Month Five

Dear Baby S,
You've been with us for five months now!

The biggest thing that happened this month is that we celebrated your birthday! You have been in this world for one whole year!

We celebrated on your actual birthday at Burger King with your family. Your mom, half-siblings, aunt, cousins, grandmother, and several friends met us and celebrated. You ate some french fries and ketchup for the first time and hamburger bun. You also enjoyed digging into the chocolate cake your mom brought.

She also brought you three presents and an outfit.

On Saturday we celebrated with our friends and family. We had quite the party in our front yard! We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had cake and ice cream.

While we were getting ready, you spent some quality time with Uncle Jar.

Your favorite part was the fruit we arranged in cups. You ate more blackberries than anything else - even cake!

I'll have more pictures to post of your birthday party soon. I was so busy having fun that I didn't take very many but Maggie and Melissa did and I will get them soon!

Before your birthday we had a busy month!

As soon as we got back from the mountains last month you had a double ear infection. You were pretty grumpy and didn't feel very good for several days. You got to take yummy pink medicine until you felt better and spend some time at home with me.

You've started cruising around holding onto furniture. You're getting very comfortable with walking and holding our fingers to take steps.

You want to be moving all the time now. Barely stopping for a bottle!

You're only interested in eating things you can feed yourself. You're really good about trying new things. The only thing you consistently don't want to eat is mashed potatoes - which I can't believe! Your favorite thing to eat seems to be yogurt melts. Here you are eating with a fork!

We let you take a bath in the bathtub now without the baby tub in there. You have no fears about water. I'm glad you like the water but it makes me nervous that you like to put your face in it so much! (Don't worry - I'm not including any embarrassing bathtub pictures:))

Most every night we are home we watch Family Feud on tv after dinner and before your bath. You LOVE it. You like to watch the bright lights flashing and every time anyone on the show claps (which is often) you clap and laugh!

You're saying a few more words. You still say "dog" every time you see our dog or the dog that lives at my parents house. You say "hey" all the time to us and random people! Sometimes they don't say "hey" or wave back and that makes you mad! You also like words with "p" sounds. When we zip or snap your clothes or pajamas you say "zip" or "snap." You also liked everyone telling you (and singing to you) "Happy Birthday" so now you repeat "hap" and sometimes "happy." You are calling Bubbie "DeeDee" and sometimes say "Meggie" but usually it comes out "mamamamama." You say "MMMMM" when you eat things you like and when we get in the car you look for and call for your "baby" that Susie's parents gave you for Christmas. You make all kinds of other sounds. We can't wait for you to start saying more words!

This month we met your CASA Volunteer. She's someone who volunteers to make sure that you're getting what you need and everyone involved with you right now is doing what they are supposed to do. We hope she will be helpful and we are glad to have this person looking out for you.

We also just celebrated St Patricks Day. It wasn't your first...but it was a good one. Mrs. Suzy at church made you this fun shirt!

Bubbie and I are so happy we've gotten to know you for almost half of your whole life! You are a blessing to us and our families and friends and even strangers. You are such a happy girl. You are a gift from God. On people's birthdays I usually write in their cards (or on facebook) that I am glad they were born - and that's always true - but right now I am celebrating that you were born and that I get to know you and love you. You have no idea - and you never will probably - all that your presence in this world and our lives has done for me, Bubbie, and our families and friends.

So keep it up, Happy Girl. Keep learning, and growing and smiling and waving. Keep trying to copy what was say (mostly) and do (mostly). Keep moving and exploring. Keep being curious. Keep being excited about the people around you. The world is full of wonder and mostly good people. Keep being you. I hope you will someday hear about your first birthday and all the people who celebrated you because they love you.

Gotta go. You're starting to stand up in your rocking chair! You keep things interesting!

Love,
Meggie