Kyle's first word- "Yum"

All About Solids

So I am finding that there is a whole new world out there when it comes to solid foods. I thought I would share with you all what I am doing. I will write a separate post on how to make your own babyfood. It is SO easy!
So my original plan was to wait to start solids till Kyle was 6 months because I had read you could skip purees and go straight to soft foods. This is called Baby Led Weaning. The Dr. had given the go ahead to start rice cereal and then veggies and fruits at Kyle's 4 month appt. He also was on the small side 13lb 5 oz. about the 29th percentile. But at that point things were going fine and he was content so I saw no need to rush it. Breastmilk and/or formula is supposed to be the main source of nutrition for babies until 6 months.

2 weeks later Kyle started waking up multiple times at night and wouldn't be happy with his paci so I fed him. This was unlike him at this point. I attributed it to a growth spurt and possibly the 4 month wakeful period as well. So for about a week I got up and fed him when he woke up in the middle of the night. Well it kept happening and I was worried my supply had dropped or something because because he was eating 7 times a day which is more than normal for a baby his age.

On Thanksgiving we gave him some sweet potatoes just for fun; you saw the video. He did awesome! I wasn't sure what he would do with a spoon or eating, as alot of babies look at it like, "What the heck is this?" But not Kyle, he ate like he'd been doing it his whole life. So I decided a few days later to go ahead and start rice. He loved it, you couldn't feed him enough. I started off with just one meal of rice cereal in the morning after he nursed. I would pump the day before and add what I had pumped to the cereal plus whatever water I needed.

After a week I started him on two meals a day- cereal in the morning and squash in the afternoon. At first I started off with just 1 TBS of each and then increased it when he wanted more.

Week 3- I added 1 TBS prunes to his cereal because he was getting a little constipated. He was now up to 2 cubes (about 4 TBS) squash in the afternoon and 2 TBS cereal and 1 prune cube.

Week 4- Added 1 TBS oatmeal to 1TBS rice cereal (still a little constipated) 2 prune cubes for breakfast, 2 squash cubes lunch.

As you can see I only added a new thing every week. I read in Super Baby Food to wait at least 5 days but not more than 7 days to introduce new foods.

Veggies or fruits first? I have also read to introduce veggies first instead of fruits so they don't get used to the sweet foods first. But some veggies are pretty sweet- like sweet potatoes so I don't think it matters much. If you have a picky eater it might be more of a problem, but Kyle is not picky.

I also chose to alternate veggies and fruits, so that's why I wait a week inbetween to give his GI system a chance to get used to it. Some people introduce just veggies and the move to fruits. I felt Kyle needed the extra fiber from fruit so I alternate.

Here is a good blog post on how to start solids that I have gotten alot of good info from.

New Videos

Here's some new videos of Kyle and Daddy making funny noises and of Kyle in his Johnny Jump Up for the first time.

5 Months

You are 5 Months today! And look how big you're getting! You can sit up much better now but still need a little support. You haven't been too interested in tri-poding I think because you like to use your hands to reach for things so I think you're going to skip that all together.

At your Dr. visit last week you were 13 lb 8 oz. Still a little guy but you are so long...at I'm guessing 25in or more now. Mommy was worried at the Dr. because you only gained 1 lb in 2 months but the Dr. told Mommy to not worry. You are a happy healthy boy and you might just be on the more lean side. That's fine with me because that is healthier anyways. We had to take you to the Dr. cause you have these little sores in your mouth the Dr. thinks is Thrush, so you are on your first round of anti-biotics though I'm not sure it's helping. You don't seem to be bothered by it though.

On Thanksgiving you had your first experience with solid food...we gave you sweet potatoes and you loved them!

A few days later we started you on rice cereal, a week later on squash, and this week we added prunes since the cereal is making you a little constipated.

You are growing so fast little boy. Daddy and I are excited everyday when it seems like you have learned something new! It's so fun to watch you grow and discover this big world around you. We can't wait to celebrate your first Christmas with you in 10 days! We love you!

Trying to win this computer!

I want to win this HP touch screen computer for Ben from MckMama's blog!

Picture Update

Sorry I haven't blogged lately...crazy holidays...I've got a million and one gifts to finish making...but I love it! I love being home with my little one. Here's our life in pictures right now!

Tummy Time with Sam- wearing the cool fleece hat mommy made me

Holding my bottle for Mommy

Playing with my feet ALL the TIME...making changing my diaper a challenge

My Santa Hat from my Omi

Under the tree playing with my early Christmas present from Mommy an Daddy...
a fisher price nativity set

Only one more week till I'm 5 months old!

