Sleep: Months 1-8
Friday, December 14, 2018
I knew from the beginning that we would sleep train. I hate that it has such a negative connotation, because teaching a baby to sleep is not bad. My simple reasoning for wanting to sleep train is that I like to sleep because I feel better when I do, therefore I can parent better when I’m less exhausted. I think any mom would agree with that. Parenting is easier when you don’t feel like you’re going to pass out. If I feel better after a full nights sleep, then I know that Sawyer does to! Especially because she’s growing so quickly during this first year of life, and that all happens while she sleeps. That being said, if what you’re doing works for your family (cosleeping, bedsharing, nursing to sleep, rocking) then that’s totally fine. Do what works for you! Don’t fix what isn’t broken!
Months 1-2
We were careful not to let every nap happen in the same place during the first few months. A few in her dock a tot, a few in the swing, some in our arms, in the car seat while out, and in the carrier. It was simple, feed her, play a little, sleep! At night I’d wake her up every three hours to nurse until the pediatrician gave me the go ahead to let her sleep around 1 month. I followed the basic outline of Baby Wise for the first few months which really helped me as a first time mom. We were getting 2 hour stretches in the first month, then 3-4 hours the next, and I think the longest ever was maybe 5-6.
Months 3-4
I realized I had gotten into the habit of rocking and paci replacing to get Sawyer to sleep. This is also when her naps turned to 40 minutes on the dot. I knew the rocking had to stop because the second I laid her down she’d wake up. The rocking wasn’t an issue for a few months, and I urge you to soak up the cuddles while you can, but for us it became a problem. I wasn’t going to hold Sawyer all night long. I tried a few different things, like rocking for shorter and shorter amounts of time, laying her down and bouncing the crib mattress until I saw her fall asleep then slowly stopping. Eventually we were able to lay her down awake and her put herself to sleep. This was all thanks to the navigating 3-4 months from Taking Cara Babies. It helped us slowly transition Sawyer from completely relying on us for her sleep, to becoming more independent while still having night feedings when hungry. This is definitely when you have to determine if a baby is hungry, or if a baby is looking for comfort. Always feed a hungry baby. During month 3, Sawyer had a few nights of waking up every 90 minutes wanting to be nursed or have her paci replaced. This is also when she started sleeping about 8-10 hours with the 3-4 month guide.
Months 5-6
We got the ABC’s of Sleep as soon as Sawyer was 5 months. She was already sleeping pretty well, but I wanted to be prepared for any regressions or issues. I read it and watched the videos, but didn’t completely implement it for a few weeks. She also finally started napping longer than 40 minutes around 6 months, so we transitioned to 3, 60-90 minute naps. We really started implementing ABC’s of sleep when Sawyer was waking up at 4-5 am every morning. She was sleeping about 10 hours, waking up and crying for 30 minutes, then going back to sleep for another hour. It was so hard to be consistent because I just wanted to give in and get her up for the day. The early morning wakings finally resolved after a few weeks of fussing every morning. It got shorter and shorter, and sometimes didn’t happen at all! By 7 months she was sleeping until at least 6.
5 Month Schedule6 Month Schedule
Taking Cara Babies ABC's Of Sleep
Months 7-8
Sawyer has never been a quiet sleeper. When she was a newborn she was loud, and would grunt, and cry out, but still be completely asleep. That didn’t end until recently! Everytime she transitioned from sleep cycle to sleep cycle she would fuss and cry for 30 seconds-5 minutes. I had no idea that this was normal, and would’ve assumed she needed me if it wasn’t for all the reading I did. That fussing and crying out at night during transitions has finally lessened! She sometimes will fuss for 30 seconds at around 2 am or 4 am then go right back to sleep. She’s taking 2 naps a day that are 60-120 minutes each. Sometimes she’ll still take a catnap in the car too.
7 Month Schedule8 Month Schedule
Lots of people told me I got lucky with a good sleeper. They didn’t see the dedication and tears (hers and mine) that prayed and researched how to help her sleep independently. Honestly I think Sawyer is a really bad sleeper. She loves to sleep, but she had no clue how. It took weeks of transitioning from rocking to being in the crib for naps. It took months to resolve the 5 am wake ups. It took consistency to keep her from needing her pacifier replaced throughout the night. This could be a very different story. Of exhaustion, defeat, bed-sharing and nursing all night because I didn’t have the tools to teach her to sleep. I’m passionate about sleep training because moms need space, babies need sleep, and husbands need their wives.
