Junie-bugs

You're 6 months old! We made it - man 6 months is my favorite!

Food Update - things you've tried this month - 

Peaches

Berry puree - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries

Potatoes - mixed with sweet potato/butternut squash

Mixed veggie puree - cauliflower, peas, green beans, carrots

Crackers

Cereal bars

Cherrios

Macaroni

Food is still going great. You don't seem to have any aversions and don't care if things are cold or warmed up. When it's appropriate- you eat the snack provided at school. Last week Ms. Thalia went on and on about how much you like the macaroni and cheese. I think this month - we'll introduce proteins and dairy. 

Schedule/Sleep Update- 

Schedule is basically the same - but now you eat first, then nap. You were a mess in the middle of the night in Memphis, but back at home - you are back to normal. 

3:30a/4am - Nurse

8am - Breakfast + 6oz bottle

9ish - Nap - (30-60min)

11:30ish - Lunch + 6oz bottle

Noon - Nap (60-90min)

3ish - 6oz bottle + snack

4ish - Nap (30-45min)

6p - Dinner + 6oz bottle

6:30p Bathtime/bedtime

Highlights - 

- 1st Thanksgiving - you enjoyed sweet potatoes, peas, and mashed potatoes
- You also baptized over Thanksgiving weekend. See other post. :)

- You're officially sitting up for extended periods of time. You eventually topple over, but never seem to cry. It's kind of like a gymnastic move - you fall, but keep your head up. 

- Over Thanksgiving - while sitting on Pop's knee, you arched your back and he lost his grip. It was a tiny fall and you only cried for a second - but we coined it the "Pop drop!"

- Your brother and Daddy are still the best at making you laugh. Last night while Maevy was at piano, Carter kept grabbing your blanket and you thought it was hilarious. 

- Lots of chatting this month - ah, da, mm, ma, na and raspberry tongue noises

- You still sometimes have this raspy voice. - and even it comes out in your laughs. Stop smoking all those cigarettes!

First official pics - some of my favorites - 

 

I anticipate next month - you'll be crawling - so I'm going to enjoy non-mobile June while I've still got it!

Love you,

Mommy

Bye Bye Buggy Side by Side

Ok- not the best picture - but you did get to go on a Bye Bye Buggy stroller ride before it got too cold. Cart is a month older..but still - a total chunk! :)

Baptism

June Ryan-

Over Thanksgiving weekend - you were baptized at OLPH by Monsignor Creary. He also baptized Daddy and Carter - and married us and Robyn and Jake. The Taylors and Cousin Juli - also attended.

Jane Warren and Tony Guzzi are officially your Godparents - but Robyn and Jake served as proxies at the ceremony.

You wore the same dress as Lesley, Maevy, and Cecilia.

Sweet cookies Mommy had made for the event.

Afterwards - you took a nice, long nap while we had mimosa and laid back brunch with the Wyckoffs.

Carter was there, but refused to be in the picture -

1st Thanksgiving

Pics from your 1st Thanksgiving - 

The Wyckoffs, The Barwicks, Uncle Robert, Corey - Cousins- Carson and Sydney

Bathtime in Emmy's sink and with Cousin Juli :)

Dear Daughter #2

Junie-bugs-

(Above - proof that June came with us to vote!)

I'm thankful you're too young to remember this election season. But in the spirit of posterity - I wanted to re-post some of my thoughts I wrote to your siblings. I hope they are your champions and advocates as well!

Maevy and I watched HRCs speech together -
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Here's my favorite part from the speech -
"And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me, I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.

Now, I — I know — I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but some day someone will and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.And — and to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams."

I took the news a little harder - and spent most of the day teary-eyed...still am as I write this. Mr. Trump has openly said a lot of not nice things about a lot people, including women and disabled people. That type of behavior is never acceptable (or presidential), and as a mother of two daughters and a son with a disability, it hurts. 

To little girl-me who as has been dreaming of breaking this glass ceiling for years, it really hurt. Looking back, I probably should have been Women's Studies major. In elementary school, I always chose a woman for non-fiction book reports/projects - Clara Barton, Carol Burnett, Eudora Welty are a few I remember. In middle school, I chose to write about my own mother's life for a class speech contest, and won. In the 8th grade, my first official research paper was about the Equal Rights Amendment, At one point, I even wanted to be President. So much so - that my first email address ever - had "thepres" in it. In high school, I went to Girls State. I chose the D.C area for college, to study politics and intern on Capitol Hill. I'm still proud that I was accepted to George Washington University's Women in Power program. On days like this - I wish I had gone and was still paying off the debt. Hillary's still my champion. Maybe one day you'll write about her.

Regardless of who is in the White House - please know that I will always protect you. I will forever teach you to love and support everyone in this country - regardless of race, sex, or religion, to speak up for those that can't, for what you believe in, and when something is wrong. I will help you to learn to understand those that you disagree with and more importantly how to solve conflicts in a civil manner.

"...let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary, let us not lose heart, for there are more seasons to come. And there is more work to do."

 Always know - you are bright, strong, funny, and beautiful. I'll forever be your champion.

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To Carter -

"You deserve to have disability advocates at every level of government. I'm glad I get to be one of yours.

Love,

Mommy

Bathtime Smiles

Bugsy - (new nickname alert!)

I need to get a bath time picture added to the bathroom downstairs. I think one of these will work - cutie pie.

5 Month Sibling Comparison

Daddy put you in the same Nationals outfit last weekend and it was crop top. I still think you are longer than Maevy and leaner than Carter. :)