11-24, Happy Half Birthday!

Dear Katherine,

I did good and took pictures on your half birthday, but failed to find time to sit down and write your birthday letter.  We had so much fun in Alabama but we were so busy.  So many things have happened, so much to record.  I don't think your looks have changed that much this month, but boy have you been ticking off the milestones.  You did wonderful with all the family and friends and traveling.  We celebrated your first Halloween and your first Thanksgiving.  You had your first plane flight -  you napped, ate, and smiled at everyone.  You felt the cold for the first time, you weren't wild about having the car seat covered, and you wouldn't leave your socks on, but it didn't seem to bother you.  And of course, you were happy to smile at everyone and sit with anyone who would hold you.  You also got to meet your Mallard cousin, on this trip.  That was fun.

11-17, First Plane Flight

You are sitting up with no problem now.  You can also go from tummy or back to sitting up, with some lightening fast reflexes.  You are completely getting your chest off the floor and are even crawling a little.  Though as Granddaddy said, you are mostly "crawfishing" or as your Daddy put it, "crab walking."  You are getting around but it is mostly an odd path that you take.  You move backward and sideways, but in a way to go forward.  You will get on all fours, rock till you face plant or edge forward a bit, then you will push up on your tip toes, and sit down to the side of where you were.  You then start over again.  All the time you are mostly moving forward, but by moving side ways.  One time you will sit on one side, the next time you will sit on the other side.  The zig zag path you move along, resembles the drunk Uncle in "It's a Wonderful Life" as he staggers off and into the trash cans.  I manged to get a little video of you doing it today.


Another first this month, was starting you on pureed food about a week before your 6 month birthday.  I have been making it with the Baby Bullet, that the Millers got for your baby shower.  It's been so easy this time around.  You have had bananas, sweet potatoes, applesauce, and squash so far.  All of which you seem to enjoy.  You weren't so sure about it at first, but now you eat anywhere from 2 to 4 oz of baby food in a sitting.  We almost always feed you in the evening, and then you get a bath, and I feed you to get you to go to sleep.  You didn't sleep real well in Alabama, but since coming home, you seem to be back to sleeping through the night.  Your Daddy thinks some of it was that you were growing and hungry, and that starting solids has helped that.  We are giving you either pumped milk or a bottle of formula once a day, most days now.  Not everyday but probably 5 days a week.  Only if we are having trouble getting you down at night, after I have fed you.  I've been a little concerned about supply, but at your doctor's appointment on Friday you were 15 lbs and 27 inches long, still right on your growth curve.

11-25, Your first Iron Bowl.  We won!

The high chair still seems to swallow you up, so I have a blanket rolled up in it.  You still like the swinger though we have to buckle you in it, because you will roll over and lay on your stomach if we don't watch it.  You don't particularly seem to like being in the bouncer now.  And you don't like to sit in the car seat if we aren't moving.  I've about quit carrying it in to restaurants.  It's getting too heavy, and you won't sit in it anyway.  You do like to sit in the Bumbo that you got for Christmas and play with your toys in the floor.

11-23, Napping with Ahna.

You have really found a love for toys this month.  You still like some of the same items as before.  But now you make a real effort to pick up things, move them from hand to hand, chew on everything you can get to your mouth, and try to go and get toys.  You love to "play" with your brother and sisters.  Britt and Ruth brought in some of Britt's transformers a couple of nights ago.  They were showing you how to transform them, and handing you the ones that don't come apart into little parts.  You were banging them, laughing, and chewing on them.  And when they decided to go, you seemed so disappointed to watch them leave.

11-16, Happy Baby

And did I mention chewing on toys?  You are very mouthy, far more than I recall the others being.  I'm a bit worried that you will be one that puts everything in your mouth, something the others really didn't do.  The two little teeth that were leaving a print when you bit down on my hand, aren't any longer, but your gums are swollen up again.  I don't know when you will ever cut these teeth for real, but I'll be glad of it, the grinding on me, and biting down might make you feel better, but I don't enjoy it.

11-24, Playing with the foxes on your feet.

You are also babbling more and more.  No real discernible consent sounds yet, though the kids keep insisting that you can say "hi".  When you are finished eating you often try to talk to me around whatever is in your mouth.  You blow bubble and babble and that's how I know you are finished.  I ask you for kisses, and you will often oblige me when I press my cheek up to your face.  You will generally start talking to anyone who talks to you and gives you a "break in the conversation."  You also still have the funniest laugh, and when we get to tickling you, you almost shriek with laughter which, of course, your Daddy can't stand, but I find adorable.

11-20, Sisters.  Ruth feeding you bananas.

More and more you want to face the world around you, and have to turn to see what you might be missing.  But, you are still a wonderful cuddler.  I enjoy holding your belly against my chest with your head against my neck and cheek, and rocking you in the evening.  I love the way your whispy hair smells after a bath.  I love the drool a bit less, but the kisses and singing I enjoy.  Little Love, you are such a delight.  We love you so much.

Love,
Momma

10-31, First Halloween.