Cheezing for the Camera

I wanted to note on here since I haven't is that a little over a week ago I finished nursing. Ever since I began formula, my milk kept drastically slowing down. I finally decided that it was time to let it go, plus she was transitioning well with the formula. It was sad but at the same time I was also ready to have my body back.

Pool Day

We finally got Braylea's pool set up today and let her have at it. She loved it! She gets a kick out of splashing herself.

My Baby is 7 Months Old..

Just hanging out..

The innocent look..

Love that smile!!

The onry look..

The new look of Miss B..makes me giggle every time.

And the best for last......................

Even Closer..

Daddy Day

Yes, this is horrible. I don't have a picture of Braylea with her dad...but not totally my fault. He was gone all weekend and didn't get home until late Sunday evening, so the thought of a picture didn't pass my mind. But until a picture with her dad..here are some of my visit with my dad.

Uncle Jason protecting Braylea from Baron, Dad's dog. She loves dogs!

Jason brought her back into the living room and she was looking at him like she wanted to go back in..too funny. How do you say no to that face??

Well..maybe I'll go in myself.

I reallllly want in there!

Family Time

We had family time this weekend...my cousin and family came down. We had a good visit. Braylea loves playing with all the kids.

Abbey was playing the Wii and Braylea was very concentrated on the TV. You barely find her sitting still..this is one in a few!

Smile of the Day!

Won't be long!

Morning of Braylea

I love her facial expressions in the morning so I thought I'd share..

Sleeping baby...in her OWN bed!! :)

Big stretch!

Mom, are you serious?? Fine, here's a fake smile!

Can I go back to sleep?

Here's your smile, now get that camera out of my face!

Uh oh!

These pictures cracked me up! We had a wedding to go to last weekend and we stopped by a friend's house to have a drink before the reception..and Braylea wanted what Daddy was having!

Her look is perfect..like she just got caught doing something wrong..lol

Teething update..

This process is sooo slow or I could have been jumping the gun before..she just keeps having all the symptoms but they keep getting worse. Last night was the dreadful night I could have lived without. I put her to bed at 9 (by the way, she has been sleeping around 10 hours each night..IN HER BED!!). I went to bed around 10..she woke up screaming around 10:45. I knew exactly what it was. That day she had diarrhea and had started getting a diaper rash. I tried putting gel on her gums..screamed bloody murder! I felt soooo bad..I hate not being able to make it all better. So to make a long story short..we were up most the night in the recliner. She would fall asleep with me rocking her..then would wake up screaming and the whole cycle over and over again. Its been a long day let me tell you. But I guess she was fine all day while I was at work and has been happy for me since I've been home. I hope we don't have a re-run tonight..momma needs some sleep!!

Braylea's Open-Mouthed Smile

Summer Love

Sunday Braylea got to experience her first swim. I was nervous that she wouldn't like it, but she's just like her momma and loves the sun, water, and floatie..all together!

She was content just playing with her turtle in the house! But she had no idea what was to come..

She loved it! The picture doesn't show her excitement much..but just believe me that after each picture she would get a huge smile on her face with a squeal..she is a punk when it comes to the camera!

The water was a little chilly at first so I was trying to get used to it before getting her in the water. Once her feet hit the water, she was pumped! Didn't even phase her, so I just immediately stuck her in her floaty and she just kicked away. We had a great time!

Breast Milk/Formula

So, I have been strictly nursing from the start of having Braylea. I don't regret it at all and truly believe it has given us a bond that I would have never had with formula feeding. I have never developed an over-abundance of milk supply. I took almost a whole week for my milk to come in at first, then while on maternity leave, I was unable to get a frozen supply because she ate every hour and a half to two hours, that I didn't have enough time or supply to pump. It has all worked out though the past 6 months, but now I feel the stress again since she started eating baby food. Since she isn't eating every feeding from me, my supply has definitely dwindled. Sometimes I can only get 4oz out when pumping; therefore, I stress that she won't have enough food while I'm at work. Also, in the past week or so, she hasn't been sleeping all night. When she wakes up, she wants to eat, then every two hours after that. I'm not going to lie..I'm tired! I have been praying about this for a few weeks now and have decided to start only supplementing formula right before bed to see if she will sleep longer. I did this last night for the first time. I was so nervous she would wake up screaming from a stomach ache or would have some other reaction to it..but she slept...ALL NIGHT!! So, I'm not giving up on breastfeeding because she isn't cranky during the day like she isn't getting enough to eat, but I am going to keep the trial up at bedtime.

A part of me is ready to stop completely to get my freedom back but the other part isn't. I keep thinking how nice it would be not to have to pump two times a day at work and also be able to go somewhere without worrying if I will have somewhere to pump(if not with her) or feed her privately. The other part still enjoys the fact that I can supply the best nutrition possible for her.

And now a picture of the big girl in her crib..she loves it!

Baby Shower

Tricia and I held a baby shower Sunday for Kari and baby Kamden. It was different having a baby shower while having the baby already there! It went real well and she received some real neat gifts.

Kamden is up to 5 lbs now and very healthy!