Swinging

Someone had a great time swinging for the first time at the park.

She liked her feet tucked in better. Wheeee!

Roll over

Because of Hannah Kate's prematurity, she is behind on her motor skills and trunk strength. We've been working with her to try and help her eventually catch up, so it was pretty exciting when she rolled from front to back a few times today. I managed to record a little on my phone, and since this is also our family journal I wanted to post it. Ignore my high pitched cheering, if it works, it works :).

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

I love watching Hannah Kate discover new things :)

Hannah Kate - Five Months

I'm not thrilled with the monthly pictures this time, but they are what they are. I am glad HK is becoming more aware and is in love with her Daddy, even if that means she doesn't like to look at the camera :).

 

Yep, Daddy was beside her :)

And now above her...

and below her. At least there is no question she is tracking now!

This month you:

• Wore size 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers.
• Liked to look at the baby in the mirror. You don't realize it's you yet, but always recognize the person holding 'that baby'
• Tried to stick both fists in your mouth at the same time. No success yet, but it doesn't deter you.
• Finally started getting hair on the top of your head. And now you've rubbed a good bit off of the back. Ah well, it's only hair.
• Are the happiest when you are on your changing table. We get the most smiles and coos then.
• Are starting to weight bear on your legs (started 3/8)
• Like your sun toy with links (it crinkles) and your rattle.
• Like to sit up in Mama and Daddy's lap, and short periods in your bumbo.
• Belly hernia is almost gone.
• Wore sunglasses for the first time. Poor winter baby didn't know what to do with the sunlight!

• Rolled onto your side a few times.
• Are getting much better at your trunk strength.
• Are learning to play during baths, and are surprised at the splashes. This one may come back to bite us, but we all think it's pretty funny now.
• Went on your first trip, and it had four different airplanes. Everyone told us what a good baby you were

Snoozing in the terminal with Daddy. Y'all are two peas in a pod.

Best of Both Worlds

Who says you can't suck on a paci and thumb at the same time?

Hannah Kate - Four Months

I am very behind on Hannah Kate's monthly posts, so today I'm catching up. To see HK at two months click here and at three months click here.

These shoes are definitely not suitable for the weather, but I am obsessed with them. LOVE.

This month you:

• Started wearing some  0-3 month clothes (mostly Carters).
• You have gotten taller and leaner this month, though it's hard to tell in pictures. You weigh 11 lbs 3 ozs and are 23 in long. If we adjust for your gestation, the doctor said you are actually on the tall side.
• Started sleeping two four hour shifts at night, thank you!
• Have a bird toy with a windchime sound that you adore. Daddy and I call it baby crack, but realized she probably needs a new name.

 

• Your hand is also a pretty cool new find and you love to try and put it in your mouth.
• Another favorite is your wubbanub. At first I thought it would just be handy, now Daddy and I are talking about buying a backup. It is basically a soothie pacifier with a small giraffe attached and it not only helps you keep the paci in your mouth but you also like to pet and snuggle it.

• If you are on your belly, you are slobbering and sucking on whatever you are laying on. Apparently this is common, Mama asked the doctor.

• Smiling has become commonplace. 
• You are 'talking' like crazy and we talk right back. You have this noise that is a cross between a cry and talking. You do it when you wake up and want us to come get you and it sounds like you are yelling 'hey' over and over. You aren't upset, just trying to catch our attention and Daddy thinks it's pretty funny.
• If I'm not looking right at you you will pinch my chin between your fingers and your palm so I'll look at you. It doesn't hurt, but it does get my attention.

I think that's it sweet girl. Thank goodness for phones where I can keep track of all these things until I can write them out!

Snow bunny

The snow is nothing new here, but it's the first time Hannah Kate has actually seen it. When we go out, she is always bundled in her car seat with a blanket covering her from the wind. Today we decided to put her in her snowsuit for a picture or two in the snow. She was really cute because she kept opening her mouth and trying to lick at the snow. After a minute we came back inside but at least she got to see it!

 My loves

Photo-op on the chair

Melt my heart

 

Lots going on in this brain of mine about the journey we've been on the past 2 years, but I'm not ready to share yet. So for now enjoy a peek at Hannah Kate. No matter what, that little face can always make me smile.

Triple Threat

This sweet little girl has tripled her weight in three months! She started life at 3 lbs 2 ozs and 16.5 in long and now she's 9 lbs 9 ozs and 21.5 in long. The doctors continue to be amazed at her progress and Mama & Daddy are pretty proud too!

Hannah Kate -Three Months

This month you:

• Left preemie clothes behind, it's newborn clothes and diapers all the way.
• At your weight check you were 9 lbs 8 ozs and 21.5 in long (Mama has to double check this, but it's what I remember).
• You nurse like a champ and the doctor is always impressed that we aren't supplementing yet you are growing so well.
• Mama's voice can make you look around the room trying to find her
• Daddy can make you smile like no one else.
• The fish mobile on your swing can make even a terrible day better. The center of the mobile lights up and you love to watch it.
• You want to sit up on our shoulder and look around.

First Sunday

Sunday we were finally able to take Hannah Kate to church. The doctors have wanted us to be really careful about her exposure to germs and have limited her contact with large groups of people. We still have to be careful, but we were so excited to finally take her and introduce her to people who have prayed for her and loved on us, and just be able to fellowship. It went fairly well, but the nursing room did not have heat (it sounded like something had broken) so Hannah Kate and I spent most of our time in the lobby. Baby girl grunts like a man in her sleep and it was too loud :). We eventually wandered down to the nursery and I sat down there with her because a friend of ours was volunteering there. I'm not ready to leave her (plus it wouldn't work well with nursing) but I was able to hold her and help out a little. Would you believe she didn't make a peep once we got there?

 

Hanging out with her Daddy while Mama gets ready. Check out those tights :)

Cell phone pics Daddy snapped while they were waiting on me to get ready. She was in a great mood!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

 Matchy feet

 Snuggle time (Look at that chin, I want to eat her up!)

Comparing

I'll post about Christmas later, but thought I'd share some pictures of Hannah and me. My mom scanned these pictures of my first Christmas from my baby book. We took some pictures of Hannah in my Christmas dress and had fun comparing. We might be related :).

Hannah Kate -Two Months

Baby girl has grown so much in the past month. While my parents were here, we attempted to take a few pictures for size comparison. I could kick myself for not doing this at one month, but we had literally just brought her home and it just wasn't at the top of my list (working on the mommy guilt).

 Timber!

This month you:

• Survived two eye exams. It is absolute torture for Mama to watch so I stay in the lobby and let Daddy be the strong one. They are monitoring the growth of the blood vessels in your eyes and hopefully they will be over soon!
• You are up to 7 lbs! That may not sound like much but it is more than double your birth weight. The doctor was amazed.
• You are still wearing preemie clothes and diapers.
• You are quite the grunter. It is crazy loud and you even do it in your sleep.
• You have smiled a few times intentionally. Melts my heart every time.
• You have an umbilical hernia. This scared Mama at first but the doctor says it should heal by the time you are two. 
• Pudginess is starting to show up on your little body. Sweet little fat rolls look good on you!
• The playmat is also a favorite. You don't do much on it, but like to look around.