5 Months

So basically Lola is huge. We had her 5 month checkup last week. Lola weighs 16 lbs, is just under 27 inches long, and has a 16 inch noggin. She has a melon like her daddy. She ranked 95th for length, 85th for weight, and 80th for head circumference. The girl is definitely NOT petite like I was.

At 5 months old Lola has learned to sit up right all by herself ...

She says ba-ba-ba-ba, da-da-da-da, and ma-ma-ma-ma, and babbles on and on accompanied by loud screams & schrieks. She loves to look around in the grocery store yelling loudly at all the stuff on the shelves. 

Lola can now roll back to front, and now she doesnt hate so much lying on her belly. 

Shes the type of baby who just wishes she could get up and go already. I feel like everytime I show her something new she is saying "Silly Mama I already know how to do that!"

She loooooooves her grandpa!

When it comes to sleeping Lola is still a hot mess. She takes 3-4 45 minute naps per day. At night I put her down around 7:30, and she sleeps till 12. I then bring her in bed with me for the rest of the night. At first I was so against co-sleeping but after doing some research I think its ok for now. It works for us and thats all that matters to me.

Lola is developing quite a little personality. She laughs when I tickle her collarbone or her back. She absolutley lights up when she sees her daddy on skype (so do I.) 

The kid just never stops smiling, we are so lucky to have such a good baby.

Heres what I've been doing...

Ahhh Sunday night. All my work for the week is done & I even manage to sell a few headbands too. Incase you didnt notice the changes around here, look to the right. I started an Etsy store to sell Lola's headbands. Its called Lola Beane Boutique. Why Lola Beane you ask? Well a few days after Lola was born, her Aunt Toni, Uncle Kenny & Cousin Bug visited us. Anotoinette (Toni) is the queen of nicknames I must say. I totally suck at them & never QUITE understood why anyone would want to be called anything but their name. So she gave Lola the nickname Lola Beane, and it just stuck. Then Lola grew like 4 inches in 3 weeks and totally looked like a string bean, she has always been super long, so that was that. '

In addition to Etsy, I've also got our headbands in a few local boutiques! I am in the process of launching a blog for Lola Beane Boutique, aside from our family blog. (Two blogs, am I nuts?) 

Miss Lola...

My sweet Lola girl is growing so big & so fast. Her new thing is consonents. She say dadadadada over and over in a squeeky high pitched voice. So sweet. She is sleeping in my bed full time now which is probably a bad thing, but its the only way we both can sleep these days. We are headed home to GA on Saturday & OH BOY am I excited! I cant wait to sleep in my own bed, in my own room. Cook in my own kitchen. I cant wait for Lola to have her very own room. (Ill post pics of her nursery later.) Oh yeah and...only 85 days till John comes home!!!! YEAH!
Heres some pics from the past week :)

July

Wow where do I begin? I know I am super late on Lola's 4 month update, but since we were on vacation, I didn't get a chance to take her to the doctor & get her stats. I can tell you though, she is doing so many new things lately. The girl loves to stand. She has decided that it is so much more interesting to stand up then to lie on her back. So now whenever I put her down on her back she tries to push up with her feet. So now I have her in her jumparoo & doorway jumper. I think she likes the view much better from there!

Her little voice is in full force. Not only does she babble, but she full on uses consonants & vowels together like "baaaa" and" "maaa." She talks NONstop! Also, when I sing to her or play music she tries to sing along.

She now can grab things with her hand & pass them from one hand to another. Also, Im starting to be able to carry her on my hip, which is something Ive been looking forward to for awhile, since I dont put her down much :)

On another note, I've created a bit of a monster in the sleeping department. In order for me to get some rest, I put her in bed with me a few times. Well now shes hooked & wont sleep alone in her crib. Great. I have exactly 92 days till Daddy comes home, I must break this habit before then.

I will be sure to update next week with her stats, and I will leave you with a few pics from the past month...

Im sorry.

I know I am waaaaay overdue for a blog post. I have had a very busy past 3 weeks, and have barely had time to answer my phone or texts. Lola and I have been having so much fun in Florida visiting friends & family. As soon as I get back to NY and have some time to breathe, I will upload some pics from our trip and give you all the details. I have a lot of things going on right now between Lola & work.

I have also decided to sell some of Lola's headbands that I make. I have put together a line of flower headbands and had the professionally photographed by my friend Brooke Logue. I plan to start an etsy store sometime in the near future. We also use this opportunity to capture some amazing snapshots of me & Lola. Here is a sneak peak :)

Florida here we come!

Lola and I booked our flight to Florida today! We leave in 2 weeks. I ab.so.lutely cant WAIT to see all my friends & family. I haven't really had a chance to show Lola off to anyone in person. Plus with Aunt Toni around, I will finally be able to get that much needed break. In case I never mentioned it Aunt Toni is my awesome sister in law/bff, Antoinette. She and her sister Noodle (and cousin buggy of course) are coming up to visit for a week. Then I am flying back to FL with them. I am so excited to see all three of them.

In Lola news, we had a big night last night. She slept in her crib ALL night. I had her Angelcare monitor on. Im not quite sure if that thing make me less worried or more paranoid, but I paid $100 for it so Im using the thing. Daddy is doing well overseas, he misses us, and we miss him terribly.
Here is my fav pic from last weekend! (Shes not really sitting up on her own, my mom is holding her from behind ;) )

Ideas that spin around in my head all day long

I've been racking my brain for awhile trying to think of the perfect idea for John's welcome home party. I just want this to be so great for him.  I know its not for awhile but hey Im excited ok? The more I focus on that light at the end of the tunnel, the easier it is for me. So I discussed it with him and we decided a BBQ would be best. I think Im going to try to rent out a clubhouse that has a kitchen & tv's and a pool. Its going to be All American themed. Id love to know your opinions on if you think its a cute idea or just plain cheesy. Here are some of my inspirations...

I know this is 4th of July themed, but I really like the flags, popcorn & strawberrys!

The thing I loved about this one is the lanterns. AHH mazing.

I definitely want to do old school bottles of coke. Also LOVE the banner. I think I can tackle that one myself...

We have a winner!

The winner of the free session with Brooke Logue Photography via Random.org is....
Lacie!

Lacie you have 48 hours to respond to this message.

Also... as a bonus, Brooke Logue Photography is willing to extend a 20% discount of the session fee to anyone who entered this contest!

Thanks!