3 months

So, I guess we've been pretty busy this month, so I haven't gotten to post at all. Kya has changed so much in the past month. She has started smiling, and we've heard her laugh a few times. She also has started "talking", and I love when she's by herself and she just starts making noises as loudly as she can. I think she might be quite the talker. I do love that she can smile, though because she has peed all over her changing pad, and then, she gives me this big toothless grin, and you just can't be upset when she does that. She has started to get fussier - I think if she takes a short nap, she doesn't like to be in her crib by herself. She is pretty social and loves to talk and smile at other people. She's also flipped over from her stomach to her back a few times, but it's been awhile since she has done that. The most awesome thing she does now is SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!! She started doing that at exactly 10 weeks! We really tried to get her on a schedule, and I think that is what did it. Thank you babywise! She eats so much, too! Eric and I are so blessed to have Kya, and we are so thankful and humbled that God trusted us to raise her. We won't be traveling around as much this month except to go to MS to visit Eric's family, and maybe go to a football game. It gets tricky going anywhere for a lengthy period of time since I am still breastfeeding. I always feel like I have to worry about how much time has gone by since I have pumped or fed her. I know it is so good for her, and she hasn't been sick, yet - even though Eric and I have both had colds, plus it is FREE, so I will continue to do it, but I won't miss the whole schedule thing or worrying about what time it is. Kya made another trip to Houston because I had a workshop at Rice University about negotiating a faculty position, which was helpful, but also intimidating. I was away from her for two days, and I did pretty well, but I missed her like crazy. My parents were so nice to watch her, and the picture where she is laughing is when she is sitting on my dad's lap, and he had asked her if she was going to poop on him again. She has kind of explosive bowel movements, and sometimes they are leaky. I have tried like three types of diapers, but she has leaked through all of them! I'm sure she'll really enjoy reading this when she's 13!

2 months

Kya had her two month appointment on September 3rd, and she weighed in at 11 lbs 2 oz and 23.5 inches. She is in the 50th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height. We were getting excited that maybe Kya would be tall until my mom burst our bubble that yours truly was in the 90th percentile for height when I was little, and we all know how that turned out - I stopped growing at 2 until I was about 13. With two short parents, Kya will most likely be short! Kya also had to get two shots and drink one immunization, which gave her diarrhea. Kya didn't cry when she got the first shot, but she did when she got the second, and dang it my eyes teared up exactly like they did the last time she got a shot. It's like the instant I hear her cry out in pain, my eyes tear up. It's terrible! Eric made me hold her, and after I cried, he promised to hold her from now on. We both hate her getting shots, but we know it's for the best! Then, Pop Noah and Nana came in town that night. I am so glad that they picked this weekend because I was sick with a nasty cold, and they took the late night feedings and helped take care of little K. My dad told me that he actually planned his meeting in Huntsville so that he could come visit - I guess when you're the boss, you can do that. Apparently, they are going to start having monthly meetings in Huntsville.... One new thing Kya has started doing is sucking her thumb, which I think is funny, but we try to discourage it by taking her thumb out when she starts doing it. It's weird to me that she has just started doing it, but I guess she finally found her thumb. We have tried to give her a pacifier, but she always spits it out unless we hold it or put her hand up to her face so she can hold it. Also, the Jersey Shore girl onesie is a gift from our dear friend Katie who is from New Jersey. I am in no way endorsing the MTV Jersey Shore show, but I think Kya looks so cute in this onesie! Thanks Aunt Katie! The next photo is Kya watching TV. She squirms around until she can see the TV all the time. Eric claims that Sportscenter is her favorite show. The last photo is showing Kya flipped 180 degrees from how I put her down. I have no idea how she does this. I guess I should put a camera in there to film it. I can't believe how big little girl is getting, and she has started to smile all the time. It is so cute!

8 weeks

Kya is growing and growing! Sometimes she eats 6 ounces! I think she is going through a little growth spurt right now because she wants to eat more frequently and eats a lot at a time. We let her cry one day - only to discover she really was hungry not just cranky. I felt so bad when she sucked down 5 ounces in record time. We have started to figure out that she really only cries like crazy if she's starving. There have been a few times that she has fussed herself to sleep, but that only lasts for 10-15 minutes and it's just random whimpers with an occasional cry. We have survived our first week of day care, and she has done so well! The first day she slept the entire 3 hours, which was bad because she was awake and screaming in the afternoon. I never let her sleep that long during the day anymore (at least not until she is taking fewer naps). Eric and I are so thankful that the church has children's day out for infants, so we have something part time and it's cheap. Plus, since Eric works there, we don't have to work any days, and Kya always has a spot even if we show up late. She has started raising her head a lot now, and she has definitely become more aware of her surroundings. She has started smiling at us when we smile at her, which has been really cool. Plus, sometimes when we're talking to her, she answers with a little coo. Eric and I have truly enjoyed watching her grow, and she's only 8 weeks! The picture of her in her little red dress is her first day of children's day out, and the others are around the apt.

