Miley is 5 months old!!!

Lots has been going on lately!!

The most exciting news is that Miley can sit up all by herself now!! She does a GREAT job at it- she'll sit on the floor and play with her toys for a LONG time! It's so fun to put a bunch of toys around her and watch her play with them and to see her want a specific toy and watch her grab for it, it's cool to see her making decisions and problem solving to get what she wants! Here are some pictures of Miley sitting up all by herself!





Friday was Taylor's last day of school and since it was a half day me and Miley went to school with him so he could show her off to his students. She was soo good while we were there. Taylor had a staff pizza party to attend at the end of the half day and Miley was needing a nap so I loaded her in the car and drove over to get some Jimmy John's and ate it in the car while she napped and Taylor finished packing up and checking out for the year. Funny blonde moment: it was really windy out on Friday and it was blowing sand all over and Miley needed her diaper changed when we were in the car- so me thinking I was cleaver thought hey- we'll just sit in the back end of my car- so I jumped out and got us in the back end and then the wind stirred up and started blowing sand in the car at us so I thought I would just close the back a little bit to protect us- well then the wind blew the door shut completly and there we sat. Luckily I can still jump over the seat and straddle the car seat and get out the door in the back seat- Miley just sat in the back end and looked at me like I was a crazy lady!



Then when we got home we headed out for Miley's first camping trip. The Bears had a tourney in New Prague this weekend so Miley and I went camping with Mom and Dad in Jordan while the team stayed in a hotel. Miley seemed to really like camping. The first night was a bit rough because we were out late due to a 9:00pm game and I think being in her pack and play and not her crib but she slept much better the second night as we were on her regular schedule. She had fun playing with her toys and taking not only one but two baths in the sink! (she was full of poop this weekend!) We discovered that she loves water bottles-- I tried to have her taste water but she doesn't like it at all! Just likes to play with the bottle.








Funny story—on Saturday afternoon we went out to eat with Kelsey and Meghann since the games got behind due to one going into 15 innings so we put Miley in a highchair at the restaurant for the first time because she is doing SOO well at sitting all by herself--- well- she was just hanging out and all of a sudden got a little fussy and our food hadn’t come yet so I was going to take her out until our food came- as I was pulling her out we noticed why she was so fussy—she had poop ALL OVER her leg and shorts and it was all on the seat of the highchair- got on the floor- just everywhere! It was SUCH a mess!!!! Mom grabbed her and ran to the bathroom and I grabbed the diaper bag and chased after her then we stood in the bathroom and just looked at each other wondering what the heck to do!!! We finally figured it out and got her all cleaned up and the highchair cleaned off too! Thank goodness for Clorox bleach wipes that I keep in the diaper bag!!!! It was pretty comical! You should have seen the faces on the innocent bystanders in the restaurant! I just laughed my head off!!!! And the best part- just before that Kelsey and Meghann were saying that they would want a baby if it could be as good and easy as Miley is--- after that happened I think they are thinking twice now! LOL!!

Here is Miley sitting in her chair before her accident! And also Meghann and Kelsey's HUGE plate of Nachos!!!!



And here are just some pictures for you to enjoy. Miley in her pretty dress, Miley with her cousin Dylan and his friend Jordan, Me and Miley, and the last one Mom says Miley looks just like her Great Grandma Barb when she was a baby.





Miley is growing like a weed and learning new things each day! She is just so much fun and such a good baby! Have I mentioned that I just LOVE being a Mommy and I just love her to pieces!!!

Scary Little Moment

We had a scary little moment this weekend. We were at a Bears get-together on Sunday evening after the game and most everyone had gone home and us and a few others were still hanging out. I was holding Miley and had decided to go and take a seat next to Taylor on the patio and as I took my first step towards the patio I didn't see a cooler sitting on the ground as it was on my side that I was holding Miley and she was partially blocking my view- I tripped right over it and went straight down flat onto the cement patio slab all while holding Miley! My initial reaction was to hold Miley up so she wouldn't land underneath me and thank heavens she was wrapped in her blanket and that Taylor's feet were where they were because her head landed on his feet instead of cracking on the cement and she walked away without a single scratch- a bit shooken up and scared from the look of horror on my face but completely fine. I, on the other hand, walked away with some pretty good scrapes on my elbows and hand and wrist but I'll take that over having Miley's getting stiches or something worse.

All three of us had a pretty restless night on Sunday night- I was very shooken up over it and I think between the both of us we got up to check on Miley 5 times! Right before she went to sleep she thought me covering her up was the funniest thing in the world and laughed and laughed- almost as to say - I'm OK Mom, I still love you!- It's things like that that keep my faith still strong- Taylor said he had JUST moved his feet to where they were right before I fell, almost as if someone picked up his feet and placed them there to catch Miley. Someone is always watching out for us.

