Little Lykes: Happy 5 Months Baby Girl

Here she 'Grows" Again...5 Months

Weight: I will update this post with her weight ASAP

Height: 24 inches

Appetite: You love food! You are still nursing every 3-4 hours. You happily eat about 5 ounces every feeding.Whether you nurse or take the bottle, you eat like a pro! When Daddy and I sit at the kitchen table you look so intrigued by what and how we are eating. The signs were clear as day. Even though we would let you lick and try things here and there, you were clearly ready for a little serving of solids of your own. So far Momma has pureed you sweet potato, bananas and pears. You love all of them, but pears are your favorite! We mix one of them with a little bit of oatmeal and you are good to go. ( your exact serving size: 1 ounce of oatmeal thinned with one ounce of breastmilk, mixed with one ounce of pureed fruit or veggie)You are doing such a great job eating off of a spoon. I absolutely love our family dinner time at the table....it warms my heart that we get to share this special time together; it is so much more than just eating dinner.

Clothing Size: You are still wearing your 3-6 month clothing. Although we are starting to poke around in the 6 month section of your closet! We still spend a lot of time in our jammies! Size 2 diapers!

Milestones: Wow! Has this been a month of milestones. Once a one-sided relationship is now blossoming into a relationship that is truly interactive. You can spot Daddy or I's voice in a crowd and your head immediately turns. You can roll from your tummy to your back! Now that you can roll over, you don't hate tummy time as much and actually reach and play with toys on your tummy! Let's just say, you love hearing your own voice! We call you a pterodactyl...because you screech so loud just to hear your own voice and you sound just like the dinosaur! It makes us chuckle every time. You and I went to target one day last week and I carried you around in the 'kangaroo pouch' as Daddy likes to call it and you screeched the entire way through the store! Heads were turning from all directions. You put on quite the show to say the least! You are now soothing yourself to sleep! WooHoo! This is a big one! Your sleeping skills shine! We lay you in your CRIB, YES I SAID CRIB, awake and you soothe yourself to sleep! Sometimes you have full out conversations with yourself before dozing. We couldn't be more proud. (A full 'sleeping' update to come next post). As soon as you see a bottle in sight, your two arms and hands spring up, mouth opens like a baby bird...you got the idea! You even hold your own bottles at times. Your tippy toes are finally reaching the floor in your Einstein. Soon you will jumping around! Your little legs are so strong. You are in your glory when someone holds you by your hands and pulls you up onto your feet. You love to stand ( and twerk!) You are beginning to sit up on your own for short periods at a time. Your curiosity is so precious. You study and watch things so much more closely now. You like to explore Daddy and I's faces- especially our eyes and nose (now it is a must to keep those nails trimmed- those bad boys hurt when they are long) Stella you are already so smart and it is still just the beginning.

Special Outings:This is the longest Winter ever! We have spent many more days inside this month; either because of the blistering temperatures or because of the mountains of snow. Things that happened this month...your rockin' parents took you to AC (NOT to gamble or club, haha) for your cousin Kaden's 3rd birdthday party, we celebrated your christening and your new godparents Aunt Nikki and Uncle Wyatt, we went to a dinner party for Poppop's 50th, we went to your Uncle Wade's birthday party, surprised Nana for her birthday at work, and attended Sunday worships at church! Holy Crap! I didn't realize that there were that many birthdays until now!

Thoughts: I have never felt a worry like this before. When you love something so intense, you want to protect it with every ounce that you have.

Our routine: Our routine has stayed pretty consistent since three months old. I find ourselves following the pattern of sleep, eat, and play. Our day begins around 7 a.m to a morning feeding. Our first pit stop is the kitchen where you hang in your height chair and Momma has her morning coffee, two poached eggs and 1/2 of an avocado. Yes, I share my avocado with you, because you absolutely love it. We typically play in the living room until your morning nap time rolls around which is 8:30-9ish. When you wake, we stay in your room for a bit where you eat, and we play and have storytime. Your afternoon nap rolls around about noontime. After that nap we wait for Daddy to get home from work and have dance parties in the kitchen while we wait. Momma makes dinner as you play in your height chair. Depending on your evening nap, we sometimes eat dinner before you nap and sometimes we eat dinner after you nap. Since you are eating solids now for dinner, we all sit at the kitchen table. Our night time routine begins around 7. If it is bath night, Daddy and I bathe you, we rub you down with lotion, and put on a clean pair of pjs. You enjoy your last feeding of the night before Daddy and I take you up to your crib, kiss you goodnight and let you doze off into good dreams :)You are only waking once a night to eat, usually between 2 and 3 am! WooHoo!

Your favorites: Where to begin? Anything cold and hard since teething is in the works. Lately I have been putting an ice cube or too inside of a wash cloth and tying it closed with a rubber band...you bite and suck until there is nothing left! I find myself cleaning up more water on the floor and counter tops lately because of all your splish splashing during tubby time, sucking on the soppy wash cloth during tubby time, your Einstein, storytime...you just love your books, dance parties in the kitchen (they are my favorite too), pears..you eat them like they are going out of style, Momma's infused water, yup I let you have a few tiny sips. I find it comical if I go to take a sip of my infused water out of my mason jar and if you see me, you put on the baby bird face- mouth wide open and arms reaching out :)

Momma’s Favorites: Lately I have been loving my Hunter rain boots and winter vests. They make running out with you much easier, just slip em' both on and I am ready to go! Also, I am really enjoying my new Cuisinart baby food steamer and puree! It does everything in one bowl which makes for easier cleanup and I know my baby is eating the best! Some other things on my favorite list these days are, infused water, Chips Ahoy Ice Cream Creations Mint Choco Chip Cookies- I treat myself to one or two a day..yum!, dance parties in the kitchen, and now that you are sleeping up in your crib- thank goodness for the video monitor- watching that surpasses any of my or Daddy's favorite TV shows :) Any my most favorite?....those endless rolls on those chubby thighs! I just freakin' love them!

Stella....I know that we tell you ALL the time..But Momma and Daddy love you to the moon and back.

Photos taken through the month....