8 Months...I know, I'm behind...

She was sick and not in the mood for any kind of picture on her actual 8 month birthday, so this is a few days off. Masie weighs 18 1/2 pounds and is doing a funky kind of army crawl. She starts off in the traditional crawl position but then falls on the floor and army crawls to whatever she is after. She says "da-da", "pa-pa", "ba-ba", and she loves practicing her "s" sounds. She pulls up to standing on her own and loves to have a hand in everything! And she finally has a tooth! It's the cutest little tooth in the whole world! LOL She LOVES music, and when I sing to her sometimes she tries to "sing along" with me. It is the sweetest sound and brings absolute joy to hear. Her hair is thickening up, and with her tooth in, she is looking more and more like a little girl and less and less like a baby. It's bittersweet, for sure.

7 Months/Halloween

This little butterfly was 7 months old on Halloween! She went trick-or-treating for the first time to cousin Sheila's house and Aunt Diane's house. She didn't quite know what to think about it, but she liked digging in the candy bowl! :) She is getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth, but no crawling yet. She continues to say "da-da-da-da", but no "ma-ma" yet. She has the sweetest little babbling voice that can be a little raspy at times. The child squeals....LOUDLY! We think it's funny now, but I know the day is coming when it happens at an inappropriate time. LOL Love my sweet girl! :)

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