7 Months

7 Months! Past the halfway mark, so its now ok to start thinking about the 1 year birthday party right?...Ok I’ve been thinking about it for awhile now…

Stats:

No Dr visit this month, so I don’t know exactly what she weighs, but I do know she’s still a little peanut. Emma is still in 6 month clothes, and really can squeeze into some 3-6 month size! She is almost exactly what her big brother weighed at 6 months though, and he chunked up over the next few months, so I’m trying not to worry J

Emma was up to 3-4 cubes of solid food every meal a few weeks ago, and then the last couple weeks has been hating her solids – I’m really hoping its just a phase related to that stubborn bottom tooth that we can FINALLY see juuuust poking out!

Miss Emmalyn is working hard to keep up with her big brother! She's up on her hands and knees and rocking, and will be full-out crawling any day now...and her favorite position is standing -- if you are anywhere near her on the floor she scoots over and pulls herself up, smiling and giggling...maybe we will have another early walker! 

Emma and Caleb are still the best of friends -- here they are having a "coffee party" with Henna, Ellie, and me

 I'm so looking forward to when they can play organized games together...and when Caleb is less of a danger to her!

 Oh.Those.Eyes.

Here's a picture of both our sweet blue eyed kiddos at 7 months:

Yep, definitely siblings! BUT, overall Caleb is a mini-Garrett, and Emma is a mini-me:

Thats me on the left and Emma on the right! My mom and I took the kiddos to Urbana to see my grandparents this month, and my grandma had dug out some old pictures of me to show the similarities. We had a blast that day playing with alot of toys that I grew up playing with, and just spending time with all four of my wonderful grandparents:

Four Generations: my beautiful Grandma Grace, my mom, me, and Emma!

I was so thankful that we went on that visit, because less than a week later, my grandfather passed away. Here is he and Caleb a few months ago:

And this is the first time he met Emma:

While I will definitely miss my Grandpa Jim, I am so thankful that both my littles got to meet him! When my mom called to tell me the news, my most overwhelming feeling was peace. How different death is when eternity is certain! My grandpa was ready to meet his Savior, and I am so thankful to know that he is in the presence of Christ and that I will get to see him again someday! His pastor said at the funeral that he felt that the Lord and kept him from Glory this long to pray for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren -- so he did. On the nights he didn't sleep much, he prayed, and during the day when he spent time in his massage chair, he prayed. I am so thankful for that conviction he had. He "finished well", and is now in heaven for "10,000 years and then forevermore"!

One more:

6 Months!!

Well Miss Emmalyn had her half birthday! This past 6 months has gone by so much faster, it seems, than Caleb’s first 6 months -- does time just go faster with each successive kid??

Measurements:

Emma has slowed her growth a little this month. She’s 27inches (80^th percentile) and 14lbs 10oz (25^th percentile). 

Even though she has dropped pretty significantly on the curve in weight, our awesomely laid-back pediatrician (you know this PICU mom NEEDS a laid-back pedi!!) is not concerned, especially since we have started solids. She will probably be like her big brother and pick up her weight gain in a few months!

Sleep:

Oh dear. Princess girl does NOT like to sleep. Really she’s all over the place…and we are TRYING to roll with it. Never thought I’d say that she is worse in the sleep department than big brother, but she is. She still wakes up most nights at least once and the times are all over the place, and then at least once a week shes up and ready to play around 4am, whiiiich of course throws her nap times all out of whack. If she wasn’t SO sweet… J

Likes and Dislikes:

 LOVES sitting on her blanket with her toys.

 Miss Emma can sit like a champ now, and her favorite activity is just sitting in the middle of her blanket exploring toy after toy and watching big brother’s antics. Not the explorer that Caleb was, shes our little observer insteadJ 

She LOVES to just look and look – seriously don’t get into a staring contest with this one because you’ll probably lose (Garrett has tested this). LOVES to chew and grab – still working on those two bottom teeth, and shes always looking for something to chew. Shes a grabber too and doesn’t hesitate to launch her whole body towards something she thinks might be good to chew! Only thing she doesn’t like right now…SLEEP!

Milestones:

Doing great sitting and scooching! She is doing much better in the nursery now – the nursery workers said that she is very intent about getting to a certain toy she wants, and she seems to have lots of fun figuring out what combination of rolling, launching, and scooching she needs to get to it! 

She is a tough little girl (probably because of what Caleb has put her through…) and isn’t phased easily – in fact, to get from a sitting to crawling position she just throws herself forwards on her face. Silly girlJ Definitely on the move now, but not quite the explorer Caleb was. 

She is laughing a lot more now, too, although Caleb is still best at getting her to belly laugh, which is adorable. 

Sibling Love:

The only wrinkle in these two’s friendship so far is that Emma actually cares when Caleb steals a toy from her now. It used to be that if she was playing with something that he (suddenly) wanted, he could take it, give her something else, and she wouldn’t care. Not so now. Emma actually has an opinion **GASP** and Caleb is very frustrated by this development. He is slowly learning that ALL his toys are actually not HIS ONLY. 

Honestly its hard not to laugh when he suddenly desperately wants the colored cups that she is gumming and no other toy in this house is as good as those. Tears. Wailing. Drama. Sin nature. However, overall Caleb and Emma are still the best of friends. Caleb is, for the most part, a great help.

 If Emma is fussing, he is very good about going and finding her a toy if I ask, or even just stopping his play and going over to entertain her when asked. Sweet boyJ

What We’ve Learned:

We are READY for spring. So very ready. This winter has been record-breaking in length, snowfall, and cold, and that is not a good recipe for sanity with a high-energy toddler and a 6 month old! 

Caleb has resorted to driving his car inside (did you know we have a grocery store in this house? And a donut store?), and we have planned many playdates. 

BUT we are so ready to be able to go outside, to the park, and for walks! Looking forward to taking long walks with both littles and getting some much needed Vitamin D soon!!!