! So with 6 months just around the corner and summer hopefully on it's way....we have signed up for a mommy and me Water Babies class in Corvallis at the Osbourn Aquatic Center. I've heard it's the best and since we have to commute no matter where we go, why not go to the best one! So yesterday we visited the pool and got into a Friday class at 10 a.m. that runs for 10 weeks. They instructed mommy that Lauren has to have a reusable swim diaper, so to make matters easy mommy bought one at the pool. However, it was a task finding her size. First they asked me how much she weighs....I said well one month ago she was 14 pounds. So they got out the size we assumed would fit. It was a small and for 6 month old. I couldn't get it over her badonkadonk! So we got out the next size and it cut off the circulation around her thighs!!!! So we ended up getting a LARGE which is for 18 months and 22-25 pounds. HUH? I think their measuring system is off!

"Uncle" Kevin stopped by last night and hung out. So Miss Lauren got to stay up LATE! She took about a 1.5 hour nap in the evening, but then stayed up until 10:30. "Uncle" Kevin said this morning "Does that kid ever make a peep?" I answered, "What! You didn't hear her whail at 12:30 a.m.??" "Apparently not," he said. Obviously "Uncle" Kevin doesn't have kids!

Miss Lauren in her exersaucer. She loves this thing!

Our giggling girl!

Last week Lauren started doing a really funny laugh/giggle. This video I did later in the evening. But earlier, she was laughing hysterically while daddy was holding her and mommy was chasing them. She also sat in her megasaucer and mommy did some fake Taebo moves at her which she thought that was REALLY funny. It's a blast to watch her personality come out. We were up early this morning to go to a chamber meeting. She's such a good baby and everyone always comments on how happy she is. Meltdowns happen though, especially when mommy is not in sight! There is definitely a temper behind that calm demeanour!

Snow in March??

Daddy and I had both wanted to take Lauren to the snow this weekend but we didn't have to look far. Both yesterday and this morning we woke up to snow in Brownsville! There was about an inch yesterday and today it was more frozen hail that had covered the ground last night. But it snowed this morning for a couple of hours. Just the normal wet valley snow that doesn't amount to anything and thaws before it accumulates. But Lauren liked to watch it out the window from her megasaucer. She thought it was funny.

Monday morning's snow in the back yard!

Miss Lauren laughing at the snow falling!

What is that?? Brrrr it's cold out here!

A girl after mommy's heart!

So our satellite hasn't been receiving ABC for the last 2 months (some dumb disagreement with DISH and Fisher Communications), which is disappointing to mommy because some of her favorite shows are on there. But Tuesday I figured out that they are on abc.com.....duh! So I spent most of the day getting caught up on Desperate Housewives. Lauren seemed to be enthusiastically involved! She even decided to get a bit more comfortable. All she needed was the popcorn. Don't worry she only watched a few minutes each time. But it was pretty cute. So far she likes Desperate Housewives, football (NFL or college) and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships). She also watched a few minutes of Horton Hears a Who yesterday. I think it was the bright colors and animation that had her intrigued.

It's been awhile....

I know I haven't been updating as frequently as I have been. So here's the update. Lauren seems to be hungrier lately, so we are transitioning away from breastfeeding. She's taking to formula fairly well. She went to bed at 8:30 last night and didn't get up until Daddy did at 5:45 this morning. She seems to be a little fuller. She's almost 5 months old now, which I wanted to make it to 6....but it doesn't seem like that is going to be possible. It will definitely be nice to start her on rice cereal and some baby food in another month.


Here's some photos of her after she fell asleep in her "giddy up". Poor thing was playing hard!





She's definitely growing and gaining more control of her hands. She giggles occassionally which is really cute. She still hasn't rolled over consistently, maybe a hand full of times. But really, there's no need for her too! Sometimes we have mouth-foaming fits....she's become pretty acustomed to having mommy within ear shot. Lauren's not sitting up on her own, but that's not because she's not trying!! She really likes mommy's water glass and busted her nose on it this last weekend. Not a happy camper. Still no teeth. And because she's not on her tummy a lot, she's not crawling. She'd much rather stand, which she does quite well with help.


Here she is trying to get to her toes! She'd much rather be sockless and pantless these days!

Weekend at the Ranch

This last weekend we headed to the Point on Friday morning. Daddy took the day off. The original plan was to go crabbing but high tide didn't happen until late afternoon, so Daddy wanted to get some fishing in. Uncle Kyle, Daddy and Papa put in some long hours and no fish! But it gave the family a chance to see how big Lauren has gotten over the last 2 months since Christmas.

Lauren and Cousin Sydney; Lauren doesn't look to happy to see Cousin Syd but she really was!


Cousin Sydney, Lauren and Daddy's Cousin Robert


Lauren and Cousin Sydney playing hide-n-seek with a diaper


Lauren checking out Cousin Syd's face; "Hey I know you!"


We found a wig that Nana ordered online for the upcoming Rotary Auction. A friend of mine recently showed me a picture of her grandbaby in a wig so I couldn't resist in having Lauren try it on. She looks like one of those silk hair Cabbage Patch Kids! Nana, Aunt Bethany and Mommy thought it was funny, but Lauren didn't! Daddy and Emmy thought it was creepy!

Mommy OR Daddy??

Ok, so here are some more comparisons and baby pictures of all of us! Grandma says that mommy is more like 7 months in this photo...but I don't think it's going to make much difference. Daddy is about 3 months. Miss Lauren looks a lot like daddy! Or at least mommy thinks so! You be the judge.

Mommy

Lauren

Daddy

Groves Look-a-like Meter

We are always asked who Lauren looks like more....well here's the scientific evidence she looks more like me! Just kidding! I don't believe it. I've done this a few other times with different photos of Lauren and one was 50/50 and another was 8% more like mommy. So I think she's a good mix of the two of us!

Four Month Appointment

Yesterday Miss Lauren had her 4 month appointment with Dr. Davis. She weighed in at 15 lbs 1.75 oz and measured 24.25" long. She is at 75% for weight and 50% for height and head circumference. So Dr. Davis is pleased with her progress and didn't see any need to put her on rice cereal at this time. She said she would rather us wait until her digestive track is fully developed and she's able to eat from a spoon. So at 6 months we will be ready for cereal, baby food and water. That will be a very exciting time! We do have to start vitamin drops which Lauren is not excited about! She had to have a couple of immunizations yesterday as well so today is a very sleepy day recouping from the exhausting day yesterday.