Ivy Grace is 5 1/2 Months Old

I can't believe Ivy is already 5 1/2 months old. Time really is flying and it scares me. Here are a few things about my 5-month old Ivy that I want to remember.

1. Ivy fights sleep like nobody's business. You have to walk around the house bouncing her and sing one of these songs: "Don't Go My Darling" by The National Parks, "Ho Hey" by the Lumineers, "That's All I Ask of You", from Phantom of the Opera, and "Let her Go" by Passengers. 

2. We just bought her a jumperoo and she loves it. She get serious air and doesn't stop bouncing the entire time she's in it. Watching the video makes me laugh every time.

 

3. She loves her stuffed animal "Mooey", her doll "Ina" and her softies. 

4. Ivy likes rice cereal, but HATES peaches. I tried to feed her peaches and she HATED THEM! See how much in the video! She has grown to like them a little more the more we try real foods. She liked peas...who even likes peas?

5. She sleeps through the night and we thank her for that.

6. Ivy gives big slobbery kisses now. If you get close to her face, she opens her mouth really wide and gives you a slobbery kiss on your nose or your lips.

7. When she's tired, she grabs your face and rubs it against yours.

8. She loves looking at herself in the mirror.

9. Ivy loves kicking her legs, sometimes when you get close to her, she'll stick it straight out for your to kiss or play with her leg, as some sort of greeting.

10. Ivy is teething. She is getting "fangs." Yup, the top side two are coming in first...."oh help us." This makes her gums really sensitive and makes it so she chews on her hand all the time.

11. She still spits up a lot. The other day, she barfed all over me.

12. Ivy still loves watching Basketball with Jason. (I hope that changes)

This is how mesmerized she gets when basketball is on. 

               

13. She has gotten her first cold. She just wants to cuddle all the time and has a hard time breathing because of all the snot in her nose. Thanks heavens for the Frieda Snot Sucker (we love you).
14. Ivy is really into different textures and patterns. She will reach out and feel the textures and decide if we likes it or not.

15. She still says "MAAAAMMM." Still don't know if that qualifies as a word.

16. Ivy says "uh uh" when she is upset, over and over again.

17. She loves to talk to the pictures of Jason and I on the wall in our bedroom and the ones in the bookcase in our main room. She'll just stare and talk.

17. She loves playing with her toes "toes-woesies" or "piggie-wiggies" when she is laying on her back.

                

18. She pulls out her binky and carries it around on her finger. I sometimes will look forever because I thought I lost her binky, but alas, she is holding it. 

18. Her smile is my favorite thing in the world and when she laughs (not a lot yet), it is the best thing ever.

         

                                    
19. Ivy doesn't snuggle as much as she used to, so when she does, I take advantage!

Ivy's 1st Hike
Jason and I took Ivy on her first hike. We spent most of the time making sure the sun wasn't in her eyes and that she wasn't getting sunburnt, but it was still fun. She seemed to like it okay.

                  

Ivy's 1st Foods:

Ivy wasn't nursing as well as usual, so I thought we'd try some 1st foods. I thought peaches sounded delish, so we tried to feed her that first. She hated it so much. I was laughing so hard. We tried rice cereal, and she liked it a little more.

St. George
For Memorial Day, we went to St. George with my family. It was so fun to have a weekend just to relax and rejuvenate. We swam, cooked delish food, got a swig drink & sugar cookie, played lots of can jam and pool volleyball, went for walks and just had fun.  We took Ivy for her first swim. Her reaction was kind of "what is this?" She got more used to it by the end and was splashing.

Father's Day:

A year ago on Father's Day, we announced we were pregnant. I can't believe time has flown by that fast. Father's are so important to me. They make you feel loved, laugh with you, threaten to beat up boyfriends that break your heart (my dad did this), they are your first love. I love my Dad so much and am so grateful for the times he was there for me, telling me to not worry so much, that everything will work out...and it has.

Jason is an amazing Dad. I always knew he would be. I can just see the love he has for Ivy in his eyes. He takes care of us, makes us laugh, and I'm so grateful to have him in my life. Ivy and I are so lucky. Happy Father's Day!

Being a Mom is so much harder and more emotional than I thought it would be, but tt is so rewarding and this little girl finds ways to show me how much she loves me. Grabbing my face, or smiling at me, or giving me the "I love you" look. Love this little girl with all my heart.

