7 Week Milestones

Morgan had a great week this past week. We have been doing more play time since she is up more often now and seems much more alert and content during her awake hours. She also has started to stretch out her feedings to every 3 hours on a more regular basis, which also means she is sleeping for slightly longer increments at night! This is my last week home on maternity leave...where have the past seven weeks gone. So very sad to be leaving Morgan to head back to work. We have really been enjoying our bonding time and it is so amazing to have been able to spend all of this quality time with her to watch her grow and develop. Morgan will be starting an in-home daycare in a week. We are stopping over there on Tuesday so Morgan and her daycare provider can meet. In preparation, Brad gave her a bottle on Friday night. The first try did not go so well. Morgan refused to take it and screamed until she turned bright red! We are pretty sure she was convinced it was a pacifier, which she really doesn't like. Morgan won the battle...no bottle that round. So next feeding we tried again...however, this time Brad picked her up from nap time as soon as she started to wake and slipped out the pacifier, replaced it with the bottle...success! We will try it all again this week hoping for a good transition for daycare come next week.

Morgan has also been able to fit into quite a few 3 month outfits and is slowly outgrowing her newborn size. She has also upgraded to size 1 diapers. This upgrade was a decision that was reached by Brad and I after several major blowouts! One of these resulted in mommy having some very messy jeans of her own during a feeding...yuck! Thank goodness daddy was home at the time so he could tend to Morgan and I could clean up myself.

A very special package arrived this week for Morgan from Papa...it was a doll all dressed in pink! Thanks Papa! No name has been given to the doll yet...we plan on leaving that to Morgan once her words come :) It sure will be fun to see how much she has grown when the doll finally has her name. Here is a picture for future reference.

The Karnick Family came to Iowa this weekend for a visit and to meet Miss Morgan. We had a great weekend and Morgan was showered with hugs, kisses, and cuddling! She couldn't have been more content and absolutely loved spending the time with Beth, Matt, Lily & Eliese! Lily and Eliese picked out a very special gift for Morgan... her very first Barbie! She can't wait to play with it. Thanks so much for the gifts and for driving the 4 1/2 hours to visit!

Morgan also began to smile intentionally this weekend instead of just when she had gas :) It is so fun and fulfilling to talk to her and watch her smile back at you.

This morning Morgan also let out a laugh as Brad was trying to rock her back to sleep early this morning. It was adorable! She has began to "coo" more as well and really enjoys taking naps on your chest rather than in her bed :)

Football Sunday Nap

She has taken a few naps in the crib in her room this week. I am not quite ready to put her in there at night...Brad has asked me a few times when I thought we would do the transition...still no answer to that question :) She just seems so tiny to be in that bed all by herself rather than in her bassinet next to our bed. All in time I am sure. Have a great week!

A week full of "firsts"

We had a very busy week and weekend. Monday afternoon Auntie Jackie, cousin Bohdi, and Grandma came down to Iowa to visit and meet Morgan for the first time. We did lots of playing and even attempted a Target shopping excursion, which ultimately ended with Grandma in the checkout line and both kids and their moms out in the parking lot.

 Morgan made her first trip back to LaCrosse on Thursday afternoon. Daddy packed the car and we piled in like the Griswold Family ...Daddy was in the driver's seat, Tehya sat shotgun, Morgan sat in the middle of the backseat with Mommy on one side and Taylor on the other. The three hour drive that it usually takes Brad and I has now turned into a four hour adventure with stops along the way for feedings, diaper changes, crying, and the soothing sound machine as the background noise which seems to have replaced the radio. Oh how things have changed :) Overall the drive went pretty well despite the rough start. We left our house about 1 1/2 hours later than planned because I thought packing could wait until that day while Morgan and I were home and Brad was at work...learned my lesson with that one. We left the house with a sleeping child, made a couple stops before getting on the interstate, and as we pulled onto I-35, Morgan was wide awake and crying. We pulled off the first exit ramp in Ankeny about 2 miles up the road and the crying stopped, so we got right back on and continued our trip to LaCrosse...too funny.


Auntie Kimmy and Uncle Joey made the trip all the way from Denver for this special weekend so Morgan was able to finally meet them for the first time and loved every minute with them!

Saturday was a busy day that began with the Kish family picture. As you will notice in the picture below, we had a screaming child in one shot (that was due to poor planning by mommy as we were too close to feeding time) and a sleeping child in the second shot...amazing what a full belly can do.

The next stop for the day was heading up to Grandpa Chuck & Grandma Marilyn's house to meet them for the first time. We spent some time cuddling with them.

Then it was on to cousin Justin's 2nd birthday party. Morgan spent most of this stop sound asleep even with all the excitement going on for the Thomas the Train themed party.

Last but not least...our final stop was to Grandpa Ho Ho's Pumpkin Pickin' Party! Morgan met many cousins, aunts, uncles, cousins, Great Grandma Eldridge, and Great Grandpa Sid! We went on a hayride, walked through a corn maze, and went down to pick out the special pumpkin that Grandpa Ho Ho planted for Morgan when she was better known as Baby H.

Four Generations

We like to call this one "shop til you drop"...notice her very first purse from Aunt Roxi :)

We had a wonderful weekend of many "firsts" for Morgan and couldn't be more blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives! It will be a while before another road trip is attempted, but overall, it went well and it was quite the adventure.

Saying "see ya later" to Grandma & Papa