Thursday, December 20, 2012

Irelyn {5 Months}!

5 Months, December 5, 2012
Sweet baby girl,
You are 5 months old!
Not sure of your "official" stats (no Dr. appt. this month).
Mommy's guess:
Weight: about 15 pounds
Height: about 25 inches
Diapers:  We've opened up all the snaps on most of your cloth dipes.
Here's what you've been up to:
You started noticing "strangers", Thanksgiving weekend, you cried at Papaw when he looked at you :(.  Silly baby.  You take awhile to warm up to people, but then you give your "DAZZLE" smile!  So beautiful :).
Nov. 27th (Mommy's birthday) you rolled from back to front!
Thanksgiving weekend- Mommy saw you grab your feet for the first time!
You know how to put your binkie back in your mouth, even though you get it backwards or sideways sometimes- you still "nom" on it- I think it feels good on those teething gums.
No teeth yet.
We can't keep shoes on your feet, you constantly kick your feet together like Dorothy...
"there's no place like home"!
You are belly laughing and squeal with delight!
You talk a lot, especially in the morning.
You have started smiling at the dogs and cat- you reach out to pet Aster when he rubs against you!
You anticipate being picked up and when you get a bottle.
You are sleeping in your own room now!
You LOVE baths.
You are putting yourself to sleep more frequently.
You still get up at least twice a night... SO fun for Mommy.
The car-seat is not your enemy anymore!
You smile easily and often :).
Daddy gets the biggest laughs out of you.
You LOVE when mommy's hair falls across your face- it makes you smile and coo every time!  Although, you are now grabbing mommy's hair which isn't so fun- luckily I have a tough head!
You are observing us eat a lot, and occasionally try to grab our plates.
We've tried rice cereal and are starting to get used to it, I think you like the spoon more than the cereal!
We attempted sweet potatoes once but they gave you a diaper rash.  We'll have to try again in a month or so because you liked them!
We're looking forward to introducing you to more family over Christmas!
Keep smiling baby girl :).

Love you Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

27 on the 27th

Yesterday I turned 27 on the 27th.
I thought that was funny.
The only time in my life it will be that way!
I celebrated by putting up Christmas decorations.
It was fun showing Irelyn the Christmas tree for the first time! 
She just stared and stared.  
I should have taken a picture but I didn't- I will have to do that soon, luckily she reacts the same way every time she sees the tree :).
I am now apparently old enough that I actually had to think about how old I was... seems like I just turned 25.  
Where did the last two years go?
I was looking through old Facebook pictures from college, and for the first time I thought "Wow, I look so young!".  
Yeah, it was a weird feeling.
Last year I was pregnant on my birthday, we just hadn't told anyone yet!
It was a special birthday having my baby girl here-
I look forward to celebrating her birthdays and trying to forget how old I am!
Here's to year 28... I mean 25 ;)!

A few years ago I had scanned some pages from my baby book into the computer.
Little me on my birthday when I was 4, 5, 6, and 7!  So fun :).

Monday, November 19, 2012

Irelyn {4 Months}


Sweet baby girl,
You are 4 months old!
Stats from your four month check-up:
Height: 24 in. (38th %)
Weight: 13 lb. 5 oz. (41st %)
Head: 40.6 cm. (40th %)
Diapers: Size 2 sposies and mid-snaps in cloth.
You seem to have evened out across the charts!
Although, I think length-wise your torso keeps getting longer but your legs seem to have stayed the same, I'm still rolling up your size 3 month pants!
We switched pediatricians this month due to insurance conflicts, and we couldn't be happier!  You smiled at her the whole time during the appointment, and then the nurses came in to give you your shots.  They had you grinning and then in went the shots and out came the tears!  Poor baby :(
So sad after shots, but so cute with your little Kermit the Frog band-aid and shoe-socks :).
This past month we have really been working on tummy-time and head rotation.  Your head has really improved and the Dr. says no helmet will be needed!  You still tend to turn to the left but not nearly as much as you used to.  Now you have a bald spot on the back of your head :).
Your hair has started growing this month, although most of it is in the back, you finally have some fuzz on top too!
You can roll from tummy to back if we get your arms up under you during tummy time- it's fun to watch your shock when you end up on your back! 
We have started "sleep training"... it is a process.  I lay you down for your naps while you are still drowsy to try to get you to fall asleep on your own without Mommy bouncing you or patting your back.  This has been successful a few times and other times I still have to pat your back while you lay in your bassinet.  The Cloud B Giraffe cousin Easton loaned us is working wonders at helping you get to sleep and stay asleep!  It is so cute to watch you hug Mr. Giraffe in your sleep :).  We have also started a bedtime routine (bath, bottle, story, bed) which I think is really helping you wind down at night, as evidenced in that we can get you to bed between 6:30-7:30pm every night!  Wahoo!
The downside is you are still getting up 3-6 times a night... which means some tough night-time sleep training is in store :(.  We'll see how that goes!

