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Braden please don't resent me. 

Braden 5 months

Height 

Weight 14.5 lb

Size 2 diapers

Clothing: mostly 6 months some 3-6 

Hair : dark blonde light brown

Eyes: turning more greenish brown like dad

Well he was sleeping through the night until he got his first cold. Now who knows how night times go any more. That on top of not being swaddled anymore, it's been a little rough. Update: he has decided he still likes to be swaddled at night. This changes from night to night but for the most part he wants it on. 

We started trying CIO for nap times during the day to help teach self soothing. I hate listening to him cry but the pediatrician reminds me it's an important part of development. And honestly, I can't sit there rocking him for 20+ minutes for a 40 minute nap. Guess it's a down side of being the second child. Baby needs to sleep and momma has to get stuff done. 

His hemangioma has continued to grow and after a frustrating appointment with two different doctors, we are trying a topical blood pressure medication. This will not remove the bump but just slow down its growth and help it to lay flat. We will go back in a few weeks to follow up. But I just want the dang thing gone. 

You rolled over from tummy to back for the first time this month. You also have started eating rice cereal, oatmeal and tried your first food-- carrots. You don't really like the binkie but will chew on anything you can get your hands on. I believe teething has started but nothing has broken through. 

You love when we sing itsy bitsy spider. You giggle the loudest when sister dances for you or someone speaks in their "batman" voice. 

You are ticklish on your neck and love raspberries on your tummy. 

Your dimple kills me. You have these deep belly laughs that make my day! 

Generally you are a happy baby but still demand to be held and paid attention to all day long. You do not like being left alone, just like Madi when she was a baby. 

Daylight savings hit and you now are up again for the day around 5am. This is killing me. I know I've said it before but any time I think of having more children the thought quickly leaves as soon as I remember my children and their lack of sleeping habits. I don't get it. I used to be a big morning person, and I still am, but I love my naps as much as anyone. However truthfully I am a power napper too so o guess I can see where my babies get it from. Their parents are non sleepers. 

Your "witching hours" seem to be in the morning around 9-11. You just scream and there is nothing we can do. You grumpy boy! I can never put you down and if I do you just scream!! It drives your dad and I nuts! 

You are not a home body. You like to get out every day and run errands. If we don't venture out at least once you have a rough time. 

Gratitude-- where we are now

November is always a time to reflect on our lives and the things we are most grateful for. Sometimes with so many things going on its hard to focus and remember those things. 

Life is crazy busy at the moment. 

Madison is in preschool 3 days a week, music class and friend preschool 1 day a week. 

We are adjusting to life with two kids and lucky is, Braden is just as crappy of a napper as Madison was. So not much gets done during the day. 

Daddy is still applying to any and every fire station and hopefully one day soon he will get hired on full time and things will settle down. But it's been a year of this so I don't think I will hold my breathe. 

I am preparing for a couple holiday boutiques and it's a lot of prep work. This is where I make most of my money for the holidays and so it is important I have lots of product ready. However my needy newborn does not allow much to happen. I had to temporarily close the shop online because it's just too much to do right now. 

I've been called as the Beehive advisor and I had no idea how much this calling entailed. Wow. It keeps me very busy. 

Papa Harold had a massive stroke Sunday night (11-1) and is in the ICU. Things aren't looking great. 

Braden's first cold

I knew this day would come. Part of me is thankful Braden is almost 5 months old when this finally happened instead of a tiny tiny baby but then a bigger part of me wishes it never needed to happen at all. This week he had his first cold, which of course he was kind enough to share with his sister, or perhaps it's the other way around. Between nursery and preschool the toddler germs are everywhere. Though I have tried to stress the important of washing our hands or at least using hand sanitizer before touching brother, I know it's impossible for her to remember every time. My poor sweet kiddos with their crap immune systems. 

The current situation: I am sleeping on Madi's twin bed to stay close to Braden through the night and listen for breathing. Humidifier blasting. Breathing rub in place. Bulb suction close at hand. Not much you can do to help a baby so small but just pray it goes by quickly with minimal damage. It's just a classic cold. Stuffy nose, grumpy boy, and very little sleep for anyone. He can't seem to stay asleep for more than 20 minutes so for now he is laying on my chest for comfort. 

Thankfully Zach is home tonight but I am so not looking forward to the rest of the week. Madison is asleep on my floor. Chest rub also in place, cough medicine given, and again praying for the best. Colds seem to settle deep in her lungs and cause all sorts of breathing problems during the winter. She coughs so long and hard she sometimes will either throw up or stop breathing. It's terrifying and so again I like to keep her close to monitor her too. The problem we run in to with her is that we can't give cough syrup or the steroid to her daily. We have to use it sparingly which sometimes means nights of "roughing it out". It really sucks and again we just pray it's not too bad and we don't have to make any midnight trips to the hospital. I'm so not looking forward to that now with two kids, because you know... All the good stuff happens when dad isn't home. 

So here's to the beginning of the worst four months of the year. Heaven help us.