Why We Chose Taking Cara Babies!
Why We Chose Taking Cara Babies!
Taking Cara Babies
Thursday, December 13, 2018
I’m all about giving children the gift of independence, especially when it comes to sleep. Just like eating, sleeping is a fundamental skill that will last them a lifetime. I did a ton of research into different programs before deciding on Taking Cara Babies ABC's of Sleep. I also used her Navigating 3-4 months guide and that set a strong foundation for Sawyer. With our next baby, I will definitely take the newborn course for all of her amazing strategies during those first weeks. As I share my love for Taking Cara Babies, but I’m being careful not to give away all the juicy details and trade secrets that you’ll find in the classes. So if you have a specific question that I didn't answer, feel free to comment below or message me on Instagram. This is mostly an overview of Taking Cara Babies, rather than our personal experience because most people are asking IF they should try it. If you're looking for our personal sleep experience from months 1-8 (with links to her monthly schedules), head to this post. Taking Cara Babies worked for us, and they have a 98% success rate that your baby will sleep 10-12 hours by the end of 14 nights (probably sooner).
Why Cara
There are tons of different methods, but Cara’s is based on child development, being emotionally available, and self soothing. I really felt like I could trust her expertise because of her background as a nurse, and years of experience. I also read lots of her blog posts and watched her Instagram stories to see if her program would be the right fit for us. A big plus to me is that she allows pacifiers! I’m a paci advocate all the way, but that’s a blog post for another time haha.
Crying
It does involve crying, because your baby is going to protest the change. Taking Cara Babies is very clear that they will cry. Also, Sawyer still fusses as she cycles from sleep cycle to sleep cycle. She’s not upset, she’s not hungry, she’s just a noisy sleeper. We all hate hearing a baby cry. It’s the worst. I promise you that a few nights of crying is going to save you nightly crying during bedtime, and throughout the night for soothing. We also struggled for a few months with early morning wakings that she would cry for 20-30 minutes around 5 am then go back to sleep. Early mornings are the last issue to resolve, but sure enough she’s sleeping until 6-7 now.
Schedules
Cara’s guide provides a lot of sample schedules, but she’s sure to tell you that every baby and every day is different. She really explains wake times, nap lengths, and prime bedtimes so you understand there’s a lot of variables for each family. That way you’re able to make a schedule that works for your family. It doesn’t have to be extremely strict to see an improvement in sleep so it’s perfect for more relaxed mamas or type A's like me!
Naps
Cara gives so much insight into naps, and why they seem like such a beast compared to nighttime sleep. Apparently naps and nighttime sleep use different parts of the brain… WHAT!! So you’ve got to teach both, but nighttime will probably resolve first. The approach to naps is the same as bedtime, but you can conquer them at the same time or nights first then naps.
Feedings
Cara gives you tools to wean night feedings slowly to maintain milk supply! She also leaves room for your discernment about whether your baby still needs a feeding early in the night. All night feedings after 11pm are completely weaned though. Make sure your pediatrician has approved that your baby can sleep through the night without a feeding.
Results
Because I did the 3-4 month guide, my experience is a little different than someone who had no foundation before ABCs of Sleep. Sawyer was already sleeping 8-10 hours when we started so the improvements seemed a lot less drastic for us. You will definitely see your baby sleeping 10-12 hours in just a few days. If you’re having any difficulties, then you can schedule a phone call with a sleep consultant to discuss specifics. I’ve found that many sleep issues we’ve had, like early morning wakings and short naps, are covered on Cara’s blog!
The biggest thing I’ve learned from Cara is that sleep is not linear, especially when they’re young. A baby may sleep 12 hours for a week, and then have a rough night because wake times were off or naps were rough. Be consistent anyway. Your consistency will help your baby know that they have one option- to sleep. Even if you aren’t interested in sleep training, or have no sleep issues, @takingcarababies is just fun to follow!
IG: @takingcarababies
Website: takingcarababies.com
Blog: takingcarababies.com/blog
Six ways to Spend Less
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
I've shared a lot about our budget cuts since I became a stay at home mom. People always ask me how I go without spending tons on new clothes, eating out as much, or having a car. I've shared a lot of the why, but not the how that makes it possible! Having a WHY you're doing something is the only way to stick to it, but there has to be a HOW to make it happen.
