Half a year

As promised, a post devoted to the Wee One and all that she is at her six month birthday:

• Your favorite activity these days is rolling from your back to your tummy (all on your own!)
• When you are on your tummy, you become frustrated because I think you are trying to crawl, but haven't quite figured out how to yet (you kick and push with all your might, but end up doing an impression of the cutest little flopping fish on land!)
• You've discovered your feet! You now have the flexibility to grasp your toes with your hands
• Sometimes when you toot, you startle yourself! (and it makes mommy and daddy laugh)
• Hearing the laughter of other children makes you giggle - and on occasion, mommy and daddy have been able to coax that same giggle out of you!
• Ms. Kitty is becoming your friend, as she now catches your eye, and you reach to pet her soft fur
• You try to help hold your bottle when we feed you
• You seem to like the pear and carrots+pear baby food that daddy makes for you
• You're not so fond of the baby cereals
• You've learned that if you pretend to cough when we try to feed you or make you do your physical therapy, we'll stop
• While you used to hate diaper time (especially when we first brought you home from the NICU), you now LOVE having your diaper changed, and even hold your feet with your hands to help
• Sometimes you pee in the bath (but so far, no poop!)
• You love talking when you are on the change-table more than anywhere else
• Your repertoire of sounds and vocalizations increases every day - with your latest sound being a comical grunt that you do only when on your tummy, and one that sounds like you're saying "ello"
  
• You still have some wisps of your newborn hair among all the newer growth - giving you longer hair around your ears and at the nape of your neck
• Your newer hair is much lighter than your newborn hair was (morphing from daddy's hair color to mama's)
• All three of your incisions from your surgeries have faded
• You sometimes sleep 7 or 8 hours through the night, but more often you still wake up after 4 or 5 hours to eat
• You are so bright eyed and bushy tailed in the wee hours of the morning when you wake up to start the day (a morning person like daddy!)
• I think you are about to cut your first tooth (bottom, right hand side)
• When you sit in your high chair (though it's not actually high), you look like such a big girl now!
• You love when we play "high-five" - you coo and make all sorts of excited sounds and facial expressions, and kick your feet excitedly too!
• You no longer try to stuff your entire fist in your mouth - instead you prefer your tiny little thumb, but with the rest of your fingers spread out, rather than in a fist (although we try to discourage this after you eat because you tend to gag yourself and that makes you throw up)
  
• You continue to win over all the people you encounter (and with all the specialists and therapist you see, that's a lot of people!)
• If I had to describe you in one word at this time in your life, it would be determined

I still can't believe you're already 6 months old! I remember when I thought this day was forever away. You've been through so much, and you've come so far! It's been a great big adventure for us all!

I feel so lucky to be your mama - I am SO proud of you!