Months Six, Seven and Eight!

The first half of your first year

Oh my goodness, Autumn Raine. My heart is a bit somber, yet filled with gratitude right now. Tomorrow you will be six months old, and our first year together will have reached its halfway point.

I heard a story once about a girl who told her dad when she got her license, that it was the happiest day of her life. He told her he was glad she was happy but told her it wasn't the happiest day yet. Then on her Prom day, the same thing. 'I'm glad you are happy, but this isn't the happiest day yet.' Again, her wedding day came, and she said, 'I KNOW this has to be the happiest day.' He told her it was close, but this wasn't it yet. Finally, the day she had her own baby in her arms she said, 'Dad, THIS is the happiest day of my life.' He just looked at her and said, 'Yeah. It is.'

This sums it up for me. You being here with me is the ultimate representation of all my dreams so far being a reality. I am married to the greatest man I could ever have found for myself, and we have the most beautiful angelic baby. You both are far above and beyond my wildest dreams. 

All I can say is thanks for coming to me. Every day, every smile, every new skill, everything you do completes our lives. The only thing I look forward to in the future is seeing you feel this incredible love and ultimate joy of holding your own sweet baby. 

I love you so much sweetheart. 

Five months old

Also loves: Red Solo Cups & Step & Play toy. 

Also is learning to cope with: Fruit in general. 

New Awareness

So we have had this place center that you have been in several times now. We borrowed it from my friend, Jessica. Tonight you were refusing to take your evening nap, so I just gave up and put you in it. 

Well, you're unbelievably more aware of all the different toys in it tonight! Pretty exciting! You are currently looking at yourself in the mirror, all on your own! 

By the time you realize what all of this means, you won't really think that that's too exciting. But one day when you're a mom and you have your little baby you'll realize how amazing it really is! I love that I get to spend this time with you. You are the sweetest, most beautiful baby in the world!

Your fourth month

After we got home from Hawaii, Papa and Nana came up for your blessing. In your blessing your daddy said you were wanted and loved by us and would be a great daughter and sister. He blessed you to be a blessing with those you meet & with the gift of discernment. 

We went to Denali and saw Mt. McKinley. You and I both had a rough time with separation issues. 

This month I have been seeing a counselor to work to be the best mom for you that I can. 

We put your hair in a ponytail for the first time, however the last few days it hasn't been sticking up so much... However that is in your fifth month. 

We got moved into our new apartment with Papa and Nana's help. We got passes to the zoo and have gone several times so far. They have Singing Time at 11 on Mondays and story time at 11 on Wednesdays. Lies, they are both at 10:30. We have also gone to play time at the park. We have been spending a lot of time with new friends who make living here so much easier.

Daddy's work was bought out by a big time firm called BDO, which we found out about just before you turned 4 months old. We had the most consecutive days over 70 on record. That is a record we are ok with breaking. 

That is about all I can think of right now!

You really want to sit up but aren't there yet. You also can get either your bum OR head up when you are on your tummy. It is frustrating to you, because you want to crawl badly. You are talking louder and love looking at and talking to kids. You can't wait to be playing with them. 

You are interested in food, but they want us to hold off letting you try anything more than a little avocado that you licked until we see the allergist. They gave us an epipen. 

We also went to Juneau to visit the Urquharts. It was so nice and they were great people. We went to the state museum, hatchery, tram, St. Therese's Shrine and a restaurant with amazing burgers. It was beautiful and great to be there. 

I think that was all!

Love you, Pooky. 

Hawaii

We went to Hawaii just before you turned 3 months old. It was so beautiful and we stayed with Great Uncle Kivalu & Great Aunt Heather (kind of) in their apartment suite type area of the guest house they recently built. 

We were very close to lanikai beach. It was a short drive and we were on a beach most days, either there or Kailua Beach. We went in to Honolulu and Pearl Harbor one day, went to the North Shore another day, and spent an awesome day at the PCC as well. We saw Keenan play baseball and had luau food at their potluck that evening. I was astonished when I was told I was eating raw fish. 

It was about 85 degrees almost every day there. You and I both got bitten by fire ants at Hanauma Bay. Ouch. Also you busted out in hives after I ate mango. :( 

The exciting thing for you is that you can forever say that you went to the non-contiguous states first! Very cool. :)

We love you, Autumn Raine. 

(I will add pictures after I get them off the camera)

Three Months Old

So your 3 month photo has been refusing to post so I am trying again. 

I wished I had put 'church' under your 'learning to cope with' category. 

4 months Old

Here is your 4 month photo. 

Hawaii

We went to Hawaii in the middle of May. We stayed at Great Uncle Kivalu & Great Aunt Heather's in a guest home that will be Great Grandpa and Grandma Batchelor's if they move down there. 

It was BEAUTIFUL and hot! We went to the beach, Pearl Harbor, the PCC, the North Shore, Hanauma Bay and the beach several more times. 

You got a subtle little baby tan through your SPF 50. I however got freckles and dad got a burn that turned into a tan. You slept well on the flights and it was a piece of cake. 

We still need to upload all our pictures from it. We had a stranger take some beautiful pictures of you. She was Asian. There were many Asian women who came up to us who thought you were beautiful. Great Aunt Heather says they love to see blond hair. :) 

I will add pictures from the trip after we upload them. 

Fun Little Autumn Stories

6-11-13

Unless your first word is hilarious, it can't beat a couple weeks ago when you were babbling and your dad asked, 'You're just a social little bug, aren't you?' You replied, 'Yeah.' 

You also replied 'Yeah' the other day when your dad asked if I beat you. 

When we were in Hawaii you were sitting on Dad watching The Hunger Games when I grabbed you to nurse you for bed. You were very upset and started crying in protest so I passed you back to dad and you instantly got happy as you stared at the screen again. 

6-13-13

Last night you started whining and whimpering in your sleep. Then Daddy goes, 'Baby Autumn, why so sad?' Here's the catch. He was asleep too. 

6-14-13

This morning you woke up at 4:30 to play with your toes. 

Last night you lunged at Daddy's Garlic bread and licked it. We tore a piece off to see if you were interested. You licked it a lot more. So I let you lick some avocado. You haven't figured out the putting it in your mouth bit, but you seemed to enjoy it!

Your third month

Your third month has been so fun. Your personality has come out more and more every day. You are so fun to be around. We got a swing for you and you love it. I left for two or three hours one day and you had no clue. You stayed in there just about the whole time so daddy had it easy!

We got some pictures taken of you and a few with us in them as a family. They are beautiful, but the adorable subject helps. :) We flew down to Hawaii and were there for the last couple of days of your third month so we will sum that up next month. 

You were vaccinated this month and got a fever over 103.  It was a nightmare but I used essential oils to bring your fever down since you threw up every time I have you Tylenol unless I did it extremely slowly drop by drop. We are talking overran hour to give you a dose. It was awful. I'm so not sure about how I feel about them and if I will do the next set or not. 

We also moved to a warmer apartment and sent Trixie to stay with Granny and Grandpa because we can't have her in the new apartment. We will get her back when we move to the lower 48 next year. 

Here are some pictures of your third month.