Emma: Nine Months!

Size/Weight: 20 lbs (50-75th percentile), 29.25" long (90th percentile), 44cm head (above 95 percentile). So she's back on the charts! (Holy cow, do I finally have a normal-ish sized child?! I think I do! At six months she was so off the chart in height the doctor wasn't quite sure how to describe her, haha! 

Sleep: Aaaaaah, eight months. Eighth month sleep!! Kind of like last month again (still up, still fussy sometimes and not others, goes to bed like a champ, or not). But we came to a few realizations this month that made the end of the month easier tan the first half. Mainly, food. The more solids she eats, the less milk she drinks. My boobs are apparently offended by this; because they've been producing less. (Because who wants milk when there's chicken. You know.) So by the end of the day, I've got nothing. Which isn't great for hungry tummies. Which isn't great for sleeping. Hence the supplementation with formula. More milk = happier tummy before bed = happier baby in theory. I can tell a better habit is starting to be produced; but I'm not calling it until it's more than a night here or there. 

Social: Still a lot like last month. She's starting waving though, which is stinkin' precious. I love it so much!!

Diet: Like mentioned; supply is down, formula is in. She's finally taking it like a champ, and what started out like a supplement is moving towards nurse whenever I can, then follow up with a bottle whenever she's hungry (which is every time minus the first nurse of the day). This part is hard. It was much harder with Norah (with whom I had a huge hormone fallout after the milk was running dry), but it's still making me a bit sentimental-- number one priority is happy healthy baby with a full tummy; mom will do what I can then try and get over the rest. But this is our last baby, and I'm still mourning the last times I'll get to have that bond with her, you know?

Clothes: Happily in 18 month clothes

Likes: 'Surprise' games (she will reach out and touch my face, and I will react with a little noise and surprise her fast-- hard to explain; but it's pretty precious; Norah gets in on it too), when Norah makes her laugh (which is a lot these days!), eating, being snuck up on/funny face time, DAD (her favorite is when I'm holding her and she sees dad after not seeing him for awhile-- she has her certain way of greeting him that's pretty precious. She lights up!

Dislikes: Being set down when she'd rather you carry her, her changing table (which is odd because that's also one of her favorite places to be played with?) diaper changes (she's mastering the crocodile roll; I've mastered jiu jitsu with one arm only on an infant) peaches (she makes the sour 'no' face)

Milestones: Waving has been a fun one, and mobility has picked up a bit! She now flips like a fancy pancake, and has fun waving people down to stare in to their souls or tell them stories. I love it. If the sleep was perfect, this would be one of my favorite stages. (And it technically fell in 'ten month', but she had her first snow this week!! She loved it!)

Norah update?: I'm going to start putting Norah things in bullets:

• This girl is a riot. She has been making up stories that range from the bizarre to the absolutely precious. My favorites are the ones she makes up on the potty when she's having 'personal time'. I need to start a bathroom book.
• There are good days and bad days. And I mean really good. And really bad. But it's okay. I try to log the good so the bad ones are bearable. And loving your kids more than anything else on the planet helps too; I just really wish they came with their own personal instruction manuals.
• Norah's thoughts on the snow: "My heart has a little mouth, and it's smiling because it's happy." 

Emma: Eight Months

Size/Weight: 18 month clothes, and looking pretty lengthy! No clue how much she weighs...

Sleep: Well, I hate to report that she's still a baby. Ha! But really, it's pretty in line with all of baby-dom. She's usually up between 1-2 times a night; and either goes back to sleep quickly-- or not. She either goes to bed like a champ with no problems at all, or if she accidentally falls asleep after 6pm for even a few minutes, she's up until 11. She's a pretty great napper though, which has been great-- I'm really trying hard to soak up the cuddles while she's willing to give them. Now only if she wouldn't freak out, jump out of my arms and try and pull my hair out if she doesn't want to sleep :) 

Social: A bit of stranger danger has picked up, but so has her sense of adorable. She's so darn giggly, happy, and generally precious. She will look at you and 'sing a little'-- she will make little happy chirps at you while smiling her face off. It really melts my heart. She's so chatty these days as well! She communicates with dad through 'head bops'-- she will tilt her head far to the side, wait for dad to do it, then go the other way. Quite cute!