So to refresh your memory about some of our major budget cuts, read Budget Cuts to Become a SAHM!
1. Remind Yourself WHY
If you're struggling to manage your spending, remind yourself why you need to. WRITE down your why. If I write something down, it is ingrained in my mind way more than if I think or say it. Every time you want to spend on something you don't need, remind yourself why you shouldn't
2. Use Cash Only
This means you have to SAVE up the money for purchases. If we buy something online then we deposit the cash back into our checking account to pay for it.
3. Delete your Amazon app
If you are an amazonaholic, and constantly take advantage of that prime shipping (cough cough daniel) then delete the app. That simple. If you have to take the extra step to log into your account to order something, it gives you a moment to consider if you really need it.
4. Stay Home
We spend 100% more money when we go out than staying home. We end up eating out, buying new clothes, or spending it on entertainment. On months when we are completely out of our miscellaneous budget, then we are staying home. This is super hard for my husband who isn't a homebody like me.
5. Don't Click the Ads or Online Shop
If you know you are trying to save money, why torture yourself by heading to Nordstrom's website for that sale. Just because its on sale doesn't mean you need it. I promise it will go on sale again.
6. Unfollow Influencers That Encourage You To Spend Money
This isn't something I've done because I personally don't feel pressured to buy those $200 Madewell jeans, but lots of people do. I follow fashion bloggers for outfit inspiration that I can use clothes I already have for. If you see a top on liketoknowit you have to have, and end up buying something new every week then you should probably unfollow that person for a little while.
Even if you're a SAHM like me, not bringing in a huge income, you still have a major impact on the finances of your family. You can use that influence to set your family up for success, or impact your budget negatively. We've been there. We've spent too much, saved too little, and wasted lots of money. I promise you can live even more happily with much less.
xoxo,
kelsey
Friday Favorites
Friday, December 7, 2018
It’s been a while since I shared some of my favorites, but I have so many things I’ve been wanting to tell y’all about!
It’s Christmas time at the Crowson’s! We got this as a gift last Christmas and it is seriously perfect for our little ones.
I’ve been trying to find ways to include Sawyer in Christmas, and this is perfect.
I’ve been trying to find ways to include Sawyer in Christmas, and this is perfect.
Two. Outlaw King on Netflix
Such a good movie! It’s basically what comes after Braveheart. So beware there’s lots of blood and guts that I covered my eyes during.
Three. Kroger K Cup Cappuccinos
Okay y’all, I pride myself on not being a caffeine person. I don’t relate to those “But first coffee” mugs, or
“All I need is Jesus and coffee” so this is a very big shift for me. That being said, I don’t think there is hardly
any caffeine in these, it’s mostly milk, sugar, and then a shot of coffee. They’re only 60 calories, all from 6g sugar,
so I don’t feel too terrible drinking them compared to a cup of hot chocolate or a sugary starbucks drink.
The best part is that it’s only $6 for 12!!!
“All I need is Jesus and coffee” so this is a very big shift for me. That being said, I don’t think there is hardly
any caffeine in these, it’s mostly milk, sugar, and then a shot of coffee. They’re only 60 calories, all from 6g sugar,
so I don’t feel too terrible drinking them compared to a cup of hot chocolate or a sugary starbucks drink.
The best part is that it’s only $6 for 12!!!
Four. Christmas Chronicles on Netflix
This may be my new FAVORITE Christmas movie. Just watch it. You’ll love it.
Five. The Real Life Podcast
Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke have tons of books, resources, and this podcast is my new favorite creation of theirs! Their life is extremely different than ours, so we love listening to how they put Jesus and family first. It's really challenged Daniel and I to talk about our vision for our family.
I linked one of my favorite episodes about how self care can become counterfeit.
Hope you love it all as much as I do!
I linked one of my favorite episodes about how self care can become counterfeit.
Hope you love it all as much as I do!
xoxo,
kelsey
8 Months // Sawyer Denise
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Sawyer at 8 Months
Weight: 19 lbs
Weight: 19 lbs
Birth Weight: 7lbs 7oz
Changes and Developments
Has two teeth!
