Kaylee's 1st Christmas

It was a wonderful first Christmas with our darling Kaylee.  Lots of nice gifts were received, but she was the greatest gift of all besides Jesus' birth.  :)

Tuckered out 

With Papa

With Grandmama

3 months old

The smiles are abundant at 3 months old!  

Kaylee regularly smiles and coos at us and even attempts some words.  

She said "Hi" the other day right after my husband said it!  

I'm sure it was a happy accident, but we were pleased none the less. 

 She's still an easy-going baby that loves to eat.  

So while sleep isn't very plentiful right now, it's okay because she's almost a whopping 12lbs! 

We have officially begun baby sign language and regularly sign: "Mama", "Papa", "Grandma", "Grandaddy", "Bottle", "Diaper", "Swing" and a few others less regularly.  Hopefully by 8 months or sooner she will begin signing back.  I'm convinced she already knows some of the signs as her eyes light up when she sees her bottle and when we sign it to her.  She's a very smart little lady.  :)

8 Weeks Old

Jellybean turned 8 weeks old yesterday!  

Not too many updates as she is still doing pretty much the same.  She is starting to smile more and observe what's around her.  She still finds our lights in the living room fascinating as well as some TV programs.  

We are going to do some Christmas cards with her on them, so we will be taking her for her first portrait session on Monday!  We've got the prettiest dress coming in the mail...I just hope it arrives on time.

Happy Halloween! 6 week update!

Jellybean is 6 weeks old!  

She weighs about 9.2lbs now.

She is really making some headway with her neck muscles, and I think by two months she will be able to hold her head up for awhile by herself.  

She is still eating about every 2 hrs during the day, but sometimes goes for 3-4 hrs at night (finally!)

She stays up more during the day, which probably accounts for why she sleeps longer at night now (sometimes).  

She finally took a pacifier, which we only gave her because she's been spitting up her formula and the pacifier encourages saliva production to help with digestion.  As a bonus, though, she is cool during the day if you aren't holding her constantly including her car seat on occasion, which she generally hates. 

She is interested in the TV sometimes, and while she usually stares at me, the Price is Right takes preference.  Ironically, I too enjoyed the Price Is Right as a baby and still do.  

She is blase about her baths.  She doesn't cry during them, but she isn't thrilled either.  I try to keep them short and sweet.  

She is still in newborn lil joey cloth diapers and newborn clothes, however, she does wear some 3 month clothes...they're just baggy.

Well, without further delay, here she is in her first Halloween outfit!

RAWR!

More One Month Photos and Doctor Update

A good friend pointed out to me that Kaylee looks older in the one month post than the almost one month post that is ahead of it...this is true...sleep deprivation set in, and I forgot to post the almost one month post until after I made the one month old post haha!  So she is indeed bigger and older in the one month old photos.  

We went in for her checkup last Thursday, and she is doing great.  She has gained 2 lbs in two weeks since our last visit...she's 7lbs 14oz.!!!!  

Here are a few more pictures:

Kaylee with Grandma!  They're twins!

How Should We Mother?

Found this online and wanted to share cause it's very inspiring right now when it seems like we are having so many different issues with our little Kaylee.  It can be very frustrating and exhausting, but this is a calling from the Lord.  We need to do our absolute best even when we may not feel like it.

From the Facebook page Above Rubies:

 

HOW ARE YOU MOTHERING TODAY?

Yesterday I wrote about serving the Lord in motherhood. How does God want us to do this? The Bible tells us exactly.

Joyfully! (Deuteronomy 28:47). Wipe off the frown. Put a smile on your face. Don't worry about whether you feel like it or not. Smile and your attitude will change.

Without being sidetracked! (Nehemiah 6:3).

Humbly! (Matthew 20:26-28).

Faithfully! (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Without expecting anything in return! (Luke 7:7-10).

Relying on God! (John 14:4-5; Philippians 4:13).

Willingly! (Proverbs 31:13). No more excuses!

With all our might! (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

With zeal! (John 2:17). Forget moping around the house. Forget apathy. You are involved in the greatest career in the nation. You are influencing this nation and generations to come. Do it with zeal.

Not giving up! (Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7).

Fervently! (Romans 12:11).

Aboundingly! (1 Corinthians 15:58). To "abound" in the work of the Lord is the Greek word, "perisseuo" and actually means "to be excessive, over the top, more than is necessary, enough and to spare." Are you just doing what you have to do to get through the day? Or, are you mothering "over the top"? What a fun way to live! What a great way to serve the Lord as you mother each day. When you change a diaper, laugh and smile at your baby. When you are doing mundane tasks, do them with exuberance. When you are preparing a meal, make it a beautiful meal to bless your family.

For the glory of God! (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Lovingly! (Galatians 5:13).

Without Seeking Recognition! (Ephesians 6:6).

Without Grumbling! (Philippians 2:14-15).

Heartily! (Colossians 3:23). The word "heartily" actually means "soul" (psuche). That means we are to not only do our mothering tasks physically, just because we have to do them, but to put our whole heart and soul into them.

In the name of the Lord Jesus! (Colossians 3:17). As we do each task in the name of Jesus, it becomes a sacred task.

With thankfulness! (Colossians 3:17). No more groaning and complaining. We thank and praise the Lord instead.

As to the Lord, and not unto men! (Colossians 3:23). Every big or little task, we do it unto the Lord. Doesn't this attitude change everything?

In the fear of the Lord! (Hebrews 12:28b; Psalm 2:11).

Almost 4 weeks

Hard to believe that Kaylee will be a month old this Wednesday!  We go in for another check-up for her and one for me as well with my OB since I had a C-section.  

Right now we're still battling with lack of sleep.  I think because Kaylee was born with such a low weight that she still has to eat every 2 hours like clockwork to gain weight.  Once she begins sleeping 3 or 4 hrs in a row at night, we should be in better shape.  :)

Currently all she does is sleep and eat and make funny faces at us, but she does seem to be observing more lately.  She is fascinated with our overhead lights in the living room...they are very bright "daylight" bulbs.  Yet when she's through observing she can fall right to sleep under them, which doesn't help for trying to keep her up so she'll sleep at night.

Well, until the next update, here are some funny faces of our little jellybean.