Emmeline: 6 Months

Oh Emmy....I should be writing up your 7 month update, but here I am, writing your 6th an entire month late! Just know, I did in fact take the photos on the day you turned 6 months! But finding time to sit down and write has been challenging lately. I just want to spend all my time with you and your brother! :)

So what's new in your sixth month? Well, you're still our little peanut - you had your immunizations on your 6th month birthday and weighed in at 12lbs 3oz. You're trucking along on your own curve and we aren't worried at all about how petite you are. Secretly (or not so secretly), I love that you are tiny as it lets me enjoy the baby phase for that much longer. It also makes it a lot easier to hold you when I'm trying to do things around the house, or wear you in the ring sling when we are shopping. You're still wearing a mix of 0-3 month and 3-6 month clothing, depending on brand and what it is (onesies seem to fit forever in 0-3 month). You're still also wearing size 1 diapers - I tried size 2, but they just seemed way too big, so we will wait on moving up for now.

Not much has changed in the sleep department. You still have a long nap 2-3x per day, depending on how on the go we are that given day. The car usually puts you right out, but you most often wake up as soon as we get to wherever it is we are going. I thought by now I'd be trying you in your crib at night, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do it! You seem so little and I just love having you sleep beside me. Plus, it makes nighttime feeds so easy! You're also our last baby and I know these days of sleeping together are limited, and since you still are content to sleep in your Dockatot at night, I shall let you be.

We will be starting solids with you this month, and up until now, you're still exclusively breastfed. Thankfully, we did finally find a bottle that you love so that's been handy for when I need to be away for more than a few hours.

You've started rolling over all the time, but you get SO mad when you roll onto your tummy. It's kind of funny and sad at the same time. You are able to roll from tummy to back as well, but I think you get too upset to even try and fix the situation you got yourself into in the first place! We're working on sitting up though, which you enjoy since you can see more of what's going on around you. We've started putting you in the jolly jumper as well, but you just kind of hang out in it and haven't caught on to the jumping part of it. Your tolerance for being in it and the jumperoo are limited though!

I find myself thinking back to this time a year ago, when you were growing inside of me and it's hard to believe how fast time goes. I know that's the most cliche saying you will ever hear, but that's because it's the truth. A year ago, I had no idea who was inside of me, what little person would join our family and complete it, and now that you are here, I am thankful every day for you and the joy and love you bring all of us! Just the sight of you lights up my mood, and watching you and your brother interact more and more is the best thing in the world.

Happy Half Birthday, Emmy!

xoxo
Mommy


*affliate links have been used

Emmeline: 5 Months

*This post is about 3 weeks late, but better late than never, amiright?! ;) 

Oh Miss Emmy!

How are you 5 months old already?! Sometimes I look at you in your beloved Mamaroo Swing and I can't get over how big you look in it compared to when you were first born. We didn't get you weighed this month, but you're starting to grow out of your 0-3 month clothes and some 3 month clothes as well, so I know you're growing!

You're still exclusively breastfed, and will take the odd bottle of expressed milk when needed. I'm looking forward to starting you on solids next month though! Your brother's first food was avocado on toast cut into strips and I think we will try the same on you to see your reaction to it. To this day, it's still his favourite food to eat!

You still aren't rolling over, but you are SO close. That darn, pesky arm just keeps getting in the way! The day before you turned 5 months old, you finally found your toes! This is one of my favourite milestones, watching babies grab their toes and rock back and forth. You are strong enough to sit up in the jumperoo without any padding, but you only tolerate for 15 minutes at the most. Guess it's time to dig out the jolly jumper! You're usually pretty happy to just lay on your activity mat and grab at the toys hanging above you, and when that no longer entertains you, then you like to be held facing out so you can see everything that is going on. You really resist being put in a sitting position, preferring to be held while standing. It's like you're reading to take to the ground running before even learning to sit or crawl! I imagine life will become much more exciting for you once you are able to sit on your own.

