Update: 6 months

Dear Lily,

Today you are 6 months old! I can't believe you are already half of a year old. You have grown so much this month. You seem to learn something new almost everyday. Watching you grow and learn is astounding. The biggest news this month is that you got your first two bottom teeth! Teething was a little tricky at first, but you are now an old pro. The same day we discovered your first tooth you started babbling. Not just vocal play but reduplicated babbling (yes, Mommy is a speech pathologist). We have heard you say "ba ba ba" and "da da da." And once when you were really mad you said "ma ma ma." These days you are sitting up like you have done it your whole life. I think you might start crawling soon because when you are on your stomach you lift up your body and rev back and forth. You are sitting in your highchair and eating two solid meals a day. You took to eating solid foods very well. Also this month, you have decided that naps are no longer for you. I'm hoping that the next month you will start to learn the joy of sleep.

You have become a VERY happy baby. You love to smile and laugh. However, sometimes you get mad. Really mad. We have learned that anytime you are unhappy if we start to sing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" you will immediately stop crying. We're not sure what it is about that song but it works 100% of the time. Of course you will return to crying as soon as we stop singing so sometimes we have to sing more versus than one should ever sing in their life.

The past few weeks have been very special. Not only did you get a new cousin Jack, but, Grandpa and Nonna came for a visit. You have not seen them since you were 8 weeks old. You have recently become somewhat fearful of unfamiliar people. We weren't sure how you would react to Grandpa and Nonna since you hadn't seen them in so long. Well it turns out that you think they are the greatest. You were constantly sending smiles to both of them. You loved it when Grandpa was being silly and you loved being held by Nonna. We saw horses at the Wissahickon Monastery Stables and picked pumpkins at Linvilla Orchards. We can't wait for Grandpa and Nonna's next visit. Here are some pictures from last week.

Being silly with Grandpa and Nonna:

Posing with the pumpkins:

Looks like you are about 2 feet tall. You're showing that pumpkin whose boss:

Grandpa being silly with a pumpkin on his head:

This pumpkin is a little bit wiggly:

Looking at horses with Daddy:

All smiles:

With Grandpa at the stables:

Nona did not want to let you go:

Playing with the drawstring on Grandpa's sweatshirt:

It's been a great month! Happy half year birthday!

Love,

Mom