Got RSV, but is happy and healthy now.
On the verge of crawling.
Eats 3 meals a day of solids.
Sleeps on her tummy.
Starting to sleep closer to 12 hours instead of 11 at night.
Giggles and smiles constantly. It's contagious.
Loves our Amazon Alexa, and will listen to it talk all day.
Adventures
We basically just skipped right past Thanksgiving into Christmas, but we did spend some time with friends and family. Sawyer’s cousins Claire and Caleb spent the night! I picture many more cousin sleepovers throughout the years. We celebrated Thanksgiving at Gigi and Chief’s house, and at Isa and Grandpa’s. Thanksgiving ended with a trip to urgent care. Sawyer had a cold all month, but she seemed to get worse all of a sudden. Turns out she had RSV and an ear infection. Luckily she’s completely fine now, and was a trooper the entire time. We wouldn’t of even taken her into the doctor, except for the fact that she freaked out every time we put her down for a nap. That was a clear sign to us that she had an ear infection. It’s wonderful to have her back to normal now! Seeing your baby sick is the worst. We took all our family Christmas pictures, and will hopefully be sending out cards soon!! We also went to Grapevine Main Street with the cousins to enjoy the Christmas lights and dinner.
We basically just skipped right past Thanksgiving into Christmas, but we did spend some time with friends and family. Sawyer’s cousins Claire and Caleb spent the night! I picture many more cousin sleepovers throughout the years. We celebrated Thanksgiving at Gigi and Chief’s house, and at Isa and Grandpa’s. Thanksgiving ended with a trip to urgent care. Sawyer had a cold all month, but she seemed to get worse all of a sudden. Turns out she had RSV and an ear infection. Luckily she’s completely fine now, and was a trooper the entire time. We wouldn’t of even taken her into the doctor, except for the fact that she freaked out every time we put her down for a nap. That was a clear sign to us that she had an ear infection. It’s wonderful to have her back to normal now! Seeing your baby sick is the worst. We took all our family Christmas pictures, and will hopefully be sending out cards soon!! We also went to Grapevine Main Street with the cousins to enjoy the Christmas lights and dinner.
Sawyer’s Schedule
Sawyer has completely moved to 2 naps! Which makes life a lot easier because we can actually go out for 2-3 hours without worrying about her needing a nap. She is still eating 5x a day, but I think she will be down to 4 soon because she’s eating a lot more solids.
Sawyer has completely moved to 2 naps! Which makes life a lot easier because we can actually go out for 2-3 hours without worrying about her needing a nap. She is still eating 5x a day, but I think she will be down to 4 soon because she’s eating a lot more solids.
7:00- wake up & eat 1
The rest of the schedule varies based on exactly what time she wakes up. Sometimes it’s 6, sometimes 7, this morning was 7:20.
The rest of the schedule varies based on exactly what time she wakes up. Sometimes it’s 6, sometimes 7, this morning was 7:20.
8:00- breakfast
She will usually have one or two of the following for breakfast; banana, carrots, tortilla, eggs,
turkey, chicken, puffs, pouch of fruits and veggies.
9:30 to 10:45- nap one
I stopped trying to push her to 3 hours of awake time before her first nap and have settled to about 2 ½ hours. So it’s usually between 9-10 am.
I stopped trying to push her to 3 hours of awake time before her first nap and have settled to about 2 ½ hours. So it’s usually between 9-10 am.
10:45- eat 2
12:00- lunch
Usually turkey or chicken, tortilla, and some fruits and veggies.
1:00- eat 3
2 to 3:30- nap two
Sometimes this happens a littler earlier if she’s sleepy, or if we’re in the car.
3:30- eat 4
5:00- dinner
Usually turkey or chicken, tortilla, and some fruits and veggies.
6:30- bathtime
6:45- eat 5
7:00- night night!
All the Pictures
Enjoying the Christmas Season
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Daniel and I have been talking a lot about how to really enjoy the holidays, and not just feel like we’re surviving them. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly where the excitement turns to anxiety, and the fun plans turn into burdens. It’s probably different for everyone, but for us the overwhelming feeling happens when we start overspending and over committing. We can’t buy it all, and we can’t do it all, but every year we try. This year we are trying to take it slow, start a few traditions and make lasting memories as a family of three.
