Poppy - 5 Months

Weight - 16 pounds 3 ounces

Dear Poppy, 

5 months. 5 months. I keep repeating this to myself but I still find it hard to believe. How did we get here so fast?! As you were sleeping in my arms the other day I had to stop to really take in the moment. I wanted to remember not only the peace and relaxation in your face coupled with the random eye movements, twitches and dreamy smiles but also the size, weight and warmth of your little body in my arms. You are too big to be able to hold with just one arm and your legs now drape themselves across my lap. Although we constantly comment on how big you are, you still are my little baby and this time disappears so quickly. I'll miss these quiet cuddles when you are older. 

This month has been a big one. At the beginning of the month the motor on your swing broke, which meant my easy days of putting you down for a nap were over. At first we struggled to figure out how to get you to sleep without the swing and I spent a few days manually swinging your swing as it seemed to be the only way to consistently get you to sleep. We also tried wearing you in the ergo and going for a ride in the car. But in the end it was a good challenge and it paved the way to getting you to start napping in your crib. We also stopped rocking you to bed for hours and started giving you a little time to settle yourself. Some nights were more successful then others but it's definitely making a difference.

It's been really fun watching you start to interact with your environment more. We've started putting you in the high chair so you can join us at meal times. You've started to roll on your side and arch your back on the play mat so you can check out everything going on around you. You are rotating around in your exersaucer and playing with all the toys. You've also started picking up toys and bringing them straight to your mouth. And you are so close to finding your feet but right now your knees seem to be entertaining enough.

What we can definitely say about you and your personality is that you are one very happy go lucky laid back kind of kid and we love you more and more every day!

Love,
Your Mom, Dad and big sister Violet

Violet's Five Month Post

Violet and Poppy at 5 months

Happy Mother's Day!

My requests for Mother's Day are the same every year - breakfast in bed and a card. (Next year I'm also going to ask for a breakfast in bed tray.) I also go in with the expectation that someone will help me eat my breakfast. And for the second year in a row - Violet ate half my breakfast in my bed. There's nothing like tradition.

Along with breakfast I received a hand picked flower and handmade card from Violet. Marc gave me a perfectly picked card, some chocolates and a concrete stepping stone for the garden that has our hand-prints in it (Marc, Violet and mine). Best of all Poppy gave me the gift of sleep. After putting her to bed at 8pm last night she only woke up once at quarter to five to nurse and then slept in until almost 9am this morning.

After breakfast we headed outside as a family and went for a hike in the open land across the street from us. Walking in the woods gets me thinking about making some trails on our own land. Then at least we would know which path to take home.

During nap time this afternoon Marc gave me the gift of peace and quiet. I had two glorious hours to myself to do whatever I wanted without little hands trying to help. Then when Violet woke up we played outside until the first thunderstorm of the season rolled in.

Violet watched the start of the storm from the couch but as it got closer and louder she ended up in my arms. Not a fan of the wind or the thunder. Poppy on the other hand was her usual cheerful self and spent the time talking and squealing from her bouncy seat. 

I feel incredibly blessed to have spent the day with my family at our home. The only thing that would have made it better is if my mom was here to celebrate with us in person. My brother had that responsibility this year. Happy Mother's Day!!