6 months

If the next six months go by as quickly as the first six, my baby will be turning one tomorrow.

Continuing to say how fast time is flying is entirely cliche, but oh so true.  My little bitty baby just keeps growing.  Slow down!  Just slow down, sweetheart.  Let us enjoy this babyhood just a bit longer. 

I know we can't slow down time, so we'll enjoy every second.  

Dear Amalia,

This month, you discovered opinions.  What you discovered is that you have them.  Strong ones.  You know what you want and you go for it.  When you can't get it, or aren't allowed, you express your displeasure.  You are grabby.  You love to pull my hair, and grab my face, especially when I'm sleeping and you want to get up.

You love your sister.  I know I tell you that every month, but it is still true.  She loves to make you laugh, and you love to laugh at her.  You also love to poke fun at your sister a little bit.  Whenever she is being whiny or crying about something, you start to laugh.  Every time.  

Not only do you love your sister, but you love to be entertained.  You are still pretty wonderful at entertaining yourself and playing on the floor or in your exersaucer, but you definitely get lonely if no one is there, and use your voice to get Mama to come hold you.  Papá dice sue tu eres un bochinchera - someone who loves to have fun.  You are always looking for a laugh, love being swung around and tossed in the air and tickled and played with.   

Mostly, you love to be entertained, but with new situations or new people, you are still slow to smile.  You need to assess the situation first, and are quite the little studier, intently staring into the face and eyes of a new person, once you've gotten to look at them without them looking at you first. 

You've also gotten to where you really don't want to miss a second of the action.  It needs to be dark and quiet to be able to put you down for a nap or to bed. You are really starting to enjoy eating solid foods.  You even started, yesterday, to be able to handle a bit of texture in your food, rather than gagging on anything that isn't absolutely pureed.  You ate boiled potatoes, rutabaga and carrots from our stew yesterday and loved it.  We put it on your tray, and though you had a great time playing in it, you still needed our help actually getting the food in your mouth to eat it.

I think you are working on teeth.  The past few days you've been quite crabby, drooly, and seemingly in pain.  I don't feel anything poking through yet, but they do seem to be bothering you.  It doesn't help that you are still fighting a stuffed up nose and congested chest, as well.  It's been a rough couple of nights, and I am exhausted.  Sleep better tonight, okay?

You are getting closer and closer to mobility.  Slow down!  This afternoon, I put you on the floor in the kitchen while I worked on dinner, and you somehow managed to travel all the way across the kitchen, and can even get your leg out behind you as if trying to crawl.  I'm not ready for you to be able to move around yet, but am so proud at your progress.

Amalia, you are a darling baby.  You are loved so very much, and love us so very much in return.  The first half of your first year has been incredible.  

Loveyouforeverandalways,

Mama

Little Miss Stubborn

Guess you can't guess which daughter I am referring to in the title!  Actually, either guess would technically be correct, but this time, I am talking about Miss Amalia.  I am seriously dreading the tantrums that are sure to arise as she gets older.  And I'm not even going to think about 13!

This child is so stubborn, so opinionated, and so very loud.  When I went to class weekly and she was a wee little thing, she took a bottle just fine.  That all changed the day I started back substitute teaching a few times a week.  I got home to an exhausted daddy and a screaming baby.  Apparently, she refused a bottle, refused the milk in a cup, refused any type of milk at all, refused any other sort of food, and went on a hunger strike which she then complained about all day long.  She nursed six times between 4 and 7 o'clock that night.  Every day that I've been gone since then she's basically refused any breast milk.  Julio could get her to take a tiny bit if in a sippy cup with no valve, but not much.  When we had a couple hours for date night, Grandma and Grandpa were reticent to ever say yes to watching her again.  She cried, nay, screamed, nonstop.  So, heading to work today, I was less than optimistic.  I came home and listened.  No crying.   In fact, she and Sofia and Grandma were reading stories and playing on the floor.  She took a bottle!   She ate mashed potatoes and applesauce!  She napped for THREE hours!   See, baby?  Your day goes a lot better when you eat.

Slug, slug, slug!

Sofia chose a book from the library called, "Ant, Ant, Ant, an Insect Chant!"  It is verse composed entirely of insect names, and the first page ends with "...slug, slug, slug."  As we finished the very last page, Sofia looks at me with confusion and says, "but Mama, slugs aren't insects."  Huh.  You're right.  It had completely escaped my notice, but apparently bothered her the entire book long.  At the end, the author tells a little about each insect mentioned, and apparently there is a group of caterpillars called Slug Caterpillars.
She's been so good lately.  Much more patient, with less outbursts and fits.  She's a good helper, loves to play with her sister, follows directions, and has been losing the attitude.  Even through the Sofia, Sofia, Miss Contrary (not the same ring as Mary, but it still fit), life has been great with her.  It's been so nice.  Right now, however, she sitting on the stairs trying to scream me into doing it her way.  It isn't going to work, sweetie.

Sisterly Love

My girls adore each other.  It warms my heart every time I see them together.  It started with Sofia's adoration for her baby sister while I was still pregnant, and continued every minute since Amalia's been born.  Sure, Sofia is jealous, but I bear the brunt of that, while Amalia gets bombarded with hugs and kisses and peekaboos.

Last night, after their bath, both girls were sitting with their daddy on the couch.  Amalia just started busting a gut at her sister, which caused Sofia to start giggling, which kept Amalia giggling...

When Sofia gets off the bus after school, she's tired.  She's grouchy, hungry, and just wants to be hugged by Mama for awhile.  Today, Amalia was with my mom while Sofia and I cuddled.  After about 10 minutes, Amalia started to cry.  Sofia went over to give her a hug, and Amalia stopped crying, smiled, cooed, and reached out to hug her sister.  She started giggling and talking.  She wanted Sofia to come give her attention!  So darn precious.

I just want to remember these moments and that the girls do actually love each other as they grow.  I am such a blessed Mama.