Teething....

Alright- I think we really have offically started the teething process. This week has been a little tough on Miley- at times. Wednesday I guess at Grandma's she just started screaming out of no where and no bouncing, rocking or even laying on the changing table would make her happy- it wasn't until Pam stuck her finger in her mouth and massaged her gums that she finally settled down. Nana picked Miley up that day and her and Miley went to the store and got some Tylenol and gum numb stuff to have at Grandma's house. Then on Thursday out of the blue she started up again so Grandma gave her the Tylenol and put the gel on her gums and she was happy.

Last night we went out for tacos and Miley was having an interesting evening- when we tried to pass her around so everyone could get a squeeze from her she cried, she never does that, then all of a sudden she'd be happy again and smiling and laughing then the next minute she didn't want anything to do with anyone but her mommy. So that pain must just come and go in waves for her.

I also noticed that her whole right side of her face will get all flushed and warm out of no where and the left side will be normal- she hasn't had a fever with this, its just warm to the touch. Just to make sure everything was OK and to make sure if I should be watching for something more I called the triage line and spoke to a nurse and she said her own children had that happen to them- she said that it seemed like the side that the tooth was coming on would be the side that her cheeks would get all flushed- so it must be the bottom right front tooth she is working on- that's my guess.

Poor little lamb! I feel so bad when I know she is hurting. Sometimes she'll cry and just hold her mouth but thank goodness for the gum numb because that seems to give her some good relief. Did your children experience these same symptoms?? How long after they started having symptoms like this did the tooth finally pop through?

Miley gives Daddy a High Five

Miley's Rolling

Memorial Weekend

All kinds of things went on over this three day weekend. First off for the Miley stuff- she was rolling all over the place, although, she didn't want to show off for everyone when we were at Bob's house on Monday- if you lay her down and pretend you aren't looking that's when she'll roll right over. Here are some cute photos of Miley. I love these little overalls!


Here she is sucking on her toes- apparently they taste good! :)


Sitting at the counter with Daddy like a big girl!


I was just playing around with some features on my camera...



Here she is right after she rolled over, so proud of herself!


Here is Miley in her 'Bears Uniform' she kind of looks like a boy but I hope the ruffles give it away that she's a girl! And just in case people couldn't tell I had her wearing her pink shades at the game!! It was so nice that it was actually warm on Sunday- it was Miley's first time being in shorts! :) And yes- that's Daddy's number- 10- on her butt! :)



Since the Memorial parade went right past our house we went outside to watch it- Miley really liked the band when they went by, she must have known her cousin Dylan was playing the snare! :)


Then it was off to Hampton for another baseball game. After Nana got her Miley fix (she went a whole three days with no Miley, the longest since she has been born!) she decided to share her with Emilee and Grace Lorentz.



Miley got a Rody from Nana and Bumpa!!! She tired out Lauren's (Tasha and Joe's little girl) at Kaiti's graduation party and she loved it so Nana ordered her a pink one! It's so goofy looking but she loves it! :)



Our biggest accomplishment this weekend was putting in our laminate wood floor in our kitchen and dining room. Our kitchen had linoleum and our dining room had carpet (can you just imagine the messes Miley could make on that carpet!) Friday night Taylor pulled it all out and then Saturday he put it all in himself. He started around 10:30 and was done b 3:30! One of the many things I love about him- he's such a handy man! :)

Here are some before pictures...




And some after shots...




We LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It makes it look so much richer and warmer in there and it matches our other woods so well. Our next project is putting in newer carpet in the whole upstairs- we have a call in to the install guy...

We're Rolling!!!

Miley rolled over yesterday- THREE TIMES!!! YEAH!! Taylor was working with her on her activity mat and then he left her alone so she could figure it out herself- the smart cookied grabbed a hold of the little bar things that hold the toys over her head and pulled herself right over! The second time I was having a picnic on the floor next to her and she rolled right over to me to see what I was eating! Then the third time I laid her on the floor in her room while I put her clothes away and she was working on rolling for a good 5-10 minutes and finally she got it- but she was so worn out from trying that she could hardly hold her head up once she got over on her tummy- she'd look up at me as I was clapping for her and then she'd lay her head right down and sigh like- BOY- THAT WAS HARD WORK! :)

I'll try to get some video of her over the weekend.

And yes- Pam- I heard she rolled over at your house last week-- but Landon was the only one who saw her do it- so now this time it's really offical!

Advice

OK-- so I know this is totally a personal choice and that everyone has a different opinion and that times have changed and the experts give different advice from when we were babies but I'm just having a hard time trying to decide what to do.

