Six Months...AKA 1/2 a YEAR!!!!

Say it isn't so!!!! HALF of a YEAR!!!! Oh.My.Goodness! I can't think about it. I literally think she gets bigger every.single.day. She went to her six month doctor appointment last week, and she has definitely grown! She now weighs over 16 pounds and is 25 inches long. We had already begun cereal, bananas, and some veggies, but the doctor said to continue adding more to her routine so that eventually, before her next appointment, she is eating more than she is drinking from a bottle. She is sitting up well on her own, rolling from tummy to back and back to tummy. She says da-da-da-da, which just makes Dan's day, as you can imagine! She likes to click her tongue and smack her lips, and she loves to babble, which is the sweetest sound in the world! Sometimes when she is soothing herself she will sing in the cutest little whispery voice. Still, I find myself just staring at her. Masie Lauren, you have me mesmerized...

Looking Back

This picture that you see here to the right of my blog----------------------------------------> took me by surprise tonight to the point of tears. She is so tiny! She will never be that tiny again, and although I love seeing her grow, thrive, and do new things, it makes me sad. I just want to savor every moment....without holding her back for my own sake. Last night I was in the kitchen making dinner, and Dan was holding her in the living room (which is all open). My heart was so full I thought it was going to burst as I heard him talking to her about what all she could be when she got older. What a blessing from God she is to us. To walk by her crib and see her face light up and arms reach out for me when she sees me brings a smile to my face, no matter what time of night. ;) Don't get me wrong...li'l Miss Thang loves to fake cry when I don't pick her up right away...she frequently wakes up and won't go back to sleep unless I lay her on my chest in bed with us...and the girl can be stubborn. And don't be surprised if she wears pink while rocking a faux hawk. We have to have a little sassy to round out her sweetness. She is a pretty amazing girl. I know we aren't perfect parents, but I don't ever want to disappoint her. Ever.

5 Months!

She squeals. She coos. She sticks her feet up in the air. She tries to put her feet in her mouth. She puts e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. in her mouth. She sleeps best on Mommy's chest, particularly anywhere from 4-6 in the morning until it's time to get up. She loves to wake up her daddy by patting his arm and cooing at him....or by grabbing his chest hair....whatever works. ;) She is not a fan of rice cereal but will eat oatmeal. She gets a c.r.a.z.y. burst of energy right before she goes to sleep. She makes all right with the world when I walk by her crib and her face lights up with her sweet smile. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She has my heart.

Four Months

Do you see the bandaid on her finger? We had just had a traumatic experience with the nail clippers before this photo was taken. :( Then the next day, I took her to her four month appointment...which included shots. The next 48 hours were consumed with a feverish baby who just didn't feel good. :( :( Her head size was in the 50th percentile. Her weight was in the 50th percentile. Her length was in the 20th percentile. Her eyes are still hazel...sometimes they look brown, sometimes they look green, and everything in between. I love this girl so much! She is such an amazing child! Thank you, Lord....how could I ask for more?!

Three Months

Two Months Already?!

Seems pretty impossible, if you ask me.... I love that she is growing and thriving, but she's getting big so fast! Here is a picture that shows her at one day old and two months old... The last time we weighed her, she was at 10.6 pounds. Her arms and legs were so long and thin when she was born, so now they are getting some chub...so cute! Her cheeks have been chubby from the beginning and continue to be very kissable! Being 1/4 African American, we thought her hair would be curlier and her eyes more prominently brown, but when she was born her hair was honey brown and completely straight. Her eyes, of course, were dark blue. Now, her hair is a shade darker and barely curls at the ends...I hope she has curls (sigh!). Her eyes are greyish. I think they may end up hazel...Can't wait to see! She is very calm and relaxed most of the time, but don't let her fool you! Especially when it comes to food! She HATES having to stop to burp. She stiffens up and gets mad when you take that bottle out to burp her. It would be easier to just give her the bottle back, but I'd rather suffer thru her tantrum than to deal with her upset tummy from gas later on. She can be a strong willed and determined little lady! At some point, that may be frustrating to me, but it makes me remember those qualities about her birth mom. Those qualities, her having a strong will and determining to focus on the bigger picture, were some key qualities that allowed us to be Masie's parents. We are so thankful......

Masie Pictures

These pictures were taken right after she ate. She was wide awake, alert, and bright eyed! :)

She loves her WubbaNub (aka Lambie). She has the sweetest hands that refuse to stay swaddled and usually end up somewhere around her face...just like in some of her sonogram pics. Love those Elvis lips!

Practicing to be a cheerleader?! I laid her down to change her and she had a good ol' time talking and stretching and moving....then I opened her diaper. Oooooo-weeeee! :)