Cyber Monday SALE!

Take 10% off EVERYTHING in my shop and get FREE SHIPPING! Today only!

Sweet Potatoes on Thanksgiving

Today we tried rice cereal...he didn't like it near as much.

Special Holiday Giveaway...COMING SOON!

I went to Walmart the other day and this is what I bought! I am going to use it all in a very special Holiday Giveaway...stay tuned on Friday after all that Thanksgiving food has settled to find out the surprise!

What's for dinner??

PIZZA!!!


This is like the mother of all pizzas. I've never made one with so much stuff on it!! Yum!

Rollie Over

I finally got videos of Kyle rolling over! He was so so quick I almost missed it. He can also do it from left to right and right to left. So cool!

Cranberry Salad

Here is my favorite Thanksgiving recipe. Cranberry Salad- Ben's family always makes if for Holiday's and I want to continue the tradition this year since we won't be going to Montana like we usually do. Enjoy!

3 C. fresh cranberries

1/2 C.-3/4 C. sugar (to taste)

1 can mandarin oranges

1 can crushed pineapple

2 C. mini marshmallows

1/2 C. chopped walnuts

2 C. Cool Whip

Grind cranberries, add sugar, oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, and walnuts.

Add Cool Whip- chill in refrigerator overnight

4 months

Wow! Kyle you are 4 months already.

So what are you up to?

You are rolling over from your stomach to back (though I have yet to get it on video). When you did it for daddy this week we were so excited we clapped and said how proud were of you that you got scared and cried...

This is him laughing! The sweetest sound ever!

He is 13.5 lbs and 24 1/2 in long- I think a big growth spurt is coming up though.

He can touch his toes and he loves doing it!

Haven't started any cereal yet. I don't think you're quite ready for that.

Adopt a "sibling" for your child this Christmas

So you know how God will bring something along your path more than once that makes you say, "Hey maybe I need to pay attention to this?" Well that's what He's done to me the past 2 days. I have been sponsoring a child (Sylvia) through Compassion for 4 years now and I just realized that I have not been a very good sponsor. I hardly write to her and don't pray for her on a regular basis. This is going to change...

One of the blogs I read Kelly's Korner is on a trip with Compassion to El Salvador right now. She has been writing about it and it's amazing. I also went to a Jeremy Camp concert last night and He always teams up with Compassion to sponsor kids at his concerts. I think it was at one of his concerts a few years ago where I got mine. Hearing the stories of people corresponding with their kids and praying for them then getting to visit them has helped me see I need to develop more of a relationship with Sylvia. I would love to visit her in Kenya, but I might not ever get to. What is more important is that she knows I'm her friend and care about her.

Compassion has their own blog, check it out and please consider sponsoring a child this Christmas. It's great way to teach your kids about giving and praying for others. Sponsor a child that is close to their age and let them be responsible for writing letters to them. It's like having a pen pal in another country, but doing something that matters in the long run.

Kyle you are getting so big!

Kyle has been developing alot this week...

He is making friends with other babies...he has a new friend at MOPS. He never payed much attention to other babies before but now he just talks away with them. It's like they have their own little conversation...so cute!

He has also figured out how to get his rattle to his mouth!

One day this week he just started playing with his toys on his exercaucer...he ususally just looked past them at me or other things in the room.

He is also laughing some...it's adorable. I'm still working on getting a good video of it.

Happy Harvest Day!

Since we don't celebrate Halloween Kyle the Froggie would like to say Happy Harvest Day!

What is Kyle up to lately?

Here are some pictures of what Kyle's been up to lately.

Week 3-4 schedule update

So Kyle is now in week 4 of being on a schedule.
He are pretty much ready for the time change here's what his schedule looks like:
8:30am eat
9:30am nap
12pm eat
1:15-1:30pm nap
3:30pm eat
4:30pm nap
6pm eat
7-8 not really nap
8:30pm eat, bed
11:30pm dreamfeed

He's on a combo 3.5-3hr schedule. I'm looking at dropping his feedings down to 5 though cause they get so close together in the evening. I would love to drop the dreamfeed but I think starting next week with the time change I'm going to go for this schedule

7:30am wake eat
8:30am nap
11am eat
12:15 nap
2:30pm eat
3:45-4pm nap
5:30pm eat
6:30-7:30pm cat nap
7:30pm bed
9pm dreamfeed?

I'm still trying to figure out what to do in the evenings and with the last feed/bedtime.

Wake times:
He's been able to extend them a little to 1hr 3o min sometimes. I also have noticed he needs to be more stimulated during them in order to sleep better.

