5 Months

We are loving this family of 3 (plus Lily!) thing. You bring us so much joy and laughter. Don't get me wrong, those times you wake up in the middle of the night and need our attention are hard. And let's not forget that you're famous for your 30 minute cat naps. You're absolutely worth it though. We began to see a little more of your personality come out this month. Your smiles are, seemingly, never-ending.  You are such a shy girl.  When people speak to you while we are holding you, you give a slight smile and put your head into our shoulders.  It's precious and melts our hearts.  We noticed what toys you were more drawn to and how much you loved to play with them. You slowly began to sit on your own. It was kinda crazy how it all happened and we aren't really sure when it happened. I began to just sit you up during our playtimes and you quickly caught on that this new way of seeing the world was much cooler than lying flat on the floor. You started on your own by "tripoding" (putting your hands down for balance) a week or so before my birthday. You could do it for a few minutes or so and then would topple over. It didn't take you much longer before you were sure enough to let go of the floor to move your hands all around. Before we knew it you were sitting there like a little girl, our baby was growing and developing so much. Here is your 5th month in pictures.

This is what our dinners look like. Move over tulips, you are our new centerpiece! And let's just pretend that the caution symbol on the Bumbo doesn't say, "Never use on any elevated surface!"

                                    

Getting excited for your bath!

You found your toes awhile back but this was the first time you figured out how to get those wiggly things in your mouth, the eventual place of everything you get your hands on.

 

"Tripoding". Look at that sweet face.

Mmmm, duck tastes so good. This little rubber ducky is the one we got for you on our trip to Boston/Niagara Falls. Due to your shyness (which is totally evident now) we still didn't know if you were a girl or boy but we wanted so badly to get you something. A rubber ducky is classic so we decided to play it safe. You love it, just as we anticipated.

Your first snow came after you were snoozing for the night but held out for a few picture opportunities the next morning. Next year, if we are lucky enough to see snow, I have a feeling you won't be this still.

Cannot. get. enough.

Poor little sock monkey. Up until now she has been sitting idly by as we snap adorable pictures of you. This month, however, you got her in on some major action.

I know what you're thinking, a staged picture. Oh no, this was all your doing. So glad we were able to capture it.

                                         

Your best wrestling move, not sure what you will do with it in the future though.

Sitting up!

A tad more old-school. And by old-school we mean the last 4 month's pictures.

Our precious 5 month old!  We love you!



4 Months

Your 4th month started just as the new year 2012 started.  It was kinda bittersweet to see your birth year pass us by, but we knew so much more was in store and because of that we were excited.  You seemed to grow so much during this month, in both your looks and development.

Sometime around when this picture was taken you really began to giggle out loud in response to us.  We would tickle you and you would make the sweetest sounds.  We were beyond happy to finally hear those sounds coming from different rooms in our house.  Being the silly parents we are, we do some pretty crazy antics to hear that legitimate laugh.

You started sitting up better when we put you against something.  I think you liked this new way of seeing the world, you just seemed to take everything in around you.

 

The marking of a good sleeper, thankfully.

I just had to include a picture of me with my little girl!

You met your Grandma Ann for the first time.  She was married to your Great Papa when he died back when I was in 10th grade.  You were a good girl for her, even though you had started to have stranger anxiety earlier than most children.  She loved squeezing on you!

Don't let this one fool you.  The reason we took this picture was because it's so odd to see you with a paci actually in your mouth.  You normally could care less about it (and a bottle for that matter).  You looked so funny, more like a little baby.  It didn't last long after this shot was taken but we were able to capture it!

Had to give Barney some love on here.  Granny gave him to you and wouldn't you know that you love him so much.  Whenever you're not so happy we can show you Barney and, most of the time, we can get a smile out of you.

Below is the anatomy of your roll.  It all started the morning of Jan. 24th, two days before you were 4 months.  You were on your playmat and all of sudden you did it.  You had been rolling onto your side off and on but this day you just went for it, back to tummy.  Yeah, you took the hard road first and showed us your strength and determination.  You and I were quite surprised and although you loved doing it, you didn't like the fact that you couldn't roll back over.    

"Whoa, what just happened?"

Happy baby!

Monthly sock monkey picture.

