Scotland Mission Trip

For those that don't know, my little brother is going on a mission trip to Scotland this summer. His deadline for raising funds is fast approaching, so if anyone would like to help, you can check out the blog he made just for info about the trip. The link is on my side bar. It will be exciting to see what kind of work they'll be able to do while they're there. And of course, your prayers are much needed!

Six Month Glamour Shots

Oh, my! I can't tell you how much it fun it was getting Julia's six month pictures taken. She was in a great mood and laughed most of the time because of all the happy attention. I am so happy with how they turned out. Let me know if you want any prints!

Squash!

Hold on a second. This doesn't taste like cereal. What's going on here?

Uh, I don't know what to do. Am I supposed to swallow this? I'm going to gag!

I think I'll just spit it out, it doesn't feel right.

Maybe if I pout, I can have cereal instead.

Hey Mom, what are you thinking? This stuff is all wrong, and you expect me to eat it? Just gimme some milk and let's call it a day.

Yeah, our first attempt at squash yesterday didn't go so well. I tried my best, but after a while that container still looked full and there was a lot on her bib. Poor thing. She spit out most of the bites and when she did try to swallow, it would make her gag. But she got a taste, and I guess you have to start somewhere. I was afraid that she was going to give us a hard time with vegetables, though. Then today, she had squash again. This time, she swallowed every single bite until it was gone. No gagging, no spitting. I actually took the bib and the container in the other room to show John. The bib only had one tiny spot on it that dripped from the bottom of the spoon. It was incredible. You would have never guessed that she seemed to either hate it or be totally confused by it yesterday. My girl catches on quickly!

Cereal!

Jules had her first cereal on Wednesday of last week. First, I'll let her tell you how it went down.

Okay Mom, I'm ready. Look how big I am in my high chair!

Let me check this thing out. Mommy says it's a "spoon". Looks like new, fun toy to me.

Hey, don't take away my new, fun toy!

Okay, whatever this is, it's yummy. I'm going to grab the whole bowl if it's the last thing I do!

Okay, I got the hang of it now, I can take over from here. Just let go of the spoon Mommy, and I'll finish this myself!

Oh! When I do this, it goes everywhere!

Julia's first feeding of cereal was interesting to say the least. The first serving was really runny, of course, to get her tummy used to it. It was hard to keep it on the tiny spoon. Not only that, she kept wanting to grab the bowl and the spoon, making it harder not to spill. She'd also lean forward into it sometimes. It was a riot. She did seem to like it though, and by the end she was getting better at swallowing instead of letting it run out of her mouth everywhere. The funny part was when she would try to blow bubbles in it or spit and it would spray everywhere!

After just a couple days, she got the routine down. She keeps her hands down now and doesn't grab at the spoon just because it's near her face. She opens her mouth for a bite and swallows better without spitting all over. I think she realizes now that it's food and not a toy or game. Plus, we've been making it thicker so it's more managable. Fun times. My baby is growing fast. I know it's psychological, but I could swear she feels a lot heavier now that she's eating food. (Yeah, like a week of eating a tablespoon of cereal in an ounce of milk a day has just packed on the pounds! You're crazy, Mommy!)

Daddy Dressed for Diaper Duty

Yes, this is my husband wearing a gas mask to empty the diaper champ. He's only tried doing it once before, and I heard him gagging all the way down the hall. I told him I'd do it, but he was determined to try again, this time prepared! This is only one week's worth of diapers! I've really got to try weighing it sometime because it's even heavier than it looks. Stinkier, too!