Emmy, you're still such a happy baby and such a good little sleeper. I still nap you in your swing, but at night, you sleep peacefully in your Dockatot in our bed. I realized that this is around the time I transitioned your brother to his crib so we will probably get on that soon. While I love having you right next to me, I can't help but wonder if you would sleep longer stretches without me being by your side. We shall see! Even though you nurse at night and go straight back to sleep, it would be nice to get more than 3-4 hours of sleep in a row!

It's such a joy watching you grow, Emmy. The love I have for both you and your brother is a love I never knew was possible! I'm so grateful I get to be a mom to both of you.

xoxo
Mommy


*affiliate links have been used

Emmeline: 4 Months

My dearest, sweet Emmy...

Suddenly, you are no longer my squishy little newborn. Instead, you are bright-eyed baby, alert and anxious to see everything going on around you. You have lots to say and make the cutest sounds. You've found your laugh this past month and it's the best sound ever! Of course, your big brother is the best at getting you to laugh. You love to watch him and are happiest when he plays with you when you are on the ground. You rolled over once from tummy to back and once from back to tummy, but have yet to do it again, but you are soooo close!

You might not be a newborn anymore, but you're still my little peanut, tipping the scales at 10lbs 10oz and 23 inches long. You've grown out of all your newborn clothing, and are wearing 0-3m and 3m clothes, and still rocking size 1 diapers. You're still exclusively breast fed, but you've started taking a bottle of expressed milk when needed, yay!

You still love to sleep, napping several times throughout the day, and are often out like a light as soon as we get in the car. The only time you really cry is when you are tired. You are usually ready for bed around 630/7, and then up to eat around 10/11 and then back to bed until sometime in the middle of the night, usually 3:30am. Luckily, you nurse and fall right back to sleep, so I don't mind one bit! I figure you need all the extra calories you can get. You're still sleeping in our bed in your Dockatot and I'm not sure I'll ever be ready not to have you so close by!

This month we also took you on your first plane ride! We travelled all the way to Florida to visit your Nanny and Papa and you slept the entire plane ride there and back! No joke. Each way is about 4.5 hours. Your brother has always been a good traveller too, so hopefully that continues. We didn't end up getting you into the pool like I thought we might, but you sure enjoyed being dressed in less clothes and feeling the warm air on your bare skin. Plus, those palm trees swaying in the wind sure kept you entertained!

Emmy, sometimes I look at you and I can't believe it was a year ago already that I was finding out I was pregnant with you. And now, here you are, 4 months old and I can't imagine our lives without you! We love you so, so much, my sweet little girl.

xoxo
Mommy

Emmeline: Three Months

Oh Miss Emmy,

I cannot believe you are already three months old! Your personality is coming out more and more and it's such a treat to have more awake time with you. You are still a pretty easy going little thing, but when you are not happy, you are NOT happy! There's not much of an in-between, that's for sure! Your daddy is pretty confident that you might end up having a stubborn personality just like your big brother. You can blame me for that trait later on ;)

You are still a wee little thing, weighing only 9.5 pounds. You are proving to be a very slow gainer, much to the frustration of your doctor. Your daddy and I think you are just perfect though. You are bubbly, alert, and hitting all of your milestones for this age. You refuse to take a bottle right now, but we're going to work on that! At least you are finally fitting in your 0-3 month clothing. I think I am going to be in trouble when it comes to shopping for you! Little baby girl clothes are just so darn cute.

You are a great napper, and still spend a big portion of your day sleeping. And at night, you love sleeping in your Dockatot beside me in bed, and often give me 7-8 hours of sleep. You are also a good little traveler so far and we took you to the mountains for the first time the other week (which makes the blanket in these photos so very fitting!).

You really seem to adore your big brother and are always looking at him when he is near and he can really get the smiles out of you. He likes to lay with you under your activity gym and he also reminds me to do tummy time with you, which he likes to do with you as well. Watching you two grow up together is going to be one of my life's greatest pleasures, I just know it.

