3.75 months old

LOL--I had no other post title other than to put "updates," and I thought that was boring and I use it way to often.

So, anywho, rice cereal for STTN = big fat fail. She's still waking up once to eat. However, we decided that since she's not STTN anymore anyways, we might as well try to de-swaddle again to see if maybe that was inhibiting her STTN. It wasn't, but she is sleeping the same with her arms out of the swaddle, so that's great news. As long as she can get through more than 2-3 hours of sleep at a time with her arms out, I'm happy. She's been going about 5-6 hours when she's 1st put to bed (with the exception of last night when she was kinda fussy and kept waking up). She'll eat, zonk back out and sleep for about another 4-5 hours. All in all, she's getting about 10 hours of sleep a night. I wish it was more, but she seems to be doing well on it.

My decision to start with the de-swaddling had a lot to do with the fact that she started rolling! Gabriella rolled twice from her belly to her back on Wednesday with our daycare lady. I have yet to see it, b/c apparently its cool to keep those kinda things hostage from mom.

Also, she's getting super grabby (to the detriment of my hair). I was encoraging her a lot this weekend. Putting toys within her grasp and trying to make her reach out and grab stuff. She's not there quite yet, but she is definitely interested and I *think* she is doing the actual reaching, just not getting the "open hand and grab" part yet.

Gabriella has her 4 month check up on Thursday. I cannot believe my baby is almost 4 months old. She is almost completely out of her 3 month clothes. Actually, technically she has outgrown them, but I was still putting a few select things that I love on her. But, I definitely won't be able to do that anymore since fall really made her grand entrance overnight and its downright chilly here. She fits nicely into her 6 month Carter's stuff, and its definitely time for those adorable long sleeved onesies and hoodies. Today I had her in a long sleeved brown with white polka dot onesie, with a pink, blue and white cupcake, and pink cords. Oh the cuteness!

Rice cereal!

After much deliberation, I decided to start Gabriella on rice cereal. She would have normally started next week after her 4 month appt, but after 3 weeks of not STTN (after STTN since she was 9 weeks), with feeding times getting increasingly closer together overnight, and an overall feeling it might be time, I took the plunge. I was nervous she wouldn't like it, but man, to say that she loved it would be an understatement. She was almost attacking the spoon with her mouth. Granted, a good amount dribbled down her chin, but she did really like it and really started getting the hang of it at the end. I think I might make it a little thicker tomorrow. After she finished her entire serving, she downed a 6 oz bottle and is now sleeping....hopefully till tomorrow AM!! Fingers crossed!

This weekend was a busy one for Gabriella. She met her 5.5 month old cousin, Nicholas, for the 1st time. They were adorable together....very curious about each other and they even spent a little time babbling to one another. Gabriella also met her fellow fort monkey, Kendall, and mommy Jenna; both adorable!

Gabriella and Nicholas

Jenna, Kendall, Gabriella and mama

Gabriella and her 1st time having rice cereal

Thank you!

Thanks so much to all you ladies who left the sweetest comments yesterday. They were so nice to read. Today I am doing much better. Gabriella was being super cute all night until she went to bed last night and I soaked up every minute that I could with her.

I miss Gabriella

I'm sitting here today at work just thinking about my little girl and trying with all my might not to burst into tears. I'm out of tissues at my desk and if I go into the hallway it will particularly evident that I'm not holding up well. I don't know why today is such a hard day. This is already my 3rd week back at work and while I must say goodbye to my baby girl every morning, I feel physical pain when I am apart from her. Its a certain heaviness in my chest that makes it hard to breathe when I'm not with her.

I know I ranted on and on about how I was eager to go to work, to get back to some amount of "normalcy," I even *gasp* was looking forward to being away from her in the sense of taking a break from it all. I've come to realize quite quickly that its not at all like I thought it would be. I hate that I can't be with her all hours of the day...to see her smile and squeal, to learn new things...even to throw a tantrum when she's overtired or doesn't want to be put down. I would give anything to be with her right now....

::thank goodness I found some napkins from Friday's lunch on my desk::

Cuteness!

Gawd, I love my child. She is SO strong....she wants to sit up all the time and can bear a good amount of weight on her legs. Just a little eye candy :)

Gabriella and Mama

Daddy and Gabriella (aka the good luck charm)

Happy 3 month b-day, baby!

Tomorrow Gabriella will be 3 months old--my little girl is getting big quick! I don't know if I will remember to blog tomorrow, so I wanted to make sure and commemorate her 3 month birthday.

I'm pretty sure that Gabriella is in her 3 month growth spurt right now--the child will not stop eating. Today she downed 2 of her 4 oz bottles in 3 minutes. I could not believe my eyes. She's also been cranky as well today, which is not her norm anymore (since her reflux has died down). I think its safe to say that after she's done with this growth spurt she's not going to really fit in her Carter's 3 month onesies. She's growing so incredibly fast!

I went back to work last week and I can't say that it was easy. However, as heart wrenching as it was to leave Gabriella last Monday morning (yes, I cried and it totally took me by surprise), after a couple of hours I was ok. Tuesday morning and the rest of the week were just fine. Getting to spend the morning and evening with her are my favorite times of the day. In the morning she just smiles and squeals --I just want to eat her up she's so cute! Everytime I try and capture her gummy, eye wrinkling smile I never can b/c she is moving so much. Arms and legs are always flailing when she's excited and super happy to see mama.

Tomorrow is Miami's 1st game--not that I particularly care, but Chris is so excited for Gabriella to wear her Miami onesie that I got for him as a gift when I found out I was pregnant. I will definitely take pics and post.

My sister is coming into town on her way back from Europe on Thursday and I am so excited to see her. Last time she saw Gabriella she was 4 weeks old--she's in for quite the change! Anywhozzles, I leave with a few snapshots of my cutie, taken yesterday and a few days ago :)