Five Months

This was a month of preparation and it truly flew by me. Most of the month was spent preparing for our first summer guests, the Hall family, who arrived this past Thursday for a week of fun in the mountains. Of course, this meant doing a bunch of construction and cleaning to get the house ready. Most of my days were spent cleaning and organizing, chasing Frankie and snuggling Lark in the evenings after work. I absolutely love putting Lark to bed at night. It feels like the one moment of peace she and I get together. Its hard to even really remember what "firsts" she accomplished this month, we were so focused on the house and on big sister's toilet training. That's what is honestly so nice about Lark.... she just goes with the flow. 
I'm also so very grateful for her sleeping through the night, with a few exceptions this month. Sleep is one of the things that make me feel the most normal, so getting back to regularity is so lovely. Of course, if the toddler and pets could get on board with that, I would be much happier.

Likes: 
Bottles. Every time you approach her with a full bottle, she sticks all four limbs out in anticipatory joy!
Being spoken to by absolutely anyone that will give her attention
Clean diapers
Sitting in her high chair while we eat dinner
Sucking her thumb

Dislikes:

The car seat (its so annoying! Driving here, every location is a minimum of 20 minutes... with a screaming baby.)

Rolling over and not remembering how to get back on her back

Getting to the point of being too tired to fall asleep quickly

Schedule:

Weekdays are pretty regular now! We're all up around 6. I start my workday early while Daniel gets the kids ready for the day. He drops them at daycare and the nanny (or Grandma Susan, depending on the day) and then comes back home to work. I go pick them up at 4 and am home by around 5:30. Once Daniel wraps up at work, its dinner, baths, and bedtime starts at 7:30 for both girls. Usually, I put down Lark and Daniel takes Frankie, but lately Frankie has required some team effort at bedtimes. Lark currently sleeps through the night in her room (praise!) and eats 6 oz bottles on demand through the day.

Weekends are a little more wild wild west, but we go with it. Lark usually naps wherever still, but she does prefer to be home and in her jammies at bed times. We've made the mistake of staying out a few times and she is sure to let her disapproval be known. This should be interesting all next month when we have out of town visitors.

Features:

At the doctor a few weeks ago, she was just over 14 lbs and a little more than 26 inches long. She has the BEST thigh rolls in all of the world. I THINK maybe her eyes will stay at their current hazel color. Her sister's had finished transitioning to brown by this point, but who knows. She is pretty serious and quiet, but has big dimple smiles for anyone who will talk to her. That fuzzy brown hair still just absolutely kills me. 

Milestones:

Rolling both ways 

Sleeping through the night consistently

Holding toys with both hands

Holding small bottles for a few moments

Eating small amounts of solids

Firsts:

Sitting in the high chair

Mother's day

Halls visit to the mountains

Memorial day/full boat day

Babysitter that isn't a friend/family member

Challenges:

Nationally, there are MANY things happening in the world that make parenting challenging (nation-wise formula shortage, mass shootings of actual school children). However, in our own little world, this was a great month. I honestly can't think of anything! Just still getting myself into the swing of a new job and getting two kids out the door in the morning. Hosting people in a house filled with kids and pets.

Thoughts: 

She's really fully joined that chunky baby phase and left the tiny little delicate baby phase behind. I already miss snuggling her to sleep in those first few weeks. But, simultaneously, I LOVE seeing her and her sister interact and I am really enjoying discovering play time. Parenting is so weird like that. You both can't wait for the next milestone at the same time as you dread it coming.

Lark Elizabeth, I love you so. You are everything bright and sweet in this world.