Diet: Thought my milk supply backup was going to be fine... but now I'm running out again. I'm going to try and see if she will take formula again at night if she's having trouble sleeping; my feeble backup milk in the freezer won't get us to a year if we have to ride on it. Food, however, is going amazing-- she eats anything I put in front of her, and seems to love all of it. I would say fruit is her least favorite, but even that's getting much better.

Clothes: snug in 12 month, comfortably moving to 18 month, although the legs are all a bit long!

Likes: When Norah makes her laugh (she will jump for her, sing to her, and they cuddle every morning in Norah's bed which lights emma's whole face up), 'singing' chirps to people, patting Walter, staying up late to party after hours with Mom and Dad :) 

Dislikes: When you try to make her sleep when it's not in her plans. NEIGH NEIGH NEIGH she will tell you. 

Milestones: pincer grasp! She can now grab all the tiny things. Which means living with a toddler is now that much more terrifying. EMMA DON'T GRAB THAT.

Norah update?: this month really has been a cute one. Norah, for the most part, has had a really great month (not all day every day, but we've had some great moments). I can't entirely explain it. She's becoming more thoughtful, well-spoken, and polite. She's seeming to grasp that when she does things that hurt, she's immediately apologetic. The only thing that hasn't been clicking this month is the whole listening the first time-- she will ask you the same question in a row 9-10 times in a row... which means she's three, right?!

A Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

Bryan's parents live in Missouri, and they haven't met Emma yet! We had Bryan's mom stay with us for a few weeks at the end of the summer, but it was such a treat to get his dad over too. I am glad I got to snag a few photos of snuggles and book time while they were both here.

Punkin' Huntin'

Man. I'm so happy we found a pumpkin patch we look forward to going to every year! Schilter Farms is the perfect blend of all things fall that we love. Norah loves it too, and I am excited for Emma to have her first memories here as well.

Norah, in her happy place.

We wanted to get a picture of everyone sitting on pumpkins together... but Emma was so passed out, we didn't want to wake her! So a carrier and dramatic photo it is.

Our maternity shoot with Baby Sprout...

...only eight months too late! Becky and Jon did us a huge favor and snapped some lovely photos of our family before we grew to a family of four. I am so thankful for them! 

Emma: Seven months!

Size/Weight: On my scale she is still 19 pounds, and is stretching to 12-18 month clothes

Sleep: This one is totally hit or miss this month. Only two or three times ever has she slept through the night ("Sleep through the night" being until at least 5 or so), and after that, she seems to be falling in line with what Norah used to do-- just having nights of absolutely nothing making sense. I think it's the early onset of teething paired with being so much more involved with the world. Basically, in the middle of the night, she gets all caught up with wanting to sleep on her face.... then absolutely not wanting to be on her face. It's a rough situation.

Social: This month has been particularly adorable. She will smile and play peek a boo with you from across the room, and become a ball of giggles if you play with her. This month too she had a big first-- first overnight! Bryan and I were in a (phenomenal!) wedding this weekend, and had the bachelorette party two weeks ago. Emma stayed at my mom's house, and Norah stayed with my sister at our house. Everything went great! I am so happy we have such great family to take care of our girls.

Diet: There was a week in there where I tried to incorporate some formula in to a bottle (mixed with breastmilk) because her rough sleep schedule made her want extra milk before bed (hence depleting my freezer stock of milk...) with the sleepover and so much time away from Emma this month, I needed backup. Lucky for me, I still have a decent stock left, so no more formula at the moment. It's rough supplementing! (But BLW is still fun and going well!)

Clothes: 12 month still, breaking in to 12-18 month

Likes: eating, sitting on the floor and exploring/eating all her toys, when her sister pays attention to her and plays with her, songs, peekaboo and general dancing/singing

Dislikes: Being put down for a nap when she is absolutely not ready to be put down for a nap.

Milestones: Sitting by herself! This is a cool milestone. She can now happily grab whatever toy she'd like, now that she has full control of her play area. She's surprisingly stable, too!

Norah update?: Norah has been such a great big sister. Everything isn't always perfect, but there's nothing cuter than her reaching over and giving her sister a big kiss, or a toy when she's upset, or when she sings to her when she cries. It melts my heart!

Emma: Six Months!

