Gemma at 5 Months Old

Weight: 17 lbs
 
Height: 26-27 inches
 
Clothing Size: 6-9 month clothes for the most part. If she's in disposables diapers, she can still fit 6 month onesies but cloth really adds extra bulk.

Daily Schedule: Gemma wakes up anytime between 7 and 8:30 in the morning. Then takes 3 naps each day. Her naps are finally condensing. She takes a morning, afternoon and mid-evening nap. Her first two naps are 1.5 or more hours and then a short cat nap in the evening. She is still an easy, on-the-go baby. Doesn't take long to fall asleep wherever we are (van, in my arms, carseat, crib, etc). She definitely doesn't fight sleep very often, which is a blessing. She goes to bed between 8 and 9 at night and wakes up once around 5 to eat quickly.

Gemma continues to be a very happy baby. She is constantly looking for someone to smile at and enjoys being around people.

Special Outings: Went to San Antonio for vacation. That was a lot of special outings for her.

Firsts: Rolls over both ways and is pretty close to sitting up independently. She also figured out how to drink out of a straw cup so that's exciting. No foods yet but next month, we'll start. She also has been wonderful at going to the child care at the YMCA in town. As long as I don't work out longer than 45 minutes, she's a happy girl.

Eating: Back into eating normally from last month. She does great at eating and is close to getting 4 teeth (two bottom and two top side teeth).

Heart Update: Her initial appointment wasn't scheduled until next month but I got worried about taking her on vacation with how much she was sweating. Gemma sweats like crazy when she sleeps and eats. Like dripping sweat and she sleeps in just a diaper. I changed her sheets/blanket almost every day because it smells a lot. It's gotten progressively worse over the past two months and the pediatrician said this could be a sign that her heart condition is worsening. So to be safe, I had her checked out before we spent a week in sunshine. The check went well but Gemma's valve has worsened.

The valve stenosis is measured on a scale of 0 to 100 or so. Less than 30 means a mild defect. 30-50 is moderate and above 50 is severe. Her initial appointment back in April, Gemma's defect measured in the low 30s. Then in June, she was in the low 40s. This appointment in August, her defect measured in upper 40s/low 50s. The recommendation is that if she reaches 60, we will do the surgery. However, the best results for surgery is after Gemma turns one. So we have 7 months to go but the doctor is telling us to prepare for the surgery in case we had to save money or anything.

Monthly Pictures:

Her reaction for every time the kids want to take a picture with her.

Her first Gund bear from my sister.

Gemma definitely prefers my ring sling over my lillebaby carrier. She took most of her naps in this during our vacation.

She enjoys swinging with the big kids.