Happy 5 Months

 

  

This past month has had its highs and lows.  Last month I wrote how Kate had become so much happier and fun.  While some of that is true, she has also developed stranger anxiety.  I don't know if you can even call it that because we have never left her with anyone.  When she has her stranger anxiety episodes we are right by her side.  The first time it occurred was about a month ago.  We were in Utah with family for the weekend.  The night we got there she just started to scream bloody murder and it pretty much was that way the rest of the weekend.  If she got too close to other people she would start fussing which would sometimes lead to screaming.  The worst part about it is I could not console her.  She would not have anything to do with me when she got this way.  She would not even feed to calm down.  That weekend she would go 4 to 6 hours without eating when she usually eats every 2 to 3.  Luckily, she liked Nate and he would be able to calm her down but if he would try and give her to me after she had calmed down she would freak out again.  It was like she was mad at me.  It was the worst couple days of being a mother.  I did not know what to do for my baby and she did not even want me.  I cried a lot.  Since that time it has happened at a get together with friends and then with Nate's family last weekend.  Last week Nate at one point could not even console her so she sat in her car seat and cried/screamed.  People probably think we are horrible parents but when nothing consoles your baby you just have to let them scream.  I am really hoping this is a phase and she grows out of it SOON.  If anyone has any tips/advice we would love to hear it.

I am so grateful Kate is not that way all the time.  At home, Kate is quite pleasant.  It makes me sad that people, especially family, do not see her cute, fun, happy side.  Yes, Kate does have her moments at home where she is not happy and cries but nothing like around other people.  Me and Kate have such a good time at home.  We sing, read books, play on the ground, I dance and act crazy while she smiles and laughs at me, we sit in front of the mirror so Kate can touch and figure out how the heck she can see herself, we go for walks, Kate babbles and babbles while I pretend I know exactly what she is talking about, we just have fun.   She is one bundle of joy! I love my baby Kate!

4 Months

How is my baby already 4 months old?  Sometimes it feels like she is older.  Other days I wish she were still a newborn.  When I look at pictures of Kate as a newborn I cannot even remember her looking or being as small as she was.  I am sad I cannot remember those days but I sure love the little girl she is becoming.

This past month Kate has seemed to really blossom.  She is becoming a much happier baby.  She had her first giggles this past month.  Her Uncle Derek was able to get them out of her which is quite fitting.  He is the comedian in the Nielson family.  Since then, we have gotten her to giggle a couple of times.  When we get her to giggle we will try the same thing the next time and she won't have it.  What was once funny becomes boring to her...funny girl.  We keep having to try new, crazy things to get her to laugh.  It is quite the task.

 Kate is such a mover.  It seems like she is wiggling all the time.  She used to be such a good girl and sit still when I would change her diaper.  Now she pushes her feet against my hand to move backwards when I try to put her diaper on.  She thinks she is pretty funny but it is not easy to put a diaper on a moving baby.  Kate has rolled from her tummy to her back quite a few times.  She is working on rolling from her back to her tummy.  I think it will happen any day now.  She is so close.

 Kate's new thing is to reach and grab things.  She wants to touch everything.  Her hands are now in her mouth all the time.  She loves to look at her hands and mine.  She could grab and play with my hands for hours.  She has also discovered her feet and will grab for them when I change her diaper.  She isn't obsessed with them like she is her hands but I am sure she will like them more in a few weeks time.

 Kate is the little talker/singer.  Her voice is so cute.  Kate will sometimes lay in her crib and talk to herself.  When she does this I like to hide and watch her because if she sees me she usually stops.  It is so fun to see her using her voice.  Kate will also sing along with us when we sing to her.  At church on Sunday she sang through the sacrament hymn.  I couldn't stop laughing but it was the cutest thing. 

I love this little video of Kate.  It seems she is trying to figure out how she is going to get her binky in her mouth without any hands.

I cannot wait to see what Kate learns and does next month!

3 months

Kate is becoming so fun.

She is one crazy, beautiful, serious, kicking, fake crying, smiling, drooling, butterfly lover, babbling, TV watching, and bubble making baby.

She has so many faces.

They kill me and I love them.

Here is Kate and her adorable faces at 3 months!

why so serious, Kate?

her "oooo" face

These next faces all happened within a minute of each other.
This is pretty much Kate on a daily basis.

"enough with the pictures, dad"

"my binky always makes it better"

"I'm happy again! Take my picture."

"I love my butterfly"

"Mom you are so funny!"

 "I''m cute and I know it"

I love Kate's eyes.  They are one of her prettiest features.  

She has her daddy to thank for her great eyelashes!

Spring Break

Last week was Nate's Spring Break.

We spent the first couple of days in Sun Valley with family and friends.

 Nate skied and I stayed with Kate.

Kate and I met up with everyone in the lodge while they gave their legs a rest.

 

I had to add this photo of Tanner.  He has some serious hair issues.

Kate had a rough couple of days when we were in Sun Valley.  

As you can see from the pictures she wouldn't even crack a smile.

When anyone besides me or Nate held her she would pretty much freak out.

Grandma Sally was so sad about this.  

She likes to pride herself on her baby soothing techniques but Kate was not having it.

Kate just wanted her mommy:)

I decided to go off of dairy and it seems to be helping.

Kate has been a much happier baby recently! 

This face kills me. I love her!

 

After Sun Valley we headed to Pocatello. 

Me and Kate spent our days hanging with family, sleeping, Kate even took a nap in her car seat so I could play tennis, picking out fabric for Kate's crib, shopping, and me taking way too many cute pictures of Kate.  Nate spent a lot of his time working on his upper division paper:( Not the most exciting thing to be doing on his break but he needs to get that stupid paper done!

Luckily, Nate did take some time to hang with his little gal.

It was a nice little break for our family. 

We have loved being close to family these past couple of months.

Every couple of weeks we get to see them and they get to see Kate and how she is changing and growing.  They sure spoil her and love her.

We love that they love her so much!

Kate's Blessing

 Kate received a special blessing from her daddy on February 17th.

Nate gave her a beautiful blessing.  I am so grateful he holds the priesthood and uses it on a daily bases to bless our home.

Nate blessed  Kate that she would have no other desire than to return to her Heavenly Father's presence.  That she would come to understand the Atonement and how it works in her life.  He blessed her to have a desire to read the scriptures and come to know the promises and blessing in store for her.  He blessed her to have a desire to come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus through prayer.  He also blessed her that she would associate with good people and have a healthy, strong body.

 Kate was an angel during the blessing.  I was nervous she was going to start screaming if she was awake so I hoped she would fall asleep right before the blessing. Of course she didn't sleep but she was perfect and wide eyed the whole time.

 

 Kate was lucky enough to get her dress made by her Grandma Sally.

The dress turned out so cute and looked beautiful on Kate.

These great men held Kate in a circle as her dad gave the blessing.

Kate is lucky to have so many great men in her life who love her. 

We were blessed to have most of our family at the blessing.

We love our family so much and were grateful for those who traveled to be with us for Kate's special day.

Grandma and Grandpa Cuoio

Cuoio's and Grandma Carlson

There are only granddaughters on the Cuoio side.

4 generations+me

Grandma and Grandpa Nielson

Nielson Family

4 Generations

I am so lucky to be Kate's mom. 

Kate's blessing day was so special and I really felt the love her Heavenly Father has for her.