7 months photo dump

7 months of Emerson

It seems like each time I sit down to write this every month that I can think of way more things that you like instead of dislike.  That's just the kind of kid you are.  Your daddy and I often tell each other how much we lucked out when we got you as our kid!  You are such a happy kid.  You laugh at pretty much everything.  And you are always willing to offer up a smile to someone, especially if I'm holding you.

You like:

* Army crawling everywhere
* Apples & pears with cinnamon
* Spinach & sweet potatoes
* Crawling over to the tile in the dining room or the tile surrounding the fireplace and slapping it
* Trying new solid foods
* Gnawing on frozen mango out of your mesh teething bag
* Laughing!
* Flirting with the people behind us in the check out line at the grocery story.
* Moving A LOT!!

You dislike:

* Having your bib put on or your face wiped
* When mama leaves your sight

* Peas
* When your food is gone and mama takes the bowl to the sink

Our favorite things about you are:

* How you gag and shiver when you taste a new food that you don't like
* How you laugh at anything!  We don't even have to talk to you.  We can just make a funny face and you laugh hysterically.

Weight: When you were weighed about 2 weeks ago you weighed 16 lbs 6.5 oz, so I'm thinking you're probably close to 17 lbs now.

Length: When you were measured about 2 weeks ago you were 27 and 3/4 inches long, so I'm thinking you're around 28 inches long now.

Clothing Size: You wear 6 month clothes, but you even fit into some of your 6-9 month clothes now. 

Diaper Size: Size 2 until we use up the last of the box.  We have size 3's waiting in the garage for you.  

Feeding:  You nurse about every 3-4 hours now during the day.  You have started eating pureed foods for breakfast and dinner now.  For lunch I've been giving you something new to try each day that isn't pureed.  So far you've tried peas, ground beef and whole wheat pasta, none of which you've been very fond of.  

Sleep: We recently cut out your "dream feed" that we did around 10:30.  It's only been 4 days, but I think you're getting used to not being woken up anymore.  3 out of 4 nights you've slept anywhere from 9-10 hours, waking up to eat around 4 or 5am and then falling back asleep until about 7:30.  

Milestones:  You completely have your bottom 2 teeth now!  You sit up very well on your own and only fall backwards when you get really excited or when you want to be done sitting up.  You CRAWL everywhere!  You aren't up on your hands and knees yet, but your army crawl gets you around just great! You started eating solid foods this last month.  So far your favorites are Apples & Pears with Cinnamon and Spinach, Sweet Potato & Carrots.  You are already up to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Adventures: You went to Truckee with mama, daddy, Auntie Hannah, and Mark.  We spent a fun weekend in Auntie Hannah's parent's cabin.

Mama and Daddy could not get through this month without: All of your teething toys, especially your mesh bag that you love frozen mango in.

As you can tell, it is getting harder and harder to get a picture of you where you aren't moving.  You are such an active kid!

We love you to the moon and back kid.  We think you're pretty awesome!

6 months photo dump

6 months of Emerson

How can it be that you have been alive for 1/2 of a year already!  You are such an amazing little boy and I cannot wait to see what you're going to be like as you grow.  I am such a blessed mama getting to take care of you every single day for the past 6 months!

You like:

*Screaming - not crying/screaming, but squealing for joy screaming.  You have recently discovered your loud voice and you like to use it!

*Sucking on the satin part of your lovey as you fall asleep. 

* Splashing with your feet in the bath.

*Jumping in your jumperoo.

You dislike:

* Mama feeling in your mouth to check on the progress of your teeth.
* Teething!
* Riding in your carseat on the way home from Sacramento after you've woken up from a nap.

* When mama puts you in your sleep sack and starts getting you ready for bed.

* When mama takes a toy out of your hands.

Our favorite things about you are:

* Your high pitched scream!
* Your constant babbling of "nanananana."
* How happy you are!

Weight: Around 15 1/2 pounds.  You were weighed about a week and a half ago. 

Length: Around 26 inches.  You were measured about a week and a half ago.

Clothing Size: You are wearing 3-6 month and 6 month clothes!  

Diaper Size: Size 2

Feeding:  You still eat every 2.5-3.5 hours now, except at night.  

Sleep: Your night sleep has been better this last month.  Most nights you are sleeping a 6-7 hour stretch, waking up to eat, and then sleeping for a few more hours.  You get up for the day now at 7:30.  Occasionally you wake up in the middle of that to talk or fuss for a little while and then you go back to sleep.  

Milestones:  TEETH!!  Your 2 bottom teeth have started coming in.  One of them is already poking through your gums and the other one is just waiting underneath.  You have also started sitting up on your own.  You are still a little wobbly, but you are getting better and better at it! You've started scooting yourself a little bit.  You can't get very far yet, but you've started. And you mainly scoot backwards.

Adventures:  One of your favorite things to do each week is go to story time at the library.  You are so well behaved and you love watching the older kids sing and dance.  You also love hearing the librarian read stories.  You have also had some adventures in your crib. You are becoming so mobile in your crib, rolling around everywhere and scooting, that you manage to roll and scoot yourself into the corner a lot.  You then proceed to bump your head on the crib.  You have had a few major shiners and goose eggs on your head from your Crib Acrobatics!  You also rode in a shopping cart for the first time this last week!

Mama and Daddy could not get through this month without: Teething toys.  You're 2 bottom teeth are working on coming through.  I can see white shadows under your gums and even feel one of them sharply starting to poke through.  

We love you to the moon and back kid.  We think you're pretty awesome!

Monthly goals

I've noticed over the last few months that I've kind of been stuck in "baby land."  I've forgotten to take care of myself.  Yes, I have a baby, but that doesn't mean that I have to lose some of the things that I loved doing BF (before baby).  So I decided to put together a goal list for the month of 5 simple things that I'd like to do every day.  I know that I probably won't get around to all 5 things every single day, but I'd like to try.  I plan on starting this list tomorrow, April 8, and seeing how I do all the way up until May 8.  Here are the 5 things that I'd like to do for myself every day:

1. Read something - my Bible, a magazine, or one of the few books that I'm currently reading
2. Get some sort of exercise - a walk with Emerson, yoga, or an exercise DVD at home
3. Read my Jesus calling book for the current day
4. Sit on the balcony (if weather permits) - we have this gorgeous balcony with an awesome view...why  not take advantage of it
5. Do ab exercises to help tighten abs after c-section - suffice it to say my abs still feel pretty much nonexistent even 6 months postpartum.  I'd like to fix that!

I'll check back in after the month is over and let you know how I did!