Half a year already?!

Elijah Chase is already 6 months old! 

*At his 6mo well check on the 14th he weighed 16lb 3oz and was

*He's now wearing a size 2 diaper

*Beginning to wear 6mo clothing, although most of his 3-6 still fit.

*We began baby food when he just turned months old and he didn't take to it too well. He still pushed most of it out with his tongue so I put it away for a couple of weeks but he was just so interested in what we were eating so I tried again at about 5.5 months and he took right to it! He eats about half of a container of baby food before bed. So far he has liked: sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, and mixed fruit with cereal. He hated peas and mixed vegetables.

*Still takes about 5 six ounce bottles of formula a day; 1 in the morning, 3 at Ms. Cain's, and 1 before bed.

*His sleeping is getting even better, but he still wakes up so early. I suppose I'll take a solid 7:30pm-5am over several wake ups throughout the night, though! He still won't nap in his crib at home...or, well, anywhere but our arms...but he will at the sitters. Go figure!

*He is one of the sweetest babies I've ever been around. He just watches and smiles/coos/giggles at whatever is going on around him. He is obsessed with Mickey Mouse, his sisters and his teething monkey. He loves to be outside and he's becoming a "momma's boy" much to his daddy's dismay. ;) He also loves to jabber and say "dadadadada" all day long.

*He has a weird habit of rubbing his feet together all.the.time; when he's mad, when he's tired, when he's amused, when he's hungry, etc., etc. He does it so much that his socks/shoes won't stay on and he's rubbed several sores on his feet. His little sores just bleed and bleed and his toes are too tiny for bandaids so we just deal. It doesn't seem to bother him, so I guess it's okay.

*He is finally rolling from back to tummy and from tummy to back. He prefers to lay on his side, though, so he doesn't always roll all the way over...but he can, and that's all that matters, right?! Now we need to start working on this sitting up thing....if only we could keep the Livy-monster away long enough!

 

Trying out this food stuff....

yum!

                                                     

Last few nights of the swaddle

First black eye/bloody nose  :(  Rattles can be dangerous! ;)

5 months

Here's what the little guy was up to when he turned 5 months!

*Not sure about the weight or height, but he's slowly starting to "fill out"

*Still wearing a size 1 diaper

*Wears mostly 3-6 month clothing

*He is officially done nursing and I no longer pump, so he is 100% formula now and doing well! I still get sad every once in awhile that I wasn't able to nurse nearly as long as I wanted to, but I try not to dwell on it. On the plus side, I don't have to wake up so early to nurse! He gets a 6oz bottle in the morning, 3 5oz bottles while at the sitter's, and another 6oz bottle before bed. He's taking a big interest in our food and watches it like a hawk so I think baby food will be started soon.

*His sleeping has started to get a bit better, but we're still working on some consistency. He will nap in his crib at the sitter's house, but refuses to at home! Little stinker. He still goes to bed around 7:30, wakes once or twice per night, and awake around 5:30/6:00...which is better than the 4:45 we used to do for nursing!

*He is still such a happy baby! He just coos and smiles all day long. He loves Mickey Mouse, his jumparoo, his daddy, his sisters, being tickled, his toy elephant, his singing dog, and his teething monkey.

*He still doesn't roll consistently, but I really think a lot of that has to do with him never being able to be put down because of the piranhas , aka sisters, that attack him as soon as you do. I'm not concerned because I know he can and he doesn't seem to be missing out on anything by not doing so. He much prefers to be sitting up in our laps than to be lying down. "standing" is his other favorite way to be. 

I still can't believe we have this unexpected addition to our family, sometimes. It's such a blessing to have him in our lives and I wouldn't trade it for the world! I know I say it all the time, but holy cow, time is flying!

4 months

The little mister is 4 months old! Here's what he's up to:

*Weighs 13lbs 3oz (30%), 25in (50%) and head is in 50%. I really thought he was short & fat...apparently not!

*Wears a size 1 diaper but getting close to needing a 2

*Wears mostly 3 month clothing, but can do 3-6 month on onsies and some pants. Sleep-n-plays are hard to find because they are all too long for the little fella.

*Nurses in the morning, eats 3 6oz bottles at the sitter's, and nurses again before bed. We're in the process of weaning because I just can't keep up :( Honestly, I never thought I'd make it this long, but I'm sad that it's really coming to an end.

*Sleep is pretty good, but is slowly getting worse. He goes to bed around 7:30 and stirs throughout the night but usually goes back to sleep by himself, then gets up anywhere from 3:30-7:30...no consistency. Here lately he's been getting up around 4am and won't go back down...I'd love it if he'd sleep later! He is officially sleeping in his crib in his own room, but we're still working on naps. He will sometimes nap in his crib, but he gets a much better nap in if he's being held...which I don't mind because it usually means I get a nap, too!

