Sydney Kate || 8 Months

Here we are, another month older! Eight months old. They weren't lying when they said it flies by. We just fall more and more in love with you every day, Sydney Kate! As we get to each new month, I think that month is just my favorite. 

This month marks your first REAL sickness. I had to leave school, pick you up and get you to the doctor. Good news is, it was only a virus and was over in a few hours...but my goodness, seeing you so sick was a little terrifying for this new mama! We mainly just had a lot of fun hanging out as a family and loving on our little girl! 

Sydney Kate  ||  8 Months

This month...

*You went to your first birthday party. Our friend John turned 2 years old. You had quite a bit of fun. You played in John's "office" on the patio for most of the party and ate applesauce from a pouch. :)

*We had our family pictures taken. I love documenting every part of life and what a fun memory this will be to look back on us when you were 8 months old! 

*We had the Primary Presidential Election this month. We took you with us to the polls to vote! You were quite the hit in line and made a few friends. :) They gave you a sticker but all you really wanted to do was chew on my ballet, so when I took it away from you...well, let's just say that didn't make you happy

*You got to try out swinging and absolutely LOVED it! We were driving home one night and realized that they built a park right behind out house. We put you in the swing and you had so much fun. We've gone a few times since and you get so excited when we walk towards the park. I look forward to taking you all the time! 

*You are really starting to try out lots of new things. I usually will sit you in your bed while I get a bottle ready for bedtime and you sit and play with your lamb and bunny. Except, one night you figured out how to pull yourself up. You kind of gave me a heart attack, but at least nothing crazy happened and now I know not to do that anymore. :) 

You are probably about 17 pounds. (guessing) I thought you were about 16 1/2 last month, but come to find out at the doctors appointment you were just 16...so hopefully I'm close on my guess this month. You are still wearing 3-6 month in most of your clothes...and most of your clothes are from Gap which I've now figured out run really big on you. Old Navy's 6-12 month is a little big, but you can fit into it. You've got some 9 month clothes that are fitting you really well too. So in a nutshell, it just depends what brand you're wearing. :) You were wearing size 2 diapers for most of the month, but we ran out and moved you into size 3. They are still a little big on you, but we're making it work! You are getting about 1 bottle a day of breastmilk and the rest of the day is formula. I've been trying to make it last as long as possible for you, so we figured a little a day is better than nothing. You are still taking one nap a day, some days you will take 2, just depends on your mood. :) You are still going to sleep around 7:30pm and waking once in the night, then again around 6:00am.

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 8 months)

You wake up somewhere around 6:00am. The first thing you want to do is eat. Then you will usually play in our bed until I get ready for school. We get to daycare around 7:45 AM. At daycare, you eat your food around 8:30-9:00 then on a good day will take a morning nap, but you've been fighting that lately.  You'll eat more food at lunchtime maybe drink a bottle and have your afternoon nap. I pick you up between 4:00- 4:30 and we head home to play! You'll drink your milk again around 5:00- around 6:30 you'll have your dinner which is usually fruits or veggies. We start your bedtime routine between 7:00 to 7:30 and you're usually sound asleep by 8:00. Once you're down, you may wake up between 10- 12 but if you don't you'll sleep through the night!

Happy 8 Months, baby girl! We love you so much!!

Sydney Kate || 7 Months

M

Hey there, cutie pie! I know I say this every month, but I can't believe you are seven months old!! This has been such a fun month watching you learn and grow. I think watching you figure things out is my current favorite thing. 

This month has been pretty low key. We've been able to get back into a routine (Praise the Lord!) and enjoy every second with you. Gigi, Aunt Lindsey, Harper and Hudson came to visit us and we had so much fun. Other than that...it was pretty much school, playing at home and shopping (I think) every single weekend. I think the relaxation is just what we all needed! 

Sydney Kate || 7 Months

This month...
* You began eating solids. Your first food was avocados and you loved it. We started with eating 2 times a day and you are currently eating 3 times a day. So far you've tried peas, carrots, butternut squash, green beans, bananas and your favorites sweet potatoes and pears.

