SiMpLy BlEsSeD: 5 Months Old!

Our sweet Briella Rain! I can't believe five months have gone by since we and many Dr's and nurses brought you into the world! God has been so very good to us and he spared my life so I could live to watch you grow. You bring me so much joy sweet girl! You are truly the most happy baby! Everyone and everything makes you smile and I LOVE IT! We had a few rough months while you suffered from colic and some reflux... you don't even seem like the same baby.

* You are now sitting up without support... which means we have started to try bath time without the baby tub. You also like to sit up and look at your toys.

* We have finally decided to surrender our nursing ways... or should I say we are no longer trying to keep up the supply. I was taking 9 fenugreek a day, pumping and letting you nurse (though you weren't getting anything) I have decided that it is okay and I still make our bottle feeding time just as special.

* You tried cereal for the first time and you HATED it! It started off with many tears, and then gagging and eventually everything came back up. We have been trying it everyday and now on our 5th day of torturing you (poor thing) you ate it all tonight with no gagging and actually leaned into the spoon for more YAY!

* You got to experience your first SUPER BOWL!!! Even though the team you were cheering for lost.. that is okay!! It was fun to hang out with family and watch everyone else snack on a TON of food ;) You got to watch the game from the best seat in the house... your exersaucer... you LOVE that thing!

* Our BIGGEST and very exciting thing is you are now in cloth diapers!! We tried every disposable brand, Huggies, Luvs, Pampers, Parent's Choice and you still had a rash from them all. Not to mention the leaks all day and you would have a blow out EVERY TIME you pooped... seriously I was washing clothes all the time AND sometimes even throwing them away. We have been using prefold (burp cloths) and own about 9 covers... we also have 12 AIO diapers on the way. These are just like disposables you put them on and then you take off and toss them in the diaper pail. No snaps, folding, using snappis ... they are so easy and we were able to get our entire cloth diapers stash for under 100.00 Most people spend a lot more initially. So I am not buying diapers YAY and I we haven't had any blowouts... we are still trying to figure out the best diaper for naps/bedtime because you wake up soaking wet (ewww sorry baby) So far I am very happy with our decision to switch and I only have to do laundry every other night after 9pm of course :)

* You are wearing 6-12m clothes ... boy oh boy does that formula make you one healthy(chunky) baby!! I love every little roll on your little body especially when I tickle them... and you laugh like crazy!!!

* You still sleep on your tummy... we still swaddle you under your arms or you wear a sleeper sack to bed... I have tried a few times to put you down on your back but you just can't fall asleep like that. You have started getting tired earlier so we put you down at the same time as Gigi. 7-7:30 and you still for a good 12 hours sometimes more!

* You used to take almost 45min to finish a 6oz bottle... then after some hits from friends we tried the level 3 nipple and boy you can down an 8oz bottle in under 10 min!

* You really enjoy your play mat that the Hockersmiths let us borrow!! You spend at least some time on it each day on your back... on your tummy... playing and grabbing onto the animals!

* You continue to LOVE your big sister and want to be with her most of the time. If she walks away from you you fuss and if she comes and plays with you.. you are all smiles. You have special crib time in the morning and bath time together :)