Scarlett is FOUR months old!

 At four months, Scarlett:
*weighs 13 pounds 4 ounces (40th %ile)
*is 26 inches long (97th %ile)
 *still only sleeps a few hours at a time at night.  She might give me a 3-4 hour stretch, starting around 8 or so.  Then she will wake every 1-2 hours after that the rest of the night.  We are exhausted!  I am trying to get her to bed earlier and now she is only swaddled from the waist down, but nothing seems to really change.  She just loves to nurse and cuddle in the middle of the night!

*naps about 4 times a day, usually around 45-60 minutes. She is only awake about 2 hours if I can help it
*Sleeps in her crib and in her Pack N Play.  She did sleep in her crib overnight (well, for 3 hours!) a couple times this month but we ended up moving her back to our room
*Incredibly happy and good.  She is such a joy.

*She rolled tummy to back on February 3 - Lilli LOVED cheering her on

*She rolled back to tummy on February 12 - Mommy and Daddy both got to see this one!
*Had her first bottle of Alimentum formula on February 16.  I mixed it with breastmilk and she took it ok.  I wanted to give her some because we are going to Nashville for the day without her and she might have to supplement.

*Still nurses every 2-3 hours during the day
*Stools vary, mostly yellow but changes from runny/mucusy/seedy.  Haven't seen blood in a while.  I did add some hidden dairy back into my diet but she hasn't had a stool in a few days for me to see what it does.  Maybe it makes her constipated!?
*Has some eczema/dry skin on the outsides of her legs and torso and arms
*Eyes are still very blue, hair is blonde and sometimes sticks up in the middle like a mohawk

*Wears size 3-6 month clothes and either size 1 or 2 diapers, depending on what we have
*She has really started interacting with Lilli and it warms my heart.  She LOVES watching Lilli play around her

*Had her first Valentine's Day.  Daddy got her a pink hippo that Lilli loves and named "Promise"

Overall this has been a long month, due to her not sleeping and big sis having a bad cough.  But we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel - it can't be like this forever!  Plus, seeing the personality come out of this little baby makes it all worth it!  I remember things getting so much fun around 4-6 months with Lilli so I know we have lots of things to look forward to!

Pictures...

I absolutely love taking pictures of the girls.  I think that is obvious.  I am not very good at it, but I try not to let that stop me. I especially enjoy dressing them alike and sitting them in the chair just to snap the photo.  I wish I were better at taking my camera out and about and getting pictures of them actually doing things, but my camera is big and I have enough to lug around, not to mention I hate being that mom.  This year, though, I hope to get more pictures outside our house!

Here are some recent ones I took that I thought turned out cute.  I have these collages hanging on our wall now...

Today I went upstairs to get out some old pictures of Jason and I.  My mom was asking me who I think the girls each look like - so what better way to find out?  Most people agree that Lillian looks like Jason and Scarlett is starting to favor me.  But after looking at these, I'm not so sure!

Are you ready for some cuteness!?
I don't have years/ages on these because our mothers were apparently too busy raising us to write down the info on the back of the photo.  If only we had blogs back then!

Forgive the crappy quality, old pics + scanner = hard to see.

Mommy-

 

Scarlett DEFINITELY has my chin.  I can claim that.

I'm pretty sure I almost squeezed whatever young animal I was holding to death.  But thankfully my mom was more concerned with getting a picture.  Good job, mom!

 Proof that dressing your girls in silly outfits just to take their picture is NOT something I came up with on my own... 

Cheer up, Ash...then again, my outfit is clearly cuter than yours.

When I was looking through old pictures I found this one of me and my old dog, Cricket.  She loved me and I loved her!  Here I am with the chicken pox, and she wouldn't leave my side. I see Lilli in me here...

I've always loved playing sports AND having my picture taken.

 (I won't scan the group shot but I was full on bawling in that one.)

And my grand finale.  I want to question my mother's intentions on this hair style.  

Really, mom?  Really?

Now for some pictures of Jason!

  I don't have many pictures of him as an infant, but how about this one - 

hubba hubba, look at those thighs!!

I see ALOT of Scarlett in these next two!

   How cute is this face!?

 

 I see Lilli in him as he got older -

 

And, because it wouldn't be fair to put an embarrassing photo of ME without doing the same for Jason, doesn't this picture scream, "I'm pooping right now!" Hehehe...

Well kids, that was fun.  Now I am more confused than ever as to who Lilli and Scarlett look like.  I do know one thing, though.  I will NEVER give my girls permed, teased bangs.  I can't say the same for "foo-foo" outfits, though.  Some things never change!

Scarlett is THREE months old!

 

Just look at that sweet face!  Scarlett is THREE months old!

At 3 months, Scarlett:

*weighs 12 pounds and 1/2 ounce (40%ile)

*is 25 inches long (90%ile)

*sleeps only 2-3 hours at a time at night.  Major regression this month!  She started the month sleeping 6+ hour stretches but something has changed and Momma is not a fan!