* You say "dada" all. day. long. It's the cutest thing ever. You are starting to associate with your dad and you already know that makes his heart melt every single time. I kind of think you may be calling me dada as well...but we'll learn mama soon!

* We moved your bathtub from the counter to the big bath tub. You can splash and play all you want and it doesn't look like a hurricane just hit. You still love your rubber ducks big time!

* You can go from sitting to standing while holding onto my hands. You'll even take a few steps when we're holding you...and lean against the couch or coffee table. (Still not showing ANY signs of trying to crawl)

* You really got back on a sleeping schedule and I couldn't be any more excited about that! Some nights you will wake up sometime between 10-12 but you'll go right back to sleep...no complaints over here!

* You had your first sick day.  We had to stay home from daycare with a little stomach bug


You are around 16 1/2 pounds I'm guessing. You are still wearing your size 3-6 month clothes and will probably continue to do so for a while. The next size up at Gap is HUGE on you! You are wearing size 2 diapers. We are in our last box of them so we will move you up to size 3 when they are done. You are getting 1-2 bottles a day of breastmilk and the rest of the day/night is formula. We are winding down on the breastfeeding. The goal is to make it another month or two..I still enjoy our times in the night and on weekends :) You've really redeemed yourself in the sleeping department. You are taking 1-2 naps a day, going to sleep around 7:30, maybe waking up once in the night and if not you're sleeping until about 5:30-6:00am.

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 7 months)

You wake up between 5:30-6:00am. The first thing you want to do is eat. Then you will usually play in our bed until I get ready for school. We get to daycare around 7:45 AM. At daycare, you eat your veggies around 8:30 then on a good day will take a morning nap. You'll eat more veggies at lunchtime maybe drink a bottle and have your afternoon nap. I pick you up between 4:00- 4:30 and we head home for some quality time with our baby girl. You'll drink your milk again around 5:00- around 6:30 you'll have your dinner which is usually vegetables with a little oatmeal mixed in. We start your bedtime routine between 7:00 to 7:30 and you're usually sound asleep by 8:00. Once you're down, you may wake up between 10- 12 but if you don't you'll sleep through the night!

I love you, my beautiful baby girl!!! 

Sydney Kate || 6 Months

Hello from the outside...

SIX Months! What?!? Half a year gone by. 184 days and I can't seem to remember what exactly I did before you. You have made my world more than complete, Sydney Kate. Man, I still can't believe you are mine. I love you more than you'll ever know!!!  OK, ok...on to this months happenings. 

The biggest adventure this month was that you and I took a TWO WEEK trip to Oklahoma! Daddy had to work, but came to visit us on the weekends. Two weeks of being off schedule, naps in your car seat, non stop shopping and so much fun with our family. Let me not forget your favorite...you got to sleep with me at Gigi and Papa's house. My biggest mistake, but you loved it. I soon learned I created a monster and I would regret this decision big time. Whoops. Lesson learned. We celebrated all the Christmas festivities with our families and enjoyed every second! You were a big fan of the paper on your presents and got some really cool clothes and toys! Santa must've known you'd be graduating into a bigger car seat soon and brought you the next seat up from the one you love now. We were in Oklahoma for your first snow! It wasn't much, but we bundled you up and you were very amused by the little snowflakes! Gosh, what else? Your first New Years Eve party, OSU bowl game party, and tons of fun in between! 

Sydney Kate  ||  6 Months

This month...

*You perfected sitting up. It came out of nowhere (no longer the front lean) and you owned it immediately. You have such great balance and posture! 

*You love your voice and want the world to hear it. You have such expression when you "talk" and love to mimic our sounds. 

*You said your first words. Dada and Nana. Daddy was on cloud nine that you said his name first and with such sadness. He of course will drop anything and come to your rescue the second he hears his name. Nana, your Aunt Natalie believes, is you saying Natalie. She loved hearing her name as well. 

*You started eating cereal. We started you out on Oatmeal and you love it.

*You also started siting in your high chair. 

