The Very Young and the Restless



Funny girl fell asleep while she was playing

Caroline is a very funny little sleeper. She can be wide awake and then without warning she will fall asleep. She also "talks" and moves a lot in her sleep.  This is the reason we moved her to her own room quickly.



Pip creepily watching Caroline



     No matter what time she goes to bed at night she will wake up at 4:00 am to eat.  This is the only routine we have established.  We start her nighttime routine about 7:30 pm.  She gets a bath, a book and a bottle.  Sometimes she is asleep at 8:00 pm other times she is wide awake after that bottle and wants to fuss or play depending on her mood.  A few times she has stayed awake till 1:00 am {Like her daddy who is a night owl}. 



 The picture above was taken Sunday Morning where she was up at 6 am wanting to play.  I thought she would go down for a nap around 10 am {because that is what she did the previous day}  I waited in vein till 2 pm when she took a 3 hour nap.  I have read  books and articles on this subject & most of them say your baby should be establishing a routine by now.  I know all babies are different and she might just be doing things a little different but it is exhausting trying to figure her out. Maybe this summer we can work on this. 

18 more school days till summer!



We are smokin

 Chris bought a smoker! We had to put the smoker in the front yard because the dogs would have wanted to help cook the ribs.  It took the ribs about 6 hours to smoke. He used mesquite chips which were good but I had that smell in my hair and clothes for a couple of days.    This summer we have big plans of grilling and smoking dinner.  I am starting to look through pinterest for some great recipes.

BBQ Ribs!

Caroline eating 

First day of school

Taken moments before the explosions

    When I was younger the night before the first day of school I would stay awake and stress. My mom apprently could see the anxiety in my eyes. Every year she would take me into my class and promise to make me one friend before she left.  She always introduced me to the nicest looking person in the room.  I'm pretty sure the first day of volleyball 2-a-days my freshmen year she walked in the gym with me. {Ridiculous I know}. Monday was Caroline's first day of daycare.
     On Sunday I stayed awake and had that same anxious feeling. I laid her clothes out, got her bottles & pacifiers ready, & got her special Mimi blacket that had her name on it. In the morning I woke her up, fed her, changed her and was feeling much better.
   She looked so cute Chris took a picture of her first day. Moments after the picture was taken she exploded in her diaper.  It got everywhere-Lets just say her hair was wet.... {I'm sure Caroline will be excited that I am sharing all the intement details}. We undressed, took a quick bath, redressed, & took a second picture.  She is much more relaxed in the bottom picture.

6:40 & the 2nd outfit of the day

There was one baby already in her class when we got there so I made Caroline one friend before I left.

When I picked her up she was sleeping in a swing.  The nursey worker told me they had a fire drill in the morning.  she was a very calm during the whole ordeal. They said she had a good first day. 

Papaw's Turn




Caroline & Papaw

  Papaw helped out so much the week after Easter.  He came and stayed with Caroline while Chris and I worked.  We wanted to keep her out of daycare until she had her 2 month shots {Which was Tuesday-and terribly traumatic for her mother}.  They apparently had a great time playing because she slept so good at night.

  We also employed Papaw to help us make ribs in Chris's new smoker.  Chris and I have been watching BBQ Pit masters on Netflex. {another show we watch at 2 am}  It is a reality show about competition BBQ. They had a great rib recipe & we both have been craving the ribs since we started watching the show. The Prather ribs turned out fantastic.  All 3 of us appreciate Papaw this week!

LOL

Laugh out loud

     Sunday night Caroline and I were reading a pop up book when all of sudden she let out an excited squeal. It made me jump because she had just been smiling and kicking her feet as I read to her.  The laugh was a loud "Ahhhhh!"  She has been "talking" for a while but it just amazes me how fast she grows and changes from day to day.  This morning when I went to get her to eat she greeted me with her usual smile and added her new trick. 

Terrific 2

Things I want to remember about Caroline’s 2nd month of life:

blue eyed girl

•   She is wearing Pampers Swaddlers size 1.  These diapers have that little color changing wetness indicator that helps us out a ton.  My mom bought a box of diapers from Sams Club every month I was pregnant.  Most of them were size 1 {good thing} Caroline will be wearing this size for a while.
•   She is still wearing some newborn clothes but has transitioned nicely into 0-3 months.
• There is not really a set sleep schedule.  I think once she is in daycare this will change.  She gives us one long stretch at night {6-7 hours} and then is up every 3 hours to eat.  I have noticed she is prompt when it comes to eating.  During the day she will take 3 naps but it is anyone’s guess when she will take them.
• When I go into her room for her 2 night feedings she greets me with a huge smile.  It’s almost like she is saying “I’m so glad to see you!”  I love that toothless grin.
• Vacuums, hair dryers, dogs barking, talking, music or the television do not bother her when she is sleeping.  Last night we had a violent thunderstorm with thunder claps every minute.  I watched her in the video monitor and she didn’t wake up.
• The changing table & her play mat are her favorites. She gets excited and kicks her feet like she is dancing.
• Her hungry cry sounds like a horse {nah nah nah} really short and choppy & her tired cry is long and has giant tears associated with it.
• We moved her into her own room this last month.  The whole family (including Pip) sleeps better this way. She is a noisy little sleeper.

A Little Snuggle Bunny

Easter PJs from Nana

Today was Caroline's first time to The Heights Fellowship.  We decided to go to the early service and sit on the aisle incase we had to leave early. We didn't want to be "those people" with a crying baby. We also didn't want to put her in the nursery until she gets her shots.  Luckily she slept through the whole service.  She only peaked her eyes open once when it got quite through a prayer.

 When we got home the Easter bunny visited the Prather house and brought books. Apparently the Bunny is a big reading & learning advocate. Nana & Papaw got her first little Easter basket. She was very grateful.

Smiling girl
She is smiling all the time now.  It just melts my heart.  She will lay on the floor and talks, kicks her feet & smiles.  What a cute baby!

Hangin' with Nana Banana

Not a care in the world

  My 2nd week back to work was much easier & I felt less guilty about leaving my baby.  It was a relief we did not have to put her in daycare just yet.  Caroline had a wonderful week with Nana.  She is an early riser and usually greeted Nana wide awake and ready to eat every morning this week.   Nana said she was on her best behavior and took long naps.   I was so greatful for all the picture through out the day.  Chris already has dibs to hire his mom for his State Farm office when they move  here but if she wants to retire from that I would pay her big bucks to take care of my babies. 

kicking on her play mat

Between feedings, diaper changes and naps Caroline would play on the mat.

sleeping in her bouncy seat

Every night this week we would come home to a meal ready to be eaten. It was nice to come home and just relax.  On Monday Nana made -Roast, Tuesday- Hamburger Soup, Wednesday- Fajitas, & Thursday- Spaghetti & meatballs

Afternoon playtime

Talking to her Nana

Please note:  in ever picture this girl's hands are photgraphed 

Daddy Daycare

Caroline got to spend all last week with her daddy while mommy had to go back to work. Chris sent me pictures so I could feel like I was there with them.

They went to Chick fil a & Rosa's,

worked at the State Farm office,

sold insurance,

watched netflix,

(apparently Caroline wanted to watch Overboard with Goldie Hawn & The Office over and over)

played on the mat,

& took several naps.

It was a very busy week.

This is picture of her in her car seat. She is a little Houdini. No matter how tight you make the buckles she still manages to get her little left hand free. Nana is taking care of her this week so I know she is in good hands. Next week will be her first week at day care. We wanted to make sure she had her 2 month vaccinations before sending her.