6 months

My baby turned 6 months old this week.  I can't believe how big she is now.  Her current stats are 24 in tall, 15.0 lbs, and her head is now 40.5 cm.  Her percentiles are staying pretty consistent, still short, chubby, with a small head, and every bit as cute.

Nephew #3 was born almost two weeks ago, and we went to see him. He was roughly the same size as Alice, but he looks so tiny.  At home, Alice is my little baby, but then around the new baby, she looks like a giant.  I have a hard time remembering her so little.  I also have a hard time remembering her so inactive.

She is a go-go-go little girl.  Some of her recent developments

• She has started rolling over more consistently from her tummy to her back.  Still not all the time, but she can when she want to.  
• She doesn't complain about tummy time as much anymore.  
• She can sit up pretty well, and only falls over occasionally.
• She grabs and picks up everything and puts it in her mouth.  She is definitely tasting the world.  
• She loves toys, and decided paper is pretty darn neat. 
• She is talking all the time and has expanded her language from just growling, to ya-ya-ya's, and blowing bubbles, a little cough, and most recently talking while inhaling
• She got sick for the first time and had a fever of 101 degrees for a day and a half.  It was accompanied with a lack of sleep for all three of us, crankyness (again for all three) and a runny nose, which is still lingering a tad bit.  
• Her grasp has gotten pretty strong and she pulls my hair all the time.  It is usually in a ponytail, but she gets those little hairs at the neck.  Ouch.  She has also learned to pull Bella's hair.
• Bella is still her friend, despite the hair pulling.  I am very impressed at Bella's maturity and patience with Alice.
• Still not napping well, but she is sleeping a little better at night as we have tried to get her in her cradle more.  Maybe this month, we will move toward her crib :)
• She had started to recognize Mom and Dad, and prefers if we are holding her rather than strangers.
• Nursing has become a little frustrating because she is impatient for the let down, then gets mad again when it is over and she has to work a little harder.  Distraction is also an issue. 
• She has also learned to ride in the Ergo on my back.  YEAH!

I am sure this is not an exhaustive list of all Alice's skills, but we love her.  Since she has turned 6 months, she has had a haircut, and a little taste of some bananas.  She thinks they are tasty.  Lots of pictures to come.

Inheritance

Shortly after Alice started making sounds, she developed a new language.  It must have been inherited from her mother.  When I was a small child, I was nicknamed cave baby.  I grunted and growled when I wanted something or wasn't happy.

Occasionally, I will get a cute little coo out of her, but more often it is in the form of a growl.  This video was taken on August 27th, about 6 weeks ago.  She still growls and screams regularly.  From my perspective, it is cute initially and on occasion, but it gets old pretty fast, and I just want my baby to sound happy.  I know she is happy, but sometimes it doesn't sound like it.

New friends

Alice has been really enjoying toys.  She will reach for them, grab them, look at them, and usually eat them.  I have worried that sometimes she will pull her baby gym down because she is pulling so hard on the hanging toys.  A few weeks ago, one particular nap time, she was being fussy and wouldn't fall asleep.  I had read that babies like to look at faces.  I placed a doll my sister made in her view.  When I went back to check on her, this is what I found.

Apparently, Alice has made a new friend.  I think she made a good choice.

Breakthrough

Today, I think we had a breakthrough in the rolling over department.  She has finally figured it out, at only 5 1/2 months.  She has done it a few times today.  Before today, she has only done it a few times ever.  She still has not ever rolled from her back to tummy, but this is a start. 

I love that she whines when she is done because she can't reach her toy.

She is also getting better at sitting up.  She will last a short while before tipping over on the side or arching her back.

Sick Day?

Yesterday morning, I woke up sick.  Sore throat, achy muscles, congestion, and just plain old brain fog and tired.  Nothing major, but sick nonetheless.  As I went through my day, I realized that Moms don't get sick days.  As I am feeling yucky, I still need to feed and care for my baby.  I can't just check out of life anymore.  I can scale back a few things like the plans to visit my sister this week (I don't want her to get sick), and less projects around the house. 

Until, I feel better, we will be sticking close to home, taking care of my baby, and reading some books while I rest.