5 months

As we get close to jade's half birthday (wtf!?) I want to take a few minutes to enjoy month five. 

Five things about five months:

1.  She loves her puppy-brother.

2.  She rolls this way and that way, depending on where she wants to go. 

3.  She prefers to nap on a warm body. 

4.  She loves peek a boo and itsy bitsy spider. 

5.  She is obsessed with my water cup, straws, and beer bottles. 

Love,

The Howells 

jet-setter

In July, we went back to the east coast for the second time.  We celebrated family and friends, all while sweating our booties off.  It was hot and humid, oh and humid. Jade met a lot of family and friends, so it was a productive trip.  I took a million photos, so here are a few.

your friends,

the howells

Toys

I definitely have spent a stupid amount of money on bottles, pacifiers, and toys that rarely get touched. Or if they do, boredom kicks in 5 minutes later. Jade has not agreed to the bottle or pacifier, so we have accepted that and are moving on. So now I'm working on building my sippy- cup collection as if she will suddenly love to drink milk from anything other than my boobs. She's lucky I enjoy breastfeeding...

This kid already has more toys than minutes in her attention span and she can barely use her hands.  She is definitely becoming more coordinated and her concentration is intense. I love watching her figure things out. Watching her roll over, grab a toy, and put it in her mouth is more entertaining than anything on tv.  As I am mesmerized by her doing new things, here are some photos of her playing with her favorite things:

Wipes

Water Bottle

Tag. 

Oh and her favorite... Feet. 

Working Mom

I am officially back to work.  My leave went way too fast.  Being a working mama has me having mixed feelings.  I loved every minute of being home with Jade and I would love to be with her everyday.  Maternity leave should be a year is what I say!  Who is with me!?  However, it is not a year, so here.i.am.  I know that I want to work later, so I must sacrifice something now.  I selfeshly don't want to give up my momentum that I have going in my career.  I have worked too hard for my position and I intend to keep it. BUT, I do miss my baby girl.  AND, I feel guilty about not being at home with her.  On a good note, she is doing just fine.  I imagined lots of tears, both by me and her, when I returned to work.  This doesn't seem to be the case.  The transition has gone surprisingly smooth.  Since Jade doesn't take a bottle, we have moved onto learning to drink from a cup and the medicine dropper.  She also visits me once a day for a quick snuggle and nursing session.  I am extremely grateful to have a job that allows me to continue nursing my baby.  I also have wonderful support and help that make this all possible.  Oh, and can you believe that she is rolling over?  and found her feet!  and is super chatty and giggly!  It was only yesterday that she was a sleepy newborn.

Jade is almost 5 months (What!), but I wanted to post these amazing photos taken by Jen Seelye last month.

 

xoxo,

 

howells

Vegas with a baby

We are those parents. We brought our kid to Vegas. On the hottest day of the year. And...

I'd do it again!

It was fun and relaxing. Jade used her float for the first time and we wandered the mall a bunch. It was a nice change of atmosphere. 

P.S. you can't gamble or order a beer with a babe strapped to you. 

Xoxo,

Howells

Jaden's Message

Jaden has something she would like to tell you:

Three

Baby girl is now 3 months old. Wow! Time is going too fast. I enjoy every minute with her. She is currently going through a growth spurt so we are spending hours on end attached to each other. She is in an anti-nap, eating all the time, one poop a day, hold me phase. She is still sleeping pretty well at night but last night she insisted on keeping my nipple close by for an all night feeding frenzy. Luckily I have no problem sleeping through this behavior. 

Jade weighs 11 pounds 5 ounces and loves to suck on her hands and chew on my finger. She loves to play and talk to her animals on the activity mat. She still won't drink from a bottle or suck on a pacifier but will let us play with it in her mouth while she licks or chews it. She's a boob girl and we can't trick her!

This kid is changing and growing too fast.  Babies don't sit still so pardon the bluriness!

Happy Monday!

Ricki