1st Christmas

Raya was a huge fan of Christmas.  Her absolute favorite thing in the whole world is paper.  So of course there was nothing better than tons and tons of wrapping paper and tissue paper to rip, crinkle and take a quick bite of when nobody was looking.  She did great opening up the presents --- but then was not at all interested in what was inside.  She could have spent all day playing with the paper.  Christmas at my parents was so mild that the kids had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows and played football outside!

Her first tooth finally poked through!  For real this time!!!  The lower front left tooth popped through on Saturday.  The kids were at Jakes parents for the night and I felt her mouth on Saturday for teeth and then again Sunday when we picked them up and sure-enough... it FINALLY made it's way through!  woohoo!

She's starting to change so quickly now.  She's always trying to pull herself up and really wants to crawl... just can't quite get the hang of it. This stage is so bittersweet.  It's so fun to watch them learn so fast but at the same time makes me sad thinking about how fast she's growing up.  Gives me baby fever!  Yes, I realize how crazy that sounds because she's still a baby.... but the itty bitty baby part goes by so so fast!  And nobody get your hopes up.... there's not another baby!

Typical baby with bow on head picture

Glimpse into 2 minutes of Raya's life

Gma and Gpa Hemmah
Oscar (3 weeks), Raya (7 months), Easton (3 years)

Raya (7 months), Gretta (5 years), Easton (3 years) Stella (6 years)

quick photo update

Practicing crawling

Loves playing with her new doll house - Thanks Auntie Mary and Uncle Eddie

So scared of the ducky bath tub.  We had to put it away.  Just looking at it would make her cry.

Funny glasses from Mary and Eddie's wedding

7 Months

I'm pretty late with Raya's 7 month post.  We've been so busy lately that I just haven't had a moment to update.  She had her 2nd flu shot at 7 months and she weighed 17 pds 4 ounces... she gained a whopping pound in a month!   It's funny that 1 pound in a month seems like a lot; when I can gain 3 pounds in a day!

Raya still is not a good night sleeper.  Jake and I are walking zombies.  I imagine one of these days we'll say it's time to try to cry-it-out but as of now we just can't get ourselves to do that.  Maybe when she starts eating real food better so we know she's not hungry at night.  Which brings me to the next 7 month topic... food.  She still doesn't like baby food either.  I bought a little thing that resembles a pacifier that you fill with food and she will eat it a little better out of that.  Hopefully in the next couple weeks she'll take to eating better.  She's also starting to roll and scoot around the floor if she wants something out of reach.  Today she held herself up on all fours for a second and occasionally she'll stand next to furniture helping her a little.  But other than that she's pretty content with sitting in one spot and playing.  It's a pretty nice change of pace from always-on-the-go Easton.  Looking back at Easton when he was this age and they are completely different!

When Raya get's excited, it's the funniest thing ever.  I really need to get it on video.  She makes a crazy face with her mouth wide open and growls all while her legs go stick straight and she twirls her feet in circles.  It's hilarious!

I'm almost certain she can say, "hi" and has been for a month. Otherwise, no other 'real' words yet.

She continues to LOVE Charlie and Easton makes her laugh daily.  All he needs to do is talk and she bursts out laughing.

Auntie Mary and Uncle Eddie got married last weekend - so we had a wonderful time celebrating their love.  I was the maid of honor, Easton was the ring bearer (pulled the aisle runner down) and Jake was the usher (filled in for Mason who was sick and helped Easton pull the aisle runner).  We were all so honored to be a part of their special day.

First time seeing each other.  Such a special moment. 

My brother is soooo loud! 

This is her when she's excited!  It's even better in a video.  

Always going after the puppy

Mrs. Mullin

Love this - so much! 

Raya is not quite sure about this

6 months old

So crazy to think that a half of a year has gone by since Raya was born and also that I have not slept longer than 4 hours at a time for half of a year!  Whoa, when I say it like that - makes me realize how sleep deprived I really am.

Raya is doing great.  She brings us so many smiles and laughs every day.  All she needs to do is flash us her amazing smile and all our troubles are gone.  She's starting to get the hang of sitting.  She will sit by herself for a few minutes but she still is pretty wobbly and can tip right over.  She's also starting to talk a lot more and will use her voice to get our attention or to let us know she did NOT want us to leave the room that Charlie was in because she was having a great time watching and laughing at him.

We added sweet potato's to her menu this week and she's still not a fan of eating food.  She just makes a disgusted face and spits it out.  Sometimes she'll hide it in her cheeks and spit it out much later and trick us into thinking she's eating great.  She's a bit like a squirrel.  Peas are up next - hoping for a bit more luck with those.  At her 6 month appointment her doctor told me I need to be pushing the food more than I am.  Maybe that will help fill her up so she's not up every 3 hours at night too!

The doctor also said that he doesn't think the white thing growing out of her gums is a tooth.  hmmm...  he said he thinks it's an epstein pearl.  Whatever that is?  All I know is that if it's not a tooth I'm confused and wonder why she was in pain for those few days then.  He said he sees no sign of teeth any time soon.

Raya weighs 16 lbs 3 ounces which means she has doubled her birth weight!  She is in the 50th percentile for both weight and head circumference and 40th for height.  Her doctor said she is doing great.  He said he was also impressed with me in that I have been able to keep up with pumping as long as I have.  He said most give up because it is just so much work.  It felt nice to be acknowledged by someone (even if it was a doctor) for all the blood, sweat and tears that go into pumping every day.

haha love this one

It's getting very difficult to take a picture of them both sitting still

She had chewed and drooled her sticker off by this point

Check out those thighs!  Adorable!! 

Easton feeding Raya

Playing with Daddy

She loves books

Watching Easton play soccer

Loves to sit up - even if you try to put her in her bouncy chair

Getting so big! 

Miss Raya

It's been a couple of weeks since I updated.  Life certainly has been busier than usual.  One of the biggest updates for Miss Raya is that her I-teeth have started to poke through.  Her lower left has come through and she's working on the lower right.  This is just crazy because most kids don't get these teeth until they're 1.5 years old!   Many times they're the most painful too - I know they were for Easton.  So, I just feel awful for her :(  No wonder she hasn't been able to sleep lately.  Another big update for Raya is that she can sit for a few seconds on her own.  It won't be long before she's a full-time sitter!

Sleeping at night still isn't the greatest.  The past few nights have been a bit better with only waking up about 2 times.  Before that it was 3 or 4... I think her poor teeth were just hurting so bad.  She's also getting so much better at naps during the day.  Although, sometimes she'll wake after a half hour and we'll have to go pick her up and hold her in the bathroom with the fan on for a few minutes and then she'll go back to sleep for like 2 hours.  Many times the only way we can get her to sleep is to go in the bathroom turn the light off, fan on and water on.  One night I found Jake in the bathroom doing this but he also added shaking a tylenol bottle to the mix.  I laughed - but I'll be honest...I've used it since then too.  Oh the things that we come up with to get our children to sleep!  

Raya is OBSESSED with Charlie.  If he walks in the room she imediately starts squeeling, kicking, and has the biggest smile ever!  It's impossible to feed her when he's in the same room because she just sits up and wants to reach for him.  

She's really starting to play more with her toys and even scooting herself around on the floor to reach for toys that she wants.  I can't believe she's going to be 6 months old next week!  So bittersweet... 

Trying carrots for the first time.  Not a fan. 

A little resemblance to mom 

Ready for Easton's Halloween party at school

Loungin'

Puppy love

Loving Raffi

Sitting like a big girl

First time swinging

In awe of Raffi