New Things

Wow!  Once again I am amazed by my little girl:)  We have tried lots of new things these past couple of weeks and she has done great!

• Probably the biggest change is her food.  We started her on solids on her 6 month birthday!  So far I've made all of her food (it's much easier than it sounds)  We skipped rice cereal and went straight for the veggies!  She's had sweet potatoes, avocado, carrots, peas, and butternut squash.  Her favorites so far are butternut squash and sweet potatoes--she LOVES it!  At first she's a little uninterested in new food but by the second day she's fussing because we aren't feeding her fast enough--it's hilarious really!

Loving the big girl chair!

• Another new thing is the introduction of formula.  We just started this today and so far it's going good.  I'm still nursing at night (partial wean) but decided to ditch the pump during the day.  I've been using my freezer stash but that is quickly dwindling!  So we started with a little formula today so we can make what little mommy's milk that's left last as long as possible.

• Stella and Brodie are finally starting to interact!  It's so funny to watch:)  She will smile when he comes close.  Lately while holding Stella we will chase Brodie in the back yard.  Stella laughs so loud and is so tickled by it!!  I need to figure out how to post the video haha

• We also went to the park a last weekend for the first time.  Stella enjoyed the swing.  She even loved watching all the other kids play!    Melts my heart to see her smile--makes it all worth it:)

Half Birthday

Oh My Goodness!!  It's hard to believe that Stella is already 6 months old:)  I keep reminiscing about how this time last year we were just out of the first trimester and had told family and close friends.  I barely had a bump.  It feels like a lifetime ago and at the same time just like yesterday!  My how things change in one short year or even in just a few months:)

Stella is growing up and her personality is starting to shine through.  She still is fairly laid back and goes with the flow.  She's a very happy baby and has yet to meet a stranger.  I absolutely love her little giggles--she's extremely ticklish just like her daddy!  She usually wakes up happy in the mornings and I love listening to her babble via the monitor.  Every morning I say "Good morning, Sunshine" as I approach her crib and she gives me a big sleepy grin as she stretches!  Now that's the best part of waking up:)

Stella has started sitting up:)  She still requires some assistance here and there but is getting the hang of it!  She loves to sit on the blanket in the living room with all of her toys spread around. She reaches for her toys and of course they go straight into her mouth!  Her favorites are Sophie the girafffe, an elephant and a few rattles.  I got her a stack toy but she hasn't quite figured it out yet!  She loves to play with her paci too-taking it in and out, reaching for it, etc.  I've noticed that she reaches a lot more with her left hand (not sure how I feel about that!)  And she is babbling like crazy and in the midst of her babbles she says a definite "dada"  I tried for the longest time to turn a deaf ear to it BUT  it's so distinct haha!

OTHER MILESTONES:

• HEIGHT: 26.5 INCHES (75-90th percentile)
• WEIGHT: 16 LBS 2 OZ (50-75th percentile)
• HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE: 17.5 inches (95-98th percentile)
• CLOTHING: 6-9 months mostly.  Some 6 months and some 9 months.  Wearing size 2 diapers (Huggies) Size 3 shoes 
• MILESTONES:  Sitting up!  Babbling!  Reaching for objects and passing things between hands.  Loves to stand with assistance
• FAVORITES:  
• BOOK: My favorites are Guess How Much I Love You and On The Night You Were Born.  Adam's favorite is All about Baby.  We both also love reading her a book called When Stella Was Little.  Stella seems to enjoy all the books but more recently has to have a book to read herself (holding a book while we read to her)
• TOYS: This was covered earlier..partial to Sophie

STELLA--A GOOD MIX OF US!
• LOOKS:   Stella is the spitting image of Adam as a baby, except I think she has my big eyes and lips!
• TICKLISH:  She is sooo ticklish and giggles all the time--definitely Adam
• SLEEP: O-M-G This girl can fight sleep like the best of them!  And can fall asleep anywhere--craziness just like ME!
• EAT:  When this girl is hungry she wants her food NOW (especially when she first wakes up)  This is a little of both of us

5 months

Wow my baby girl is getting so big!  She definitely is no longer a newborn:(  She doesn't like to be cradled except when taking a bottle. She's holding her head up and rolling all over the place.  Stella is just so stinking cute!!

So I started this a LONG time ago but never had a chance to finish it!  It's going to be short and sweet--just to get the major points down!

SLEEP:  Stella is sleeping great in her crib!  She goes to bed between 8-9pm most nights.  Still swaddled but now with arms out:)  She wakes up at least once during the night, sometimes more to eat but goes right back to sleep.  Her naps are unpredictable but there's no keeping this baby awake when she's sleepy.  Although sometimes she's pretty good at fighting the sleep herself.  I think she gets this from me!

EAT:  Still on 100% mommy milk.  Takes 4 oz every 3 hours during the day.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.

PLAY:  We are rolling over!!!  It's so cute because she is so excited about it too (Well that could be because I do a little cheer each time haha!)  Now she's definitely buckled into everything!  Still enjoying the swing.  Haven't really played on the activity mat lately because not enough room to roll over.  Introduced the exersaucer/bouncer and she wasn't impressed at first, but now she loves it!  She recently moved up to the "Mini Movers" room at daycare and is enjoying playing with all the "big" kids!  She currently is the youngest  baby in that room but loves the interaction.