6 Month Check Up

You had your 6 month check-up with Dr. Cathleen today. We love Dr. Cathleen!!!

Your stats:
25 3/4" long- 50th percentile for height
18lbs even- 95th percentile for weight

You were very active and happy during the first part of your visit. You LOVED the paper on the table and kept reaching for and tearing the paper.

Dr. Cathleen gave us the 6 month packet of information to take home and review. She was very impressed with your strength and said you are right on target and hitting all the right milestones. She complimented you on how well you sat and how you passed Sophie (your giraffe) back and forth between your hands. You still haven't rolled from your back to your tummy so I asked about that, but she didn't seem too worried since you are sitting up and very stable. Your next milestone should be crawling. She also said you'd be pulling up by 9 months. Crazy! I can't believe how fast time is passing! She checked out your new tooth and (much to my surprise) said you were working on your bottom teeth and showed me where they were getting ready to pop through.

You did really well with your oral vaccine. You drank it just like it tasted like milk!

Your other vaccinations were a different story, although you took them like a champ.

6 months- Happy Half Birthday

Dear Hannah,

You are 6 months old! Daddy and I can hardly believe that a half year has passed by. You have brought so much joy to our lives and we love you more and more with each passing day.

You are such a happy girl! You smile and giggle all the time. You are developing such a cute personality. You started to give "hugs" this month. It's my favorite thing. I'll pick you up from your crib after a nap and you immediately wrap your arms around my neck and bury your head into me. You then pull back and smile real big. It's the best!

Most everyone who meets you immediately compliments you on your beautiful blue eyes! They are pretty striking. They also comment on how physically strong you are. I definitely agree! You started sitting up all on your own this month. You had been sitting up for a few seconds and then tipping over for several weeks, but this month you nailed it!!

You are very into faces these days. You love to grab our noses and mommy's glasses. You even reach out for Daisy!

You are exploring your environment more and more and everything goes into your mouth. You've figured out what different toys do and are curious about how they work. You love your Kindermusik rattle and reach for it first whenever it's among other toys put in front of you. You know it makes a noise when you wave it around. You are no longer interested in your baby swing. You have moved on to your exersaucer and Sassy jumper.

You've discovered your feet and you love to suck on your toes. To each his own :) Daddy and I are impressed with your flexibility. You clearly inherited that from a distant relative!

You can spot a bottle from a mile away. One of my favorite moments of the month: you were on day number two of solid foods, so you still weren't into "real food" much. We finished up and headed to the sofa where Aunt Susie was feeding  Megan. You literally lunged forward, mouth open and hands out trying to get a hold of Megan's bottle.  We laughed so hard! It was your way of saying... please, oh please, give me more milk and not this rice cereal!

Speaking of solid foods, you started solids on March 20th. It took you about two days to warm up to real food, but boy once you figured it out there was no turning back! You've tried rice cereal, butternut squash, whole grain cereal and peas. So far, so good! Up next, carrots and prunes.

You are beginning to explore the sippy cup and get so excited when I place it in front of you! You know what a bottle is and what to do with it. I guess the sippy cup looks just as appetizing!

You are now done with Kindermusik. Mommy is so sad! but, we have you enrolled in a Lap Sit reading program at the library. There are more kids there closer to your age and you love not only story time, but the music and toys you get to play with. We've also started to do activities with the women's circle in the church. This month we went to an assisted living for a "Music Together" class. It was so much fun. The moms and babies/kids sat in a circle on the floor while the residents sat in chairs in a circle behind us. We all played and sang music together. The residents loved it and so did you! You brought a big smile to one resident's face. She really wanted to hold a child, so I placed you in her lap. She was so excited!! and you were so well behaved. I look forward to more classes like this!

You officially have your first tooth and I believe you are well on your way to a second one. You had a rough time when the tooth was descending into the bud, but not so much when the actual tooth popped through.

You are still in a great routine!

Wake up and nurse: 7-7:30am
Play
Nap: somewhere between 8:30 and 9am You generally sleep about an hour for your first nap
Solids: Cereal around 9:30 or 10am
Play
Nurse:11:30
Nap: usually lasts 1.5 to 2 hours
Solids: 2pm
Play
Nurse: 3:30 or 4pm
Cat nap: 4pm I won't let you sleep past 5pm
Solids: 5pm
Play
Bed time routine: 6pm includes bath time and reading
7pm: Nurse
Bed time: snuggle time and prayers

I know the 3rd nap will drop soon, but you still can't quite get to bed time without a little late afternoon nap.

We can't wait to see what you'll do next. You constantly amaze us and we're so in love with you! Happy 6 months Hannah Kathryn!!

A Visit From the Foys!

