Orla Michaela - Seven Months

Introducing Orla's purple helmet! I had to coordinate her clothes, of course. I did take a photo without the helmet, but she wears it 23 hours a day, so this represents her at this month of her life. Also, the helmet one just compares her to the pineapple better. 

Those thighs 😍

This depicts Orla at this moment. Grabbing everything she can with a cheeky grin while twisting her body to escape :)

I can't get over her eyes!! 

Still a thumbsucker. Still no teeth, but lots of drool, red cheeks, and gumming. 

She kept these on for a solid 10 minutes. She loved them!

The day she got her helmet. 

The biggest thing that happened this month is her BFF cousin was born!! Love this girl gang <3 

Arwen and Orla at 7 months

Orla Michaela - Six Months

You still smile most of the day and cry only when tired or hungry. You are getting a bit better at sleeping, but still waking up at least once a night and napping only an hour at most (unless in your car seat). I have a feeling you can roll over, but you just won't! Teaching this mama a little lesson in waiting, huh?

You started sticking your tongue out the day we took these pictures and your cheeks are rosy most of the day, so I have a hunch that teeth may be on the way. Your hair is growing though, but I still don't quite know what color it will tend to be. It is definitely darker than Arwen's though. 

Food: You love carrots and now that is all Arwen wants to feed you 😂You do NOT like peas or really anything green so far. You are really good at getting food everywhere and Arwen thinks that is hilarious. 

All this food everywhere resulted in your first sister bath, which made my mama heart so happy. You two had a blast splashing and Arwen was so careful with you. I can't wait until you sit up better and can splash around even more with Arwen! 

Playing: You are much more interested in toys now, especially how to get them into your mouth. You love to sit up and play. 

See? You really love Moose and I think you may be Moose's favorite too.

I had my first experience parenting alone with two girls this month. It went well, but we were all glad to see daddy! It was also Valentine's day, so we had to dress to impress. 

 You fell asleep in my arms for the first time in a long time and I had to document how sweet it was. You had a headband on, which I took off. That is why there is a red circle around your head. 

This wasn't taken during our girl's weekend, but it was during the month and I thought it was fitting. 

You had your first Patriots superbowl win! You seem skeptical in this photo, but it's OK. You are just starting to understand the power of the GOAT. 

This was such a sweet moment that I want to remember for as long as I live. We were sitting down all relaxing before bed, watching a quick show and you just leaned over and hugged Arwen and wouldn't let go. It was just the cutest thing. 

The last major update is that you are getting a helmet to fix the flat spot on your head. 

I think these were the best pictures I could get of the flat area. It is on the bottom right. Maybe I will try and do a whole blog post about it because there was a lot to go into the decision and the process. 

So, for your 7th month pictures, you will be wearing a beautiful purple helmet and we'll just see how long this process takes! 

Now, finally, the comparison pictures!

1 month top left, 2 months top right, 3 months left middle, 4 months right middle, 5 months left bottom, 6 months right bottom

Arwen on the left, Orla on the right

Orla Michaela - Five Months

What a joy you are, my Orla girl! You barely cry - only when overtired. You still don't sleep, but you are super cute and I am really, really hoping that changes when you start eating food or get older. 

You are certainly getting more hair and I am getting more and more curious as to what color it is. It is definitely darker than Arwen's, but appears to have an orange tint to it! Time will tell. 

You are very close to rolling over from back to belly, but not quite there. You sit pretty well on your own and most likely if you are left sitting up long enough, you will start sucking on your toes. 

Everytime I see this picture, I giggle. 

When Arwen goes to preschool, you 'talk' to me a bit, but when she gets home, you are just so much happier. You two just make each other smile and laugh and I will try to soak this all in before the inevitable fighting starts. 

You love watching people eat and are getting very interested in eating yourself. Only one more month, Orla!

 I want to clarify that I have a happy picture of Arwen with Orla here too, but this is Orla's blog post.  😜

 

 It was your first Christmas!! We got to see all of our family and you slept for a lot of it. Next year, it will be even better. 

