{Emma} Eight Months

A little bit about you this month...
• You are officially crawling! You started crawling backward while we were on vacation in Illinois, and the day after we got home, you started going forward.
• You crawl with your right knee on the ground and your left foot flat on the ground.
• You, your sister, and I traveled to Illinois this month to visit Carly, Corey, Kaya, and Max. The four flights could not have gone any better! You both were amazing little travelers, and Mommy even got to read on the last flight home because both of you girls slept the entire flight!
• You cut your fourth tooth while we were in Illinois.
• You are a vampire - you have your two upper lateral incisors and your two bottom middle teeth.
• You are not sure you enjoy swimming, but splashing is pretty fun. In the pool you hold onto my neck like a spider monkey.
• You have started spider climbing walls and cabinets to stand up, then hold on with one hand.
• You are waving! Usually from any sort of standing position.
• You use my leg to stand up, let go, and sit back down.
• You cruise along the bookshelves and the couch.
• You still love to play by yourself in the morning. You sit with your toys and explore and babble for a good hour while I drink my coffee and sister is still sleeping.
• You wake up like clockwork at 6:30am.
• You have started saying "Momma" and "Lily." Lily sounds like "Yee-yee!" It is ADORABLE.
• You sign "more" sporadically and "all done" by sticking your hands up and shaking them.
• When you are excited to see someone, you throw your arms up in the air and yell, "HA!"
• If you are mad or don't want something we hand to you, you chuck it.
• You love the crinkle of any sort of wrapper.
• You love to open and close drawers but haven't quite figured out how to close them without smashing your fingers.
• You are not sleeping well, but you are also learning a lot of new things. You are a very happy girl despite short sleep cycles, so hopefully we turn a corner soon.
• You have decided that food is pretty tasty, especially yellow curry! So maybe it wasn't that you didn't like solids, it was that I wasn't feeding you what you really wanted. You wanted more flavor apparently!

Eight month stats...
Height: unknown
Weight: 20 lb 5.6 oz
Diaper Size: Size 4
Clothing Size: 12 months, 12-18 months
Nicknames: Emi-beans, Beans, Wormy-buns, Worm, Emmers, Emi Tako, Trouble, Troublemaker

Eight month milestones...
First swim in a pool: 5/26
Pulled up on the couch: 5/31
Spider-monkeyed the wall (corner): 6/1
Trip to Illinois with Mommy & Lily (four flights): 6/3-6/9
A few forward crawling "steps," crawls backward: 6/6
Crawls on hands and feet: 6/7
Upper right later incisor: 6/8
Stands up using my leg, lets go, and sits down: 6/10
Said "Momma": 6/13
Cruising on the bookshelf: 6/15
Cruising on the couch: 6/17
Spider man the cabinet: 6/19
Said "Yeeyee": 6/20
Signed more for milk: 6/21
Signed "Daddy": 6/21

{Emma} Seven Months

Sister-sister

This is how you "crawl" - tush up, on your face, toes to scoot you forward.

"Ooooooh."

