Six Months

In the Ergo carrier at the park we visit daily

Alma's updates:

* Alma is a hard worker.  Infancy is tough work.  However ,we can see the progress of her work on a nearly daily basis. From recognizing faces of friends to sitting up to embarking on new tasks like solid foods, everything in her life is focused on the present task at hand.  She has become a good little teacher as we attempt to stay present instead of focusing on the next thing on our to-do list or agenda.  Taking the hour after she wakes up in the morning to watch her sit and play with her toys is one of the best ways to start a day full of intention.

 

Eeek!

* She often makes the above face as she shows concern for something.  Even though it is a very passing expression, we see it often.  I like to think of it as a little "eek!"
* Eating:  While they recommend waiting until six months to begun solid foods, I couldn't resist starting earlier because Alma was so interested. So far, she has had avocados, bananas and rice cereal.  She is okay with being in the high chair and wearing a bib, but when you bring a spoon of food near her mouth, she tightly closes her lips and flails her arms to catch the spoon.   So it becomes a game of gently holding her arms down, using a finger to pry her mouth open and quickly getting the food into her mouth.  Nothing too out of the ordinary for a new eater, but still quite the process. 

* Teeth: She has a new tooth that is cutting through the gums as I write. While it cannot really be seen, when I put my finger in her mouth, it feels like a little chip of glass (sharp!).
* Sitting up: Alma can sit up but not for too long. Eventually she seems to lose her attention and falls over. Or, she sees the cat walking by, lunges to grab the cat's foot, misses and lands on her face. Crying ensues.

Champion car sleeper (as taken with my phone's camera using the reflection of the mirror we use to see her in the back seat)

* Blowing bubbles: Yup, she does this A LOT.  Joshua and Alma are already teaming up on me and spending what feels like an eternity happily sitting close to me blowing bubbles (a.k.a spitting on me).

* Senses: Alma is very sensitive to light and will use stuffed animals and any available material to cover her eyes when she is tired.  She also has great hearing and will quickly spin around to see what is going on if a noise is behind her.

We were reading books together, I got up for a glass of water, she covered her eyes with a stuffed animal, and she was asleep for the next hour

* Habits/joys: Grabbing (and trying to remove) her ears, especially when tired; watching dogs do anything; smiling at people; riding in the Ergo baby carrier around the neighborhood; eating her feet; being the cutest baby ever.

Chilling with her best friend

* Lastly, and this seems to be part of her personality, she is gentle.  When discovering a new texture or fabric, she very lightly flicks it with her fingers.  Also, when I hold her, she often wraps her arm around my neck and gently pets the loose hair from my ponytail.  Unfortunately, Joshua does not receive such a gentle touch when it comes to his chest hair. 

Eating her feet while sitting on Daddy's chest

As someone shared with us recently about raising children, the days go slowly but the years move quickly.  We are definitely feeling that.  The days are luxuriously long -- especially since we are outside in this nice weather so much-- but this six months has flown by us. 

Happy half birthday, sweet little Alma!