Abigail 5 months & Family

 Abigail

-Rolling: She can roll front to back and has done so several times, but doesn't tend to do it often.  I also am 100% sure she can roll back to front but doesn't.  When I "help" her, she does it herself but I always initiate it.
-Bottles!: She is finally taking bottles!  The secret was the bottle warmer.  So glad she's not starving hungry the whole time I'm at work anymore!  And the freedom this gives me as her mama is wonderful, too!  I'm not done nursing but it is peace of mind!
-Chokes: She was pretty sick this month and trying to get her to take medicine (or even the oral vaccine) was rough.  She choked on anything we gave her with a syringe and sometimes would have such a strong gag reflex that she'd end up throwing up.  This virus took about 10 days to go away and it was a looooong 10 days.  Actually, it was closer to 20 as right as Kate was starting to feel better, Luke and Abigail came down with it.
-Reaches/grabs: She now has good aim and is starting to play with toys.
-Big gasps: When she is happy, she loves to take a big almost surprise sounding gasp. 
-Sleep training: We just started some "sleep training" to get her to not need a pacifier to go to sleep.  I'm thinking she just doesn't get a full feeding in the middle of the night as she falls asleep and I've just let her.  Now we're working on unswaddling to eat, then back into the swaddle and back to the crib to fall asleep on her own.  She protests but for no more than 5 minutes at a time.  So thankful.  Hoping that this will help her sleep longer spurts at night to get back to the way it was even when we first got home from the hospital was 3 times more sleep at a time than we've been averaging lately!
Solids: We started sweet potatoes yesterday.  She wasn't sure on first bite but after that, she opens her mouth wide and gets mad if it's not getting to her mouth fast enough!  I'm glad we started a little earlier than 6 months for her- she was certainly ready!

Lucas

-"Me gucas" has now turned to "I gucas"
-Big fits where his emotion takes over and nothing else matters
-Words: have exploded.  The other day, out of the blue, he leans over to Abigail and says "I wuv you ab'gaaail"This boy sure is full of love!

 

 

Katelyn

-Relationship restored: After these past 3 years of constant pregnancy and newborns I've really struggled to connect with Katelyn lately as so many other things have taken the forefront- especially with how independent she naturally is.  So these past 2 months especially, Tyler has helped me find times to have special times with Kate.  Recently, during nap time we went to the grocery store and she brought her shopping cart with and dressed herself up and even got to wear high heels.  I'm sure we looked ridiculous in the store but we both so enjoyed it and she was a big helper choosing things from the shelves and putting them in her cart.  I also have plans on a special puzzles and hot chocolate date where we'll head to a coffee shop with a few new puzzles and get some specialty hot chocolate. 

Tyler and I

Speaking of relationships restored, Tyler and I have been so so busy lately and looking for every opportunity we can find to spend time just him and I.  We had a special surprise date day the other day where grandma came to pick up the kids and we woke him up to say goodbye to share with him that it was a surprise date day!  So wonderful to just hang out with him.  So blessed to have him in my life!