The Walstra's: December 2013

I know I am behind...I can't believe how fast time goes and how hard it is to find time to keep up with my blogging. I have so many pictures of Madalin through out the months that I have a hard time choosing which ones to use. Maybe that is why I procrastinate. Who know!

November flew by just like the last four months. Madalin is growing so fast and she is learning new things every week. She is rolling over a lot and actually enjoys being on her stomach a lot more than her back. She also is starting to play better on her own so Momma is actually getting a few things done through out the week!

She still doesn't nap the greatest unless she is in my arms. I am to blame for this because I didn't have her sleep in her crib or bassinet for nap time during my 12 week leave.  The plan is to work on this in the new year!

This month we also started doing some sleep training. This was something that we chose to do to help Madalin sleep better.  It seemed as though she wasn't sleeping very well and she would not stay sleeping once she fell asleep either. We wake her up around 6:30 during the week, and she was having a hard time waking up and just seemed tired throughout the day.  We decided she needed to get better sleep and learn to fall asleep on her own. We had a few rough nights but after the third night she had it down.  For most of November bedtime wasn't stressful for anyone. We will see if it lasts...I have heard there are regressions.

Madalin has been able to sleep through the night without having any feedings. This has allowed me to get better sleep. I do wake up one time a night to pump as I feel it is important to keep my supply up. Also, it helps me build up my supply in the freezer. Dan would say I could stop though because it is starting to look like we may need to buy a new freezer...it is filling up!

Madalin was able to experience her first plane ride the week of Thanksgiving. We decided to go to Angela's (Dan's sister) house for Thanksgiving. The whole Walstra side was getting together in Barrington IL (suburb of Chicago).  Madalin and I flew to Chicago for Thanksgiving, while Dan rode with the rest of his family that live in Sioux Center. We were able to find a reasonable priced ticket from Sioux City to O'Hare but the downside was we had to fly on Thanksgiving morning. I actually liked this because the plane wasn't full and the airport was not busy at all! I learned through this experience that people are VERY nice to you when you are traveling with a baby. The TSA was helpful and took their time helping me with my bags, shoes, and coats.   Madalin did exceptionally well on the flights. She slept the majority of the flight to Chicago and she slept the 2nd half of the flight on our way home. The experience was as good as it gets in my book!

Some of the things we would like to remember about 5 Months:

Says Dada...but does not associate that with Daddy yet!
Rolls over...A LOT. She rolls very fast...no more laying on furniture
Starting to sit up but still working on our back muscles
Giggles & more giggles
Loves her jumpy/bouncy chair
Sleeps through the night (most nights) w/o any feedings
Transitioning more out of 3month cloths
Size 2 Diapers
Eating around 5-6oz every 3-3.5 hours (exclusively nursing --gets distracted very easily while eating)