FOOD!

Uncle Greg got Myles a couple of new bibs for Christmas so when he started eating he didn't have to wear the ones with flowers on them.  They came just in time because while we thought it would be another month until Myles started on cereal, at his five month peds appointment we realized he wasn't gaining weight and needed more food.  Lucky man didn't have to wait to use his Christmas present!  

What he didn't realize is the bib wasn't what he
was supposed to be eating.

First bite of "real" food.

Daddy trying his best to get at least some of
the cereal into a closed mouth.

Nora giving it her best shot.
(side note - Daddy let her pick out her outfit this
morning... don't judge)

Cheers to a whole new world of food opening up for you, Mr. Man.  Bon appetite!

Zoo Lights

Zoo Lights is something I've heard about since I have lived in the city.  Every year, Lincoln Park Zoo puts millions of lights up on the trees and in the open ares of the zoo.  Some are motion lights that are choreographed to Christmas songs and others just cling to the trees.  It's always been in the back of my mind to go one year and with a little girl who gets super excited anytime she sees more lights when taking a walk or driving we figured what better year than this to go check it out.  

Luckily, I was prepared with snacks because an hour and a half after departing from our driveway, we finally rolled up to Zoo Lights (note-to-self... next year, take the North Avenue exit)  I also thought to bring along hot chocolate in travel mugs for when we were walking around the zoo and Nora knew they were in my purse so I think that was keeping her in her toes.  Not to mention anytime we saw a train go past all we'd hear was, "Nonny?  Nonny?  Nonny?" over and over again (Nonny is how she says her name).  That was her way of asking if she could go on the train.  Another thing that kept her occupied on the way there.

Zoo Lights

She wanted to touch every light that was low
enough for her to reach.  She loved seeing all those lights.

Then she saw the cheetah and didn't want to leave it.
She just kept watching it pace back and forth.

Around the entire zoo, it looked like this.
Truly amazing!

These were some of the lights in motion to a
montage of Christmas music.

Watching closely.

More right at her height.

Then we made our way inside to see if any of the monkeys were awake.  While most of them weren't, you could still see some of them sleeping.
 

These monkeys were zonked our right near the glass.
Dan and I were kind of amazed at how human-like they
looked when they started to stir trying to find a comfortable
position to sleep in.

Look who decided to open his eyes for a while and
check it out too!

Nora absolutely loved walking through the animal
houses.  Every time we'd walk out of the building, she'd
take my hand trying to pull me back inside saying, "more".

sleeping cats

She tried to get as close to every
animal as she could.  She would have
stayed here all night watching the lions.

Nora and Mommy

So neat to see this many lights.

The entire night was just perfect.  No whining, no crying, just looking at lights, asking for more monkeys, and taking occasional breaks to sip hot chocolate.  When we got back to the car, I fed Myles in the back while Nora played (and if anyone knows Nora, you know she has an odd obsession with playing in the car) so she was happy as a pig in mud.  I figured she'd zonk out on the way home from all the fresh air and it being so late but she continued to be very awake and very happy - and still munching on animal crackers (which I just realized were an ironically appropriate snack for the night)

And did I mention that it was her
first night with a forward-facing
car seat?!  What a big girl!!
I think this was also one of the reasons
she did so well on the long ride there.

Myles slept the entire way home.  Nora stayed awake the entire way home.  But the bedtime routine quickly began and off to sleep she went by 10:30.  It was a perfect night and I couldn't have planned it better if I tried.

Five Months Old

Five months old and he's...

not sleeping as well through the night anymore

laughing more - especially when tickled

grabbing at anything and everything within reach

putting anything he can get his hands on in his mouth

practicing rolling over from back to front - SO close

very aware of his surroundings

standing ALL the time (with help, of course) 

finally settling into a schedule 

(morning and afternoon naps with bedtime at 6:30/6:45)

eating more than I can keep up with

still able to fit in three month clothing

I had to take just shy of a million pictures to get one
without a toy in it and  of  him looking
at the camera.  Worth it.

Most of them looked like this.

Or this - wondering what
Nora was doing behind him

Then I took another million shots to get him
to look at me again.

Because he would rather see how Freddie tastes
than look at mom.  And do I blame him?

Proud Mama.

Still keeping those legs curled up. 

Nora had to get in on the action.

I love watching them together like this.
Every morning she wants him to lay in bed with her
and they have bonding time.

A happy five month old!

official five month stats:
height - 25.5 inches (18%)
weight - 13lbs 11.5oz (5%)

Myles is a solely breastfed baby.  Because of that, I was hoping to not introduce cereal until 6 months (as I did with Nora).  However, about a week or two before his 5 month appointment I noticed he was starting to eat every three hours during the day instead of the regular 4.  He was also starting to wake up more at night and wanted to eat by 4:30am.  So I thought I'd ask the doctor about starting cereal at 5 months.  After all, he's a boy!

