Month 3 Update

Dear Gentry,

You are another month older and we had another month of fun adventures.  You, once again, have amazed your parents with how much you've changed in over a short period of time.  My little newborn is fading away and is being replaced by such a smiley, happy baby.  We don't have an EXACT schedule down yet because our day to day routine changes at the drop of a hat but you adjust well.  What was once my biggest stress has become so easy, you eat well and about every 3 and a half hours.  We were going every 4 hours but that put you going to bed at about 11PM.  Now you go to bed at 10 and don't get up until after 7AM!  I am so blessed!  Just this last week we stopped swaddling you because I noticed that at nap time you sprawl out.  See, my little newborn is fading away!  Every night I put you in your bed wide awake with a pacifier and you go right to sleep by yourself with little to no fussing. (thanks Baby Wise)  It is so hard for me to say goodnight because you are so darn precious and you are usually chatting away when I put you in your crib.  I foresee this becoming a problem when you are in a big girl bed and can speak actual words....like Mother like Daughter.  

Our days at home are absolutely wonderful!  The best present your Daddy ever gave your Mommy was the chance to stay at home with you!  He works so hard so I can feed you every meal, see your every smile, change your every diaper and wipe your every tear.  I feel so blessed to be your Mommy but even more blessed to be your Daddy's Wife.  Most days we have a day full of eating, napping, chores and working on tummy and back time.  All day long we talk and sing to each other.  You already enjoy the same music as your parents such as Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, The Civil Wars, plus many more.  We also play plenty of Elizabeth Mitchell and Caspar Babypants for you!  The louder the music is playing the better.  

On August 26th, you were baptized at Perritte Memorial United Methodist Church by Rev. Josh Hale.  It's the same church your Daddy was baptized in 27 years ago.  You wore the same baptism gown your Mommy wore almost 30 years ago.  Cooler than that, your Pops wore it 57 years ago.  Even Cooler is that your Great Grandfather Papa DeFord, wore it 98 years ago.  The coolest part is that your Great, great Aunt Belle wore it 100 years ago in 1912.  It was made by your Great, Great, Great Aunts.  We were so blessed to have both sets of your grandparents and your Uncle Evan at the baptisim along with our closest friends the Kahldens and Cullen!  After church we had them all over for a nice lady like lunch.  God has blessed us so richly!   

 Your beautiful parents.

 Pops and Lolli

Buddy and Gigi

 Uncle Evan and Gentry in the outfit he got you.  It's monogrammed!

Uncle Evan using the Bumbo seat and Tilly 

Update:

Weight: We are guessing 12 lbs
Length: We guess 23.5 in
Head: No guesses here Our next Dr. apt isn't until 4 mos.
Eating: 7AM, 10:30AM, 2PM, 5:30PM, 9PM (give or take 30 min)  1st feed is a bottle of bmilk.  5oz.
Bedtime: 9:30-10 PM
Rise:7:15-8 AM
Naps: 7:30-8:30, 12-2 and cat nap at 7
Diapers: You wear your Fuzi Bunz cloth diapers so well!  Size 1 at night but only until we run out of our gifted diapers.
Clothes: 0-3  Fit well.  You are still in NB shorts and have a few NB outfits you can still fit in.  You don't fit in shoes.  Not even the 6 week old shoes.
Favorites: Tummy Time Mat and Activity Bar, Pandora, Penguin Mirror
Latest tricks: You can blow bubbles on demand, You say "pooop" and you can "sing" Beyonce's All the Single Ladies (ohohohohohohohohohohohoh) 

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things!

A baby brings a lot of things.  By things, I mean stuff.  Like a whole new room full of stuff.  Like you didn't already have enough stuff.  Now you have to get more stuff.  Here are a few of our favorite...Stuff!

