6 Month Stats

Happy Half Birthday Baby Girl!

Your dad and I just sat in bed this morning marveling at the fact that you've been in our lives for half a year already. On one hand it's gone by in a blink of an eye, and on the other it seems like you've been here forever. It's cliche, but we honestly can't remember what life was like before you. We're pretty sure it involved a lot more free time, happy hour dates, and discretionary income; but all of that aside, these have been hands-down the best six months of our lives. You absolutely light up our days, make us laugh; and challenge us to be better, loving, more patient, more selfless people every single day. We love you Baby Girl!

Ava, at 6 months you...

• weigh 17 pounds, 6 ounces. This puts you in the 78th percentile for your height and weight.
• wear size 3 diapers.
• wear some 3-6 month clothes, but mostly 6 month clothes.
• had your first "solid" food. On Thanksgiving, how fitting! You had nothing but breast-milk until this month so it was kind of a big deal. We fed you brown rice cereal. You were "eh" about it. Since then you've had sweet potatoes as well. You liked them a bit more. We'll try bananas next I think.

 

• "pulled to a stand" on Thanksgiving Day! Exactly one week after you started crawling, you did this...

You're a crazy chick. That's all I have to say. You do everything big and just go for it. You're adventurous and fearless and I just sit there and watch in awe, and a bit in denial, asking myself where my little baby went. I am proud of you though. So you can now crawl and pull yourself up to a stand... but still can't sit. I think you simply can't be bothered to stop long enough to sit. How boring.

• have your own pen. After Extreme Home Make Over: Baby-Proofing Edition, this is the best solution we came up with to allow you to safely roam and practice all your cool new skills. It won't be featured in any home remolding magazines any time soon but it's worth it to keep you safe and having fun.

• had your first hair cut. You were in dire need with the Dumb & Dumber look you were rocking there for awhile. I cut your hair while dad held you down. It looks cute and is no longer in your eyes when your trying to do your thing.
• are babbling up a storm! (Please excuse the morning state Mama's in)

• are very opinionated about your toys. You chuck ones you don't like over your shoulder to get to the ones you do.
• are very independent. You aren't up for many cuddles or being picked up lately, you just want to crawl. Even at bedtime I rock you and you'll only have so much of it before I can tell you just want to be put down to put yourself to sleep. It's what the goal of the sleep training was so I'm half proud of you, half wishing for a few more moments just holding you before bed. And so the struggle between letting you go and keeping you my baby begins...
• say "Mama." Although you've seriously been doing this since about 2 months old, now I don't feel quite so silly claiming it. You don't even cry when you wake up at night or in the morning anymore, you just lay in your bed saying "Mama" over and over again until I come get you. And when I do, you get the biggest, most beautiful, gummy smile across your face. I look forward to this like you don't even know. 
• are a hip baby now. I can carry you on my hip now like a bigger baby. You cling to me like the little monkey you are. 

Lastly, I have a little milestone of my own to celebrate: I FIT INTO MY PRE-PREGNANCY JEANS! And I'm able to breath. Booyah! I remember talking to a friend early in my pregnancy, she was celebrating being able to fit into her pre-pregnancy jeans four months after having her baby. I thought, Oh that poor dear, that's so long. Good thing I'm so committed to loosing the baby weight quickly. Uh huh. One of the many, many things I've learned on this wild ride of parenthood is not to judge others. Ever. So here I am, ecstatic to be celebrating the same milestone two months later than that poor-thing-turned-hero.

Okay, back to you Ava Shay, we love you & are so proud of you!

6 Month Photo Shoot

Annnnnnnd.... She's Crawling!

Here's Baby Girl crawling at 5 1/2 months:

Mommy Fails

I forgot to add in Ava's 5 month post that she got her first cold. It was the saddest thing and all my fault. I went to the gym twice last week after a [very] long hiatus. I [stupidly] put her in the gym child care for the first time, all while thinking to myself Wouldn't it be just horrible if she got sick from her first child care experience, just in time for Cabo? Yes. Yes it would. Here she is at Chrissi & Adam's wedding all rosy-cheeked, chaff-nosed and all together lethargic...

Heartbreaking. On Sunday evening Mark and I just sat in our dark hotel room with the curtains drawn. I held Ava as her eyes seeped and she tried to sleep with her first stuffy nose and got teary-eyed myself. I prayed that God would restore her back to health and thanked Him that a common cold is what I get to worry about while other mothers are holding their infant's hands through surgeries and cancer and other horrible, heartbreaking things. She ended up sleeping 17[!] hours that night, 4pm-9am. And woke up a new baby. Yay! Then Mark and I got it. I'm fine now but watching him wake up after only four hours of sleep in between shifts to go in again, sick, makes me feel so bad for getting my family sick. I know she's going to catch colds. Therefore we're going to catch colds. But it still makes me sad and feel responsible. If you're wondering; no, the yoga class, steam room, and uniterrupted shower; while enjoyable, were not worth it.

