5 Months - Stella

Little Stella.  She is just such a character and has definitely transformed from infant into bouncing baby.  She is so so active and interactive and excitable.  We have had a fun month of lots of visitors and adventures and general playing...it was nice to be home and relax after all the travel.

Sleep went downhill at 4 months just as I expected.  Noah did the same thing at the same age so I knew it was coming. She now wakes up around 3am to eat and then likes to lay with me the rest of the night.  I don't get to sleep solidly...but its better than fighting to get her back into the crib...who wouldn't like to cuddle and snack the rest of the night?  Oh well...another month before we crack down and make her sleep train.  At 6 months we will start real foods also (with my new baby food maker I got for Christmas!!). 

Oh yah...she still refuses the bottle.  Absolutely refuses.  I have tried multiple types.  For Jordan's Christmas party we left her with Erika (so amazing she was willing to do it 2x in one week...) and Stella went 6.5 hours without eating and for the Stone Brewery event we went to she went 4.5 hours. She eats every 2 hours usually.  She just acts as if she doesn't know what to do with the bottle and just plays with it.  Both times she took maybe an ounce...but mostly just played with the bottle.  Silly kid.  It is great that she is a good nurser but hard because I have her glued to me! 

We are going through dairy (we think) issues.  Her face has been getting horrible rashes which I thought were from extra drool but they got progressively worse and spread.  I decided it was either diary or the laundry detergent and dryer sheets so I rewashed everything we own and I have cut out all diary and the rashes have improved.  The sad part is that I have missed ALL baked goods and fantastic cheeses over the holidays...which are basically two of the best foods ever.  I am making things with Almond milk and non-dairy margarine and eating Oreos, but it is not the same.  Oh well...if it helps, it helps!  We are not exactly sure what the reaction is to but I think it is the dairy.  I am still on the fence about if I need to cut out soy also and go on a full MSPI safe diet. Maybe she will just magically clear up on her own :-) 

Here is what Stella is up to this past month:

-Loves sticking her tongue out.  And blowing bubbles.  And then laughing about either :-)
-Likes to snuggle.  Especially between the hours of 3-7am. 
-Sleeps on her stomach now.
-Immediately flips to her stomach any time she is set on her back.  She is much happier that way!
-Still not stable enough to sit on her own but I see it happening in the next few weeks.

-Her face is becoming more defined with features.  Well, I guess those lips have always been there!
-Getting really big.  Long, chunky, and just big.
-ALMOST up on all fours.  We are in trouble with this one...she is way to excited to move and get into everything.
-Loving bouncing, jumping, being carried, and just any attention in general.