Six Months Old

Okay, I've been procrastinating. I was dragging my feet all the way to the computer to write this entry. I think this means I have to admit I don't have a newborn anymore. That is such a hard fact to swallow. Maybe if never write the six month update, it will be as if it never happened! Maybe this has all been one of those crazy dreams you have when you're pregnant and I'm going to wake up soon with my baby still inside me and do it all for real this time. Sadly, I know this isn't true. While the last six months have felt like dream and passed in the blink of an eye, it all happened, and none of us are allowed re-do's. I have no regrets, I only wish I could do it over for the sheer enjoyment of each moment. I feel like it's still sinking in. I'm a mother. And I'm not even really a new mother anymore, so I don't have that excuse not to have my act together. Every day is new and different. While things have certainly settled down, and John and I have both adjusted to always including the third member of our family, there still isn't really a sense of "normal". I'm glad, though. At first, I missed "normal" and wanted it back. I was comfortable with a predictable routine and I liked knowing what would come next. I guess that's one of the biggest ways motherhood has changed me. As a mother I can prepare to an extent - keep a stock of diapers in the closet, pack a change of clothes, and take the camera everywhere I go. But really, while it's comforting to feel prepared for anything, mothers understand that you never know what's coming next. Just as soon as I think I've identified a sleep or poop pattern, she does it differently. Just when I think, "This child will never take a bottle", she does. And it seems like every time I turn around she is doing something new. Playing with a toy differently, making a new face or sound, smiling at me in full recognition of my face, laughing hysterically at something stupid, crying when her toy is taken away, rolling over like she's been doing it for years. I don't care who you are, you can't be prepared for these things. No, I no longer know what's coming next. But I like it that way. I just get to provide for her every need, and then sit back and watch her grow. Which milestone will she pass next? I don't pretend to know, but I anxiously await the surprise. This has been a hard adjustment for me. At first I wanted to know "when". When will she be able to hold her head up, or roll over, or sleep through the night, or crawl, or say "ma ma"? But I've come to realize, the fun is in the surprise and the waiting. So what if she's rolling over later than most, that gives me more time to babyproof before she's moving all over! Could she be sitting on her own by now? Sure, but because she can't, she still needs me and that's okay, too. In six months, I've learned not to stress. She is beautiful, smart, and perfect. She will surprise me with every new talent, and my job is to facilitate growth and provide everything she needs to keep developing however God sees fit. I love to wake up each morning to see her face and wonder what the day has in store for us. We "go with flow", and it is so much fun! Are you ready for your update yet?

At six months old Julia...

• is completely weaned off both medicines for reflux!
• has taken two short road trips with moderate amounts of crying each time. (Mommy has decided she'd rather drive long distances through the night!)
• has discovered she can eat her toes (and pull socks off to get to them).
• can roll from her tummy to her back as long as her arm doesn't get stuck.
• is in a size 2 diaper and just now moving to 6-9 mo. clothing.
• talks all the time, sometimes screaming.
• will laugh when she is tickled or something strikes her as funny.
• still crabs at bedtime but then sleeps 12 hours with a couple feedings in there.
• holds her body up well when she's held or sitting in a seat.
• reaches for and grabs whatever she can. Favorites are paper and hair.
• has just started eating cereal. Veggies and fruits follow shortly after, so watch for photos!
• sticks her tongue out and blows spit bubbles.
• rubs her eyes when she's sleepy. (Too cute!)
• will cry when you take something from her that she wants.
• still thumps her feet on the floor/bed when she's laying on her back.
• can go 5+ hours during the day without eating and not complain! (Even when I feel like I'm going to burst!)
• puts everything in her mouth.
• weighs 15 pounds and measures 26 1/2 inches long.

Most importantly, she is still the best baby I've ever come across, and I'm not just saying that because she's mine! For the most part, she rarely complains. She'll fuss before she falls asleep or if something hurts her or scares her, of course, but usually she's happy. She'll play for long stretches by herself on the floor or in the exersaucer or swing. Sometimes she doesn't even fuss when she's hungry. She'll sleep 12 hours as long as she eats about every 4. We are so blessed, I know. I could not have asked for more. Perfect example of my amazing daughter - At her six month check-up she got 2 shots. For the first one, she didn't make a sound. For the second, she cried out, but then was done before I could pick her up after the nurse stuck the band-aid on. Unbelievable. That's my girl, she'll be strong. She likes to think she doesn't need me, but I know better. And I know how very much I need her! What an incredible gift - this life, this child, these last six months. I wouldn't trade it for the world!