Mother's Day

Experiencing Mother's Day for the first time as a first-time mom was so fun for me. Jason got up, made me an omelette and gave me "The Way Way Back" (love that movie), and made me an amazing piece of clay/plaster with Ivy's footprints in it.  It was so thoughtful.

Ivy was a dream that day and we had a lot of fun visiting both my mom and mother-in-law. I am so grateful for my Mom and the other wonderful Mother's in my life that sacrifice everything for their kids and show real Christ-like love. Being a Mom is so amazing. I can't imagine what I was doing before this. Sometimes I am tired and frustrated, but it is so worth it. I stumbled upon this quote that I have heard before, but really rang true now that I am a mom. "Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for." -Neil A. Andersen.  

Other updates since last blogging:

Jenny got engaged to this awesome guy Alex. I am so excited and happy for them. Look at them, they are adorable. Can't wait for August 16th.

Ivy just keeps getting cuter and cuter. This picture was taken by my sis-in-law Kels. We were taking pics to start my Mom's etsy shop, where she will sell these amazing "softies" or "besties", carseat covers, burp clothes, and other adorable baby stuff. Ivy can't sleep without one of her softies. Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hellolittlelove 

Ivy loves her new doll that Da gave her for Easter. Don't mind the headband that looks like a turban. Loves this cheese ball.

Ivy had her 4 month appointment where she got more shots (she took it like a champ) and got her stats. Big head, normal weight (we thought she'd be way chubbier), and a shorty so far. 

Hanging at the Doctor's office

I will do about anything to make her smile like this

Ivy crosses her legs now when she is hanging out. It is her comfy way to sit. I cross mine too, all the time, so at least she gets something from me. 

Everything else, she gets from her Dad. She looks so much like him and loves him so much.

                                 Ivy, Crew & Parker starting their play dates with each other!

             We have learned that Ivy loves to watch TV, especially basketball. Hope that is a phase!

Last but not least. My sister Jamie sent this over and I thought it was hilarious. Jas and I just watched Jim Gaffigan's new bit called "Obsessed." It was so funny. Watch it, you won't be sorry. But how true is this?

I swear she says "MAAAMMMMM"

Ivy is 4 months old and I'm convinced she says Mom. I only hear it sometimes and it is only when she is fussy. She whines and cries out "MAAAAMMMM." She has grown up so much in the last month. She now grabs toys, rattles, softies and stuffed animals. She also has mastered the fake cough to get attention. Ivy also ignores people on purpose. Sometimes, when I'm trying to make her laugh, she gives me this face where she is trying not to smile. She's doing everything she can to hold it back. Ivy holds her head up now like a champ and looks wide-eyed at the TV when basketball is on. My favorite thing in the world is when she smiles so big that it takes over her whole face, when she cuddles up against my shoulder, or when she falls asleep with me in bed and has to be holding my hands or face.

Pictures from this last month:

Easter Sunday:

Ivy's lace Easter Dress from Zara (thanks Da)

Chillin' in her new glasses that the Easter Bunny got her.

Our attempt at an Easter family picture

I couldn't pick just one picture of her Easter dress. She looked so adorable. Even though her head is too big for headbands. It left a mark on her cutesy fatsy head the rest of the day.

The Bumbo:

Big enough for the bumbo

Sunday's:

Ivy is amazing at church. She sleeps in her carrier all of church, 60% of the time, every time. Today we went to Stake Conference at the Conference center downtown and she slept the entire time!

Chewing on her hand & pulling my hair:

It's her new thing. There is always part of her hand in her mouth. Sometimes it is her whole fist. And she ALWAYS has a fistful of my hair. It hurts like the dickens, but I let her take hold.

The Bees Game:

My company takes our team to a Bees game every year. It's so fun, even though I'm not the biggest fan of baseball. This year, we were on our way up to the suite, when the doors from the elevator slowly opened. The bee mascot was standing in the elevator. I stepped back, said "I'll take the next one, I'm kind of scared of the bee." The bee heart me and gave me a creepy "I'll find you later wave." And he did. Pretty sure he kissed me head. Nightmares.

Things that make me cry:

1. How fast Ivy is growing up.

2. When Ivy met adorable Smith Richards a.k.a Sniffy for the first time. They were best buds.

3. When Ivy takes baths in the adorable bath flower.

The end. Till next time.