Fish Bite Moonbeams

FIVE MONTHS

Yes, I'm writing this as if I'm writing this to Jordan now... I tried transferring a ton of stuff into her scrapbook and it was a pain in the butt changing wording, so I decided to change things on Blogger to make the transfer easier :)

Weight: About 14 pounds
Length: About 23.5-24 inches... it's hard to measure you when you are kicking so much!
Head: All I know is that you are finally fitting nicely into your 15 inch headbands. Leave it to mommy to base your head size on headband size!
Clothing size: 6 months, rather comfortably
Eye color: Who knows these days. Still mostly gray, but sometimes they look blue, sometimes brown, sometimes green. People cannot stop commenting on how pretty your eye color is.
Hair: Still lightening up! We're starting to see a few small streaks of dirty blonde in there!
Nicknames: Babykins - not sure where this came from, probably a mix of "baby" and "munchkins." I've been calling you this for awhile now. Daddy calls you sweetie, and Grandpa B still calls you nugget!

EAT

From this...

To this.

Cue Jessica Simpson - Oh. My. Gah. You started cereal when you turned four months old and you STOPPED POOPING. We are talking about a baby who poops every afternoon between 2 pm and 4pm, and all of a sudden, you didn't. The first day you didn't poop was on Father's Day (how nice of you). But then I was concerned. The doctor stopped you on rice cereal and started you on oatmeal cereal, since rice cereal is apparently infamous for constipating babies. And then you still didn't poop from Tuesday-Friday, finally pooping at Grandma's house on a Saturday. But then you didn't poop again, so off to the doctor you went. Turns out all that cereal is really slowing down your system! You have no idea, though, because you are still the happiest baby ever. You still didn't poop when we took you (temporarily) off the cereal.

Hmm. I just wrote a whole paragraph on your poop and shared it with the internet. Bad mommy?

SLEEP

9:30 pm to 6:00 am, nurse, then back to sleep until about 9:00 am. Mommy feels like a whole new woman! I even sometimes stay up later than you and spend time with your daddy. I can do things without rubbing my eyes and almost passing out. I actually think you can go to bed much earlier than this, because your evening nap is either skipped or is being pushed back later, which may turn into your new bedtime!

LIKES
Still that lunchbox. Everytime I take it out, you laugh and say "ooooo."

Still that pacifier. Weaning from the wubby is going to be a pain in mommy's behind. We have created a monster.

Still tv. You gravitate to it if it is on. You are a satellite.

My hands are so yummy!

Hands. Chewing on them, to be exact.

Sassy ball. Flying supergirl Jordan tries to grab sassy ball from the air.

Ladybug ball. Bought this when I had no money because I thought you'd really like it. Money well spent.

Island doll. 4th of July gift from Grandma. We took it out of the bag, you reached for it, and hugged it tight. You have never done that with a doll before! The best part? You have a matching dress that Grandma bought for our cruise!

Whale teether. Mostly teethers in general now (you've finally realized what they are for), but this whale holds a special place in your heart. He lives on your changing table with Pat the Bunny, and keeps you company during diaper changes. Your face lights up and you start talking to it like an old friend when you see it.

Silly noises. Mostly from daddy, of course.

People watching. I'm afraid that you will be addicted to reality tv.

Sweater in July. Thanks, Chicago.

Being outside. When you grow up, you'll probably have a career that involves you being outside. I hope it's something like zoologist, and not garbage woman.

Reading books before naptime. You especially love flipping the pages yourself, but now you are really getting interested in the pictures.

Activity Mat. You've loved it since you were a few weeks old, and you have a new appreciation for it now that you can grab things and try to eat them (especially blue bear).

Bubbles. Because who doesn't love bubbles? We sit outside and blow them for awhile until I get annoyed with the bees.

DISLIKES
Naps. Oh, man. Sometimes I just know you need one because you are so cranky and rubbing your eyes, but you go on a nap strike. I have to really work at putting you down for a nap, but when you wake up you wake up talking and laughing and playing and kicking.

