5 months

Dear baby girl,

5 months old

The months have flown by with frightening rapidity.  You're getting so big, but still so tiny. You manual dexterity is increasing by the day, and I can see you learning how to sit by yourself better, and learning the mechanics of crawling. You watch me eat, but have no interest in food in your own mouth. You like to reach into people's mouths (please stop doing this!), and smile all the time.  You're such a fun and easy going child. You have no aversion to strangers and new people, which makes it much easier for me to do things like use the bathroom while we're visiting friends.  You're enjoying watching other babies and people, quite a bit, although today at IKEA you just fell asleep while people watching.


diaper size 2 in disposables, and we've loosened your cloth diapers one spot.
clothing I've packed away all of your 0-3 clothing, and now you're mostly in 3-6 month onsies, 6-9 month pants, and some 6-9 month sleepers, jumpers and outfits.
diet You're still exclusively nursing.  I may be in the minority, but I'm not really looking forward to solids, for a variety of reasons.
sleep You usually sleep 6-7 hours and then another 4-5 after you eat and then perhaps another 2.  You take three naps usually, of varying lengths. They depend on what we're doing that day, and if we're out and about.  You've been nursing for a long time to go to bed, and then waking up and wanting to nurse for a long time again. It might be because you've got 2 teeth that are about to come in, or because you're getting better at sleeping longer stretches at night.

Meeting Mariette for lunch @ IKEA

Delicious

baby gear love I am loving your high chair that we finally set up. It's great to let you sit and play with your toys.  You love the cold teether that Uncle Shawn brought you. You still like the crinkly monkey, and your sophie giraffe. We just bought you a pacifier attached to a stuffed animal, and you seem to like that you can hold it.
milestones/firsts You're rolling a lot more, although that isn't a first. We're going to have two teeth far too soon though.
likes nursing, giggling, snuggles, being wrapped and walked, playing with your toys,
dislikes waking up alone, being tired/hungry, the last couple of minutes of almost every car ride.
things I don't want to forget I don't want to forget the awesome giggles. I don't want to forget the fun we had on Father's Day, and our wedding anniversary. I don't want to forget how precious it is to hold you close as you nurse, and just let you fall asleep on my chest. I know I will never have this again and I want to cherish every second of your existence.

Thank you for giving us these five months. We are blessed to have you.

This adorable outfit was from Grandma Kimmie

Dad somehow shoehorned you into these TINY TINY pants.
You didn't approve. 

This is the shirt the birth center gave us.
I'm framing it when you out grow it. 

Apparently you can feed yourself bottles now.
Good to know! 

Happy Father's Day!

Dear Ada,
Your first Father's Day! Last weekend we made footprints on canvas as a present for dad, but I promised dad around mother's day, that we would have a picnic for Father's Day. Indeed, the day started quite early, as I had to take my friend Margaret to the airport after a wonderful.  I picked up a bagel for his breakfast, and served him that and some fruit salad in bed.  After you woke up (nice and late around 9:30) we prepared to go to Sandy Point State Park for our picnic. We showed up in street cloths with you, a diaper bag and a small lunch box. Everyone else there showed up with their entire family, a charcoal grill, food for 20, and swimsuits. We felt a little out of place.  It was wonderful though. The weather was perfect, and we even took a scenic walk in the woods.  It was a lovely time had by all.  It not only was a wonderful Father's Day, but just a lovely Sunday.

Dear Aaron (aka Dad)
Thank you for being such a wonderful father to Ada. You're amazing, and even better than I could ever have asked for. I love how I walk with her into a room and you just want to squish her.  I love how you offer to take care of her, even though you know she'll be whiny because I'm not home, and the look of love in your eye every time she chatters, drools, and tries to suck on your nose.  We've had a wonderful time as parents so far, and I can't wait to see what adventures we'll have. So much love to you.

Love,
Mom

You were dancing on the table at dinner

A beautiful heron that we saw on our walk

The bay! And dad wearing you! 

Professional pictures

A wonderful babywearing momma (and professional photographer Natasha King) took these fabulous pictures of us at the scenic Centennial Park in Columbia. You can check out her website here. It was a stunningly beautiful day, and aside from having to avoid goose poop (which was so plentiful) we had a fantastic time. Ada was a bit tired and had her grumpy baby face on, but Natasha still managed to get some fantastic shots of her.  Another momma Louisa (also a fabulous babywearing lady) lent me the cogs ring sling for the shoot. It was so soft, and perfect and there was drooling indeed. Dad had a great timing wearing you in some pictures as well.

As we were getting our last set of pictures done, a butterfly landed on the grass in front of us. I knelt down to show you your first butterfly and you gingerly put your hand towards it, as if pointing it out.  You were mesmerized by it's beauty.  It climbed onto your father's finger, so we had pictures taken with it, and then dad put it on a tree.  It was such a touching moment.  

Number 1 favorite picture. We had this blown up,
and will frame it.

You're smiling at your dad

We were trying so hard to get you to smile.
The background is perfect.

You were happiest when you were the center of attention!
Check out those overalls that grandma got you!

You really were almost asleep at this point

I adore this picture

Obviously we needed a cheek squishing picture!

This is our favorite family photo

A perfect moment. 

19 weeks, Meeting Uncle Shawn and Aunt Jess

Hey babes,
This a week late being put up, but you had a wonderful time meeting your uncle and aunt! You really loved all the attention and snuggles.

Aunt and Uncle LOOOOOVE

So much love! 

Newton has taken ownership of all your stuff

Taking a nap with you 

We video chatted with grandma!

You love your ball toy! 

4 months continued 18 weeks

Hey babe,
While you're asleep in your swing, I thought I'd jump on the computer and update your blog.


Weight: 14.05lb
Length: 26.25 inches
Head: 16 5/16 cm
This makes you 50th percentile in head and weight and 98th in height. I figured you'd gotten quite long when I saw that your little feet were able to kick the end of your carseat and swing.
Diaper size: Cloth you usually have 1 snap in the middle, disposables you're in 1 or 2.
Clothing: Truthfully anything from 3-6, to 6-9.  Your 6 month overalls fit just perfectly, and a little snugly with a cloth diaper.
Sleep: We had a couple of great nights (and some not great nights). We're still working on getting you in your crib full time. Generally you're in there until 4am when I'm too tired to get up and take you back after I nurse you and fall sleep. Apparently 4 month old sleep can really suck, so I'm just happy you're not up every 2 hours every night.
Baby gear love: You love your swing, your crinkly monkey and anything you can lick or chew on.
Milestones/firsts: You definitely are rolling over, and you can push yourself backwards in your crib (and in circles. You're making new noises, and now can suck on both feet.
Likes: naps, snuggles, nursing,
Dislikes: public restrooms...they're too loud. It freaks you out every time.
Things I don't want to forget: We had professional pictures taken yesterday and it was a beautiful day, and we had a ton of fun.  I can't wait to see how they turn out.

The adorable bow was a present from Paige. They're so cute.

Dad wore a kilt for our pictures, and I borrowed a beautiful ring
sling. Look at your beautiful overalls that fit you perfectly now.

Licking daddy's nose...and that ferocious roar...I mean yawn!