Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Happy 6 Month Birthday Angel!

Can it really be?  I don't believe it is true, but supposedly Angel turned 6 months old today!  Where did the time go?


Angel is still more of a newborn than a toddler, but she is fast approaching the tipping point.  Here is a quick summary of what she is up to these days:


Stats:  Length: 26 1/2 in (75th percentile)
          Head circumference: 43 1/2 cm (75th - 90th percentile)
          Weight: 15 lbs 6 1/2 oz (50th percentile)


Quick video:


Sleeping: We put her down around 7pm and she tends to fall asleep around 7:30pm with some help from us.  She used to fall asleep on her own, but that isn't happening very much anymore.  As for her waking up...it depends on Sweet Pea.  We moved her into the same room as Sweet Pea on the 17th and I wish I could say it was going well, but it isn't.  The past two nights Sweet Pea has gotten up before 5am and so I finally resorted to putting her in the pack n play in our sunroom so that we could get a little more sleep and so she wouldn't wake up Angel.  Angel was quiet until after 6:30.  The days before she would be up at 5:30 with Sweet Pea.  They are both light sleepers and I wish I knew how to change that!  Naps aren't going well these days at all.  She is taking 3 a day, but they aren't consistent.  Angel falls asleep easily in the car, but as soon as we stop she wakes up so it makes getting a solid nap in difficult when we have to pick Sweet Pea up from school.  She also isn't sleeping for more than 30-45 minutes when she naps at home anymore.  She used to sleep for a good two hours!  I miss those days and hope to bring them back, but I don't know how.  I know she would do better if she had a consistent routine and was at home for most of her naps, but I've been working really hard at getting Sweet Pea out to the pool and play dates so Angel has had to adapt.  All things considered, she is doing pretty darn well.


Eating:  Angel is exclusively breastfed for her liquids although she can take a bottle so Mommy can be MIA when necessary.  She started rice cereal on July 10th and loved it immediately!  She is hilarious when she eats...maybe a little frustrating at times, but it really is funny...if you don't get the next bite to her fast enough she starts grunting impatiently.  By fast enough I mean that as soon as you take the spoon out of her mouth she is almost immediately ready for the next bite.  I think it is safe to say that she loves rice cereal!  Since she handled the cereal so well I decided to try sweet potatoes a week later.  The first bite I gave her was at the end of a feeding of cereal where she was pretty much full already.  The look on her face was funny because she was confused, but not upset.  She took another bite and then was done.  The next day she ate a good 1/3 of the jar.  Angel has also had peas and just today she had pears.  She ate the whole container in one sitting today!  Her technique is definitely improving and I'm hoping she continues liking everything we give her!


Gross Motor:  Angel rolled from her back to her stomach regularly before she was 4 months old, but she just started regularly rolling from her stomach to her back two weeks ago.  She tolerates being on her tummy much longer these days, but still doesn't prefer it...although you wouldn't know it since she is always rolling onto her tummy!  She is starting to bring her knees up under her belly and spins all around.  Her movements aren't very controlled yet, but she is making progress every day.  She still spits up every time we put her into sitting, but she is able to sit unsupported for a few seconds.


Teeth:  Her first tooth (bottom left front) broke through on the 23rd and it looks like she is about to get the other bottom front tooth.  I'm hoping we don't get two in one week, but I do believe we might!


Favorites:  Her sister, baths, her thumb, her toes, singing and "flying" through the air.


Personality:  She is very alert and aware of everything.  She rarely blinks as I believe she is afraid she will miss something.  Angel is easy going for the most part, but is picky about who holds her.  She will stare at a person for a little while before she either cries or breaks into a smile.  I often wonder what is going through her head!


Hair:  Her hair is starting to come in and it looks like we might have a blond toddler eventually.  Her dark baby hair is slowly being replaced and the bald spot on the back of her head is just barely starting to get some new hairs.


Happy Birthday Angel! We love you more than words can say.  Your bright blue eyes and sparkling smile make every day a wonderful day.  I can't wait to see what you do next!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Random Photos

I've been absent a lot lately so here is another catch up post.  You will notice that I've backdated a couple other posts to try to keep them in the actual order that they occurred.  Our lives have been busy, but wonderful and although I wish I was better at keeping this blog updated, I'm happy that we are living life to its fullest!

Sweet Pea has been loving pushing her dolls around in this little stroller that she was given for her birthday.


We've been enjoying the warm weather and had a playdate with her boyfriend:


More proof of sisterly love:


Reading to her sister:


Even Angel is having fun at our playdates now!




Saturday, July 23, 2011

Angel's First Tooth

Angel's first tooth broke through today!  She is 3 days shy of turning 6 months and she has a tooth!  Craziness!  Sweet Pea didn't get her first until 3 days before she turned 9 months so I thought I had a little more time.  I'm going to miss her toothless grin very soon here!

We were VERY lucky that this tooth either didn't hurt too much or Angel is great at dealing with it.  She has been gnawing on everything (as evident in the vampire video) but she has been pretty quiet about the whole thing.  Way to go Angel!  You could slow down the growing up piece just a tad though...Mommy isn't ready for you to grow up!

Mommy has been neglectful...I need to start taking more photos of Angel!  I was looking to put one up here and I realize that I don't have any recent ones!  I'll try to take some tomorrow.  For now though you will have to make due with a video of Angel playing in her "Circle of Neglect" (aka exersaucer) for the very first time back on July 12th.  I love how she starts expressing displeasure as soon as I say she is liking it!  Go figure!

Handbells For Grandma

Have fun at bell camp Grandma!  Maybe you can teach me a few songs when you get back...



See video here

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Swimming with Cousins

We've been going swimming with Cousin O and Cousin C a lot recently.  It's fun normally, but Grandma made it extra special today.  Sweet Pea is loving the water and gets very excited when I ask if she wants to go to the pool to swim.  I'm trying to take her at least once a week and she is getting better every time.  I don't want summer to end!!!!

Angel hasn't joined us in the water yet, but hopefully she will soon.  I'm not sure how I'll handle both of them, but hopefully I'll figure something out.




This is one happy girl!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Concert in the Park

Another fun concert in the park with Grandma!



Lily was there too...although she slept through most if it.