Vivian Paige: 5 months

12.3.14

I seriously had to do the math. Hard to believe we're approaching the half year mark!

5 months!

Viv this month: 

She is wearing 3-6 month clothes (mostly on the 6mo side), and can wear 9 month clothes ?!? 

EVERYTHING must go in the mouth.

She's over lying on her back to play, so we bought her a jumper. She LOVES it!

Her attention span is getting longer.... she can actually sit through longer books now. 

She really wants to play with Lola, but Lo is still taking things slowly...

Still a great sleeper. Especially at night. Naps are still inconsistent. 

Still breast feeding like a champ! She's eating less often, which is nice to finally have some freedom!

Milestones

-She can roll both ways now

-She can sit herself up (supported)
-She's pushing up on her hands and knees... ready to crawl, but still can't figure out the whole coordination thing

-Very "talkative" and loves to coo and babble

-Mimicking (she'll blow bubbles after I do)

-Scooting around all over things (including mom and dad..)

-She's mastering the use of her arms/hands/fingers.. pretty funny to watch

Likes (new ones)

-Her paci and fingers (together)

-Her jumper

-Monkeys

Dislikes (new ones)

-Being held too long (this is a hard one for me.... she's already becoming too independent)
-Having her nose picked (she used to love it... although it's a pain, her disliking it makes more sense)

We took our Christmas photos! I now know what Viv's "cold face" looks like lol:

 Real life... :)

Viv met Santa! (She was more into the elves ;)

We also visited Nonie!

And met Aunt Suzy

Hanging out in her new room!! Yay! Viv finally has a nursery! We moved into our new house (more on that later)

She's over being on the floor, so we got her a jumper... She wasn't sure what to think at first, but it has monkeys so she digs it!!

 But of course she still loves her activity mat:

Yep.. that's her sleeping still holding onto the mobile ;)

She'll sleep anywhere...

Learning to put her paci in her mouth...

She loves Lola....

And baths...

And Mom...

And Dad:

And fire...

And burgers... ;)

We discovered that she's a lot like mom.. likes to hold/feel things while sucking her thumb AND paci..

Just Viv...

This was my hack for keeping her happy while I get ready ;)

Being a Mom (aka Borderline Personality Disorder)

I've found that I experience MULTIPLE different emotions on an hourly basis since becoming a mom (It's still hard to believe that I am a MOM?!?). I was warned of the emotional roller coaster that would ensue after giving birth, but not that it would last 5 months into it! I've learned there are a LOT of things no one tells you. So I've decided to journal this little new found "personality disorder" so moms after me know what's coming.

Here are the emotions/feelings I experience daily, hourly, and sometimes within minutes...

Fear: From the moment I saw those two pink lines, my insides took a dive. Fear trumped all other emotions, especially after my recent loss. Since that day I've continued to fear the unknown, but I can honestly say that all other emotions trump that fear now.

Uncertainty: Was this real? Would it turn out like the last time? Would everything be ok? Would I really be a MOM? Would I be a good mom? I questioned everything. everyday. I still do.

Strength: Among the fear and uncertainty, I found an emotional strength I didn't know I had. During the delivery (and faulty epidural), I found a physical strength I hoped I had. And as a mom, I've found a daily strength to hold onto.

Weakness: With the strength comes weakness. Weakness in the first trimester as I did my best to keep down what little food I could stomach so she could grow. Weakness when I heard her first cry and every one thereafter. Weakness from lack of sleep and very little food because I chose to hold her close and watch her sleep instead of worry about myself. And weakness in falling for that big sweet grin and those alligator tears.. every time!

Joy: As a mom, I've found joy in.every.moment. From the sound of her heartbeat at the first ultrasound, to the huge smile she gives me when she wakes up in the morning. I find so much joy in watching this little soul grow from a spec on a monitor to a beautiful baby girl.

Excitement: Everything is exciting when you get to experience the world through a baby's eyes.

Exhaustion: Let's be honest... carrying a baby, delivering a baby and raising a baby is exhausting!! Yet, somehow I find the energy... and just when I don't think I have it, I look at those big blue eyes and all is restored! Who needs coffee when you have a baby?!?.... that's how they did it in the stone ages ladies and gents!

Love: I never thought I could find so much love in such a tiny human. Her love for us is undeniable and unbelievable. My heart has quadrupled in size and only continues to grow since having her. I love her so much it hurts....

Pain: The love. The kicking (ribs, bladder, uterus, and now face). The love. The birth. The scratching (those fingernails are sharp!), The love. The pulling of hair. The nursing. The love.

Understanding: I have to apologize to my mom for anything I ever did... I get it now.. ALL of it.

Gratitude: I am so thankful for so much in my life, but most of all that He picked ME to be HER mom.

Vivian Paige: 4 months

11.3.2014

FOUR MONTHS!!

 Viv this month:

As of her 4 month check up (done at 3.5 months) Viv weighs 12lb 8oz and is 24in long 

She is wearing 3-6 month clothes 

She is becoming very interactive. She loves to touch, feel, hold AND taste everything! She'll play on her activity mat for hours. She loves books. And she's noticing Lola more and more, which is really cute :)

She is sleeping great! The majority of the month she slept 10p-10a and woke once or twice a night to nurse. Once we transitioned her from her co-sleeper/our bed to her pack n play (her crib is being delivered as soon as we close on our new house!! yay!... more on that later) she started sleeping 7p-7a and nursing once a night. She will only sleep on her side or tummy and likes to have her paci, although she can sleep without it thankfully! Her naps are still inconsistent, but she's able to put herself to sleep with no trouble! She'll also let us know she needs us by grunting.. not crying lol. 

Still breast feeding like a champ!

Milestones

-She's still rolling from her back to tummy, but hasn't figured out how to go the opposite direction.. although I think she'd rather start crawling than lie on her back! 

-Holding her head up completely unsupported

-Very "talkative" and loves to coo and babble

-Scooting around all over things (including mom and dad..)

Likes

-Mornings

-Her paci and fingers

-Going on walks

-Hanging out in the Ergo 

-Smiling and laughing

-Ellen!

-Mary Poppins

-"Let's Go Fly a Kite"... it will put her to sleep/calm her down every time!

-Activity mat.. although that's getting complicated since she's rolling and scooting all over the place

-Tootsie the doll

-Bath time

-Walking the house

-Fashion

-Diaper changes... odd, I know.

-Having her nose picked... again, yes very odd...

Dislikes

-Being out of eyesight of mom or dad

-Getting stuck on her tummy

-Being still

At brunch after church:

Stylin' her Nike gear after a walk:

Pumpkin Patch fun!

Blinged up after her shots (she did awesome!):

Just Viv...

 Halloween: