Quinn : 6 months

s i x m o n t h s
Quinn you've been with us for 1/2 a year and I'm trying not to cry. The time with you has been amazing and flown by WAY TOO FAST.
You are a master at rolling and want to crawl but haven't figured it out yet, so instead you move in circles on your stomach and roll to get where you want to go!
You've been moved to the pack & play at daycare for naps and are starting to only take 1/2 hour naps, thankfully it doesn't hurt your nighttime sleep where you get 10.5-11 hrs!! Your hair is starting to come back in and growing over one of your ears, it's the cutest thing. You are a Drool Machine but still no sign of those teeth! You can sit up pretty well on your own & try to get there on your own but instead get a great ab workout!! Lots of firsts this week: wedding, hotel stay, 2.5 hr car trip, MNF game (on TV), daddy daycare day, picking apples, and helped mom with a senior photoshoot.
Giggling and Babbling are some of our favorite sounds from you, you weigh a little over 15 lbs and we are so blessed by you in our lives!!

Loves: standing, rolling, her tongue, watching TV, chewing her thumb, grabbing her feet, playing peek-a-boo, Tags
Hates: waiting to eat, being overtired
Nicknames: gremlin, miss Quinn, chunky chicken, Quinn babe
Skills: rolling champ, sleeping through the night (again 👏🏼), sitting on her own

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Quinn : 5 months

f i v e m o n t h s:
Quinn you have started talking up a storm. Mainly it is a tactic to keep yourself awake, I think, but either way, it's adorable listening to you try and make words haha.
This month flew by much like the rest. You had 4 month shots on the 15th and did great. Also at that time you weighed in at 13lb 4.5oz.
You went to your first birthday party for cousin Kaylee on the 20th and loved playing with her birthday crown.
You helped mom serve supper to the 4-H kids at the county fair - everyone loved our wildbird sling. You enjoy watching the cows in the yard with dad, and would crawl in there with them if you could.
We have successfully dropped your swaddle and rolling over from your back to stomach was your big accomplishment this month - it's now one of your favorite things. Dad and I can't set you down thinking you'll stay put anymore 🙈
You hung out with mom at work this afternoon and did so good - a great Anniversary present!!
Your smiles get sweeter by the day and we adore you so much, even if you don't sleep through the night anymore!! 

Loves: rolling over, her tongue, LeRoy the Lion, petting Ember & Daisy, watching sports with dad, chewing on your thumb (hope she's not a thumb sucker)

Hates: waiting to eat, being overtired

Nicknames: gremlin, Quinn Babe, munchkin, chunky chicken

Skills: Rolling, sitting up (for longer periods of time before falling over)

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8.29.17 Photos by Creative Pictures 

Quinn : 4 months

f o u r m o n t h s
Quinn you have the best smiles and your giggle is to die for. Your legs got even stronger this month and you'd rather stand than do anything else. You've almost perfected your hand eye coordination and a new favorite is grabbing people's faces!! You had your first little accident at daycare this month but it was by far harder on mom - otherwise daycare has been agreeing with you!! Grandpa Jim gave you a bottle for the first time (prepared by grandma) and him and Grandma Marilyn were your first babysitters for a few hours!! More often than not, you will sleep through the night for us and we all appreciate the extra sleep.
You are weighing in at 12 lbs 14 oz and we love every inch of you!! 

Loves: standing, holding things, watching Ember, eating, her tongue, watching TV

Hates: being gassy, waiting to eat, being overtired, being held when she could be standing instead 

Nicknames: little gremlin, miss Quinn, chunky chicken, girlfriend, munchkin

Skills: standing, holding things, sleeping through the night

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Nursing Must Haves

I've been meaning to put some posts together of things that have saved me during this transition into first time parent. I love reading these from other moms so I hope you enjoy!!

We are a little over 3 months into our nursing journey and I'm so thankful - if you would have asked me on day 6 if I enjoyed it I probably would have broke down in tears. It is a crazy big adjustment, see also PAINFUL, I never thought my nipples would heal!! I'd obviously never done it before and then sleep deprived trying to feed this little human who is also new at it while stressing that they aren't getting enough, or that the latch isn't right and ohhh and the cluster feeding ... wow seems like ages ago! So, new moms, I promise it gets better.

Here are some things that I've found helpful:

// Lanolin or some type of nipple ointment // For the first couple weeks I was making sure this was being applied after every feeding and it helped soothe but I think just putting breast milk on and letting it dry was what healed my nipples the best - that and Quinn and I finally figuring each other out!

// Timer App // I got the app Baby Tracker and it has a timer so you can keep track of each side and then it reminds you what side to start on next - suuuuper helpful!

// Nursing Bra // This sounds like a no brainer but I almost forgot to get one. I currently have a cheap one from zulily but am looking at the new one that ThirdLove just came out with. I've heard a lot about this company lately (hello 1/2 cup sizes), and just look how comfy this bra looks!! *ThirdLove is giving my readers 10% off of the new collection, just use code TLJLY10 

// Nursing Tanks // I've always been someone who wears a cami under my shirts and let's face it those aren't nursing friendly at all. I have some perfect nursing ones now from Target

// Snacks // Some of my favorite easy little snacks for keeping my body in milk-making mode are KIND bars, Peanut Butter on anything and everything, oatmeal energy balls and cheese sticks. To be honest, eating is one of the things I find hardest - I'm just not used to eating this much!!

// Boppy Pillow // This was helpful when she was smaller and so awkward to hold, plus it allowed a little more hands free nursing

// Nursing pads // I use the Lansinoh brand and also have the reusable bamboobies

// Nursing Cover // For nursing in public without giving everyone a show. I have one from Copper Pearl that I also use as a carseat cover, and that is handy then it is always with us

// Mom Dresses // With going back to work I needed some more nursing friendly clothes. I have a few wrap dresses that are nice and easy to pull down. I also just found these dresses with a hidden side zipper from Roolee and that is a nice feature!

// Patience // As I mentioned earlier this didn't come easily for me. I was so stressed because she was a sleepy eater so I worried that she wasn't getting enough or that the latch was wrong. Then she was spitting up blood that ended up being from my raw nipples *sorry for that graphic* but when your 7 day old is spitting up blood you freak out a little and I'm thankful it was just from that!! Our hospital has a great lactation staff and we visited them a few times, their reassurance and help was so nice and I left there always wishing I could fit their fancy scale in my diaper bag!!

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting and more that I'll learn along the way but this is my short little list so far. What are your must haves??