Rachel is 5 months...and also 6 months

Poor second child. It's not that we don't love you just as much as we love Jackson. It's just that we have no time left now that we are taking care of both of you. So, your 5 and 6 month celebrations of life on this earth are combined into one! And, let's face it, not much happens at 5 months anyways ;) 

You are 15lbs and 3oz and are 26.5" inches long. Although you started out bigger than your brother at birth by almost a full pound, you are now trailing behind him in stats (he was 18lbs and 27"). You are more of a beanpole to his potato. Your blonde hair is getting longer and your eyes remain sparkling blue. You smile more and will even chuckle at things on a regular basis. You love when people kiss your belly and cheeks, and funny noises will always make you laugh. 

This month you started sitting up by yourself and are getting better each day. Although you originally resisted, you are now realizing that your arms can prevent you from falling and also allow you to scope out the room more, looking for Jackson or dad's voice.  Your toes were interesting for all of month 5 but you've moved onto bigger and better things....aka anything you can get your hands on. Which at times is not much, since you have no desire to crawl. Your world is still somewhat limited to whatever we put right in front of you. But that's ok as Jackson has not quite gotten the concept of "you must clean up your small toys because Rachel is going to eat all of them".  J did not like to eat things but R does and it's quite scary to think of the legos, cars and beads we have in our house.  

We started you on solid food when you were just shy of 5 months. I know...why would we willingly subject ourselves to the messiness of an infant eating sooner than we had to? But, you were shrinking and we wanted to get in some extra calories and see if it boosted you back up. Your monthly menu consisted of: oatmeal, peas, pears, apples, avocado, bananas, sweet potato, butternut squash and carrots. We'll soon be moving onto prunes, zucchini and maybe green beans (pureed green beans....yuck!). You were hesitant about the whole food thing but now just love it, usually singing as you dive towards the spoon. J has enjoyed feeding you, but that gets super messy and usually ends up with a spoon shoved down your throat (he means well). 

Things you love: food, your brother, dad's singing voice, church/gym nursery, Sofi the giraffe, new people, chewing on things, sleeping, sitting up, shaker toys, Taylor Swift, dancing, back rubs, splashing in the bath, older kids, birds, walks, Lincoln, faking like you can drink from a cup, grandparents, FaceTime, belly kisses, cuddling

photo credit: Jackson

Things you don't love: going to your room for naps, being left alone, waking up on your belly, pressing up during tummy time, shots, taking a bottle.

We adore you, Rachel. We are so glad that God gave you to us to care for!