I was a little more shocked when I plopped Myles on the scale and the nurse announced "13, 14 and a half".  

Really?!  That's only an ounce more than last month.  That doesn't seem right.  So we went to the digital scale.

13lbs  11.5oz.   Even less than last month.  My heart sank.

I figured he was just ready for solids.  I didn't realize he was actually hungry.  My supply was slipping and I just thought he was getting putzy or too distracted when eating - not fussy because he didn't get enough.

So after talking with the doc a bit, Dan and I started cereal that night.  Poor boy is hungry and needs the calories.  I'm also taking an herbal supplement called fenugreek that is supposed to help boost milk production.  I feed Myles like normal and if it seems like I'm out of milk before he's done, we supplement with milk I have frozen in the freezer.  Hopefully the vitamins, along with an increase in water drinking, will help enough but if not, I'll need to supplement with formula.  Not the end of the world, but not ideal for this Mama Bear.  But I'll do anything to get him out of the 5th percentile and get more meat on those bones!!

Love you, Mr. Myles.

Christmas

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; 

He is the Messiah, the Lord.

- Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas!!

And happy birthday to, Gigi (as Nora would say).  This year, I was suspecting Nora would get into opening presents, handing some out, and the general spirit of Christmas so I was really anxious for our Christmas celebrations to begin.  

We were on "Santa's Test Run" list.  If you haven't heard of the Test Run list before, let me clue you in.  On the night of December 23, Santa takes his reindeer and sleigh and goes for a test run to make sure the reindeer are in tip-top shape and everything is working right for the "big night".  What a disaster to find out on Christmas Eve that something needs to be fixed.  So Santa comes to some houses on Christmas Eve Eve.  We were one of the lucky ones to be on that list.  

Santa is so smart.  He knew Nora couldn't read yet so
he made gift tags with pictures to show her who each
gift was for.  

The first gift Nora went towards.
I'll give you two guesses as to what
it might be (even though I think you
might only need one)

If you guessed a shovel, you're right! 

While Nora was excited to open gifts there wasn't as much vigor as I had expected.  She'd open one gift and want to play with it for a while - not too interested in opening the next one or tearing through the rest.  Which I suppose simply means that her gifts were just that good.  Right?

After the shovel, a stroller for Baby.
She and Baby made many laps around
the house before she was ready to
open another present.

Nora and Daddy opening a gift together.

Myles' first Christmas present! 

He got help from everyone!

Opening a gift with Mommy.

Lala!  She loves her Elmo!

This girl loves to put on glasses - she got a pair of
plastic lenses to wear around.  Don't ask about the
cheesy grin plastered on her face. 

Let me get out this smudge.  

One of the best gifts of the season -- a "mini mug".
She thought she was the coolest drinking "coffee" (water)
from a mug just like Mommy's and Daddy's.
She'd take sips between each and every gift.

Have I mentioned Nora likes Elmo?

After opening gifts at home, the Guenther clan got ready, loaded into the car, and drove to Wisconsin for Christmas with the extended families - starting with a Christmas Eve celebration at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Myles with his most favorite Grandpa!

He got a car!  I think he likes it :)

This opening presents thing is tiring.
I think I'll take a load off.....
here looks good.

Christmas Eve night was spent at Gram's house.  In the morning, Nora woke up to find a special treat.

Nora inching closer and closer to Eddie.

Time to start opening gifts!

Nora and Myles checking out his
new little zoomers cars.

All dressed up and ready for more family celebrations.

Myles exploring Grandpa Grandpa's glasses.

Love.

This is as close to him she has gone by herself.
I consider this progress.  Walking by, making eye contact,
and even talking a bit.... with no tears!

After spending time with my side of the family, we headed back to Guenther's for a Christmas night gathering with more family.  It was here where she got the gift of the season!

Thank you Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary
for the Princess Castle/Cottage!
It's the coolest - with just a flip of a tab
it goes from castle to cottage! 

That grin shows just how much she loves it.
She tried to play it cool but couldn't hide it too long!
Sequels of delight came out as she went in and out.
And in.  And out.  And in again.

Then she invited in guests.
What a willing godfather she has.

Look at my new house!!!

Family photo.  I think it's going to be difficult to get
a picture with both kids looking in the same direction.
At least neither of them are crying.

hmmm.... what's this?

Let me check it out a little closer.

And finally -- the 26th.

a relaxing bath in the morning.

We had to go back to Gram's to finish unwrapping presents.  I failed to mention earlier that Nora slept until 9:15 Christmas morning so we didn't have enough time after eating breakfast to open all the gifts. (I'm guessing this might be the last year she sleeps in on Christmas... then again, who knows!)

Nora got red jimmies (the same color as... Elmo!)
She had her fair share of them.  Not on ice cream.
Just in a bowl.  A few didn't make it in her mouth.

Feeding baby from her new "baba".

A relaxed pup.  Greatest dog alive!