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...
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 ; )
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 ; )
Ava's pretty much an adult now. Just kidding, but everyone from my mom to the old woman in the grocery store sure weren't joking when they said, "enjoy her now, because they grow up so fast." We're talking warp speed here. It's so bittersweet to watch her master new skills. The feelings run the gamut of exhilaration, pride, and a twinge of sadness that my baby's growing up; all rolled up in one moment. Here are the highlights of what she's been up to this month.
Ava, at 3 months you...
Wear size 2 diapers
Wear 3 month and some 3-6 month sized clothes
Sleep without a swaddle
Roll over! Both ways! First you mastered back-to-front, and then front-to-back. Now you flip flop back and forth like it ain't no thing. You never stay where we put you, you've always been quite the active baby, but geeze! Check it out:
Army crawl. As soon as we put you down on your play mat on your back you immediately roll over to your front and get your legs up to your chest and then do huge scoots. You "crawl" off your play mat entirely right after we put you down. We find you in the oddest places. The days of laying you there and leaving to go do something are officially over. It looks like we're going to have to baby-proof a little earlier than expected.
Crack up laughing! Check it out:
Earned your wings! Your first trip on an airplane was to Grandma & Grandpa Russell's lake house in Montana. You did great and got lots of compliments on well-behaved you were. Thank you for being such a good girl for mom & dad! You're quite the traveler and we're actually excited to take you more places now!
Have met all of your great-grandparents & uncles! You thought your Great-Grandma Mary Kay was just hilarious, you'd crack up so easily when she played with you. You're Great-Grandpa "Minor Bob" called you "Doll Baby" the whole time and promised not to sell you the gypsies... no matter how much they offered for you. You cuddled up with Great- Grandma Helen on the back porch and you and Uncle Jim were best buddies. He even helped teach you to roll... by demonstrating.
Here you are with her Great Grandma & Grandpa Russell & Great Grandma Helen.
And here you are with your Uncle Jim
More Uncle Jim Time
No words...
Drive boats!
Are quite the boating water baby. You fit into this family just perfectly.