*Your sleeping pattern (at night) is not my friend. I've never missed sleep so much! If I tried really hard to find some sort of pattern (and this is hard) I'd say you're waking about twice a night.  -we'll talk more not this later. :)

You are 15lbs 13oz (44th percentile) and 25 3/4 inches long (41st percentile) According to your doctor, you are still perfect. You are still comfortably wearing size 3-6 month clothes- which is great because you've got an abundance of 6-12 months clothes but it would eat you up if you had to wear it anytime soon! We are still in size 2 diapers. You are still getting breastmilk during the day and formula at night. We started oatmeal at night, but it really hasn't taken the place of a feeding...mainly just for fun at this point. You love to sleep in your car seat and I don't blame you...it's the most comfortable thing ever! (big reason Santa brought you the next size up!) You've become quite the little shopping buddy. We usually spend our weekends shopping somewhere and you are always a trooper! Sleeping. Maybe its a 3-6 month regression, maybe its the total inconsistency of your little life with all the traveling we've done. Something has taken my 11-12 hour sleeper and made you not want to sleep. Remember earlier when I said I let you sleep with me? Yeah, I'm STILL paying for that. I really have started praying we can get you back to normal, even if its waking once in the night. I can live with that. 4-5 times, I just can't. :/

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 6 months)

You are waking up anywhere between 4:00-7:00am! (depending on how our night went) You eat, get dressed and play a little bit before we go. We usually try to leave the house between 7:00-7:15 each morning to get to school. At daycare, you love to play with the other kids there. Since we've returned from the holidays, you have decided you like your morning nap again. You sleep about an hour in the morning and 2 1/2-3 hours in the afternoon. I pick you up between 4:00-4:30 and we head home to cuddle and play! You eat about 4 oz soon after we are home. We eat cereal around 6:00 each night...then you play a little while longer. We start your bedtime routine (eat, bath, book, sing, sleep) around 7:00pm. I'm currently experimenting with maybe keeping you up a little later to see if that will help. I'll update that next month. You are taking a little longer to go down in your crib these days. Hence, you'd rather be held than sleep in a crib. Once you go down, you're waking up around 10:30pm and 4:00am (sometime 1:00am also) That 4:00am wake up is the worst...its the last hour and a half before my alarm goes off. If I can get you back to sleep quick you'll sleep until 5:30 or 6:00...if it takes a while, you'll sleep until I wake you around 6:45. 

I'm trying so hard to slow down and enjoy every single moment because this is all going by entirely too fast! Oh, my beautiful girl! I love you so!!! 

Sydney Kate || 5 Months

Sydney Kate, you are FIVE months old!! This month flew by...Thanksgiving, traveling, and getting ready for Christmas...whew! You are such a blessing to daddy and I. We love you so much, sweet girl!

We had so much fun this month! We went to Tulsa for 10 days! We went to your first Affair of the Heart craft show and you were a perfect angel for all 6 hours of shopping! We had Thanksgiving #1 at Eufaula Lake then drove to Shawnee to have Thanksgiving #2 with the other side of the family. You were so cute in your little Thanksgiving outfit. :) Another awesome thing that happened this month was that you met your cousin Ella Kate. She brought you a Sofia the First bracelet for the Kate Club. And I can't forget Tyson, he turned 15 years old on the same day you turned 21 weeks old. 

Sydney Kate  II  5 Months

This month...

* You love talking with us and it really feels like we're having a conversation. You are so expressive in your talking. 

* You have just about mastered sitting up. As long as my feet are around your thighs, you stay up just fine...and I think you really enjoy sitting up as well

* You still love books...you decided you loved putting them in your mouth more so than reading this month.

* Still no teeth, but they've got to be coming soon! You're still drooling like crazy and chewing on everything!!

* You transitioned from your Pack N Play to your crib. It took about a week, but you got used to it pretty quick.

*  You have become very inconsistent with your sleeping. You spoiled us with sleeping through the night the first 2 months... most nights you get up once in the night, other nights its 2-3 times.

* You love your bouncer! It's so fun to watch you bounce around in that thing and play with the toys.

* You met Santa twice. You loved him both times...especially his beard! 

