Lily - 5 Months!

Oh, Lily!  I can't believe you're almost half a year old!  I really wish I could make the time slow down, but what a fun month we had with you!

You enjoy both sitting up and standing with support, and you're getting closer to sitting on your own.  You also got to try your jumperoo for the first time this month.  You focused mostly on the toys on it but when you would get excited about the toys, your legs would get to kicking and you’d end up jumping a little bit too.   

You are getting better at holding toys, which was convenient as we drove to and from Florida this month.  We drove 18 hours not including stops over two days each way, so you had lots of time to entertain yourself in the car.  Thankfully, you slept a lot and did really well while you were awake.  We stayed in a hotel halfway, and it was the first time all six of us had slept in the same room before.  Sleeping arrangements were a little tricky.

For our vacation, we went to Orlando.  We went to the beach one day.  I carried you, as I walked into the ocean for a few minutes, then I brought you back to our spot and you took a nap on our picnic blanket under the umbrella.  You slept the rest of the time we were there.

You also got to go to Magic Kingdom one day.  I carried you in our Baby Bjorn carrier all day.  You slept a lot of the time and sucked on the straps of the Baby Bjorn carrier when they weren't covered with a burp cloth.  Obviously it wasn't nearly as exciting for you as for Caleb, Evie and Silas, but you did really well and didn't fuss.

While you were lying on our bed on vacation, you rolled over from your back to your tummy for the first time.

We did lots of swimming in Florida.  You liked floating around the lazy river at our resort and even took a few naps while doing it.  In the beginning, though, your eyes would get really big when we approached bridges.  There was water falling down below the bridges, and you heard the sound of it splashing down onto the water and inner tubes around us.  A few times you would start to cry because it was so loud in comparison but would settle down when I sang one of your brothers' or sister's songs to you.

I’ve learned that if I gently blow in your face when you’re fussing, you’ll usually stop fussing.  It’s like it makes you forget that you were upset, and then when I smile at you afterward, you’ll smile back.  A few times while you were fussing, I've heard you say, "Muh muh".  I don't know if you know that's me, but I love hearing the sound of it.  It will be so much fun to hear you talking one day! 

You sometimes shake your head back and forth (like Caleb used to).  I recently started doing the same thing right in front of you and then would sneak in and steal a kiss from you, which you seemed to enjoy. 

Speaking of your brother, the resemblance between you and Caleb is remarkable.  It will be fun to see what happens as you get a little older.

You still really love giving me those big, slobbery open mouth kisses, and I still really love getting them!  You also like to use your hand to pat things like the palm of my head or the bed when you’re sitting on it. 

You've learned to suck on your lips, which is pretty cute, and you're fairly ticklish--especially your tummy and your neck.

This month you met your Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Bliss and your cousin, Chelsea.  Great Grandpa kept saying to you, “Well, hi, Button!”, and I think that nickname is probably going to stick because we've all been calling you that ever since.

At one Wednesday night Bible study this month, Mr. Jud taught you how to grab and pull down on the puppy that hangs from your car seat.

My least favorite thing you learned to do this month is pinching as you cling onto things (often my neck or the back of my arm).  You're certainly not meaning this to be ugly, but when you do it, I'm constantly reminded how strong you are!  It's amazing how much pain those tiny little fingers can inflict at times!

You now sleep in your bassinet in my closet both during the day and at night.  You're becoming more aware of your surroundings while sleeping, so it's helped to reduce the noise from Caleb, Evie and Silas while you nap.  I love how when you wake in the mornings that you'll often put yourself back to sleep or just lie there quietly until I come to get you.  You are so sweet to nap in your car seat during church on Sundays, which allows my hands to be free to write notes from the sermon.

When laying on your tummy, you now frequently push yourself up onto either your elbows or hands with your arms straightened.  When you're not very tired, you'll sometimes do this before your nap so you can get a better look around my closet.

I couldn't believe it because all of our babies so far have been fairly late teethers (7-8 Months), but we started seeing two little tooth buds in your lower gums this month.  They haven't poked through yet, but it will be interesting to see how much earlier (if at all) you get your first tooth. Sweet Lily, you LOVE to play with your tongue these days.  You have the cutest little tongue!!

You're still in Size 1 diapers and will move up as soon as we finish them.  You can also still wear some 3 Month clothes, but you're mostly wearing 3-6 Month clothes and even some 6 Month pajamas.

Lily Noelle, words are so inadequate to describe our love for you.  How very blessed we are that God chose to make you ours!!  Happy 5 Month birthday, little one!

(Click here to see more pictures of Lily.)