7 Months!

Typically, when we take these monthly photos, it's nearly impossible to get a smile out of Emme Clare.  She gives me that look- "this is ridiculous" and might give a small little smirk, if anything (see past monthly posts for examples).  Not today.  Today, she was all smiles and big grins! 

If only, we could have turned the camera the other way.  Jeremy and I looked like zombies!  This little pumpkin was up at 4:45 this morning!  So much for the whole "doing great with the time change" thing.  Clearly, it did not affect her good mood!  She was having a ball in her crib at 4:45am. 

This past month has been a delight!  EC has been a complete joy as usual.  As of this past Saturday, she is exclusively drinking formula.  She also has an evening meal.  So far, we have tried avocado, zucchini, pears, sweet potato, pumpkin, rice cereal, carrots, and turkey.  Her least favorite has been turkey.  She seems to really like pears and zucchini.  I think it might have something to do with texture.

Over the weekend, we finally put away all her 3 month clothes.  They were getting just a tad snug.  However, most 6-9 month outfits are too big.  She's kind of in between right now. 

She absolutely loves being in her jumperoo (still can't quite touch the floor, but that's what a big book is for!).  And still loves watching Winnie, but now, she really wants to pet Winnie.  And by "pet," I mean grab a fistful of Winnie's fur and pull really hard.  Winnie is handling it all like a champ, but she's definitely learned.  I see Winnie jerk back anytime EC's hand comes toward her.  Win is in trouble when EC learns to crawl/walk.

EC still doesn't turn over from her back to her tummy and rarely does it from her tummy to back.  She's content to lay on the floor and play with a toy.  She's sitting up really well, but we still need to work on the rolling over. 

Overall, she's doing fantastic.  She's making more and more noises and I love watching the world through her eyes!

Sweet Emmeline-

You are precious!  We are so proud of you and we love spending time with you.  You've been off of your schedule a few times this month and you've taken it all in stride. 

Daddy and I work all day and absolutely love coming home to your precious smile!  You're still a little stingy with your laughs, but that's ok- we like a challenge.  And we sure look silly trying to get you to laugh! 

Your personality is showing more and more.  I think you are going to be a very opinionated little girl!  You aren't shy about letting us know if you don't like something. 

Sometimes it seems like time is just flying by and despite our best efforts to hold on to these moments, they are slipping away.  You woke up so early this morning and mommy and daddy were exhausted.  We did everything to get you back to sleep, but you just wouldn't have it.  Finally, I gave up and sat down with you in the rocking chair and started singing.  You stared into my eyes and listened to me sing.  Eventually, you fell asleep for a few minutes and I stared at you and your little hands, your little eyelashes, your little nose, your little mouth.  And I prayed for you.  Prayed that you will know the love of Christ, that you will be a Godly young woman, that you will know how much you are loved by your parents and your Heavenly Father.  And I thanked God for the miracle that you are.  For letting us have a little piece of this Heaven.  Despite all my tiredness, these are the moments that I love and I wouldn't trade them for the world (or lots of sleep!).

Oh little- I love you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.  You are such a blessing in our life and we adore you!  "Hold to Jesus, because he's holding on to you!" 

Love,

Your mommy

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our Little Cupcake!

Happy Fall Y'all!

From the cutest little pumpkin!

Doctor Visit- 6 Months

EC had her 6 month well baby check up today.  She had to get those yucky shots again!  Do these ever end?  She cried a lot when she got her shots, but got ok pretty quick.

Height: 26 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 15 lbs 14 ounces (50th percentile)

Overall, our doctor is really pleased with EC.  She's sitting up so well and really active and happy.  She did skip one of those milestone steps.  She should technically be able to roll over from her back to her tummy before mastering sitting up.  I'm not sure why she skipped this step.  Our doctor is not too concerned, but hopefully, it will happen soon.

The introduction of solids is still going pretty well.  She still really likes avocado.  She tried some sweet potato and wasn't overly impressed.  She only  had a little bit.  We also tried rice cereal and she did not like it one bit.  Not at all.  She made the yucky face every time.

As for an update on swaddling, EC has been sleeping with both arms out of the swaddle for about a week now and she's doing great!  We are still using the swaddle- I think it's a habit and kind of an indicator that it's time for sleep.  It's also a good way to keep her warm, since she can't really have a blanket.  She definitely plays for a little bit longer now, but overall, I'm glad we've made this transition.

A Weekend of Firsts!

EC had SO many firsts this weekend!

First bites!


Since she's a little past 6 months old, we thought she was more than ready for her first "real food."  First up was some delicious avocado.  EC LOVED it!  She made a few yucky faces, but for the most part, she kept coming back for more.  She probably ate about 2 tablespoons.  Plenty of it ended up on her face and bib.  I so hope she's a good eater.  So far all signs point to yes!

First horse ride!

EC's daddy and Doc went for a horseback ride and they couldn't resist showing EC what all the fun was about.  She mostly looked a little bit overwhelmed.  Not really scared, but also, not having the time of her laugh.  She has plenty of time to develop her love of horses (and plenty of people to foster that love- I'm looking at you Aunt Ali).

First night away!

