these are a few of my favorite things

These are some of my favorite things about you at your age right now, five-and-a-half months old:

1.            Pulling off for a moment while nursing just to look up at me and smile before continuing on with business as usual.
{OhMeltMyHeart.}

2.            Being able to toss baby in the air during playtime.
{WeeeItsSuperbaby!}

3.            Helping momma by putting his legs up in the air and lifting his bum while getting a diaper change.
{SoFreakingCute.}

4.            Toes in the mouth!
{EnoughSaid.}

5.            When being held by someone else in a crowded room… turning his head to make eye contact with me when he hears my voice.
{NewMommyGushing.}

6.            Uncontrollable baby giggles when I say anything with an excited expression and raised eyebrows.
{WhyHelloTherePoopyPants!}

7.            That look of wonder and awe when he watches mommy and daddy eating “big boy food.”
{PleaseLetMeHaveSomeNowMomma!}

8.            The “drunken sailor wobbling hula” when he practices standing up while holding onto my hands.
{DontGainYourBalanceTooQuicklyCauseMommasLovingThis.}

9.            Thirty-second 360’s on his tummy.
{WhenTheHeckDidYouGetSoFast?!}

10.        Screams of delight when being mildly (deliberately) startled.
{WhoKnewPeekabooCouldBeSoHilarious?}

11.        The frustrated arm-waiving when throwing a fit.
{FunnyExceptForThoseTimesWhenMommyIsSuperTiredAndOverIt.}

12.        Having his arms stretched out to me when he wants to be picked up.
{IsItWrongThatISometimesPutHimDownJustSoHeCanDoItAgain?}

13.        Head resting on my shoulder and super sweet cuddles when he first wakes up from naptime.
{GetsMeEveryTime.}

14.        The skin… oh, the skin.
{ICantStopTouchingYourChubbyLittleThighs.}

15.        That little baby sigh of relief and pleasure that comes about thirty seconds after nursing has begun.
{TooCuteForYourOwnGood.}

16.        The after-bath hair styles.
{ThankYouDaddy.}

17.        That priceless look of “I-just-accomplished-an-incredible-trick-did-you-see-that?” while making splashes in the bath and saturating daddy.
{YesSweetPeaMommysProudOfYou.}

18.        Being able to sing baby to sleep in five minutes tops if he’s crying in the car due to over-tiredness.
{IKnewIShouldHaveBeenARecordingArtist...ButWhyDoesntThisWorkAtBedtime?}

19.        You know those sneezes that start and then stop mid-sneeze? Baby’s getting those.
{LittleManIsSoFunny.}

20.          When babe sticks his thumb in his mouth while nursing... thinking more is better?
{YouKnowThatIKnowYoureDoneEatingWhenYouDoThatRightSon?}

21.          The paci is no longer for sucking and calming but for chewing and playing.
{SoothieTurnedTeether2For1Deal.}

22.           Those precious moments while nursing that babe reaches up to touch my face or to stroke my chest.

         {PleaseBurnTheseIntoMyMemoryForever.}

mama's so proud of you

:: five months old ::

You have darkest, deepest, most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen. Just when I think it’s impossible for you to get cuter… you do.

Again, this has been a huge month for changes in your life. I suppose when you’re growing this rapidly, you’d expect for things to happen fast… and yet as a first-time-mom it still catches me off guard.

Two weeks ago, at just four-and-a-half months you began sitting up by yourself. It was the strangest thing to watch – one day you weren’t able to, and the next day you were. You seemed as surprised as I was judging by the look on your face. {These photos were literally that first morning… of course as a good first-time-mom I ran to get the camera immediately!} You’re definitely entering into a new phase of baby-hood.

This has been a roller coaster of a month for you – growth spurts, developmental leaps, learning new skills, immunizations… In some ways it’s been the hardest for us so far. You’ve had lots of trouble sleeping – both at night and during your naps – and you’ve also been a little bit fussier and clingier than usual at different points throughout the month. No doubt it all stems from the growing and changing you’re doing so rapidly.

We continue to be amazed by you and proud of you, despite the “growing pains.”

And as hard as some days have been, I can also say that this age is such a joy as well. You are so much fun right now! You’re strong enough that we can do things like toss you in the air and play “superbaby” or roll you around on the bed. Overall we can just play with you so much more (and you interact so much more).

Daddy and I are in love with making you laugh. We play peek-a-boo, sing songs, surprise you by jumping out from behind the bed or the couch. You just love to hear anything we say with raised eyebrows and voices raised. You’re so easy to amuse right now and it’s hilarious. We’ll never get tired of seeing your huge gummy smile and hearing your contagious giggles an grunts.

You’re still “talking” lots and it’s impossible to keep up with you. Just when your chatter sounds one way for a couple of days and we’ve caught onto it, then you go and change it again!

Have I mentioned that we’re in love with you? I have? Okay then, just hear it again: we’re so in love with you.

we’ll adore you forever,

momma xx