Family

It's nearing the end of October. Our move is in exactly ONE MONTH! In one month I need to pack, clean, sell, organize, prioritize... And move 1100 miles away, back to where it all began in Arizona. My husband still doesn't want to move and I feel like we keep having the same conversations on repeat. I finally broke down and told him how I feel each time he tells me how miserable he will be in the heat. Although I understand how hot it gets (having lived there for 12 years) and how the heat just drains energy out of you, especially stuck in traffic, and now with a baby. But I am not moving for the heat. I am moving for the future of my family. To go back to school, being able to provide a better life for my daughter and any future children we may have. To be around family, I want Ryleigh to know what it's like having family dinners, holidays, and just having that support and love that comes with family being able to attend your birthdays and school events.

But when he tells me how miserable he is going to be... I feel like I am doing something wrong. That my excitement about having family around is silly. I wish he could understand what it's like to miss family. I get that he isn't close to them, but it's not how I grew up. Even in a divorced family I still cherish the moments I spent with both of my parents. Traveling between houses, having to attend multiple family functions in one day. It's what I am used to and therefore have come to enjoy. Now, I am no longer close to my dad, being that he's on the East Coast and we are out West. But I still hold onto those memories. Hoping that Ryleigh wont have to bounce around, but that she knows what traditions and family bonding is like.

We will be around my Mom, Step Dad, adopted brothers and sisters, brother, sister in law, Nana, and cousin. Now with the families growing and changing I am looking forward to Ryleigh having cousins and siblings to share the holidays with. Family is important to me. And I hope someday my husband can see it too.

4.5 Months

These updates are mostly for me to look back on when I begin to create Ryleigh's baby book. ;-)



Ryleigh's 4 month update (Weight & height update on Friday)
*********Weight: 14.10 lbs Height: 24.25"************

Social: Ryleigh giggles at EVERYTHING! Everyone, every sound, every toy, ...Possibly every ghost... (sometimes she laughs at an empty space... here's to hoping it's one of our grandfathers saying hello.) She is a giggler and laugher and a talker a good 80% of the time. The rest is teething, which is handy that she has discovered how to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. Toys, hands, hair... It's time to baby proof!

Rolling / Movement: She has discovered, not only how to roll from her belly to her back, but also from her back over to her belly. Which has made diaper changes a hoot and a half for sure! The second I lay her down she rolls right back over. (Good bye changing table, hello floor and sore back) She actually started doing this the day before she turned 4 months on September 28th. She has also discovered that on her back she can spin herself in a circle. I think after she gets lost because she starts freaking out wondering where her toys went.

Sleeping: As for sleeping... We are struggling BIG TIME with her crib. We are both having separation anxiety when it comes to bed time. For about a week she stayed in her crib until at least 3 am, going down around 8:30. Lately, (maybe because of the teething) she has started only wanting to sleep on me or in her swing. I need a hero, miracle, will power? ANYTHING to help both of us survive this transition from Mommy's bed / bassinet by the bed to her crib!

Eating: She is up to 6-8 oz of formula every 4-6 hours. And sometimes a snack or two of 4 oz in between. We are starting to introduce baby cereal this month, just before she turns 5 months old. Today experimenting with the spoon, which it turns out she thinks is a fun new toy, and also that she really enjoys yogurt. Another new development this month is bottle holding. She has figured out how to hold her bottle as well as how to tip it back to get all the milk out.

Sizes: My once 5.15 oz baby is predominantly in 6 month sizes! She's getting so big and filling out with little baby rolls.

I cannot imagine life without this little girl. I still can't believe it has been 4 months already. How much she has grown and learned in such a short time.