The Eberhard Family

People always say.... sleeping like a baby... not too sure why, because babies don't actually sleep all that well. Adults or kids can sleep 8-10 hours without waking up in between, babies.... don't. If you think they have, I've been told, most likely they woke up, then put themselves back to sleep. So... when they are sleeping... ahhh... it's like heaven! So I love taking photos of her sleeping... Now, I don't have all the photos of Emma, but here's a selection of what's on my computer... (I used to take a lot more in the first month I think, but I don't have the photos, will add them on later) 1 Month old... the surrender style sleeping sleeping next to daddy, holding his finger Sleeping in the capsule (almost 3 months) Almost 4 months - this is on the mattress of the portable cot on the floor sleeping with daddy in the capsule... dummy fell out. Almost 5 months - finally not being wrapped up... stretched out In the carseat (5 months old) sleeping o...

* 6 months 3 weeks * Last few days, we've noticed that Emma likes to try and crawl over things... I guess maybe she doesn't have the concept of crawl around it??? So she's been trying to crawl over both of my legs.... or just my thigh and she persists until she gets through. You can watch her to it, she will have both arms over, then push the legs, eventually getting the top half of the body over, then a few more pushes to get her tummy over and often you see this little frog leap action... she's climbed over you. Or what she likes to do is, while you are sitting up with your legs folded on the floor... she likes to crawl towards you, then eventually crawling or climbing onto you as if she's climbing over a little hill?? Not too sure what she's trying to do, but sure seems fun to her :P Sally

Sunday, 27th Jan - 6 months & 3 weeks (29 weeks +4 days) Today, I was playing with her and then watch her crawl all over the place and starting to come into the kitchen more... she'd also roll over back and forth... as long as she's moving around, she's happy. Then I saw her from tummy time position then to her side, half sitting .... then sat up to the up right position all on her own!! So I quickly brought out the video camera.... then of course, she's too curious by it and crawling towards me filming, trying to grab it instead ^^;;;;; It's really amazing how quickly they change in the matter of days!! I think soon she will be sitting up a lot more by herself, which also means, daddy will have to take the cot apart and lower it to the proper cot level :P :P Sally

Saturday, 26th Jan - 6 months & 3 weeks (29weeks + 3 days) Today we took Emma to visit baby Taylor from our coffee group and to drop off something. We were just telling Martine how Emma won't sit still, Taylor is really nice and gentle, sitting up very well and would sit quietly... Then we sat Emma up to show her.... and of course, she had to prove us wrong. She sat there for over a minute I think, without wabbling off or launching off after some toys... ^^;;;; I guess it's a good thing :P Later that day, granddad also noticed that Emma can sit herself back up when she's sitting up right but falling to the back... she can slowly pull herself up again back to the upright position. Wow.... so she is getting stronger! I think she's waking up now :P One more post to come... Sally

Friday, 25th Jan - 6 months & 3 weeks (29weeks + 2days) I remember I've been saying that Emma can't sit up by herself and yet is learning to crawl first.. Slowly, we've been sitting her up a bit more and she can stay sitting up unsupported for just under a minute I think... Friday afternoon, after work, we were playing with her and then I noticed that she went from tummy time position to on the side but half sitting in a way... I thought, wooo looks like she's learning to sit up by herself... finally! :P Also noticed that she can sit herself up right when you put her down sitting up. Normally she will lean forward and go for her toes.... then can't get up. But lately she can sit up from there. It's a good sign! :P Sally

Today, I'm reading the book about movements and learning... and in there, it talks about crawling. Talks about how the baby may rock back and forth before start crawling. (Emma still does that every now and then)... Also mentioned that they might start crawling on their stomach before they are on all fours.... that's called "commando crawling". I think that's how Emma moves forward to get what she wants now... she will still try to be on all fours, then falls on her tummy, then up again. So I think she's just started, still a while before she will be crawling well. But this is quite fun :) Sally

Sat, 18th Jan - 6 months + 2 weeks Yesterday or the day before, I've noticed that the other tooth at the bottom (left) has a dent... looks like it will be cutting through soon but not yet. Today, had a quick feel and it cut through! So I think within another week or so, we will see two little teeth at the bottom! No longer toothless smiles from Emma! Gotta take some photos and send to grandparents :) And got her one of those teething biscuit thingy today, tried it during our dinner time. We found that we need to give Emma something to eat while we are eating, usually toast finger does the trick, otherwise she complains a lot! :P Today, she was happily chomping on that teething bikky... and banging it every now and then :P Still half left... can use it again for tomorrow :P (No, mum's not being cheap.... it's called not wasting food! :P) Sally