{3:00am party face}

You are about 14 1/2 pounds by now. You started wearing your 3-6 month clothes this month. They were still pretty big on you at the beginning of the month, but by the end fit you just right! We also moved to size 2 diapers! What a big month of growing and changing sizes!! You continue to drink breast milk during the day and formula at night. Except for weekends or vacations, then we are more breastmilk than formula. I don't know what to say about your sleeping. You have turned into a day by day girl when it comes to that. I tried the sleep training, but your daddy just can't stand hearing you cry and comes to your recuse immediately. We'll figure out this sleeping through the night thing eventually. You prefer to look out if you are being held. (or standing and bouncing) You are so observant and constantly want to check everything out! 

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 5 months)

You wake up around 6:00am each day and come and hang out in mommy and daddy's bed while I get ready. Then we eat and go to your closet and pick out your outfit for the day. We are usually at Ms. Patsy's by 7:30 each morning. You started the month with a morning and afternoon nap, but by the end, you decided you didn't really need that morning nap anymore. You usually eat 12 oz at daycare. I try to pick you up between 4:00-4:30 each day. We play and cuddle when we get home, then go eat. You usually eat about 4 oz around 5-5:30. We moved your bedtime up in hopes you'd sleep a little longer...You now are eating 6oz around 7:00pm, then taking a bath and getting ready for bed. The little change in our night time routine went flawlessly. I now hold and sing to you until you fall asleep (usually less than 5 minutes) then put you in your crib. On average, you're waking up around midnight to eat but then you'll go back to sleep. 

We are so thankful for you! No one could've ever warned me how much I would fall in love with you. Seriously, I want to kiss on your face all day long!!! Lucky for you, it looks like you'll have 5 million pictures to remember how cute you are! I don't care...I just can't keep the camera away from you! You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!!! 

4 Month Favorites

Now that we're really getting the hang of having a baby, I thought I'd share Sydney's favorite things   at 4 months old. (ok, some are more my favorite than hers) But regardless, these are things we are using all the time. 

One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six / Seven 

One: We call this her monkey. We've used this thing since day one! It's been a lifesaver when you have to do something and can't hold her. (shower/ dishes/ getting ready/ etc) The chair itself is comfy and the little monkeys hanging from the top keep her entertained. 

Two: The Activity Mat. Not only is this thing adorable, Sydney loves it. We got it out for her around 2 months and it's a daily activity for us. Great for play time and tummy time

Three: This is more my favorite than hers...Essential Oils!!! My sisters swore by these things so I got the starter kit soon after Sydney was born. We use the lavender mixed with coconut oil each night on her feet. I think it's really helped in her bedtime routine and getting her to sleep in no time at all. I was completely sold when she came home from daycare with her first runny nose. We diffused RC at night and it was gone in a few days (with the help of saline spray and the Nose Frieda)

Four: Sweet N Swag Moccasins. I love moccasins on little baby feet. I had a few ready for her before she was born but then realized she has very narrow feet and none of them fit her right. I found the moccs at a boutique in Tulsa (The Mustache) and fell in love. They fit perfectly on her little feet.

Five: Zip up footie pjs. Whoever invented the zipper instead of the snaps was a genius. I never want the snap pj's again! We love these from Old Navy. They are so soft and easy to put on and take off and not to mention adorable.

Six: We just got the jumper out a few weeks ago and she is loving this thing. She loves to stand and bounce so we knew she'd have a great time. It's so fun to watch her get so excited for spinning a wheel or pushing the music button.

Seven. The Nose Frieda.  I'm not going to lie, I thought this was the grossest thing ever and wasn't positive I'd actually use it. Well I did and it's not bad at all. Actually I think its the best thing ever. When we were dealing with a runny nose, it really cleared her nose out.

Sydney Kate || 4 Months

Happy 4 Months, Sydney Kate! This has been such a fun month watching you grow! And man, have you grown!!! We just fall more and more in love with you each day.

We had a lot of fun this month! We took a quick weekend trip to Oklahoma so we could go to the Pumpkin Patch with the family. We picked a cute little pumpkin out for you and took tons of pictures. We had tons of fun with the family. You have been so happy this month. You hardly ever cry. I think your (silent) reflux is just about completely gone, which helps with your happiness. :) Your first Halloween and you were the cutest flamingo ever! We got you dressed up, went to Chipotle for dinner than came back and handed out candy. Everyone who came over couldn't stop talking about how cute you were! 