*naps are not consistent but when she does sleep she can give me a good hour or two.  Seems like every other day is a good nap day.  The off days she likes to catnap for about half an hour

*She takes most naps in her crib now that Daddy installed a nice warm heater in her room

*Sleeps in her Pack N Play bassinet (we took the "newborn napper" out, tear!)

*Laughs, smiles, coos at me all the time - she is always happy

*Loves to be on a blanket or her rainforest play mat.  She can now hit the toys, which excites her!

 *She found her hand/fingers this month, which means a drooly but happy baby!

*She sat in the bumbo seat for the first time this month, which you can see she enjoyed. 

Sister enjoyed it, too!

*She hasn't rolled over but she is getting pretty close.  This is probably because I don't put her on her tummy enough, but I hate making her cry!
* Can hold her head up well on her own
*Is exclusively breastfed and only takes bottles when I can't nurse.  She takes about 4 ounces at at time
*Her stool has improved, but it still not what it should be.  I have not had dairy in almost 6 weeks.  Her weight gain has been above average, though, so we are still not thinking about formula
*Skin is clear but seems to be sensitive
*Hair is getting lighter, eyes are lighter blue but I don't expect them to stay blue
*Wears some 0-3 month clothes, some 3-6
*Wears size 1 diaper
*Doesn't like her carseat or the swing, she would rather be held or flat on the floor
*Had her first cold this month - had watery eyes and a small cough, some congestion
*We all had the stomach virus but she didn't get it (thanks to nursing!)
*Experienced Christmas for the first time
*Went to her first MCHS basketball game on January 13 - she did great, even sleeping through most of it

Scarlett Jean,
You have brought so much joy to this family!  Your sister, Daddy and I love you more than you can ever know.  I cannot wait to see what next month holds, I love seeing you grow and explore the world!

We love you!

Christmas 2011

Hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!  We did at our house!

We had several family gatherings, including a peaceful Christmas morning with just the four of us.

Here are some pictures from the entire month of December, as they tell the story best...

J and I attended our first ever tacky sweater party.  Next year I need more accessories and possibly a skirt...

Lilli and Scarlett were "jammie buds" - her term

 We watched LOTS of Christmas cartoons and movies

We had a picnic and included Brady the cat

 Daddy got in on some cuddle time with his girls

We made gifts for Lilli's preschool teachers

 I was able to go to her Preschool Christmas party, which is a nice perk of  being at home and not teaching...

 Then Lilli had her very first preschool Christmas program, where she did a "Rudolf Poky," sang "Jingle Bells" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

 She did NOT like the red nose painted on and rubbed most of it off!

 She barely sang a word but looked adorable in the outfit my mom made her!

On the 21st Daddy turned 30 so we did our annual photoshoot -

In fact, we had lots of photoshoots this month!

This one for Auntie, the state's biggest basketball fan

 Scarlett was less than thrilled about the Christmas outfit photos...

Visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus went very well this year - no waiting in line and best of all, NO TEARS!  Sadly we didn't get to actually EAT at Patti's but we enjoyed the next best thing, Cracker Barrel!

Lilli couldn't believe that Santa knew what she wanted (Snow White and the "3-7 dwarfs") and that we had a dog named Cooper!

Scarlett turned 2 months old (and got her 1st round of shots, boo!)

We had our first Christmas celebration at Kevin & Amanda's

 Lilli was SO excited to open presents!

 Scarlett didn't make a peep all night.

 She loves playing with her cousins!

 

We had another family gathering at my aunt's house but I forgot my camera!  Here is one pic from an I-phone, though

Christmas Eve we went to my parents' house and saw my sister

 We opened more gifts, including tickets for my dad from Ash to the UK/Louisville game,  which led to the best photo:

 Lilli also loved being surprised

 Proof I was around...

 Scarlett did what she does best...

 Lilli modeled her new shoes...

 and passed out on the way home!

 After the power nap in the car, she sat out cookies and milk for Santa (that she had made earlier with Daddy)

 Daddy read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" like he does every year...

 

 On Christmas morning Lilli opened more gifts

 But because we had church I didn't get too many pictures.  I didn't even get one of them in their dresses together...bad Mommy!

I did get one of Scarlett in her dress, though.  She slept all morning so Lilli had already changed into her play clothes.

 After church my parents, sister, Granny and Jason's Granny came over for brunch

 Lilli opened gifts for Scarlett

Scarlett wowed the grandparents and my Granny

 Lilli performed her Christmas program songs...

 

 And her and Auntie modeled their new Toms...along with Scarlett's

 Big and Little!

 Daddy has been off since Friday and we are spoiled with all this family time!  Tonight we had dinner together at the Mexican restaurant and both girls were fantastic.  We are so lucky to have kids that are easy to take out and about!

What a wonderful month December has been!  I know that next week will be hard with the post-holiday let down so I am trying to soak it all in while I can!!

Gotta go - this post has taken me hours to write and I am ready for bed!