I'm trying to decide when I should give Miley her first taste of rice cereal. I know I'm breastfeeding and she doesn't need it as my milk has plenty of nutrients and calories but here is the thing- Miley has taken quite an interest in eating lately- she stares at us when we eat and watches how we use our utensils and always tries grabbing and what we are eating. I have given her little tiny tastes of things here and there on her tounge for the fun of it (what parent doesn't) and she seems to really like being able to taste different things. I let her play with her own spoon when we are eating and she knows how to use it- she knows which end to use and she sucks on it and I sometimes pretend feed her with her spoon to see what she does and she acts like she knows how it all works.

My initial plan was to wait until 6 months but with her taking so much interest I'm almost kind of thinking maybe 5 months (2 weeks from now) I might try some cereal at least once a day and let her experience what she seems to be so interested in. If she doesn't like it and it doesn't go well I obviously wouldn't push it- but it's just a hard decision for me to make for some reason. I know my doctor said it would be just fine and I know many people who have started on cereal by 5 months but would just like some opinions.

Phone Fun

Miley thinks its the greatest thing when I take pictures of her with my phone- she gets all excited! :) And it's a great entertainer when we are driving in the car and she starts to get a little fussy!




**NEW TRICK** I taught Miley how to give High Fives this morning-- well- she just puts her hand up to your hand, the whole concept of slapping hands is a little hard to get, but the idea of giving a high five she has down! It was so fun to see her smile and laugh when we would say YEAH MILEY! after she would give us a high five.

Finally, a Warm weekend!

This weekend was so beautiful out! A little windy- but finally warm and sunny! I even wore capris on Friday and Saturday!! This weekend Taylor was supposed to go to a buddies cabin but it turned out that he had a fundraiser for Hastings baseball on Saturday morning so he couldn't go, so he decided to still miss his Friday night baseball game and have a family night with me and Miley. We went for a nice family walk around town and we were all in bed early- I think the fresh air and warm sun all day knocked us all out. Miley slept for 9 hours straight through! I couldn't believe it!!

Saturday morning when Taylor left for Hastings me and Miley walked over to my mom and dad's and spent the day with them. We went to my cousin Kaiti's High School and College graduation party- YES- She did post secondary so she graduated from high school and college at the same time! Amazing!! Congrats again Kaiti! :) When we got home Bekki came over to visit and Ben joined us shortly after and we all sat out on my parents driveway and had some snacks and smelled the beautiful trees that were in full bloom. Saturday night was my 5 year reunion and Bekki convinced me to go-- I just am shy when it comes to social situations- YES- I am shy when it comes to those type of things- so I said I would go and picked up Kelsey and we headed down while mom and dad watched Miley and we stayed for about an hour and a half. Then me and Miley had her first slumber party at Nana and Grandpa's. Taylor was up visiting a college buddy and taste testing all the home brewed beer he had been brewing, Taylor helped with a batch and he was excited that it was finally ready to try- he said that was the best batch out of the 3, of course!

Sunday morning my mom woke up to me and Miley cuddling on my air mattress in the living room- it was so cozy! Miley had woken up about 4:30 and I was very 'full' so I got up and fed her and we were so cozy so I didn't dare move her when she was done. Then it was off to the Bears game- Taylor got close to getting another home run for Miley but it landed right at the fence and he got a double. The Bears won over Hastings so it was a good game.

Sunday night was an awful night for me- I had two nightmares right in a row- I haven't had nightmares in a long time! I heard Miss Miley moving around in her bed around 3am and I got up to check on her and she was wide awake- so I fed her and slept with her in her room hoping my nightmares would stop if I was cuddling with her- I slept good until my alarm clock went off.

Miley slept like CRAZY this weekend- I think she is going through a growth spurt as she has been sleeping like crazy today too. I picked her up from Pam's and she fell asleep in the car at 4:15- woke up at 5 to eat and fell back asleep at 7 and she won't wake up for anything right now!

Here are just some fun pictures of Miley from this past week.... enjoy... and we are looking forward to a three day weekend! YEAH! The weather looks like it is supposed to be beautiful! I can't wait! Keep your fingers crossed for really warm on Monday so Miley can wear her 'Bears Uniform' to the game!

Mother's Day Weekend

Well, this weekend was my first Mother's Day weekend and it was a good weekend. Miley was so happy all weekend and I had a blast hanging out with her (not that I don't every other day) :) Friday night we went to visit my mom and dad out at the lake at their camper. It was a bit chilly so I dressed her up in her little poodle coat and slippers- she looked so cute!! And she thought it was fun to look out the camper windows.





Saturday morning I thought it would be fun to have Miley just play with a bowl and a spoon, I think I want her to just get familiar with them over the next two months before we start eating- she thought it was pretty fun to bang the spoon on the bowl and toss the bowl around- I tried to pretend like I was feeding her- she didn't want anything to do with it- she thought I was crazy putting a spoon in her mouth, so that just confirms that we aren't quite ready for that step yet which is perfectly fine with me- it will come with time.




