Seven Months

This month has brought more milestones. Jolynn moved up in servings for cereal and to stage 2 food. She still really likes her food. Nothing different has developed as far as what she doesn't like from last month. She can also sit up (tri-pod) much better than last month. Still not rolling over. At this point I'm thinking she may skip that part and go right from sitting up to crawling.
She is just fascinated with Polly. Loves to pet her and get licked by her. We have to reign Polly in a little on that because she gets carried away with the kisses. I can't wait for Jolynn to be able to through the ball for Polly. Hours of entertainment for both :)

At the end of this month we (me and the moms) will be taking our annual trip to BOW. As excited as I am to go, I am really going to miss Jolynn for 4 days. I can't imagine how much she will grow while I'm gone. Hopefully if she gets that rolling over thing down while I'm gone, Jon will tape it.

Late last month we had a tooth that was just starting to break through. It is fully through now and the second one has started to cut through. I thought she would be a lot crankier than she has been. She has her days of major drool and wanting to chew on everything. That's when we know that it is coming through a little more or a new one is coming.

Six Months

We're at the half way point. Six months have gone by in a blink of an eye. Jolynn will have her 6 month appointment in a few days and hopefully this weekend we can get her photos taken at Flash. This past month has brought on a new milestone - FOOD! She was drinking so much formula in one sitting we had to switch her early. At the 4 month appointment the doctor did say she could have solids, but I didn't want to start her too early. When she started drinking 8 oz at a sitting I said okay. So we started by reading the directions on the container for first time feeding. It looked like soup. Jolynn didn't like it either. We made it more like mashed potatoes and she gobbled it right down. A couple weeks ago we started on the Gerber veggies. SHE LOVES THEM. She's like a little bird with her mouth open waiting for the next spoonful of green beans. Her favorites so far have been green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, squash. She does not care for peas - image that. She also didn't like the bananas that we tried for breakfast. I'm okay with that. At least she likes her veggies. Next I'm going to try making my own food - since she likes stuff that is easily cooked and pureed.

She is making progress on rolling over. She gets about half her body over, but hasn't figured out that if she just flips the one arm over she would go all the way over. I still think she is learning more from the other kids at daycare than she does with us.

We introduced her to the jumper at Grandma/Grandpa Moritz's house. She was so funny - she would spin herself around and then pick up her feet and spin back the other way.

Jolynn is still very talkative - especially in the morning.
She has been sleeping through the night for a while now - goes to bed anywhere from 6-8pm and doesn't get up until 5-7am.

Christmas 2010

Jolynn's first Christmas was fun even if she was only 5 months. She loved crinkling the paper and all the toys she got from family have entertained her for hours so far. I didn't think she would be able to work some of them, but she has. She is so smart!

I made a lovely turkey again - 18 lbs! There was lots of left overs. We've been having turkey sandwiches, turkey with penne, you name it. Even Polly has been having left over scrapings in her food.

After dinner we laid a spread of desserts and everyone nibbled while playing Wii Bowling. It was Bumby's first time playing. He smoked us all.

Five Months

Can you believe it! I can't. Another month has flown by. Jolynn is such a happy girl. Jon can really get her going. She is such a Daddy's girl. She likes to snuggle. Sleeping has gotten longer. She still goes to bed around 7pm and doesn't get up until 4 or 5. She is on full formula now because pumping is no longer producing anything of significance. The only reason I am still pumping is to relieve some of the pressure. She still does well at daycare and the kids really like "little Jolynn".

Today is Jolynn's 5 month birthday - she is taking a very big step today. Boarding a plane for her first vacation to Florida. This is not the Florida/Disney trip that we have planned for her 5 year birthday. This is just a get away with both grandparents. Unfortunately, Jon and Bumby are unable to make it because they can't get off work. I really wish they would have been able to make it. I think I am most nervous about keeping her occupied during the flight. That's a long time for a little one to sit in one spot with nothing to do but coo in your face.

Some other happenings with Jolynn: she likes to pull her pacifier out, and is getting close to being able to put it back in her mouth. She is very verbal. She really only cries for two reasons - hunger and tired. If you satisfy the hunger she usually passes out after.

Her 4 month appointment went very well. Her stats were: 10lbs 14 oz, 24 1/2 in, Head Circumference=16 in. She had the same shots as her 2 month appt. She did very well with those again. Cried a little more than last time, but was okay once it was over. She fell into the 50 percentile for height and head, but was in the 5 percentile for weight. The doctor said she will probably measure in the lower percentile for a while because of her prematurity. He said other than that she is right on track developmentally. He expects her to probably be rolling over in the next month. Most of her development will be a month behind full term babies because she was a month early. There are many things that I think she is ahead of if you keep up with Babycenter or Planning Family.

Four Months

This month has gone by so fast. With Jolynn being in daycare now, it's a few days there, a few days with Jon, and then we have our weekend together. We have stayed home the last few weekends because of nasty weather, but otherwise have gone to visit Grandma and Grandpa Moritz. My parent's have been up at their cabin trying to get it ready for winter. This past weekend was their first weekend back - but I think mostly because Georgia (their dog) was hit by a car and needs constant supervision because she won't wear her cone.

Jolynn has been trying so hard at the rolling deal. She is really good at holding her head up and she does the push up when we initially put her on her stomach. She is still her most talkative in the morning. I love it. It is so hard to get ready for work once she is awake. I guess that is why I get up 2 hours before I have to leave. That way I get everything I have to do out of the way before she even wakes up and then I have more time to coo with her.

