5 Months!

How in the world has it already been 5 months? It seems like maybe 2 months...but certainly not 5. As much as I do miss the newborn phase where you were so small and were perfectly content being swaddled and held, I do love the 5 month age. We finally have a feeding, nap and bedtime schedule (Hallelujah!) and I enjoy seeing your personality develop more every day. I thought I'd take a minute and make a list of all of my favorites about you right now.

I love picking you up from your bed when you wake up. Sometimes you wake up crying and screaming but calm down when you open your eyes and realize Mommy is holding you. The best time is when I walk in there and you start smiling and blowing bubbles the minute you see me. When I pick you up you arch your back and stttrrrrreeettch!

You love naked time! When you get fussy at night, we put you on a blanket with your toys and let you have naked time for 30 minutes. You roll around and laugh until it's bath time.

You love bath time! You especially like when Daddy gets your bath ready because he puts extra bubbles in it. Daddy and I both pat your buns before putting you in the bath and after we get you out. Seriously...you've got the cutest buns ever! (I'm sure reading this in years to come will totally embarrass you...get used to it sister)

You have learned to laugh and nothing makes Daddy and I happier. You crack up when Daddy blows raspberries on your belly. It's the sweetest sound and makes our home so full of joy.

You adore your boy cousins and they absolutely adore you. They are all so fascinated with you and are so gentle around "Little Baby Reagan." You just beam when they come around you. (I think you enjoy being the center of attention).

You like being outside and watching Mommy and Daddy work in the yard while Emmy runs around. You started having allergies (my fault!) so we've had to limit our trips outside. You also love going on walks around the neighborhood.

You attract attention wherever you go. We have never been out in public without someone (usually multiple someones) stopping us and commenting on how beautiful, how happy or how adorable you are.

You are so loved and you exude love back to those around you. You are so blessed to have people who love you take care of you while Mommy and Daddy are at work. Here's your current schedule:
Monday: Daddy
Tuesday: Mamaw
Wednesday: Nanny Rachel
Thursday: Grandma
Friday: Nanny Rachel

You LOVE to talk...ALL the time! When we went to see Dr. Hampton for your 4 month check-up, I was a bit concerned because you hadn't rolled over yet. She was laughing and asked if you always talked this much...the answer is yes. She said that you were more interested in socializing then focusing on rolling over. I think you may be taking after me.

You did finally roll over! The secret is you will only roll over while naked. Apparently the cloth diaper is too bulky and too much work for you to overcome. You now can roll from tummy to back like a champ and have rolled from back to stomach 1 or 2 times.

You loathe cereal! Seriously...loathe it! I've been trying to get you to eat ceral (oatmeal/rice) for a month now. I've tried it cold, warm, with water, with formula...nothing! You gag and make a face like I've just fed you a lemon everytime. We have one more month to conquer this before introducing vegetables. We better get to it!

I just stopped nursing you...and it makes me tear up to think about it. My initial goal was to nurse you until you were 6 months, but I felt that the timing was right to stop at 5. It's been difficult to nurse while being back at work and it was becoming more stressful to keep my supply up than what you were actually getting. It has been such a gift and a wonderful experience to share with you.

Songs we sing daily: a million made-up songs about whatever activitiy we seem to be doing at that time, This Little Light of Mine, Jesus Loves the Little Children and Jesus Loves Me. When Daddy is at work on Saturday, we crank up the radio and dance and sing around the house. I'm sure you think I'm crazy (and I doubt that will be the last time you ever think that...) but we have so much fun.

You love looking in the mirror at yourself. You can be super fussy but when you see your reflection you just give a big grin. We've introduced oursleves quite a few times to our friend in the mirror.

You watch ESPN Sports Center every morning with Daddy. I'm not a fan of letting you watch TV, but the one morning I tried to turn ESPN off, you had a total meltdown. So, you won and get your 30 minutes of Sports Center time with Daddy each morning. He props you up in your little Boppy pillow and y'all hang out together. I need to remember to grab a picture of the two of you.

Happy 5 month birthday my sweet Reagan Abby. Every night when we say our prayers, I thank Jesus for letting me be your mom. I don't think I can ever communicate enough how proud I am of you. How much I adore and love you and how much joy you bring to Daddy and I. We love you beyond words!

Auntie Sarah Visits/Easter/Baby Dedication

Ehh...I've been slacking a bit in posting all of the happenings in the world of Miss Reagan Abby, so here is a long post to catch up on our exciting lives.

First big event...Auntie Sarah, Isaiah and Alex came to visit! Hooray! Reagan was finally able to meet her Auntie Sarah and even marked her within the first 30 minutes by peeing all over her. Good thing Auntie Sarah loves her so much. Auntie Sarah spoiled Reagan like crazy and I don't think she put Reagan down the entire week she was here. She even timed me..the mommy.. on how long I could hold her during a brief break. Oh, and big news in the Tusing family. Sarah is pregnant! Come on baby girl...Reagan needs a Barbie playmate!

Other big news, we celebrated Reagan's 1st Easter. Aunt Jen and I went shopping and got Rea the cutest pink dress, little cardigan, pink shoes and little tights from Macy's. Simply adorable! We celebrated with the Murray clan since Sarah and the boys were in town.

