6 weeks!

Paige is 6 weeks old today! The past week and a half have been pretty relaxed but busy at the same time! Last week was my first week by myself and it went great! She is becoming more awake and aware of her surroundings each and every day. It is amazing to me how much she changes each day. It is so fun!!

Let's see, here are some highlights of the past week and a half -

*We have made real eye contact and it was for an extended amount of time!

*She has started watching a little bit of TV in my lap (not sure if this a good thing :).

*Tummy time gets a little bit longer each time we do it. Her head is getting stronger by minute and it is so neat to see her mature in this way. I also enjoy letting her sit my lap and just look around and let her stand up a little so she can put weight on her feet/legs.

*Riding in the car - sometimes a great experience, other times not so much. Let's take last night as an example. We went to our small group Bible study. I was meeting Brad there and she cried the entire way there and the entire way back, but was perfectly content while we were there. Luckily, we live less than 15 minutes away, but boy was that a long 15 minutes each way! Speaking of Bible study - it was great to get out last night and see our small group. Brad and I were a little nervous about how she would do but she was awake the first half and then fell asleep during the actual study. Back to the car - over the weekend she did great!! The car was our friend and she seemed to relax when she was in the moving car (please take note of the "moving", when we came to a stop she was not happy).

*We are getting out more! Friday night we had a family dinner at the Mexican restaurant. She did great until the very end while we were waiting on the waiter to bring our check. We actually got to eat dinner together! Saturday we ran errands and went to the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Fair (more on that later)...only one meltdown - yay!

*I got to take a shower while Brad was at work. This was a major accomplishment for me. I was nervous about doing it and there were days last week where I waited for him to get home from work before taking my shower. Not this week! I put her in the travel swing in our bathroom and she was good to go. It was so great on Tuesday we got out afterwards and she did wonderful - she was a perfect angel!

*Sleep - this is a rollercoaster. For 5 weeks she slept in her crib (well, the pack and play the first week) at night. Then all of sudden she wanted no part of it. As soon as we put her in it she would cry. Needless to say, those nights were not fun. Last night she slept in the pack and play in our room (because I was lazy) and she did great! She slept from 2 to 6 and it was 5 1/2 hours between feedings. This has happened one other time (she went 5 hours between feedings).

Well, I guess that is about it...I have rambled long enough. I need to get on the computer more but it just doesn't seem to happen. When I do get on, it is for work (I am getting to work a little from home) or to check email.

A post can not be complete with out pictures...these were taken last week while she was in my lap with my phone (not the best quality but they will do).

Last But Not Least

Our last round of help came from my mom, Nanny. It was great having her here to help with Paige and just to visit. We had a busy week filled with appointments - for me, the dogs and for Paige. Plus, Brad and I got to go on a date night (thank you Nanny)! It will probably be our last for awhile. Here are some pictures...

Paige getting her bath. She actually likes it!

Paige enjoying the bouncy seat before we went to the mall for ice cream.



Trying out some tummy time.

Madi watching tummy time, wishing she could be a part of it.

More bouncy seat

Nanny got some of the best pictures after a diaper change! What a happy little baby!

Daddy getting some Paige time.

Paige on her 1 month birthday

Thank you Nanny for a great week!!

Our 1 month check-up went well. Little Miss Paige is up to 8 lbs 12 oz, 21 inches!

Now it is time for the real test - my first week with Paige on my own! I think we are going to have a great week!! (or at least I hope so)

God's Still Moving

Last year I wrote about how my old job was being transferred to Millington, TN. Well, just this week, just over a year later, we found out that Brad's old employer, Southern Family Markets, was closing Brad's old store. They found out Tuesday morning that they would no longer have a job as of Wednesday night.

It is so ironic to me how this all happened! Brad and I would have never planned on his job ending and we would never thought my job would move. God never stops amazing me with what He can do!!

Dede's Turn

Week 3 my stepmom, Donna, came down and helped. It was another great week! We were not as active this week because it was colder out, but we did get out and go to the mall when it was pretty.

Main lesson for the week - a burp cloth is not always going to help. The spit up can still go down your shirt, front or back and even during the same sitting.

Our cutie pie!

Dede and Paige

Grandad and Paige (he drove Donna down, like Papa Joe did for Nana)

The other highlight of the week came Friday night when we gave Paige her first bottle. She did great! We weren't sure how it would go since she wasn't the biggest fan of the paci. I guess when it comes to food it doesn't matter to her how she gets it.

A visit with Nana

Sorry I am just now posting pictures from Paige's 2nd week. Things have been going good for us, I have just been having fun visiting with my help and my sweet baby (no time to get on the computer!).

My sweet mother-in-law spent the 2nd week with us. She helped watch Paige, do things around the house and cook wonderful dinners (some to freeze too!).

Highlights from the week:

*Paige slept in her crib all night, meaning she was not in our room in the pack and play while we slept.

*Paige slept through her first thunderstorm. I am sure she will realize what is going on later in life but it was nice that she slept through the thunder and lightening.

*We continued to enjoy all the noises she made. The noises are so cute! Sometimes she sounds like a little piggy or an elephant. Madi has been our noise maker and I think Paige is giving her a run for her money.

*We learned she is a spitter. At this time, I did not need a burp cloth (but don't worry, week 3 changed that).

Here are a few pics from the week -

We took Paige on her first stroll around the neighborhood. It was a gorgous day and we all enjoyed getting out. The hardest part was figuring out how to get the car seat in the stroller - nothing a call to the local baby store couldn't take care of (then I had the problem of getting the car seat out of the stroller - thank goodness for husbands!)

We made our 2nd visit to the pediatrician. Paige was up to 7.3 lbs and 20 1/2 inches long! She is growing like a weed!! We go tomorrow for her 1 month check up. I can't wait to see her stats.

Paige was introduced to the paci this week. It took some coaxing to get her to take it but we finally got there. It really took until this week to find one she liked and even then she isn't always the biggest fan.

Paige with Papa Joe - he was so sweet and was Nana's chauffer to and from our house.

Paige with Nana - thank you Nana for spending the week with us! We all enjoyed it and really appreciated your help!!