Emmy, I still can't believe you're mine, some days.

I love you with all my heart,

xoxo
Mommy

Emmeline: Two Months

Dear Miss Emmy,

Every day you become less newborn and more "baby". I'm already having trouble remember just how teeny tiny you were the day you were born. You're still a petite little thing, weighing in at just under 9 pounds, but you've gained a few inches, bringing you up to 21.6 inches long! You're finally starting to outgrow your newborn sleepers (just in length though) and you're officially in size 1 diapers. You nurse about every 3 hours and when you're done, you are done! The other night I tried to wake you up to feed you before I went to bed, and no way were you having any of that!

You're still an amazing little sleeper, a fact I still can't over most days. I exclaim to your daddy all the time, "I can't believe she's still sleeping!". I don't have the luxury of holding you all the time when you sleep, but when I can, you bet I keep you in my arms. There is nothing better than looking down at your sweet, peaceful face when you are fast asleep. You also continue to sleep well at night, allowing me to have 4-5 hours of uninterrupted sleep, sometimes even longer. And when I run errands, or take you places with me, I can pretty much count on you to sleep through it all. Car rides knock you right out!

I think the best thing that has happened this month though is hearing you coo to us. I had forgotten what a sweet sound that is. You also smile a lot now, big toothless grins, and certain sounds I make can really get them out of you. I can't wait until you start laughing! Interacting with you is just the best thing ever.

You still love your baths in the washpod, although you love to kick up with your little legs from the bottom of it which I think is hilarious. You also enjoy tummy time, and it's something your big brother loves to do with you. Sometimes he even tells me he thinks it's time for some tummy time! When I place you under your activity mat that plays melodies and has some lights and birds that turn with the music, you coo and coo away at it. It's so neat to see you starting to notice things and be more alert.

Your eyes are still a piercing blue, but we still aren't sure what colour your hair is going to end up being. Sometimes it looks really light, especially on top, but in the back, where it's a lot thicker, it has a light auburn tone to it.

Emmy, you are the sweetest, calmest, most beautiful baby girl ever and I'm so lucky that you are mine!

I love you with all my heart,
xoxo Mommy

Emmeline: One Month

Dear Little Emmy,

You are officially one month old and I'm having a hard time accepting that. I want time to stand still, so that I can hold you in my arms at this wee little size, for just a little bit longer. I want to remember every little grunt, snuffle and squeak you make. You are a pretty quiet little thing and you rarely cry, and even when you do, you are easily consoled.

Emmy, I was pretty scared to have a newborn again. I was scared I would forget what to do, how to be there for you 24/7, or that I wouldn't be able to devote the time needed to breastfeed you like I needed to do for your brother. I was worried about being exhausted again from multiple nighttime wakings. But Emmy, from the moment you were born, you have been my little angel. You eat, sleep, and then eat some more. We love to hold you, but you are content to be put down too. You are such an efficient nurser and I'm so glad we aren't dealing with supply issues like I did with your brother.

You had your one month checkup on the weekend and you are tipping the scales at 7lbs 15.5oz which is more than a one pound weight gain since your birth. You are almost the exact same weight as your brother was at one month. You've also gained almost half an inch in length, which I can tell since you are starting to fill our your newborn sleepers a bit better. You're still wearing newborn diapers, which I imagine will be the case for the next month. Your neck is already incredibly strong and every day you are looking around more and more with your beautiful blue eyes. We aren't sure yet what colour your hair will be, but right now it's a light brown.

You love car rides and you fall sleep immediately when we put you in your carseat. When we take you out to run errands, you sleep the entire time. You truly are the easiest baby ever, already going with the flow, and I'm so grateful for that. We've been giving you baths in the wash pod and you are a huge fan of it. You sleep quite well at night - either in the bassinet, or in the Dockatot in bed beside me. I generally hear you start to fuss every two to three hours at which point I nurse you and you fall back asleep. When Gramma was here for two weeks, she would get up with your brother, and you and I would stay in bed until 10 or 11 am, cuddling and nursing. It was the best, getting that extra alone time with you!

