Elise: 6 months

Our sweet little Miss is 6 months old (yesterday)!  How did that ever happen? 

We had a few minutes before leaving for church, so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots since we really haven't gotten out the camera much lately now with the whirlwind of the "back to school" transition around here . . .

Elise continues to be our (mostly) happy girl.  We've had some rough patches that we're blaming on teething over the past month.  Poor little thing has not been sleeping very well, but I think we've made progress in the last week (she's slept all night several times, which used to be the norm, but for about 3 weeks she's been waking up due to teething pain . . . it's been tough on all of us!).

At 6 months, Elise . . .

• is wearing mostly size 6 mth clothes (some 3-6 summer outfits still work)
• has learned to sit up from a laying position!  She actually mastered this trick today, but has been very close for about a week now. It's time to lower her crib mattress!
• will be a crawler soon -- she currently scoots, rolls, and pulls herself wherever she wants to go, and just this week we've seen her rocking on her hands and knees.  Yikes!  Time to get those baby gates up too!
• is doing a great job with "solids."  She enjoys sweet potatoes, pears, and green beans so far.

• is becoming more interested in books (not just as something to chew on! . .  and especially likes to "read" with Braden, which is pretty much the sweetest thing ever)  :)

• still likes her jumparoo and exersaucer but is no longer happy being contained for too long - she'd rather be on the go!

• continues to be a big fan of bath time . . . in fact I let her try sitting in the big tub tonight and she loved it!

• is not such a big fan of nap time lately . . . which is a huge bummer.  Braden has always napped so well, that we are just not used to a child who is not a napper.  I am hoping this is just a (short!) phase, and she will eventually take longer naps (esp in the afternoon) . . . sweet girlie is tired, but just doesn't want to miss out on a thing!

• generally falls asleep for the night (we hope! unless those nasty teeth wake her) at about 9-10 after her last bottle, and sleeps till around 6-7 . . . not to compare, but at this point B was consistently sleeping in till at least 7:30 :/ (Oh well, on the bright side since I am getting up earlier with E, I typically get a load of laundry folded, the dishwasher unloaded, etc. before leaving for work.)  

• sleeps on her side or on her tummy . . . this is a new development since she's become an avid "roller" . . . and I suppose sleeping in her crib (which provides more freedom of movement) vs. her snugabunny sleeper (cradle-ish thing which doesn't really allow baby to roll) every night now may have something to do with this.  We always lay her "back" to sleep, but within seconds she is on her side or tummy

• is a little giggle box - especially when big brother gets her going.  It sort of sounds like she's squealing/crying, so often we run to "bust" Braden for bothering her, but he's actually just making her laugh.

• is babbling . . . ba ba ba ba ba, mmmmaaa mmmmmaaa, and ah ah ah are some of her frequent chants.  She often "talks" to us while riding in the car.  Little Miss also loves to blow raspberries, much to her brother's delight.  Those two can really get going in the back seat. :)

• has snuggled her way into our hearts.  She really is just the sweetest baby girl, and her smile just makes you melt.

Here's her "monthly" picture:

(6 mths - notice she did not want to lay down!, and 2 mths for comparison)