Five on Friday - Olivia edition

1. I asked Dan to throw down an outfit for Emma. He threw it, it landed on the floor and I picked it up ready to change her. Olivia looks at me "good catch mama!" I said "was that sarcasm?" She starts cracking up and goes "yep, I made fun of you! You no catched it!" Who is this girl? She's TWO.

2. We were listening to uptown funk - one of Olivia's all time favorite songs. I was throwing her around. After the song was over she goes "mama, can you funk me up again?" I believe she meant throwing her around to the song. I have a feeling she'll say that in public and it'll be incredibly awkward.

3. Olivia's whole life we told her that spaghetti squash was spaghetti. Its always been a favorite and we don't eat much pasta. There's a local, freshly made pasta place nearby. I got it for dinner - and Olivia just kept yelling "YUM!" "Oh mommy this is so yummy!" "What is this food?!" "What do you call this food?" It was hysterical. Like an alien who had never had food before. 

4.  We are teaching Olivia to write her name. Its hard because she hates to learn. So the second she realizes she's learning she throws her pen and moves on to the next activity. So we started with one letter at a time. The first time she wrote Oli she goes "Wow thats a good job! I'm going to go get my phone to take a picture of it!" (I was laughing so hard when she returned with her toy phone. 

When she wrote Oliv she goes "I'm so proud of me!" Haha.

5. Olivia said "Draw Emma's name!" and forced a marker in my hand. When I started to draw she stopped what she was doing: "Mama. When I hand you something, you say thank you!" Well ... touche Olivia. 

Turns her doll crib into a "four baby stroller."

Emma vs Olivia - Six Months

Same bow. Not planned. They definitely look like sisters. Olivia's eyes are bigger. Emma has more hair. Olivia is clearly tanner with darker eyebrows/lashes and then theres pale, pale Emma. Love seeing the comparisons!

 

Emma - Six Months

Half a year already - there's no way! She is the best age. So happy! Always squealing. Easy to lug around. Only gets frustrated when she can't run around with her big sister. Loves everything Olivia does. Olivia loves everything Emma does. The two of them are so similar, always squealing in the backseat at their own jokes. I am loving this age. I love to hold Emma and hold her every chance I get. I know they grow up too fast. When I hold her, I have full access to kiss those chubby cheeks. I'm obsessed with both of my girls. It's a little weird. 

Height: (will update with her height and weight soon)
Weight:

Sleep: I think we are down to just one night wake up. She has been horrible with naps. I'm talking 2 15 minute naps a day and thats it. I think they are supposed to be napping around 5 hours a day. So she's a little off from it. Makes it hard to get much done during the day. But I also love that if we have to lug her around, we never have to worry about it being during nap time. 

Eating: We just started trying foods. She's had avocado, sweet potato and asparagus. So far she doesn't like anything. Actually hates the feel of food in her mouth. She takes the spoon out of my hand and slams it on her high chair. Maybe because all she really wants is queso? I feel you, Emma baby.

Best Moment of the Month: This one is kind of silly. I have a thing about not using the double shopping carts with only one kid. When Olivia would beg to ride in the race car carts I would tell her that she could when her baby sister was big enough to sit beside her. Yesterday at Lowes Olivia's dream came true. It seemed so far away at the time, and now we have two that are big enough to ride in a shopping cart. 

Parent of the Month: This one goes to Dan. We had our friends Sam and Jason over. Jason, no kids, goes to get Emma from her nap and heads to change her diaper. Dan walks in and says "what are you doing?" It smells so bad - she needs a new diaper. "No she doesn't! Are you saying my house smells?" Dan takes her downstairs and after another 20 minutes realizes that Emma did, in fact, need a new diaper. And she sat it in 20 minutes longer than Jason would have let her. 

Milestones: She wants to crawl and stand and run so bad! She will not try to sit. Stiffens her legs and throws herself backward so she has to stand. Not sure when she'll learn to sit. When trying to crawl she keeps her belly on the floor and paddles likesshe's trying to swim or fly. Its so funny, and she gets so frustrated when it doesn't work.

Clothes / Diapers: Still 9 month and size 3 diapers. Not growing as quickly as she did in her first few months.

Favorites: Emma has this toy with a few balls hanging from the top of a teether. They rattle and crinkle and she is obsessed. We still love her exersaucer and have been bringing it outside so Emma can play too. I got a Maya ring sling and I love carrying her on my hip in it for hands free. We got Emma these breathable lovies for her crib. She'll cry laying her down, but she grabs at these lovies and chews on them and calms right down. She never took a paci, so wanted her to have something to hold onto. 

This age is my favorite. She's so happy. And so content to be lugged around, as long as she can see the action. Emma baby, never ever grow up. 

Five on Friday

1. Dan went to Chipotle. I asked for "chicken tacos with pico, guac and hot salsa." He came home with 3 tacos: one chicken and pico, one chicken and guac, one chicken and hot salsa. His justification? "Who eats 3 salsas?" Someone who can't have anything else on the menu!