We roll up bibs or blankets behind your head to keep you from turning to the left!
The Kindle Pandora app. is our nap-time friend.
I think the colic has gone BYE-BYE.  You are not as fussy this month as you were the past two months.  It has been a gradual decline, but we are thanking God daily for that- the crying was driving Mommy and Daddy crazy!  We did find out from the Dr. that you are teething... at four months... which explains a lot of your current fussiness during day and some crying in the evening.  We can't see any teeth yet but the bumps are there.  Now we just try to give you things to chew on to keep you happy!
You went to your first birthday party this past month.  We drove down to Oklahoma for Easton's first birthday party.  The drive down was, let's just say, not fun.  We stopped six times (it's a four hour trip) because you kept pootering your pants and I didn't want you to sit in it in the carseat, and then you SCREAM-cried the last hour of the trip.  It was BAD.  Mommy and Daddy had pounding headaches by the time we got there... and Mommy may or may not have had a little breakdown at the end.  Ahh, the joys of parenting!  You did pretty good the whole weekend and you slept almost the ENTIRE trip back home so God heard our prayers for sanity.
Birthday boy!
Grandma getting smiles out of your cheeks :).
Grandpa cuddles!  So nice to have family to help hold you when you're being Miss Fussy Pants (look at that cranky face)!
You have started jabbering to yourself, when you wake up in the morning we hear you "talking".  You like to say "m's" and sometimes say "mamamama" even though I know you're not correlating that with me yet, it's still pretty cute!
You also have been laughing daily now, especially when Daddy is playing with you!
We LOVE hearing you giggle- it is the cutest thing!
Sitting you on our belly's always gets a laugh out of you!



Some other photos from this past month:
Helping Daddy figure out the new washing machine.
Napping with Aster, he loves you! 
Bath-time is happy time!
First Halloween
"Pirouette" the Beanie Baby Ballerina Bear
We didn't actually take you trick-or-treating, but it was still fun to dress you up!
Maybe next year!
Little Beanie Baby cutie :)
It's been amazing watching you grow and change this past month!
Here's to a new month... hopefully with more sleep!

Love you Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy

Thursday, November 15, 2012

So call me crazy...

I don't really like doing laundry, it's always just been another chore to get done... until baby came along.  

Call me crazy but I LOVE washing Irelyn's cloth diapers!  There is something extremely satisfying about getting something SO DIRTY sparkling white again!  The best part is always hanging them outside to dry and watching the sun magically fade the stains away *sigh*, I just love it!

All the pretty dipes on a beautiful fall day! 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Irelyn {3 Months}!!!


Sweet baby girl,
You are 3 months old!
We are not sure of your stats as your next doctors appointment isn't until four months.  I know you have gained at LEAST a pound as you are becoming more difficult to carry around everywhere with me!  You have also outgrown some of your 3 month clothes, and we have extended a snap on your cloth diapers!  Unfortunately you still don't like the moby wrap or the baby carriers we've tried.  They say baby-wearing is a great thing for babies and helps with bonding... but you just don't like it- that's okay, we're bonded for life baby!
You had your first out-of-state vacation this month when Mommy had a floral design class at the Teleflora Education Center in Oklahoma City (Sept. 29-Oct.3).  Grandma came along to watch you and Aunt Elissa and Easton met up with us too!  They took you on your first trip to the zoo and your very first dip in a swimming pool!  I wasn't surprised to hear that you didn't mind the pool, you've been liking your baths for awhile now :).
You have reached nearly every milestone for a 3 month old and are already advanced a couple months in some.  Here's what you've been up to:  rolling onto your side (usually your right side), almost doing push-ups during tummy-time, noticing and studying your hands, putting your hands together, noticing when Daddy and I leave the room (this is a 6 month milestone... and not so fun for us... no more sneaking away to get something done!), tracking objects, laughing, noticing and enjoying your reflection, and smiling at everybody!
One not so fun change has been reverting back to getting up twice a night.  However, you are going to bed around 9pm.  You have been colicky for about a month now, usually starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm when we finally manage to get you to sleep with radio static or the vacuum, good grief.  Mommy and Daddy miss sleeping!  
Mommy tried taking you to work one day during the week and she didn't get anything done, but you did help make a sale :).  I've been working every Saturday and Daddy watches you.  This has been great for Mommy and for Daddy- he gets some one-on-one with you and Mommy stays sane.
You are generally happy little lady (especially in the mornings) and we enjoy watching you become more interactive and social, this also makes Mommy's days more fun when you respond to the world around you!  Your smiles make my day!
Happy 3 months Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy



