6 months and change

March was the busiest month in my (short) career as a lawyer and one of the many things I didn't quite get around to was writing a post for Ellie turning 6 months old. She's halfway to 7 months by now but better late than never.

Ellie,

At 6 months, the best word to describe you is fun. You are so easy going and happy. It might just be a factor of being the second child and being forced to tag along on everything the rest of us are doing from day 1, but you just fit in completely seamlessly in our day-to-day life. You have your weekday routine that involves stroller walks, naps and playtime with Grandma, but on the weekends we are out and about all day long. You sleep in the car but wake up to smile at us, talk to us and observe everything when we're out running errands or hanging out together.

You started eating solid foods around 5 1/2 months and you can't get enough. My independent girl, you want to feed yourself and often snatch the spoon in your death grip and try to take the bowl too. You started with rice cereal and then moved on to bananas, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, apples, peas and green beans. You are also almost completely on formula now and love to hold the bottle yourself. You had (and seem to still be going through) a big growth spurt. At your 6 month check up, you had jumped to the 95th percentile for height and 75th percentile for weight.

The week you turned 6 months, it was like a switch went off and you decided you would start napping in your crib. I know Grandma appreciates the little break this gives her during the week and I feel better knowing that you're getting enough sleep now. You've been a good sleeper at night for a while and I am so, so grateful for that. Every night, you and Timmy take a bath together and then you both go to sleep around 7:30 or 8. We're all up the next day by 6:30 or so.

The biggest difference we notice so far between you and Timmy is how determined you are to be on the move, into everything and part of the action. To this day, Timmy is usually content to be off in a corner somewhere reading a book or doing a puzzle. You, on the other hand, can't stand being left out. You roll across the room, pissed off that you can't make your body crawl to whatever it is that you want to get your hands on. You are constantly trying to get your hands on Timmy's toys and your general strategy is to slam your hands down hard across their surface to press any buttons that might be there, especially buttons that play music or make noise.

You started sitting up somewhere around 5 1/2 months and you're very good at it now, hardly ever falling over. Except when you do it on purpose because you want something out of reach and the only way you know of to get there is to roll over to it. Smarty pants.

Most importantly, you smile and laugh and snuggle and kiss and love. You are the best little companion a mother, father and brother could ask for. You are happy and thriving.

We love you beaner!

Mommy



At her first swimming lesson, anxious to get in the pool and sporting the cutest, dimpliest legs ever: