Nola365 is going to become Nola52

I think it goes without saying that I can't keep up with a blog every single day. Days just get too busy and unpredictable with a 4.5 month old. Therefore, I am making the executive decision to turn Nola365 into Nola52 and do a weekly update! I will still try to blog about non-Nola subjects in between (though, they'll probably still involve Nola!). I think I'll do these on Tuesdays since that's when she turns another week old and Jan 1 was on a Tuesday! But for today, here are a few pictures of Nola from Birth to 4 months! It's crazy how much they can change!

In the hospital, only a couple hours old...

1 month through 4 months...

In the hospital and 4 months...

Nola365 1.5.13

I think this happened on Friday but it was just too exciting that I almost forgot (?) !! I got Nola to laugh! It was the funniest thing I've ever seen! I had to work her up to it but once she got going she was cracking up! I'll let the video speak for itself!!

Nola365 1.4.13

Nola got to hang out with her daddy today! I went to take advantage of a Christmas present from my in-laws and got a manicure and pedicure! I think she survived but this was the look she gave me when I got home:

:)

Nola365 1.3.12 - The Swaddle!

The swaddle, it's a blessing and a curse. Nola has been swaddled for sleep since she was born. When we brought her home from the hospital we swaddled her that night and she has slept great as a result (aside from the lovely 3 week growth spurt that lasted...well about 3 weeks!). The swaddle has been great at getting her calmed down as well thanks mostly in part to Dr. Harvey Karp's The Happiest Baby on the Block (I may make a separate post to discuss how well the 5 S's worked for us during Nola's first 3 months!).  Recently, though, I decided it was time to start transitioning out of being swaddled at night. She's about 4 1/2 months old and she's pretty much grown out of the swaddle blankets that we have, so rather than buying new ones that we wouldn't use for long I decided that was a good reason to start.

I was dreading it, I didn't want to lose the precious 8-10 hours of straight sleep that she was giving me. We started last Friday night with swaddling one arm out. To my surprise, she slept great! I knew there was no turning back. I did this for a few nights and the other night when she kept trying to get the other arm out I knew it was time to go for both arms out. Last night we went for it and overall, it went better than I expected. She went to sleep around 10:30 and had some trouble when I first laid her down, but after she got herself to sleep I didn't hear a peep out of her until about 5:15am. Once again, she had some trouble getting herself back to sleep so I decided to pick her up and help her, I got a few more hours out of her before she was ready to nurse.

I'm pretty excited and surprised at how relatively easy it's been to transition her out of the swaddle. I think once she figures out what to do with her arms and hands while she sleeps we'll be good to go! Next challenge...getting her to sleep in her crib at night! (She sleeps in the Pack N Play in our room right now).

Nola365 2013 - 1.2.13

Nola loves her Baby Einsten jumper! I purchased it in November after I figured out that she was getting bored with her swing and bouncy seat. She loves to sit up and it has really helped her develop the skills to reach for things. When I first brought it home, she couldn't reach the floor, but after a while we figured out that if we put something under her feet, she could reach and enjoy jumping as well!! When she's really awake and in a good mood, this is easily one of her favorite places to play!

There's so much to play with!

Before - Can't reach!

After - Jumping away!!

Nola365

I saw someone else explain this idea so I thought it would be a good way to really get into blogging more! Everyday this year I'll try to get one here and blog about what Nola is doing and how she is growing and learning. I'll throw some updates on the rest of us in there also! (Disclaimer: No guarantees that I'll actually post something every single day, but I sure will try!)

January 1, 2013

Nola is 19 weeks old today! That's 4 months, 1 week and 4 days old! As cliche and it sounds, it really has flown by so fast! I can really see the wheels turning and her learning how to do so many new things!

She's getting a little too big/old for her bouncy seat! Here she is telling me, "Mom, this thing is for babies, look how easily I can get out!" I think I'll be strapping her in from now on!!

For good measure, here is her 4 month picture...she's such a ham!

I used to blog a lot more!

Before we got married, but after we met, I had a blog that I actually updated. Feel free to read! Sweetly Broken...