Five Months

Dear Annelise,

This is the first month that I feel hasn't flown by in the blink of an eye.  I don't remember it any better than the rest, but it's nice that I feel like I could treasure this time with you a little more.  I really enjoy being able to stay home with you.  I love that I am able to watch you grow and learn and catch all of your new little moments.

You most definitely have said your first word - MOM!  I'm not the only one who has heard it either -   Dad, Grandpa, Aunt Rachel, Grandma - they've all heard it too.  So, I'm not crazy!  Sometimes it comes out like "mom" and sometimes it's just "ma".  You really only say it when you're fussing and you want me.  I don't know if you really understand the connection between the word and me, but I like to think that you do.  You say the word if you want me, like if you're fussing in  your swing, or if someone else is holding you.  You never say it when I am actually holding you or engaging with you.

Earlier this month, you had your first trip to a fair.  I carried you in the Moby wrap and you really seemed to like it.  You loved to be held, and I liked being able to hold you close to me with all of those people around.  Once you started to get tired, I bounced you a little bit and you fell right to sleep.

You really are not a fan of just laying on the ground and playing.  You would much rather be sitting up, able to see things, and play that way.  If I sit you on the floor, I'll place your Boppy behind you and you are able to sit up well that way.  You still need to work on your balance some.  If I sit you on a soft surface, such as the couch or the bed, you can sit for a short length of time without any assistance.  Again, it's really just the balance that you need to work on.  It won't be long before you are a full time sitter.

You upped the shriek volume this month!  You had a period of a week or two where you were quite vocal.  You've backed off some in the past week or so, but you still do get loud at times.  I love to hear you shriek with joy while you're playing.

Lately, your favorite activity when I put you on the changing table and change you, is to grab your feet and suck on your toes.  Seriously, it is so adorable to me!  I have quite a few pictures of you doing it, and I'm sure that there will be many more.

You have gotten so good at grabbing things with your hands.  Everything still goes in your mouth.  New things get inspected for a little bit longer than the things that you already know.  You have gotten very interested in the remote control and my phone.  The other day, we were over at some friend's house playing poker, and I handed you a poker chip to play with.  You did very well with grabbing it!

Maya is so exciting to you.  You just love her to pieces.  I watch your face light up when you notice her around you.  If she comes over, you turn your face towards her and open your mouth for a kiss.  That kind of grosses me out, but you really seem to love it!  We definitely need to work on petting her gently.  So far, you've just grabbed her fur.  Maya is NOT a fan of that!

You are always moving, and I know that this is just the beginning.  You are such a little wiggle worm.  I love when I hold you on my hip and you get excited and start kicking your legs.  You are always craning your neck around to see things.  You are such an observant little thing!

I want to start transitioning you to sleeping in your crib.  Right now, you sleep at night in the Rock N Play in Mom and Dad's room, and you nap in your swing.  I thought that the problem was you sleeping flat on your back instead of cocooned by those different things.  However, that doesn't appear to be the problem because I've nursed you to sleep in the mornings and you've slept for a couple of hours in the big bed.  You have even woken up and fallen back to sleep.  So, now I realize that the problem is the "drop" into the open space of your crib.  I'm still trying to work out a solution to that.

You weigh about 15 pounds, wear 3-6 month clothes, and you are still wearing a size 2 diaper.  We'll probably start transitioning you to 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers soon.

I love you more than words can say.  Annelise, I love watching all of the new things that you are learning and seeing the beautiful girl that you are growing into.  I thank God so much for you.  You are truly an answer to so many prayers!

Love you forever,
Mommy