Then we all took Joey to get his shots, he did a very good job, and then me and Miley headed up to Forest Lake with Jackie and her new puppy Bella to see Brittney. Here is Miley holding Bella- I think she needs a puppy this size! Bella is only going to get between 4-6 pounds! Isn't that crazy!! Joey weighed 74 pounds!


Sunday she gave me the best present of all- she slept through the night and then woke up at 5 so her and I went downstairs so I could catch up on my DVR'd shows while I fed her and then we fell asleep at 6 and slept until 9- it was AWESOME!! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ME!!! Then I opened up my cards- she was busy again at Daycare this week and made me a card with her hand and foot traced on it- it was very cute. Taylor told me that I get to go and get a massage for all that I do... so that will be nice. :) Then we went to Henry's baptism and Taylor had a ball game so we couldn't go to the party- so we went back home so Taylor could get to the game to warm up and in the mean time I went to see my mom and give her her present- a pretty bird feeder and cardinal food- a pair has been hanging out in their tree out their living room window- Cardinals are my mom's favorite! Then me and Miley went to the Bears game- as I was putting Miley in the car I told her that we have to go and see Daddy play because she is his good luck charm and he hits home runs when she is there- and what do you know- we got there and the first at bat we saw he got a home run! This was Miley's second game and Taylor's second homer of the season! We better go to more games!! Here are the gals hanging out in our shades!


And of course we had to go to Dairy Inn for their annual Sundae on Mother's Day- I had a turtle one and it was VERY yummy! Well, it was a good weekend and I'm sad that it went so quickly- back to work tomorrow. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there. As I told my mom today- you never truly appreciate the love your mother has for you until you have a child of your own and I truly believe that, I didn't know you could love someone so much until I held Miley in my arms for the first time and my love grows for her more and more each day. She is my world!

4 Months

Miley turned 4 months on Monday and she went to the doctor today- here's what they said:
Weight- 16 pounds- she doubled her birth weight which is what they want by this age
Height- 25 inches- she's in the 90th percentile
Health- as healthy as can be! Perfect little angel!
Shots- she didn't cry as much this time with the shots- this time they laid her on the table and I got to hold her hands and give her a million kisses and talk to her while it was happening- she stopped crying a little bit in between the shots- then I kicked the nurse out and fed her and that made it all better. Here it is 9:45pm and we are still awake- she's been sleeping since 6:30 in my arms- but that's ok- I would too if I had 3 shots today so we are hanging out a little bit before we go to bed- she is loving looking at me type and watching the computer screen!
Food- he said by her 6 month appointment he'd like her to be eating rice cereal so maybe next month we'll start working on that a teaspoon at a time and work our way up to 1-3 tablespoons twice a day

Miley is getting close to rolling- she will be on her back and roll to her side and almost get over but that darn arm still gets in the way- so we will keep working on it. She LOVES to sit up and look around. She talks all the time, smiles, laughs, and we discovered she has ticklish feet! She is just getting to be so much fun!




We had quite the eventful weekend last weekend- Saturday morning we went to the ECFE Baby Shower- they asked our opinion on whether we'd like to start a class once a month for young infants- I sure hope they do as I think it would be a lot of fun. There was practically all girls there and only 3 boys- but only one around Miley's age- he was 5 months old.

Here are the troops hanging out in the pool- Peyton, Miley, Sophie, Chole (standing) and Trent.



Here is a close up of P.M.S. :)



Then it was off to Kelly and Peyton's baby shower- there we got to meet Kelly's nephew Gus- he is 1 week older then Miley- don't they look similar!





Sunday was my cousin Ashley's wedding- Miley's first wedding! My camera died so I didn't get any pictures of her in her pretty dress :( I'll have to have her wear it again.

Then this week we found out that Miley was in the Beacon again! What a little star we have on our hands! :)

Our weekends seem to be filling up rather quickly- This weekend we are going up to Brittney's house with Kelly, Peyton, Jackie and her new little puppy and Sunday is Mother's Day, Henry's Baptism and Taylor's Bears baseball game- so it will be another full weekend- with lots of picture opts!

May Day

Over the past week Miley and Landon have been busy at daycare making May Day baskets so yesterday me and Miley, Jenae and Landon and Grandma Pagel ventured out to deliver them. Here is Miley bringing a basket to Nana and Grandpa- she was very excited to see them! :) It looks like we will be bringing the tradition back to life and making this our tradition- like Pam said yesterday- once Miley and Landon get a little bit older we'll have to do it like the old tradition said to- hang the basket on the door and ring the bell and run and hide!