Sydney Kate  ||  4 Months

This month...
* you really developed an interest in books. You love looking at the pictures and being read to
* you're still talking to us. We have "conversations" in the car all the time and you make the funniest sounds...like you're really trying to tell me something. I love it!
* we dressed alike for the first time. We wore our Mama/ Little shirts and I loved it...I'm sure you did too!
* you got sick for the first time. Not really sick, but you definitely had your first runny nose and were congested! Nothing a little saline spray, the nose frieda, and some RC in the diffuser couldn't handle.
* you rolled over from your back to your stomach in your pack n play. You only did this one night and probably because I swaddled you with one arm out, but regardless, you did it!
*you're still loving your activity mat! Daddy just put together your bouncer and you LOVE that too!
* you're still drooling a lot...but the doctor says no teeth anytime soon!
* you survived your first time change. I tried to keep you up later the week before to help with the transition, so either that worked or it didn't phase you one bit.

You are 13 lbs 9 oz (37th percentile) and 24 1/4 inches long (38th percentile) You still comfortably fit into your 0-3 month clothing but I am transitioning you into 3-6 months even though they are still a little big...mainly because its getting cooler and it's time to put the summer clothes away. It made me really sad to put away you're NB and 0-3 month clothes in the rubbermaid. You're growing so fast! You are still wearing size 1 diapers, but probably only for a few more days. We've decided when this pack is done, you're starting size 2. You are still drinking breastmilk during the day and formula at night. The formula seems to keep you full a little longer. This month brought on the 4 month sleep regression. Pretty much this entire month you've decided sleeping 10-11 hours at night wasn't your thing. You're waking up in the night sometime between 1-3am and eating, then you'll sleep until my alarm goes off. You love to stand and bounce. People tell us all the time they just can't believe how strong you are! You can sit assisted or leaning against something. You've even held a front leaning sit for 45 seconds all on your own (Gigi witnessed this on FaceTime) 

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 4 months)

You wake up between 5:30-6:30 each morning (depending on when you got up in the night) and eat. You lay with your daddy for a little bit while I get ready. You've started falling asleep on his chest and you really love that...so much I think that's why you're not wanting to stay in your pack n play in the mornings. :/  After I'm done, I get you dressed for the day and we head out to school. You are usually eating around 12 oz while you're at day care and taking two 2-3 hour naps. I try to pick you up as soon as I can leave school around 4:00 and we come home. We love to cuddle not he couch and then you're hungry again around 4:30-5:00. After eating, you play on your Activity Mat or in the Jumper and cuddle some more. You'll usually fall asleep while we hold you for a short cat nap in the evening. You eat again between 7:00-7:30, then we just relax before bedtime. Our 8:00 bedtime routine is still going strong. You fall asleep pretty quickly and are out until that middle of the night wake up. :)

You are seriously the best thing ever. For real...You're everything I never knew I always wanted. Everything. Love you, sweet girl!

Sydney Kate || 3 Months

My baby girl! You are THREE months old! How is that even possible?! I feel like just yesterday I was sitting in the nursery anxiously awaiting your arrival. There's no way I could even fathom how much love you've brought to my life. 

This month brought on a lot of firsts for you. Starting out with our first road trip. Just me and you! (and Tyson) We got to spend a week in Oklahoma staying with Gigi and Papa. On our way there we stopped so you could meet your Aunt Seyanna and all your cousins. You did great the whole time we were there, although this was the week I realized you totally know who your mama is and you want me near by. :) According to the Wonder Weeks app, you were going into your 3rd leap so maybe that had something to do with it. While we were in Oklahoma, you got to visit so many people. We had our big family dinner and saw the whole gang at once, then we spent the week making visits to your great grandma and grandpa and all your aunts and uncles. On the way home we met daddy and got to meet your grandma and pops. You were a perfect angel the whole time we were there and they just loved you to pieces! You also met your Uncle Fred this last weekend. He couldn't get enough of you while he was in town. 