7 weeks

I can't believe Kya is 7 weeks! She is still the cutest baby, and she still sleeps good most of the time. She has started eating a lot more and going longer between feedings - thank you Jesus! We had a problem with fleas around our complex, so unfortunately our oldest (Fletch) had to be sent to stay with Grams and Big Daddy for a little while. We already miss him!!! Sandy was here this past week while I went back to school, and boy was she a life saver! She took the late night feeding, and I actually got about 6 - 7 hours of sleep a night. It was awesome! I missed her last night when Kya woke up at 3:30 needing to burp, then again at 5 to eat. I will treasure these times, but I will be glad when she starts sleeping through the night! So, she is starting to follow me or Eric around the room. I recorded her following me last night. It really was the cutest thing! I even woke Eric up so he could watch her follow me. I am so excited about watching her become more aware of her surroundings and starting to do things. Being a parent is such a blessing! God is so good!

6 weeks

I can't believe Kya is six weeks already! She has grown out of her newborn diapers, and she can now wear 3 month onesies. She is so long!!! Her little gut is getting bigger, too. Eric's sister, Hayley came last week and took lots of pictures of Kya. I'm so thankful for her camera! She did a great job. Plus, she let Eric and me go out to eat one night, and it's always nice getting away for a night. The only problem with breastfeeding is that I always have to make sure I am pumping if I'm not feeding her, so it makes things time a little restrictive when we go somewhere. I'm glad that I'm breastfeeding, but I do feel tied down to the clock. One thing that was awesome that happened was that Kya flipped from her stomach to her back this past week. I missed it because I was at the gym. She is already so strong! Today she followed Eric across the room, so she is starting to look us in the face and follow us. Our prayer is that she continues to grow strong and healthy. She is a very pukey baby, so you'll always see her in a bib in most pictures. I normally have baby puke on my clothes at the end of the day, and I normally don't change until the day is over.... Aww the joys of motherhood. Plus, she peed on me the other day, and for some reason, I didn't think it was that gross. I'm not sure why, but I guess when it's your kid, you don't care.

Eric's mom is coming today to help out when I go back to school next week. I am so thankful! I'm going to try to get up really early and practice what it's really going to be like, so we're ready next week. It'll just be nice to be able to run errands without having to take her or worry about when Eric is going to get home. Although she is quite the sleeper when I take her out. She has never cried even if she's been awake - I know that will change soon enough, but I will enjoy it for now.

One month

I can't believe that Kya is one month, and she has gained weight great! She is now 9 lbs 3 oz and 21.5 inches long. She took her first road trip to Houston last week, and she did great in the car. We were so thankful! Eric and I got to go to the MLS All-Star game against Manchester United. It was awesome! My dad got us some great seats, and we got to see several awesome goals from Man U. Surprisingly, there seemed to be more Man U fans over MLS fans. Then, Jolie and Adam took us to an Astros game where we sat 5 rows up from home plate! Thank you Adam's job! Now, I'm just trying to get ready to go back to school! It starts in two weeks!!!

3 weeks!

I can't believe Kya is already 3 weeks old! She is growing so fast! Eric and I are getting a decent amount of sleep, and he has started helping with the middle of the night feedings - thank you pump! Kya gets gas really bad, so some nights are worse than others - I guess depending on what I eat. Eric decided to do a full night for me one time, and she did not sleep the entire night - bless her heart. I don't know if it has fully set in that we are parents, but it is so much fun, and she is so precious. It's crazy how much she changes! She is definitely more alert and vocal than she was the first week. She's pretty laid back unless she has crazy gas or is hungry or has a nasty diaper. Funny moments from the past few weeks:
- She sprayed Eric's hand with poop one day when he was changing her
- She peed on me the other day while I was feeding her. I'm not sure how that happened - yes she was wearing a diaper. It's funny how when it's your kid, it doesn't seem that gross.
- She smiles when she has gas. It's really sweet.
- She was following Eric's dad with her eyes, and sometimes she looks at me so intently it seems like she knows what I am saying.
- She turns bright red when she's "working things out"
- Sometimes when she wants to eat she puts her mouth in this "o" shape, and it is so cute!

Basically, I think that she is the cutest baby ever, and she has gotten so much bigger in just three weeks! Eric and I are so blessed to be her parents!!!! We'll be headed to Texas tomorrow, and hopefully, Miss K decides to sleep most of the way. We'll be going to the MLS all-star game on our 3 year anniversary (July 28th), and we'll go to an Astros game with Jolie and Adam. So excited!!!!