The best way to simplify Christmas as a family is to prioritize what’s important to you and see what activities coincide with that. For us Christmas is about making memories as a family, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. We simply aren’t prioritizing the obligations that hinder our joy. It doesn’t mean we won’t do them, but it means we won’t stress if we don’t. They aren’t requirements for December, they don’t have to be done, and when some of them inevitably don’t work out we are okay!
For every event, tradition, and obligation, I have to consider does this help my family make memories, and celebrate the birth of Jesus?
Gifting
Christmas shopping is so stressful without a plan. Parts of gift giving definitely help make memories, and hopefully through giving we are able to celebrate the gift of Jesus. In years past we’ve basically just bought whatever we wanted for each person or gift exchange. While I love gifting, it has hit our credit card hard at Christmas. Luckily, using our credit card is a thing of the past so we had to actually have the cash for each purchase this year. That required saving, budgeting, and shopping smart. Don’t think we are Scrooge’s, we LOVE giving gifts, Daniel especially. He’s pretty much the most generous person on earth, besides my mom. We just can’t afford to go overboard anymore, and hopefully it’ll teach our kiddos about being generous with your time and love even when you don’t have any money.
Set an overall budget, based on how much you’ve saved or allocated out of your paycheck for Christmas. Make a list of every person you are buying a gift for. Choose an amount for each gift, based on the overall budget. Kids gifts are the best place to cut costs because there are so many cousins in most families that if you’re spending $30 per person, it really adds up! Also, kids don’t realize the value of something, especially if you picked it out based on their interests.
If gift giving is a major stress on your heart and wallet then take a step back and see why. Are you giving gifts because it’s an expectation? Are you spending too much? If your reasons for giving gifts don’t align with your priorities then it’s going to cause anxiety and frustration.
Christmas Parties
We love our friends and family, but there are so many of them. I never understood the stress of family get togethers until we got married and suddenly had five different Christmas parties! Our families aren’t even divorced, but we still see extended family so they take up almost every weekend of December. The only ones we HAVE to be at are immediate family, that’s who we want to make memories with and spend time with. With just one baby, we are still able to go to ALL the family Christmas parties, but eventually we won’t attend every year.
Church Events
There are so many amazing opportunities to serve during the holidays, but remember that serving your family comes first. When Daniel and I were single we spent hours a week volunteering, and when we had no kids we were able to as well. Now I completely understand why most volunteers are empty nesters, and singles. God has given parents a very specific and demanding task to serve their families. Don’t feel guilty about not being able to hand out Christmas dinners, be an usher at church, or volunteer in the nursery. If your kids are older, YES DO THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, but with an infant we just can’t. In this season, church is a place for rest and recharging. Yes we will still be involved with our life group and a part of Bible study, but we aren’t going to pile on the extra holiday volunteering that Christians feel pressured to do.
Giving and Serving
Loving others is such a beautiful part of Christmas, and can be done without signing up for ten different church events. I’ve been brainstorming ways to serve and give without over committing. A really simple way to love on your friends and family is with $5 Starbucks gift cards. You can text them straight to them if you have the app, and it is the easiest way to spread some joy. Especially for those teacher friends. If money is tight, think about what you can make! I made little Christmas cookie mix in a jar a few years ago that was really inexpensive but the perfect gift for neighbors or coworkers. Another way to serve is asking if there’s any “homework” you could do for a teacher or your church. I promise that your kids teacher has a million things to cut out, laminate, staple, and grade. Ask what you can help with!! My church even offered me a little diy take home crafting project for Christmas decorations. It was so great to be able to serve during Sawyer’s naptime. Don’t let service or expensive gifting cause you stress. Do what you can, when you can, how you can.
Take Aways
Before the season gets away from us let’s slow down and consider our priorities. If we don’t, we are sure to get caught up in the Christmas consumer culture that will leave us empty!
1. What are your priorities this Christmas?
2. How can you slow down, and focus on what matters to you
3. What obligations, burdens, and traditions can you rid yourself of to really focus on your priorities?
If you’re married, talk to your husband about what he thinks Christmas is about and how you can work together to create a home that reflects your values. If you’re single, consider how you can foster relationships with family and friends that encourage your priorities. Jesus is all about relationship. He became flesh and dwelt among us. Let’s celebrate his incarnation through the entire holiday season!