Size/Weight: Two weeks ago she weighed 19 pounds, and is officially in 12 month clothes

Sleep: Pretty much the exact same as last month on this one. Minus a few days of absolute sleep craziness at the beginning of the month (waking up just because, not going back to sleep, then just generally being fussily awake for a few hours), things have been relatively predictable. Still, the whole 'I better be asleep in my bed at 8 or I won't sleep until 11' rule is in effect-- I love that she's on a schedule, but it's nice to know the consequences too! Recently she has developed a hilarious habit... if she absolutely won't sleep, you can put your legs up on the ottoman when you're in the rocker, and put her face down between your knees (feet on your tum, making sure that she can breathe between your legs) and she will pass out like a crab being flipped over. It's absolutely hilarious.

Social: She's officially involved with the world! She loves smiling and touching everything, loves reaching out to people and loves all sorts of things. Stranger danger still isn't going on in full force, so that's good!

Diet: Still breast milk, but adding in rice cereal and some fun snacks this month! I am trying to do a mix of baby led weaning with her (letting her explore/chew on safe things so she gets the hang of chewing rather than just swallowing-- while her super gag reflex is still there). It's going quite well! The girl loves rice cereal a ton (will eat a half ramekin full), whole canned green beans (getting the hang of how to bite them and eat them), and anything else she can get her hands on. We have a mesh feeder that she loves to eat bananas and cantelope in; and are trying new things all the time! (trying to space things out a bit so we can keep track of reactions and things like that, of course!) It's been super fun. She makes the best faces when trying to eat everything. Lots of frustration, but lots of happy, too! Now if only all that extra food helped her drop her night waking habit... ha!

Clothes: 12 month!

Likes: Raspberries on her tum, being tickled/surprised, eating all the things, rolling on to her tum quicker than one of those bottom heavy tippy dolls (now only if she could figure out how to get back!) and anything you hang above her that she can reach (especially necklaces)

Dislikes: When I don't give her food fast enough at the dinner table. Aaaaah, explaining patience to a six month old.

Milestones: Rolling over!! Happened right after the fifth month. She is getting really good at it!! Now only if she would learn to unflip herself (as she likes tummy time... but not allllll the time... and especially not accidentally in the night yet.

Norah update?: As I watched her reenact scenes from Mulan and Frozen, I wondered where all this drama came from. Then, as 'Part of Your World' came on Pandora, I was running around the house singing epically and acting everything out.... and realizing I have created my own dramatic monster. (But also big this month, on a more share-y and not so general note-- she can officially use the bathroom pretty much by herself! WOOHOO! Big step from just using the potty, to actually being able to get ready/do the thing/flush/pull up pants/wash your hands properly. YEAH!)

Emma: Five Months!

Size/Weight: Snug in 9 month clothes, moving on in to 12 month

Sleep: Pretty dang wonderful. She goes down at 8 on the dot (if she's up at 8:04, she will happily put herself to sleep on you wherever you're at) but beware... if she does fall asleep at 8 and she's not in the crib, she will wake up when you get ready for bed, and not snooze until 10. We were trying to get her to stick to a schedule-- now she's too much the schedule queen! Napping pretty great, moving towards one big 1-2 hour nap (sometimes) and 2-3 small 30-45 minute snoozes.

Social: It's fun to catch eyes with her from across the room, to get a face full of smiles and fists in the mouth. She is so laid back, she still loves just listening and going along for the ride.

Hanging out with Papa Vic on our weekly Tuesday visits

Nana snuggles

Diet: Breast milk! (Or cream top as my mom puts it. This gal doesn't have a problem with eating!)

Clothes: 12 month clothes fit best, with a bit of wiggle room for those growing piggies

Likes: Baths, and especially eating the wet washcloth afterwards, hugging my arm when I'm changing her, batting at things dangling over her, squiggling all over the play mats, her sister, singing, dancing and general silliness!

Dislikes: When she can't get her rocking horse's tail in to her mouth. Rage.

Milestones: Is becoming a little lady a milestone? I feel like she's got so much more behind the eyes now. She seems like all of a sudden she's starting to understand the world in a big way!

Norah update?: After turning three, Norah seems so much like a little lady. I can't believe how great of a big sister she is. She is always helpful, sweet to her sister (so far!), and is learning more every day it seems. Our parrot is now officially reciting nearly every book we read regularly word for word (she will correct you if you say 'theirs' instead of 'they had' type of thing) and remembers things we've done over a year ago. I'm convinced the three year old stage is just parenting practice of watching your tongue, because little minds never forget. 

And because life happens on your phone these days..