My dear Madelynn,
6 whole months! Happy half birthday! There is something about the 6 month mark, like the 3 month mark. In the last week, you have suddenly become a big girl! You are doing so many new things and you are growing and changing so quickly. This 6 month milestone is huge for us - I want to cry thinking about how quickly you are growing, but I am so excited about where you are now! You truly are the light of my life.
-You are officially a sitter! You can only sit unsupported for about a minute, maybe 2. Tonight you sat for 5 for the first time! You love to sit up, but you are scared of falling. Anytime you lean a little to one side or the other, you freak out. You are definitely cautious.
-You wear 6 month clothes, 9 month jammies, and size 2 diapers. You weigh 13 lbs, 8 oz and are 26 inches tall.
-We started some finger foods this month, since you are iffy on the purees. You like jars, but you much prefer "big girl" food, like graham crackers, Mum Mums, puffs, peas, green beans, potatoes, mangos, etc. Actually, you have yet to refuse any kind of finger food. You will eat it ALL. You aren't very good at getting the food in your mouth, and you like me to do it for you because it takes so much work for you to do it yourself, and you are NOT patient when it comes to food. Food must come quickly or you shriek like crazy! Even when nursing, you are not patient enough to wait for letdown. You pop on and off forever until you can finally trigger it - I keep telling you that if you would just stay latched on, you and I would both be happier! - but you don't believe me, apparently.
-You wake up at about 7:30 most mornings, and go to bed about 8-8:30. You take 3 naps, but they aren't always at the same time. One nap is usually 2-3 hours and the other two are more like 45-60 minutes. You nurse every 3 hours and you eat dinner at about 6-6:30. I am just starting to give you breakfast as well, but you usually eat solids just once per day.
-Your eyes STILL haven't decided on a color. I don't know why this bothers me, it just does! They are a beautiful mix of gray, blue, green, and gold. They are gorgeous, I just want to know what color they are going to be! :)
-You don't have any interest in rolling or crawling. In fact, you act like tummy time is the worst thing I could do to you, even though I know you can roll over. Lately you just scream bloody murder until I can't take it anymore and help you out. We need to work on this, but I'm confident that you will crawl when you are ready. I am also not in any rush - I like my immobile baby! You turn and pivot while on your belly and your back though, and you push with your toes as well. Even in your crib, you are moving around a lot in your sleep.
-You are very talkative during the day - you have very long-winded, one-sided conversations where I can't get a word in edgewise! The funny thing though, is that you are only very chatty when Dad and I are around. Around other people, you talk a little, but you clam up. I think you are going to end up being like me - shy at first, then an open book once you get to know someone.
-This month, we left you with a babysitter for the very first time so that we could go see a movie. You did great! You were a dream baby. Good job, girl, cause Mama needs a break sometimes! :)
-Your nicknames are munchkin, peanut, and princess. Also Mad or Mads.
-Sleep. The sleep saga continues with you. You are the perfect, good, dream baby until it comes to nighttime sleep. I am up 4-5+ times per night with you. At least. We have tried sleep training, but it just wasn't working for us. For some reason, sleeping at night is tough for you. I know that sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone, and that you will when you are ready, but some nights I just wish YOU WOULD SLEEP. At most we get 2 hours uninterrupted. Sweetheart, I love you, but we need to figure this out together.
-You have become very opinionated! You know what you want, and nothing else will do. It's become quite entertaining, actually! You have strong opinions about a lot of things, such as food. Accessories. Toys.
-I finally got a good belly laugh from you this month! We were playing a tickle game, late at night right before bed, and you were so slap happy because you were so tired. You laughed and laughed and laughed, and then I laughed and laughed, and we both got the hiccups. I loved every second of it!
-I love you more than life itself. You are so much fun to watch! I love watching you grow, change, and develop. You are a very smart girl and I couldn't have asked for a better baby!
Love,
Mommy
