How to roll over...

First you lie like this.

Then you flip like this.

Then you curl up like this.

Then you cry for your mom to come get you. Because rolling over to your belly is a big deal, but not so much fun when you can't go anywhere from there *smile.

16 Weeks

Hi friends! I am 16 weeks old today. So much to celebrate!

• I spent my first Independence Day in my mama's hometown of Charles City, Iowa. I was one of many pretty cute kids at her 10 year class reunion, which was a picnic in a park. Too bad I'm too little to swing and go down slides because they sure looked fun. The parade was exciting because there were a lot of new sights and sounds including firetrucks and America's Hometown Maaaaaarching Band!

• I found my toes! And now I play with them all.the.time.

• My mom's friend, Sophie, gave me my new favorite toy - Sophie the giraffe. I had been asking for one my entire life and Miss Sophie didn't even know it! She's a great friend and I love my new toy. I think of her every time I chew on Sophie's face, ear or leg. Don't worry - it doesn't hurt. She's made out of natural rubber silly.

• I have a lot of people tell me I'm skinny. And to that I'd like to say compared to what? 

•  I had fun playing with my baby cousin, Wyatt, while I was at my grandpa and grandma Sinclair's house. He's three weeks younger than me, but eats a lot more and seems to have chunkier thighs. So I guess if you're comparing me to baby Wyatt, then yes - I'm skinny. But what I lack in girth, I more than make up for in volume.

• I'm still figuring out this sleeping stuff. I don't really like falling asleep without my mom, but I'm slowly learning. Sometimes I fall asleep in 15 minutes and sometimes it takes 90 minutes. You just never know! I'm teaching mom and dad patience. I'm typically waking up two to three times a night still, but sometimes it's only once. The good news is that my first stretch is usually about five hours or longer so according to this article that means I'm sleeping through the night. Go me!

• I love it when mom and dad sing and talk to me, and I try so hard to talk back to them. I have a few favorite songs that I always get very excited for when they start singing them.

• I blow lots and lots and lots of bubbles now, which means lots of wet shirts. Guess they better break out the massive stack of bibs that everyone told them they'd need.

• I took a 2 hour nap at daycare. That's a BIG improvement over my typical 30 to 40 minutes I was doing.

• I graduated to the 3 to 6 month Mommy and Me class. We get to lay on the floor, play with toys and sing silly songs. Mommy loves going because she gets to ask questions and get advice from moms who have "been there."

• Daddy worked a half day so the three of us could go to the beach earlier this week. I had heard a lot about this sand and water stuff, but it was even cooler in real life. Sure makes me excited for the Sinclair family vacation up north in just a few weeks. I can't wait to swim with all six of my boy cousins!

• Mom tried to get me to wake up after nursing one night recently (so I'd eat more) so she stood me up. I opened my eyes for a few seconds, but was so sleepy my head quickly fell limp and I fell back asleep while standing. She thought it was quite possibly one of the cutest things I've done so far. 

Beach Baby

Tom took a half day on Monday and we hit the Lake Elmo Park Reserve beach and swim pond. Yay for nice weather! It was hot, but the breeze felt great. Gwen got to experience sand and water (other than bath water) for the first time, and was so tuckered out from the fresh air and activity that she had her eyes closed within minutes of being in her stroller. The water was peeeerfection. Next time we'll go earlier before the lifeguards start their shifts at noon because rumor has it you can use flotation devices when they're not there and we have a floaty deal we're eager to use for Little Miss. We had to keep her in the shade today (the big umbrellas provided plenty), but took turns catching some much needed rays.

I think she's a fan! And of course I think she loved showing off her fab and fit baby legs. Who wouldn't when they look like that?! Squish! (This nursing mama, on the other hand, needs to buy a suit that - ahem - fits, but swimsuit shopping is most certainly not on my list of things to do anytime soon *smile.)

View from here...

We did some cuddling this morning...

Do you see what I see on that head of her's?

HAIR! 

BLOND HAIR!

*smile

Baby's First Independence Day

Requirements for a successful 

First Independence Day:

1.) Have at least three red,white and blue outfits.

2.) Take as many pictures with other babies about the same size as possible. The more the better. It's the only time in your life that being naked in pictures is acceptable, so do it and do it often.

3.) Hang out with as many friends as you can pack into 48 hours. Don't judge them for their drink of choice. (Daiquiri in a bag? Don't mind if mama does!)

4.) Meet 2nd and 3rd cousins and Great Aunts and Uncles.

5.) Snuggle with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Becca and Uncle Scott as often as you can. 

6.) Take a short snooze on the deck, and praise God for beautiful weather.

7.) Attend a long and drawn out but exciting parade complete with lots of tootsie rolls and loud sirens.

8.) Have your picture taken with the real Ronald McDonald.

9.) Enjoy an evening in Charles City's Central Park while meeting a lot of people for the first time and eating cotton candy and ice cream (or at least eyeing it.)

10.) Be thankful for your freedom and grateful to those who have and are currently serving for our country (including my Uncle Scott).

