I'm behind on blogging so I'm combining Blakely's 4 and 5 month blogs! We've done a lot since she was 3 months old! In July we took Blakely on her first beach trip to Hilton Head Island. She loved putting her feet in the water and playing in the pool. She didn't, however, love the wind and sand being on her so much! I'll have more beach pictures soon, but here's a teaser : 

At our favorite restaurant The Old Oyster Factory

 At Harbor Town

 Family picture- told you she didn't like the    wind :)

Nana lost her camera card with the beach pictures on it so I have to load some on a flashdrive to add to the blog later! There are some real cuties of Blakely and her cousin Penelope! 

I went back to school around mid-August and have left Blakely with my mom (Nana). Nana takes great care and plays all day with Blakely. She is doing great, but this Mama is having a hard time leaving her girl everyday. Those smiles and giggles are missed during the week, but sure are savored on the weekend!!! 

 Blakely has been doing so much in the past two months. Here's an update:

At 4 months Blakely:

weighed 13 lbs and 9 ounces (36%) 
was 25 inches long (65%)
is rolling over from back to front
wearing size 2 diapers
still wearing 3 months clothes and some 3-6 months (little squirt!) 
sleeping all night (most nights!- we are so relieved that we finally have a sleeping baby!)
loves to talk to us!
began eating solids (we started with rice cereal and apples!- she loved them!)

At 5 months Blakely Kate:

weighs around 14.5 pounds (give or take)

is around 25.5 inches long

is eating 3 meals a day (loves pretty much everything we give her, but apples and sweet potatoes seem to be favorites)

is rolling from back to front and front to back

is propping up on her elbows and trying to get her knees underneath her

goes after toys she wants on the floor

wearing size 2 diapers

wearing 3-6 months clothes and some 6 months clothes

is saying things like ("ya, ya, ya and ba, ba, ba)

still loves being outside and going for walks

follows Beacon (our dog) around with her eyes

First bites of carrots

 The result- haha! She loves them now!

Happy 5 months sweet girl!

This month we also took Blakely to Cranial Technologies in Charlotte to check to make sure she did not need a DOC Band. This was at the suggestion of our pediatrician considering Blakes didn't want to sleep anywhere but the swing the first 2 months of her sweet little life. Laying inclined in the swing helps with reflux, but can flatten the back of babies heads. The bands are used to help shape babies whose heads may have flat spots or are  more cone shaped. After we had some images taken and met with a physical therapist, we learned that Blakely is just fine! Her head is super round and she's as cute as ever.

 The past 5 months have been some of the happiest and laughter-filled of our lives! We love our little family. :)

Peace and Love, 

Kristen

3 months

Blakely is 3 months old! Blakely turned 3 months old while spending time with her great grandparents on July 6th! She came with me to celebrate my grandmother's 75th birthday (pictures of that to come!) With each month we fall more and more in love with our little girl. I never knew how much I could love someone until she came into our lives these few short months ago. She is growing and reaching all of her milestones right on target! At month 3 Blakely Kate is:

-Smiling more than ever!
-Laughing (mostly at her Daddy)
-wearing size 1 diapers
-wearing 0-3 months clothes
-eating 4.5-5 ounces of formula
-loving her "Lovie"
-sleeping in her crib (every night- hallelujah!)
-trying to roll over
-chattering all the time
- about 12 pounds and 25 inches long
-still enjoying being outside
-riding in her stroller without being in her car seat
-going to go on her first trip to the beach soon!


Blakely goes to the doctor again in August for her 4 month check-up so we will know her height and weight more accurately! She also has to get more shots! :( We are enjoying watching her grow and with each new thing she does we think it's just incredible- (I know all kids do these things- but it's special because she's ours! :))

Happy 3 months!

Smiley girl! 

Peace and Love,

Kristen

July 4th

Blakely's first July 4th was pretty uneventful! Travis was off work so we spent the day doing things around the house, since we have listed our house on the market. We enjoyed the day and went to Blakely's Mimi and Papaw's (Travis' parents) house for a cookout! Despite not seeing fireworks or any fourth of July festivities, Blakely was festive and celebrated our country's independence in style! 

