Six Month

Dear Fiona: You are six months old!

This momentous birthday occured in the middle of Vacation Bible School. You parents gave a piece of their sanity to a roomful of three year olds. You found them fascinating and behaved very well, so entertained were you by all their screaming, running, and playing. Then I got really brave and left you in the nursery under the attentions of not one but three teenage girls. Sounds like the perfect ratio of babysitters to baby.


You've been achieving milestones all over the place this past month. I have no idea how it compares to your brother, which is a good thing. I want to enjoy each of you as you grow, without constantly drawing lists of firsts and seconds.

1. Crawling: the big one. You quickly went from hands and knees, rocking, tentative lungs and army crawls, to zipping all over the house. I'll set you down in the living room surrounded by interesting toys, then I turn around to find you have followed me into the kitchen. The baby gate has gone back up. Poor Patrick has to walk all the way around. You have been found with your hands on the first step and standing up! You crawl over pillows, our legs, and the dogs.


2. Solids: since we can't keep your hands away from our food, we've started feeding you a few things. I'm not sure you are actually eating any of them, but you enjoy the concept. You really just want to feed yourself. So I give you a spoon to play with and attempt to feed you with the other. Then you make a gigantic mess when I give up and just let you play with the whole darn bowl. Your bath quotient has increased significantly. And the dogs have discovered that babies in high chairs equal copious treats and hand licking.

3. Birthmark: we've started your medication to reduce your hemangioma. Daddy and I think it's working! It already looks less puffy, the edges are fading, and the redness has decreased. Giving you this funny tasting medication is a bit of a trip. Sometimes you are fine. Sometimes it's torture.

4. Sleeping: I'm finding that you don't want to snuggle in bed so much anymore. This makes me terribly sad. It's you, creeping away from that sweet new babyhood and into an older version of baby-ness. You will nurse in bed with me, then toss and turn until I creep onto the edge of the bed. You settle down into hard sleep in my spot on the mattress. But the crib is in your future. Daddy has found you with both hands on the rail working to pull yourself up. You took your first nap in your crib today, and you slept really well. Just like your brother, you will be ready for your crib way before Mommy is.

5. Sitting: You are sitting up. No longer tripoding.

6. Babbling: like crazy! Mostly Mamamamamama.

7. Teething: your first tooth just barely cut through. Not enough to see, but you can feel it!

Wow Sister! So much work this past month! How about taking it easy on your Mommy and just sleeping really great this next month.

I love you always my sweet girl!
Love
Mommy
ps. I promise you do occasionally wear clothes. I just never get pictures of you in them.