My little girl, you are a beautiful and joyous five months old! You've become so curious in the past few weeks. That little grin on your face says, "uh, huh, sure, mom - turn your back so I can roll over into that fireplace now."
Yes, you have mastered rolling over. Stomach to back, back to stomach, up over your shoulder, some mysterious way that has you waking up in really weird positions in bed - girl, you are on the go. I was in line at a movie theatre to see "The Hunger Games" when Daddy called to tell me you'd done it. I burst out in tears I was so proud of you. You'd been determined for weeks (never crying when you'd get stuck halfway over), and you'd finally done it. I hung up the phone and turned to the woman behind me and said, "My kid rolled over - awesome!" She sort of rolled her eyes at me and took another puff of her cigarette. I wanted to stick my tongue out at her.
Everything you do now has a purpose. You never just do something to do it, there is some end result you are reaching for. You roll over to grab that toy you'd been eyeing all morning. You jump in your jumperoo to hear it play the sound effect "boooiiinnngg" over and over (and over and over) again. You do pilates v-ups to see what's going on when you're lying on your back. You're working out more than me! The world is just so interesting to you. Your hands are constantly working. Grabbing and feeling the carpet, your blanket, the couch, some one's shirt, my face - you want to know what everything is and what it feels like (and usually if it will fit in your mouth). Sometimes I just sit back and watch you think. Entire hours go by where the sounds of your squeels and some background music of either "Call Me Maybe" or "What Makes Your Beautiful" (c'mon those are our summer jams!) are the only sounds in the room, and I watch you like my favorite reality show ever.
There have been so many firsts this month - some successful and some not so successful. Hey, that's life, honey! You successfully made it through your first 5K in the jogging stroller. You and I did great - your Dad, finished without dying, so that was good. You giggled and babbled the whole time, and technically, you beat us both by crossing the finish line before us. You also had your first taste of solids. This started out pretty well, but quickly took a bad turn, and you are currently back on a liquid diet. Don't worry, you wanted to eat the multi-grain rice cereal, but your tongue and stomach had other ideas. I'm sure that in your six month letter that I will be praising your love of solids, and how you had learned to love sitting in your highchair again without screaming and grunting.
For a few extremely warm days, we spent some time with your Grandma and Grandpa H on their farm. Your Grandpa H and Daddy swung a baby swing for you in the tree that I used to climb as a little girl. Grandpa pushed you, and the look on your face was pure joy. With the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, I have never seen you look more beautiful and content. I wonder what was going through your mind. You went on plenty of nature walks during those few days, and each time you came inside from looking at the hummingbirds or from touching the leaves on the trees, you smelled like the outdoors, and I just couldn't smell your head and kiss your cheeks enough. I know, totally embarrassing, but totally necessary.
This was a month that I wish I could have froze in time for just a little bit longer. Except for that whole fake coughing thing you started. Like you need more attention.
xoxo
Momma
p.s. Here are a few outtakes from your photo session this month. Gracie on the go.
