7 Months

Emma Cate and Holden,
You are SEVEN months old!

What our life is like:

I wake up at 5:40 and pump. I'm pumping around 18 ounces each morning. My supply is still decreasing but I'm working on it, regardless, you are still getting 100% breastmilk. We use the freezer stash when I don't produce enough. We wake you up around 6:45am for a diaper change. Recently you have both been leaking your diapers in the morning. You sleep 12 hours and are super heavy wetters. We have to make sure we put them on really well the night before!

You eat a 6oz bottle at 7am and then a solid around 8am. So far you have tried bananas, oatmeal, prunes, apples, green beans and avocado. Emma Cate LOVES oatmeal and Holden bananas. We've been feeding Holden prunes because he gets a little backed up (sorry bud!). Neither of them loved the green beans. The avocado goes down well some days and they both hate it others.

Development has taken off this month! Holden is great at rolling from back to tummy and does it when prompted to reach a toy. I was so excited to catch it on video. We are working with Emma Cate on rolling over. Every night we put her to sleep on her back and find her on her tummy the next morning. We've never seen her actually do it though. We started PT for Emma Cate today. The therapist said she has great neck and back strength but we've got to get her to start rolling over and using her arms. We had a great time and I really like the therapist. Both babies are sitting up by themselves. We have to set them there but they stay pretty well by themselves. We've had a few bobbles forward and some head banging but they are very happy overall! Emma Cate continues to talk up a storm. She like to do it most in the car and I've got to remember to record her little voice. You both still love your exersaucers but we're going to be working more on the floor for the next few months to work on the rolling over and crawling stuff.

You both nap from 8:30 or 9 until 10. Around 10:30 you eat another 6oz bottle and at 11:15 you have another solid food. You nap from 12-1:30 and then have another bottle at 2pm and at 4:30. You nurse at 6:45 or 7 and are both in bed by 7:30. You both sleep through the night and its is amazing. I couldn't imagine still getting up and feed during the night.

I can't believe that we have reached the closer to a year than being born mark of 7 months. Holden you are starting to look like a little boy more and more each day. You are quick to smile at me and are mommy's little snuggler. Emma Cate, you are filling out and becoming my little chunky monkey! I'm loving your rosy cheeks and chunky thighs!


Emma Cate:
Nicknames:  P (daddy's nickname for you), Emma Tate, Taters (we use this one the most), Cate. We've started calling you Tatie Boo this month too. Sorry for all the confusion!
Weight: you were 12lbs 11oz at your 6 month appointment
Height: not sure
Hair: A blondish brown, still pretty bald though! We learned that your eyebrows just had some dry skin and a little aquaphor and everything cleared up beautifully! 
Eyes: Blueish grey
Clothes: You are in mostly 6 month clothes with a few 3-6s thrown in. They are all a little big on you though!
Diapers: Using the Bumgenius 4.0 and Freedom. 
Eating: 6oz for 3 bottles a day and 5oz for the 4th bottle. You nurse before bedtime. Two solid feeding a day, normally plain or banana oatmeal for breakfast and a fruit or veggie for lunch.
Likes: Watching TV (I've got to keep an eye on this habit!), your pink blanky, watching mommy cook, your bottle, your paci, standing up, watching Holden, your Sophie teether, and ball with the holes in it, looking in the mirror, talking, being tossed in the air, being tickled around your neck.
Dislikes: tummy time (but its getting better!)
Development: Sitting up, grabbing for toys and holding them, 
Words: not yet!
Teeth: not yet!


Extra: You are coming back around Emma Cate! You are SUCH a happy baby and I love you to pieces. You always bring a smile to my face. My favorite thing is waking you up in the morning. While Holden is an early riser, you are a sleeper! I am excited when its finally time to wake up up. We turn on the lights and rush to your crib to see what crazy position you are lying in! You blink a few times to wake up and then give us the biggest sweet smile and cuddles. I love it! You have also started doing this really silly dolphin move when we hold you or lay you on your tummy. It is SO funny! 

You are such a happy baby! You light up when someone you know enters the room and you squeal with delight! I am so proud of how well you did at therapy and can't wait to see the results. I love feeding you and you love to eat just about anything we give you. You are very independent and like to entertain yourself or watch others. When Holden cries, you look at him like "Um why are you doing that"? You aren't a big cuddler but occasionally you'll sit with me while I'm watching TV. I'll take it when I can! You may be a good sleeper but you are generally not a good napper. You love to see what is going on. I took you to the mall in the bjorn and pushed Holden while he slept in the stroller. You were in heaven. You flirted with anyone that walked by, smiling and squealing for attention! Too cute! I love you so much Emma Cate!

Holden
Nicknames: Holdy and Holds. You go by Holden most of the time. Nicknames aren't really sticking for ya.
Weight: 12lbs 13oz
Height: Can't remember but I have it written down somewhere. You are in the 25% for height. You are long and skinny.
Hair: blond. It continues to grow!
Eyes: Blue
Clothes: 6 months and 3-6. You are tall for your clothes but they are huge on you because you are sooo skinny.
Diapers: Bumgenius 4.0 and freetime. They are set one snap bigger than the smallest size.
Eating: 6oz bottles 4 times a day and nursing at night. Your nursing has gotten so much better and its one of my favorite times with you.
Likes: Roo Song, "Listen to the Leaves" song, dancing, playing with his toes, sucking on his bottom lip,  being held/carried, being naked, standing up, dancing
Dislikes: being hungry (boy likes his bottle!), being tired
Development: After last month's leap, this month was a little slower. You are able to sit by yourself and consistently roll back to belly and belly to back. You grab at EVERYTHING. You love to take off your socks and chew on them (yuck). You love to sit in front of the bouncing ball hippo. You slam the buttons on the exersaucer and move your hips to the music that plays. You are obsessed with the iphone and will scoot across the blanket to get it. You've also gotten really good at holding your bottle.
Words: not yet!
Teeth: not yet!

Extra:
Shy boy no more! You are loud and expressive. You are active! You scream when you don't get your way. You are funny and inquisitive. When you get sleepy you are the best cuddler and give sweet hugs. You like to wake up early in the morning. I've selfishly been bringing you into our bed for some morning cuddles while I pump. We are working on your eating skills. There aren't many foods you love. You recently tried banana yogurt and loved it. So glad we can get some healthy fat in you (especially since avocados were not your thing). You can hold your own bottle when laying on your back. You rub your eyes when you are sleepy and give big sighs. You love to reach for things and love pulling dog hair. When I hold you you love to "pet" me and play with the ends of my hair. I love you sweet boy!