Juliet 7 Months!

JuJu! You're seven months old!! Wow!! Time is FLYING girl! You are SO much fun! I really love this age! You're becoming more and more self-sufficient but aren't able to cause too much trouble yet. It's just such a fun age I think. Plus, you seriously have the squishiest, most kissable cheeks ever!!

In some ways I feel like things haven't changed too much in our day to day compared to last month, but in many ways there have been big changes. One biggie that comes to mind - you're sleeping through the night with some consistency now!! Woooooo hoooooo! Mommy and Daddy sure are grateful! You're sleeping from 7ish to 6:30ish. You wake up some still in the middle of the night, usually around 4 am, but we just let you work it out most nights. This week, though, you gave us 2 nights in a row with sleeping straight thru the night! 

After months of canceled well-visits (thank you horrible flu season), we finally made it to the doctor! You're healthy and fit and right around 50th percentile on the growth charts. You're weighing in at 15 pounds, wearing size 2 diapers still, and are right on track wearing 6-9 month clothing. Two teeth have an itty bitty bit of tooth poking through, but they are taking their sweet time.

You're still a pretty big fan of eating. This month we've added "greens" to your diet by trying out zucchini, peas, and avocados. You eat them all, but don't seem to love peas. Olivia likes to help feed you and it's pretty cute! 

You're still giving me pretty good and consistent naps, which I'm grateful for! You take an 1-2 hour nap in the morning and again in the afternoon after lunch.  Recently, you've starting sticking your little bottom up in the air while you sleep and it's just the cutest! 

One of your favorite activities is definitely bath time! You enjoy the water and love to splash and kick  and giggle at yourself. You're so biggie now though that, as of last night, we're bathing you in the big tub with your sister. Such a strange pull as a parent - it's wonderful to see you grow and achieve new things, but always slightly sad to move on from all the 'little' baby things, like the tub in the sink. 

Some "firsts" you experienced this last month include riding in a bike for the first time, going to the nursery for the first time, and spending the night away from mommy and daddy for the first time! 

We put a seat on the back on my bike, but we decided you're too little for that just yet, so we put you in the trailer on daddy's bike, and you seem much more comfortable there. We're excited to get back to riding bikes together as a family - one of our favorite family activities!

Since the flu season was so intense this year, we really delayed putting you in the nursery anywhere. This month I finally felt comfortable letting you go and so you went to the MOPS nursery on the last meeting of the year. They ended up calling me to come get you a little more than halfway through the meeting and so you got to come party with mamma, but for your first time, you did pretty well! 

80's theme 

Daddy and I went away one weekend in May to celebrate our 8th anniversary. Lolly and G-Daddy graciously came down to Savannah to watch you and your sister while we were away. I was quite nervous about leaving you overnight for the first time, but you did just great!! 

You're becoming more and more determined to move around and are getting pretty good at scooting to and fro! I think we'll have a crawler on our hands soon. 

Juliet, you are such a delight. I really just love you so so much. We are SO glad you're part of our family. Happy seven months, sweetie pie! XOXO

Juliet 6 Months!

Holy cow, baby girl!! HOW on earth are you already half a year old?!  I just do not understand how time has moved so quickly. I am absolutely loving this stage with you! You are so adorable and so much fun! You are becoming more capable and I think you are enjoying learning new skills! 

You are still so laid-back and easy. Anytime you are particularly fussy, I get slightly unraveled because it is so unlike your usual behavior. Most of life is still met with your wide-eyed stare, but you are very generous with smiles when you make eye contact with mamma, daddy, or Olivia. You think it is hilarious when we're walking down the stairs and Olivia is following right behind us. I definitely think you already look up to her as the "cool older sister". 

You tried solid food for the first time this past month! You're very pleased with your new tricks and are enjoying sitting at the table with us as a family now. I think you like to be included, and we like having you closer by too.  We started you off with "yellows" and so far you've eaten bananas, sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots. You're eating all of them happily, but carrots seem to be your favorite. You kick your feet and squeal with glee with each bite of carrot. You're so funny, I love you so much!

You started sitting up all on your own this month too! Occasionally you will still suddenly fall over and eat it, so we still have to be very careful with where and when we set you down. For the most part, however, you're doing really well and seem pleased with yourself. 