Some favorite pictures from the month:

 We saw Disney on Ice and you were very intrigued with all the dancing. You, again, fell asleep through most of it, but it was really a great show. 

Look at that head control (and not at the giant mess of our living room)!

Sister matching rainbow jammies!

 We went hiking and a random hail storm happened. My camera battery died, but I did get this adorable photo! 

 Orla in Mommy's wedding dress! 

Now comparison between Arwen (L) and Orla (R):

Orla's Birth Story

This story really starts Friday night. I went out with my previous coworkers for a pre-baby celebration. I asked them that night to please hope that I have this little girl before Arwen starts preschool. I get home and Andrew and I go to bed pretty late for us - around midnight. Turns out that was a terrible idea because Arwen wakes up EVERY HOUR until 6am. She has never in her life done that, not even as an infant. 

At the Melting Pot the night before

I wake up at 8am and I don't feel the best. I am having some pains, but I was 39 weeks pregnant. Pain is to be expected. Arwen wakes up shortly after me and we go downstairs for maybe 30 minutes before I suggest waking daddy up because I do not feel good. 

We go upstairs and I say I may be having some contractions. At this point, they are getting more regular and I notice that they are probably 10-12 minutes apart. I tell Andrew to call his parents and tell them to come here because I'm pretty sure we are going to be admitted to the hospital. He calls them and tells them to come over when they can. Soon after, I make him call them back and ask to get here ASAP because this really hurts and I really want to go get my epidural. My contractions are getting stronger now and I make him call the hospital because I can't talk and have started throwing up. We call and I basically say we are going in. See you soon. 

I did manage to snag this one photo while having contractions

Andrew's parents get to our house around 10am, I think. I am still upstairs and Andrew is packing my hospital bag because I NEVER DID THAT (I'm shaking my head right now). Arwen was downstairs watching TV because I didn't want her to see how much pain I was in. I walk down the stairs and I remember having a contraction in the kitchen with Andrew's mother and Arwen near me and I had to hold it together. I remember just wishing I could be at the hospital right now. 

Andrew and I leave for the hospital around 10:15am. Again, I didn't really pay attention to timing. I called my mom and let her know. I had several contractions in the car (of course) and I would clench my fist, yell, and hit the car door very hard. It was the worst pain and to this day, I get queasy thinking about it. As we were coming off the highway, there is a sign that points to the hospital and all I could think was we are almost there. I can almost have that epidural. I'm assuming you can see where this is going...

We get to the hospital. We have to sign something or fill something out? Not sure what happened but I remember having to pause and just clench before I could sign. They asked if I wanted a wheelchair, but I was in denial, so I said no. We get to the nurse's station and I have a contraction and I think they saw just how in labor I was because they got me a room and hooked up super duper fast. 

They checked me and said I was a 9.5/10. I asked about an epidural (😂 LOL) and they were so, so nice and polite about it; basically saying by the time he got there, it wouldn't be worth it. I was lying on the bed for maybe like 5 minutes before I told the nurse I needed to push. They got the doctor in while I was pushing. Did you know that you have to wait for contractions to push? That is hard, but waiting while the baby's head is just to be born is the worst. 

Orla was born roughly 20 minutes after the machines were hooked up to me. I don't know what would've happened if we had been any slower to the hospital and I don't really want to think about it! I didn't even have to worry about my eyes bursting blood vessels like with Arwen because there just wasn't time. Orla was born at 11:17am, August 18th. Her birthdate is actually a palindrome! How cool is that?!

My mantra for even before I knew I was pregnant was 'God's timing is perfect' and Orla really demonstrated that in my life. Getting pregnant with her, but especially her birth (day, time, hospital stay, etc.), was just perfect timing. Almost everything about her birth was opposite Arwen's and it gave me a sort of peace I didn't know I needed. Now, if she could sleep like her sister did...