6 Months Old

sleeping habits:
For nearly two weeks, all three babies were sleeping an uninterrupted 12 hours.  They have returned to the habit of waking to eat once (between 4-6 AM) most nights, but they occasionally sleep the entire night.  I should note that all three are fully swaddled before their last bottle.

It took me five months of tears and babies fighting sleep to learn that James and Amelia both need naps within 60-90 minutes of waking up.  If I put them down at the first cues of overstimulation and sleepiness, I've waited too long and it becomes a battle.  After they stop smiling and playing, I put them in their cribs and they immediately fall asleep.  They nap for up to two hours (generally 10:30-12:30).  If I wait, they are cranky and fight sleep.  Maddie still cat naps throughout the day.  All three take an afternoon nap around 3:30-4:30. 

eating habits: 
Eating habits have changed significantly in the last month.  We finally moved from a 3 hour feeding schedule to eating every 4 hours.  Each baby takes a 6 oz bottle of breastmilk 4 times a day (9 AM, 1 PM, 5 PM, 8:30 PM) and an occasional 5 oz bottle between 4-6 AM. 

I have stopped fortifying Maddie's bottles and have rarely needed to use any formula in the last three weeks.  The babies are consuming 90-95% breastmilk and 5-10% formula.

We introduced rice cereal at 5.5 months old.  It quickly progressed to bananas, sweet potatoes, oatmeal cereal, and apples.  The babies have enjoyed everything thus far and are eating more and more purees.  They split a banana each day in the morning around 10 and eat another solid in the late afternoon.

milestones:
James-put weight on legs and feet while in standing position, roll from tummy to back, fully extend his arms to lift himself up during tummy time
Amelia-put weight on legs and feet while in standing position, roll from tummy to back, begin to get on her knees during tummy time
Maddie-has rolled from tummy to back twice now, regularly lifts her upper body during tummy time (finally!)

challenges:
-It seems as though Maddie's reflux will never go away.
-James' hands are constantly in his mouth, even when he's trying to eat (via bottle or spoon).  It's frustrating for everyone. 

victories:
-The babies celebrated their first Christmas through an eventful day visiting both families.  They received more gifts than they'll ever be able to use.
-Baby food has been fun for me to make and fun for the babies to eat.

special notes:
-The babies were baptized December 22.  Over 20 family members came to the church service as well as our home afterwards for lunch.
-Jesse had two weeks off of work for winter break.  This was the longest he's spent with the babies since they were a month old.  It was so nice!