Then, Dan goes to Starbucks, while I run into another store in that shopping center. I've been getting the 'pink drink' - Strawberry refresher with coconut milk. I asked for a venti because caffeine was necessary that day. I walked in and he had a venti refresher (no coconut milk) which was fine! I said "I'll drink this!" and he said "no, I always get your order wrong, and you always make fun of me on the blog, so I'm re-ordering this!" After a small wait, the barista hands him yet another venti refresher (no coconut milk). Before I could even look at him, he goes "yep, screwed that up twice, don't want to talk about it." Needless to say, I had a LOT of caffeine to drink that morning.

2. Olivia asked for more pasta, and I brought it to her. What do you say? "Thank you ... pasta, for making me full!"

3. I always call Olivia 'my big girl' - "Thank you big girl!" the moment Olivia looked at me and said "I love you, big girl!" I realized it just doesn't have the same positive effect when you're older. 

4. Dan was telling Olivia that she had to buckle, and if she didn't we could get in a wreck and have to go to the hospital. Olivia goes "oh! daddy! the hospital! we would go and get another baby! gaga and papa could take me to meet the baby!" At least the girl has fond memories from the hospital.

5. We forgot to bring Emma a change of clothes for daycare, so when she ruined her outfit all she had was her cropped sweater. Second kid. Not putting her in her sweater would have made her look less ridiculous. 

Swaddle Designs Sleepsack Review and Giveaway

Y'all remember when Swaddle Designs sent their muslin blankets and they were the best blankets we ever had?

We'll they've topped themselves. 

We loved the velcro baby straight jacket for both girls. But once they can roll over, we want them to have their arms out.

Since I don't breed great sleepers, we invest in soft PJs and crib sheets. Maybe they sleep better when they are super comfortable? Emma wore this for a week straight and it was the only week her life where she woke only once per night. We had to wash it, and she woke up twice the first night without it. I'm not saying this is magic, I just think we're on to something.

The cotton knit sleep sack is light weight enough for summer and hands down the softest. If they made adult ones, I'd be all about this. I wonder why that hasn't caught on?

They are incredibly well made and have a two way zipper. This means easy diaper changes and no fumbling over a jacket style zipper while you JUST got your baby to fall asleep - waking them up - and having to start the bed time routine again from the top. 

They are giving a reader a cotton knit sleep sack in the size and design of your choice. Just head to the SwaddleDesigns website pick your favorite design and comment here. Or head to Instagram for additional entries. Winner will be chosen Friday. US residents only.

Emma vs. Olivia - Five Months

Looking more and more like their own person.

Emma - 5 Months

Time is flying so much faster with the second. Didn't I just have Emma? When you have your first baby, they have your entire heart. So much so that you wonder if you'll love the next one nearly as much. Let me tell you, your heart just doubles in size. Emma baby, we  (and especially your big sister) couldn't love you more!

Height: 25 inches
Weight: 12 pounds 8 ounces

Sleep: Emma still wakes up at 1 and 430. And her naps are horrible. 20 minutes usually. But she's a happy baby. And we've started giving her an ice cold bottle at 1 am to hopefully discourage waking up. She CHUGS it. I guess she is hungry in the middle of the night.

Eating:  She eats 4-6 ounces in each bottle and eats 7 times a day.

Best Moment of the Month: I asked Olivia if she remembered what life was like before Emma was born, when it was just her. She said "Yes mama, I do. Gaga and Papa got me from school and took me to the hospital to meet Emma!" I can't get an earlier memory out of her. I just love that she really doesn't remember life before Emma. She's been such a wonderful addition to our family, we all feel that way. 

Parent of the Month: This goes to Dan. He gave her a bath and handed her to me with this big bump on her head. I asked what happened and he said, "she rolled right into the side of the tub." Seems more like a parenting fail then Emma choosing to slam her head into the tub. 

Milestones: She pushes herself up like she's ready to crawl. Scoots a little and rolls around to get to her toys. She's stronger than Olivia, but not quite ready to crawl or sit up. Taking a bottle is a big milestone - haha. She likes to stand (while we hold her for balance). And she's been loving her exersaucer. 

Clothes / Diapers: Moving into size 3 diapers and 9 month clothes. For a 'peanut' she sure is in bigger sizes. Now that she's in 9 month, I have been able to use all of Olivia's spring / summer stuff, which is so much fun.

Favorites: Definitely her exersaucer. She still loves playing with her toys on her playmat. She loves sneaking a peek of Olivia's shows on the TV in my car. Anything that crinkles. And she has been lunging for our food. We'll wait another month before feeding her food, but you can tell she wants some! 

We got a little stroller fan for the car and that has been a dream! She would get so hot and just cry the whole car ride, which made her even hotter. Now she sits calmly in the car. 

Still can't believe you are 5 months already, but seems like you've been a part of this family for forever. Can't wait to see you grow and see your personality - but, also, please never get any older.