This past Sunday we had Reagan's baby dedication at church. This has always been a touching moment for me when I attended dedications in the past. I would always tear up knowing how proud those parents must feel and being anxious for when my turn would come. I could not have felt more blessed up in front of the congregation with Ben's arm around me, holding Reagan in my arms, pastors of the church praying over us while all of our family proudly looked on from the congregation. I continuously thank Jesus every night while putting Reagan to bed that he chose Ben and I to be her parents. We are blessed beyond measure!

Artisan Photography

Robin at Artisan photography took amazing pictures of Reagan and our little family a few weeks back to celebrate Rea's 4 month bday! She did a wonderful job. You would never know our sweet little girl was screaming the entire time.

Let the fun begin!

Reagan had her 4 month check up yesterday and got a good bill of health. She weighs 13.4 and is 23 inches long. This puts her in the 25% on weight and 5% on height. She's going to be an itty bitty apparently. Dr. Hampton still hears her heart murmur but isn't too concerned over it. She said if she still hears it at 6 months, then she'll refer us to a cardiologist to get an eco. She got her DTap and Rotavirus shot and did so good! We have a great nurse that gets the shot over with so quickly. By the time I had picked her up and held her for a few seconds, she had calmed down. Of course I cried when I took her band aid off last night and saw the little drop of blood. I hate thinking of my poor baby hurting. We celebrated her doing so well at the doctor with going on a long walk with the Culvers. Reagan absolutely adores Hailey and laughs anytime she's around.
Since she hit 13 pounds and is 4 months, we are now starting rice and cereal. Exciting! We got ready to give her rice last night and realized we don't have a spoon for her! We're still such newbies. In two weeks we get to start vegetables and fruit. I can't believe we've already reached the solid food point. I'm still nursing, so hopefully balancing nursing with rice/oatmeal and fruits/vegetables works out. Let the flying peas and splattered carrots begin!

Well....it finally happened....

It finally happened......we've spent weeks even months leading up to this moment...a moment I thought may never happen....I moment I wasn't necessarily ready for.....a monumental stepping stone to the future of our daughter.....Reagan spent the night in HER room in HER bed. That's right people, Ben finally won and Reagan is sleeping in her crib. Ahhh...let me pause a moment to wipe away my tears. Joking aside, where has my little baby gone!? She has been replaced with a sweet little girl who holds her head up all by herself, almost rolls over, jibber jabbers back to me, blows bubbles at me, holds on to her toys by herself and gasp...sleeps in her own bed. I thought for sure the first night she slept in her bed, I would be weeping outside the door the entire night. Ben put a quick stop to that when I kept sneaking in to check on her. We are doing the 15 minute cry it out method (heart wrenching but works like a charm!) and was a little frustrated that my 15 minutes was really about 3 1/2....by far the longest 3 1/2 minutes EVER! While Ben loves her to pieces, he just can't grasp how much I love her. It isn't natural for a mom to carry a baby for 10 months (it's not 9 months people...don't let them lie to you) and then feel comfortable putting your baby out of sight for bedtime only 3 months after their arrival. I laugh at myself when I remember back pre-Reagan when I thought I had it all figured out and my list of "I will nevers"....oh how God makes us realize how little control we really have. I think I've broken almost all of them already...keep in mind my kid is not even 4 months yet!

I'll never let her sleep in our bed. (check)

I would never let her sleep in our room past 6 weeks. (check)

I would never let her sleep in a swing/bouncy seat. How awful. (check)

I would never spend that much on an outfit. That's absurd. (check)

I will never be that mom that is afraid of her kid getting germs. (check)

I'm proud of Ben and I sticking to our sleep regiment...or should I say Ben taking charge and keeping us on our sleep plan. I live for the cuddle moments before bedtime and can't wait until the morning when I get to snuggle her while she's still asleep (before she wakes up and becomes livid that she's so hungry). I love being a wife. I love being a daughter. I love being a sister. There are no words though to describe the joy in being a mommy, other than simply the best. Reagan has become a mommy's girl and cries when I leave her or she can see me and someone else is holding her. While I think it drives Ben crazy, I must admit...I totally enjoy it. :)

New Pictures of My Sweet Sweet Baby Girl

My baby girl is getting so big! She has started (finally!) sleeping in her bassinet. Yes, until now she has been sleeping in her bouncy seat and swing. It worked...don't judge. Thursday morning I woke up and she had turned herself 180 degrees during the night. When I went to pick her up she was all smiles...completely happy with what she had done. I know she's a genius, but I'm even more convinced now. :) She mimics me and blows bubbles back whenever I make the "brrr...." sound with my lips. Genius I tell you. I love her SO much! Here are some recent pictures. Yes, she is normally this happy and all smiles. How lucky am I?



(Reagan smiling at her Papa)


(Reagan hanging out with her Aunt Jen)


(Reagan and her Papa)

Through the Fire

Ben and I went to the funeral yesterday of Matt's dad and left feeling so inspired and encouraged. While sadness was definitely present, so was the Father's love and grace. The ceremony turned into a great time of worship and we sang this song. It really spoke to me. What a bold statement....He never promised that the cross would not get heavy. BUT..he also promised that he would show up and take us through the fire again. We are not alone. We are not orphans. We are His children. When I look at Reagan, I can now better understand His love for us. Completely indescribable.