Our sweet 4th of July girl! 

Happy girl!

Happy 4th of July! 

Peace and Love,

Kristen

Father's Day!

Travis enjoyed his first Father's Day with Blakely Kate! We spent Saturday with my dad on the lake so that Blakely and cousin Penelope could spend time with him! What a treat to have all of us together and Blakely loves riding on the boat. Sunday we went to church and spent the afternoon as a family. That evening we had dinner at my mom's house to celebrate all of the daddies! Here a few pictures we took of Travis and Blakely on his first Father's Day!

Daddy and Blakely

Her Father's Day outfit!!

We are blessed with a wonderful Dad to Blakely!!

Peace and Love,

Kristen

Blakely Kate is 2 months!!!! On June 6th, she turned 2 months old. Time is flying for us and she is growing and doing new things everyday!

Blakely is:

- smiling all the time!! This is Mommy and Daddy's favorite!
- making all kinds of noises
-playing on her playmat
- following things with her eyes
-loves to watch the fan or anything repetitive move
-loves to go for walks in her stroller
-play in the baby pool
- eating 4oz. in her bottle, playing for a while, then taking a nap
-wearing 0-3 months clothes
- wearing size 1 diapers
- loves to be held and look around at everything
-took her first trip on the boat on Lake Norman

Blakely weighs 10 pounds and 11 ounces and is 23 inches long. This is the 50th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height! She is so precious to us and brings us so much joy! We love you Blakely!

June 6, 2013

sweet smile!

Little Monkey

Before church!

Peace and Love,

Kristen

 As I mentioned in the previous post, we spent Memorial Day weekend at my grandparent's home in the mountains! Travis was in Georgia for a Bow Shoot, so we took off to the mountains!  My Granddaddy said he thought "the mountain air was good for Blakely." She enjoyed being outside and was really grinning!  She got to meet most of my cousins and almost all of her great aunts and uncles. It was her first overnight trip away from home and she did okay. Mom and I had to take turns holding her as she slept at night because she would not sleep in her "play yard" at this point.  Here are a few pictures from our trip.

First time meeting her Great Granddaddy

"Gigi"- Great Grandma

With her "first cousins once removed"- Emma, Blake, Zach, BR

4 generations

Her Great Granddaddy kept saying how "proud he was of her."

It was a great trip and we can't wait to go back and visit again soon! 

Peace and Love,

Kristen

Mother's Day

Have  I mentioned how difficult it is to have time to blog with a newborn? It's my goal to blog once a week, but I haven't done a great job so far...I would much rather be playing with her! I will do better....

Our first Mother's Day together was so special. We went to church and I received the "Mom with the Newest Baby" award- a beautiful bouquet of calla lilies!  This was our first time back to church since Blakely was born and she did great! She slept through the whole service and Sunday School!  After church we had a nice late lunch at Mickey and Mooch! Monkey did great there, too! She is growing so fast and I feel so blessed God chose me to be her Mommy!  Here are a few pictures from the day : 

 I love kissing those cheeks! 

 Our sweet family

 Picture with Nana

Mimi and Papaw

For Mother's Day, Travis gave me a hilarious card telling me what a "hottie" I am. It was really funny and cute! On the back, he wrote a sweet note and then wrote that we were going for a weekend away to the Lodge on Lake Lure. Blakely has had serious colic and her first couple of months of life have been special, but also a challenge for Travis and I.  He asked my mom if she would keep Blakely so that we could have a weekend away to rest and get refreshed. We just went for our weekend and it was so nice! The Lodge was beautiful, the food was delish, and our time together was wonderful. We hiked to Chimney Rock, spent some time on the lake in a canoe and just relaxed. We sure did miss our Monkey Girl though! We couldn't wait to get back Sunday to kiss those sweet cheeks and hold her!  She is the biggest blessing in our lives and we are so grateful for her! 

 Lots of fun canoeing!

View from breakfast

View from our bathroom

Blakely and I also recently went to visit my Grandparents in the mountains. That will be the next post! :-)

Peace and Love,

Kristen