feed, play, sleep and more

FEED

PLAY

SLEEP

yep, that's what we're aiming for.

it's going well so far, but i'm a little OCD. and my husband is NOT. so, it's been a little bit of a trying time for us, but we're getting it down (although we may need marital counseling by baby #2! ha! - NOT knocking marriage counseling - we could all probably use it at one time or another!) back to baby, i've been trying to really stick to the concepts taught in Baby Wise. i didn't really start trying too hard though until about 6 weeks (due to the reflux problem). i will definitely start day one with baby #2. the crying it out wasn't fun, but wasn't so bad...really once we committed it got better quickly. the "feed, play, sleep" concept has it's challenges, but i believe it will work eventually. and she's not the best napper in the world yet, but she is pretty easy to put down most nights and almost most naps, thanks to Baby Wise. much better than the first 6 weeks where she would hardly fall asleep anywhere but in someone's arms! you read so many things about "how to parent" that it can be SO confusing. i think it was harder on me (trying to decide HOW to parent...can you or can't you spoil a newborn, should i let her "cry it out," what does a schedule look like?" etc.) than her! i just couldn't commit to any "way to parent." now, i've learned that i need to be a little more relaxed, go w/something, give it a try and if it doesn't work, try something else. the blog site http://www.babywisemom.blogspot.com/ has been a huge help! i'm pretty convinced that Baby Wise is the way to go, but again, all babies are different!! and i'm NO model Baby Wise mom. actually i just got another book, Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, so we'll see what that teaches me and how more confused i become!

i'll keep everyone posted!

here are just a few more pictures...

we didn't go all out for Halloween...we're just not "all out for anything" kind of people. so, here's Ruby Belle in her Halloween outfit that my mom bought her.
Halloween is also Justin's birthday, so i let him choose what we should do. we ended up going down to the square in town and checked out all the fun costumes and festivities...one day we'll be participating i'm sure! my mom was also in town so we went out to dinner afterwards. she recently had surgery for a detached retina so she came up to visit to pass some time. she had to keep her head down for 3 weeks!!! UGH!!! so i (mostly Ruby Belle) helped keep her entertained for a few of those days! we'll be headed to Branson soon to visit the in-laws, Justin's Aunt Mary Lea and Uncle Craig, and cousins Bonnie and Brad. Then i'm off to Shreveport for a "Sip N' See" then will be spending the week of Thanksgiving down there. Justin will be coming down mid-week to join us. Then after a week off, we're back to Branson for the "Smith family Christmas." then i'm gonna need a vacation!

Ruby Belle is doing well. she's a good baby now that we have her reflux under control. but she IS a baby, so this happens on occasion...

and preferably this :)

7.5 weeks