Your big brother was a bit jealous of you when you first came home with us, but now he adores you. He likes to help with all your diaper changes and when he hears you crying out a bit, he will often be the first to go check on you or pop your soother back into your mouth. He loves to give you kisses and he always makes sure to do so before he goes to bed. My heart is so full when I think about the two of you growing up together.

Emmy, I love you with all my heart!

xoxo
Mommy

Sullivan: 18 Months

*Sully turned 18 months on August 21, the day I wrote this letter to him* 

Dear Sullivan,

I know I don't write you monthly letters anymore, but since it's your half birthday today, I wanted to document the little toddler you are growing up to be. It blows my mind how much you have changed since your first birthday. On a day to day basis, the changes aren't as noticeable, but when I look back on your photos from month to month, it's hard to believe you were ever not walking, talking or throwing temper tantrums! Your little personality is developing rapidly and it is a delight getting to know you better and better. You have the best sense of humour, and neither your father or I are quite sure where it comes from, but we strongly think you take after your Papa Fraser in that field. He was quite the prankster and jokester growing up (and still is), and we see those characteristics in you more and more.

 

You babble non-stop during the day, but the only real words you say are Dada, ball, more, buh-bye, uh-oh, and sometimes mama, but usually only when you are upset. On a whim, I started teaching you some sign language which you picked up immediately. Signing "more" is your most used and helpful sign. You use it to communicate when you want more of something you're eating, when you want something from the fridge or pantry, or when you want me to repeat something, like tickling you, or reading a book again. You can also sign "water", "grapes", "nap/bed time", and "bath".

While your vocal vocabulary is still developing, you clearly understand when we are talking to you. You can point out all your facial features, and point to specific people when asked to identify them. You will go retrieve things when asked, and you love to take things to the garbage and to the washing machine or laundry basket. You are quite the little helper when you want to be!

Your appetite, for the most part, is pretty darn good. Your favourite foods are yogurt, cheese, green smoothies, olives (green and black), pickles, apple sauce, cottage cheese, green peas and grapes. Fruit is hit and miss. Some days you will devour blueberries, for example, and then the next you think they are the grossest thing ever. You still nurse 2-3x per day (morning, nap and bedtime), but if I'm not available, it's no big deal and you easily go to bed, or wake-up, without. You still aren't much of a fan of any type of milk or non-dairy milks, but you will drink the odd glass of cow's or almond milk if it's mixed with chocolate almond milk. Of course, anything from mom's or dad's plate or glass tastes 100x better than the exact same food or drink on your plate.

We haven't properly weighed or measured your height in awhile, but based on our home scale you were just over 22 pounds. For height, all I know is you are a few inches short of the minimum height requirement of 32 inches for the rides at Heritage Park! You are still sporting size 4 diapers, which I feel like you've been in forever, and mainly wear size 12-18 month clothing. Pants in the 6-12 month range still fit you better in the waist, but aren't long enough in the legs. You are my lean, and muscular little toddler!

 

You are still a great sleeper, and rarely wake up in the middle of the night, and if you do, you are easily settled back down if you can't do so on your own. You still wake up pretty grumpy, both in the morning and from naps, but I'm hoping that's just a phase. Naps are still a daily struggle and totally unpredictable. I'm lucky if you'll nap for 45 minutes most days, although some days you'll stretch it to an hour and a half. But I have never, ever, been granted the gift of alone time from a three hour nap! Those must be a myth. Gramma says I was the exact same growing up, so I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Sully, you test my patience daily, question my sanity at times, drive me bonkers, but my love for you is larger and stronger than I ever thought was humanly possible. You are my little mini-me, with the stubbornness and temper to prove it. I look at you every day and think what did I do to deserve such an adorable, spirited, loving little boy.