Monday, October 15, 2012

Irelyn {Weeks 9-14}

2 Months (9 Weeks)
10 Weeks

11 Weeks

12 Weeks

13 Weeks

14 Weeks


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Irelyn {2 Months}


Sweet baby girl,
You are two months old (9/5/12)!
You have GROWN:
Head: 14.96 in. (28th %)
Weight: 11.25 lbs. (60th %)
Height: 22.25 in. (43rd %)

We are noticing you have a long torso- you get this from Mommy :).  You grew two inches since your 1 month appointment, but I think it's all in the torso and not in the legs!  You have been wearing your 0-3 month onsies since the end of month 1, and are now starting to wear some of your 3 month outfits, the the pants are still a couple inches too long!  You have officially grown out of ALL your newborn clothes :(. 
Some days I can't wait for you to grow up a bit more, and other days I wish you would just stay my tiny little peanut!  

We conquered the never-ending diaper rash (you were allergic to the cloth diaper detergent... yucky).  We've switched detergent and you are now a full time cloth diaper baby!   You are still on the smallest leg snap of the diapers, but we've taken away one snap around the waist- in sposies you are still a size 1 :).
Everyone says how much you look like your Daddy!  Some days I can see a bit of me in you... mostly around the eyes, but for the most part you resemble Daddy.  I'm looking forward to seeing how you change as you grow and if you start to show more of Mommy in you!

Our nursing troubles seem to be over which is a HUGE relief.  You nurse 6-8 times a day and we give you a bottle in the evening when you tend to be more fussy and finicky with nursing (this also gives Mommy a break and a chance for Daddy to feed you).  We introduced the bottle to you at exactly 1 month and had zero issues- I was a little concerned since the nurses at the breastfeeding clinic said I might have waited too long and you might reject the bottle.  You did great and we haven't had any problems!  This is also a good thing as I've started working on Saturdays, which means Daddy can feed you with no issues while I'm gone- thank goodness!

You are a good sleeper... most of the time!  You slept 6 hours straight at night at 6 weeks, 7 hours at 7 weeks, and you did one 8 hour stretch at 8 weeks old when we were at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Newton!  Usually you go to bed between 10pm-12am (uck) and stay asleep until 6am-7:30am.  Sometimes you are super fussy in the evening and don't eat well, then you wake up at 4:30am for a feeding and I end up staying up with you for about an hour until you conk out again.  You take 2 long naps during the day and 1-2 shorter naps.  Some of our night-time helpers are the vaccuum, dryer, stroller, running water, and going outside- all of these things calm you down INSTANTLY and usually will put you to sleep when nothing else works!  You are good at falling asleep on your own for naps- the pacifier is a big help with this.  You also are a thumb-sucker which helps when the pacifier pops out!  Sometimes you will even stick your little thumb in the hole of the pacifier when it's in your mouth :). 

On another note, car rides are usually an adventure... you really aren't a fan of your car-seat and will cry and cry until the car gets moving- then you cry when we get to a stop light :(.  Sometimes you do great and other times you don't.  We are hoping this gets better as you grow and we take you out more.  Mommy REALLY wants to "baby-wear" you more in the Moby wrap, but you just aren't a fan of facing in, you like to face out so you can see what's going on!  We are looking into getting a different carrier for you.  

Another fun development this month has been your voice!  You are a super chatty little girl and will have conversations with us when we talk to you where you coo and smile and make sounds!  It is SO cute!  I kept waiting for you to laugh and you finally did on 9/19!  It was funny because you were wailing and I was talking to you trying to calm you down and suddenly you stopped crying, looked at me, and laughed (already showing a sarcastic sense of humor)!  Shortly after that you started crying again and we have yet to hear the laugh again, but I'm sure it will come out when we least expect it!

One big thing we've been working on this month has been getting you to turn your head to the RIGHT, you always favor your left side and unfortunately this caused you to get a mild case of plagiocephaly (a flattening of one side of the head).  Your ear was starting to get pushed forward.  You are great at holding your head up when you are upright.  The pediatrician told us how to stretch your neck to loosen it- you HATE this.  We've turned your bassinet so you have to turn to the right to see us, we also do more tummy time to strengthen your neck muscles.  Mommy moves your head to the right as soon as you fall asleep.  It is getting better and is not as noticeable, we will see what the Dr. says at your 4 month appointment, if he hasn't seen enough improvement we might have to get you a special helmet- which we REALLY do not want to have to do :(.

