6 Months

Happy 6 month birthday Catherine Ellis! It's amazing how much she has changed since we brought our bundle of joy home from the hospital. She's a big girl now and her personality is shining through. We are having so much fun! It certainly makes those early weeks and months when she was pretty much eating, pooping, and sleeping all worth the fun that she is now. She's becoming a little person who is healthy, fun-loving, and a hoot to be around.

6 months

Here's what she is doing now:

• Loves the exersaucer and actually plays in it
• Learned how to make the music play on the exersaucer
• Fine motor skills are improving -- she can do most of the activities on the exersaucer
  
• Working on her ab muscles more and more every day
• Can roll from her stomach to her back, but has a harder time with back to stomach
  
• Babbles and makes sounds like she is talking
• Her feet can now go in her mouth
• Takes an object and moves it from hand to hand with ease
• Laughs
• Standing more strongly on her legs
• Reaches for objects and toys
• Started solids -- so far she has tried bananas and peas -- she likes them both
• Eats in the morning and afternoon with the older children in her classroom (a mixture of rice cereal and bananas or peas)
• All of her food is organic at this point in time. I was going to make her food, but I've decided time is precious and right now I'm juggling enough with working full-time and mommying full-time. I may change my mind as she begins eating more and more. It's expensive!
  
• Eats from a bottle during the day - I'm still pumping and nursing her in the mornings and at night, but for less stress for us both I've switched to bottles for day care. It's less disruptive for her and I actually get things accomplished at work
• Takes baths without the hammock - she sits up and splashes in the water and plays to her hearts content
• Loves taking her vitamins (we hope this continues well into life - I always hated them)
• Watches Nick Jr. in the mornings and acts like she is comprehending what is going on (although we know that's a stretch)
• Much more aware of the dogs and wants to pet them -- she thinks pulling Cains ears and gums are hysterical
• Still working on growing hair -- I think she'll be year before she has much. Dad is hoping it's sooner
• her eyes are a light brown/hazel mix - it depends on what she's wearing
• Sucks her thumb at night to soothe herself
• Sleeping is hit or miss -- she still sleeps through the night, but the past 2-3 weeks she has begun awakening between 3:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m. to play. She doesn't cry or act like she is hungry, instead its 'let's see how many sounds I can make' time. It would be much cuter if it weren't so early in the morning.
• Clothing size is still some 0-3 months, but wearing more 3-6 months. She needs 6 months for her long legs if they are pants, but then they fall off of her because she's so lean -- but we're working on that!
• The passy is not used near as much as it once was, she's so busy babbling she doesn't need it
• She recognizes David and I and when one of us leaves the room she notices
• Her eyesight is improving -- she can see from a decent distant now - she recognized David from across the restaurant last night
• Waving bye bye, but backwards or side to side -- she doesn't always do it when someone says bye-bye, but you can tell she's working on getting the wave down
• Her hands are mesmerizing -- who needs toys
• Tummy time is still not fun for her but she's getting better
• No teeth to report at this time - we keep thinking it will be any day now
  
• She's a very happy baby, typically only fussy when hungry and not being fed fast enough (this is straight up a trait she gets from her Daddy -- he's the same way)

I know I say this every time, but we are so blessed. We are trying hard to stay in the present and not wish her stages away -- I know I'll blink and she'll be 16 before I know it. Each stage has it's ups and downs, but this is really the most fun we've ever had. She's a delightful child and we look forward with great anticipation to the next cool thing she does. We praise God for the wonderful gift he has given us!