Rice Cereal

 Marlee has been really interested in my breakfast in the morning (and of course Frank is always interested). 

We were going to wait until we went to the doctor this week to start cereal, but we decided to go ahead and try it.  I was surprised by how much she liked it.

She ate like a champ, but it made her extremely gassy.  The poor girl was up all night last night with gas pains.  It just broke my heart.  Fortunately, we had a doctors appointment this morning and the doctor said no more rice cereal.  So, we're going to give it a few days and then try oatmeal cereal.  If she has the same reaction to it, then we're going straight to veggies.

Here's my sweet girl after her doctors appointment today.  

A Day at Home with Mom & Dad

 James and I had last Friday off work, so we went on a tour of Marlee's preschool and just spent the rest of the day hanging out.

This is on the way to visit her preschool.  She toured the school in my sling and just looked around the entire time.  I think she is really going to like her school.

And then she hung out in her Johnny Jump Up some more.  She is still just swinging around...with a little bitty bounce in her step.

Mirrors and Skills

 Marlee still loves to look at herself in her mirrors

 And I love to look at her little feet and hands

 In the last week, she has really started grabbing things

 And then putting them in her mouth, of course

She even likes to reach out and grab Dad's face 

 And she loves to stand up

 She thinks she is so big

 And I'm adding this one because this is how most of our photo sessions end.  This girl could win a spit-up competition.

Little Friends

James was out of town last weekend, so Marlee and I went to Fort Smith to visit some of her friends. We stopped to see Hudson first and it was nearly impossible to get a picture of the two of them together. This is her first picture with a boy and the parents like to think that this picture might be in their wedding slide show some day.Next, we went to see Lucy who is just 5 days younger than Marlee. They had fun under Lucy's mobile.

"Look Marlee, this is my rainforest mobile. Isn't it neat?"

"Can you hold your feet like this?"
"Whoa, I just noticed you were lying next to me. Who are you?"
We are hoping to get them together more often when I am in town. It will be neat to see them grow up together.

New Toys

Marlee has full head control, so we decided to get out her Johnny Jump Up last week. She's still too little, but she did like standing and spinning.

Ma and Pa came up to watch her last week and got out her exersaucer. We had to prop her up with a blanket and she can't reach the toys yet, but she does like to sit in it and stare at everything.

I think she finds her new toys fascinating.

Easter Weekend

Marlee didn't think much about the Easter Bunny. I don't even think she realized that I handed her off. I'm sure next year will be a different story. After visiting with the Easter Bunny, we decided to give her a bottle outside since the weather was so nice.Of course Frank had to helpSince being back at work, I really enjoy snuggling with this munchkin on Friday nightsSaturday morning we gave Marlee her Easter basket. She got a couple new outfits, books, teethers, and spoonsHer Easter basket is a little big for her this year. I promise it isn't as big as it looks. She is just so little. I love it.And she was fascinated with the ruffle on her shirt. Thank you Memaw Tara for my cute Easter onesie!Then we headed down to Fort Smith to spend the weekend with the Grady's. I am so sad that I didn't get many pictures, but traveling makes a certain someone very cranky so there weren't many Kodak moments. I get snap one of her Ma giving her a bath in the sink.Marlee enjoyed Easter morning looking at all of her toys that Ma & Pa hung on her crib. She had a good time.We were running a little late for church, but managed to take a few pictures of Marlee all dressed up in her Easter dress. As a side note, her little "shoes" are called Toe Blooms and I think they are the cutest thing ever.I wanted to get more pictures of her after church, but this is how that went. I think she was tired from her stay in the church nursery.We stopped by Memaw & Pawpaw's house Sunday afternoon and got to see Josie and Layla. Josie had a ball sitting next to Marlee in Papaw's chair Marlee loved kisses on her toes from Memaw TaraMarlee getting some love from Layla

4 Months Old

I don't know what she weighs because our insurance was denied at the doctor's office (James switched jobs a week ago), so her 4 month check up is now a 5 month check up. But anyway, I think she is still growing, judging by her chubby legs.

Still wearing 3-6 month clothes and a size 2 diaper

Discovered her voice a couple weeks ago and loves to talk, talk, talk. Especially in the mornings.

Still smiles a lot, but not for the camera. I'm afraid her childhood pictures are going to be like mine with no smiles.

Just started sleeping a 9 hour stretch a couple weeks ago, right in time for me to go back to work. I was very thankful for that!

Eats 5 ounces every 4 hours and takes three naps a day. Her first two naps are about two hours long each and the last one is about an hour. Something happened about two weeks ago and she now is such a good napper. Oh, I know what it is...she has her thumb.

Speaking of her thumb, this girl can't.get.enough. We have tried everything. I would much rather her take a paci, but she isn't having it. She even squeezed her thumb in her mouth alongside her paci the other day as I was trying to rock her to sleep. Little stinker. I've learned that as a parent, I can do my best to guide her, but she is going to go her own way. And that's okay. At least the girl knows what she wants. And fights for it.

Hasn't rolled over stomach to back again since 12 weeks. But, she is a champ at the back to stomach roll. And guess how she learned it? Trying to get that thumb. Silly girl. When I lay her down on her back, she is on her stomach in seconds. And then just looks around at her world from that angle.

Loves to sleep on her stomach. She immediately rolls over when I lay her down. Sometimes she even starts to doze off during tummy time if it's close to nap time.

Still enjoys going out and about and loves to look around. But still likes to be home for her nap.

We still read a book almost every night and she still pays really close attention.

Doesn't really enjoy rocking. She loves sitting on laps and facing outwards, but as soon as someone puts her in that cradle position, she arches her back and throws a fit. I used to rock her until she was drowsy, but in the past week I've started to just lay her down. She would rather go to sleep on her own and that is good for her. She is such a big girl.

Enjoys blowing bubbles and giggles when we blow on her belly or neck

Still enjoys her bath and still doesn't like the after bath routine.

Doesn't love walks as much now that we have a forward facing jogging stroller. I think two things bother her: the wind and the smooth ride. And I bet she misses looking at me. :)

Just started grabbing things and she concentrates real hard. She can hold something for a while if I give it to her, like her rattle or her keys.

Has really good control of her head, but she still falls forward in her chair. We are thinking she will be ready for rice cereal soon.

I can't think of anything else except that we love her so much. James always says she is so cute that he just wants to bite her. I don't really get that expression because I think biting her is weird, but I definitely love her so much that I just want to squeeze her. Which I guess squeezing her is just the same. Anyway, she really is awesome.