A little bit about you this month...
• You have three teeth! Your bottom front left tooth popped through on May 4th, and your upper left lateral incisor came through on May 20th.
• You are a clapping machine. You clap when you are happy, excited, mad, and tired. You also clap on command if we say, "Clap clap clap!"
• You have quite the temper. When you don't want a toy, you chuck it. You've also decided you don't like your carseat in the afternoon/evenings, and will scream and scream and scream until you are out. Time and distance mean nothing to you - you want OUT!
• My theory is that you want out because you want to practice all your new skills...
• Because you are simultaneously mobile and frustrated that you aren't - you can get around, but not as fast as you would like.
• You scoot forward on your tush.
• You use your toes to push yourself forward on your face with your tush in the air.
• You can push yourself up to a sit, and go to all 4s from a sit, but you can't yet get up onto your hands and knees from your tummy. You push all the way up to a sit then throw yourself forward!
• You use a combination of single rolls, sits, and forward tummy flops to get around.
• You are a total chatterbox - we hear lots of "ooooh" and you are adding more consonants, but your favorite is "D."
• You say "Dada!" with meaning.
• Daddy and sister are still your favorite people, unless it's mealtime or the middle of the night, then it's Mom or nothing.
• You still love to snuggle all night. If I try to put you back in your crib after nursing you for your first or second wake-up, you wake completely up and want to party, so as of right now, I just pull you into bed with me and let you nurse whenever.
• You are too busy during the day to nurse very often or well, but still aren't super interested in solid foods.
• You play peekaboo with blankets, toys, and especially books.
• You pull on your hair and your right ear when you're tired.
• You are quite the gym-nurst - you are always standing, turning, flipping, and crawling all over me when you are nursing. This makes nap and bedtime quite the workout!
• Your absolutely favorite thing to do is pull to a stand and take steps. You pull up on anything and everything you can get your hands up on, whether it's stable or not. This has led to a lot of head bonks, you crazy baby.
• You love to feel your bottom teeth with your tongue.
• You love to untie shoes.
• You still despise having your face covered - if a blanket touches your face, or when we have to pull a shirt or onesie over your head, you act like you're being suffocated.
• You HATE the feeling of grass - on your feet, your legs, your hands - anything!
• You try to let go of our hands and stand by yourself. Most of the time you hold on only using a finger or two.
• You give awesome hugs and open-mouthed kisses!
• My favorite thing this month is that you can move close to me and crawl up onto my lap.

Seven-month stats...
Height: unknown
Weight: approximately 19-20 pounds
Diaper Size: Size 4
Clothing Size: 12 months
Nicknames: Emi-beans, Beans, Wormy-buns, Worm, Emmers, Crazy Baby, Emi Tako

Seven-month milestones...
Left central incisor: 5/4
Butt up and rocks, scoots backward: 5/13
Pushed up to a sit: 5/13
Scooted to Mom on your tush and used me to pull up on to your knees: 5/14
Pushed backward to hands and knees: 5/16
Rocking on hands and knees, two hand "steps" forward: 5/17
Started clapping: 5/20
Upper left lateral incisor: 5/20
Said "Dada" with meaning: 5/25

{Emma} Six Months

Comparison, week 3 through six months.

Summation of trying to take pictures of you girls together.

Happy, smiley girl!

Snort face!

Rumparooz cover model.

Sister, sister.

A little bit about you this month:
• You have one tooth! Your bottom right front tooth came through on April 22nd.
• You sit independently and hardly ever fall backward.
• Your favorite thing to do right now is sit and explore your toy basket, pick a toy and throw it, then bend over as far as you can to reach the toy you tossed.
• You fold yourself completely in half to grab things when sitting and standing and are able to straighten back out without assistance.
• You want to explore everything with your hands.
• You love to bounce! Bounce in your bouncer, the Tyke Town bouncer, or on our laps. Bounce, bounce, bounce.
• You throw yourself to your hands and knees, but don't stay there. You flop on to your tummy from each side to reach toys; you also rock back and forth to throw yourself completely forward onto your toes to get to your tummy - usually to reach something you want.
• You bring your knees and your chest up, but you can't quite do it together and get your belly off the floor.
• You spin around to get things you want, whether it be a toy or to see the TV! Stinker!
• You like to fling yourself backward and look at things upside down.
• You are still very silly and giggly when you are tired. You get very active and silly when you're just about done and ready for a snooze.
• Daddy and Lily call you "Wormy Buns" and it has stuck.
• You absolutely love to stand and dance! Music makes you squat up and down and up and down.
• You nap really well in your crib but still want to snuggle with Mommy by 1am every night.
• You pull off glasses, grab hair (especially your sister's), give huge neck hugs, and are very into textures.
• You randomly wave! Doubtful that it is on purpose, but it sure is cute.
• They call you "the happy, easy baby" at Tyke Town. You are perfectly happy playing alone for a while now that you can sit, so you either sit and play, bounce in the bouncer, or are held (facing outward, of course - you sometimes get mad that it's close to nap time while you're there.)
• We are experimenting with solid foods. You still have an intense gag and tongue thrust reflex if we try to feed you at all, so we will continue with "Food before one is just for fun" and do Baby Led Weaning. Thus far you have had English cucumbers, sweet potatoes, asparagus, and watermelon. You actually get a fair amount into your mouth on your own if you're in the mood! If we try to feed you, or spoon food into your mouth, you immediately gag and spit everything out. At this point, you really could take or leave food. You are very interested in what we are eating and definitely grab for it, but you're not clamoring for more. It's all about play!
• My favorite thing you started doing this month: you scrunch up your nose and baby snort!