*He is so smiley and gives big belly laughs often. He LOVES his sisters, Mickey Mouse, his jumparoo, a crinkly elephant & teething monkey, being tickled, and when we "bite" his belly.

*He is seriously so strong. He has complete control of his head, can roll belly to back, likes to "stand" while we support him under the arms, sits up in his boppy & bumbo, and tries to scoot using his legs while doing tummy time.

3 months

The Little Mister turned 3 months old on the 10th & I never officially wrote down what he was up to. Again, this information is true of when he turned 3 months, but so much has already changed since then! Maybe I can actually get his 4 month update posted near the 10th. ;) Don't hold your breath...

At 3 months old Elijah;

*Wears a size 1 diaper

*Have officially put all the newborn clothes away. Wears some 0-3mo and some 3mo clothing.

*Not sure about the weight/height, but he's definitely growing. He has no problems gaining weight now!

*Still sleeping in the Rock-n-Play by my side of the bed. I keep thinking about moving him to his crib, but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger. He's more than likely the last baby and I just don't want him growing up so fast!

*Speaking of sleep, he is still a pretty good sleeper. Goes to bed around 8:00, up at 5 am to nurse, and back to sleep until 7 when I wake him up to get dressed so we can leave for work. No set nap schedule, but he sleeps pretty good throughout the day. Once we get him sleeping in his own room we'll work on getting a nap routine set.

*Breastfeeding has been MUCH harder this time around. My supply isn't good and it is SO hard to nurse while still being needed by a 1.5 year old & 3.5 year old. I've struggled with some guilt of not being able to breastfeed as much and/or as long as I did with the girls, but I think I've come to terms with it. I don't think we'll last much longer, but I'm hoping to make it at least through flu season.

*He nurses in the morning & before bed & gets 3 5oz bottles while at Cain's. I can usually pump enough for 2 of those bottles, but sometimes it's just 1.

*He is still so sweet, happy, & laid back. He is a momma's boy & loves his sisters just as much. He is a good boy for his daddy & loves him, too.

*He is so strong! He has complete control of his head, holds it up/moves it around. He doesn't really like tummy time unless it's on someones chest. He LOVES "standing" on your legs while you hold his hands/arms. The swing still isn't his most favorite thing and he tolerates his bouncy chair for short periods of time. He's been sitting in the Bumbo for very short periods of time & seems to really like it, so we'll start using it a bit more as he grows.

*Car rides are no longer one of his favorite things. He screams/cries the majority of the time. He will usually calm down if Sophia can give him his pacifier or talk to him/hold his hand....but she can't always be bothered to do so. ;)

I'll have to transfer some pictures over from facebook sometime, but don't have time to tonight. This boy has brought SO MUCH joy and happiness to this family and my heart is just so full!

Elijah Chase

So, Mr. Elijah has been a part of our family for 2 months now...and I'm just now getting around to documenting it. Oops! I skipped a month or two with the other kids, too, so it's not just because he's the "forgotten" youngest child. ha! Having 3 little ones ages 3 and under is definitely exhausting and a challenge every minute of the day, but it is SO WORTH it! I LOVE what he has added to this family and now I feel like we are "complete". My heart is so full it might burst! Some things about the little fella:

*Weighs 11 lb 0oz (50%) and 23in (50%) He was a slow gainer at first & we had to go to several weight checks, but he's finally surpassed his birth weight & gaining like a champ!

*Size 1 diaper

*Gradually growing out of newborn and into 0-3 month clothing. Sleepers are still a little too long in the legs, but newborns are getting too snug.

*He is so laid back and happy! He is seriously SO chill...especially considering how much he gets trampled on by Livy. He smiles so easily, too and it just melts.my.heart!

*Nursing is going well...much better than I was anticipating at first. It is super hard to balance breastfeeding with having a newborn, 20 month old, and 3 year old. I really wasn't even expecting to make it past a month, so I'm proud we're still going! Now that I'm back to work, he nurses once in the morning & once at night then takes 3 5oz pumped bottles while at the sitter's.

*He is a great sleeper. :::knocks on wood:::  We have fallen into the routine of him nursing around 7:30pm or so and going to sleep around 9pm and then I get him up at 5am to nurse then he sleeps until I get him up & ready to leave just before 7am! It is glorious!

*He holds his head up really really well, does great with tummy time, enjoys laying on his play mat (especially if a sister joins in), likes sleeping in the Rock & Play, likes the bouncy seat & tolerates the swing for short periods of time (he prefers that it not be swinging, though. ha!). He also loves his sisters, looking at the Christmas lights on the trees, and does great on car rides.

Elijah, we are so thrilled that God chose us to be your parents. Even at 2months old, you have brought so much to this family and we couldn't imagine our lives without you! Love you sweet boy!