We cannot believe our little baby is half a year old today. It has been such an amazing and completely fulfilling 6 months. We're so lucky to have this stunning little girl in our lives and we're so proud to be her parents.
Mads is growing and changing quickly, but not quite as quickly as in the very beginning.
- 18 lbs. 7 oz.
- 28 1/4" long.
- Size 3 Kirkland diapers.
- In a combo of 9 and 12 (due to her length) month clothes.
- Size 0-3 month shoes. (go figure!)
- Sits up using her arms most of the time, but sometimes goes no-handed. We're always around to catch her because she topples over fairly frequently.
- Sits in a high chair at home AND in restaurants.
- Has still only rolled front to back, but looks really close to going back to front.
- Pushes things away that she doesn't want.
- Loves peek-a-boo and the anticipation of getting scared (and laughs after.)
- Likes to put her hands all over our faces... and her mouth, too!
- Teething seems to have stalled out a little and we haven't had a rough patch in a while. Still no teeth.
- Lifts her shoulders/head when you start to pick her up and will sometimes reach an arm out to someone she wants to be held by (usually Daddy!)
- Stands well while holding on to a piece of furniture. We're there to spot her, but she does it all by herself.
- Sometimes sucks her thumb.
- Takes 3-4 40 minute naps a day. For a few days in a row a couple weeks ago, she was taking a double length nap out of the blue, but that trend was over as quickly as it started.
- Wakes much more often than she used to. She averages 3 times a night (to eat) - sometimes more, rarely less.
- Though she's waking more often, she's GOING to sleep much better. Both naps and night are usually a piece of cake and we put her in her crib awake and she falls asleep on her own. (See bedtime routine below.) We suspect that the combo of having a lovey, longer bedtime routine, and bath every night help her fall asleep faster and easier.
- Sleeps with one arm out of the swaddle. The arm that is out snuggles her blanket lovey to her cheek while she sleeps. It has been a few days/nights of one arm out. After at least a few more, we'll try to unswaddle completely.
- Blows the occasional raspberry.
- Is having a strong case of stranger (separation?) anxiety. Passing her off to anyone but myself or Jason results in a crying baby. We're hoping this phase passes quickly. As flattering as it is to us, it's hard on the other people who love her and want to hold her.
- Still totally addicted to the cats, though the cats now want nothing to do with her and her grabby hands.
- Breastfeeding is going well (despite a temporary drop in supply) and although she's very easily distracted while feeding during the day, both mommy and baby love our nursing time together.
Madison's Current Bedtime Routine:
7:00PM
- Bath Time
- Towel Off
- Massage Time
- Diaper & PJs
- Nurse & Burp
- Diaper if Needed
- Read
- Misc Books
- 'Goodnight Moon' Last
- Lights Off & White Noise On
- Swaddle & give Lovey
- Pacifier w/ Vitamin D
- Sign 'Sleep'
- Sing Lullabies
- Sleep! (Approx 7:45PM)
To celebrate this half-year milestone, the three of us spent the morning at
Emma Prusch Farm in San Jose. I used to go there as a kid and was really excited to take Madison. It didn't disappoint and was pretty much as I remembered. Mads seemed to have a lot of fun watching all of the critters run around! She's already such an animal person.
The animals were waiting to greet us! (Even the little babies.)
Apparently this is what happens if you turn your back on the stroller for half a second!
