Penelope at Five Months

Is it really five months already?? I don't think I can handle this. She's my baby. By itty bitty baby with perfect skin and who sleeps like a dream.

This girl amazes me more and more every day. She is just such a good baby. I thought I had it good with Camden. But this girl. This girl. I tell everyone I see just how thankful I am that she is an easy baby. She is happy when she's awake (except sometimes in the evening - I think she's trying to get some teeth to break through), she goes to sleep as soon as she's put down, and can usually pacify herself with that blessed thumb if needed. She travels in the car, happily singing along the way (I call her my "Little Lark"). She smiles with even the slightest glance in her direction, and she LOVES watching her big brother.

She's rolling over like a champ now and pushing up on her arms. In the last few days, she's gotten extremely wiggly...like Camden was. Daddy says she's gonna be a mover like her brother! She is able to sit up briefly unassisted, but not consistently. She has the most amazing manual dexterity... she can grab at things and use her pinchers to grab smallish objects in her reach. And my favorite thing, she's discovered her feet and can't get enough!

Here's our sweet girl at Five Months Old. Can't believe it.

Penelope: 4 Months

Oh dear, was my last blog post about Penelope really when she was a week old?! Bad mama. I must admit though, I've been a bit busy. Unfortunately, blogging has taken the back seat in my life due to these two Little's, running my business and maintaining some sort of sanity around my house. I've been updating frequently on Instagram, which I suppose has taken the place of my blog since Penelope was born. What I'm missing, however, are the day-to-day updates and milestones, which I was so diligent about with Camden.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Penelope is now almost four and a half months old. She is truly the sweetest little thing you will ever see. Smiley, happy and content to do just about anything, she really is such a joy! I thank God every single day (I mean, really... more like every single minute) that she is such a good baby. That affords me the time to keep up with Camden and make him still feel like I haven't neglected him...I hope. I tell everyone I see: God only gives you what you can handle. AMEN!

We just had Sweet Pea's 4 month check up and here are her stats:
Height: 24.5 Inches
Weight: 14 Pounds, 1oz
60th Percentile for both
Growing beautifully!

Here's what she's doing:
- She rolls over front to back, and now back to front on a consistent basis
- She tries and tries to sit up with all her might, but has really impressive core muscle control!
- She plays happily in her exersaucer (started her in there at 16 weeks old) and door bouncer seat
- She breastfeeds like a champ (weaned from the nipple shield at 3.5 months old) and takes a bottle (expressed milk) at least once a week
- She is able to grab things in her reach, and is actually quite intent on doing so. Her dexterity at this age is really amazing.
- She loves the water! We take both kids to the pool several times a week and she's happy to kick her feet in the water and splash a bit. Bath time is her favorite.
- We are still cloth diapering, although I'm not as diligent about doing it every day. If I'm behind in laundry, she gets 'sposies (disposables). I gave up on cloth wipes, as girls need a little more meticulous cleaning than boys!
- I swear she's teething. She chews on EVERYTHING and anything. My fingers, Camden's hand, her toys, her clothes, the cat's tail (just kidding), her pacifier... We'll see if anything pops up in the next few weeks!
- We moved her into her crib overnight when she was 3 months old. She now naps and sleeps in her crib exclusively when we're home.
- She SINGS, and sings and sings... such a talker!
- She sucks her thumb! She found her thumb when she was about 3 months old. We put her down with the pacifier to try and combat the thumb, but she usually ends up with the thumb in her mouth.

We are continually blessed by her every day. Each one of us!

Funny story:
We were at the pool last week and I was holding Penelope in my lap in the water (very shallow, don't worry). A little girl the same age as Camden came up to me and asked to touch the baby. I said sure, and the little girl poked her toes a couple of times. Usually Camden could care less about Penelope, and who knows where he was at this point, but out of no where, he comes running through the pool and decks the little girl, shouting "No touch Elopie!!!!" The little girl was fine (only a bit puzzled by what just happened), but it was so funny to see him for the first time EVER be so protective of his baby sister!

