5 Months

Sarah turned 5 months on Sep. 25. This month promises to hold LOTS of new changes. We are currently in the process of switching over to formula. Talk about a ton of work! She is being a trooper, though, I must say! We also plan to leave her for a weekend when we go to Chattanooga, TN for a wedding in October. Pretty excited for a getaway weekend but nervous about being gone from her for that long. It'll be good for both of us...and if she's not weaned by then, I'm pretty sure she will be after that weekend. (I promise, Connie, I will make sure she is BEFORE that weekend :)!)

Here are the fun things Sarah is up to these days:
-Sleeps from about 8 to 4, wakes up, moans and groans, gets the paci stuck back in and goes back to sleep until about 8...great sleeper! AND we no longer swaddle!
-Doesn't seem to mind being on her belly. Rolls from belly to back and back to belly but doesn't care to do it that often.
-My unofficial length measurement for SJ is 27 inches.
-She is genuinely content about 95% of the day. Takes about 3 naps a day that range anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.
-Smiles at just about anybody and for any reason. Might take her a minute but if you persist, you will get a sweet toothless grin.
-I can still leave her on a blanket or on her play mat for about 30 to 45 minutes while I do chores or work around the house. She is just fine to play by herself!
-Can find the television in every room no matter where we are...even restaurants!

I absolutely adore this little girl. She is sweet, cute and soooo lovable! I told Daniel the other day that personally, I think we have the best baby in the world! Ha, I know all parents think that! However, I will say Sarah has been just about the easiest baby I have ever met. Not that I really have experience or other children to compare her to but she is definitely spoiling us!

Newborn Buddies!

Congrats to three of my friends!

-Timmy was born to Amy on Sep. 5th

-Blair was born to Becca on Sep. 13th

-Reese was born to Kate on Sep. 18th

It is baby central around here! I don't yet have pics of SJ with all of the new babies but here she is with Miss Blair...

Buddies

A couple of weeks ago, I snapped a few pics of Sarah with one of her besties, Anna. Doesn't it look like they are in deep conversation here?

Rain makes corn...

This past Saturday, our whole play group plus some extended family ventured down to Cave Springs to check out the Ozark Corn Maze. About 14 adults and a plethora of children braved the maze. It was hot out but we had a mission...don't get lost, eaten by children that live in the corn or abducted by aliens! The guys had maps, the girls had kids, and we set out. We were told it would take about an hour. After about 15 minutes (with no kid strapped on my back, mind you) I was ready to find the exit! Smart Kari thought she would wear jeans because surely the walking paths would have tall stalks scratching my legs...wrong! I totally could have worn shorts. I was miserable...even my eyelids were sweating! Thanks to Woody and Brian we made it through the maze with no wrong turns in about 30 minutes.

I'd always wanted to do a corn maze. There was one in a town not too far from Stillwater when I was in college but nobody would ever go with me. I would totally do this one again...if the weather isn't in the 90s! They even had a petting zoo, corn cannon, cow train and pumpkin patch...wow! Thanks to everyone who went...it was a blast...except for that whole heat thing. Enjoy the pics!

Rice Cereal

Dear Mom and Dad,

I'm turning into a big girl.

And, I'm ready to try some big girl food. Although, I'm not sure what this white crap is you are putting in my mouth.

Clearly, I do not like it.

Whatever, just let me do it. You can try again tomorrow.

Love,

SJ

I can tell Fall is getting closer...

...camouflage clothing, guns, and dead animals are lying around.

Daniel is always so eager for this season...he started the season off with hunting doves over Labor Day weekend. I do not get the thrill but I'm glad he has the opportunity to do what he loves!

Poor birdies...

Bacon and Jalapeno wrapped dove breasts...surprisingly, somewhat tasty!

Camping...with a baby!

Camping with a baby was totally not what I anticipated. I thought it would be miserable! SJ did so well and I'm so happy to report that it was a success. So much a success that our play group has now planned a fall camping trip...not really because it went well for us but because we all enjoy each other and enjoy camping. I cannot wait! Anyway, back to this weekend's camping...

My favorite thing to do in the summer while growing up was spend weekends at the lake swimming, skiing, and camping. As I've gotten older I have always worked in at least one weekend per summer of skiing. I LOVE it. This summer I had relinquished any plans of camping/skiing because of Sarah. BUT, my parents bought a boat, Labor Day 2010 set up to be a great weather weekend and my sister and parents wanted to spend the weekend camping. I thought, "well, I'll suck it up and see how SJ does." This is how she woke up after our first night camping...

She slept 10 hours! SUCCESS!

Our New Trick

The sweetest words...

..."umm, Kari, I love you."

Said with such certainty, innocence and matter-of-factness. I love you too, sweet Kellen!

Kellen told me this three times yesterday. I think I almost cried everytime. I love Kellen's innoncence and sweetness. Some day he is going to make a girl the luckiest girl in the world! My other favorite thing he said was after being asked what color baby Anna's eyes are..."umm, probably brown." I love that a 2 year old says "probably" and uses it correctly! Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys, Shawn!

And yes, Daniel, it's sweet when you say it too! :)

Goodbye Bumper Pads...

This is what I found when I went in to check on my baby girl around 11 last night. Even though you can't see her face, she is sound asleep!

So I took all the bumpers out because I didn't want her head getting stuck underneath one leading to suffocation...thanks for the nightmare-ish thoughts Shawn! Haha! :)

When she started talking around 5 this morning I went in to put the paci back in and I was afraid she was going to bump her little head so I stuck one small bumper in behind her. This is what I found at 9:30 this morning. She had moved all the way to the other end of the crib!

(Btw, this little girl slept from 9 P.M. to 9:30 A.M., with that one wake-up around 5...Crazy!!)