KRISTY EVERYDAY: LETTERS TO LIA

You are 5 months old. That is almost a half of a year. How did you grow so fast? I was just looking back on pictures and came across the picture of you in your pink party dress. You were just weeks old and so tiny! Now, you're a bouncy, happy and healthy, smiley baby girl!

People stop mommy + daddy on the streets and in stores to tell us how cute you are but if they spent 5 minutes with you, they would know you are much more than just a cute baby. Your eyes. Those big, brown eyes you got from your dad. They twinkle everytime you see something you like. Your smile. Baby, that smile stops people dead in their tracks. And, your laugh? It's only the best sound. EVER. You are going to be quite the heartbreaker, little lady.

You aren't just a baby anymore. Even though you are my baby. Your personality is really starting to show through. You are such a lovey, happy baby. You have sass too. If we make you mad, you let us know. LOUD and CLEAR! And, you think it's hilarious every time mommy has to change a stinky diaper. Your sly grin says it all. Your daddy is the funniest person alive to you. He may not know it, but he's amazing at getting you to laugh and smile!

Seeing you take on the world has been my greatest pleasure. You always have to be sitting up and facing the world. You want to see everything that goes on. You don't want to miss a beat. I love that! I'm also a little scared of that when you start crawling.

You had your first experience in a pool yesterday. We bought you a small kiddie pool and mommy got in with you. You really liked it! You haven't mastered sitting up, but you were doing really good in there.

Playtime is more fun for you now. You love crinkly books and teethers. You love anything you can put in your mouth, really. Feet. Fingers. Toys. Our cell phones! Whatever you get into those chubby hands of yours makes its way into your mouth really fast. You still love your playmat. Your excersaucer is really becoming a favorite. You stand in the walker part and play with a book or the toy mommy hooked on for you. You can't reach the other ones, yet. And, of course, Yo Gabba Gabba still gets your attention away from almost everything else. I'll stand in the dining room watching you and everytime I catch you smiling at DJ Lance or Plex when something happens that you like, it melts my heart. I just can't believe all the things you are learning...

You still suck your thumb if you can't find your paci. Only when you are going to sleep though. And, you've picked up this new thing. You'll suck in your bottom lip. It's the funniest and cutest thing! I see Daddy do it too. I think that's where you get it from.

Your checkup isn't until next week, but I bet you weigh at least 16 lbs. You love your food! You have about (5) 6 oz bottles a day (that you hold all on your own!) and a breakfast + dinner of solids. I usually mix apples (your favorite!) with pears or bananas for breakfast. Sweet potatoes are typically dinner. You hate green foods. Peas and green beans are NOT okay by you! I try to sneak them in, but you just make a funny face and spit them back out. You like apples, pears, sweet potatoes, peaches, bananas. Sometimes you'll eat carrots and in the next day or two, we're going to try squash. You still don't like cereal, even when mixed with fruit. We gave you a gerber biscuit a few days ago. You LOVED it! But it made mommy really nervous so daddy took it away. When you're a little older we'll try again.

Size 3 diapers are what you wear. And you wear 3-12 month clothing! Some 3-6 month onesies + pjs fit you and Gerber onesies run small so those are 9-12 months. Mostly you are in 6-9/6-12 month "outfit" clothing. You know, the things other than pjs + onesies. Hairbows look great in that head full of hair. And, no shoes, still. 0-3 is still your shoe size, but most are too big. That's okay though, you love being barefoot.

No rolling over yet, but we think you are close. You can sit up alone, but only for a few seconds. You'll get the hang of it soon. You do great on your tummy though, you just don't like doing it very long. You hold your head up on it's own all the time. You are great at standing, as long as someone is holding your hands.

I could go on and on and on. I am sure I have lots more to say, especially since I accidently deleted the original post a few minutes ago (I cried!) and I can only recreate so much of what I wrote. Hopefully, I did. If I didn't, we'll have a part two letter.

Plus, you are waking up. I see you playing with your feet and talking up a storm. George Clooney and Robert Pattison are handsome, aren't they? Rachel Ray is so awesome for having pictures of them on her show!

I love you and your squishy cheeks soooooo much, monkey!

XOXO,

mommy