Sitting!

The night before Christmas eve I was helping Mommy fold clothes on the bed and I decided that it was time to learn to sit up. Mommy and Daddy were convinced I was never going to learn (I don't like to bend very much), but I decided I should learn a new skill for Christmas. I've been practicing hard, and Mommy and Daddy got some pictures of me. Here's a sampling of all the ways I can sit:

Sitting with cousins


Sitting without my pillow


Taking a lounging break from sitting (who wants good posture, anyway?)


Sitting with Daddy


Sitting in my Christmas dress

How much do I love Olivia Pig?

This much!

Visit from Grandpa!

Grandpa was able to stop by and visit last week! Timing was great as Elsie had just woken up when he arrived, and she was happy for the next hour or so, until Grandpa had to leave. But she really enjoyed the brief visit- here is proof:

Six months old!

Health and Growth

Elsie now weighs just under 14 pounds (8%) and stretches to 25.5 inches (40%). She still doesn't like to sleep more than two hours at a time at night, but she usually takes two 30-minute naps a day.

There isn't much to report on the "hair" front...we can tell that it is growing back in, but can't decide what color it is yet.

Activities

Elsie loves going for walks, though she sometimes gets mad that she can't get out of her carrier and play whenever she decides the walk should be done. She loves playing with her friends at baby group, and seems to recognize a few of her favorite friends when they get together.

She enjoys friends that are a range of ages, and works on the new skills she sees her older friends doing (like sitting and crawling), and is proud to teach younger friends things (like standing, grabbing toys, and waving).

Most recently, Elsie discovered her "singing" voice, and likes to entertain mom and dad (loudly) with a variety of multi-pitched babbles. No words yet, although she does recognize the sign for "milk."

Playing

Elsie is starting to really enjoy play time. Aside from watching her mobile and playing on her mat, she likes to push her toy truck around and play with the doughnuts on her stacking toy. She also likes stuffed animals...taking her six-month pictures was challenging because she wanted to hold on to Olivia Pig (she's never been interested in the past).

She is a pro at "Peek-a-boo", which gets lots of laughs from everyone involved, and likes to play "singing" games (Itsy-Bitsy Spider, etc.). She also has been working hard on the art of grabbing toys and transferring them between her hands- she impressed her doctor with her "very advanced hand an wrist mastery."

Elsie is an advanced "stander" and has been for a few months now, but hates to sit. As her dad puts it, "She isn't a bender." She loves to stand on her own when next to a couch or chair, and has even started taking her first few "steps" when holding on to mom or dad's hands. What a big kid! We think she may just bypass the sitting/crawling stage completely and start walking instead!

Eating

We recently started on a new reflux medication, and also went Gluten-free. We are hoping that the medicine in combination with the new diet will help her feel better. Elsie has tasted her first carrots (not a huge fan) and also munched on a teething biscuit one night when she was especially fussy (she liked that a lot, but it made a big mess!). We are excited to introduce her to new foods over the next few months!


Comparison Photos:
One Week


One Month


Two Months


Three Months


Four Months


Five Months


Six Months

Another "baby pile" my mom made me join....

Max, Adah, Me, Edie

At least I was the youngest this time around so I don't have to be embarrassed that I can't sit up as well as the other kids. We all wore our Christmas duds, except Max, but what can you expect? If I've learned anything from my Daddy, it's that boys just never seem to care about fashion...

Carrots!

Mommy and Daddy had a big night planned for us tonight- we ate carrots for dinner!


They tasted okay, but I'm not sure I really like to swallow things yet.


Most of the carrots ended up on my face.


I made sure to get some on my hands and my bib, too. No reason to let a good thing go to waste without making at least a little bit of a mess!



I'll try eating some more tomorrow. My friends tell me that this whole "solid food" thing is a bit of an acquired taste. I'm not sure I believe them. Daddy had some licorice this evening that smelled pretty good, though...

I love my changing table.

It's the perfect height for me to look out the window and watch the cars roll by!

Meet my new cousin, William Campbell!

Campbell is pretty cute, but he's awfully small.


Auntie Manda told me that I need to be patient, because he will be more fun when he gets older.


For now, he just sleeps all the time, even when I tried to wake him up with my crying.


Mom says I could learn a thing or two about napping from him.

Some pictures of me playing!

Five months old!

Health and Growth

Elsie now weighs about 13 pounds (8%) and stretches to 25 inches (40%). She has been going through a sleep regression this last month, and doesn't like to sleep more than two hours at a time anymore. A few pleasurable nights have been spent in 30-minute increments. Yikes! Let's hope this passes soon!

Elsie's hair is also starting to grow back in, though we haven't figured out what color it is yet.

Activities

Elsie still enjoys going for long walks, especially with friends. She also likes spending time rolling on blankets in the yard, watching the leaves fall and the birds fly.

Elsie is making lots of friends at her baby group, which she attends twice a week. She loves looking at other kids, and has started reaching for them when they are next to her. She likes to hold hands with other babies, too!

Elsie's new favorite activities include chewing on Sophie the Giraffe, pulling her socks and shoes off, watching animals, and dancing to Raffi music.

Elsie also likes going to her Book Baby class at the library once a week. She likes singing songs, playing finger games, and reading books with the other kids. She especially likes the "Good-bye Song" when the facilitator blows bubbles for the babies to watch!

At five months, Elsie is finally old enough to play in her jumperoo, and she loves it. She hasn't really figured out how to "jump" yet, but she loves spinning around and being in charge of which direction she looks. She gets very excited when her cats walk by and sniff at her hands. She has even started reaching out to "pet" them...something they actually tolerate really well! We knew she would be a cat person! All four of us are so happy to have her in the family!


Comparison Photos:
One Week


One Month


Two Months


Three Months


Four Months


Five Months

Me and my friends at the Happy Bambino's Cuddlebugs Baby Group

Cora, Ben, Edie, Elsie, Henry, Veda, Maeve, Noah

That's me in the middle in my pink dress (I wore a party dress, because it was my 5-month birthday!). We were glad that we had a few bigger kids at class today, 'cause we needed them to anchor the ends of the line. We had a little domino effect going on before we got Cora and Noah to sit on the edges and hold us all up. We make a pretty cute group, though, don't we? I'll be sad when I hit 6 months and have to move on the the big kid's group!

P.S.
A note from my mom:
If you want some idea of how small Elsie is for her age, know that she is the third-oldest baby there, and only three weeks younger than the two babies on the ends! What a little peanut!

Family time in the backyard

I love the tub!

Bath time is my favorite time of day! I love eating my toes in the tub, especially when I kick at a washcloth with my other foot.


I am thrilled that I've gotten big enough to reach the end of my tub...I feel like such a big kid when I stretch out all the way!


Mostly I just love playing in the water...splashing makes me laugh and laugh!

Standing!

I've figured out how to stand with just a little help from mom or dad. I like to hold their hands, but I also like to chew on my fingers when I stand. That makes balancing tough, though.