month six

Size: Judah is wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes (some 6-12) and size 3 diapers. He is 28.5 inches, in the 99%ile for height, and weighs 18lbs 12oz, in the 73%ile for weight. My lightest six month old but arguably my happiest! 

Eat: Nursing great! I can't seem to pump more than 3 ounces at a time (?!) but he's perfectly healthy so I'm assuming he must just get more than I pump. Showing all sorts of interest in food so looks like I need to go grocery shopping!  

Teeth: Two teeth and judging by all the drool, I would assume another one or two are on their way, but nothing yet. 

Sleep: After a brief hiatus, he's back to sleeping through the night! I think it must have been teething that did him in, or visitors, but we had about a week long stretch where he was waking up once in the night. I was fine to let him cry so long as it didn't wake up the big kids, and it never did, but occasionally I'd end up in their to nurse him. He goes down between 7-8 with little to no crying, wakes up to nurse between 5-6 and usually goes back to sleep until 8. His morning routine really varies. He takes 3 longer naps during the day, or 2 depending on the amount of cat naps he gets as we go from here to there. Poor third...always on the move! So thankful for his flexibility! 

Milestones: Sitting, ish ;) Still super wobbly, I don't trust his balance to walk away, but he's working his way out of the tripod sit. Very interested in going places and can get where he wants by rolling and scooting backward, though he's always trying to pull himself with his arms and will get up on his hands and knees quite a bit! Soon! Maybe ;) Laughing much more willingly these days, grabbing all sorts of toys (and not putting them in his mouth!) babbling, putting himself to sleep... generally growing up and getting big and making me sad ;)

Likes: People! He loves attention and people talking to him and playing with him. He loves Uriah and watching his siblings play from the center of the living room floor (they love that he's still immobile!) He loves his blue ball, Magna Tiles, Legos (oops!), his binki, being outside, being in water - bath or pool, his playmat, grabbing everything, the Ergo and did I mention he loves attention ;) Though for someone who loves attention, he's the most content and easy going babe! 

Dislikes: He's getting a little more vocal, so you definitely know when he's tired or hungry now, and maybe his teeth have made him a little bit fussier, but I honestly can't think of anything he truly or consistently dislikes. It actually makes it really easy to known if something is wrong - he doesn't just cry for no reason! (I wrote that for his 5 month update and it still rings true! Though I would add, if he's getting attention from someone and they walk away before he's had enough, he will protest. Thankfully, he's still easily distracted!)

Things I want to remember: His fuzzy blonde, blonde hair - it is so soft! His piercing blue eyes - they're bigger than we first thought and oohh they are beautiful! His smiles! He smiles all. day. long. The way he looks at Uriah. The way he lights up when he's outside. When he laughs as I "Ani sniff" or snort on his neck. How I can put him down for a nap faster and better than anyone else. He loves his momma. The times he sits in the bumbo next to the big kids and they all play Magna Tiles while I make dinner. The way he insists on grabbing my fingers or shirt when he nurses. 

It physically hurts I love this little one so much! I could honestly EAT him he is so damn cute and sweet...! So many mixed emotions when we talk about having more kids or being done. But honestly, if we're going to be done, we'd be going out with a bang. He is perfect! 

March

Well, March started out with a bang. Literally. We were in a car accident on March 1st. On our way to the airport to pick up my friend Erica, we were hit at an intersection not far from our house. The other driver ran a red light (and thankfully owned up to his mistake!) and we were hit on the drivers side front tire. The damage didn't look like much, but our van was totaled and it took weeks for Uriah to shake the scare - he saw the car coming and we were helpless to stop it. His screams haunted me for a few days after that. Luckily, I was the only one injured and not much at that. Erica eventually made it to our house, we eventually got a new van and new car seats and after a month the kids stopped telling every single person we saw about the crash ;)

 ^^ Really, Erica's visit couldn't have been more timely planned. She came to offer help and I needed it, and never would have asked for it otherwise. God works in mysterious ways, all. While we mostly drug her around to tow yards and left her to babysit our kids while I visited the doctor and napped, I appreciated her help and company more than she'll ever know. She left her baby for the first time to come meet and play with mine and it's an act I'll never forget! ^^

 ^^ Sleeping babies are my favorite babies ;) ^^

 ^^ Weren't we just pregnant?! Samuel, Cohen, Judah, Elliot, Isla and Mary - born September 28th to December 26th and all as cute as can be...! ^^

 ^^ So, Judah's a water babe...! ^^

 ^^ Morning's around here... ^^

 ^^ The best superheros wear bows! ^^

 ^^ Gearing up to go to Hawaii at the end of the month, we did a unit on the state for school! Uriah's favorite part was easily the Lego volcano, complete with red lava oozing out the top! ^^

