Six Months Old!

6 month stats:

15 lbs. - 10th percentile

26.5 inches long- 50th percentile

Dearest Marin,

This past Saturday you turned six months old! I absolutely cannot believe how quickly the time has flown! It seems like you should only be two months old at most. Never the less, the last six months have been the most amazing time in Daddy and my lives! We love you so much, sweet girl. You are growing and changing into the happiest, most darling little girl.

I love to sit and watch you learn and discover. How have you learned so many things in such a short amount of time?! I didn't teach you how to smile, but you do so beautifully. I didn't teach you how to bounce on your legs, but you do so often and with great vigour. I didn't teach you how to give hugs and kisses but you snuggle into the crook in my neck so comfortably; especially when you are tired. When I lean over you, you reach up your little hands to me, pull my hair down to you, and put your little open mouth on my cheek. The best kisses are from you. You take in the world very intently and with great fixation and such joy.

You are sleeping well these days. You go to bed after you eat, say prayers and you and I have a little quiet snuggle. I sing you "Let me call you sweetheart"; its a favorite of yours I think, as you always smile up at me brightly when I begin. We have had a lot of changes and a lot of activity in our lives this past month and you have just rolled with the punches and adapted very well. Your personality remains very laid back like Daddy, and very happy like Mommy. Mostly, you are like you dad. This is a good thing, trust me. Instead of being a constant stream of noise, you only "talk" when you feel like you really have something to say. I encourage this greatly of course, but the doctor says that you might just be a little quieter. Mommy is loud, uptight and bad with change- so quiet, laid back and adaptable is nothing short of miraculous to me. I marvel at you every day!

You are quite active as well, and this you do get from me. You don't much like to sit ideally and do nothing, and I can't say I blame you. You have a new found love of the excersaucer. In our house, it is the best invention since the "hooter hider". You bounce and spin in that to your hearts content. Grandma has taught you what to do with all the accessories, and you learn very quickly- this one spins, this one makes noise... they all end up in your mouth eventually. When you lay on your activity mat on your stomach you roll and roll both ways all over the place. You'd roll from one end of the room to the next and back if we let you. Rolling is your preferred mode of transportation. You do act like you want to crawl, if you could just figure out how to move your legs and your arms at the same time, and get them under your body. We think you might do more of an army crawl within the next few months. You are sitting up a little bit on your own, but eventually you topple over. This doesn't bother you a bit; you're happy to play with your feet once you fold in half. What really interests you much more than sitting, is standing! You LOVE to stand and bounce and dance.

Norah is your best friend for sure. When she comes in a room you stop everything, look at her and laugh and grin. Norah is taking full advantage of the attention and is starting to bring you her toys. The only problem is, you think they should then go in your mouth, and Norah wants you to play catch. We'll have to work on this... :) You don't know it yet, but you have another new friend! Kai William Marten was born on your 6 month birthday! Daddy and I think he is a little too young to meet him just yet- we'll wait until he is at least 4 weeks and his immune system gets used to the outside world- but we met him in the hospital his first day of life, and we know that the two of you will be fast friends.

You are beginning to recognize your name when we call it. This is really very fun. You are recognizing more and more people which is very fun as well. It is just amazing how quickly you are transforming before us from a baby baby to a little person.

You love to go for stroller rides. This is one time when you are content to sit and watch the world go by. The summer heat doesn't bother you, and you love a light breeze. I absolutely love to take you for walks in your stroller. It was something that my mom loved to do with me, too. It is a nice (usually quiet) time for you and I spend together. Of course, Norah is usually in tow. 95% of the time she shakes and throws slobber all over both of us; this only makes you laugh while I frantically wipe it off both of us- and your stroller, and our clothes, and Norah's jowls. I talk to you on our walks about the things we see, and the people going by. You love any dog we see, and can't get over those with thick fur. I think you think it is a stuffed animal.

You are very comforted by soft things. You love to snuggle with a stuffed animal or a little lovie blanket when you go to sleep. You have a stuffed alligator, (we call he Allie), that Grandma bought you as a memento from your first vacation that is as big as you are, but you snuggle with it none the less. You pull soft blankies up to your face and nuzzle your nose in the soft fabric. This freaks daddy out a little bit- but I assure him that you can breathe, and sometimes we give you a little more air once you are fast asleep.

Daddy and I still stand over you together at the end of every day entirely in awe of the wonder that you are and the indescribable love that we have for you. You are a miracle. You are our pumpkin. You are our dream come true. You are everything that we wished you would be and much more that we never even imagine you could be. You are our beautiful, precious, sweet daughter. You are our life.

Happy six month birthday, sweet baby girl. The way time has gone so far, mommy has a feeling that in the blink of an eye you'll be asking to date a boy! (The answer by the way, is no. Not until I have met his parents, done a thorough background check, made sure he is very tattoo and disease free, and have warmed your dad up to the idea.) When he does pass my test, I'll be sure to share pictures with him like these, below. :)

I love you a million times over,

Mommy