6 months old!

These months seem shorter and shorter!  Ella turned 6 months on the 17th.  We celebrated today with her baby well check and immunizations.  Poor thing.  It's bad enough she has a chronic cold she can't get rid of (snotty nose, watery eyes, and horrid cough) and had to suffer through shots on top of it.  We've been snuggling and giving her lots of loving today!

Ella is such a happy, content baby.  Ella is currently topping the weight charts at 20 lbs 7 oz (98%) and height charts at 26 3/4 " (80%).  Head was also 80th percentile.

Ella is currently wearing size 6-9 and 9 month clothing.  We are still consistently wearing cloth diapers except at night and sometimes when we're out and about.  She's wearing size 3 disposables.  Her eyes are still blue!

At 6 months Ella:

• Can sit unassisted for anywhere between 5-10 minutes.  She is pretty steady, but still tips from time to time.
• Jabbers and "talks" constantly, as well and "singing" constantly.  I think she is going to be my little singer!
• Bears more weight on legs than in previous months.  She used to hate that, but now I find her locking her legs so that she can keep in the standing position.
• Constantly tries to sit up when we have her lying down and especially during diaper changes.
• Seems to look for a dropped toy or binky.
• is very good at putting her binky back in by herself.

Again, struggling with sleeping since she has this horrible cough.  Has been back to sleeping through the night, but the past two nights I have gotten her up around 4 am and sat with her in the recliner.  The propped up crib and humidifier combo doesn't seem to be cutting it.  Still swaddling!  I tried two nights earlier this week to not swaddle and she slept so restlessly I lost track of how many times I was up checking on her or replacing a binky.  Back to swaddling and I barely heard a peep out of her (other than an occasional coughing fit).

We made our first attempt at solids (other than cereal) on the 16th.  She didn't seem to love it or hate it.  Ava loved feeding her.  We've been doing it every night since and she always seems surprised when it touches her mouth.  

I've never really written about Ella's daycare experience and that is probably because it is going so well for her.  She is very laid back and doesn't seem to mind the noise or other babies crying.  She seems to enjoy watching what is going on around her and that has made her transition very well to the daycare setting!  This mama couldn't be happier!  

Making baby food!

With Ella approaching 6 months, Rachel and I whipped up some homemade baby food for her over Christmas break.  We introduced squash first.  She wasn't extremely interested, but we'll keep trying!  Ava loved feeding her! 

Mini vacation in the Dells

A few days after Christmas we loaded up in our van and Burton' van and headed with my family to Wisconsin Dells.  We had a blast enjoying the water park there!  I am looking forward to going back someday soon!

Christmas

This post... better late than never?

Ella's first Christmas was an absolute blast.  We spent several days going back and forth between our families, who thankfully live only a few miles apart from each other.  We got to visit my Great Grandma Pecha, who hadn't met Ella yet.  She is always a fan of the babies!  We played lots of games and the girls were super spoiled.

We came back late to our house Christmas Eve after church.  I like starting the tradition of having my children be able to wake up in their own house Christmas morning.  That was always my favorite time as a kid.  After we saw the goods Santa had left the girls, my family plus Darren's parents came over for brunch.  It was a great day just hanging out, relaxing, playing games, and enjoying each other's company.