 

I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy xoxo

Sullivan: 12 Months

My dearest Sullivan,

How is it possible that I am writing your 12 month love letter?? It doesn't feel very long ago that you were just this wrinkly little baby being held in my arms. Every month that passes seems to fly by quicker than the last, and I get it now when mom's say they blinked and their babies were off to college! The rate at which you changed in the first year or your life is amazing and wonderful and I didn't want to forget any of it. I don't plan to continue writing you monthly love letters, but I will still document moments of your life, both for my enjoyment and possibly yours when you're old enough to read these.

This month was full of new skills! You are standing unassisted (and pretty darn proud of yourself), and walking well along furniture. You haven't showed any interest in walking on your own yet, but I'm not pushing it as I know you will walk one day (at which point I will pine for the crawling days!). You high-five when prompted and just started clapping. If I sing "if you're happy and you know it…" you immediately clap your hands together and it never fails to amuse me. Peekaboo is your favourite game to play and you initiate it all the time by either hiding your face behind your hands, pulling a blanket over your face or even by crouching down when you are standing at the couch. You love peekaboo so much, you even play it while skyping with Nanny and Papa! Your greatest discovery has been the toilet paper roll and once you're done unrolling it, you try and put the toilet paper back on the roll, which is pretty much the cutest and most clever thing ever.

I had you weighed at your first year appointment with your paediatrician and you were 19 pounds and 3 ounces, and 29 3/4 inches tall. Your appetite for solids has been great! Green peas still remain one of your favourite foods. Lately, you've been preferring to eat them out of a little bowl, rather than off your tray. You also always happily eat anything if it's off of mommy or daddy's fork. While you can't feed yourself very well (ok, at all) with a spoon or fork, I give you props for trying! Much to my delight, you are still nursing, although you can often go most of the day without it. But morning and bedtimes feeds are still going strong. As for clothing, you're still rocking the 6-12 months sizes in almost all brands, with the odd 3-6 month pant thrown in. Your itty bitty waist just can't fill those bigger waistbands!

At night, you are sleeping well throughout the night, and I so very rarely have to go in to resettle you. Sometimes we do hear you wake slightly, but you usually are able to fall back asleep on your own. That being said, you still prefer to do all your napping either in the car or on my lap on the couch. It amazes me that you enjoy being held for so long while you nap, and it further amazes me how much space you take up on my lap now!

The biggest thing that happened this month was our move to Calgary! We packed up my little car and headed south 3 hours so that your daddy could start a new job. We've spent the last few weeks living in an apartment downtown and exploring our new city a bit. You are having a blast living in the apartment as it's all one level and since there's not much for you to get into, I give you free reign of the place. I was worried that you would have trouble sleeping in a new place, especially since the temporary crib here is small like a playpen, but fortunately, you've been sleeping great! (It must be the black out curtains!) We had a playdate at the Calgary Zoo, and it was so fun to point out the different animals and have you actually acknowledge what we were seeing. The highlight was seeing the lions roar and then having you imitate them the rest of the afternoon.

And of course, we had party to celebrate your first birthday! We went back to Edmonton so we could have it in our house there and we were surrounded by our closest family and friends. It was a great afternoon, and you were in your element playing with all the other kids there. The cake, on the other hand, didn't impress you all that much!

Sully, it feels like everyday of my life was just leading up to the moment you would finally be in it and I would become your mom. You've given me, and my life in general, a new purpose. Sometimes I think to myself, what did I do to deserve you?, because you are so perfect and special in every way possible. I know how lucky and honoured I feel to be your mom. Always remember that.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mommy, xoxo


You can see all your monthly updates and love letters here:

Month One
Month Two
Month Three
Month Four
Month Five
Month Six
Month Seven
Month Eight
Month Nine
Month Ten
Month Eleven

And in case you missed it, your first year slideshow.