(Click on collages to view pictures larger.)

I'd have to say that Gwen's first Independence Day was a success! We had a great time back home. Who doesn't love showing off a brand spankin' new (I can say that for as long as I want, by the way) 3 month old? *smile.

Friday Smiles & Stretch

Bustin' Out

I wasn't lying when I said she was outgrowing her 0-3 clothes. Remember the cute pink sleeper she wore when she first came home from the hospital pictured here? 

And here...

(when her hands were all wrinkly, she slept constantly, and she was still in newborn diapers...)

And here...

And here...

Well she's officially bustin' out of it. I came into her room a morning late last week and her left leg was out. Once I saw her stretch, I understood why. My once 8 lb, 1 oz baby is growing up and was 13 lbs, 2 oz's at Mommy and Me class this week *tear.

This girl is looooong and lean!

Told ya I get smiles in the morning...

She has been something else lately. She knows what she likes, but is a total sweetheart. She's also very funny and makes us laugh all the time. I can't imagine this house or our lives without her in them. I could kiss those cheeks 1,000 times and it wouldn't be enough.

She's literally growing before our eyes, and I'm so thankful for a healthy babe.

Happy 4th of July!

Aren't four little girls in matching 4th of July dresses ador-able?!

The process of taking a "good" picture of four girls ages 17 months, 7 months, 4 months and 3 months went a bit like this...

"Tom and Amanda - lay under the sheet and hold up Gwen and Kaleigh."

"I know it's hot, but you're doing great."

"Everyone smile like Ceci!"

 "Oops, Kaleigh is falling over a bit..."

"Giiiiiirls! Look over here!"

"Gweeeeeennnnnn! Hey, everybody! Look at the rattle I'm shaking like crazy!"

"If you ask me, I think these guys are crazy to think that we'll sit up on our own, look at the rattle AND smile."

"Hey Kaleigh, are your parents as goofy as mine?"

"We done yet? Fine...one more smile."

No big smiles, but we'll take what we can get *smile.

All that activity wore.Gwen.out. She fell fast asleep in dad's arms immediately following the photos. Sweet thing.

It's tough work being so cute.

Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July! We're in my hometown seeing lots of great friends and celebrating Tom's 28th birthday and my 10 year class reunion. Ca-razy!

(Thanks to Amanda's mom, Grammy Val, for getting the adorable dresses for the girls. So fun!)

14 Weeks

I'm 14 weeks old today! I had to wait until mommy got home from work to upload my picture. That's one thing I'm not quite sure how to do yet.

• I had my three month pictures taken in a real studio. I was pretty sleepy, but we managed to get one or two smiles.

• Upon returning from our photo shoot in Minneapolis, mom and dad discovered that we were locked out of the house. They had had the lock fixed a couple weeks ago and unfortunately it was broke again. Dad was not happy and we were stranded in the garage for 2 hours (it was raining). Good thing my mom takes my food with her where ever she goes! Thankfully our neighbor, Nancy, saw us and invited us to her house for another hour where she offered us Coke and fresh strawberries. Diaper changes on the hood of dad's car are fun!

• Probably the biggest news is that I started daycare. Those big kids sure wear me out, but I have a lot of fun!

• No more swaddle for me! Swaddling is for babies.

• I figured out how to reach for the rattle hanging from my play mat rings, and I'm pretty close to grabbing things and bringing them to my mouth.

• I guess it's a big deal that I had my best stretch of sleeping yet - only got my mommy up once! Just so happened to be the night after my first day at daycare. Coincidence? I think not!
** UPDATE: she went from 7:30 to 2:30 one night. Seven hours!! **

• My new friend Hailey from daycare turned three so I went to my first birthday party at Miss Kathy's.

• Mommy moved most of my 0-3 size clothes out and washed, folded and put away all of my 3-6 stuff. It's fun getting a whole new wardrobe every three months!

• I LOVE sucking on my entire hands, sometimes both at once. I am very interested in putting things in my mouth, and mom is always wiping the drool off my chin. She ain't seen nothin' yet! Just wait until those teeth come in.

• I really actually seriously put myself to sleep one night. I was talking and playing with my feet and rolling on my side and then I was tired so I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleepy land.

• If you have a pattern on your shirt, you can bet I'll be staring you down. Looking at patterns is one of my new favorite things to do.

• Mom and dad say my personality is really coming out. I like to look up at my mom and smile while I'm nursing. She can't help but smile back. I like making her happy.

Off to bed. Thanks for checking in and helping me celebrate 14 wonderful weeks.

Love,
Gwendolyn

Sleeping Beauty

This is what I get to wake up to every morning...

which makes me forget how many times she got me up the night before *smile.

She is VERY funny. I gradually turned the lights up this morning to try and get her to wake up without making her mad, and she slept right through it until I started undoing her sleeper and said her name a few times.

(Yes, that is one FULL diaper. Goooo Pampers for not leaking!)

BIG STRETCH!

And then she gave me a big smile and we started our day.

I love being her mama!