We had some very special visitors this weekend! "Aunt" Allison and "Uncle" Chris came to Chicago for a long weekend of fun. They loved on you so much! I witnessed you flirting for the first time :) My goodness, you were taken back by Chris. You were coy and offered him your paci. You cooed, turned your head and then would sneakily cut your eyes towards him and smile. It was hilarious! We told Allison you were trying to give her a run for her money. Chris knealt down beside you when you were fussy on the floor. You grabbed his finger and held on tight, turning from fussy into happy immediately. You loved Uncle Chris!

Aunt Allison was very hands-on with you and you loved every second of it. She helped all weekend and even offered to get you up from an afternoon nap. You gave her a huge smile when her face was the one you saw peering over the crib.

You sightseeing with us all weekend. The weather was amazing and we spent quite a bit of time walking around the city. The Bean was one of our favorite stops! You were asleep.... but we got some great photos nonetheless.

This was pretty much your expression any time Uncle Chris was holding you.

We can't wait for the Foys to come back to Chicago again!!

Yummy, Yummy! Your first solid food...

Hannah, you are starting solid foods this week. Up until this point, you have been exclusively breastfed. It's something I'm very proud of and something that has hopefully benefited you. The pediatrician suggested we start you on solid food at 6 months.

Daddy is prepping for the big event by putting together your high chair.

Success #1, you enjoy sitting in your high chair!





We gave you your own spoon and even your own sippy cup (it was empty, much to your dismay) so that you can start associating those items as eating tools.

Your first food was rice cereal. It's a typical first food for infants. We had no trouble getting you to open your mouth (you are putting everything into your mouth these days); however, you weren't too impressed with what you tasted. When Daddy went to give you another spoonful, you promptly shut your mouth and pursed your lips. What little he did get in your mouth was immediately spit out!

We gave you solids twice the first day. The second attempt was much more successful. I think you let us get about 5 spoonfuls in.

Welcome to solids Hannah!

Hannah's Intruder

As promised, your tooth! It's barely peeking through, but it's there.



grinning girl

This gummy grin will soon be sporting a new tooth! You've been showing the classic signs of teething for several weeks now: drooling, chewing, fussiness, runny nose, etc. I've also felt the little booger recently when you nurse. Last night, I finally spotted your first tooth! It's a top tooth and, to me, it looks to be one over to the left of your middle tooth. I wasn't expecting that! You're handling it pretty well. Naps have been "ify" but you're not waking during the night :) I have to wait for Daddy to get back from traveling to snap a picture of your gums. So exciting!

Our big girl!

Big things are happening in the Vance household. Hannah, you are sitting up...all by yourself. This has been in the works now for several weeks. In weeks past, I'd put you down, let go, you'd wobble for a few seconds and then tip over. Last week, you nailed it! I put you down, watched you wobble, and then you were still and sitting straight up. You did it! You sat up! You were so happy, grabbing and playing with your toys. I grabbed my camera (like i've done many times before) to capture the moment. Until then, you'd already tipped over by the time I was ready to snap the picture. This time, you were still sitting! I was so proud! 

It's amazing, just the day before you were still wobbling. Literally, overnight, you went from wobbling to perfection. You sat for quite a while playing with your toys.

Reaching forward didn't throw you off balance one bit! 

You are such a big girl! 

Laughter is the best medicine!

They say, laughter is the best medicine. You know what? I believe them! Daddy and I can't get enough of your sweet laugh. We will do the silliest things to make you laugh. You are happiest in the morning and right after your naps (like your momma!). We caught this sweet video of you after your afternoon nap :)

Best Friends!

Dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans', right?

The song "let me tell you bout my best friend" comes to mind when I see these two together. Daisy has come to love you. You can't get enough of Daisy Mae. It warms our hearts!

mmm, mmm good!

You will be starting solid foods after your 6 month check up with the pediatrician. You've been exclusively breastfed so far, a real milestone, despite some difficult bumps in the road mommy encountered. As we enter this next stage of feeding, I really want to make all of your baby food for you. Grandmommy and Grandaddy gave me a Beaba Babycook for my birthday this year (SUPERFUN!). I pulled it out over the weekend and decided to get a head start on making some delicious treats for you.

First up on the menu, Braeburn Apples. Why you ask? The big bag of organic apples was on sale :) I pulled all of our supplies together while you napped.

The process was a little time consuming, but super easy. The Babycook is a fantastic tool . After I washed, peeled, cored and sliced the apples, I put the chunks into the steamer basket and let the Babycook work its magic.

You woke up in time to help mommy out!

Fresh steamed apples!

We pureed the apples and scooped them into individual servings to freeze. When frozen, we'll pop out the servings and put them in a Ziplock until you're ready to eat them.

Making baby food is super easy and something we can enjoy doing together. You love to watch me cook whether it's babyfood or a meal for Daddy and me. You sit in your Bumbo and just stare. You especially love it when I pour liquids or chop. You are the perfect sous chef!

I can't wait for you to try solids for the first time!!!!!