Emerson's 5 Month Update!

I'm back for another baby update! I'm not going to lie, this month I've struggled to actually sit down and write this thing! (I'm also working on Grayson's 2 year old update. I really wanted to get that written down for my own keepsakes and memories. It should be published soon!) Life is so busy with two active little ones and my spare time is quite limited. But it's so important to me that I document this time of Emerson's life because let's be honest, between the sleep deprivation, quick paced days, and the fact that my mommy brain is taking over, am I going to remember all these details years from now?! Haha. For some reason, Emerson turning 5 months old was tough for me! The first few months seemed long in a way just because she still seemed so tiny and I was adjusting to life with two kids. But this month, Emerson has truly blossomed into a little girl with opinions, new milestones, and a lot more awareness. She's a little person now and it's taken me by surprise. Next month, she will be half a year old and that just seems shocking! I feel like I'm still pregnant with her in some ways and here she is, growing up on me! This month has been so much fun as Emerson is growing and learning new things every day. She is such a joy and such a presence in our family now. I love it! Here's a little bit about our 5 month old:

Height and Weight: I'm not sure about her height, but she is around 13 lbs. now. I weighed her on our scale recently and she's definitely in the 13-13.5 lb. range. She's getting chunkier and has more rolls than ever now. I absolutely love it! She's still on the small side for her age, but she's very healthy and growing beautifully. Being that Emerson was born at 5 lbs. 8 oz. and that she was so tiny for so long, I feel so proud that she's a healthy, growing girl now. I was so worried about her weight during my pregnancy and for those first few months, that I feel such a sense of relief when I see our little chunk nowadays! She's feeling heavier too -- still getting my workout in!

Sooo happy!

Sleep: I'll fully admit that a part of me thinks I stink at training kids to sleep! My first born didn't sleep through the night until he was a year old and Emerson is following in his footsteps. Emerson wakes up twice a night pretty consistently. Once in a while, she will wake up once a night, but usually she's up every 3-4 hours. She sleeps like a newborn, so that's really tough for me. The sleep deprivation just keeps building and there are days where it's a major struggle. I'm just plain exhausted. Grayson has been struggling to go to bed at night and sometimes he wakes up during the night. He wakes up about an hour before Emerson each morning and only about 2 hours after Emerson's last feeding. I'm basically up 2-3 times in an 8 hour period each night, so again, I have had my cranky moments this month as the lack of sleep is wearing on me. Emerson takes 3 naps a day (a short morning nap, a long afternoon nap, and a short early evening nap) and we are really trying to limit those. She has been napping during Grayson's afternoon nap, so that's awesome! I love my kids, but there's no feeling like them both being asleep at the same time! Such an accomplishment! Haha. Emerson is still sleeping in her crib and is still swaddled. She sleeps in her swing for most naps and she also sleeps during most car rides. I've been trying to let her self-soothe a little more at night, but unfortunately she just cries louder and wakes up more. I'm still feeding her when she wakes up just because it puts her right back to sleep and I'm desperate for that. I've been pretty lax about sleep training her, but that may change soon. Anyways, not trying to complain, but this department has some definite room for improvement next month! :D 

Eating: The big news with eating this month is that Emerson is now eating solids! I debated waiting until 6 months to introduce solids because my doctor said that's what is recommended these days. But ironically, I started her on solids slightly earlier than I did with Grayson. She was nursing all the time and just seemed like she needed more. Emerson is still breastfed and that's going really well. She still eats every 2-3 hours despite the fact that she's also eating solids. I think she's just a growing girl coupled with the fact that she loves to comfort nurse. Exclusively breastfeeding is hard. but so worth it to me! I know it's just for a short time, so I try to remember that on the days where I feel like she's attached to my boob (just being honest here!). Emerson seems to like solids! At first, she was a major fan, but after 2 weeks, she's a little less into it. It definitely depends on her mood. If she's fussy, solids are just going to make it worse. I try to catch her in a good mood and we are still in the introduction phase, so once she's over it, I stop and we try again later. She's eating solids 1-2 times a day and her favorite so far is banana. She's also tried avocado, pumpkin, squash, green beans, and prunes. Emerson is the messiest eater and would really prefer just to chomp on her messy hands, the bib, and the spoon rather than the actual food. It's fun to start this new phase with her though!

Clothes: Emerson is in a size 3 diaper and still in size 3-6 month clothing. She fills it all out very well now!

