6 Months of Raising a Wildflower

Rowie P! You are on the brink of becoming a SEVEN month old! Also, for the record, I'm pretty sure I was JUST writing your 5 month recap like days ago... When I first brought you home I remember thinking about the summer and how old you would be by then. Suddenly it's summer, the time is just flying by, and you keep blossoming into this baby who I don't recognize! For the first time ever, this past month I actually made the comment, "she keeps changing so much lately that I can't keep up". Just when I think I have your routine down, you change and are able to do something else, stay up a little longer, get a little stronger, eat a little more, so on and so forth. Some days I look at you and I swear you look more like a little girl than you do a baby. Sometimes when I look at you I see glimpses of my toddler and you throw me this devious look, the same one I'm sure I will see when I've caught you doing something you aren't supposed to be doing! I've also witnessed this adorably sweet nature of yours, like when you gave your suckie to your Cookie Monster toy, or when you reach out and put your hand on my face and give me this open-mouthed slobbery "kiss" as I call it. These are the things I imagine you doing to a future sibling, and I constantly say "she will be such a great big sister one day". You will be! This entire past month was overwhelming, in really really great ways. You were once a baby who wanted nothing to do with tummy time, and now you're suddenly a tummy sleeper. You lose your mind when you see strawberries because you love them so much, you've tried a plethora of foods, you WILL crawl any day now, you can somehow hold a plank better than most adults can, you're obsessed with that crazy Momma of yours (best obsession ever), you clap for any reason at all, you even clap for no reason at all, you blow on your food because you think it's hot (even when it's cold)... I have had thee best month with you, Rowan Penelope. I may never be able to stop time from going by so quickly, but I can certainly buckle up and continue enjoying this ride with you, cheering on my beyond beautiful little girl as she grows and flourishes.

6 month stats for Lil' R.P.

Birth weight: 6 lbs, 11.5 oz, 19 inches long

6 months: 16 lbs, 3 ounces, 27 inches long

Eye colour: beautiful greenish-grey

Diaper size: rockin' those size 3 diapies

Clothing size: Mainly 6-9 because this range fits way more comfortably, and you have graduated to size 9 month jammies (that's when they start coming with the foot-less option because you're such a big girl!)

Nickname: It's taken 6 months, but I think we have our favourite go-to nicknames for you and haven't had to think up any new ones!

What Momma has observed

about you at 6 months young

I constantly go back to the days when you were still in my tummy, when I would reach for the journal I kept for you, and write to this baby girl who I didn't know yet. At best, all I could do was imagine who and how you would be, but never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted this. You're only 7 months old at this point, and you have this relentless spark that I can't even credit your Daddy or myself for. I don't know how you got to be so darn wonderful, but kudos to you, kid. You are easily the happiest baby I know, and I hope that joy continues to carry you into your toddler years, childhood, and the rest of your life!

• You have a slight obsession with bracelets and watches. Whenever someone holding you is wearing one, you tend to fixate on it. I usually tell them you're assessing how much you can get for it on the black market. I had to buy you your very own bracelet before you stole someone else's. I found the cutest baby bracelet shop on Etsy and ordered you this precious little white beaded one. It was SO small when it came in the mail that I didn't even think it would fit you. However, it's on, and you keep looking at it like, "how did that get there?" I always used to see these trendy babies on Instagram wearing bracelets and swore if I ever had a little girl I would follow suit. I'm much more of a bracelet fan than I am earrings on little girls!

• Even though you put absolutely everything you can grab into your mouth, you will not feed yourself when I put food on your high chair tray. Instead, you open your mouth like, "get to it, Momma. You know the drill".

• Clapping will stop one of your meltdowns 75% of the time, since you forget what you were mad about and instead question what the heck is wrong with me to be suddenly clapping so extremely enthusiastically. If effective, you stop crying and join me in clapping (hilarious).

• Taking photos with you or of you is officially difficult because you are the squirmiest worm. I have to work way harder these days, often dancing like an idiot, singing, or playing hide and seek just to get you to sit still and laugh. I will stop at nothing though!

• You love your new umbrella stroller that Gramma bought you. It's smaller, more compact and eliminates us having to carry your car seat. Instead, we pop you out of the seat, into the stroller and cruise around stores. You also face outwards so you can see what's going on (and we all know how much you love that because you're so nosey). We were recently at Carter's buying you new jammies, and at the register they have these toys mounted to the counter to keep kids preoccupied while their parents pay. We just parked you there while we cashed out and you were in your glory. What is this new found independence, Momma!?

