Layla @ 6 Months

Your 6th little month of life decided to mark itself with Mommy's 29th birthday and the sudden death of the camera which costs $110 to fix so this time your monthly photo is two days old. Sorry about that.

You recently had a growth spurt. I know this because daddy raised your exersaucer so you weren't standing flat footed in it last week and today when I put you in it if you stand up straight (which you can do flat footed) you aren't even sitting in the seat. It's lovely how you hardly ever grow but then when you do it's by leaps and bounds.

You are 27 inches long. The same length as your cousin Faith, but you are 5 pounds lighter, a mere 15 pounds of baby love. I blame this on your father. You got his metabolism and his desire to eat tiny meals often. Every 2 hours or so. Lucky you, you will be tall and thin and the boys will love you. Poor daddy, he's going to have to start collecting guns.

This month you also found your scream. You've always been a babbler but now you scream with delite, fear or boredom. Hey why waste a good scream?

Papa Mark and Susan bought you a dog that is a puppet. When you put your hand in it and squeeze it's mouth open and shut it sings "close to you". This is now your FAVORITE thing on the planet. It makes anything better even the flu or socks. You hear the song and instantly you are happy. I am slightly jealous that a dog has stolen my trademark ability to solve all that ails you. But also a little happy that now the Nana's and Daddy's of the world can get you to giggle when you are pissed off. You also make me sing you the song when you are sleepy and fighting it. I think daddy probably hates that song now.

You like skirts, bare feet, sunlight, "outside", apples with bananas & pears from gerber, trying to eat the flowers, your stuffed elephant and pulling mommy's hair...so she's cutting it off today. You like giggling, flying through the air, hanging upside down and thrill seeking in any form. You like to move, roll, scoot and scout out new adventures and just this week you discovered that if you slam your body hard enough to one side or the other people will move you that way. You are always in control, always curious and always touching something you probably shouldn't be. Even in your sleep you are petting daddy's facial hair or holding mommy's shirt if you can manage it...sometimes even both at once.

This month you officially went from being my newborn to being my baby girl. Complete with ruffled skirts and batting eyelashes. You are nearly fearless, almost always curious and open to new experiences and I am loving watching you interact with things for the first time. In fact, I think I'll go do that now... bye internet!