Mood: This has probably been one of the biggest game changers this month! Emerson is still a very happy and relaxed baby, but she's much more opinionated and moody this month! She is much more vocal about when she doesn't like something and she will crack up laughing and smile so big when she's a fan of something. She's just showing us her personality and likes/dislikes so much more. Emerson has started to struggle going to other people a little more and is definitely a mama's girl. If she's fussy with someone else, she immediately stops when I take her. Difficult at times, but so sweet! She's getting to that phase where she can't be in a quiet environment anymore and I've started leaving her in the nursery at church more often. She will fuss, be noisy, and wants to be walked around the entire service. I remember that time period with Grayson too. Realizing that they will no longer just sit there quietly -- the newborn days are over!  Emerson is such a smiley and snuggley baby. She loves to snuggle and be held and carried around and I love cuddling her! Emerson likes to bury her head into your chest to where it appears like she can hardly breathe, but it's her favorite. She likes to be close to us. She's not very independent, but loves to be with mommy, daddy, and big brother. I call her my "Velcro baby" because if she had her way, she would be attached to mommy all day long. She is getting much more active though! She loves to bounce up and down on your leg like a crazy person and is moving so much more now! That being said, she also likes to observe and just watch what's going on. She's more aware and observant and everything is interesting to her right now! The biggest change is that she is now reacting to her surroundings. She will go after what she wants and is constantly reaching for things. She notices so much more and constantly has an intrigued look on her face trying to figure things out. And like I said, she lets you know when she isn't happy! She can bring the drama if need be, but she rarely does. She is still very easy to soothe and loves being walked around and in motion. I love seeing her little personality develop!

Milestones: Emerson rolled over from belly to back once this month and still hasn't rolled over from back to belly. I've stressed a lot about this, but I can see her getting so much stronger during tummy time. She holds her head up high and she can maneuver herself to whatever toy she wants. She definitely can't crawl, but she can scoot and turn herself to get whatever toy she wants. I believe she is strong enough to roll over, but she has absolutely no desire to do it. That being said, she is now sitting up! Grayson was an earlier "sitter-upper" too and it's actually one of my favorite milestones. It makes life so much easier when you can just sit them down and they can play sitting up. She's still learning and getting her strength, but she can now sit up for long periods of time on her own and I love it! When Emerson is laying on her back, she lifts her head completely off the ground. She hasn't figured out the rolling part on her back at all, but I see her neck getting stronger and stronger. Emerson has started playing in her exersaucer and she really likes that. She loves to stand and put all her weight on her legs and she's getting pretty good at it. She's great at reaching for toys and getting what she wants. She is now officially what I call a "hip baby" meaning I can carry her around on my hip without worrying about her head or body flopping, so her head control is great! She is also much better about recognizing us from a long distance. She sees us from farther us and smiles and gets excited. Emerson is also big enough to ride in the regular stroller now (without the car seat), so that's been fun! Last month, I swore she was getting a tooth, She was drooling, chewing on everything, and seemed to be in pain. This month has been the same, but no tooth! The constant chewing is crazy though -- she shoves everything in her mouth and gnaws like a rabid animal. Ha! Emerson's tear ducts are officially not clogged any more which is a huge blessing! No more gunk in her eyes and she has such big, beautiful, opened eyes now. Emerson is very ticklish now and loves to be tickled! Her hair is also long enough to be put into pigtails which was very exciting for me. I love doing her hair -- she has SO much of it!

Loves: Emerson loves being held, nursing, and cuddling, but she also loves to play, chew her toys, and watch her big brother and puppy. She absolutely adores Grayson and Cedric and thinks they are the funniest thing ever. She laughs at Grayson constantly and is always watching what he's doing. She loves holding her stuffed animals and dolls. Emerson loves moving around, being in motion, and being walked around the house or outside. She loves funny faces and songs. She likes when mommy dances and sings and acts silly. She also reacts to "peek-a-boo" now. Emerson loves to suck on her hands and lip and she is always seen with her tongue sticking out. But she hasn't taken a paci in months. She loves to bounce herself up and down really quickly. She also loves being thrown in the air -- not too high, I promise! But she smiles so big when I do it! Emerson loves watching other kids play and really enjoys Grayson's music class and coming to story time at the library with us. I used to go solely for Grayson, but now both the kids enjoy it! She loves to sleep in our bed (very rare treat, but she sleeps so hard!) and cuddle with her daddy. Bath time is still a favorite for Emerson. She loves to splash and chew on the bath toys. Emerson still likes to watch tv -- the sounds and colors amaze her. She loves to grab at anything and everything especially mommy's hair. She has a very strong grip!

Dislikes: Emerson doesn't like being left alone or being put in her car seat.

Mommy Update: This month was easier and harder in different ways. Emerson is getting older, so she is easier and harder to handle at the same time. She has more needs and wants, but she can also play on her own more and play with Grayson, so that's a big help! With every age, there are new challenges and now that Emerson is at a new age, we are learning how to handle the new challenges, as well as, enjoying the new fun parts. December/early January is a big time for our family. We have Christmas, lots of church stuff especially being that Josh is a pastor, New Year's, Grayson's birthday, and our wedding anniversary. It was all amazing, but a part of me was happy to get back to routine and for things to calm down a little. Traveling with kids and getting them out of their routine is tough! It was all really fun, but I'm happy everything is back to normal now. I've also just been trying to slow down and cherish each moment with my kids. I see how quickly they are growing and I'm constantly reminded to enjoy these days and take them in. It can be a hard phase of life, but I'm learning to see the beauty in it. Despite the difficulties, I absolutely love these days of my life. I love being home with my kids and getting to do life with them each day. It won't be like this forever and I am trying to be better about putting my phone down, not complaining, and just enjoying each moment. In my opinion, I have the best job in the world!

