Sam & Amelia

Happy 5 months, Sweet Amelia!

We still haven’t been to the Dr. for your 4 month check-up, so I don’t have any stats to report, but I do know that you’re growing! Long and skinny! I had to reschedule your appt when we went to NYC, so we have to wait until the middle of January now.

You are putting everything in your mouth these days – your hands, my fingers, toys, and pacis. You can bring toys to your mouth and can put your paci back in after you’ve pulled it out! There were a few weeks where you were good at pulling it out of your mouth, but couldn’t quite get it back in. You’ve been “eyeing” our food during meals and will follow it from the plate to someone’s mouth. You are more interested in that yummy rice cereal now, than you were 2 weeks ago. I should be giving it to you several times a day, but things were pretty hectic during the holidays. Now that things have settled down, I will probably start you on veggies soon. You’re nursing every 3-4 hours, which is a huge change from your previous 2-hour schedule! You still get up once or twice during the night to eat.

You’ve figured out how to roll over and did it 4 times today – front to back and back to front! I even caught it on tape (er, digitally). You are held a lot during the day, so I’m especially proud of you for rolling over this early. You are able to sit up for a few seconds by yourself now, too. You like to play with your toes, but I haven’t caught you nibbling on them yet. I’m sure that’s just around the corner. You are so interested in what Sam is doing and smile at him a lot. He loves to give you kisses and occasionally will give you toys. He will pat you on the tummy and say, “OK, Ya-Ya” if I can’t get to you right away when you are upset. It’s so sweet! You two are going to be great friends and playmates before too long. Alex and Jinx have recently let you pet them and that always makes you smile. It’s so cute to see your tiny hand pet their soft fur.

My favorite recent development is that you’re taking pretty consistent naps during the day. You like to go down around 9am and then again during lunch for about an hour at a time. Your afternoon nap still varies a lot, but you always take one! You fall asleep in the car a lot, but don’t always stay asleep for very long. You have been a wonderful traveler on several 2-hour trips to Batesville and Memphis.

We love you, sweet girl!

Today was a lazy day at home. Sam work up around 7:30 with wild and crazy hair!

We played, read books, and ate breakfast before Amelia work up at 8am. Then we just played some more – drawing trucks, trailers and apples on the MagnaDoodle, putting magnets on the fridge, watching Curious George, pulling baskets up and down the hall (occasionally giving Alex a ride). Sam “helped” me wrap presents while Amelia took a morning nap. And by help, I mean he dumped the contents of the trashcan out onto the floor, played with Scotch tape and jumped on the air mattress in the spare room. He helped me carry the presents upstairs and placed them under the tree. As soon as we were done with that he ran to his room (on a mission) and pointed to his basket of diapers. I handed him a diaper and he ran to his new Curious George monkey (thanks Miles!) and started to wrap it around him. Don’t know why he needed a diaper all of a sudden – he had been in our house for about 36 hours, diaperless, and all was well….

The kids stayed in their pajamas today! I briefly thought about going to storytime, but it was just too cold to get out! We spent the rest of the day playing and doing laundry. I gave Amelia more rice cereal today and she actually swallowed a few bites. She still makes faces and pushes some out with her tongue, but I think we’re making progress. Sam always wants to eat her rice cereal – that boy will eat anything!

Sweet Amelia,
It’s hard to believe you’re 4 months old already. Do I say that every month? (probably) Yesterday was a big day for you – I’ve been encouraging you to hit a few milestones before your daddy and I leave for a trip to NYC! I’m already nervous about leaving you, and know I would be crushed if you 1) rolled over, 2) cut a tooth, or 3) slept through the night while I’m gone. I know you’ll be in good hands with GranGran, Papa, then Mimi and Great Aunt Linda, and they would probably be ecstatic if you slept through the night – not so much if you cut a tooth! Back to yesterday – you rolled over for the first time. We were playing in Sam’s room and you were on your tummy and rolled onto your side several times, then went all the way over! I grabbed the video camera, but you wouldn’t do it again. That’s OK – I’m sure you’ll do it again soon!

I gave you some your first taste of rice cereal yesterday while Sam was sleeping! I’m not sure you liked it – although you kept the first 2 bites in your mouth and swallowed them. The third bite came right back out and I didn’t give you any more. I was laughing pretty hard at your expressions.

There’s more. We decided to give you your first bottle of formula yesterday, too! It wasn’t intentional for us to make 2 changes in your diet on one day. You didn’t seem to notice anything was different. Your daddy gave you the bottle and you fell asleep after 2 ounces. I’m glad it went well and I won’t have to worry so much about you eating while I’m gone.