Her Future's So Bright

It's been pretty quiet at our house the last couple of weeks, aside from the torrential rain we've had every couple of days. We've had quite a few firsts since my last post - here they are:

Camryn's Firsts for the Past Few Weeks

First time to eat with a spoon! Camryn has now been eating rice cereal once a day for over a week now. She still makes the faces when she takes her first spoonful, which makes me laugh, but also makes me anxious to get her started on foods that she might actually enjoy! Kevin let her taste a tiny bit of some other baby food (some apple/strawberry fruit stuff) and she seemed to really enjoy that... so it must just be the taste of rice cereal. The last few days she's eaten 1 tbsp! (we started with 1 tsp) If you haven't seen the picture of her trying rice cereal for the first time, see the last post. (Also - it has been decided that she looks just like Grandpa J in that picture)

First drink of water. For the past few weeks, Camryn has been grabbing the toys more and more in the bathtub and watching the water with great amazement. We have a flower pot/watering can that Kevin pours water on her (he is convinced to make her like water!) and lately she has started to grab the watering can and put it up to her mouth and take a big gulp of water. One day I will post a picture of her playing in the tub. It's really cute. We talk all the time about how we can't wait for her to go swimming - when it gets warmer, Nana-Darla's here we come!!!

First night to finally sleep unswaddled. We've been swaddling her since she was born. A few months ago, we stopped swaddling her arms (but still swaddled her legs). I started feeling like it wasn't that beneficial for her, but was more of just a habit and part of our bedtime routine. We are big on the bedtime routine. (Side note -- Kevin and I are both very strong J's (if you are not sure of your Jung personality type, take this free, very quick personality test here -- highly entertaining; for those interested, Kevin and I are INTJ and ESFJ respectively - the only characteristic we share is the J - which is a need for a schedule, predictability). Back to the story, we stopped swaddling her arms and it took a few nights, but she is perfectly happy being unswaddled and I think she really enjoys being able to move around her crib during the night.

First time to giggle more. Just this past week, Camryn's seemed to giggle more. It's almost like she only has a few that she can do each day - so once you get so many, no more for that day! Here is a quick video of her giggling in her new jumper (which she LOVES!) --

First time to pick up binky and put in mouth! Yippee - but not on a consistent basis yet and I won't be too excited about this one until it's all the time, including 4:30 am (meaning she doesn't need us then!).

First time to wear shoes to school. Yes, she's been going to school for over a month now and she's only worn shoes one time! Kevin dressed her in a very cute outfit (from Carrie and Hairy Man) and in shoes from the Tagtows - she's so pretty...

First time to open her mouth when she sees her bottle. This one is really funny. Something that is also a little sad (and embarrassing) -- she does it when she sees a beer bottle too - although I SWEAR - she's never had beer. I just hope strangers don't see her do this.

First time to walk her walker. She has now figured out that she can move her walker (or red convertible...) so she scoots a little.

First time to ride in a jogging stroller. We bought a jogging stroller a few weeks ago and it has been great! When I was pregnant, I stayed in shape (I use that term VERY loosely here, I mean - how in shape can you when you're a human bowling ball?!?) by walking Otis in the neighborhood. I had tried to walk him with Camryn in her snap and go stroller, but it's not a very smooth ride for her. The jogging stroller has big wheels and is great! What's even better is that she can see out and watch what's going on! Here is a picture of her exhausted from one of our workouts this week:

First trip to the park. Soon after we bought the new stroller, Kevin and I took Camryn and Otis to Independence Park and walked the trails. We had a great time and she seemed to enjoy being outside too. (I didn't particularly like getting my new stroller wheels dirty, but I guess that's what its for!)

First pair of sunglasses. Camryn didn't seem to mind her first pair of sunglasses (which we have since misplaced, so frustrating - I have racked my brain and looked EVERYWHERE!) - they were striped Hello Kitty and super cute. Her future is so bright - we just know it!