Your 2 month appointment was also eventful in that you had your first round of shots- 4 shots, 1 oral.  Two nurses gave you the shots at the same time so it was over with in about 30 seconds!  You cried and cried but Daddy held you!  Mommy was so sad for you!  We gave you baby Tylenol at the appointment and so you slept pretty good after that, but once we got home you had a breakdown and for the first time I saw actual tears on your sweet little face... that was hard on Mommy.  I knew you were hurting and your poor little legs were red at the injection sites.  Luckily once the second round of Tylenol kicked in you got better and slept. 

We have started reading to you more and you love it!  One prayer I've had for you is that you will LOVE reading as much as your parents do.  I have been impressed with you that when you were 1 month you were focusing on pictures, now you smile and respond excitedly when we read to you!  Your favorite book right now is "Peek-a WHO?"  by Nina Laden; it's a board book and the last page has a mirror which you LOVE.  I am excited for when you're old enough to really enjoy going to the library and story-time!

What a busy month it's been!  Looking forward to month 3!

Love you Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy




Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Monday, August 6, 2012

Irelyn {1 Month}


Sweet baby girl, 
You are 1 month old!
I can hardly believe how fast the last few weeks have gone!
You haven't changed a lot, but we can tell you are GROWING.
At your 1 month appointment:
Weight: 8 lb. 9.2 oz. (31st %)
Height: 20 1/4 in. (14th %)
Head Circumference: 15 in. (71st %)
You have gained over 2 lbs since birth and grown an inch, the doctor was very pleased!  We joked with the pediatrician how babies heights and weights don't necessarily increase at the same rate as head circumference- right now your head is big- but don't worry, we know you'll even out :).
Your poor little bum is suffering a bit from diaper rash but that is going away now that you're fitting in your cloth diapers (what do they put in those paper diapers???).  Mommy is relieved about this- she was getting worried.
So far you have been pretty easy on us, but nursing has been a bit of a challenge- we are slowly getting the hang of things... everyone says it takes time!  Obviously you are getting enough to eat though :).
Diaper changes are an adventure- you like to wait to "go" until the diaper is off... resulting in what we affectionately call "poo-shooters" who knew little girls could poo like that?!
On good nights you are giving us 4-5 hours of uninterrupted sleep which is AWESOME.
You seem to know when Mommy wants to eat as that's when you decide to wake up spontaneously... leaving my lunch sitting on the counter while I nurse you- silly baby.
You definitely know who I am and sometimes I think you cry less when other people hold you as they don't smell like your dinner.  
My favorite time with you is when you're drowsy or sleepy and just want to be held.  We love snuggling with you!  
Daddy loves to take naps with you and you like that he keeps you warm and toasty.
The dogs and cat have taken an interest in you, especially Aster.  He is ready to sit next to you first thing in the morning, he tries to sit on Mommy's lap while she is holding you, which doesn't work very well.  We are looking forward to watching what kind of relationship forms between you and the fur-babies :).
You are meeting all the milestones you should be for a 1 month old: smiling (sometimes at faces), following objects with eyes, turning head towards voices, holding head up for a few seconds during tummy time, making eye contact, and calming down when picked up... just to name a few!
We are looking forward to what next month will bring!
Happy 1 month Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy

Irelyn {Weeks 1-4}






Monday, July 9, 2012

Welcome to the world....

Irelyn Nadene Bookout
Born July 5, 2012 (her due date!), 7:15pm, 6lb 5oz, 19 3/4 in.

 Her name:
Pronunciation: (eye-er-lyn), like the country without the "d".

Meaning:
Irelyn
Her name is a combination of Irene and Lyn, Irene means "Peace" and Lyn means "Water", so her name means "Peace by the waters".
Nadene
Nadene is French, it means "Hope".

Why we picked it:
I heard the name in college on a TV show documentary about the Ferrill quintuplets, they named one of the girls Irelyn.  I've loved it ever since... and luckily DJ loved it too!
We picked the middle name Nadene in honor of DJ's mom, Esther- her middle name was Nadene.  I also love it's meaning, hope, which makes me think of one of my favorite Bible verses- Jeremiah 29:11.

 

She is so beautiful and being a mom is amazing!  We are enjoying every second with her- despite some late nights :)-  We are so blessed!
{Stay tuned for more pictures and her birth story... which I will post when I can find the time!}

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Irelyn Nadene Bookout, July 5th, 2012

For those of you on Facebook, you got a sneak peak of our big news, but for those of you who haven't we wanted to share the news! So without further ado, Gretchen and I proudly announce the successful, amazing arrival of our lil' girl wonder: Irelyn Nadene Bookout! Born July 5, 2012 at 7:15 pm, Irelyn measures 6 lbs 5 oz., 19 3/4 inches long! Mama is doing really, really well and is up on her feet after a long labor. I can't express how amazing both of these ladies are and how privileged we are to have such an amazing and positive experience!

The Great Beginning!