Crowds of people. This hasn't changed much. Your first 4th of July was spent in Galena, and you were having a blast in your stroller. Random people were coming up to you telling you how cute you were, and you were laughing at them, leaving them "ooooo" ing and "awwwww"ing in your path. But then we went to dinner, and faced with a huge indoor place full of people proved to be too much. I ended up taking you to the... BALCONY (my biggest nightmare with a baby) and you fell asleep in my arms. Same happened with the rooftop party, waiting for fireworks. Too many people, and you had a meltdown. Once you had your mommy and away from the crowds of people, you were happy and of course trying to get everyone you saw to pay attention to you. What gives, babykins? What is the magic people quota and attention balance?

Kisses. Not a fan, unless they are from mommy or they are on your feet. I completely understand. I mean, why would you like other people slobbering on your face? So gross.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Sitting, propped by hands. Although now, when we sit on you the couch, you twist your body so that you fall over (on purpose) and start cracking up. Mommy, you can't make me do anything!!! I'm the boss of this house!!!

Real baby laugh. You've been laughing for some time now , but now comes the real baby giggles. You laugh at Pat the Bunny that lives on your changing table and at daddy when he makes silly noises. The world is instantly cuter because you can really laugh now!

Rolling champ. You've been doing this for two whole months now, but now you can do it on command. You know you don't have to do tummy time anymore - you can just roll over and get out of it! I am torn between being happy that you are such a rolly polly and being worried because without tummy time, you won't crawl!

Blowing raspberries/imitating. You love this. When you see mommy blow raspberries you try to do it. We're working on sticking your tongue out now.

Getting toy out of reach. Well, pacifier out of reach. I put you down in your crib and turned your mobile on (which you think is hilarious) while I went to get ready for bed. I came back for you a few minutes later, and there was a pacifier in your mouth. I didn't put it there, and I didn't even know it was in arms reach!

Holding on to things. I hate to admit this, but I was worried because you weren't grabbing things or holding on to things for awhile. I've been told this was normal for your age, but you were hitting other milestones early and I guess I just thought getting you to grab things would be easier. You would go to get something, hold it for a second, and drop it. Now you can really grab and reach for toys and other things that spark your interest and terrify me (no, you cannot have that fork. or knife. or doggy that is licking her butt).

Sippy cup practice. We're working on it. You can hold it, get it to your mouth, and then that's about it. As soon as you see it, you grab the two handles. You have yet to master the whole tipping it to your face deal, which makes you frustrated because theressomuchmilkinthesippycupandyouwantitrightnow!

Interacting. You really understand things now! If I do something and tell you to do it too, you try to do what mommy is doing. You are constantly talking, which is adorable (but we will probably have to keep you out of quiet places like libraries). You are the biggest ham ever, trying to get people to pay attention to you. You love communicating, and sometimes you try to tell "jokes" or simply love to tell us about your plans for the day while we change your diaper. I think you are planning on world domination, but I won't be sure until you are finally modifying your nouns and enunciate all your words. Oh, and until you are finally speaking some real English.

DEAR JORDAN

Dear Jordan,

I have something to confess. When you were a tiny, adorable newborn, I was terrified of being left alone with you. You will hear this a lot when you are older - babies are hard work. And here I was, totally new to the parenting game, and your daddy was off to the fire department on 24 hour shifts. I was alone with you, all day, too proud to ask anyone for help. We were up all day, all night, and I was exhausted. I was still trying to figure out why you were crying, what you needed, when to feed you, and how to change diapers without being peed on.

