4 Months Old!

Gemma was 4 months old yesterday. Hard to believe a third of a year has gone by already. In the past week she giggled for the first time, which was awesome. She always wants to be sitting up and watching everything. If you try to sit with her semi-reclined on your lap, she will keep straining to sit herself up. On her back she is able to roll onto her side, and she looks like she could be close to making it all the way onto her tummy soon. She has also been grasping toys with both of her hands more and putting them into her mouth- especially those small, squishy balls with all the holes.

She continues to be so much happier and more content with the reflux medication and hypoallergenic formula. Now the only time she fusses or cries is when we're trying to get her to sleep. Sleep is probably the hardest thing. Unfortunately when her reflux was so bad, she had to be bounced and rocked to fall asleep and held to nap well, and this has carried over, even though the reflux seems to be under better control. The minute she is laid down during the day, she wakes right up. I don't believe in doing any sleep training until she's closer to 6 months, so for now I take that time to read on the kindle, send e-mails, update the blog (like I'm doing now!), catch up on Pinterest, etc. At night she had been pretty consistently going to sleep around 8:30 or 9, waking to eat around 4 or 5 (usually up for an hour), then sleeping until between 8 and 9. This has been a little unpredictable the past couple of weeks- some nights she's been up at 2, but not necessarily hungry. She's had a cold since about a week after we got here, so I think that might be contributing to the mixed up nights.

Overall she is a happy, sweet little girl, and when she smiles, she puts her whole face into it! My heart still melts every time I see it!








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First Solid Food!

On Saturday, December 8th, Gemma got her first taste of some solid food- sweet potatoes! She's been drinking A LOT of formula, has more than doubled her birth weight, and has great head control, so I thought we'd give it a go at 4 months (she was just 2 days shy of this). She did really well with the few spoonfuls and managed to keep most of it in. I've been giving her a little bit everyday at lunchtime, and she's getting better with it all the time!



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Photo Catch Up

Here are some pics from the last few weeks that we've been in Minnesota.



























Awesome new hat, thanks to Sara Nelson! Freya has a matching one too!



















Some bedtime reading with Auntie Margo




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Welcome Gemma!

On Saturday, December 1st, my sister threw a wonderful 'Welcome Gemma' party for us. My cousin and his wife were very generous and hosted the party at their house. It was a great afternoon of catching up with friends and family and introducing everyone to Gemma. I realised afterward that I did not take any pictures :( I did get a few that my mom took.



Cousin Alana and Great Aunt Carmen with Gemma




Cousin Hannah




Cousin Melissa




Great Aunt Paulette

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My mom's birthday

The Sunday after Thanksgiving was my mom's birthday, so Margo, Justin, Freya, Gemma, and I took her out for dinner. Unfortunately Justin is on crutches at the moment due to a knee injury, so it was a bit of a three ring circus trying to get coordinated to go out with a baby, a toddler, and someone who can't put any weight on one of their legs! We had a great dinner though and took a few pictures when we got back to Margo and Justin's.



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Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving day at my cousin and his family's house with a small group of family. Dinner was delicious, and we had a nice, relaxing afternoon!


Gemma says, 'Happy Thanksgiving!'



Mommy and Gemma



Meeting Grandpa Palmer



Really into American football!



My wonderful sister and I

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Gemma & Freya

My niece, Freya, is 11 months older than Gemma, and it has been so fun to see how she interacts with Gemma. From the first morning they met, Freya has been calling Gemma 'Duck', and she has to be right where Gemma is most of the time. Freya helps me burp her when she's having a bottle, rocks her in the Rock & Play, plays peekaboo with her, and will even 'dance for Gemma' when asked. One time she even picked up the corner of the burp rag to wipe her mouth. Gemma closely watches Freya and gives her lots of smiles! She's learned to take some of Freya's not so gentle 'love' also!



















Freya is so sweet with Gemma, and I hope the two cousins will always get along so well!

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Arriving in Minnesota

Back on Friday, November 16, Gemma, Paul's mom, Bridget, and I began our adventure to Minnesota. Gemma must have sensed the excitement, because she was awake from about 6 that morning and didn't really sleep until we were on the plane after 1pm! She did really well getting through the airport and everything- just sat happily in her stroller. I think the worst part for me was having to taste all of her bottles in the Dublin airport!

Unfortunately she was pretty overtired and was a bit difficult to get to sleep for her naps on the plane. Luckily I had a seat where I could easily get up and walk/stand with her. Before we landed in Chicago she fell FAST asleep (it was her bedtime Irish time), and managed to sleep through getting off the plane, changing terminals, going through security, and Bridget and I eating dinner. She woke briefly before we boarded the flight for Minneapolis, but fell back asleep shortly after takeoff. She then slept until we got to baggage claim in Minneapolis. Needless to say, there was a VERY excited grandma and auntie awaiting us there!







More than a few tears were shed when I finally got to introduce my little girl to my mom and my sister.

Gemma was awake until we got to my sister's house, then had a bottle and went right back to sleep. She did really well the first night- woke once for a bottle, but then went back to sleep until after 8 the next morning. The next couple of nights she thought 4am was the time to be up, but by the fourth night, she was pretty much adjusted and back on her routine that she's on in Ireland.

Paul's mom flew back to Ireland on the Sunday (less than 48 hours after we arrived!). It was SO good to have her help with the travels!

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