I say it every month, but it's unbelievable how big Ava is getting and how much she has grown and changed. Here is the simplified version before little one wakes up from her nap:
Play: Ava is now grasping at toys and picking them up easily. She has mastered getting rattles and basically everything that she can get her hands on, into her mouth. At her last doctor's visit the pediatrician said that she has a tooth in the gum at the bottom middle. It is still difficult to see but surely this contributes to the joy of everything going in the mouth. In the last week or so she has started holding on to toys longer and shaking them as well!
Feeding: At the pediatrician's suggestion we started with pureed foods when she turned four months. We started with selecting a high chair that would "fit the decor" of the dining room. Ava loves her space egg and usually sits in it happily with a toy or two while we eat dinner. Her first food was carrots and she was happy to try this. She prefers the method of lapping at the spoon and using her hand to shove the food into her mouth rather than taking the small bites that Mommy gives her. The next food on the menu was sweet potatoes and carbs are Ava's jam. She could not get enough of these and was quite happy when Dad's big spoonfuls kept coming. Ava recently cut out her nighttime feeding and is now eating 6 times per day in addition to her puree snack at dinner time.
Sleep: So much as changed from looking back to the sleep training post! Ava now takes all of her home naps in her crib and when we are out will take little cat naps in the stroller or carrier for about 30 minutes. She is sleeping in the morning and midday for 1.5 hours each nap. Ava goes to bed on her own at all times in her crib and has totally adjusted to the consistency of her nap and nighttime routine. She falls asleep on her own in the crib at night and has been going to bed around 7:30pm. When Ava turned 18 weeks old she decided to give us a big gift by sleeping through the night! This wasn't entirely unexpected as we had been working the week before to cut back the 3am feeding little by little. We hope this good sleep continues!
We are headed on our first trip back the USA next week for Jason's wedding and visiting friends and family in NYC, VA, and DC/MD. It will surely be a busy and exciting trip with many new people for Ava to meet. Details to follow!