We started daycare this month and I went back to work. This is you on your first day...all smiles and 11 weeks old! The first day was the stereotypical drop off...you cried (because you wanted out of your carseat) and I just wanted to hold you, but Ms Patsy sent me on to work and I cried the whole way. You did great and since that first day have either been so happy at drop off or sound asleep. Daycare has really gotten you on a great schedule. You really only take a day or two to get used to a new routine and then you have it down pat. You're such a great baby. 

Sydney Kate  ||  3 Months

This month you've...

*started smiling all the time. You started last month, but this month you are consistently smiling at us all the time

*started talking to us. (baby talk, that is) We just have full out conversations and you act like you totally understand us. 

*rolled over! From your tummy to your back. You don't do it all the time just yet but you've done it 10 times or so. 

*started drooling a lot! I'm not sure what's going on in that mouth of yours, but somethings started. Aunt Natalie sent you a teething necklace, its still a little too big but you'll be wearing it in no time and hopefully it will slow down all the drooling. :)

*had your first trip to the State Fair of Texas. You did great! I ended up putting you in the Moby wrap and you loved looking around. 

*seen your first baseball game. Lucky us, it was the game the Rangers won the West Division. You must be their good luck charm

*worn your first pair of shoes. You're little feet are so narrow, a lot of shoes don't fit you...but we've fallen in love with SweetNSwag moccasins, they fit you just right.

*started grabbing at toys and playing with them. You love playing on your activity map and your pink elephant. You also love staring at yourself in the mirror. :)

I'm guessing, but you are probably around 12 lbs. We didn't go to the doctor this month so we're having to get creative on how to weigh you. Although, according to Gap, you should be able to wear 3-6 months at 12lbs and they are still really big on you so maybe you're a little smaller. You are still fitting perfectly in your 0-3 month clothing and size one diapers. We really love Honest diapers...not only because they're so cute, but they seem to fit you the best and hold everything in. :) You are drinking breastmilk all day and then we give you formula at night and first thing in the morning. I'm really only nursing you when we get home from school and before bedtime. (and on the weekends of course) You do such a great job of going back and forth. You are still sleeping in the pack n play in our room. I originally thought we'd transition you by now, but with your silent reflux, I've liked having you near by. Speaking of, your reflux really seems to be getting better. You really are only coughing when you get upset these days. You have really gotten a lot better about your carseat. You still may cry a little when we put you in, but as soon as the car starts moving you are content (or asleep) You still may let out a little cry if we're sitting at a red light but it doesn't last long. You are SO strong, Sydney Kate! You've had amazing neck/head strength since day one. You can sit up with something propping you up. You'll stay put for a second and then slowly fall over. You love standing up on our lap and bouncing. We should really get your bouncer set up so you can play in that too. 

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at three months)

You wake up anywhere between 5:30-6:30 and eat 4 oz of formula. (although this last week, you've been waking up around 4:30 and sleeping until its time to go around 6:45) You love to talk and smile with us in the mornings. We get dressed and head out around 7:00am. We get to daycare around 7:30 each morning. If you are asleep when we get there you'll usually sleep until 9:30am or so...but if you're awake you'll take a nap around 8:30-9:30. You wake up and eat, then play until 11:00-11:30. You'll go to sleep for about an hour, wake up and eat again around 12:30. You're usually sleeping from 1:30-3:30 each day. You eat again at 3:30 and play until I get there around 4:30. You smiled at me on Monday when you saw me...I hope its a new thing now, that you recognize your mama's there to pick you up. We get home around 5:00 and you'll eat again soon after we get home. You stay up and play most of the evening. You may drift off after you eat around 7:00, but usually we just play. Our bedtime routine is still in full effect. 8:00 on the dot, we start your bath, then lotion you up. I'll put you in your pjs and swaddle you up for the night. You're only nursing until you fall asleep which has turned into like 5-10 min. Then you're out for the night. I seriously lucked out with a great sleeper. If I get up in the night, its for Tyson...not Sydney. :)

I am so in love with your face. Seriously, I kiss it all the time. I just can't get enough of you Sydney Kate! I'm still in awe that you are mine. You're everything and so much more I ever dreamed of having!

"A love so undeniable, I can hardly speak

A peace so unexplainable, I can hardly think.."

Thank you, Jesus, for calling me deeper into love. :)