Naps:
Naps are good for a couple days then bad for a couple days. I think he's still adjusting to them. He almost always wakes up at 45 minutes. Sometimes he goes back to sleep, sometimes he doesn't. I am going to start not giving him his paci to go to sleep only give it to him if he wakes up and can't go back to sleep.

Night time: He has always done really well at night. Some nights he will wake up once or twice but ususally settles himself. It's rare I have to feed him, his paci usually does the trick if he can't get back to sleep on his own.

Announcing Sew Cute by Steph!

In an effort to make a little extra money while being a stay-at-home mommy I am starting a little business called Sew Cute by Steph. I have started an Etsy store. I've thought about ways to make money and this seems like a fun way. I can make my breastfeeding covers and so much more!

Week 3 early update

So I know it's only 3 days into week 3 of Kyle on a Schedule but I've had some success today and I just need to share!
Yesterday was a little rough, probably the after effects of church Sunday. Today was so much better despite the fact that we started our day at 6:30am. It actually worked out okay because we had MOPS and that means we have to leave at 8:45am, normally the time he would go down for a nap. So this is how our schedule has gone so far
6:30am eat
7:00am nap (he'd been up since about 5:15am so I figured he would need to go down quick)
8:45 leave for mops (he didn't fall asleep till about 7:30 so that meant an hour and 15 minute nap but that's okay, at least he got one).
9:45 eat
11am nap (fell asleep at MOPS)
1:30pm eat (yes a 2.5 hour nap!)
2:30pm nap
4:30pm eat
5:30 nap
and that's where we are now. He didn't fall asleep till about 6pm but that's awesome still because he NEVER wants to sleep for this nap. So hopefully he'll sleep till 7:30pm where then he will eat, pjs, and bedtime at 8pm.

I know right now I'm supposed to be doing things later to get ready for the time change but since we are still so new into this whole thing I figure I'll adjust things afterwards. I'm just happy if he sleeps durin every nap and preferablly longer than 1 hour.

Holly Days Craft Show and Holiday Photos!

As you saw in my last post I am making breastfeeding covers for my MOPS craft show. Well here's the info about the Holly Days Craft Show and also a Fundraiser we are doing were YOU get beautiful holiday photos for your Christmas cards! Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a ticket and setting up your sitting time (they will be during the craft show- props included!)

Holly Days Craft Show!

Saturday Nov. 7th 9am-3pm

Grace Church

6901 San Antonio NE, Albuquerque, NM
Just West of Louisiana

Handmade Breastfeeding Coverups!

I decided for our MOPS craft fair I would make breastfeeding coverups. I have seen the ones from website like Udder Covers and ordered one but was dissapointed in the quality of the product and for $30-$35!! So I decided that I would make my own! They are so easy and so fun and I know that every breastfeeding mom needs one not just to help out nursing in public but when your home too and have people over like right after the baby comes and EVERYONE is at your house! So here's some pictures of what they look like and a listing of the styles I have available. They are a great deal at $15 each and make a fabulous baby shower gift!! Contact me if you would like to order one!

You can still be covered but see your baby.

Has an adjustable strap and front pocket

Styles Available:

"Jessica" "Modern Paisley" "Julia"

"Flower Power" "Emily" "Crazy Circles"

"Pink Paradise" "Black and White" "Blue Swirls"

New Schedule Week 1-2

So starting off on a schedule was a little hard but I was expecting that when Kyle went from sleeping with us and being fed on demand 24/7 to sleeping in his crib and being on a schedule for feeding.
I would first like to say that even with a schedule the #1 rule is- If your baby is hungry feed him! No matter how long it was since he last ate.
The first thing I had to do was figure out what Kyle's cries meant and to also watch his body language when he is crying and also when he is tired. The book The Secrets of the Babywhisper beautifully outlines the body language of babies and what things could mean. Of course every baby is different. The book also outlines the 3 steps of sleep in babies which is also important because you want to notice when they are in step 1 and get them to bed before they get to step 3.
So this is what I found out for Kyle. He will start to yawn when he's tired, and then it progresses into fussing and rubbing his eyes. If I can get him down right after that first yawn then he falls asleep easily and stays asleep for longer.
This is what I learned about his cry. I definitely know the hungry cry and the come pick me up and reassure me cry. The other ones are mostly just saying, "I don't want to take a nap though I'm tired so let me just pout about it a little before I go to sleep".

