Big Girl Milestones

This past week was a big one in terms of milestones for my girls. On the 11th, Emsley turned 6 months old (that's half a year already!) and Elliana turned 5 years old!

Of course I am more sad about Ellie's milestone than Em's. I still can remember Ellie's birthday and the events surrounding it like it was yesterday. I feel like I blinked and the baby girl that made me a mom is now this grown up little lady that can't wait to start her life and spread her wings. :**(

Abby and Reagan, (two of Ellie's cousins) got their ears pierced this past year and Ellie begged and begged to get hers pierced. However, ever since I discovered I was having a girl I decided that her 5th birthday would be a fun time to get her ears pierced. So I kept insisting that Ellie had to wait.

Fortunately, after begging for several weeks she forgot about it. Saturday was her official birthday and we celebrated with just our little family of 5. We're doing a larger family party for her this Friday. We planned on going out to dinner to a restaurant of Ellie's choice. She chose Fazoli's because Spaghetti and meatballs is her favorite food. :)

Right before we left for dinner Caleb and I sat her down and told her that her birthday gift from us was getting her ears pierced. Her reaction was priceless! She smiled so big and said "Seriously? Seriously? YAY YAY YAY!" then she jumped around for a while.  It was so much fun!

Ellie is our adventurous one. She is so brave and she wanted this for so long so I thought that getting her ears pierced would be a piece of cake for her. At first she was all smiles and excitement,

but then as the big moment drew closer she started to say she was scared. :(

Once her ears were pierced she looked shocked. She may have turned a little white. I told her it was okay to cry. So, she did. She cried much longer than I thought she would. Here are a few pictures that capture her true emotion right after we left the store.

She just looks traumatized here, doesn't she?

But, by the time we were finished with dinner and on our way home, she was all smiles again and saying how she couldn't wait to show off her new earrings to just about everyone she knows. ;)

I still can't believe my first baby girl is 5. Here's what I posted about her on FB:

"Our Elliana Faith, how can you be FIVE years old today?! I remember your birth-day like it was just yesterday! I'm very proud of you big girl. May you always keep your zest for life, your huge smile that lights up any room, and your compassion for others. We loved surprising you today with your long time wish to get your ears pierced. Happy Birthday Ellie, and thank you for making me a mom! "

In other news, I must update our little miss Emsley on life at 6 months.

Emsley, here are your 6 month stats:

~You weigh 13 pounds, 12 ounces and are in the 9th percentile for weight. You are 25 inches long and are now in the 20th percentile for height. You didn't gain much weight this month but you grew a lot longer! You are stretching out and thinning out. :( I already miss your chunky, rolly look.

~You are still wearing size 2 diapers.

~You still wear some 3-6 months in clothing but you are beginning to wear a lot of 6-9 month clothes.

~You are still taking a bottle every 3-4 hours. After pumping as long as possible, my milk dried up. Your last bottle of breast milk was on Thanksgiving Day. :(

~We tried solid foods for the first time on Thanksgiving too. I'm ashamed to say your very first taste was a drop of pumpkin pie. I guess that's what happens when you're the 3rd baby. ;) Of course you loved it! You are taking to solid foods like a champ! Even your sister has had fun feeding you. :)

~You are a rock star sleeper at night, often sleeping 10-12 hours straight in the bassinet. It will soon be time to move you to the crib or pack n play. Since you are our 3rd baby we're trying to figure out where to put you until you're ready to share a room with one of your siblings.

~You're still not a great napper and nap times are still inconsistent with you. The only consistent nap is your early afternoon nap. That is always a good, long nap. You typically need another 1-2 short naps still.

~You are teething like CRAZY! You are constantly drooling and chewing on your fingers and hands. Unfortunately, in the last few days, you've acted like you're in pain. I keep looking for teeth but I don't see any yet

~For the most part, you are a very happy baby. If you are well fed and well rested, you love to smile, laugh and giggle. Nobody makes you giggle like your sister! We had fun catching this video of you and Ellie.

~You are SO CLOSE to rolling from back to stomach, but you're not quite there yet.

~You are sitting up more and more with support. We like to use the Boppy pillow to support you.

~You are becoming more and more content to be on the floor and play.

~You are so curious about your world now. You love to reach, grab and play with anything.

~One of your favorite places to be is your exersaucer. You hardly ever go in the swing or bouncy seat anymore.

~Your relationship with both of your siblings has really taken off this month. Nobody makes you laugh or smile like Ellie does. Although you are starting to smile and giggle more at Ethan too. I think your relationship with Ethan has grown most this month.

~You and Ellie got to play special roles in our church Christmas play last week. You played baby Jesus and Ellie played Mary. You were both adorable and you were a champ! You didn't cry until the very end and you were happy and quiet through 2 long songs!

~You have grown very attached to your white blanket. You must have your white blanket at all times for comfort and for falling asleep. 

~I can tell by the way you look around that you can't wait to be mobile and explore the world around you. I think you are so anxious to join your siblings an fun and mischief. ;) 

~Nicknames: Em, sweet girl and baby girl.

Emsley, we all love you SO much! We can't believe how quickly you are growing. You are such a sweet, easy baby and a joy to be around. I can't wait to see what God has in store for you.