North Georgia State Fair

Park and I have been going to the North Ga State Fair since 2003 and for about 8-9 years with the family.  It always falls on Romannio's birthday weekend so it's become the family tradition to attend the fair.  This year is very special because it's Alyssa's first time!  She was such a good girl the entire day.  Just hanging out and looking at all that was going on around her. 

 

Lover this picture but please excuse the dirty nose.

5 Months

 

 

 

What's new at 5 months:

• Instead of sucking on her fingers, she is now into sucking and chewing on her thumb
• Alyssa found her toes!
• Can hold her bottle for a few seconds at a time
• Loves her Jumperoo
• Loves to roll onto her tummy when I put her on her back in the crib, then flip onto her back then tummy again but by this time, she's run out of crib space and is pressed up onto the railing and will get upset because she can't figure out how to roll back over as you can see in the picture

 

 

• Tried rice cereal for the first time

 

 

 

 

 



20 Weeks

Today Alyssa is 20 weeks and 1 day old, which was when the sonogram picture was taken.  It was also the day we found out we were having a girl that I announces at 21 weeks.

 

Alyssa had her 4 month check up on Monday and another round of shots.  She is now 14 pounds and 9 ounces.  She was such a happy girl when we were waiting for the doctor.  She was playing, laughing, talking.  That happiness disappeared when she got her shots!  One in each of her thighs.  She cried so hard no sound came out.  It was so heartbreaking to see her cry like that!  I picked her up right after the nurse put the Band-Aid's on her and she stopped crying immediately.  She was fine the rest of the day, happy and playing with grandma and grandpa. 
 

What's New:

• Started laughing out loud one week before her 4 month birthday
• Reaches out to grab her toys and immediately putting it in her mouth
• Loves clasping her hands together
• Super curious
• Easily distracted when nursing, she likes to unlatch and see what's going on around her then back to nursing then unlatch to try to get my attention if I'm not looking at her.  Once I look at her and smile, she'll smile at me and go back to nursing
• Swats at her toys when laying on her play gym
• Can sit on her own with support
• Loves dancing with mommy and daddy
• Loves sucking her thumb, index and middle fingers
• Loves biting her bottom lip
• And loves hitting her stomach while getting her diaper changed or what we call "playing her tum tum drum"

Sitting on my own!

3 1/2 Month Family Session

Two of my biggest regrets are 1) not getting pictures done while I was pregnant and 2) not doing a newborn session for Alyssa.  I adore all the newborn pictures that you can find when searching online.  When they are that little,  it's easy to manipulate them into all these cute little positions.  One of my friends recently had twin girls and she had their pictures done and that's when I was kicking myself for not setting one up for Alyssa.  What's done is done and I can't turn back the time so I just have to move forward.  That's when I went on a crazy search for a newborn / family photographer.  And one was recommended by Park's cousin Jackie (HI!) and I'm so glad I asked.  We met up with Angelina with Asterisk Photography.  Our meeting was more like hanging out with a friend.  After chatting for about two hours, we decided on a day.  Angelina was going on vacation the week Alyssa turned 3 months so our session was to take place when she was 3 1/2 months. 

The day of the shoot, the weather was sunny and bright but half way through, it started storming!  Park and I were really concerned about how the picture were going to turn out.  We know taking pictures in natural light is best, and our house is filled with great natural light.  When that storm hit, our house became dark.  Now looking back, I don't even know why we bothered with the worry.  The pictures turned out GREAT!!!  You can't even tell that it was dark!  Some of the moments Angelina caught on camera will be cherished forever! 

Here are some of my favorites!

 

ROARRRR...are you scared yet?

 

Love the expression, love the legs!

 

 

 

 

I'm hungry!! Where's my milk?!!

 

 

 

Love this perspective

 

 

 

 

 

One year ago yesterday was when I took that pregnancy test that changed my life for the better.  Now I can't imagine my life without this little babe.

Help me, I'm stuck!

 

Rolling Over II

I was finally able to capture Alyssa rolling over from her back to her tummy into tummy time position!  She loves to do this now.  When she's placed on her back, she'll stay there sometimes to play but other times, she'll just roll over.  Once she starts rolling over, you can't stop her!  It's hard changing a diaper when Alyssa keep turning her body to roll.  She is one busy little baby!

3 Months

 

I love this sweet smile of hers!  Especially when you see her dimples.  We are having so much fun with her.  She loves to talk and squeal and punch and kick.  She loves to smile when you smile at her.  She's not sleeping through the night yet.  Usually wakes only once around 3am to nurse so it's not too bad.  Baby bear is adjusting really well at daycare.  I dropped her off today for the first time and it was really fun to see how happy the morning teachers were to see her.  She has a morning mom and a morning auntie.  When I was leaving the daycare, the receptionist asked me if I was Alyssa's mom and goes on to tell me how everyone loves her.  Even the teachers from other age groups goes to the infant room to hold her.  She's a popular kid at daycare!  It makes me feel good to know that she's so well cared for.  Her second day at daycare, I picked her up and I was chatting with one of her teachers, Ms. Denise.  Ms. Denise asked me if she can roll over, as in from back to tummy.  I told her no, not that I know of.  She said they had put her down for a nap on her back and when she went back to check on her, she was sleeping on her tummy!  Ms. Denise thought one of the other teachers did that but no one did.  So she turned Alyssa onto her back and went about her business.  She checked on Alyssa a little while later and again, she was sleeping on her tummy!  Alyssa was then turned back over but she didn't stay that way.  The third time, she was sleeping on her side.  Ever since then, she enjoys sleeping that way when at daycare.  Since we swaddle her at home, she stays asleep on her back. 

Sleeping at daycare

 

Park and I both love this little girl so much and are so proud to be her parents.  I feel like I'm repeating myself, but it's hard not to express our love for her.  I'll end this post with more pictures.  :)

 

 



 

 





Rolled over from her back to tummy during bath time