Big Boy Milestones

All sorts of unassisted sitting, big boy restaurant high chairs, and eating solids have been going on around here!  Nathan's first meal was homemade sweet potatoes and although he still has his tongue thrust reflex and mostly just pushed them back out of his mouth, he was a great sport and smiled through it!  

Big Girl Stuff

Last week, we went out to eat, and normally we'd simply pull the stroller up to the table but she's gotten to the point where she needs to be entertained, so the stroller wasn't cutting it because she sat so low in it.   We decided to try out the restaurant high chair instead (which was probably slightly overdue), and it was a HUGE success.  She loved being up at our level.

Yesterday we headed to the grocery store.  Usually if I have big shopping to do, I'll wear her in the Baby Bjorn while pushing the cart around.  If it's just a quick trip, we'll use our Uppababy Vista, with it's lovely, ginormous basket.  Today I decided to put her in the cart and she was loving every second of being pushed around in it.  Her arms were out the whole time and she kept twisting her body all around to check out her surroundings.

Gwen has tried out the infant swing before, but today was her first time without an insert to keep her upright.  As soon as I put her in it, she put her hands down in front of her and flopped forward (I probably shouldn't laugh at these things, right?).  So I made a little adjustment, and she was able to stay upright.  Not too sure how she felt about it...I'm thinking she may have inherited her daddy's aversion to rides...

 

I'm so proud of my big girl :)

six months

Happy half birthday to my babe!

Gwen had an awesome 6 month checkup!  I was dreading the vaccines because I had heard from a mommy friend that the this checkup is the 2nd worst one because there are 3 shots.  To my surprise, she took the first 2 shots without even making a peep (I was shocked).  She cried on the 3rd one but it wasn't even a bad cry, she was back to her normal chatty self within less than a minute.

Some highlights from the appointment:
She weighs 16lbs 5oz (70th percentile), and is 26.5 inches tall (87th percentile).
Her strength and control while she's sitting is equal to an 8 or 9 month old!  Even though we only started solids a week ago, we got the go ahead to feed her a second meal.  She was chatting up a storm to the pediatrician, and it turns out that as part of their literacy program she'll get a new book at every visit from now until she's 2 years old (and books are her favorite)!  I spoke with the Dr about the fact that she has been rolling over very infrequently, but she assured me that some babies never roll at all and it's nothing to even think twice about.  (Braggy mom alert:) She said the fact that G holds herself up while sitting so well this early on, and has been for over a month already, is more exceptional.  Yay Gwen!

Just in the past 2 weeks, she has developed so much.  I am loving this 6 month period, she's so much more interactive, chatty, happy and just a joy to be around. <3

Reaching

For the past couple of weeks, we've really notice Gwen reaching out.  During playdates the little socialite would rather play with the other babies than toys, and she also loves reaching out to touch Jackson.  

I know that this isn't related, but I just had to share a pictures of my big girl sitting up!! :) <3

She's SITTINGGGGGG!

Little g loves it when I pull her up to a seated position, and lately she's been wanting to stand all the way up and will do it with only a little help from me (I swear!).  She knows to dig her feet into the ground and lift her body up and then she'll stay standing while only holding onto my thumbs. Such a big girl :)

OK, now to the sitting part -
On Saturday, I pulled Gwen up to a seated position on the carpet in our bedroom, and she seemed pretty steady.  So I slowwwwly let go of her and she was able to keep herself up for a few seconds at a time.  Yesterday we were showing Nana and Papa S how well she does, and I was able to let go of her for even longer!  I still can't walk away, because let's face it, a strong wind would knock her over.  But the point is that she's actually doing it!!  Today I had her sitting up and playing with her baby laptop and she was loving it.  It seems like she's getting stronger and stronger every day.   Here she is yesterday, showing off to Nana and Papa

 


Now, if we could only get the little bugger to roll over on a consistent basis!  She's still only done that twice without my help, and she just seems so content and has no interest - even when we line all of her toys up on one side to try and coax her over!  For now, I guess I can just enjoy the fact that I can empty the dishwasher/do laundry/go to the bathroom and come back to find her in [relatively] the same spot on the ground.

I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I plan on writing another post about Anne's visit, Memorial Day, etc.

In the meantime, some new developments since I've last written:
She's been grabbing at and trying to hold onto everything - our faces, drinks, food, etc.
She's ticklish - it's adorable when we really get her laughing.
She discovered that she can make a loud shrieking noise while breathing in - which freaked me out the first time because it almost sounds like she's choking.
She coughs a lot and I've realized it's because she knows I give her attention when she's coughing! You can totally tell when they're fake coughs lol  Sometimes it'll be a real cough but then she throws in a few extra coughs and smiles waiting for my reaction.

Look for more posts to come, on how we've been enjoying this beautiful summer weather!!