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jared came to visit during Spring Break and brought the jumperoo for you to use. You really enjoy it and I'm so thankful to have a place to set you where you seem content. 

For the most part you are giving me good naps during the day. It's not uncommon for you to take two 2 hour naps a day - which is so new and surprising to me since I was lucky to get two, one hour naps from your older sister. 

At night you still prefer to wake up at least once, usually somewhere between 2-5 am. We have been turning off the monitor and letting you work it out. Trying to sleep train is no fun for anyone. You're generally happy when I go in to check on you when you wake up in the night, as though you just wanted to check in and play for a bit. Haha, you're a nut. 

You haven't had a well visit since the beginning of December due to the horrible flu season we had (the pediatrician kept canceling well visits to keep healthy kids away from the germs). So I don't have any up to date stats as far as weight, length, etc go. You're still in size 2 diapers, have started wearing overnights at bedtime, and are in 6-9 month clothes. 

You have the littlest bit of tooth peeking through in two places, on the side mostly. Drooling seems pretty constant and I keep waiting for the rest of the tooth to spring up overnight, but they seem to be taking their time.

You experienced a couple of new things and "firsts" this past month.  We went to the beach with your cousins and Aunt and Uncle when they were here and so you got to experience the beach for the first time! It was sunset and a bit windy and chilly and so daddy kept you warm in the Ergo. We'll dip your toes in the water next time, probably at our annual Leeper family vacay. 

You also got in the pool for the very first time! It was hot outside, but the water was freezing and you were not happy about getting the littlest bit of your foot wet, so we didn't put you any further in the water. 

You ALSO celebrated your first Easter! Which also meant that it was your first time at church. Like I said, I had been avoiding most public places like the plague since Christmas, so you had never been. You and I spent most of the time in the nursing mothers' room, but it still felt great to be back and worship with others. You didn't seem too terribly impressed with Easter, but we've read the book the easter bunny gave you multiple times. You were better with the "Easter Bunny" than your sister and let him hold you.  It will be fun next year when you can participate in more Easter actives like egg hunts!

You also got to meet your sweet cousin, Ella!! Y'all are only three months apart! I really hope you grow up being really good friends!! I just think it will be so much fun for you to have two cousins so close in age! 

Oh sweet, sweet girl. You really are just such a joy! We love you to pieces and are so thankful that God chose us to be your mommy and daddy! Happy half a year to you, princess pie!!

Juliet 5 Months!

Juliet Rose!! You are a whole FIVE months old! Actually, you're more like five and a half months now, because I am way behind in writing this blog! We've been slightly distracted by traveling to Atlanta to visit family and celebrate your cousin Charlotte turning one. 

You are so much fun, silly girl! Your personality is shinning through and you are such a happy little bit! You are full of smiles and are giggling more and more. Though you are still approaching most life with a startled and surprised look! 

Baby girl you are all about mommy right now. You've spent a good portion of your life quarantined at home because I've been terrified of you and your sister getting the horrible flu that's been so bad this winter. I think that you have become very comfortable with your routine and haven't had much opportunity to meet new people, so mommy is who and what you know. 

You're teething and love to have those fingers in your mouth! You're getting even better control of your fingers and are getting pretty good at grabbing toys and putting them in your mouth, but those trusty fingers are always there whenever a toy falls out of reach. 

Your last few well visits were canceled by the pediatrician because of the severe illness going around, so we don't have up to date statistics. However, last time I weighed you on our bathroom scale, you were just over 13 pounds. You're still wearing size 2 diapers. Your eyes are a beautiful blue and your hair is already coming in faster and darker than your big sister's did at this age.

You roll over with ease at this point and we've started putting you on your tummy when you sleep. If we put you on your back, you roll yourself right on over. You're unswaddled now and I think you are enjoying that freedom! 

You're so close to sitting up on your own. You've outgrown your bouncy seat and are enjoying more and more time playing on your play gym and on the floor with your sister. 

I will do better for your 6 month blog, sweet girlie girl! You are such a joy and such a gift and blessing to our family. We love you to the deepest depths and to the farthest stars. Happy five months!!