June 13, 2011

You are halfway to being a year old. I find myself in disbelief that over 6 months have passed since you were born. You are becoming increasingly independent and I see all of the characteristics of my little newborn slowly disappearing and being replaced by all of these new qualities that make you seem so much more like a little girl. Your 6 month appointment was today, and everything went really well. You weighed 16 lbs. 13.4 oz (66%) and you were 27.75 inches (96%) long. The doctor was pleased that you can sit up independently for small periods of time. She said that although you still fall over pretty quickly, your back is very straight when you do sit up and you are on the right track, developmentally. She also checked to make sure that you grab for items and transfer them back and forth really well from one hand to the other. Up until now, you have been exclusively fed breast milk, and we discussed beginning solids soon. You got shots at this appointment, and while you didn’t even notice the first one, the second one made you cry. It is so heartbreaking to see you hurting. Thankfully, as soon as I was able to pick you up, you started to calm down. Your dad and I always joke about beating the nurses up on your behalf.

            At 6 months, you are becoming much more vocal. You are laughing so much more, as well. A couple of days ago, we were out working in the yard and the next day, you were miserable. You sat around all day with a runny nose and watery eyes. Initially, we thought it was your allergies flaring up because of having you outside while we worked on the yard. Then, the next day we noticed when we were feeding you that you had two little teeth poking through your bottom gums. I’m convinced that your symptoms were more related to the teeth, now. You are such a tough little girl! Even with the two new teeth, you’re still so happy and easy going. Words couldn’t even begin to describe the way my love for you grows each day. You have turned my world upside down, and I find myself struggling to remember how my life was before you were a part of it. You have become such a major part of my every day that I feel as though no part of my life exists now, without at least a little part of you in it.

You are at such a fun age right now. With your personality unfolding more, it is so fun to take you out and let you experience new places and things. I recently took you swimming for the first time, with your cousins Isaac and Ethan. I knew that you would love it because you have always seemed to love being in the water. You had such a great time playing in the water. It must have worn you out, though, because you ended up falling asleep for a nap in your float! We have so much planned for this month. We’re taking you to the zoo with your cousin Paisley, celebrating your cousin Ethan’s 1^st birthday, getting your 6 month photos taken, starting you on solid foods and celebrating your dad’s FIRST father’s day. You always enjoy going out to new places and you can just tell that you try so hard to take all of your surroundings in. I love being able to look at you and see that you’re processing everything around you.