North Carolina

Sienna went on her first airplane ride to North Carolina. I was nervous taking her cause I had no idea how she would handle the flight and I didn't want to be that mom that everyone hates because their baby won't stop crying while they are trying to enjoy the inflight movie. But Sienna surpassed all my hopes. The flight to North Carolina was a red eye and she slept THE WHOLE time. Even when we weren't on the plane she was awake for maybe an hour. Also, I decided I love flying with a baby. Reason being, everyone is so nice to you! They let you go in front of you in lines or off the plane, they are nicer to you going thru security, it's just a positive experience. And everyone loved Sienna! I don't blame them of course cause she is so stinkin cute but it almost got tired having people stop us and ask how old she was and commenting on how cute she was! The most funny experience we had with her was eating in the Houston airport. Matt had just gotten Panda Express and we were just about to enter the Wendy's when some flight crew looked at us and with authority said "excuse me, you guys can't come in here." Matt and I just looked at each other, him thinking is it because I have Panda Express? Me just being plan confused. Then they go on to say "you can't just walk into here without letting us see that baby first! OH MY GOSH SHE IS SO CUTE. Look at her little feet and hands, oh her face is so cute. Blah blah blah." It was hilarious. As I was getting my Wendy's and Matt's waiting with Sienna there were more people coming up talking to him and then by the time I got back to our seat the flight crew told us they would be coming to see us at Christmas time. The flight attendants all commented on how much she looked like a doll and that they had dolls bigger then her, and if a new attendant was walking by, the other made sure to make them look. Okay, I will stop bragging about my sweet girl. It was just fun to see how much people love Sienna. I think it's just babies in general. There is something special about them and people are just drawn to them.

Here we are on our first flight together as a family. 

While in North Carolina we went camping at camp eagles nest. It's owned by the LDS church and is used a lot for boys scouts and girls camp. But lucky for us the last two times we have gone there hasn't been one other person there! Which is really nice cause then it's pretty easy to keep track of the kids and they can go anywhere without getting into anyone's stuff. There is a little lake there that has about the nastiest water I have ever seen. It looks like dr. Pepper and there are big snakes in it. But the kids love it. They have canoes and paddle boats that you can take out which is always a favorite.

The kids loved playing in the sand, despite the many unwanted sand fights which resulted in sand in eyes and mouth. 

Our attempt to build a fire. It had rained the night we got there making all the wood wet. So pretty much matt and I kept the fire burning long enough with pine needles so the kids could roast some marshmallows. 

I love this goof ball.

All of us in our camping shirts. Matts Mom and sister came up with the idea and it was so cute. All the kids that could drew a picture of themselves then we used fabric transfer paper or whatever it is and ironed them on to shirts. I wear mine at least once a week. I LOVE it.

Another thing we do while in North Carolina is celebrate everyone's birthdays since we aren't able to be together on those days. Matt's mom made cute rainbow cupcakes this year. The kids absolutely love it, mostly cause they get to blow out a candle and eat a cupcake. Nothing better then that. I think Sienna enjoyed her first year.  She was so mesmerized by the flame before I blew it out of course.

We also take family pictures while we are all together. We were going to take them the same place we did last year which was a really nice nature backdrop, but sadly about 20 mins before we were to go out it started pouring rain, so we did them outside. Of course almost as soon as we were finished it cleared up, but Matt's sister's family was leaving to go to the ocean for the week right after pictures so we couldn't venture out. Plus, I think the kids would've been real terrors. It's a struggle to get 9 kids to cooperate once, let alone twice. 

Sienna's late 4 month update.

Time is flying by with this cutie girl! She is getting so big, at least in my eyes, and I love seeing her change developmentally and getting more aware and excited about the things around her.

Sienna is still on the small side for her age weighing in at about 11.2 pounds. But she is eating lots more these days so that is good. She used to only eat 60-75 mls fortified and is now doing about 100 mls fortified. The average baby eats 150 mls, unfortified, just to give you an idea. So we are really happy that she is working her way up and hopefully it will help her pack on the pounds. 

