Our New York Visit

Reagan and I just got home from spending a week in New York with my Aunt Jeanne and Uncle John. My mom and Karly also met us there, so it was so nice to have everyone together. I met up with Steve in Syracuse for the weekend as he was in the wedding of one of his Marine buddies from 29 Palms. So it was also my first time away from Reagan for more than 3 hours. But she had wonderful babysitters so she was fine. I honestly think it was harder for me than it was for her. Uncle John would walk her around in his beautiful flower garden and sing to her and play her songs on the guitar when she got fussy, and Aunt Jeanne, Mom, and Karly would cater to her every need. It was also her first time taking a bottle, but she got the hang of it very quickly, and she liked it so much she was eating 6 ounces per feeding! During this week we also gave her her first solid food in the form of rice cereal. At her 4 month Dr.'s appointment, the pediatrician recommended that we start it once a day. Above is a picture of the first attempt, and she did very well! She sucked it down and even cried for more in between spoon fulls. I guess she takes after her dad when it comes to eating :)
During our visit, Reagan also got to meet my grandma's sister (her great-great Aunt Ruth), my Aunt Suzy, Uncle John, cousins Shaun and Sarah, and Aunt Rosie and Uncle Rudy. We also visited Fort Frey were my grandmother grew up. Reagan also did very well on the plane both ways! All in all it was a great vacation. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Reagan's 4 month Check Up

Reagan is now 4 months old and yesterday we went to the doctor's for her four month well baby visit.  We found out that she is doing very well and growing according to schedule.  She weighed 13 pounds 7 ounces and was 24 and 3/4 inches long.  This puts her at the 50th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height.  It looks like she got her dad's genes in the height department, which is a good thing :)  The doctor also informed us that her head shape is much better and there will be no need for a corrective helmet!  I was so relieved to hear that.  They also gave her four vaccines (3 in the form of shots), so she cried for a few minutes, but was very brave and looked very cute with 3 little Tasmanian devil band aids on her chunky thighs!

   Unfortunately, she does have a head cold at the moments.  She has been coughing and sneezing and had a runny nose for the last few days now.  She and I are scheduled to fly to NY tomorrow to visit my mom, Aunt Jeanne, and Uncle John and then Steve and I have a wedding there next weekend.  I am very nervous to fly with her when she is congested.  Especially because it is just the two of us.  I am just praying that she will nurse well during take off and landing so her ears don't bother her.  The doctor said she is okay to fly, so I hope he is right.  

    I can't believe Reagan is already 4 months old.  Looking back, the time has flown by (thinking in terms of some of the long nights, it may seem longer).  But I wouldn't change one moment of her life so far!  She is truly a blessing!  Everyday she is a little more alert and affectionate.  I am excited for my family in NY to be able to spend some time with her.

Congratulations CAPTAIN Pinkerton!

Today Steve was promoted from a 1st Lt. to a Captain!  Major Zimmerman and SgtMaj. Thetford came up from Columbia for the ceremony which was conducted in Steve's office here in Charlotte.  Even though it was a brief ceremony, our little Reagan managed to fall fast asleep and miss her daddy's big moment.  I felt so proud to pin on Steve's captain bars (with a little help from the major) knowing all that he had put into his career and all the sacrifices he as made for our country.  It was so nice to have Denise, Cate, and Karly here for the ceremony!

A Play Date for Reagan

Our friends Courtney and Paul had us over for a BBQ last weekend and it turned out to be a fun play date for Reagan as they have a little girl who was born 2 weeks after Reagan. Some other friends, Jenni and Phil were there with their baby boy who was born a week after Reagan, and there was also a 3 week old baby. So we layed them all on the bed side by side and watched them interact. It may have been more fun for the adults than the babies :)

A Whole Different Side of Reagan

Since we have been home from our trip to Michigan, Reagan's personality has changed quite a bit. She used to be so happy and easy going, and now, all of the sudden, she is quite fussy and temperamental. She has decided that she no longer likes the stroller, the car seat, or the pacifier (so in other words anything that makes her fall asleep). She basically hates to go to sleep! And I guess I can't blame her, I mean who would want to miss out on playing with me all day long :). But the stroller bit is really killing me because I loved being able to take her out on my morning run. Now she gets halfway down the block and screams constantly until the stroller comes to a stop in our garage. I'm hoping it is just a phase! Also, because she won't take the pacifier, it has become harder and harder to get her down for naps and asleep for the night. Many times, after lots of fussing and crying, I revert to nursing her to sleep. But a few nights ago, she was extremely tired but fighting sleep with all her might. So we decided (Steve made the ultimate decision) to let her cry herself to sleep in her crib for the first time ever. We decided we would go and get her if the crying lasted more than 15 minutes. But to our surprise, a miserable 11 minutes later, she was out! It was such a good feeling to know that she could get herself to sleep without being nursed, rocked, or walked for a hundred laps around the house! Since then she has done it several other times, but there have also been times when she has cried for more than 15 minutes and in those cases, I go to her and rock her to sleep. But we are making progress. And hopefully with a little more sleep, our good spirited little Reagan with reappear!

Our First Family Trip Home to Michigan

Reagan and I just returned from a two week trip home to Michigan. Steve couldn't take the whole two weeks off, but he was able to spend five days at home with us. The main reason for our trip was Tommy's High School graduation. Denise planned a wonderful graduation party for him at their home on Lake Huron. The weather was beautiful and Steve and Andrew did all the grilling for the event. Steve made a special marinade for the chicken and we all helped shape hundreds of hamburger patties the day before. Reagan was a huge hit at the party (although she decided to sleep through the first two hours of it). We also got to attend Tom's graduation! Congrats Tom, we are so proud of you! Good luck next year at Michigan State!
We spent the first few days at Grandma Denise's, and Reagan got to sleep in the same bassinet that was used by her father and her aunt and uncles. She did really well with all the company, and her only problem was that she did not want to be put down for bed or for naps because she didn't want to miss out on the action. The remainder of the trip we stayed at Grandma Barb's. Here, Reagan slept in a bassinet that her great-great grandfather made and that both Karly and I slept in. Grandma Barb read her lots of books and got her lots of stimulating toys. We spent most of the time visiting family and friends. We spent several days with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Margy and we had dinner at the ranch with Grandpa Cap. All in all, it was a wonderful trip! It was so nice to have Reagan surrounded by her loving family! Of course it went by way too fast, and the next time we are home, Reagan will be much bigger. Thank God for webcams :) Reagan also did very well on both plane rides. She nursed most of the time so the pressure wouldn't bother her. Aunt Cate was with us on the flight home as she is staying with us here in Charlotte for a month! I was so thankful to have her on the flight because about half way through it, Reagan had a huge blowout in her diaper! It went through her diaper, her onesie, her pants, and through the burp rag I desperately put around her. As soon as we landed, Cate and I ran to the airport restroom and stripped Reagan down. The only thing I had in the diaper bag was a sweater, so Reagan met Daddy and Aunt Karly in the airport in her diaper and a sweater :) We must have looked like real rednecks! But nevertheless, we made it home and had a wonderful trip! It is good to be home, but we can't wait for the next one!

Lots of ZZZs

Last night Reagan slept through the night for the first time!  She is 2 and 1/2 months old and has been typically waking up twice during the night to feed, but last night she surprised us all.  I fed her at 8pm, she was asleep by 9 in her bassinet and we didn't hear a peep from her until 6:15 this morning.  Of course I instinctively woke up at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 to make sure she was still breathing :)  Hopefully this will be a new trend and Steve, Karly, Reagan and I can all say goodbye to late night tv.