The next "mommy fail" was actually kind of funny. I'm not a proponent of "cry it out" when my baby is in her crib crying hysterically, but I am all for allowing her to "fuss it out" or what my good friend Becky calls "sort it out." The night before last, Ava had been asleep for about four hours when I heard her start to fuss through the baby monitor. I was enjoying a much-deserved Magnum bar and glass of chardonnay and it only lasted about two minutes before she went back to sleep and it was quiet again so I didn't go in to check on her. About an hour later I'm heading up to bed and think I should check on her, but the door is creaky and I don't want to risk waking her up so I wash my face and brush my teeth instead. As I walk by her room again I think, I should really check on her. And this is what I saw...

Doh!

I've found myself praying for grace more often in my five months of being a mother than in any other time in my life.

5 Month Stats

Ava is 5 months! October & November have been really fun months so far. She had a blast celebrating Halloween at the pumpkin patch, Mariners Harvest Carnival and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. She was our little "San Francisco treat" for a few days when we flew up there for Mark to attend ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians). It was a fun mix of family & friend time! She even took her first jaunt out of the country! We went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to celebrate Chrissi & Adam's wedding. This little socialite has already been to three weddings in her first five months of life!

A baby chick for Halloween

...a very good one.

Taking a 'lil snooze at the pumpkin patch

In SF, that's Alcatraz in the background

Trick-or-Treat!

In Cabo for Chrissi & Adam's wedding. Mom officiated the ceremony!

Ava, at 5 months you are...

• Still in size 2 diapers
• Wearing some 3-6 month clothes, but mostly 6 month clothes
• Intently watching us eat. You even do this little chewing motion with your mouth. You are SO interested in food. You try to grab food off our plates and you try to move our entire plates closer to you when you sit in our laps. We're waiting until 6 months to give you solids, perfect timing for Thanksgiving! I have a feeling you're going to LOVE real food. 
• You know your name and respond to it. You know to smile for photos too and can be quite the little ham!
• You have tricks! I was tickling you the other day, and then scratched you by accident. You stopped laughing and started crying. I stopped immediately, made a sad face and started saying sorry over and over again. You thought it was funny and laughed, which got a response from me and now we play this little game where you trick me into thinking you're hurt when I'm tickling you. It's so cute. 
• You've decided that nursing is our sacred time and if anyone talks while you're eating you unlatch and give them the stink eye, even me. 
• Starting to sit up unattended for a few seconds

• Discovered tupperware today

And you're in love.

• You're thisclose to crawling.

You get up on all fours and rock a couple of times...

Or do whatever this is...

And then collapse and take a break

5 Month Photo Shoot

4 Month Stats

Ava is four months old! She's been with us for an entire season now; all of summer and now going into fall. It was so fun having a summer baby, just perfect for us. There were so many firsts at the beach and the pool, walks to the bay and warm evenings at farmers' market. Now I'm loving cuddling up with her in the rocker with the pumpkin scented candle flickering on the coffee table and lullabys on the iPod. This morning I got to watch her discover rain for the first time with the all the wonder such little eyes could hold. 

My friends who have kids often tell me that each stage is the best and I've found this to be nothing but true so far. While I get sad that she no longer a newborn... nor a one month old, nor a two month old... nor a three month old... I love watching her discover new things, learn new skills, and slowly become less and less dependent on us; yes, even at four months. Each month that goes by brings the need of putting away more tiny clothes, shoes, socks and pj's that no longer fit and bringing out the next sizes up. And packing the toys and baby gear she has outgrown and exchanging it for bigger better gear with more lights, more sounds, and more... jumping capabilities. I find myself using the word bittersweet often to describe all the changes and transitions that go along with parenting.

It's also true that just when you think you've got something figured out, like the perfect nap time routine, her likes or dislikes, or the elusive "sleeping through the night;" they go changing things up on you. Right now she's sleeping soundly in the swing she used to love, then spent the last week crying hysterically if you so much walked past it with her in your arms, much less trying to lower her into it. The only that is constant is change. It's humbling but I have a feeling it won't stop me from trying to get it all figured out.

Ava had her 4 month appointment on Wednesday where we learned that she is 15 pounds, 5 ounces and 24 inches long. Our big girl is in the 90th for weight and the 60% percentile for height.

At her appointment the doctor started rattling off things she will be doing by the time he sees her again at six months. When he got to rolling over both sides we told him that she already does this. He kind of dismissed us and went on with his list. When it came time for him to check her ears she wasn't having any of it and put three rolls together to get away from him. He looked at her and said, "Well now your just showing off."

Poor thing had a very rough time with the immunizations this time around. She had a low grade fever for a couple of days and was first very sleepy and lathargic and then incredibly fussy; refusing to sleep the entire day. It's been almost a week now and every day I get more of my sweet, content baby back. Phew!

Ava, at four months you are...

• Still wearing 3 month and 3-6 month clothing and size 2 diapers
• Taking to a "lovey" or a certain toy are attached to. Her name is Mabel. Daddy named her and you get the biggest smile on your face whenever you see her.

• Sitting in the BOB stroller without your infant car seat... which means mom & dad can finally use the expensive jogging stroller to well, jog.

