Happy five months, Emilia!
While we didn't have an official checkup with the pediatrician, we did visit the doctor's office twice. The first time was a couple of weeks ago, when we returned to Austin from Birmingham and Emilia still wasn't eating well. The second was today, to check on a weird rash on Emilia's legs (see below). Since our doctor's visit and Emilia's "birthday" coincided, we got at least her weight for this month (thought I didn't write it down, so I don't trust my memory 100%): 15 lbs., 14 oz.
Today's rash diagnosis: eczema. Dr. McConnell told us to lather Emmers in Aquaphor three to four times a day (Dr. McConnell: "She should look like a greased pig at the fair; if she doesn't, you're not using enough") and switch to Cetaphil soap and hypoallergenic detergent. If she has a severe outbreak, it may be caused by food allergies and I may need to change my diet - apparently common culprits are milk (yikes), eggs (yikes), wheat (yikes), nuts (yikes), and soy (phew). Anyone have other tips for treating eczema??
This month Emilia flew on a plane for the first time and visited Birmingham for the first time. She met all of her great grandparents on my side of the family, as well as lots of our college and my high school friends. She got sweet time with my family and Taylor's family, in particular with her sweet cousins Elizabeth, Timothy, and John David.
Just before our trip to Birmingham, Emilia quit nursing well. She still rarely eats from me in the mornings, and sometimes she won't eat from me at other times as well. She usually takes bottles easily, though in the mornings she only eats an ounce or two, even from a bottle. Maybe (gasp!) she's just not a breakfast person?
Emilia continues to become more active, alert, interested, and engaging each day. She is becoming more interested in her toys and books, and she still loves her hands and feet. She laughs and laughs when I kiss-attack her or when Taylor blows on her tummy. She and I love blowing raspberries with each other.
During play time, we often pull Emmy up into a sitting position, so she can practice. Recently she has been able to sit up with very minimal support or help from us, and sometimes she can even manage a few seconds on her own.
Emilia rolled over from her back to her tummy for the first time this month!
I mentioned last month that we started sleep training Emilia, but that we weren't going to be tyrannical about it until we got back from Birmingham. Well, we got back from Birmingham and Emilia got into the habit of waking up eight to ten times a night, not because she was hungry, but just to say "hi." After two nights in a row of incredibly interrupted sleep, Taylor and I decided it was time to become tyrannical: we started vigorous sleep training on Sunday night of this week (post to follow soon).
As part of sleep training, we've been trying to establish a regular bedtime routine. As part of that routine, Emilia now gets a bath every night (I can hear Catie and my mom cheering, "Finally!").
Here's the bedtime routine:
Bath/give Emilia her medicine (yes, those do happen together)
Lather her with aquaphor (added to the routine for the first time tonight)
Feed her, if she will eat
Read her a story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (usually I hold her while Taylor reads, but sometimes we switch it up)
Swaddle her (arms out) and put her in the bed with her paci in and her wubbanub and lovey close by
Sing the Doxology, kiss her and tell her we love her, then sing the Alpine benediction from the doorway
Sometimes when I pick up Emilia from Joanie's, we swing by
the seminary to see Taylor, since it is on the way home. This day was
just beautiful, so Taylor took a break from work and played outside with us.
Emilia in her Sunday best
Thing 1
Daddy and baby at a rest stop on the way to Houston
The cutest little Russian doll you ever did see!
Lounging in Cappy's lap in Birmingham
"Want a hug?"
Playing with her new favorite toy
Wearing a dress I wore when I was a baby!
At playgroup with her friend Annie, who is three weeks older
Lounging outside with Mommy while Daddy works in the yard
We have had to start strapping Emmy in to her bouncer
so she doesn't bounce right out!
Sitting on her own!!
Blowing raspberries
Sitting!!
Playing with another fun toy from John David and Timothy
SO PROUD after she rolled from her back
to her tummy for the first time
I know this one is fuzzy, but as soon as I put
the little "5 months old" sign in her lap, this is what she did -
grabbed it and put it in her mouth!