• You in overalls is the best. Enough said. End of story.

• You have taken in interest in your picture books and will sit on my lap and let me read to you. You try eating the pages, sure; but you're just trying to get the most knowledge, right? Gramma and I felt as though we hit the jackpot at the dollar store because we randomly found these Sesame Street hardcover books for you and bought you a bunch of them! I also found this really neat mini rowboat book shelf online that someone was selling and HAD to have it. I seriously messaged the lady saying that I would pay her over asking price if she told the other person she was saving it for that she couldn't sell it anymore. It now sits in our living room holding all of your books! A rowboat shelf for my Rowboat baby.

• You are already my number one helper! On Thursdays when the new flyer starts, you and I head to FreshCo to do our groceries and you always hold something on your lap for me because you're such a big girl! Whether it's doing grocery runs, or helping me do the dishes, you're right there next to me and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

• Your little strawberry hemangioma mark is already fading and turning white. At your last appointment, Dr. Ashraf said that's a tell-tale sign that it is going away. Strawberry or no strawberry, you're still the sweetest thing I ever did see.

Things you absolutely love

As ridiculous as this sounds, you love when we play this game where I literally stack your plush blocks on your head. Not only do you sit super still and somehow balance them, but you anticipate me putting them on you, and kind of flinch in excitement as I approach you. Anyone who sees it thinks that it's hilarious, including you, as you often giggle nonstop!

You love your water, which I in turn love too. I'm trying to avoid juice because I want you to continue wanting water, and also because juice is basically sugar and lord knows once you're old enough you will get enough of that on your own.

Whenever Gramma stops by in the morning to bring me a coffee before she heads to work, you clap upon seeing her and your whole face is taken up by your smile. She also helps me with your bath time routine when she can, which you and I both love for different reasons: while I think it's super helpful (especially if Daddy isn't home), and allows me to prep your bottle and clean up, you think it's awesome because she lets you splash in the tub and take your bath toys into your room afterwards to preoccupy you while she gets you changed. Oh, Gramma. We love her.

We also still love that Daddy guy! You, because he throws you up in the air and makes you laugh a ton, and is also pretty comfy to relax on the couch with. Though you also love watching Momma from the couch because you're my stalker. I'll look across the room and see your gigantic eyes staring me down and then this little dimpled smile appears on your face, which makes the dimpled smile on my face appear!

Oh. My. Lord. There is this YouTube video called "Sesame Street Alphabet", in which all of the characters sing, and is approximately 2 minutes long. You can honestly watch this over and over again without tiring of it. SO MUCH to the point where Momma memorized it and sings it to you all of the time, which you think is THEE funniest thing ever (right up there with when I fake sneeze). In the mornings when I heat your bubba, you sit in bed watching it because it's now a part of our every day routine.

Other honourable mentions: you still love your mornings, are Sesame Street-obsessed, enjoy gnawing on your toys, tearing up paper of any kind if you get your little paws on it, facing outwards in your stroller, Momma Momma Momma, eating, being around people, when people talk in a high pitch voice (you laugh so hard), doing your fake cough, screaming just because, leaning forward while sitting on your change table and giving Momma a heart-attack, pulling people's hair and earrings, touching faces, hanging out with Momma and Daddy on the couch, splashing in the tub, staring at cats because you have no idea what the heck they are (you are seriously obsessed with Hunter at Uncle Ralph's house), touching your ears (always making sure they're still attached), falling asleep in Momma's arms before bed, being in your sleepy-sack, when Daddy comes home from work, just to name SOME!

Things you aren't so fond of...

You must have felt bad for this section because it's always pretty lackluster, so you started disliking more things. For starters, you aren't fond of when Momma leaves your sight! I can't seem to leave the room without a minor meltdown from you these days. That whole "playing shy" stage may have some truth to it after all. You also HATE the Nose Frida. From a parental perspective, the thing is an absolute god-sent. Your kid can be the snottiest, most congested bug, and a couple sucks of the snot sucker and they can miraculously breathe again. I feel like a tool for ever thinking it was difficult to use on a newborn. How wrong I was. At least back then you couldn't move much, or turn over, or use your arms to combat me, or scream as though I am torturing you, quite like you can at 7 months old. It makes me feel like a monster when I have to use it, even though it is for your own good! You simply hate me wiping your noise, period. Up until now I had never dealt with a runny-nosed baby... I now know that I wasn't missing anything. In addition to that, you do NOT like when something is taken away from you. You throw fits if you're holding something and we take it from you (not for our own pleasure; mainly because it's usually something that isn't a toy, like when you grab hold of power cords...). Another thing you can't seem to get on board with is sleeping in your crib (and I ain't even talking pulling all-nighters in there; I mean naps!) I've gotten maybe 15 minutes from you at most, and then you're awake screaming as though you've been imprisoned by a cruel dictator named Momma.

