Sleep and Solid Food

At Madeline's doctor's appointment we were told that we could feel free to try some very thin textured baby cereal whenever we wanted. So we were of course anxious to do so and started the next morning. Most of the cereal was pushed back out at us and we're not sure she really swallowed any of it. Madeline made the most disgusted faces and blinked her eyes quite a bit at us. We tried again a couple more times, but she isn't really into it at this point and often cries when we try to give her cereal. We think we will wait a little while longer before trying again.

Madeline's first attempt at eating cereal on June 20th

Madeline's 2nd attempt at eating cereal on June 26th

Along with the solid food struggles we have also been having some sleep troubles. Like clock work on her 4 month "birthday" she stopped sleeping through the night (which she had been doing for 2 months already) and stopped wanting to take naps. After about 6 sleepless nights Jared and I had had enough and we tried some sleep training. I got some great encouragement and advice from my mom friends Liz and Beverly. We are happy to report that she has slept through the night and put herself to sleep the last 4 nights! Last night she only fussed for about 5 minutes before falling asleep and tonight so far we haven't heard a peep. Naps on the other hand have not gone so well. She typically cries for about 45 minutes and then sleeps for perhaps 30 minutes. Oh well, I guess she's getting all the sleep she needs.

Madeline's hair has also become long enough now for me to put it in little ponytails. I tried pigtails once, but they looked a little like antennae so for now we're sticking to the "Pebbles" look.

Madeline's first ponytail

Tomorrow Madeline and I head to the Infant Cognition Lab at the University so that she can participate in one of their studies. Friday for the 4th we hope to go to the parade for a bit in a very cute 4th of July outfit and then head out to Grandma and Grandpa's house to celebrate Grandma's birthday and the 4th with a family cookout.

Oh, and she is starting to make some more sounds. Last weekend she was putting her lips together and making some /m/ and /b/ sounds. By Monday morning it was getting close to a "motorboat" sound and by the time I got home from work Monday evening she had mastered it. Now she sits there making little "motorboat" sounds all day long. They are adorable, but especially funny when she does them in anger and they get louder and wetter. The speech-language pathologist mom is VERY proud!