Six month stats...
Height: 27" (90%)
Weight: 18lb, 14oz (90%)
Head Circumference: 45cm (>98%)
Diaper Size: Size 4
Clothing Size: 9 & 12 months, pushing the toes of 9 month sleepers.
Nicknames: Wormy, Wormy-buns, Emi-bean, Monkey, Emi-buns

Six month milestones...
Road trip to Chewelah: Easter
Bottom right front tooth: 4/22

{Emma} Five Months

You love your puppies.

You blow raspberries.

Super baby!

You can sit independently for short spurts.

You love toes!

A little bit about you this month:
• You are the giggliest, happiest, smiliest baby!
• You usually take one long nap from 9am-11am then take short 40 minute naps for the rest of the day. If you don't sleep long in the morning, you short nap all day.
• You started blowing raspberries this month and think it's hilarious.
• You have a tiny dimple above your right lip.
• We traveled to Phoenix this month, and you were an awesome travel buddy. You met the Miyamoto clan and loved everyone.
• You also met Jack O'Farrell, Mommy's friend Rachel's son who is 12 days older than you. You held his hand!
• You can sit independently for short periods of time.
• But when you realize you're sitting, you fold forward and would rather eat your toes.
• During diaper changes, you like to suck on your toes. They apparently are very tasty.
• You are a roly poly barrel roller! You go from a sit to your tummy, back to tummy, tummy to back, and then back again.
• When you're on your tummy, you want to go forward so badly! You flail your arms and legs like a super baby, reaching and stretching forward, then you get mad that you didn't go anywhere.
• You are obsessed with toes, feet, and socks. If you can see them, you want to get them - cue said super baby reaching and flailing.
• You went to your first baseball games in Phoenix and fell asleep at both games we attended.
• Your favorite thing in the world this month is to bounce with your sister! If she starts bouncing in your line of vision, you start laughing uncontrollably and bounce with her, whether it's on our laps or in our arms, you jump and laugh with her until she stops.
• You really don't like having shirts pulled over your head.
• You love petting your puppies. Izzy gives you kisses and Reefie wants to lay down with you whenever you're on the floor.
• You are doing much better in the car on longer road trips - we went to Butte and Missoula this month and both trips were relatively easy.
• You save your biggest smiles for your Daddy and sister. You seem to enjoy our time alone, but you are always so excited when she gets home from school. You also start bouncing and smiling when you see your Daddy come home from work.
• You love to dance, watch Lily dance, or dance with me.
• You kick and coo when I sign and ask if you want milk.
• Your favorite toy is your singing blue octopus.
• Every time you fall asleep in your carseat, you are holding your Sophie the Giraffe.
• You are very empathetic and cry whenever you hear anyone else cry, especially if it's your sister.
• You grab our faces with your hands and try to eat our noses - your version of kisses, I like to think.
• You wrap your arms around my neck and nuzzle when you're sleepy - this is my favorite thing you are doing this month. You are the sweetest thing!

Five Month stats...
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Diaper Size: Size 3
Clothing Size: 9 months, some 12 months
Nicknames: Emi, "My Baby" (from Lily), The Worm, Emi Tako

Five Month milestones...
Road trip to Butte: 3/5
Started blowing raspberries: 3/15
Trip to Phoenix: weekend of 3/13
First baseball games, met Aunt Lacee, Miyamoto, and O'Farrell families: weekend of 3/13
Rolled back to tummy: 3/16
Sits independently for short periods of time
Slides from a sit to tummy

{Emma} Four Months

Sister is your favorite person in the world.

Major stink eye. Toe-grabber.

Your left eye is lighter than your right eye.

Sister-sister.

Sweetest smile ever.