I'd say that your dislikes are pretty minimal. Overall you're an insanely happy and easy-going baby. For each thing you dislike, there are fifty you love, and you've outgrown many of the dislikes you once had! You're easy to pop in and out of your car-seat now, and having your diaper changed doesn't phase you in the slightest. I expect many new dislikes along the way, but it's all part of you growing up and discovering what you are a fan of!

Eating Habits

This past month I have comprised a list on my phone of all the new things you have tried (and loved!) No, we still haven't encountered something that you have turned your nose up to, but if we keep up this way then you will be far from a picky-eater and I am A-Okay with that!

You tried chicken breast for the first time at Urban Cravings one afternoon. I gave you a tiny piece from my salad and you just kept wanting more. This is karma from all of the food I take off of people's plates. I am now going to have to share with you for the rest of my life (hahaha).

You also tried avocado a day later, and as soon as your 6 month appointment was done, we came home and made you scrambled eggs! You seemed to really enjoy those, and since then, a go-to breakfast for you has been scrambled egg whites. You also christened your high chair for the first time after your 6 month appointment, so now you eat like a big girl in your throne!

In terms of new veggies, you have recently tried cucumber, pureed cauliflower, and zucchini (with scrambled eggs, yum!) You've also been experimenting with fruits, like raspberries, apple, and apricots. You have a serious love for strawberries and recognize them. No joke, you will start kicking your feet until I cut one up into tiny pieces for you!

It's getting more fun to feed you because you're able to have combination meals now, like Gramma's homemade chicken soupie (she saved the chicken, carrots and potato for you - which, she made without any salt! I then pureed it all and froze little cubes of it). Just last night, Gramma made you pastina for the very first time and you were a big fan. I'm super impressed with your eagerness to try new things, and even if you don't seem overly thrilled about the food the first time, I always try again and you seem to warm up to it. You tried Greek yogurt, but I buy the plain kind and it's super strong tasting, so I'm going to attempt adding your fruits into it to give it some natural sweetness.

You enjoy starting your morning with oatmeal mixed with whatever fruit combination we have. Your favourite is probably oats with pureed apple and raspberry right now! However, as much as you love your foods, you're number one love is still good ol' bubba, and I don't see that changing any time soon. You still have 30 ounces within a 24 hour period, give or take a couple that you may not finish.

Your food is spread out throughout the day so that you usually have a morning bottle when you awake, followed by oatmeal and fruit a couple hours later. You usually have a veggie for lunch (or something like egg whites and zucchini), then for dinner I give you a meat and veggie mix. As gross as the jarred foods appear, specifically the meats, you love them. I only give you the turkey and chicken ones, and tend to stray from the casseroles, custards, or anything with cheese in it because those just seem like they have a lot of extra unnecessary stuff in them. I try to keep your meals pretty simple and healthy. The one night after you ate your turkey and sweet potatoes, you had your apple and raspberry puree. I don't blame you at all, I think I ate half the jar myself. It was delicious.

I'm SO looking forward to making you little healthy snacks to grab and go, or when we can have teddy toast together at breakfast! I bought baby food books and toddler meal idea books way back when you were still in my belly, so I am excited for all that is to come!

Sleeping Pattern

My little tummy sleeper, where did you come from? The same girl who hated being put on her tummy as an infant is now the same baby who sleeps through the entire night that way. I even place you on your tummy for your naps now, otherwise you try to maneuver yourself. I have to admit - for a while there you were going through this "look at me, Momma; I can roll over now" phase, which was great developmentally, but scared the crap out of me at night when I would turn over and see you face down. You did this extremely weird exorcist-like thing a couple of times during the night where you would sit straight up, eyes closed, and smash your head down like you didn't have a spine, and stay that way, sleeping! After the first time (when you scared the **** out of me), Daddy and I would die laughing whenever it happened. I even caught it on video because explaining the weirdness of it all to people was impossible.