Fri, 17th Jan 2008 (28wks + 2 days; 6 months + 2 weeks) Today, Andrew decided to walk home in the afternoon, and I was picking up Emma alone. After I picked up everything for her and picked her up, talking to the teacher about her. She decided to have a wee talk.... she was like "da da"... a few times. I was like hey! You should say "ma ma" first!! After we got home, she said that a few more times, but not quite "da da", sounded more like half "da" and half "la"... :P Anyways, that was interesting! :) Also, I've noticed that her other tooth would be coming out soon... so she's been a bit more grizzyly today as well! Sally

Wednesday, 16th Jan 2008 - 28 weeks. (6 months and almost 2 weeks) I think we are declaring today as the day Emma started to crawl for real. Not very good at it yet mind you, but she can push herself forward rather rapidly with both legs and arms... well only when she sees something she wants to play with. Other times, she just rocks back and forth. Or just turning around to play with different toys. So I think it's only the matter of a few more weeks before she can crawl more and more... wow... doh! better put the gates up now! And start buying some covers for the plugs etc. Sally

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 6 mths + 1 week (27weeks + 3/7) This morning we went visited our friend Jo and Jeremy, who have two little ones... well Jared 3 and a bit and Jayden 5 months. Emma was very happy there, moving from one end of the room to another, playing with all the toys there! So many new toys!! It was great!! She also likes remote controllers and uncle Jeremy let her play with the Sky TV remote, as they are getting a replacement soon. And guess what, apart from eating it, she changed the channel from Disney to Food TV. Now, little Jared was happily watching TV and didn't want to talk much. But he wants his Disney channel back! :P So as soon as I changed the channel back and put the remote down, he hid the remote from Emma! That was quite funny!! Of course afterwards, mum and dad felt a little guilty about not buying Emma enough toys... so went and bought her two new toys! One little turtle thing that has balls in it that she can play with, putting them in and rolling them etc....

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 6 mths + 1 week (27weeks + 3/7) Today we took her to the Pakaranga Plaza Plunket, as they have the measuring equipments out by the waiting room, so people can help themselves with their little ones. So we measured her up... Weight: 8.35kg Height: 70cm roughly (first time we got 72cm! coz she won't stop wriggling, then I thought, that's just way too much! So we checked again, twice!) That's just over 1kg and 3.5cm in 5 weeks!! Wow... Sally

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 6 mths + 1 week (27weeks + 3/7) Today while we were at the Pakuranga Plaza foodcourt, daddy was showing me the way to get her to hold her own bottle... well at least for the initial bit when she's VERY keen for the milk! You put the bottle flat and the teat pointing at her nose sort of. That is the position where she likes to go grab things. Then she will use both hand to grab it forward and start drinking. She will hold the whole 200ml bottle by herself for a few minutes, then slowly need some help to tilt it a bit to get the bottom bits.... and as soon as daddy's helping... our little slack girl would let go of her hands and sit back, relax and enjoy the milk... and slowly... was milk drunk... and had a half hour nap on the shopping trolley thing :P :) Sally

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 6 mths + 1 week (27weeks + 3/7) Yesterday when we were watching her play, she was so determined to get to where she wanted to go... by pushing both of her legs together and pushing forward. Today, she spent a lot more time moving from one end to another. Even our friends who we visited in the morning said she will be crawling soon. I remember the daycare people saying something like she's sort of crawling, too. We watched her play today and for a while I was talking to her grandparents in CHCH on speaker phone. She was so amused by it and just keep moving towards it. I kept moving the phone further and further away, and eventually, there was a few proper crawls towards the phone! Wow... Well, we will give her a few more weeks and see how it goes. Because, for about 2 weeks now, she was able to get to where she wanted to go by moving directions and rolling... now she can sort of push forward to get to where she wants to go as well as rolling :P :) Sally

* 6 months +/- 1 week* There's been a few nights where Emma was too hyper after being put to bed. Then she'd be moving back and forth, left and right in the cot. Occasionally banging her little head on the bars and on the front (headboard). Daddy usually sits there and read while waiting for her to go to sleep. Every now and then he looks up, he will see a big smile from Emma looking at him. Sometimes we have to leave her by herself, so she will eventually settle down. Last night, it took her 2 hours to settle down! Not sure if she's just happy? Not tired enough yet? Too alert? Or it's too hot? Some nights it only takes 30 mins and we could just leave her to settle herself to sleep, then it's not too bad at all as we'd be in our room watching TV! :P When I told my mother in law about this little one, and what she's doing... she emailed back and said: " What a little monkey Emma is! Sorry to tell you, but that is exactly how her dear daddy was at night....

