6 months

Ellie is half a year old! We kicked off today with a visit to Ellie's pediatrician for her six month checkup. She got a big thumps up and our doctor was really amused by her. Always fascinated by crinkly objects, Ellie wrestled with the paper on the table almost the entire visit. She even found occasion to bust out her dancing legs and did a little jig.  As our doctor put it, "she is really good at Irish table dancing." She did really well with her shots and once they were over was as happy as can be.

She has reached all the normal developmental milestones for her age. She can roll over in both directions, but still squawks when she makes it on to her tummy. She is getting really good at sitting up on her own.  She still is a little wobbly, so we need to watch her or prop her up with the Boppy but she has learned to brace herself when she tips over. Except when she tips backwards of course. We can put a few toys in front of her and she'll entertain herself for a short while (a very short while). In addition to babbling, she has starting blowing bubbles or more affectionately, fart noises. She loves doing it and will do it when she is happy, sad, eating or even breast feeding which is quite comical. She definitely recognizes her name when you talk to her and even when you are talking about her.  A couple of times Tom and I have been having a conversation about her and she smiles when her name comes up.  Smart girl! She still loves standing and lunging but she has started to assume the crawling position so I'm sure she'll figure it out. Although even her doctor noted that she thought she might walk before crawl based on how she was jigging about the exam room.

I am happy to report that her eating issues have almost completely resolved.  Right before we went on Christmas vacation, she started eating normally.  Just like that. She will easily suck down 4oz plus breast milk which is three times the amount she used to eat during a feeding. She has also started eating more frequently without spitting up.  She still does from time to time but it's not as prolific. Horrah! While we were in Seattle, we started to feed her solids. We started with the obligatory rice cereal and quickly moved up the food chain.  So far she's tried banana, applesauce, avocado, spinach & peas.  Banana is by far her favorite but the spinach & pea mixture was a close second. Surprising! I have started making my own baby food which is a lot of fun.  I got a few recipe books as baby shower gifts which are almost comical because all you're doing is mashing food into a puree.  It's really fun to know she's eating food that I made for her - and that I know is organic without icky chemicals or added sugar. It's one thing I can feel really good about since I had no control over her need to be formula fed. She is growing well, but still continues to gain more in length than in weight.  She's is going to be long and lean, lucky girl!  Here are her stats:

Head circumference: 41.5cm
Height: 27''
Weight: 14lbs 7oz

Sleep is still a hot issue for us and especially since we got home from vacation. She was sleeping through the night but around four months old she got a case of the "four month wakefuls" and hasn't slept through the night since. She is also needing to eat during the night which is something we have been encouraging since all the eating issues started. When we were in Seattle we started co-sleeping with her mainly because we didn't want to wake the entire household when she cried but also because she was having a hard time sleeping in a different environment. Of course she got really used to that and since we've been home she's had a really hard time transitioning back to her crib, even at nap time.  We are starting the sleep training process all over again but poor baby isn't happy about. With much luck, we will all be sleeping better soon.

She likes to be on the move and enjoys being outdoors.  She started to crane her head out of the car seat when in the stroller, so we have started putting her face out in the front and she loves it. She is definitely into her world and will move accordingly to enjoy it! We are starting to see the beginnings of separation anxiety.  A few days in a row she has cried when Tom has left the room after he's been playing with her and when he comes back she stops.  It's really cute! She is becoming such a ham and we're just eating it up. Can't wait to see what the next six months have in store.