Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Babies don’t keep

11bw

Faith was 6 months on May 1st. 

9 126

Some 6 months (okay, almost 7 months) stats:

15 pounds (and more importantly maintenance of the 20th percentile)

28 inches

Champion sleeper, down to 2 naps a day and 13 hours at night.

Not so good eater—a combination of breastmilk (thank you alfalfa, fenugreek and a good hospital pump), formula, baby food and lots of crusts and crackers shoved in her hands to keep her happy.

Sitting well, finally

EXTREMELY happy…if entertained.

Can blow raspberries, fake cough and do this high pitch scream on command.

Not-so-good with babysitters and holders at church.  We’re working on it.

Loved and super fun all the time.

 4bw28

Before she was six months, I was up all night, training her to sleep, Baby-Bjorning, wiping spit up, nursing, trying to retain my milk supply, shielding her from over-loving siblings, attempting to run errands in that infinitesimal space between baby’s naps, feedings and kindergarten drop-off, bemoaning and working off the baby-weight,  keeping up with the lives of her 4 other siblings and, of course, kissing, biting, nuzzling, rocking, lullaby-ing, tickling and strolling.

  13   615 17  19  

And I was really really really trying to appreciate, enjoy, soak in this possible last baby.

And then she was 6 months.  What? …6 months is one half of a year.  An actual age.  How did my newborn become an actual age?

I promise I did not soak it up enough.  And, still, it’s here.

I was kind of wishing I’d feel more relief or something.  Not this achy, where-did-it-go and am-I-really-not-going-to-have-another-perfectly-yummy-looking-smushy-baby-who-thinks-I’m-the-greatest-thing-that-ever-lived feeling. 

I commented to Ryan the other day:  “If someone could invent a Have Your Child At Any Age For A Few Hours machine, I would pay thousands of dollars for it, in a second.”  Don’t you agree?5

Lucky for me, my friend Randi (here for her family blog, here for her photo website)takes these kinds of pictures, so I can remember exactly how sweet she was.

39 comments:

Abbie said...

Aw, she is cute! Very cute.

Let me know when you find that machine. I need to see Eli at 5 months again (oh, me, he was cute!) and Audrie right after birth - I was more focused on what i just did than who just came out of me.

Annemarie said...

So sweet, Jessica. I agree with every single word. Lately I am having the hardest time with ALL of my kids growing up.
She is so precious!

Paige said...

So glad you got the thumb sucking! And the adorable nursery! And I'm also extremely proud of YOU for her being in the 20th percentile.

Most people don't have photo sessions, with MULTIPLE outfit changes, for their 5th kid. You are a star mother.

I would definitely buy that machine. 12 months and under is pure heaven.

Hollyween said...

Oh. My. Word.
Jessica, these pictures are gorgeous. My favorite one is the first one. What a beautiful baby!!

I, too, would buy that machine. The baby stuff just goes by too too fast. My Faith turns two next Tuesday. And I really, REALLY want to cry about it.

Grandpa/Dad said...

I am just blown away with these pictures. I think you deserve this wonderful little bundle, but you should forever be grateful. I hurts my heart that I can't just climb into the screen to nibble and nozzle her. When I look at Jane now, I see Emma then. When I look at Faith now, I see Jane then. When I look at all three and then the rest of your family, I see total beauty.

diane said...

Yum! I wish I could hold my babies again but alas, they can hold me now.

Thaanks for the fabulous fashion show too.

mahina said...

she is too cute!

i am feeling the same way with our 4 month old! can't we just stop time, please!!??

Erin said...

Those are adorable! Love them. :)

And...I just had to say BRAVO on maintaining the 20th!!!!! :) That's a lot of hardwork and a lot of dedication on your part. Been there, done that, soooo can appreciate what you've done/are doing.

Nancy said...

Thanks for the reminder to cherish this time... and to take more pictures.

heidiram said...

Oh she is SOOOOOOOO precious. What a cutie pie.

katie said...

She is adorable! Wish I'd gotten such cute pictures of my little Isaac at 6 months. Time does go by so fast!

Tristan said...

She is so beautiful!! She is 2 months older than Preston and they weigh the same! I too am trying to soak up everything with Preston as he most likely our last child. I don't feel like I really have soaked it up enough either! I mean he is only 4 months...but where did the 4 months go?

Anyway, she's a beauty and I love the pictures and her cute cute dresses!

Jenibelle said...

Oh my goodness...now I want a girlbaby and yesterday looking at Preston I wanted a boybaby.

