Happy Half Birthday!

Happy Half Birthday, Sweet Girl!!!

I'm going to say it again, and probably every day from here until forever, but time is flying.  I've already been back to work for FIVE weeks! I thought it was going fast when I was at home, but now its crazy and I hate it and I love it.  I love the changes she's making and how she is progressing into such an adorable personality, but I hate that she's not my teeny tiny baby anymore :(

Routine/Schedule: We've not changed a whole lot since birth.  She still sticks to a pretty predictable three hour schedule.  Eat, play, sleep.  We've been trying to get her bedtime locked in at 8:30, and by 'we,' I mean me.  Brett would love it if she stayed up til closing time and slept in, but I don't think that's the best idea he's ever had...

Excited to go to the pool for the first time!

Feeding: She's been changing up the feeding schedule a bit, and I actually am enjoying it.  She wakes up between 5-6 most mornings, we eat in bed and then she sleeps until almost 10am! That's when she next eats anyway, sometimes she wakes up and talks for an hour or so.  From that feeding, she eats every three hours.  I really try to make it home from work in time to breast feed her before bed, but that only sometimes happens.  This month we will introduce a few solids.  Slowly ... since daddy had so many allergies.  She's been exclusively breastfed thus far, so I think we've probably eliminated her being highly allergic to most things, so that's a relief.  But, you never know! "Under one, foods for fun" is the motto I'm living by, breastmilk is the real deal for this babe.   

Waiting for Daddy to get out of the shower and listening to him sing

Sleeping:  We've hit the 'Four Month Sleep Regression.' At five/six months. She was born early, so I guess that's normal.  Evidently this phenomenon is due to babies converting to an adult sleep pattern and their brains not knowing how to handle it.  In addition to taking in so much new information and developing their brains, so it's a good thing.  

She is much better at napping, in her crib now.  She takes a good morning nap and afternoon nap, but fights the evening nap.  We try to put her to bed around 8:30PM (it could be earlier, but then I would never see her on the days I work, so she's up late because I'm selfish).  She sleeps until 5-6, feeds and then sleeps until 9:30ish.  With the sleep regression, she's started waking up multiple times a night, fussing for ten seconds until we give her the paci, and then back to sleep.  It's nice that she goes right back to sleep, but it's also annoying because none of us get quality sleep.  Oh well, this will pass and then she'll be 18... 

Stats: We had our six month check up today and Veda is growing like a weed.  She is now up to 15 pounds, 10 1/2 ounces and is 25 1/2" long, both are between the 25th-50th percentile.  Her head is in the 75th percentile... daddy's little girl ;)  She tolerated the shots like a champ and has been napping quite well today.  I hope it's not shot related and is instead a big girl thing, we shall see.  We packed up all the 3 month and 3-6 month clothes, so she's strictly wearing six month outfits now.
I also asked our pediatrician about a red/pink spot she's had under her right chin.  It doesn't seem to bother her and we weren't real sure if it was something we needed to get checked out or some sort of birthmark.  He thinks its ringworm/fungal.  I don't know where she would have gotten that and it doesn't look like ringworm to me... so we're trying an antifungal cream for 2 weeks.  If nothing changes, he's fairly certain it is eczema.  I wouldn't be a  bit surprised if it's the latter.

Struggles: I don't feel like we're struggling with anything right now, although my husband may disagree.  His career choice is such a rollercoaster, he's been working really hard to accomplish his dreams but I know he's frustrated because he still hasn't made 349827459847 billion dollars.  I keep reminding him that it really doesn't matter, because we're happy and have a relationship unlike anyone elses and I wouldn't trade that for the world.  

Going to work isn't easy when I have to leave this!

Being a Shark with my daddy on Father's Day

Milestones:  Her biggest milestone that she met, is rolling over.  She's such a sweetheart, she waited for my day off to show us she could do it! We actually missed the first one because when I went to get her out of her crib in the morning, she was on her tummy! She can't roll front to back, so she gets real frustrated after a while. We're working on it.  We're also working on sitting up independently, right now she just kind of folds in half :) She recognizes her name when called, found her feet, chews her fingers all the time and is the happiest girl, constantly smiling and giggling!

Playing in my Exercauser

Reading my crunchy book while hanging out in the MamaRoo

Still love my playmat!

**New Category**
Likes/Dislikes: Veda is becoming more 'vocal' about what she likes and doesn't like.  She loves bath time, playing with daddy when he pretends he's going to drop her, listening to daddy sing, watching basketball (or anything with a lot of action), looking at her reflection in the mirror, playing with her crinkle book, playing in her exersaucer and having both parents present.
She doesn't like having her diaper changed, having the sun in her eyes, how long it takes daddy to get a bottle ready on the days mommy works, or being alone.  

Adventures: We've been to the local pool for a swim, which she loved; to a friend's 3rd birthday, where she was on her best behavior.  Daddy told her he was going to show her the Universe and took her to the Griffith Observatory; and recently we met some coworkers for lunch and play at Dave & Busters.  She is so sweet to everyone, letting them hold her and smiling at them.  Everyone tells us she's such a good baby, and she really, really is.  

At Griffith Observatory with Daddy

At the Burbank Pool with Henry

At Dave & Busters with coworkers

How we (the parents) are doing:  We are doing well.  This coming weekend Brett has the daunting task of hosting a bikini contest in Avila Beach.  Luckily I don't have to work, so Veda and I are going to tag along, although we'll probably skip the contest.  I love Avila Beach and I never need much persuading to go back to the Central Coast of California ;)

With Mommy on the 4th of July

Loving Daddy Daycare :)

Looking forward to: Nothing! I want time to slow down! I'm so sad that she is growing so fast.  I want to be excited about her becoming a big girl and learning new skills, but I love this stage right now.  I can see her brain developing every day.  It really is incredible.  

And in case you forgot... I was trying to think of a cute way to capture her growth over the next year, so what I've decided is this: I bought a dress that's size 12 Months and I plan to put her in it every month until it fits.