Wed, 9th Jan - 27 weeks (6 months and 5 days) After her solid feed of some banana yesterday, daddy was eating his apple and gave her a piece to bite on. He noticed that there was some scratching sound. When he put his hand into her mouth, he could feel something on the gum in the front. He told me about it and of course I was very excited... wooo let me see, let me see... No you can't see anything yet. It's on the front right hand side. There isn't any white bits anymore, but more like a dent. A line sunk in and that's where you can feel something like a tooth! So I guess this means within a week or so we should be able to see something there?? Man this has taken long enough! :P Sally

Wed, 9th Jan - 27 weeks (6 months and 5 days) Yesterday afternoon after we got home, I was playing with Emma. She, as usual makes funny noises and rolling around. I noticed something, not only she's rolling around on the floor, she can roll her tongue! She's rolling her tongue and trying to make noises. Mum reckon she's doing that because mum can make the mouse impression on her face and Emma was probably trying to copy, but can't do that... so rolling her tongue instead! Damn, I didn't know babies can roll their tongues! That was quite funny! She's doing it more and more as well :P Sally

4th Jan 2008 - 6 months On the day that Emma turns 6 months, this was the first day she only had 4 feeds! Also first time ever she had a huge bottle of 240ml before bed!! That's after having some 4 table spoons of solids after the previous feed, too. Then at the one night feed she had, she had another 250ml. Just keeps breaking the record!! 5th Jan 2008 This was the day that there was no night feeds! After probably just over 2 months of night feeds coming back, first time... no night feeds at all! We were very surprised!! Although she wasn't sleeping through yet, was waking up for dummy till about 1:30 or 2:30, can't remember... but still, not too bad. We will see how she goes from now. We have also changed the formula a bit as well. We bought a tin of AR ones, so she's drinking a mix now, and it seems that she drinks less of the mixed ones but still lasting. Still spilling though, not as bad, so we will see :) Although after finishing that AR tin, she's gonna be mo...

2nd Jan 2008 - 26weeks (2 days before 6 months) This afternoon, just now... we have a few friends over playing board games. I'm sitting here watching Emma play. Then she rolled to her tummy from her back.... then rolled to the side.... then back to on her back.... then rolled over again. I sat there watching her, she did that many times within a few minutes. Wait, hey! I think she's learning how to roll over and back! :D Sally

Lately we've been spending more money than we normally would. Why? Because the person in charge of the budget is too busy to go through all the receipts etc... I've decided we will start a new sets of books from 1st Jan 2008. Because now a lot of our expenses have changed. The latest addition to our already a little too high Visa bill are.. 1) a new 32inch Sony LCD TV - for the bedroom... yes After we've moved into my parents, we thought we'd be watching TV and use the living space downstairs. But the reality is... because Emma is upstairs most of the time, we spend more time upstairs. So the TV gets a bit unused down here. It's only the matter of the time before that TV will be retired. It's really nice to be able to watch TV in bed in the evenings after we put her to bed. We've recently got an unexpected $750 (before tax) bonus from Uni... Hence... we decided to treat ourselves with a new TV... well it's $1799-20%off (ie. $1440-ish) so... still have to...

The little one is very fond of the rubber duckie that was supposed to be a bath time toy. Given that she hates her bath, so she has the duckie on the play mat on the floor. What she would do is, pick up the duckie and start sucking the head. She'd be going so hard at it, you can hear the squeaky noise of her chewing on it. Then every now and then she does that and would lift her head up... both hands on the floor and.. guess what? The duckie is still in her mouth. I will add a pix of it when we get it off the camera! ;-) Sally

Last two weeks of Dec - 5 months, 3rd and 4th Week Just a quick note on her progress. She's on the tummy most of the time when she's playing on the floor. Apart from sucking on the toys, she moves herself around in a circle, sort of to move towards the toys. She now can lift her bum up quite high on the tummy time as well... but the legs are crossed, so a bit hard to push around yet... Every now and then, I try to put the toys just a little bit too far out of reach to encourage her to move forward.... but she usually ended up moving further away from them... moving backwards instead. It's quite funny :P I guess it won't be too long before she'd start to crawl. Hmm.. we got a lot of work to do once she can start crawling! :P Sally

*Late 4 month, early 5 month* Just before Emma was 5 months, we've noticed that from time to time she will settle herself and sleep on the side at night. Then it started happening more and more, she likes to sleep on her side. Usually turning to her left. Later also on her right at times. *Last week of Dec - 5 month, week4* Eventually she started rolling over to her tummy more. Sometimes wake up crying... and we found her on her tummy. I always thought she rolled over and didn't know how to roll back, hence woke up crying. Slowly we realised she likes to sleep on her tummy instead and the waking up.... well, put the dummy back in and tilt her head to the side, so she can breath better and she will go back to sleep. She'd be put to bed on her back and then by the time she's sleeping, she'd be on her tummy... Then it was impossible to wrap her up and put her to sleep on her back. So she is put to bed unwrapped and let her try to put herself to sleep. Last few nights, ...