Some other pictures:

And now, for the fun picture of the week:

When Mom and I were taking pictures of Camryn in her sunglasses, Mom was holding her up in front of her. Well, some of the pictures ended up looking like Mom's hair was on Camryn's head (but in a super freaky way)... I still get the giggles when I look at this picture. I'm sure you'll all be surprised to hear that Kevin did not think it was nearly as funny as Mom and I did ;)...

More in a few weeks!

Eating with a Spoon

We had a HUGE first in the Conway Casa today - Rice Cereal made its debut! It was our first time to prepare something for Camryn to eat with a spoon - BIG DAY!

And how did CC like it? You be the judge...

Apparently, Kevin said that I made the same face when I tried it (sorry, no picture to compare!). Not sure about the other mommas out there, but I have tried everything that we've ever given to her - milk, formula, Tylenol, Mylicon - so same goes for the rice cereal this morning.

I did read that babies will make these faces not because they do not like the taste, but just because of the new textures - I'm sure it is strange! We think that she did swallow a little bit of the cereal and even opened her mouth for the spoon. So, we'll do it again tomorrow and hopefully it will get better each day...

More later!

5 Months Old Tomorrow!

We have had a great couple of weeks since I last posted. Camryn is really growing every day and is becoming a little person! She has been extra snuggable lately - I'm trying to squeeze her as much as possible because I'm not sure how long it will last! The last few days, she's also been giggling a little more which is really fun. She's always been big on smiles and usually greets most people with a big toothless grin (my favorite), but you really have to work for giggles. Lately, they have seemed to pop up a little easier than before, and I'm excited about that! Kevin and I spend a great deal of time trying to make her giggle, and then when we do, I usually end up laughing way more than her!

As I started this post, I downloaded my pictures from the past two weeks and I really, really, really take too many pictures! But she's so pretty, I've got to share! So, this might end up being a picture post too!

Camryn's Firsts for the Past Few Weeks:

First birthday party to attend. Camryn's cousin Carson (Kevin's cousin Erik's son, check out his blog link - Carson and Family) turned two at the beginning of April - such a big boy now! - and had a birthday party last weekend. CC and I attended without Kevin because he was in Galveston for a fishing tournament. We were only able to stay for the first hour because we then headed to Galveston to meet Kevin and the Medearis' for dinner. I took some pictures of her in her outfit from Marisa (and sitting up like a big girl!) before we left for the party:

First trip to Galveston. Camryn was absolutely worn out from the hour we spent at Carson's birthday party that she snoozed the entire way to Galveston - thank you!!! - and then enjoyed herself at dinner. She used to be so portable when we went to dinner - we would leave her in her carseat and she would either sleep or just look around. Well, I think I messed that up because one evening I took her out of the car seat (because I wanted to snuggle - I know, shame on me!) and ever since then, she has wanted out. So, when we went to dinner in Galveston, we didn't even bother taking her seat in - we just passed her around the table and took turns eating. Can't wait until she's big enough for a highchair! (even though I have heard it only gets more difficult...oh well!)

First 3 Day Weekend. Camryn's school was closed on Friday, so I took the day off and we all had a 3 day weekend! Kevin golfed with my mom and the Vidals while Camryn and I met my friend Andrea Rod for lunch and shopping. CC did so good and stayed in her car seat for the whole lunch! She also let Rod snuggle with her after lunch. After their golf game, the Vidals and Grandma Linda stopped by to see Camryn.

First Easter Sunday. For Easter Sunday, Camryn wore the pink dress and tights from Aunt Pattijean and was probably the cutest baby girl ever (can't say the cutest baby ever because her boyfriend Caleb was pretty darn cute too - check out his blog at Cox Chronicles). Mom and I had a first on Easter Sunday also - we attended church online. It was a little different to go to church in your pj's - but was so nice to still be able to listen to the music and the message on this special day (all the while Camryn played and napped in her pack and play for most of it!). Around lunchtime, we headed to Brookside where we stopped by Oneill's and then went down the street to spend the afternoon with Granny and Pawpaw. We had a great meal and Camryn was happy for the whole day!

