Six Months

At six months you are happier than ever before and are growing and changing daily.  You squeal more and make this sound that we call your "tiger growl" when you are happy.  You are getting stronger and can sit up, but still have moments where you slide down or fall forward.  Still no signs of teeth, but you do produce plenty of drool.  There was a week where you were refusing to go to bed and I was almost in tears nightly listening to you cry, but then suddenly you started enjoying going to bed again.  You are so cute as you wiggle around in your crib until you find the most comfortable position and then you slowly drift off as I tell you stories about my day.  You are eating cereal and fruit and seem to enjoy listening to me make every sound effect I can think of to get you to open your mouth as the spoon comes.  The best part at six months for me is that you reach out to me now and hug me.  When I get home from a day at work and after battling rush hour traffic, you greet me at the door with a smile and extend your arms to me.  My heart always melts when you do this.  Even after being back at work for three months now, I still struggle at times that I have chosen to maintain my career, but in that moment that you give me a hug, I know you love me and are happy and that is all that matters.

Happy Friday

Have a wonderful weekend!

Drooling...

Over this stroller, too bad the price is a little out of my budget. 

Future Besties

Lisa, Grace, Belle and I at our friend's baby shower this weekend.  I can't wait to see these two little girls grow up together.

Myself, Haley, Hilary, Baby Bump, Sarah, Lisa and Grace

Another baby to add to the mix, my guess is it is a girl!

Palm Springs

I am officially a snow bird.  Last month our entire family headed south to Palm Springs, CA in search of sun and heat.  It was awesome.  We enjoyed the bright blue skies, eighty degree temperatures, the pool and being together as a family.  Scott and I, okay just me, were nervous for Belle's first flight, but she was a rock star and earned her wings from the flight attendant for being such a good baby.  We will be back next year and not just for four quick days.

Within the first ten minutes of arriving at our rental house Scott had Belle dressed and ready for her first swim in a pool.

She had an audience too!

Our house had lemon trees and some type of grapefruit tree in the back.

The sunset on our first night in town.

We found a Joshua Tree at the National Park

We did our best to protect Belle's skin from the sun.

The entire Thompson clan together!

Just a nice, simple biker bar to stop at for lunch.

Belle chillin' in her tent.  Poor thing did get a bit of a sun burn on her chin and cheeks.  It was so strange to see our baby just hanging around in a diaper since I have spent most of her life trying to keep her warm in Portland.  I can't wait to spend more time outside together once spring and summer arrive.

Time to plan our next vacation, any suggestions?

The Great Experiment

We tried giving Belle rice cereal last night and it was an epic fail.  She is not interested in the cereal, just the spoon.  Here is a video for the grandparents enjoyment.

Seriously Mom, why are you putting this in my mouth!

This is how it all ended.  We will try again next week.

Toys

Catching up on the blog, February came and went just like that and Belle continues to grow and amaze us.  She has started to really discover her toys and enjoy them.  Here are a few of her favorites.

If it is a circle she will have her hand around it in seconds.

Sophie the Giraffe is her true love right now.  She shows her affection by giving Sophie long, wet kisses and beating her against most hard surfaces.

And then there is her duck during bath time that she dunks and splashes around with.

And finally, her bottle isn't a toy, but someone is starting to show a streak of independence by holding it on her own at times.  I am sure this is just the beginning.