A little bit about you this month:

• Mommy stuck to her guns, maintaining that something was causing your reflux and that you are not "just colicky." I knew deep down that something was wrong - and guess what? You are milk-soy protein intolerant (MSPI). I have to be very conscientious of my diet and when something sneaks in - specifically soy because it's in everything - we can always tell within 2 to 6 hours. Especially the next day, you act extremely fussy, projectile vomit, your cheeks get red and chapped, and you get a diaper rash. It's amazing to see the difference in your demeanor when both of our systems are clear of the allergens! You are an entirely different baby! When you are yourself, you are a delight - you are very smiley and easy-going, you eat better, sleep better, don't puke (yay!), and only fuss when you're tired or want attention. I have also noticed you have a sensitivity to eggs, so for now I am avoiding milk, soy, eggs, and wheat. Fingers crossed this is something you grow out of but for now, you and I are in it for the long haul.

• You absolutely love being naked! If you're unhappy, if I go to change your diaper, you immediately smile and grab your toes.
• You grab your toes! This is my favorite new thing you are doing this month.
• You are roly poly but also very tall; your left eye is still lighter than your right eye; you have one extra leg roll on your left leg.
• You are a morning girl - you wake up between 5 and 6am almost every day.
• You want to be sitting up watching the world, riding in Daddy's arms facing outward, or standing on our laps all of the time. You want to see everything and be a part of the action.
• But the flip side of wanting to see everything all the time... you get overstimulated easily, especially by loud noises or having too many kids in your face, like at Tyke Town at the gym.
• You love to fly in the air and giggle the whole time!
• You prefer to nap at home and want it to be quiet while doing so. Napping on the go (in your carseat) is not your forte, although you will nap in the Ergo if we are out and about. Transferring in and out of the carseat... not so successful.
• You are trying so hard to roll onto your tummy! You get stuck three quarters of the way over and get so mad. Once we help you flip over, you're all smiles.
• You sleep on your tummy.
• You would prefer to snuggle and nurse all night long. Once in a blue moon, you will do a good chunk in your crib at the beginning of the night but you've been so sick this month, we've mostly snuggled.
• You survived RSV and a double ear infection (your second) this month.
• You love to kick your legs. Kick, kick, kick! You get extra kicky, active, and silly when you're almost ready for bed. It is a ton of fun!
• No one gets better giggles out of you than your sister-bear. At your well-check, she was jumping like a frog and you were laughing so hard I thought you were going to hyperventilate. You love her above and beyond anyone else and save your best smiles for her. If you are unhappy, she can usually make you grin. She has also taken to writing you songs and "playing" her guitar for you. "Emma... oh Emma... I love you... you are ooooookay..." It melts my heart.
• When Daddy gets home, you always give him the biggest smiles and watch him wherever he goes.
• You give the best stink eye! You tend to look very skeptical before you decide something is worth smiling about.
• You absolutely love to be sang to - skittermerink-a-dink-a-dink is your favorite song.
• You suck on your bamboo Aden & Anais blankets to settle yourself to sleep; you also prefer to go to sleep on your own for most naps, but not bedtime.

Four month stats (as of March 4th, 2015)...
Weight: 16 pounds, 9.4 ounces (90%)
Height: 25.5 inches (90%)
Head Circumference: 17 inches (>95%)
Diaper Size: Size 3, in cloth full-timeClothing Size: 9 monthsNicknames: The Worm, Worm, Number Two, Emi-bean, Emi Tako, Baby Emma

