Half a Year

Aria,

You are half a year old already? How did that happen? Weren't you just born? Weren't we just snuggling against the winter chill?

You keep talking and talking all day long. Your new favorite "word" is: Dada Dada Dadadada.

You can now sit up on your own to play and cry when Luc takes your toy (I'm working on teaching him to share and leave you alone. I'm sorry.). But you're usually a good sport if there's another toy available, you're willing to play with that and let Luc have his way. Though in his defense, as he pointed out to me one day, he does let you play with Monkey Hairson.-which, if you ask me, makes you pretty special.

You love to be held which makes doing anything difficult because you love to reach and grab whatever it is I'm doing (food, scissors, laundry, eat the mail, etc.). And you don't give up easily, especially when trying to grab food you aren't allowed to eat yet.

You're new slogan should be: Diamonds are a girl's best friend. You're obsessed with people's jewelry. Necklaces especially, watches, even diamond wedding rings. You just can't resist the sparkle and shine.

You are eating on average 5oz for a bottle. In the morning, Mommy gets you up at 5:45 (I know. Way too early. But you always greet me with a huge smile and a hug). We get dressed and have a bottle to hold you over until you're at Grandma's. This is usually 3.5 oz.
Before Daddy goes to bed, he feeds you around 10:30pm and you're now eating 6 oz and finishing the bottle. You get "solids" at least twice a day: in the morning after a bottle or to hold you over between bottles, and about 6 pm. You just love your food. You get so excited when you see it: you smile and flap your arms like crazy. If we need to go refill the bowl and walk away with it, you start to cry.
Your favorite foods are sweet potatoes, apples, green beans, pears, pumpkin, bananas. You do not like peas.

After your last meal, we get ready for bed around 7pm. We have a routine of changing your clothes and when I'm going to put your sleepsack on, I turn off the room light and leave just the dresser lamp on. You automatically start to rub your eyes, even if you were just talking and playing a minute ago (or trying to undo your diaper, which you just figured out how to do.). The majority of the time (if you've had a decent late afternoon nap), you fall asleep easily. You insist on sleeping on your belly nowadays. I lay you down on your back and you turn onto your side for a moment then roll onto your stomach. If your hand gets stuck you fuss for help. Sweet dreams until about 4-5am and then you're asleep again for a little while. Some mornings you sleep until 5am and wake up talking. I have to come in and give you the pacifier and tell you to go back to sleep. You usually do for awhile longer, sometimes until 7am. On the weekends, we can sometimes get you to nap in the mid-morning for 2-3 hours, in your crib, by yourself.-What a difference from when Luc was a baby!

You're showing your true colors now too. The Irish heritage (and a little bit of Daddy's personality) are coming out in the form of a temper. When a toy is taken away from you, mostly when you don't want to take a nap and I'm insistent because I know you're exhausted, you start a temper cry like I have never seen before, especially in a baby. I would even go to say, you almost out do Luc when he's having a bad tantrum at 3.5 years old. I can even see how you're going to be when you have a tantrum at 3 years old. You do this mean, angry cry with a high-pitched scream/cry. Your face turns bright red and you don't easily give up. There are other times when you show your temper without crying, such as arching your back when you don't want to go into your car seat. And more recently, you refuse to bend at the belly and legs to get into a sit position when I try to put you down in the floor. You're very strong-willed, Little Lady.

Most of all, Bugga, is your sweet personality and your grin. Your smile is so infectious to everyone who gets one. You love to give them, and then you play shy and turn your head into my shoulder. Even when you're sick with a cold, you are always smiling and happy. I came across this saying and think it most certainly applies to you, Bugga-Boo:
"Let your smile change the world, but don't let the world change your smile." -Remember that.

Love,
Mommy

Sick baby? Would've never guessed it by this picture.

Weight: 14 lbs 15 oz (26%)
Height: 27 inches (88%)
Aria is now wearing 9 months sized clothing comfortably.