Sienna is such a happy baby. I feel like the luckiest person in the world. She always has a big smile to give you, even if it's immediately followed by tears. She loves anything to do with the mouth it seems. She is always making farting noises, blowing spit bubbles,  sucking on her lips, hands, or blanket. She loves to try and mimic what you do with your mouth. That's about the only time she laughs is when you copy her or do something with your mouth that she then tries to do. For some reason it's the only thing that is funny to her.

She is able to role from stomach to back but hasn't mastered from back to stomach. But that doesn't surprise me. She likes to be on her back, where as she can only handle her stomach for so long. She rolled for the first time on August 25th. We had the iPad camera up and when she rolled over we of course started cheering, and this is Sienna's reaction to such a great accomplishment. 

Poor thing just can't handle the spot light. 

Sienna loves playing with toys now. You put a rattle in her hand and she round houses that thing and hits herself in the face a number of times while doing it, but that doesn't stop her. 

She likes feeling different textures. This was discovered when her cousin left a cardboard box by her. She laid and scratched the box for a good 15 minutes. Now she loves scratching the couch as the fabric has a different texture and makes a noise when she scratches it. 

She recognizes her bottle and pulls our hands to her face when we are holding it and has started holding it her self. She also watches us eat so I think this little miss is getting ready to try solids. 

Sienna has at least I think enjoyed going to the pool. We don't get much of a reaction from her signifying she likes it or hates it, so I take that as a sign she doesn't mind it. Matt dunked her under the water and she didn't even care. She came up, blinked a few times and just went on being expressionless. 

Yup that face about sums up her feelings of the pool. 

Well that is it for 4 months! 

Growing up

So this happened the other day...

We got her little ears pierced! Matt and I have been debating about this for about a month now. I was pro earrings he was not. I never actually thought my husband would care about it but turns out almost all guys have an opinion and they all think you should wait until at least 8 when they can make their own decision instead of having it made for them. Which I totally get their view point, but I figure she can just decide when she is 8 that she doesn't want them. An earring hole is really not that noticeable. Sienna did a great job and only cried for about 30 seconds until she got a bottle in her mouth. Then all was well.

Sienna also learned some sort of new trick. She only did it that night, then it's like she forgot how to do it, but she keeps trying to do it again, especially if we start mimicking it. Unfortunately on my iPad which I use to write my blog posts I can't post movies but here is a picture for now. 

Maybe you can't tell that well but she sucks in one side of her top lip and she just sucks on it, like a pacifier. 

Sienna is also getting close to rolling over. She can get herself on her side and sometimes even flips her feet over but what is stopping her is the hands she likes to keep in her mouth. They kind of act as a barricade. She is also starting to use her voice a lot more. It is so cute to hear her talking away to herself or us. She has only laughed a couple of times. Matt was making a face at her and she was doing a little wheez laugh everytime. It was so cute to watch. Then the other day I just looked at her and said hi and apparently I was pretty funny cause she gave out an actual laugh, more then the wheez she was doing the day before. Oh it was the cutest thing and I wish she would do it more often. 

Sienna is still a scrawny little baby. She is 4 months on August 15 and she is only 10 pounds. She is 24ish inches though so the dr's just think she will always be a long and lean baby. So we have mostly graduated from newborns and are working into 0-3 months. It's been nice cause I have gotten good use out of some of the clothes I bought, but sad too, because I bought 3 months summer clothes that she will never be able to wear. Oh well, there will always be another baby! 

She is still not very interested in toys. I put them in her hand and she will hold onto them and move her arm up and down but she doesn't actively reach for one or even really smile while she has it. I think it's mostly that she just likes to keep her hands clenched so if a toy is put in her hands she holds on to it. 

Some summer fun

Summer has been pretty good to us so far. A little different with a baby since we are used to being able to go on any hike we want, go on evening walks, play cards all night, etc. We can still do those things with Sienna, it's just a little bit more of a process, but we love having her a long!

We went to Waterton with my sister and her kids while they were here. We walked around red rock canyon and then had a little picnic

I love seeing my dad with Sienna. He is so tender with her and I can't wait for them to be buds as she grows up 

This is how we hold hands nowadays. It's so romantic. 

