Rachel 3-5 months :)

I like to post as least once a month. Just to keep from getting too behind and to keep in touch with family and friends who are far away.

And then the realities of three kids, a part time job, and Eric's busy season hit. Ha! I swear, if I didn't have to look decent for work everyday I would forget to shower. Have I mentioned that this job has been good for my mental health?

5 months: first time in a swing!

My newborn is no longer a newborn. When she was 3 months old I finally posted her two month stats.  I suppose it's now time for her four month stats and some updates on her new tricks.

4 months

Stats at four months (on 1/11/13)

Weight: 12 lb 4.5 oz (10%)
Height: 24.75" (50%)
Head: 40.75 cm (30%)

4 months: getting some snuggles

Based on her stats two months previously, she's still a lightweight, no longer tall for her age, and her head is growing at an alarming rate. Realistically, her weight is consistent because she flirts with the nurse while on the scale, her length fluctuates because she stretches out when she's excited, and her head measurement is a complete guess because she's fascinated by everything and successfully yanked the measuring tape out of the nurse's hand.

5 months: giving some sass

She started rolling back to front occasionally over Christmas break, just before four months, but didn't really get good at it until 4.5 months. At five months she suddenly flipped front to back after a bath and hasn't looked back since. She spends her time rolling back and forth and occasionally log rolling across the rug. She's a sneaky thing. I'll put her down on the floor somewhere, glance away to get something for another kid, and turn back to find her facing a different direction or in another place. Yet when I sit there and watch her, she doesn't seem to move very much!

3 months: tummy time

5 months: rolling and grabbing

Favorites

Things to look at: people. all people. Her whole lights up whenever a face appears in front of hers. Except for the first deep brunette she met, which apparently freaked her out about dark hair. Topping the list is Scotty and Alyssa, her two favorite people by a substantial margin. She also loves her Nani a lot.
Things to do: roll around, put everything in her mouth, make excited noises
Songs: the Rachel song, When I am Baptized (I like to look for rainbows) - she sings along every time!
Books: anything the bigger kids are looking at. Very tasty.
Places: anywhere outside, in someone's arms (or my wrap or sling)

5 months: in the wrap

Least Favorites

Things to look at: anything that's not moving or singing at her. She gets lonely without hyper kids in her face or snuggles from mama.
Things to do: get stuck on her stomach, get tickled (she rarely giggles and when she does it sounds like a bad fake laugh!)

My favorite things about Rachel

5 months: loving her Scotty

She was meant to be the third child with very high energy siblings. A head appears inches from her nose, bouncing around and singing loudly in her face--and she smiles. EVERY TIME. And occasionally grabs a nose or a handful of hair. I call it her self-defense mechanism. She falls asleep easily 90% of the time and sleeps through the chaos of kids running in and out of a room only a foot away from hers. She'll fall asleep on the floor with kids running in circles around her. She can transition from sleeping to waking instantly without being thrown off for the entire day--especially if she gets a solid morning nap. Unlike the first two, she doesn't mind her carseat or rides in the car. She likes to snuggle and calms to me, but she mostly just wants interaction. If she was my first kid I probably wouldn't think she was so easy because she likes constant entertainment--which Scotty and Alyssa are much more equipped to provide.

5 months: pat-a-foot with Alyssa

She is so engaging! I took the kids to story time at the library last week and the librarian commented to me how aware the baby was. She watched the kids help with puppet show, and looked at the pictures in the book. She even caught some of the bubbles at the end. She watches everything and is always trying to grab things, eat things, and communicate. Her whole face lights up when she seems someone and she coos and sings and yells happily all day long.

5 months: Alyssa was singing her songs when she woke up and Eric walked in to discover this

 She is working on sitting up independently, and can balance fairly well without tipping. She gets excited when she sees her toes and tries to eat them, so she often folds in half but she is very capable of holding herself up. The next adventure is starting solids but I'm in no rush. She nurses well (especially since I cut my hair and she can no longer tangle it all up) and doesn't seem interested in regular food. I've sneaked her an occasional bite of ice cream and she is still clueless about spoons or opening her mouth.