Thing I Want to Remember:

Christmas --  This year marked Emerson's first Christmas! I'm not going to lie, she slept for the majority of it! Haha. But it was really fun having her around for all of our family traditions.

Grayson's 5 Month Update!

It's that time again...Grayson is 5 months old! Holy cow! If I had to sum up this month, it would be the month of the milestones! He hit so many this month and is just developing and progressing so wonderfully. It's so fun to see him learn to do new things...his little personality is just coming out! For me, this month was much more smooth and fun! Grayson is at such a cool age; he's such a BIG (little) boy!

Weight & Height: I'm not sure about his height, but he's definitely longer. He went through a period where he kind of chunked up, but still seemed really short. This month he seems to have stretched out and don't seem as much like a little bowling bowl ;) He still has those adorable rolls though and he weighs 18 pounds!

 

(These monthly photos are getting harder and harder to take!)

Feeding: Feeding has gone really well this month because this was our 5th month of exclusively breastfeeding. I feel like Grayson and I have it down pat at this point. He eats within about 30 minutes of waking up, eats mid-morning and again in mid-afternoon, and then has a big feeding around 5-6pm. After that, he eats a little before bed and that's it. He averages about 4 hours between feedings right now, but can go longer!. Grayson also has one solid feeding during the night (that I am hoping to cut out soon!). He is such a great little eater and I am super curious to see how he does with solids. We are trying them out now that he is 5 months old! A part of me is sad that his time of being exclusively breastfed is done, but I'm also a little excited for the freedom that it will bring for me. I love that he is solely dependent on me for food, but at the same time, it can be a lot of work! I'm really proud of myself for breastfeeding him on my own with no supplements for 5 months especially since I am also working. I didn't think we would last this long, but we did! I'll be curious how my supply adjusts now that he won't be needing as much breast milk. We shall see! It will be fun for us to see him try new and different foods!

Sleeping: Someone must have heard my prayers because this department has improved since last month! Grayson does so much better at night and I think a lot of it is because he can finally get comfortable. He loves to sleep on his side and tummy! Grayson is finally on a sleeping schedule and I love that I have something to depend on! Grayson goes to bed around 930pm each night, wakes up around 3am for a feeding (he's only up 10 minutes max. which is great), then wakes up for the day around 830am. This schedule isn't perfected, but this seems to be his pattern and he's doing well with it! Grayson still sleeps in his crib and he is very mobile in his sleep. I put him down on his back and by the time I go in to get him, he's usually on his tummy facing the opposite direction and half a foot forward. He's a mover! Grayson takes a very dependable morning nap about 2-3 hours after he wakes up (usually a longer nap) and takes 2 shorter (less predictable) afternoon naps. We are still working on getting his naps to be a little longer, but now he averages 45 min-1 hour naps.

Clothes: Grayson wears 3-6 month clothing and size 3 diapers.

Mood: Last month I mentioned that we thought Grayson was teething and I was right! He was in so much pain and just miserable. His tooth finally broke through and since then, he has almost been a different baby! He's so much happier and such a joy to be around. He laughs constantly, loves to play, and gives you the sweetest smiles when you look his way. I hate knowing he was in pain, but I'm so glad his true personality is now coming out. Grayson loves action, motion, and constantly doing things. He gets fussy if he is bored and wants a change of scenery. At the same time, he has started cuddling with Josh and I and it's the sweetest thing. Grayson loves to screech with excitement and gets flustered when he can't reach a toy or get it in his mouth. He is so reactive and responsive and just seems to much older all the sudden. I feel like I have a little buddy with me now because he interacts with me. He's still very vocal and loves to chat. It's so fun!

 

Teeth: 2! He got his first tooth at about 4.5 months (lower center left) and then got his second tooth (lower center right) less than 2 weeks later. His little smile is adorable now with his teeth poking through!

Milestones: He hit so many this month! He can now roll over consistently both ways, sits up, reaches, grabs, and holds on to objects, and can stand unassisted for seconds at a time. The boy is strong! 

Loves: Bouncing on your leg by standing up and sitting down quickly (he gets some momentum going and he's fast!), playing with his toys, laughing at our dog, grabbing faces and discovering new body parts, kicking his legs, grabbing anything near him, screaming with joy, and playing with his big cousins!

Dislikes: It's all a mood thing with this baby! Just depends what he's feeling or not feeling in the moment ;)

Things I Want to Remember:

• Hiking in Blue Ridge

• First Beach Trip

• Josh's Graduation From Seminary -- It was so special that Grayson was able to watch his daddy walk across the stage and celebrate in his big accomplishment!

• First Wedding