Other than your possessed episode above, you sleep like a dream now that you're on your tummy. Eventually the rolling stopped and you realized that sleeping on your belly was comfortable. That's also when I removed your pillow and made you start sleeping flat on the mattress like babies are supposed to. I couldn't help it before! When you slept still on your back you were a diva and liked a pillow under your head. Anyways, now that you lie flat on your tummy, you sleep all night long. Some mornings I wake up and you've managed to get as close to me as possible, but I love that, and your incessant soft snoring in my ears. You also take your naps like a champ, usually one in the morning and another later in the afternoon. Lately, you and I both have been curling up on the couch around 3 or so, and even though when we lay down you don't seem tired, you always crash right next to me and Daddy wakes us up when he gets home from work. You're by far the best napping buddy around because you're so snuggly and fit in the curve of my arm perfectly.

Playtime & Development

Okay, this is the area where I have seen the biggest change in you and your abilities! It actually blows my mind how you are the same little baby I knew just a month ago. The DAY after you turned 6 months old, you started clapping. One morning before work, Gramma came by to bring me a coffee and you were sitting on the carpet watching your show and mimicked Gramma clapping. From that point onward, you have been clapping when you hear songs, when someone walks into the room, when Momma works out (that ones my favourite because it's like you're cheering me on), you clap for any reason and no reason at all. It's the cutest damn thing.

You also started blowing on your food the very next day. I was blowing on your oatmeal and you started doing it too. However, at night time when I am getting you ready for bed, I always blow on your belly button to dry it (else it gets all red and sore), so you started blowing too when I did. It's so funny to see because you blow out of the side of your mouth for some reason. Now you blow just because, even when there isn't food to cool off or a belly button to dry. You just assume everything is hot or damp apparently.

As we established last month, you're a sitting-up champion. You're trying to take it to the next level though by standing up. The one night I had you seated on your change table, and you grabbed a hold of my shirt and pulled yourself up to a standing position. Just like that! Because you CAN pull yourself up now, Daddy had to lower your crib. Not that you use it to sleep, but I put you in there when I have to do something really quick. The one day I walked back in to get you and you were holding the railing, looking over to the other side because you had dropped your sucky. Good lord, you looked as though you were ready to dive on over. You also looked like you knew it was dangerous because you kept smirking so sinisterly.

In addition to pulling yourself up, you have also started planking. Yes, you an hold a plank better than most adults can. You did this for the very first time on June 9th. It stemmed from trying to crawl. You get yourself into the position on all fours, but instead of using your knees, you go up on your toes and just stay elevated. It's hilarious and impressive that you have so much strength for being this tiny thing. You get so frustrated when you try to move from that position and can't. You haven't yet figured out how to move your knees and arms at the same time. You often end up face-planting and get so upset! Seriously though, any day now you will be crawling around this place and then it's game over for Momma and Daddy. You're never going to stop moving. I do believe that your crawling phase will be short-lived though. Anyone who sees you moving around says that you want to walk... like yesterday. You are determined to move around yourself. I think you will be one of those babies who crawl for a little bit and are up and walking soon after. If I hold your hands and stand you up, you know how to move one foot in front of the other. You're a little powerhouse. I can't wait to clap for YOU when you figure out how to crawl!

This next one is just bizarre, but you somehow know how to drink from a straw at 6 months old. Everything I read made it seem like this was something that would come way later, and it's also why a lot of beginner sippy cups don't have a straw part, but you've been yanking the straw from my cup since you were a wee little thing. On June 1st, I held up a straw to your mouth and you just knew what to do. Ever since, you've had your own sippy cup with a straw just like mine. We can take you out and give you water in a glass with a straw and people look at us like, "really? You're giving that to the baby?" YOU BET, just watch!

Just the other night you were sitting in the living room playing, and you saw your shadow. You started throwing your arms in the air, laughing. It's so funny watching you discover and react. I've been showing you a lot more books lately, and playing with your toys. I stuck your soother in Cookie Monster's mouth the one day, and you took it out, put it in your mouth, then stuck it back in Cookie's! I thought that it was thee cutest thing ever! I think it's fascinating watching you be able to do things because you figure out how to. Like what goes through a baby's mind when they know that a soother goes into the mouth? Then to do it yourself using a toy is amazing! Maybe I am just around a baby all too often, but I am so amused by you, kid!

