Letter to Olive

Dear Olive,

You're now 5 months old. It's hard to believe there was a time that you weren't here. I knew I would love you, my sweet girl, but I never thought I would love you as much as I do. You are an amazing baby.  This time of your life has been so wonderful for your Papa and I. You continue to bring such laughter and joy to our lives. I so wish I could bottle up this precious time with you and keep it with me forever.

Your sweet open mouth kisses are the best.  Sometimes you grab my face and plant a big one on me. And I love it!  :)
One of my favorite things right now is the way you lie back on me and we gaze into each other's eyes as I stroke your hair.
One of your favorite things to do right now is put your hands in our mouths.  It makes you smile.  I think you want to know where all of that food we eat goes.  :)
 
Your laughter is simply amazing as is your voice and I can't get enough of either.  I could hear your voice and laughter and be happy for the rest of my life.

I just love your gummy smile.  I know it won't be long until I see your first tooth/teeth and it's just another reminder that my little girl is growing up.

I never thought I'd be one of those mamas who would miss breast feeding, but I think I just might miss this special time we have together.  I love the way you look up at me and smile while I'm nursing you.  I have to watch myself because if I smile too big you will start giggling. :) I love the way you clasp your hands together. I love the way you throw your foot up and rest it on my boob.  I love the way you stroke my skin.
It makes me giggle and I'll miss how you sometimes grab my bra strap and treat it like a  slingshot.  :D  I love the way your toes grip the glider.  I love the way you rub your foot against your leg to soothe yourself.

Although I know I will miss this time in your life I just have to remember that there will be more precious and fun times ahead.

When you're 8, 10, 13, 16 etc. you will probably see me looking at pictures and watching videos of you while tearing up and you will think I'm crazy.  I'm just a mommy who loves her daughter.  My wish for you is that you get to experience something as amazing and magical as I am right now.


I love you my sweet girl,
Mama

Happy 5 months, Olive!

Age: 5 months

Weight:  ~17 1/2 lbs. (87th percentile)

Height:  ~26 inches long (73rd percentile)

Head circumference: ~17 inches (79th percentile)
Size: 3, 6, 9 & 12 months

Sleeping: She is sleeping in her crib now.  Some nights she sleeps through the night, while others she wakes up once.  There have been some early mornings where she doesn't want to be put back in her crib so we find ourselves asleep in the glider the next morning.  

Eating habits: Nursing and Expressed milk.

Favorite activity: Going on walks and looking at everything, jumping in her jumperoo, sitting in her super seat and playing with toys, reading books, being held by mommy, turning the pages of a book or magazine and talking.

Cutest Moment of the Month: Talking, Laughing, Facial Expressions, Smiling and Talking and smiling at her siblings.  

Milestones:

Signs of teething begin

Holds head up when sitting

Rolls from stomach to back

When lying on back puts feet to mouth

Voluntarily grasps and holds objects

Plays with toes

Takes objects directly to mouth

Watches objects that are dropped

Says "ah-goo" or similar vowel-consonant combinations

Smiles at mirror image

Gets upset if you take a toy away

Can tell family and strangers apart

Begins to discover parts of his/her body

Firsts:

Saying "MmmmMa" "Dah" "Ha (like Hi, but with more of a Texas accent)", "Yah", "Nah".  And it always seems like she knows what she is saying. 

Updates: This girl of ours is simply amazing.  I love everything about her, even her attitude.  :)  She is definitely a mix of both her mama and papa.  She is still not the most comfortable with others holding her, but will smile at her grandparents and friends.  I've noticed that if they ignore her, she'll try to get their attention when she is ready.  It's on her terms.  She is getting so big and just about ready to break my back.  She is the smartest baby I know, but I'm sure I'm being biased as most parents probably are.  :)  I think she may be eating solids sooner than I had thought.  She is really interested in our food.  She has her clingy days, but I think she's getting better. I can at least get some chores done now. Her laughter is so wonderful. 

Olive loves her "Owl buds"

Liv loves her owls and must have a chat with them at least once a day, preferably before bedtime.

She is just shy of 4 months in this video.

She is 

Olive finds her toes...

and eats them!  :D

Video of her in action.