• Adding sleeping skills to your repertoire. We've officially started sleep training in this house. A rough week to try with the shots and all, but you're doing okay with it. We started with naps and you're going down easier, now we just need to get them to last longer than half and hour at a time.
• Sleeping in your crib! We've officially transistioned you from your Pack 'n Play in our room to your crib in your room. We miss having you right next to us at night but we seem to all be getting more sleep and we cheat and bring you into the bed after your 4am feeding most of the time anyway. We love that cuddle time with you baby girl.
• Showing interest in food. We're going to wait to give you cereal or solids until six months (we think, we've learned not to get too adamant about much when it comes to you babies) but boy you are getting interested in eating. You watch our food go from our plates to our mouths and try to grab it off our plates any chance you get.
• Babbling up a storm. You take your paci out of your mouth to babble for a bit and then put it back in when you've said your piece. It's the cutest thing. You watch us intently when we talk, really focusing on our lips. When your dad and I are on opposite sides of the room you turn your head back and forth to watch us each talk like you're watching a tennis match. You even stop nursing to look up at me when I'm talking. When I stop, so that you'll go back to eating, you just keep looking at me like, You were speaking mother... You can copy the tone, inflection and syllables of what we say. I can't wait to hear your little voice say real words! 
• Finding your feet! Here you are doing the "happy baby" yoga pose. Grandma & Grandpa Power are so proud ; )

4 Month Photo Shoot

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Because this blog doesn't have to be all baby, all the time. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Our new Keurig Coffee Maker & Gloria Jean's Hazelnut K Cups. 

Life-changing.

2. Adele's song, "Someone Like You." Can't. Stop. Listening. To. It. I'm sure by this time Mark's sitting around wondering which ex-boyfriend I still have undying feelings for. But it's not even the lyrics, well, it is, they're beautiful; but between her throaty voice, the piano, her hair... I think I have a girly crush. Just watch and listen and enjoy.

 

3.  Mac lipstick in "Craving." The perfect summer pink. I have a feeling this one's going to be rocked throughout fall as well, not even close to being ready to turn it in just yet. 

4. The Anthony's on Dr. Phil. This case fascinates me... and the rest of America. I've always been a fan of Dr. Phil. I think a lot of weeks he speaks the only truth and makes the only sense on all of television. And it's damn refreshing. To summarize his two-part interview with Casey Anthony's parents, Cindy continues to be in some serious denial, enabling her daughter by making excuses and lying on her behalf. Like mother/like daughter. True to form, Dr. Phil was having none of it. George actually has some interesting insight into his family/this case and offered the only believable explanation I've heard thus far for what might have happened to little Caylee three years ago. And that is, Casey, wanting to go out and have fun (read: hot body contests at Florida clubs), sedated Caylee with chloroform, but accidently gave her too much, leading to her death, which she then tried to cover up. It was the first time anyone had ever heard this, even Cindy. I'm not saying that's what happened, I just found it an interesting explanation and found it telling that Cindy did not look pleased when her husband offered it. 

Dr. Phil didn't even mess with Casey herself. He doesn't tolerate liars.

5. Magnum bars. Guilty, nasty, dirty pleasure. Yes, they have a basic, vanilla ice-cream/chocolate coating but which ones am I addicted to? The double carmel ones, natch. At one point I was enjoying one of these with a glass of chardonnay every night. I've cut down, way down, but some days, after an inordinate amount of spit up, blowouts, outfit changes (for the baby and me), I just deserve it, ya know? I tell myself it's okay because of the extra 500 calories I burn a day by breastfeeding.

6. Tricked out oatmeal. It's oatmeal with yogurt, sliced peaches, apricots, apples, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and granola sprinkled on the top. I used to hate oatmeal, the consistency freaked me out. But when I heard it increases a woman's milk production when breastfeeding I made this recipe up to make it more tolerable. Instead I found it delicious and now enjoy it every morning. With my Hazelnut K Cup coffee. You can also make this with Greek yogurt instead of oatmeal.

Yes, I took a picture of my oatmeal one morning.

7. My "New Mom's Group." Have you ever checked out Meetup.com? There are groups for everything you can think of. Even drinking groups that do pub crawls together. I wasn't sure about joining a mom's group. Honestly, it sounded kinda lame. But when I decided to become a stay-at-home mom, I knew I'd need to meet some other women and their babies for Ava and I to spend our days with. It's an eclectic crowd, but I really enjoy these women and our beach walks, play dates, and trips to Farmer's Market together. Mark can't quite wrap his head around what a bunch of "strangers" have to talk about on an hour-long walk together, but we all have one thing in common and it's pretty all-encompassing right about now. You get one guess... Right. 

Lilia & Ava "playing" at Farmer's Market

8. Speaking of Farmer's Market. All summer long it's where I've met my friends (the neighbor girls and the kids walk there and our husbands meet us after work), eaten Hawaiian BBQ, and bought the ingredients for my tricked out oatmeal.

9. Baby Legs. I can't get enough. Ava can thank me (kill me) later. 

10. These people. Not just right now, but forever.

*Ok, so the last few were baby related. It's kinda where I'm at right now ; )