Baby Gymboree

Reagan just started school at 11 weeks.  What a smart girl she is!  She is learning texture, colors, and about depth/perception.  

My Baby's Daddy

 I can not believe how much Reagan looks like her dad.   I carried this baby for 10 months and she has inherited all her dad's genes.  Here is a photo of Reagan in red, Leandro with his dad, and a picture of me when we were all around the same age.

Baby Room Practical Decorating

I wish I would of considered a few thing when I decorate my baby's room.  Like for instance the hight of the changing table for a person of tall stature.  Those come in so many hight and sizes.  Apparently I bought the one for a petite person.  After killing my back leaning over the changing table for 2 month I had to come up with a solution.  At Bed Bath and Beyond they sell the bed raisers for $9.00.  I put one under each leg and now I actually enjoy changing those dirt diapers.  I also wanted the room to look pretty.  Baby boutiques sell the baby name letters for $10.00 each.   I bought the Walmart letters painted them and hung ribbon on each one for less then $1.00 each.  Leandro hung the crown molding and chair-railing and now I feel like I have a designer baby's room.  Reagan is sooooo lucky to have a daddy with so much talent.

Baby Co-Sleeper

After weeks of Leandro and I being unable to sleep together in the same bed, we decided to do something about the problem.  Up till now Baby Reagan has occupied Leandro place in bed.  Meanwhile he was banished to the guest room.  In a "One Step Ahead " magazine I saw a cosleeper.  They look kind of like a pack and play that hooks onto the side of your bed.  The one side slides down.  I knew I had to buy one.  We went to Babies-R-Us and were surprised to find out that the cosleepers are 1/2 the size of a playpen.  Reagan at 11 weeks has almost passed the weight limit for the sleeper.  I was so upset.  We came up with an alternate plan that was 1/2 the price of the cosleeper.  We bought a baby safety rail for $19.00 and a playpen mat .  Leandro put them on a table we already had at the house and we had our improved homemade baby cosleeper.  It actually fits better then the one we wanted to buy.  I love it!  Now we all can spend  a restful night of sleep together.  hehehehe 

Baby Colic

I am so glad I ordered that "Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD.  When Reagan's tummy is hurting and the gas, reflux and everything else is clicking in... the only thing that works is giving her the Mylicon and the 5 "S" from the DVD.  You can see in one pic how Reagan was crying (pretty much our first month home) the next pic Leandro is doing a few of the 5  "S".  Swaddle, side, sucking, shushing in ear etc. and you can see her face is not crabby anymore.  

Vacationing in the Florida Keys

Going on a family vacation takes 3 time more energy then a couples vacation.  I had all these plans about going to restaurants, parks, tours and so on (like we use to pre-baby).   The only thing we did was go to the beach and pool 1 time.  (Which took all day to get ready for!)  We had to make sure we had bottles, baby bior carrier, buggy and anything else we could need at the pool or beach.  Leandro, Reagan and I did go on a date to a restaurant  the "Fish House" (so much fun).  These 2 little activities absorbed all our time.  It was more exhausted after our get away. (he he he)  We had a blast!!

  

Baby Nursing Bloopers

Wow! Did I have an exciting grocery shopping experience yesterday.  It started with a typical outing when the baby decided she did not want to ride in the car-seat in the grocery cart.  I thought no problem, I brought the baby-bior carrier too.  So I strap her in...  She was fine as long as I did not stop to take groceries off the shelf and put them into the cart.  So I  pretty much had to walk briskly down each aisle grabbing what I needed without stopping to check out brands or label.  (This is a problem because I am on Weight Watchers and I need foods high in fiber and I can't look at labels)  Eventually, baby Reagan was not happy with the brisk walking and now required nursing.  Thank goodness I had my "Hooter Hider" (all nursing mom's need this)!  I dropped the one side down on my bior carrier and put the Hooter Hider on while walking briskly.  She went right to "town" (her eating position except strait up in the carrier).  My husband and I just started laughing.  Babies they know what they want no matter how inconvenient the time or place.  Shopping will never be the same!

Bottle Feeding

My advice on bottle feeding breast-feed babies is to buy several different types of bottles and see what works for your baby.  I bought one of every type they had at the local Walmart.  The one my baby liked the best was the type of bottle that is most like the breast.  I found some ads in the parenting magazines for a boob like bottle top.  She loves it!

Precious Mommy Sleep

I keep looking online to find ways to get my precious baby to sleep through the night.  Last night was a first for us.  My little precious slept from 12:00am to 6:00 am.  at 9 weeks old.  I know this does not sound like much but before this it was 2 hr then 4 hr increments.  So I am excited about this glorious sleeping success.  I tried the rice cereal in her last feeding before sleep and that worked for the 4 hr increments ( did I mention she has reflux it helps with that too).  Then last night I let her breast-feed for several hours off and on from 9:00pm to 12:00 am...it totally worked.  I will try it again tonight and I will keep the world posted!