Little Elise Bug, already half a year old! It's gone by quickly in some ways, slowly in others. Mostly in the "I thought you'd be sleeping better by now" way. I keep telling people that I must have lots of angels helping me out, because there is no way I should be functioning with you getting me up 4-5 (or more) times every night. I love your chubby face but we have got to get you down to twice a night or less, woman!
But I deal with it because you are the most ridiculously mellow, easy baby. All you need is someone to talk to or look at and something to chew on. You're pretty much done with the dangling toy mat: if we put you on it you instantly roll over and look for something to chew on.
Happy girl
Operation Break the Swing/Swaddle Habits was a success! It took a few days to get you settled, but now all you need is a pacifier and your blanket to snuggle with. You like it to cover your ears, like your siblings and mother.
The good news is that you're finally rolling both directions. This is good news because your favorite trick this month was to roll from back to belly in your crib and then scream because you won't sleep on your belly and you didn't know how to roll back over. Now you'll either just sleep on your belly or roll back over. Unfortunately you're now more mobile than I was prepared for: I came in to check on you one night and found you asleep with your huge afghan blanket over your face. It's always been hanging over the foot of your crib, nowhere near where I put you to sleep. The afghan is now safely in the closet. Now you entertain yourself by chewing on the stuffed animals in your crib.
Elise Airlines: Ready for takeoff!
We also figured out your food secret: you will only eat what we're eating. Baby food is totally unacceptable, in any form. I'm still not sure how exactly you know the difference, but you do. You also prefer to feed yourself, if possible.
"Baby food is nasty. Give me straight PB instead." Luckily Aaron is happy to finish off your rejects.
You discovered a fierce love for French toast.
Pancakes are also a hit.
And French Fries? Heaven.
Also, toilet paper.
Clearly you're still developing those taste buds.
At 6 months old you were 16 lbs. 3 oz. and 26.5 inches long. 50th for weight, 75th for height. You're in 6 month and 6-9 month clothing.
Your thighs are my favorite things in the entire world.
You blow raspberries all the time now. It's adorable.
When you're really happy to be picked up, you'll grab my face or neck and squeeze. You have vicious, vicious little fingernails.
You put up with a lot from your bigger brother:
"Little sisters: Finally good for something!"
The grabbing is getting ridiculous. I can no longer drink water or eat things while holding you. Or set your Bumbo down next to anything you shouldn't grab. Like the knife set. Or your siblings' cups of juice.
You went swimming for the first time in Pohai's pool. You were quite pleased with the whole situation:
You didn't even mind being gnawed on by a shark:
You are finally, FINALLY going to bed at a godly hour. Not sure how it happened, but it was almost overnight. Now you (usually) go down around 7:30 pm and wake up around 7 am. Which would be lovely if you also weren't waking up to eat at 10 pm, midnight, 2:30, 4:30, etc. Plus a few more times just to try to kill me off. Sadly for you, I have taken to just turning off your monitor and letting you figure things out. You will sleep eventually!
Naps are sort of normalizing. You'll go down about 90 minutes after waking up. You usually nap 3 times a day, but one of those naps will be a short one (45-60 minutes). I just never know which nap it will be...
You're getting bossier about being put down. You no longer like sitting in your bouncy/rocking chairs. You either want the Bumbo, Jumperoo or to be on the ground. Preferred place is being carried.
"Chairs are lame! I need to move!"
You pull my hair. All. The. Time. I'm like your personal horse, that you direct by yanking on my mane. Putting my hair up doesn't help; then you just go for the little neck hairs. Ouch.
The spitting up is almost completely over with now. You'll surprise us occasionally, but we are so happy to be past the constant puking.
You're starting to sit up! You don't last very long yet (a minute or so), but you seem pleased to have a new way to view the world.
At your six month checkup the pediatrician said she didn't see any teeth popping up, nor did it look like they would be arriving soon. Four days later you popped out your first one, with the second close behind. Take that, pediatrician! I will admit to being a little sad. I love the gummy smile stage of babyhood!
"There's something weird in my mouth.."
"It's a tooth, that I totally won't let Mom get a decent picture of!"
When you wake up happy from a nap (it's either happy or screaming, 50% chance either way), you roll around in your crib and chew on your stuffed animals' faces. It's adorable.
Happy six months, little lady bug!