She is so cute and so photogenic!! You're doing wonderfully well. My baby is 12 and I am really struggling with the idea that my kids are kids any more, they're young adults. I hate it.

queenieweenie said...

she truly is an amazingly beautiful baby. what pictures!!!

i wish they would stay babies forever-I could ALWAYS have a baby.

Unknown said...

You should be a baby fashion stylist - honestly, I've never seen a cuter baby in cuter surroundings.
are you available for hire?

Laurie said...

She is so cute. I so want a baby girl. She's delish.

Cannot believe my baby is 9 months already. I also can't believe yours is 15 pounds. I think I'd accidentally toss her into the ceiling. Pete just weighed in at 24.5. My back is seriously tweaked. But he has slowed down in his weight gain--he was 17 pounds at 9 weeks.

We're still trying to invent the spray that keeps them at the perfect baby age.

Christie said...

Head over heels in love with that first picture, though all of them are fantastic.

I'm sorry - what was the post about? Couldn't get past the gorgeous pictures.

the wrath of khandrea said...

the pictures are exactly where i want my photography to go.

i need to come up to your area and have her give me some lessons. does she hire for lessons? i'm sorry my obsession with learning photography has overshadowed my ability to embrace the story in your post.
i'm self-absorbed that way. my apologies.

faith is adorable though.

Kimberly said...

Gorgeous. I can't believe how fast it goes.

Carie said...

Faith is darling. Can't believe she is so big!

krista said...

Adorable!

Bridget said...

What a cutie Faith is. I am seeing a hint of that cute Jane crooked smile in the first photo. I love it.

G and G Nut said...

I concur with everything Grandpa/Dad said. She is BEAUTIFUL. Very nice work,
Mom.
xoxoxo

Liz said...

I hope you have that first picture framed and hanging up in your home. She is BEAUTIFUL!!

Adrianne said...

She looks so much like Jane in that first picture that at first I was confused!! She is beautiful, and we are anxiously hoping for her wardrobe.

I remember when Gabe was tiny thinking "I'm doing everything I can to appreciate and absorb the moment, and it's still passing too quickly!"

day in the life of a prince said...

I love this post! Every word of it is so true!!! And the pictures are amazing and darling!!!!

Matthews Family said...

Such beautiful pictures. I loved all those moments captured in each picture. Babies are so much fun!

Lauren in GA said...

Oh, Jessica. Faith is so, so, so, so beautiful. I burst into tears when I read the title and saw that first picture with her stunning eyes. What a living doll.

Those pictures are gorgeous. Your friend is so talented. Each pic is a marvel.

I agree with all that you said. So beautifully put.

Erika said...

those pictures are priceless - hope she charged you and arm and a leg because it would have been worth it. Aren't you just the most awesome mom - and I LOVE your blog.

Ilene said...

BEAUTIFUL pictures! 6 months is magic.

Seriously, I want that machine. I think I mentioned that I am heartbroken over Laura's little teeth. I too am grateful for great photographers!

Camden said...

Beautiful pictures! And you so eloquently put into words what I have been feeling about my youngest who is nearly 3. I long to be out of the nap/toddler mess/toddler tantrum phase but at the same time it's all going far too quickly. I certainly don't appreciate it like I will one day. Thanks for your thoughts.

J'net said...

Darling photo shoot! Why does it sound like a baby #6 could be a consideration all the way thru the cooing and smiles of this blog? That's the price a darling mom has to pay when she has adorable babies and kids... Either you keep having them, OR you put them in modeling so the whole world can appreciate their adorable-ness and you become SO busy as a stage mom that you can't THNIK of producing another one!!! Jake's wife is from a family of 10 children SO relax, you are only half way there...

Brooke said...

What adorable pics!! I can't wait to see her and you guys. I love and miss you guys!

Bethany said...

Like you need one more person to tell you.... She is darling! I love the curvy lips. My fav is the thumb sucking thru the crib- she looks so relaxed!

abbyandcompany said...

if you google the liberty lake garage sale, your blog comes up. Pretty cool, huh? Okay, a bit scary.

Faith is so cute...and daniel asked me the other night if I was taking fenugreek again. all this time i thought he was a fan of maple syrup!

Jill said...

Oh my gosh. She is beauuuuuuuuutiful!!

kara jayne said...

i'm dying at how cute she and the pictures are. it could almost talk me into having a 5th...almost.

elizabeth scott said...

DANG CUTE!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to see that little squishy girl soon!

Tammy said...

Wonderful photos! She is adorable like a little doll, well like all of your children....how do they all come out looking the same?! so darn cute