Sorry no photo for this one.  It would really just be me passed out with a big smile of delight on my face.  We had our first night "away" from EC.  I'm using the term very loosely.  We stayed at the guest house and EC stayed at my parent's and my mom had the video monitor.  But it was literally the first night that I've been away from Emme and the video monitor.  It was amazing!

She has been waking up several times throughout the night lately.  She immediately goes back to sleep when we give her the pacifier, but it's exhausting waking up 2-4 times during the night.  Sometimes, it's even more like 10 times.  A continuous night of sleep was pure bliss!  We are SO grateful to MaeMae for giving us this priceless gift of sleep.

As a side note, Friday night was a little rough.  My mom had to get up several times, even change her diaper during the night.  But Saturday night, she slept straight through until 6am.  Didn't make a peep!  What?!?!  I can't remember the last time she did that for us.

Controversial Decision

Well, sometimes this parenting gig is tough, really tough.  One of the hardest things for me has been breastfeeding.  I have a love-hate with breastfeeding.  I love that it provides my baby with such wonderful benefits and is really so good for her, but I pretty much hate everything else about it.  I by no means, have had some of the struggles that I know others have endured, but it's been a major source of stress for me.

Going back to work only increased the stress.  I've been pumping twice a day and feeding her in the mornings and at night.  Can you say awkward (pumping at work)???  My supply has been up and down.  For the most part, I've been pretty nervous about the number of ounces and numerous times, borrowed from my freezer supply.  Needless to say, it's dwindling.

I had a little mishap with the pump at work- when it just didn't work one day and the error message meant that the pump needed to be charged for a continuous 24 hours.  I didn't have 24 hours to keep my pump plugged in.  I rushed home and fed EC.  It was a little bit stressful for me.

After struggling with this decision for several weeks, I've decided to stop breastfeeding.  It's been a really hard decision and I have such conflicting emotion about it.  I wish I could say I'm 100% confident in my decision, but I still have some lingering doubts.  I do know that I'm going crazy worrying about it and wondering each day if I'm going to have enough for her.

It's a slow transition.  I'm only pumping once at work now and all of her bottles are a mixture of breast milk and formula.  I'm hoping to be completely stopped by mid-November.  Let's say maybe around the 16th?!?!

You might wonder why I'm blogging about this.  It's not really something essential for the baby book.  Mostly, I want to write this down, so I can remember my thoughts at the time of this decision.  It hasn't been an easy decision and not something that I took lightly.  Overall, I just want a little bit of stress gone.  And I think I'll actually end up being a better parent to EC, when I don't have to worry about feedings and cleaning all the parts and how I will have time to take care of pumping at work and if I remembered my freezer pack and if people at work think I'm weird or just never at my desk.

Anyway, I know it's controversial.  I've read all the "breast is best" literature, but at this point, stopping breastfeeding seems to be the best decision for me and EC.

6 Months!

Wow!  Can not believe this little cutie is already 6 months old!  Time flies when you're having fun!  This month has been so much fun!

EC is so generous with her smiles, but a little bit stingy with the laughs.  It takes quite a bit to get her to laugh.  But when she does laugh, really laugh, it's the best sound I've ever heard.

Two big changes in terms of Emme Clare's sleeping- swaddling with one arm out and dropping her 10pm feeding.  We've been trying off and on to stop the swaddling, but it hasn't turned out all that well.  She's doing pretty good with the one arm out, so hopefully, we are a little bit away from stopping it completely.  Last night was our first night without the 10pm feeding and she did great!  I was SO nervous.  I just knew she was going to wake up screaming at 3am.  But, I was starting to feel like waking her up was more disruptive than helpful.  She would cry from the moment we woke her up and throughout the feeding and even while we changed her diaper and put her back to sleep.  I think it will be helpful overall (for both of us!).

She is making so many more facial expressions and really seems to be noticing things.  She loves Winnie now and if Win is in the room, Emme can't take her eyes off of her.  She smiles at her all the time.  Win is a little bit indifferent to EC and mostly, just wants attention from Jeremy and me.

For the most part, Emme is wearing size 6 month, but she can still snugly wear 3-6 month sizes.  A few of the 6M size are a little big.  She is changing so much- each week seems to bring new experiences and phases.  EC's Aunt Sarah has been helping her sit up and she's so, so close to being able to do it.

She still hasn't rolled over from her back to her tummy.  Overall, she's doing really well.  She weights about 15 pounds, 8 ounces.  Her doctor appointment is next week.

Sweet Emmeline-

You bring us so much joy!  We love spending time with you and we are trying so hard to enjoy every minute of this stage.  We know you won't be this little for long.  You are so sweet and a delight to watch.  We love seeing you notice new things.

You grab our faces all the time now and we love laughing with you and singing you songs and reading you books.  You make all kinds of silly noises and screams.  We can't wait to have conversations with you.

You are one amazing little and we could not ask for a better baby!  I absolutely adore you.

Always know that you are important and special.  You are such a precious baby girl and we love you!

Love,

Your mommy

*As a side note- I tried to change it up for these 6 month pics.  I tried out a cute little hat, instead of the usual big bow.  Let's just say- it didn't go that well.  EC was not a fan.  I'll let the pics speak for themselves . . .