24 week summary

GROWTH SPURT!

Personality
Addison continues to have a lively personality!  She still shows her temper quickly and LOUDLY! While she still does GREAT going places with lots going on.  But, we are facing some new challenges.  She has started to realize when Mommy and Daddy walk out of the room.  She will quickly let you know if she has noticed us not around.  Over Christmas Break, I was with her day in and day out.  I was very nervous about sending her back to Ms Carla, but she did ok.  A little clingy, but overally good.  Then, we had a snow..WEEK! I got to be with her for an extra FOUR days!  That was such a blessing.  But, now- I am starting to see that she is completely attached to Me, Joe, and Carla.  She is not doing well at the church nursery, at all!  Neither of us had any idea that we would have Addison not wantt to stay with others since she goes to strangers so easily.  But- from what I have read- a lot of this is age. 

Nursing
She has become quite distractable during feeding.  If Joe is moving around the room at all, she is unlatched and looking around.  She has also quit unlatching before she pulls back off of my breast- OUCH! We clusterfed this week for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday- so I believe she is taking in about 7-9 ounces per feeding, but since she hasn't been to away from me much this week, it's hard to tell.

Waketime Length
First wake time is about an hour and a half, while the rest are almost always spot on 2 hours.

Naps
Addi continues to not be a great napper consistently.  There are still times where she will sleep two and a half hours, but there are other times where she will only sleep an hour and a half.  But, we have pretty much cut out the 45 minute intruder when we are at home.  I think that is due to blacking out the windows.  I base that on the fact that she still wakes at about 40 minutes when she is with Carla.

Nighttime Sleep
I think we have FINALLY figured it out!!! One night, she just didn't see tired enough for bed, so I rocked her in the dark living room until she seemed drowsy.  Then, I went to the bedroom, sang the song and put her down- without a PEEP! This was during week 23, I think.  We think she just needed some wind down time, since bath time is so happy for her.  It seems to be working consistently.  The only struggle we have had is that some nights she wouldnt get that swimming eye look, and we would lay her down anyway and she would cry and cry and cry... It almost felt like we were starting over.  But, I just didn't want us to be doing all the work FOR her.  This week, she cried it out for an hour one night, twenty minutes the next, and silent the next.  So- praying that we are really in a good rhythm now.  Next baby- we are going to do true blue CIO sooner.  It's just always something... growth spurt, wonder week, teething... never ends!

She sleeps from about 7:15-6:00. 

Growth
We did have a growth spurt this week.  I feel like that kid weighs a ton :) She is getting so grown-up (in a baby sort of way).  I am very anxious to see what her height and weight are at our appt on Feb 2nd.

Outings/Events
SSSSNNNNOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!! We had so much snow this week, my classes were cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, AND Thursday! Happy Mommy! Happy Addi! Happy Daddy! Monday we trekked around in the snow with Addison in the carrier under my jacket.  Mommy and Daddy tubbed down the Home on the Hill hill.  Addison was very unsure about all this freezing cold stuff! She had a very serious look on her face the whole time we were out :) Thursday night, we went to our old Small Group dinner.  She was up extra late that night.

Solids
I have been trying to up her food intake a little and offer more variety.  In the mornings, I give her commercial organic oatmeal and a new food (same for 3 days), then at dinner I give herrice and a veggie or a fruit we have already had before.  This week, we tried prunes because she had some very solid poo nuggets.  The prunes have mushed it up a little.  I used commercial organic prunes made by Plum Organics.  I like the packaging and the purity of this product! We also had some sweet potato, butternut squash, and pears this week.

Skills/Milestones
We are working hard on sitting unassisted. She can do it, but its not solid enough for us to leave her alone while doing so.  I'll let her fall to the side and roll, but I don't like to let her fall backwards on her own.  

She is pushing up and strengthening her arms really well.  Today and yesterday, she started really pushing up on her legs too.  Even though today is part of week 25, I don't want to forget this- she got up on all fours before bathtime and rocked for a brief moment.

We are pretty sure that her second tooth is coming in this week.  She was really distracted while nursing today and cried out like it was hurting her to eat.

Her favorite trick right now is serious raspberries and spitting.  She might be in the middle of crying and start blowing spit and distract herself briefly, it's pretty funny!

I don't remember what week she started it, but she also throws her arms around and seemingly hugs us.  Precious!

Schedule
5:30-5:45 (unfortunately) wake and nurse
7:00 nap
9:00-9:30 wake
9:45 nurse
10:00 solids (cereal and our newest food)
11:30 nap
1:30 wake
2:00 nurse
4:00 nap
5:30 wake
5:45-6:00 nurse
6:00 solids (rice and a veggie or an "older" food)
6:30 bath
6:45 dry and lotion
7:00 rock time
7:10-7:15 down for the count!

I think that's all for now.  We are just so in love with her.  Really and truly more each day than the day before!