This post is one week and one hour late in coming. P2D2 turned 6 months old last Monday, April 30. I had all intentions of writing this then, but I was stricken with a migraine and could not even get out of bed, let alone look at a computer screen. The world was too bright, too dizzy, and too painful. It happens. Then P2D2 caught a cold and much (all?) of my time was taken caring for and comforting her. And other things (aka: life) happened, and the post didn't happen. Although I did not write this on time I have been thinking about what I would say. P2D2 went down for her nap this morning and I saw my chance. I decided a shower sounded very nice, however, so I took one, then settled in with my laptop and my chai, getting all cozy on the couch. And then I heard coos and babbles coming from the baby monitor, indicating very clearly my writing time was over before it had begun. This is the way it goes much of the time. This is life with a young child. I have learned, because I've done this once before, to accept (most of the time) that things will get accomplished much later and at a much slower pace than one would think necessary. And it's (mostly) ok.
And then P2D2 fell asleep a second time this morning! So sometimes the unexpected works to my advantage, and here we are, one week and one hour later than I thought I'd be. So, let me get to the point before she's awake again!
I cannot believe she is 6 months old. That's half way to the average walking and talking age. Half way to a birthday party. Half way through infancy. It's half gone. This makes me extremely sentimental and even sad. I mostly try not to think about it, because truly every stage is awesome and so much fun. And I learned this by going through it once before, also. Hindsight perspective is a great blessing. I also know from this perspective that I will not remember as much about this stage as I think I will unless I write it down, so here goes!
My observations of P2D2 at 6 months old:
Her hair is long enough to overlap her ears a little, enough so it sticks out at a fun little angle. I usually move it back behind her ear, though. Compulsiveness, or I just like it better that way? I'm not sure.
Her eyes are what I am calling a blue hazel- sometimes they look very brown, but usually there is a blue-brown mix. Part of me wants that to be their ending color, but part of me wants them to turn brown since the Munchkin has blue eyes. Only time will tell, and I'll live with it just fine either way.
Her smiles are endless, and continue to rock my world. It is the most awesome experience to see her light up whenever (most times) she sees me. Open mouth baby grins rock!
Along those same lines, P2D2 continues to be a "mommy's girl," often discontented to be with someone else if I am around. Although it can make things difficult at times since she will often be fussy or outright crying while I'm getting other things done, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a wonderful feeling all the same. :)
She laughs more frequently now, often at the dogs (especially when they are outside), and at the Munchkin. She LOVES the Munchkin, and especially loves her when she's doing her funny antics.
P2D2 has acquired incredible ability to grab whatever it is she wants that is within her arms' reach. Hand-eye coordination has developed well, and she keeps us all on our toes to be sure dinner plates, place mats, remotes, water glasses, anything electronic, etc, is out of her reach.
Related to the above, she has discovered that just because something is removed from her vision it doesn't mean it no longer exists. She now looks all around for whatever it is. She also will often throw her body at it in an attempt to grab the object, so vigilance and awareness are imperative for whoever is holding her.
She is able to sit up well, with support for balance. I sit on the floor, one leg "Indian style," with her in the crook of my knee and she (mostly) can sit and play with things on the floor in front of her. She can also sit in the Bumbo, but insists on leaning over the side and therefore pops out and lands on her head. So we don't use it anymore. But don't worry, it's only a small fall of about 3 inches, so she was perfectly fine. And enjoyed being "free" on the floor. Ha!
When on the floor, she is able to roll to items she wants. And she's quick about it! Leaving her on a blanket in a room alone while I use the bathroom or do a little laundry is no longer an option. She's also perfecting her version of a Marine crawl, scooting slowly forward by pulling with her arms and pushing with her toes. Real crawling will be happening soon! She holds herself up with straight arms, and I often find her peeking over the lowered rail of her crib when I get her after naps. It's super cute, what with that previously mentioned open-mouth grin. And it's funny, because from the doorway it's like a floating baby head. Hmm- is that where the idea came from on "Phineas and Ferb?"
Despite my mentioning it nearly every day for at least the past month, we have yet to start real food with P2D2. I'm determined to make my own, and I haven't taken time yet to try it. I do, however, have the fresh green beans in the house, so maybe soon! She's definitely interested in what we're eating!
I love that she still grabs for and hugs my arm/hand when she is nursing. Those younger baby habits can stick around for a while longer as far as I'm concerned. :)
She also loves to play with my hair. Not as much in a grab-and-hold-on kind of way where I have to pry her little fingers off or plan to be missing a chunk. Now she takes one finger, or sometimes all of them splayed out, and puts it at the bottom of some dangling tendrils, then moves her arm backward so her finger pulls through the hair. It's almost tender, and seems purposeful for having the experience of truly feeling it. It's another thing I love about nursing time.
The cat is one of the most fascinating and exciting elements of our household as far as P2D2 is concerned. He sits next to me on the couch, and P2D2 grabs at him, sometimes in that fat-fingered-baby kind of way, simply trying to grab chunks of him and pull him toward herself. But other times she can be very gentle, open-handed, running her hand along his fur, basically petting him. And other times she goes for the eyes or ears. And then sometimes that little pointer finger hooks onto Oliver's harness, and that's the best, because then she can pull him toward her! And she's learned that one very well, and loves to do it over and over again, until I say enough and remove either the baby or the cat from the situation. But most amazing is the tolerance Oliver shows, especially considering his not-always-so-nice temperament from his younger years. The old man has mellowed. But I digress.
P2D2 continues to coo, but her raspberries of communication and sometimes displeasure have allowed her to develop a "b" sound. She babbles some, mostly still single syllables, not yet in strings. The ones I have heard are: ba, ga, da, and bwa (my favorite!). Sometimes there's a different vowel, but mostly it's the "uh" sound. I can't recall the other vowels right now, but may come back and add them in when I figure it out. (You'll have to excuse my speech-pathologist-y analysis, but this stuff is important to me.) I do love that she still coos- so stinkin' sweet to hear!
That's all I've got for now, and it's good because she's woken from her nap. I hope I get the "floating baby head" experience this time!
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