She just found her feet the other day. It was very funny. She stared at them for a long time and flexed her feet, then wiggled her toes. Then she would stop and do it again. The look on her face was hilarious.

We have found that she is using her burp cloth like a blankie. Also very cute.
Best so far...she found her thumb! She still uses the paci, but the thumb finds it's way if the paci falls out.

I haven't been pumping enough to keep up with her feedings. She is anywhere from 5-7 oz. So we started her on formula about 3 weeks ago. We mix 2 parts BM to 1 part formula. Since starting the formula she has been more productive in the pooping department. Sometimes going 3 times a day - but the smell is so much worse than when she was only on BM. She is also sleeping longer since being on formula. Anywhere from 5-7 hours. Her first sleep session is usually from 6 or 7pm until midnight. Then she used to get up at 4am, but has been sleeping until 5 sometimes.

She is also grasping. I saw her the other day swat at the mobile on her vibrating chair. Both Grandmas have a rattle that has two thin bands for a handle. It is the perfect size for her to grasp on to. She already whacked herself in the head causing a little crying, but she was okay after Mommy kissed it of course. She is also following objects from side to side.

She has moved on to 0-3 month clothing. Most of the clothes that say 3 month still don't fit her. All those cute onesies with feet still don't fit her. She has two that zip up and they are the only ones that fit her feet.

She absolutely amazes me every morning. I go to get her and I swear she has grown another inch and gained another pound.

We hear about other kids that were born around the same time as Jolynn or later and they have been reaching milestones quicker than her. I know not to judge her progress on others - she is an individual. She has a little friend (lots of friends actually at daycare); her little friend at daycare is Avery. They are about 6 months apart. They lay together on the floor and interact. I hope by this interaction that Jolynn will learn quicker; like having a big sister.

She has her 4 month check up next week, more shots. I weighed her this past Sunday and she was 10lb 7oz! She's more of a pumpkin than a peanut now :)

Happy 1st Birthday Brianna

Jolynn's best friend-to-be, Brianna, had her 1st birthday party today. There were so many kids there. It was fun to see which ones were going to fall into the same age group. There were the 2-3 year olds that were crazy running around. Then the 1 year olds that were just learning to walk. Then the 3mo (Jolynn) - 9mo that were still in the hold me stage. I realized that most of my picture and video taping has been by me. I have one picture of Jolynn and me (and I took that one too) - when we were in the hospital.

So I had Mike take some of me and Jolynn.

Three Months

I don't know what is scarier - being back to work or Jolynn being 3 months. Time is going by so fast. Jolynn has made great progress on her development. She can hold her head up pretty well, her arms don't flail as much, and the smiles and coos just keep coming. She likes to be pulled up by her arms and plop back down on the pillow. She also likes to "stand" or "sit". Neither of which she can actually do on her own yet, but she can see so much and loves that. Thankfully she has finally started to find her hands, and in turn, something to suck on. I don't think she has decided yet if it will be her thumb, a finger, or a couple fingers. Her mood is the best in the morning. I think she is like her momma - she is a morning person. We haven't quite got the sleeping thing down yet as far as timing. She sleeps very well and for long periods, but not the right periods. She still wakes up at 4am; eats, then falls asleep for a hour or so, then we have our awake time. This is where all the cooing and smiles happen. She loves having a conversation around 7am. I hope to have even 15 minutes to spend with her before we have to pack up. Through out the day she takes little cat naps and then between 5 and 6 she goes down for the count. Doesn't wake up until midnight. But then sleeps from midnight to 4am. Somehow we need to move that 6 hour slot up so it is when WE are sleeping too.

We have a new toy from Grandma Margaret. It is a tummy time playmat. She lays on the "scoop" and there is a flower petal mat underneath. She is able to hold her head up and touch the ground with her hands and feet. She scoots around in a circle using her limbs. There are activities on each petal. This has also helped with getting rid of her gas because she is on her tummy forcing the pressure out.

I don't think I posted about her 2 month check up last time. She did very well. 50% in all areas. Doctor was very pleased with her weight gain. She was 7lb 10oz. We have been weighing her on our home scale and last Saturday she was 8lb 1.5oz. She doesn't go back until 4 months now.

It is funny how so many of our friends had babies around the same time. Erin has a boy, Richard Jr, that is about 4 months older than Jo. We joke that we have arranged them to be married. Talking about them dating and going to prom. There is competition though. Jared and Naomi have Brody, also about 4 months older than Jo. Richard Jr already has one up on Brody though, Jo and Richard have already been on a "date", chaperoned by us mommies. Then there is Jodi's daughter, Brianna. She had her 1st birthday party this past weekend. B and Jo are going to be best friends like their mommas.

I am so happy to have such a supportive network of friends and family. Grandparents have stepped up to help with watching Jolynn or Polly, or both. Jon has started to realize that I will need him a bit more now that I am back at work. He pitches in when he can, but still needs a little push now and then. I love watching him with Jolynn - she loves her daddy so much.

We had her 3 month photos at Flash. It was an evening session. Jolynn was not as cooperative as her first photo shoot. There was a lot of crying. I don't know if it was her gas, the fact that we woke her up, or she didn't like the photographer. I felt a little uncomfortable with this photographer; I really liked our first girl, Maggie. She happened to be the manager - must be why she was so good. Wish we could get her again. Anyway, Jolynn didn't like getting her photo taken so we had to reschedule for a morning session. Jon will have to take her because I'm not taking off work to get her picture taken.

That's been our month in a nut shell.

(Jolynn - now that momma is back to work, please don't grow-up too fast. Love you.)