Lastly, I think it's super important to socialize a baby from a very early point. This is why I started arranging a Mommy and Baby group hangout at our house! Yes, me; the introvert. It's only happened twice so far, but it's such a great time for both mommies and babies alike! I know many first-time moms just like myself, ironically, 90% of them are from my graduating class in high school, and though none of us were necessarily close then, we have much in common now that we're moms on maternity leave. It's so nice to talk to other women who experience the same things on a daily basis. From my personal stance, I have a hard time relating to many people now that my life is this way. I wouldn't change a damn thing, but as far as friends go, I seem to have outgrown many. This Mommy and Baby outlet is wonderful on many levels, and even if it's just for a couple hours every other week or so, it's something I really look forward to. Our house is small, but somehow we pack seven babies and mommas in this living room, all sitting around with our coffee and snacks, talking about our labour experiences, our plan to have more babies, how wonderful you babies are. There's so much love and it's so so great to know that all of the up's and down's to being a new parent are common. You and Olivia (birthday twins) are the oldest babies, so the others aren't really sitting up yet, but you seem to maneuver yourself around, touching the babies' hands and playing with their toys. It's going to be so cute when you're all talking and moving around. We may need a bigger house by that point. So far your friends include Lenix, Olivia, Bryce, Landon, Grayson, and Brooklyn! Us mommas are constantly saying how lucky you all are to already have friends!

Dates & Holidays

To kick off you reaching the halfway point, you had your 6 month appointment with Dr. Ashraf on May 29th. This is where we established that you weigh in at 16 lbs, 3 ounces, are 27 inches tall, are sitting up early given your age, and can successfully shred nearly an entire roll of the paper that they use to line the doctor tables if you set your mind to it. You kept yourself amused while waiting for the doctor by destroying the room. He was more than happy with your progress and percentiles, and was excited to hear that you can drink from a straw, sit up entirely on your own, and were starting to become more mobile. However, it wasn't all fun and games, (or so we thought) when it came time for you to get your needle. To our surprise, you didn't even flinch this time. Not a single tear was shed! Must be all of that maturity you have acquired at half a year old.

You have had a very eventful month for a 6 month old. For example, you were invited to your first birthday party for your older friend, Ainsley! You, Daddy and I went to her ice cream themed party one afternoon, which you slept through most of. We laughed though because the invitation was addressed to you when we received it. You also came with us to a family wedding for Daddy's cousin, Roxanne, and attended yet another bridal shower with Momma. Social events aside, Momma also signed you up for the 2018 Welland Rose Bud Contest. I know that it is a pointless thing, but I was so super excited to have a little girl to register, and a freaking cute one at that, so why would I ever pass up an opportunity to showboat you around?! You wore a denim skirt that morning, with floral print suspenders attached. You looked adorable as usual, and when the judges walked around and watched you and the other babies interact, you were a little more shy than usual, but still your bubbly self. When we went back later that day for the judging, you wore your tutu dress and felt floral headband. You looked like a little princess. Title or no title, you were our little rosebud all along; and nothing made you happier that day than coming home, putting jammies on and watching Sesame Street. It's been exhausting but fun this past month! Even when you aren't with us (extremely rare), all we seem to do is talk about you. Daddy and I were at a stag and doe this past weekend (the first time I've left you aside from going to Bootcamp solo for an hour) and he must have shown your photo to everyone he spoke to. We can't help it. We are Rowan-crazy.

Another special day this past month was your Daddy's first Father's Day. To celebrate, we took him out for breakfast with Gramma and she ended up paying as her way to thank him for being such a great Daddy to you. We went to this new breakfast place down town, called La Matina, that was so cute. They even gave you free scrambled eggs, which you loved! We also went to your Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner later that day and you got to play on the swings with your cousin, Marielle. I think that your Daddy had a really nice day with you. I'm so glad that weeks prior I ordered you two these shirts that said, "The Original", and "The Sequel". Everyone is always saying how you two are twins, so these were perfect. I took countless photos of you guys wearing them and ended up framing my favourite one as a part of his gift. We also got him clothes, a weed-eater (he needed one), and thee most perfect first Father's Day card of a baby bottle cheers-ing a beer bottle! I somehow still think that you're his favourite gift of all though, not just that day, but every single day. Being your Daddy is the greatest thing he's ever been, and he knows that too.

Lastly, from your Momma's perspective

Just the other day I caught your cold. You've been sick before as a really little baby, but nothing of the runny-nose, over-tired, fussy kind. It was my first dose of, "oh my god, how is a mother to deal?" The worst part is that it was probably my fault for exposing you to so many people on our crazy jam-packed weekend. Don't worry, seeing you all congested and having difficulty breathing through your nose was punishment enough, and then it was my turn...