Christmas Gift Giving Tradition
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Sawyer’s first Christmas! This is a pretty momentous Christmas for our family because it marks a transition. We are moving from our sweet married couple Christmas traditions to sharing our love for the season with children. Let’s be real, Christmas is about the kids. I don’t mean that in the traditional sense of but your children twenty presents, and hope they eventually understand the meaning of Christmas. Christmas is one of those yearly opportunities to imprint the beauty of the Gospel onto our children! The whole world is celebrating the birth of our savior even though many don’t even realize or acknowledge that aspect. Christmas is something we all remember from our childhood because life is made up of moment that shaped us. Daniel and I want Christmas to shape our children’s faith, and I’m almost certain that the least important aspect of that is presents.
We’ve decided from the start our kids will only get five gifts plus their stockings. I’ve always loved the tradition something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read, and something to give! This guarantees that our kids aren’t only expecting new toys, but shows them that the simplest things, like a winter coat, is truly a gift!
The main reason is that the anticipation of Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Getting gifts can enhance that excitement, but it shouldn’t be dependent upon the gifts. I do love that gifts are a physical example of Jesus being the most precious gift to us. I long to explain to them that their toys are gifts that are temporary, but the gift of Jesus is eternal!
Another reason is that we aren’t going into debt over Christmas presents. Christmas is not an unexpected expense. It happens every year, and it will always be planned for in our budget. It’s much easier to buy tons of gifts if they’re going on a credit card with no immediate responsibility for the cost. We don’t have a set amount for each person that we will stick to every year, because it may change depending on our income.
I can remember showing off all my
Christmas presents to my friends. We all compared what we got, and obviously didn’t mention any jealousy but there definitely was some. Somehow a gift a friend received turns into the only thing you ever wanted, and makes your middle school life tragically terrible because you didn’t get it… even though you got a new phone, ugg boots, tons of new clothes, and a wii. Bless my mom’s heart for being so giving and loving, but I was a BRAT. Meanwhile who knows if some of the other kids in my class got gifts at all, and if they did were they donated from the local church or hand me downs from an older sibling? I don’t want our extravagant gift giving be the reason another child thinks they are less than, unimportant, or unloved. Praise Jesus that earthly wealth and belongings have no relation to His love for us!
Something to give is probably my favorite aspect! We will let the kids choose something to give for the Christmas season. At first we will do it for them, eventually we will help them choose, and then we will completely leave it up to them. Something to give could mean choosing a child off the tree at church to buy a Christmas gift for, buying a produce basket for our sponsored child’s family in Uganda, helping send a kid to
Young Life camp, or buying blankets for the animal shelter. God definitely reveals our passions and gifting through our giving rather than receiving.
I’ll be sharing a few gift ideas for each category for a 6-12 month old, but please keep in mind that Sawyer will get ONE thing from each category. Just because I think something is a great idea, doesn’t mean I have to buy it or that she has to have it.
I also wanted to share this amazing article about the four gift tradition that comes with some Printable Gift Tags .
Merry Christmas!
Master Bedroom
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
After having Sawyer, room sharing, and feeling like our whole house had been taken over by baby stuff, we really wanted to make our master bedroom our own space! I didn’t want to buy new furniture, but wanted to make some simple changes to freshen things up.
The walls are Polar Bear by Behr, which is the same color as the playroom. This is a really bright white, and we probably should’ve gone with something a little creamier. It ended up looking great though, and makes our room feel a lot larger.
Daniel and I made the barn door, which took a few weeks because we always have to take 10 trips to home depot. I love how it looks, and it even gave us some space back in the room because our french doors used to stick out.
Our previous bedding was so worn out that I knew it was time for an upgrade. Linens and Hutch is hands down the nicest bedding I’ve ever owned. They made it super easy with their bed in a box option that gets you started with everything you need then you can just choose from duvet covers. The sheets are amazingly soft, and surprisingly it doesn’t collect the cat and dog hair as much as our old set. I love the soft grey stripes that still keep our room bright and airy.
The Artifact Uprising frames are my favorite! They are simple yet elegant. You upload your pictures, choose the frames, and then they send them to you ready to hang! I’d never had our photos framed before so that was incredible.