We took Sienna on her first hike in Waterton on Saturday the 26th. I think she actually quite enjoyed it. When she was awake she stared at the trees with her eyes and mouth wide opened. But I think unless we hike something that is only an hour or so hike we won't be bringing her along. She just got too heavy. Sure we had a baby carrier, but after 10 mins, my back is killing me, so I opted to carry her in my arms. So next time she is staying with the grandparents, which will probably be more fun for her anyway. 

Matt's first time in B.C. The hike starts in Alberta, but after about 15 mins you hit this sign. Pretty neat

Us at wall lake. Sienna hasn't quite learned to look at a camera yet when she isn't laying down.

She is already using body language to tell me to get out of her face. But look at how long she is getting! 

I forced her to wear a hat even though it was ten times to big. I was worried about her getting a tick plus a sunburn. This is how she looked the majority of the time she had it on. 

It was my sister and her kids first time meeting Sienna. So to say they loved her is an understatement. The moment I pulled up to the house it was cheers of "baby Sienna baby Sienna. Where is baby Sienna? I want to hold baby Sienna" my poor sister hardly got to spend anytime with her cause the moment she was in her arms her kids all wanted a turn holding her. It was very tender to see how much they loved her and she was such a good baby for them and let hem hold her quite often without complaint. 

All about my favorite girl

Sienna hit 3 months a few days ago. 3 MONTHS!! She is growing so fast. It made me realize that I want to document moments in her life. Things she likes to do as a 3 month old and such. 

{loves to listen to music} She especially enjoys the children's song book. If she is ever being fussy for no real reason I turn those on and she is as good as gold. 

{loves to be read to} Whether it's the scriptures or a picture book, Sienna is all eyes and ears when you start reading.

{hates having her back scratched} she doesn't mind if you rub or pat her back! but when you start scratching she starts squirming. 

{loves to make squeaky noises} She doesn't cry in the middle of the night to let me know she is hungry . She just makes squeaky noises, like squeaky grunts. She also squeaks when she stretches and when you bring her feet up to her head.

{loves to have her hands up by her head when she eats} If you put your finger by her hand she'll usually grab it and hold it by her head while she eats

{disinterested in toys} the only thing that we could even say remotely held her attention is a toy rattle, which she will hold in her hand and move up and down but I don't think she really knows what she is doing with it.

{loves having her hands in a fist} it's almost impossible to spread her hands out straight! Even when she is sleeping. She is always so tense. 

{loves to suck on her fist and fingers} it's so cute to watch cause she will lift up her hands, stare at them, and as she brings them to her mouth she goes cross eyed and stays that way for a couple of seconds.
{Loves to kick kick kick} We feed Sienna on our laps cause that's what they showed us in the hospital and we just haven't changed so we get lots of kicks to the chest and stomach. And they actually hurt

{has the worst gas ever} You wouldn't think something so foul could come out of such a petite cute baby. Matt has diagnosed her with A.S.F- adult sounding farts. You could also change it to adult smelling farts cause those things are stinky

{loves to be swaddled} in order for her to take a good long nap she must be swaddled. If not her rouge hands will smack her in the face at some point and wake her up. 

{has the best pout} She will have us wrapped around her finger if she keeps that pout up. I have never seen a baby be able to stick out their lower lip so much. Still need to catch on camera.
{has mixed feelings about tummy time} She likes it for about 10 mins. In that time she does some super man poses and almost flips herself over. Then she cries hysterically. 

Now for some pictures that may exhibit these characteristics about her. And others just to show off her cuteness. 

                           The straight jacket swaddled 

                                     Semi pout

                               Loving the rattle

                                  Eats and sleeps like a queen

                                   Diva by day

                                               Thug by night

                                               Canada day

                                  Independence Day

Love this picture for a few reason. Shows her pulling her hands to her face and going cross eyed. Plus shows her size. This is my best friend jennicas baby. They are about 7 weeks a part, yet if I didn't know better I would think Owen was older. 

          Nothing better then sleeping with my sweet girl.