 ^^ I've had my wedding dress stored in the kids' closet (with no idea what to do with it!) and had to bring it out to move a few things around. It sparked the kids' interest and it didn't take much convincing to get Ezra to try it on. I think I broke Stephen's heart sending him these pictures at work..! What a beauty! Time, slow down! ^^

 ^^ Judah and one of his best buddies, Cohen! I wish my baby could continue to grow up alongside all these sweet babies! ^^

^^ While her official outdoor birthday party was canceled due to rain, we already had the balloons and nutella croissants (her favorite treat!) so we celebrated small with her best friend "Miss Nicki" (just ask her!) ^^

 ^^ As a pre-Hawaii treat, Stephen planned for Nicki and I to get our nails done while he kept all six kiddos entertained and alive ;) What a good man, loving me so well! ^^

 ^^ More of that sleeping baby goodness! ^^

  ^^ Ezra's birthday was the day before we left for Hawaii - we had plans to pack and go to bed early, so we celebrated a few days before: waking up to one present in the morning (THE cutest princess dresses made by our friend's mom!), "playgroup" with her friends, pizza for dinner, a showing of The Little Mermaid, more gifts and pink everything for dessert - pink ice cream with pink sprinkles and a pink cake with pink frosting and pink sprinkles! ^^

^^ Someone's excited for Hawaii...! ^^

month five

Size: Judah is wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 3 diapers. He is obviously (to me) my longest babe but I do see some slow chub making progress on those thighs! Clothes for my other two were always long and tight but with Judah they're short and loose! 

Eat: Nursing great! He's been given the go ahead to start solids but I waited until 6 months with the other two and plan to do the same with Judah. He's definitely showing some interest but he's growing and gaining and sleeping just fine so I'm not in a rush to ruin our good thing. 

Teeth: There are teeth in that cute gummy smile! Before leaving for Hawaii I could tell he was starting to get teeth - I could see the white under the gums - but who knew how long it would take for them to pop through! He'd been drooling a lot but didn't seem to be affected by them in any other way. His bottom left tooth popped through on March 27th and his right just a few days later! 

Sleep: Two teeth later and he's still sleeping through the night! Even in Hawaii, with the time and location change and teething, I think he woke up in the middle of the night once...?! Coming back from Hawaii took a couple days to transition, but honestly, it could have wrecked his sleep schedule (like traveling to Alaska did for Uriah at this age and moving here did for Ezra!) I just can't believe he's been such a great sleeper...! Trying not to take it for granted! He goes down between 8-9 (in the living room) and wakes around 6. He's finally sleeping unswaddled and sleeping in his "snuggle me" (he has slept so well in it we took it to Hawaii with us!). He takes 3 significant naps a day with little snoozes in the car or carrier throughout. He generally follows into the "eat, play, sleep" routine but for the most part I just feed him when he's hungry and let him sleep when he's tired. 

Milestones: Rolling every which way, scooting backward, grabbing toys and his toes, babbling... he's getting big! He's showing so much interest in getting places - straining his neck, kicking his legs and trying to pull his weight with his arms. He might crawl before he can sit! Ha! Because he's definitely not sitting yet - he can only balance in the tripod stance for a few seconds. His laughs are still reserved for those who are willing to work for them, but his smiles he offers to anyone and everyone! 

Likes: Judah loves attention - smiling and babbling to anyone who makes eye contact with him. He loves the water (he went swimming for the first time in Hawaii!), his big brother (the way he looks at him just melts my heart!) and his playmat (my most content baby could lay there for an hour!) He loves being worn in the carrier, snuggling and his binki. He loves watching his siblings play, our family dance parties and being outside. Really, he likes just about everything. He's such a good and easy go with the flow baby, always happy and content! 

Dislikes: He's getting a little more vocal, so you definitely know when he's tired or hungry now, and maybe his teeth have made him a little bit fussier, but I honestly can't think of anything he truly or consistently dislikes. It actually makes it really easy to known if something is wrong - he doesn't just cry for no reason! 

Things I want to remember: His fuzzy blonde (so blonde) hair - it is the softest! The fact that he smiles all. day. long! He smiles while getting his diaper changed, he smiles when woken from a dead sleep, he smiles while being strapped into his car seat... Ahh! I LOVE his smiles! The way he looks at Uriah - pure adoration. The hour we get with him between his siblings bedtime and his own - it is his most happy, awake and alert hour and he spends most of it moving around like crazy and laughing. He is such a grabber - my hair, my necklace, my hands... I never want to forget the way he clings to me while nursing or falling asleep - it's such a comfort for him. 

Ohh Judah Budah, you are the best. You fit so seamlessly into our family. We love watching you grow!