1.  Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets

They are the best!  Not only are they huge but they are light weight and perfect for baby to be swaddled in.  I have 8 muslin swaddle blankets and then a friend introduced me to the bamboo!  Now I have 3 bamboo swaddle blankets.  We use one everyday!  I keep one in the car for just in case.  It's so big I can even use it as a cover when I breastfeed.  Seriously my favorite!

2.  Avent Soothie Pacifier

These are perfect for the breastfed baby.  They are shaped like the human nipple.  What?  Your nipple doesn't look like that?  Wait until you breast feed.  The end.  The only bummer about this paci is that I can't find a strap that I like.  The one I have doesn't grip onto clothes well.

3.  Medela Breast Pump

As I posted here, breast feeding can be hard.  Without a pump I would have totally given up!  I was given a 13 year old hand me down and it would probably would have worked wonderfully for a milky mom but for me I needed the letdown button that was not on the old model.  I purchased the Medela Pump in Style!  This is one of the few items that I would say you don't want to scrimp on.  It's expensive but well worth it!  I have traveled a lot in G's 2+ months and it's easy to travel with and I love the cooler it comes with!

4.  Video Monitor

I know many parents who have done fine without a video monitor but it's one of those things that now that I have had one I don't see how I could live without one!  I originally registered and got the Baby's R Us Summer Monitor and a few weeks ago after only a month or so of use the night vision pooped out.  I am now in the process of getting the Motorola Video Monitor.  From everything I researched, it comes highly recommended.  It's also $100.00 more.  But I hope it's worth it because it will be one of the few items that I feel like I will use into toddlerhood....maybe even hide it in her room when she is a teen!

5. Fuzi Bunz Elite

I am in love with cloth diapering!  I had a ton of people with little faith in my cloth diapering Gentry.  We have done it for almost 2 months and I love it.  I love seeing her cute, colorful bum.  When we are staying at home it's all she wears.  My plan is to do a whole post on diapering.  Just so you know, I love fuzi bunz!

Sure there are other things we use but these are my top 5 favorites!  I will probably do more posts as Gentry gets older and has new favorites!  

Month 2 Update

Dear Miss Gentry,

Another month has passed and it was even better than the last!  I imagine that will happen again and a again for a while!  This month was full of fun.  You traveled to Dallas and Houston to see friends and family.  In Dallas, you met your future boyfriend, Rhett!  You slept and he seemed more interested in his Sophie Giraffe.  It's cool.  Yall have plenty of time to get to know each other!  Your little personality is really starting to pop out.  I love, love, love getting you from your crib in the morning.  I say "good morning, G" and you give me a giant smile with your eyes closed and give me a little dance!  It's the best.  You give me a ton of smiles through out the day.  Sometimes I think you are practicing to be a dramatic actor because you love going from pouty face to smiley face and back and forth.  You surprised me one morning when you crawled over your Boppy and were laying next to it when I returned from the kitchen.  I thought I would be able to leave you alone a little longer but NO!  I guess we will be leaving you on the floor from now on.  You had your first holiday this month.  The 4th of July didn't disappoint.  We went to watch fireworks with Drew and Sarah.  You and Sarah matched.  I foresee a lot of that in the future because it's just so darn cute!  We love you so very much and we thank God every day that he trusts us to be your parents.

Update:

Weight: 10.25 lbs  (22nd percentile)
Length: 23 in (84th percentile) 
Head: 15.7in (95th percentile)
Eating: 7AM, 10AM, 1PM, 4PM, 7PM and 10PM (give or take an hr)  1st feed is a bottle of bmilk.  4oz.
Bedtime: 10:30
Rise: 6:30-7:00
Naps: 8-10 AM and 2-4 PM and a cat nap around 9PM
Diapers: You wear your Fuzi Bunz cloth diapers so well!  Size 1 at night but only until we run out of our gifted diapers.
Clothes: 0-3  They fit well length wise but are baggy.  Still in NB shorts
Favorites: Your Little Lamb Swing, Fans (on or off), Your dog Scout and anyone who talks to you.
Latest tricks: You can climb over your boppy!  You smile all the time!