4 months of love, love, love!

3 Months

What a fun month is was pretty girl!  We enjoyed some great family time and loved having you here for your First Christmas and our first Christmas as a family of 3.  Check out your third month.

Let's begin with a week's worth of wake ups.  You are such a happy girl when you wake up.  You talk to yourself for a little while and then we go in there to get you up.  I decided to capture you waking up each morning for a week.  Here is a glimpse of the beautiful girl I see each morning:

Your smile lights up your whole face just like it lights up our lives.

You first found your hands enough to put them in your mouth around Thanksgiving, but I remember the specific moment you reached out to touch a toy.  Your Granny and I were eating lunch at Bear Rock on Dec. 2nd and I looked over to you in your carseat.  You were reaching out to touch the giraffe that hangs on the handle.  It may seem like such a small thing to note but it was a big deal to me.  It was one of the first memorable things you did that showed you actually growing and developing.  Maybe I was a bit overexcited but then again you're my daughter and every new thing you do will be exciting to me. 

Gram and Grandpa came to visit us, but really they were here to see you.  They love you as though you were their first grandchild, not 5th.

A few pictures we took when trying to get the perfect one to double as our Christmas card and your Birth Announcement.  You were a good sport considering we were trying to get you to sit up at just a little over 2 months old.  Cute, cute, cute.

We went to Aunt Rose's one day to bake Christmas goodies.  This is how you spent much of your time while I made the likes of peanut butter balls and lady fingers.

I'm sad that you had already fallen asleep or you would have been in this picture for sure.  All 4 of us love you dearly. 

What's a Christmas without visiting Santa?  We knew we had to take you while you would still be okay with him because who knows what next year will hold.  We had a 30ish minute wait and you gladly took that opportunity to take a little snooze.  You woke up when it was almost your time, like you were excited to meet him or something.  This picture was from a further distance away, we do have a professional one that is fantastic.  You took a few good looks at him, but didn't seem to mind the jolly old man dressed in that bright red suit. 

Christmas Eve morning at Uncle Chris' and Aunt Kim's.  Grandpa poses as Santa to give out all the gifts.  Here you are with your cousins Anna, Lily, Ryan, and Isaiah.  You 5 are such a fun bunch!

The before and after of your gifts from us.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say you were more excited than these pictures show.

Our family Christmas picture!

Even though a little late, our complete family picture.  We can't forget about your buddy Lily!

Sock monkey picture.

We love you more and more baby girl!

Loving the sun!

2 Months

Your second month we were all 3 working on more cyclinders.  We were a little more used to getting up during the night and you really began showing us your sweet little personality.  After many middle of the night feedings you decided you wanted to sleep all night on Nov. 18th.  And, I'm talking like 9pm to 8am, glorious!  Many fun things happened during your second month but here is a snippet.

Your first Halloween!  This was your costume.  I know exciting huh?  You were such a little girl that even the newborn onsie was too big for you.  Next year your costume will be much more fun, we promise.

Your first real smile came on Oct. 29, just over a month old.  Oh, how exciting that was!  It was so nice to see that you were happy.  This picture was one of your first sweet smiles. 

You attended your first NC State function and sported your cheerleading outfit with style.  We shutout UNC so we will say you are our good luck charm, in more ways than you will ever know. 

A try at tummy time, definitely not your favorite but you were a trooper.

Your first time in the Bumbo.  It may have been kinda early but you would never have guessed, just look at that head support.

Cute pose.

Spending time with your cousin Haydyn.  She loves you so much and is such a good big cousin to you.  I can't wait to see your friendship blossom over the years.

Catnap together after spending the day at the museum.

On your playmat.  Love, love, love the playmat.  We all love the playmat.  It has at times saved your Mama's sanity.  Did I mention I love the playmat?!

Sorry this picture is so small but this is your First Thanksgiving.  Love our striped family photo?

It humored me to give you things and watch you hold them only because of your grasping reflex.  I pretended that you were advanced and were purposefully doing it.  You didn't seem to mind and I thought it was great fun.

Beside the girlie sock monkey to keep track of your growth each month.

Oh my, 2 months!  What a cute little baby girl!  We love you so much, Adelaide.