By the end of the day, she was absolutely exhausted and actually passed out while eating her last bottle, which doesn't happen very often anymore. She then had a complete meltdown after being asleep for about 25 minutes. And by complete meltdown, I mean, COMPLETE MELTDOWN. We finally got her calmed down and asleep again about an hour and a half later in our bathroom, in her bouncer with the vibration on, while I blow dried my hair and rocked her bouncer with my foot, IN THE DARK. Exhausting! We just really have to remember to keep her on her schedule and get her naps in - even during holidays - she was way overstimulated!

First time to read the paper. She is suddenly very interested in everything we have in our hands - food, drinks, paper, anything. I was looking at a Babies R Us mailer this afternoon and she wanted to hold it. She had so much fun! (and it even kind of looks like she's reading - or picking out a new carseat!)

And some random pictures of our chunky monkey from the last few weeks:

And now, for the funny picture of the week. Camryn definitely notices the camera now (probably because I stick it in her face for about 30 minutes every day, right?! Haha!). The problem with that is she'll smile at me, I'll pull the camera out, and blank stare. No smile. So, I have tried to fake her out a few different ways. This picture was the result of me trying to hold her attention with me and I snuck the camera out sideways where she wasn't looking. At least I got one eye!

More in a few weeks! (CC's 5 months old tomorrow - can't believe it!!)

Happy 1st Easter CC!

Happy Easter -- Hope you all have a great holiday! I'll post more soon... but just had to share this cute picture they took at Camryn's school last week!

Happy Baby!

Just wanted to post a few pictures from the last couple of weeks - not a lot to report, just school and work, and watching our happy baby girl grow everyday! Camryn did have a few firsts since the last time we posted, so:

Camryn's Firsts for the (past few) Weeks:

First time to sit up on her own. I need to get a picture of this b/c it's really cute - she tries really hard to sit up on her own and seems like she's able to balance herself a little more each day.

First time to meet Kaylie Fiedler (my friend Jennifer's ("Wighty") daughter) and Meagan LeGrand (my friend Allie's newborn baby).

First week to grab her toes and put them in her mouth! And also to play around with her voice - Camryn "talks" really high pitched and then really low pitched and mixes it up. A few Sundays ago she talked what seemed like the entire day in a deep growl and it kind of freaked me out. Now she's back to mostly squealing, so this video is pretty funny since she must have really been entertaining herself:

First time to spend time outside and do yard work. Unfortunately, she's not a lot of help yet, but she did get to watch us clean out the flowerbeds! She really loved to be outside and watch the shadows on the grass and Otis run through the yard like a maniac. I lathered her up with sunscreen (another first!) and also kept her in her swing under a big umbrella. I completely underestimated how hard it was going to be to put sunscreen on her (Kayleigh always made it look so easy with Bryleigh!) - so that might have been a good picture to take! A few pictures from that day hanging with us after our yard work:

First week to be only on formula. :( This one is a little bittersweet b/c we had hoped that she would have breastmilk until 6 months, but I suppose that 4 1/2 months is still pretty good!

That's pretty much it for the firsts.

Something that I've noticed since Cam's been going to school is that she is able to put herself to sleep a lot easier when we lay her down for naps or at night. She takes her binky (pretty much the only time besides the car she takes the binky anymore) and rubs her little lovey (it's the pink elephant) until she goes to sleep. A picture of her napping this week: (she's so pretty)

Camryn loves her tummy time! I think she gets frustrated b/c she wants to be on the move and she just can't seem to do it yet -- a picture of her stripped down (she's a DROOL MONSTER) before her bath one night: (such a big girl now!)

And now, the fun picture of the week:

When CC gets upset, she gets what we call 'red eyebrows' -- sometimes they pop up even before she has other signs of being upset, so it's sort of like a warning signal. And they take some time to go away - even after she is happy. So, one evening she was taking her little catnap after school and we must not have rescued her from the pack and play fast enough, so she got a little upset. Well, when Kevin got to her - she was all smiles - take a look:

(You can still see the red eyebrows... wonder how long she'll have this! Sort of amusing!)

More next week!

(I did update the last post - a few things that I needed to add and couldn't believe that they slipped my mind before!)