Like I said, I've been very active on InstaGram (follow me @mbphotog), so if you don't do that, here are a couple photos of our sweet girl over the last couple months:

Here are her weekly pictures:

Penelope's Nursery

Penelope's Room... Something I never thought I'd have a chance to do. I've been told since I got engaged that I'd only have boys - it's the Barrick way! I was happily content with that fact, until we got pregnant the second time around. I've secretly (but maybe not so secretly) always wanted a boy and a girl. A big brother to protect his little sister. A little girl to soften her daddy and brother's hearts. See? Perfect. I'm thankful that God thought so, too.

Anyway, I was absolutely elated to be able to decorate a little girl's room. Despite my love for frilly and very girlish things, I wanted her nursery to be a little more understated and not so "in your face." Delicate, sweet, pretty. Overwhelmed by what I was finding in Pinterest, I just decided to procure things as I saw them and eventually, my eyes migrated to a specific color or "feel" and I was happy on how it came along.

I love how it came together and it fits sweet Penelope perfectly. Her room has the best light in the whole house, so I think she really enjoys spending time in there! What a good baby she is, and I'm so happy to be able to share these pictures with you!

Sources:

Paint: Benjamin Moore "Pewter"
Mobile: Etsy: The Butter Flying
Watercolor Bible Verse: Etsy Custom: Ashlee Profit
Watercolor Painting: My Grandmother's: Betty A. Wise
Clock and large mirror: Marshalls
Vintage Dress and Gold Ballet Slippers: Family Heirloom
White Frames: Ikea
Animal Figurines: Target
White Vase: Ikea
Flowers: Home Goods
Crib: Walmart
Chair: Regency Furniture
Gold Floor Pouf: Overstock
White Fluffy Rug: Ikea
Pink Wrought Iron Children's Chair: Vintage/Mine as a child

Bookshelf: Ikea
Changing Table: Vintage
Drapes: Restoration Hardware Baby & Child
Newborn Photography in frames: Melissa Farr Photography & Melissa Barrick Photography


Photography by Melissa Barrick of MB Photography, LLC

A Simple Twist of the Ankle

I twisted my ankle last night. No exciting story, I'm afraid. Just fell down the steps in a fleeting moment of grace, pouring my giant cup of ice water on myself in the process.

As I sit idly here on the couch, I'm realizing how much we trust in The Lord and don't even realize it. Thankfully, my twisted ankle is just a sprain (thanks to my hospital visit this morning). While it really hurts to walk or move it, what would we have done if I had broken it? What would happen if something much worse would have happened that would have required a hospital trip? We have two small kids slumbering upstairs, completely incapable of being left alone without an adult. Obviously, we have awesome neighbors, and of course there is the ambulance if we so required it. But we didn't. And so many other families with young children don't need that intervention either.

I am home all day long with both kids by myself. Most of my neighbors work, and Bobby's commute home is about 30 minutes. What would happen if I went unconscious or became unable to drive or take care of the kids in some way if I had gotten hurt? But it doesn't happen. Every day, we are afforded more and more mercies. Spared from the hardship of worry or an actual emergency.

Now, I realize that not every family is so fortunate. Every night, we pray for families who need extra help and, in short, a miracle. But that fact alone makes me appreciate the Lord's provision for us all the more.

I cannot waste my days worrying about what might happen or shielding my family from any bad thing that may come our way. We are put in the world to live in it, spreading the word of God in any way we can, wether by action or with words. But worrying about what tomorrow may bring is a sin, and also a very heavy burden that we're not intended to bear.

"Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34

So tonight, I'm thankful for Gods provision for us, and that he's released me from the burden of worrying about what MIGHT happen. I am fully aware now that I can trust Him with our lives (and my ankle) and know that he will take care of it all. Somehow.

A hymn that's been on my heart (and on Camden's song) over the last 6 months is one of my all time favorite. Read the first verse and be contented if you trust in The Lord.

"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other wayTo be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away;Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet Or we’ll walk by His side in the way. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey."