Five Months: A Letter

October 28, 2014

Molly Ann,

My dear sweet baby!  I can't believe how time has gotten away?!  It's flying so fast; faster than it has thus far.  You've become so active and so busy and it's hard to keep up!

You are such a fun, sweet little baby.  You are usually happy and have just become so alert and aware and you just laugh all the time:)

We started this month with your first set of shots and you were a little cranky and fussy those first few days.  You had a slight fever and wanted to take your time to eat.

Speaking of eating, Dr. Freed said we could start you on rice cereal and then move you on to solid foods.  Well, that was easier said than done.  You absolutely hated rice cereal!  You would fight us and refuse to open your mouth.

We thought you'd get the hang of it, but after about 2 1/2 weeks we decided to skip rice cereal and move onto veggies.  We wanted to start with greens, because we figured if we started you on orange veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, squash) that you wouldn't like greens.  Well, we were right about that!  You absolutely HATED peas!

Feeding time started to become something we'd dread, so I called up the doctor and they said to stop it! They said you obviously weren't ready and to give you 2-3 weeks or a month and try again.  It's been 3 weeks and I think you're starting to get interested.  We started sitting you up on the dinner table in your Bumbo and giving you a spoon.  You have started to put it in your mouth and a couple of times I've given you bites of nothing and you've opened up like a little birdie.  We will try next week and I pray you like it better:)

This month started with a lot of family members watching you.  Ms. Kelly was gone on vacation and Grammy, Papa, Nana and Aunt Megan all came and stayed with us to watch you and Lucas.  You had so much fun with them:)

You got to chill at home and you so enjoyed your time with each of them.  You started rolling over consistently that week, but still don't roll from belly to back.  I know it's going to happen soon though.  You are so close!  You just have to figure out what to do with that arm:)  You love to grab your feet and as soon as you grab them, you roll onto your belly.  You are happy there for awhile, but you do get a little mad because you can't roll back over.  You just want to get around and look at everything and sometimes you actually scoot:)

You are still eating 6 oz every 4 hours, but in the evening we try to make your feedings closer together so you will eat another 2-3 oz before bed.  You were starting to wake up earlier and hungrier, so we started trying this and it's helping.

So, you're typical schedule is:
Wake 6:15a and eat 6 oz
Nap at 8:45a for about 1 1/2 hours
Eat 6 oz 10:15
Nap at 12:30p for about 1 1/2 hours
Eat 6 oz at 2:15p
Catnap at 4:00p for about 30 minutes
Eat 6 oz at 5:30
Eat 2-3 oz at 7:00 and go to bed around 7:15-7:30p

You are still wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers.  You still love to chew on everything and you also love to blow raspberries!

A few other things that happened this month were an afternoon with Mommy's aunts and cousins for a baby shower, which resulted in you throwing up for the first time!  Mommy and Daddy got very sick that week, but we were glad that throwing up that one time was all that happened to you!  Mommy was so scared you'd be sick.  I praise the Lord that you weren't.

You also got your ears pierced this month:)  You were so good!  You cried for about 5 seconds, but once I gave you your paci, you stopped and haven't been bothered by them since.  You've left them alone and they've healed wonderfully:)

We also spent time at Daddy's softball State tournament and Daddy's team did really good, but lost in the semifinals.  It was very exciting though and you were definitely a hit:)

You have become more aware of Jovie this month and have also loved playing with brother more and more!  You love to lay on your mat and you just laugh at him and you try to turn whichever direction he's in.  I love watching your relationship.  I always wanted a boy and a girl for that very reason.  He'll always be your protector and you'll look up to him and rely on him and he'll do a great job taking care of you:)

This month I want to remember all the drool, the noises you make with your mouth, your laugh when daddy tickles you, how you stopped wanting to be cuddled and just wanted to lay down (sad for mama). and the way you want to hold your own bottle.

You are just the sweetest thing and so much fun to be around.  I love hanging out with you and getting to know you.  You are strong, stubborn and sweet all at the same time!  You are funny and my biggest challenge all at the same time!  I love that you want your own things and that you find me in the room.  I will be your biggest fighter and your biggest fan your entire life!  I love you so much sweet girl.

Love,
Mama and Daddy