So this is the schedule I put him on
8am wake, eat, change diaper, play etc.
9am nap
11am eat, change, play
12-12:15am nap
2pm eat, change, play
3:15pm nap
5:00pm eat, change, play
6pm nap
7:30pm eat, pj's. story
8pm bed time
10:30pm dreamfeed

The first 2 days were rough, all he did was cry through each nap, sometimes scream, I would go in and reassure him every 15-20 min or so. Make sure he didn't have gas, etc.

By the 4th day I think he slept for all but one of his naps though he wouldn't sleep the entire time.

He also slept through the night by the 2nd day I think. He might wake up during the night but he'd go back to sleep on his own. I consider that STTN because we all wake up a few times during the night and go back to sleep.
So now we are on day 12 and he hardly cries at nap time at all. He is also SO much happier when he is awake. Instead of being fussy all day long because he was tired he is awake and alert and much more able to focus on learning his skills like sitting up and rolling over and playing with his toys.

Right now I am working on getting him to sleep for his 6pm nap because he doesn't but he get's too tired if I let him stay up. So we'll see what happens. Daylight Savings Time is also ending so I have to adjust his schedule for that too. I will post every week and let you know how the process is going. I will also be posting soon on how to be on a schedule but still have a social life...LOL

Our New Schedule

So Kyle has been on a schedule for about 1 1/2 weeks now and it is going well. I would first like to say why I put him on a schedule. I noticed he seemed really unorganized during the day like he didn't know when to eat, when to sleep, etc. It was driving me crazy! I also felt like I couldn't tell what he wanted so I would just try and feed him whenever he cried. He also started to suck his fingers which gave me the clue he was learning to soothe himself.

I had heard about the cry it out method and thought it was really cruel and said I would never do that to a newborn that didn't know what they wanted. I decided to do some research on the Becoming Babywise book (one of the cry it out methods) because some friends had success with putting their babies on a schedule of eat/play/sleep.
During my research I found this blog Chronicles of a Babywise Mom. It was liteally a life saver. I read about the philosophy of Babywise and it really made alot of sense. Baby's look to us to figure out how the world works. They look for patterns and really thrive on consistency.

This blog also talked about a book called The BabyWhisperer (and the series as well). The Baby whisperer doesn't do cry it out (cio) they really focus on learning to communicate with your baby and learn their cries so you can better meet their needs. They also talk about helping teach the baby to self soothe so they don't need to rely on us to put them to sleep or to fall back asleep if they wake up. Alot of mom's start to feel like a human pacifier.

So on Sunday almost 2 weeks ago I decided this is what we needed to do. For my sanity and for Kyle's sake we started on a schedule. I will recap the first 2 weeks in another post and then will post each week an update on how things are going.

3 Months

I know I haven't been posting much...sorry guys...I am going to try and to better. Now that Kyle is getting a little older I think there will be lots more to post about! I actually have been saving up quite a bit of posting ideas so I'll get going on them. First thing's first...Kyle is 3 months old today!

And what is he up to?
Just looking adorable as ever of course! He has such a cute personality I love it when he smiles and talks to me when he's done eating, it's the cutest thing. Last night he woke up at 3am which is unusual for him (more on his new schedule in another post) so I went into his room gave him is

binkie and snuggled him in his blanket and he went right back to sleep. It was like he was saying "Mommy I need you to come snuggle me up again".

You are in a few 3 month clothes but mostly 3-6 months especially for jammies.

You have started reaching for your toys. You love sitting in your new high chair and reaching for your teathing fruit ring

I don't know your weight or how long you are because you won't have another dr's appt. for a month so we'll have to said and see but I think you are about 14lbs. now.

You love tummy time and are SO close to rolling over onto your back.

You started a eat/play/sleep schedule and are doing great! you eat at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 7:30pm, and 10:30pm. And you sleep through the night!!!

Vote for Kyle!

Kyle is entered into the Baby Gap casting call! Please go VOTE for him!

2 Months

Wow baby Kyle you are two months old now!

What are you up to?

You love to smile especially in the mornings when you first wake up, you are such a happy baby in the mornings.

You are in 0-3 month clothes

You weigh 12lb 5.5 oz and are 23 1/2" tall such a big boy!

8 weeks

Not quite 2 months, Kyle is growing fast! He's smiling and cooing now and so close to laughing. He rolled over from his stomach to his back this past weekend which is really early! His fussiness at night before bed is a little better. He is more easy to console and doesn't cry as long so that's nice. He's only waking up once a night now to eat ususally around 3am or 4am then get's up around 8am. He's napping twice a day for about 3-4 hours going down around 9am-10am and then again at 12pm-2pm.

First Trip!

Kyle took his first trip to San Diego over the weekend. He did really well. He still had his nightly fussy time but we dealt with it and he was great during the day. He are some pictures.