And now that newborn stage is over, in the blink of an eye. I miss you being so tiny and I even miss how you needed me to hold you to fall asleep and stay asleep, even if that meant I got none myself. But I have to say, I love this age so much more. I wake up in the morning, and I cannot wait to pick you up from your crib. Sometimes you open your eyes slightly and see that it's me, and smile. Sometimes you stay sleeping, and I hold you for a few minutes before I rouse you awake with a diaper change. Sometimes you are already wide awake, laughing and gurgling and excited for mommy to pick you up. What was once the hardest part of the day, getting you to sleep, is now my favorite part of the day. Our bedtime routine consists of jammies at 7, some down time with mommy and daddy playing and watching tv, bedtime prayers, bedtime stories, once last nursing session, and then finally turning on your sleep sheep and rocking you in your glider. I love the quiet time, just you and me, you watching me until you fall asleep.

You have strong, bubbling personality. You aren't afraid to tell people what you like and don't like. Don't want to sit? You scream. Don't want to be kissed? Scream. You like the ceiling fan? Cue smiles and laughter. You love some random thing that only you can see? Kicking and arm flailing and talking. You are really, really interested in people (but not crowds of them all at once). I will never forget walking down main street in Galena on Independence Day, you over my shoulder, listening to the people behind us commenting on how cute the baby with all the hair and the red white and blue ensemble was. Then you, upon hearing them, smiling and laughing at them which made them double over with the "awwwwwwwwww"s. And let's not forget us sitting in the DeSoto house in the quiet tv room so you can nap. You were so tired, but once I sat down with you and you realized there were other people sitting behind us, you were quick to turn yourself around, stare at them, and smile. Of course, this prompted the "omg look at that baby" comments... which followed us into the bathroom, the hallways, etc. You love the attention, and people comment on how happy you are (this was before the infamous meltdown on the rooftop).

You still prefer mommy over anyone else, and I love it. I still prefer you over everyone else, too. There's a song I made up, that I sing to you at night when you are restless, with only two lines - "baby and mommy, mommy and baby." It puts you right to sleep. I pray every night that you and I stay close our whole lives.

I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon, I love you in the evening, and underneath the moon.

Mommy

Monthly photo dump

We love visiting daddy!

Pat the Bunny

Stanley Cup Champions!

Just a little spit up, mom. No big deal.

The flash is too bright!

Father's Day

Fourth of July in Galena!

THAT FACE!!!

Galena Vineyards

Rooftop party, before the infamous meltdown

Family picture at Galena Vineyards, 4th of July

One of the promises I made while holding my boys was that I would never use their nursery for another baby.

I kind of had to take that one back.

We simply didn't have the space to dedicate another room to Baby C (now Jordan). While I was so excited to plan a nursery for a little girl, I had a hard time seeing the navy blue paint disappear in the boys' room. I had an even harder time taking all of their things and reorganizing them to be put away.

So I designed a nursery for three. At first glance, it looks like a pretty beach nursery for a little baby girl. But if you take the time to really observe the room, you can see how Conner and Benjamin are everywhere in it. It is, after all, still their room. They just have to share :)

There is a spot in the nursery, behind the glider, where the light blue paint chipped and you can see the boys' navy blue underneath. I never did fix that, and I never intend to. I think it chipped for a reason.

So, finally, here is Jordan's nursery reveal. It only took me four and a half months to post this, hahahaha. Whoops.

Also, you can see the boys' old nursery here.

No Wake Zone - get it?!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Starfish

Conner and Ben's stuffed animals

Conner and Ben's dresser, filled with their things

Left: Shells from our California trip after the boys died.

Middle: sand and shells from our Bermuda trip, our "babymoon" before our FET with Jordan

Right: Aloha Waikiki candle, the place we were taking our sons for their first birthday

Background: Lyrics to Godspeed by the Dixie Chicks, played at the boys' memorial

Love you to the moon and back, always

Forefront: Precious Moments, "Safe in the arms of Jesus"

A suncatcher given to me by a dear friend for Conner and Ben

If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves in the sea!

Caribbean candle, where Jordan will take her first long vacation!

Wind chime for Conner and Ben

A few of these are scattered through her room from different beaches we have gone to. This one is from CocoCay, Bahamas. Picture of the beach taken in the early AM before anyone was there, sand and shells from that beach.