These lamps from Hudson Valley Lighting are so fun and modern. They’re little enough that all the nightstand space isn’t taken up, and add more touches of gold to the room. They have a dimmer which is perfect for the evening and early morning!
We also got the coolest light bulbs from LIFX that change to any color you want, can be adjusted a million different ways, and change to the best of music! We’ve definitely had a few dance parties with these.
I’m so excited to have a place for Daniel and I to retreat and unwind at the end of the day!
BEFORE
7 Months // Sawyer Denise
Friday, November 2, 2018
Sawyer at 7 Months
Weight: 18 lbs
Weight: 18 lbs
Birth Weight: 7lbs 7oz
Length: 26.25 inches
Birth Length: 20 inches
Changes and Developments
Got her first tooth.
Love to feed herself.
Very social and wants to be around people.
Walks in her walker.
Staying awake up to 4 hours sometimes!
Obsessed with all animals.
Adventures
Sawyer is loving her first fall! She joined in on the annual Stewart pumpkin carving by being put in a pumpkin. It’s been rainy and cold for a few weeks, and then went back to the 80s for Halloween. She was a Dalmatian for trick or treating at Safety Town in Frisco because Daniel was working! Then she was an old lady to for Halloween with her cousins… I’ve loved this costume forever so I couldn’t resist. We also did trunk or treat at church with our lifegroup. Jurassic Park was our theme all of course we got her a dinosaur costume BUT it was 85 degrees so she didn’t get to wear it. We will always have backup costumes in Texas because it could be freezing and raining or super hot.
Sawyer is loving her first fall! She joined in on the annual Stewart pumpkin carving by being put in a pumpkin. It’s been rainy and cold for a few weeks, and then went back to the 80s for Halloween. She was a Dalmatian for trick or treating at Safety Town in Frisco because Daniel was working! Then she was an old lady to for Halloween with her cousins… I’ve loved this costume forever so I couldn’t resist. We also did trunk or treat at church with our lifegroup. Jurassic Park was our theme all of course we got her a dinosaur costume BUT it was 85 degrees so she didn’t get to wear it. We will always have backup costumes in Texas because it could be freezing and raining or super hot.
Sawyer’s Schedule
Transitioning to two naps has been a beast!! I knew it was time when she started waking up at 5 am though. She was sick for about a week last month, so her schedule got all crazy because I was feeding her 1-2x a night. As soon as she was better we tried to get her back to sleeping through the night, but it’s been a challenge. Here’s the schedule we shoot for with two naps, but it’s rarely perfect! Also, we’ve been moving bedtime later for DST.
Transitioning to two naps has been a beast!! I knew it was time when she started waking up at 5 am though. She was sick for about a week last month, so her schedule got all crazy because I was feeding her 1-2x a night. As soon as she was better we tried to get her back to sleeping through the night, but it’s been a challenge. Here’s the schedule we shoot for with two naps, but it’s rarely perfect! Also, we’ve been moving bedtime later for DST.
Last thing, at this point eat, play, sleep doesn’t work with her schedule anymore because she’s down to two naps but eats 5x a day. So I just make sure she doesn’t fall asleep eating because food is for nutrition not comfort.
7:00- wake up & eat 1
The rest of the schedule varies based on exactly what time she wakes up.
The rest of the schedule varies based on exactly what time she wakes up.
9:45- eat 2
10 to 11:30- nap one
Making it to her first nap is always a struggle, but I know if she goes to sleep to early then she will only take a 40 minute nap. So my goal is always 3 hours awake so that she can take a full 80 minute nap.
Making it to her first nap is always a struggle, but I know if she goes to sleep to early then she will only take a 40 minute nap. So my goal is always 3 hours awake so that she can take a full 80 minute nap.
12:30- eat 3
2 to 3:30- nap two
We try to make this nap late enough that she can make it to bedtime afterwards. If she wakes up before 3:30 then she will usually need a 30 minute catnap at 5. The goal is to completely eliminate catnaps and accidental naps in the car or stroller, but realistically that’s impossible.
We try to make this nap late enough that she can make it to bedtime afterwards. If she wakes up before 3:30 then she will usually need a 30 minute catnap at 5. The goal is to completely eliminate catnaps and accidental naps in the car or stroller, but realistically that’s impossible.
3:30- eat 4
7:00- bathtime
7:15- eat 5
7:30- night night!
All the Pictures