{Emma} Three Months

A little bit about you this month...
• You are a wiggle worm! On your back, you wiggle yourself around 270 degrees and travel a good two feet while doing so.
• You are a kicking machine, and love your kick and play piano.
• You are batting at toys and grabbing your favorites - the ball rattle, the zebra, and the elephant with the wooden circle at the bottom.
• You are quite the talker! You love to watch people speak, and talk back to us with lots of oohs, ahhs, Aye-yuhs, and squeals.
• You have discovered your hands and they are always in your mouth. When you spot your toes, you always look very surprised that they are attached to your body.
• You love ceiling fans.
• You blow bubbles.
• You always want to be on the move; you want whomever is holding you to be moving, especially your Dad. He's your personal house chauffeur. You squawk, he walks.
• You love your Johnny Jump-up, and love to stand in general.
• You are a very good sitter with some assistance.
• You have a very intense Moro reflex.
• When well-rested, your witching hour has become minimal.
• You tend to nap 40 minutes on the dot after being awake 90 minutes. Once a day, you will sometimes give me a longer nap.
• You love having someone eat your cheeks! You giggled for the first time when Mom was nibbling on those chubby cheeks!
• You giggle when Lily and Mom sing the "Batman" song and the "Emi Tako" song, aka "Emi Tako" to the Batman tune.
• When you're tired, you rub your face on your Aden & Anais bamboo blanket and sing to it.
• You definitely prefer your bamboo blankets over any of the others.
• Had a rough month between your first (and second!) colds, plus you caught Influenza A. But you were a trooper and are on the mend.
• Dr. Graham says your bottom gums are swollen already, so we may be adding some teething to the sickness mix.
• We have spent a lot of time at the pediatrician this month - in addition to the flu and colds, you have been having issues maintaining your body temperature and have been having screaming fits like you are in extreme pain. The doctor thinks your reflux is becoming painful, so we may be trying some acid blockers this month to see if it helps. You had some blood drawn and were so brave! And everything came back normal.
• But, as long as you aren't tired, you are a very much a smiley, happy little girl. Lily is always saying, "Emma is so happy today!"

Three month stats (as of January 26th, 2015)...
Weight: 15 pounds, 9.9 ounces (>95%)
Diaper Size: Size 3, in cloth full-time
Clothing Size: 6 months
Nicknames: The Worm, Number Two, Emi-girl, Emi Tako, Sweet Pea, Chunky Monkey, Chunkers

Third Month Milestones...
Slept 9pm-5:45am: December 27th
Control-rolled from tummy to back: January 9th
Caught Influenza A: January 11th
Giggled for Mom: January 14th

{Emma} Two Months

A little bit about you this month...

• You are a total snuggle-bug, and love to be held all day long.

• You started cooing and squealing.

• Huge grins for your sister! You love being called "Emi Tako."

• You caught your first cold.

• You absolutely love to stand.

• You don't spit up at all, but you explosively vomit - usually on Mom, then you smile and go to sleep on me so I can't shower!

• You are queen of the hiccups and get them multiple times a day. They really make you mad.

• You are tracking people and things, and seem to really enjoy your blue ball rattle.

• You cat nap during the day, usually for about 30 minutes - no more than an hour - and usually in the Ergo, but you often sleep one long stretch at night: 8-9pm until at least 2:30am!

• You giggle and smile in your sleep.

• You have a bit of an evening witching hour. We are gradually figuring it out, but you seem to want to snuggle or nurse on the move starting between 6 and 7pm until you finally vomit or fall asleep around  8-9pm. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later. You aren't in meltdown mode, but are very fussy unless we are walking, bouncing, or rocking while standing. It's Mom or nothing.

• You love bath time but hate getting out.

• You hate being hot in your carseat.

• You love, love, love being worn in any manner - Ergo, wrap or sling (thank goodness!)

• You love being part of the family at dinner and social times, and do not like being ignored.

Two month stats (as of December 9th, 2014)...

Weight: 12 lbs, 10.2 oz (>95%)

Height: 22.75 inches (>95%)

Head Circumference: 40 cm (>95%)

Diaper Size: Size 2

Clothing Size: Most 3-month clothes are tight, 3-6 months fits, some 6-month clothes with the arms and legs rolled up once.

Nicknames: Emi Tako, Emi-bean, Emi-girl, Miss Fuss, Squirmy Worm, booger-butt

First & Second Month Milestones...

Met your sister, Nana, & Papa: October 25th

Came home: October 27th

First road trip: November 27th, Missoula for Thanksgiving

Met Yia Yia & Gramps: October 31st

Met Uncle Brian & Aunt Dawn: November 14th

First social smile: November 17th

First bottle: November 23rd

Started cloth diapers: November 23rd

Batting toys: December 16th

First cold: December 17th