What a sight we must have been, sleeping uncomfortably in a seated position in bed, my back against every pillow I could find, with you in my arms just so that we could breath a little more clearly. We were both miserable and sleep-deprived, which your father felt the wrath of I am sure. Whether you were asleep or not, every hour I had to clear your nostrils using the snot-sucker, and what joy that is for all involved. You HATE that thing, and I kept saying that you probably hated me for using it. Just me being dramatic is all!

I am learning first-hand that it is a vicious and ugly cycle being a mother who is under the weather. You don't sleep because you're taking care or your baby, paranoid that they will stop breathing or desperately need you if you shut your eyes, and then you're plagued by an illness that beats the crap out of you and your only option is to get up, slap your Momma hat on and continue doing your job regardless of how you feel. Dads on the other hand, well they are a special breed. Their job title came with sick days somehow.

You and I truly DO do everything together, even combat the cold. Though you not feeling well is completely and utterly horrendous, the cuddles that you demand and I supply are not something that I will ever complain about. You started to feel crappy on the Wednesday, and on Thursday we had to walk to the store to get a few necessities. It broke my heart whenever I'd look down at you in your stroller and you would somehow smile at me, even though your nose was all red and your one eye kept watering uncontrollably with this goopey stuff in it. You kept trying to fall asleep, but because of how up-right your stroller is, it was impossible for you to get comfortable while also being able to breath so that you didn't sound so congested. I couldn't take it anymore! I started packing my groceries in your stroller, held you in one arm, and pushed the stroller home with the other, all the way from the check-out to our house. Even if us mothers don't feel the greatest ourselves, we put our babies first and make sure that our nurturing instincts are turned all the way up, all of the time.

I'm also learning that it's not so much of a "balance" between mom-ing or doing things for myself (like working out, blogging, cleaning, doing things I want to do just because I want to do them), as much as it is a completely new lifestyle of doing all of those things WITH you. I used to worry about time-management, and some days I still catch myself stressing unnecessarily about it. I used to think that I HAD to have you nap at a certain time so that I could workout, and by the time you woke up I would be done, then it was feeding time, then this, then that, so on and so forth. HOWEVER, days aren't always so cookie cutter. In fact, there really isn't room for a set agenda. At best, I can have a mental list of all that I have to do (or want to do), and try to get it done by the time I go to sleep.

Some days I am a master juggler of things, other days I am the thing another juggler is whipping around.

I think back to days (not so long ago) when I would drive myself nuts with these crazy self-set expectations and schedules, and compare it to how I think now. I have to remind myself that this isn't like being at work. If it was that way then I would want to bash my head through a wall. I am so lucky to get to wake up each morning and have one thing to do: HANG WITH ROWAN! I workout whenever I get around to it, and some days it's during your nap, and other days I am feeding you pieces of strawberry as I squat and you clap. Some days I have the house cleaned and my workout done, and dinner prepped all before your Daddy gets home from work, and other days an unexpected cold brings down the house.

Regardless, there are no bad days. Every day with you is another day of love and cuddles, laughter and photographs, playing and making memories.

Speaking of all of those things, we had some pretty special photos taken this month. Our go-to photographer who has captured ALL of the most beautiful moments in mine and Daddy's life, has become a friend of ours. She proposed that we have some mother and daughter photos taken at home. I asked her what exactly I would wear for these, and she told me that she was hoping to capture the genuine and "every day" feel of life at home with you and I. That meant nothing fancy, just you and I, in our natural habitat, doing the things that we always do. On that note, when she did come over to take the photos, we spent most of our time playing. I am so excited to see them! I know that years from now these same photos will hold even more meanings than they do in the present. Right now they're snapshots of what I am lucky enough to live out day after day. Years from now they will be memories of these times, and I am certain that I will miss them dearly.

As I wrap up this month's blog, I just have to ask, how is it even possible that the bigger you get, the sweeter you become? Everyone thinks newborns are so cuddly and cute, and obviously that is true; but there is something so ridiculously sweet about when a baby chooses to cuddle with you, or wants you. Newborns by nature just chill out in whoever's arms, but you are at a point where you can be selective. The other day I had you sitting on the couch by yourself. I sat on the floor in front of it in case you decided to leap off. As I sat there watching TV, you reached out for me and rested your head on my shoulder. It was by far the cutest thing, made even cuter by the fact that you kept your head there.

I hear more and more, "she's such a Momma's girl", and I don't think you will ever know how much happiness fills my heart each time, unless you have a daughter of your own one day.

I hope that your head always finds comfort on my shoulder, and that I am always someone who you want and need.

Happy 7 months, earth-side, Bean!

I love you so very much!

Love, Momma