1/2 of a year old

Bristol is 6 months old, well actually, she is 6 1/2 months old. I did a post awhile ago of her 6 month photos I took. Every month I take her " monthly crib" picture. I took these awhile ago and just haven't posted them yet. While taking these pictures, she got a little silly and face planted into her mattress. I couldn't help but crack up. It didn't even phase her. I sure hope she is "tough" when she gets older. So far, she can be sensitive at times, but that's ok but it gives me one more reason to cuddle and snuggle with her.

Here is what's going on with my little one...

She is eating table food 2 times a day. We start with oatmeal and fresh mashed up banana for breakfast ( after her morning bottle ). Her evening meal is homemade apple sauce and sweet potatoes or butternut squash. She LOVES it all. In fact, when she finishes, I get up and put the dirty bowl and spoon in the sink, when she sees me do this, she bursts into tears. This makes me laugh because it's sooo dramatic. I'll give her her paci and that usually gets her to stop crying. I will be introducing new foods slowly. So far the only food she hasn't liked was avocado. I think it was the consistency. I just made pears today, I baked them in the oven just like I do the apples. I'm sure she will like them. Anytime she sees a bottle she freaks out. She can find a bottle from any room, it's hilarious. She takes 5-6 ounces for each bottle. You would think Bristol would weight more than she does cause she loves to eat but she is still a peanut.

Bristol is taking 2-3 naps a day. They range from 45 mins - 2 hours. The 2 hour naps are few and far between. I miss the good ole days when she was taking 2-4 hour naps. Yes, I said 4 hours. The first time she took that long of a nap I completely panicked and had to run into the bedroom to make sure she was breathing. She goes down perfect at nap time, never fussy. She will usually play with her baby doll or seahorse for about a couple mins and then rolls over on her right side and she is out. She loves sleeping on her right side, but gravity gets the best of her and pulls her back on her back. No sleeping on her tummy, she hates it. So, she either sleeps on her right side of her back. At night time, she doesn't go down as easy as nap time and I don't understand that. Maybe 3-4 times a week she wants to be rocked to bed, but she doesn't need it at nap time, strange? I usually try to avoid rocking but if she wakes up 3-4 times after me going in there several times, I just rock her for 5 mins and put her back in the crib. Sometimes she sleeps through the night but mostly she doesn't. She will wake up squeaking or doing a whine but her eyes are still closed. I have to put her paci back in her mouth and then she goes right back down. Bristol wakes up anywhere between 7:30 - 8:45am every morning, happy as can be. There is nothing better than walking up to her crib, her eyes making contact with me and giving me the BIGGEST smile. I.love.it!

Bristol really is more fun everyday. She loves to play in her bouncer, watch mickey mouse in any of her chairs ( bumbo, nap nanny, bouncer, lamby chair ), likes to play on her back, chews on EVERYTHING, can find her paci and put it back in mouth ( she is sooooo good at doing that little trick and it's the cutest thing ever). She still hates tummy time, hates it! I have to change up tummy time by locations. We will do tummy time on me, the bed, the floor, the couch.... she needs a change of scenery. Bristol's new favorite game is peek-a-boo. I put a burp rag on top of her head and she pulls it off. Then I put the rag on my head and she will reach and pull it off. She gets the biggest kick out of it. Bristol still LOVES books. In fact, I need to go to 1/2 priced books and get some news one for her. Bristol is making all sorts of noises now a days. She squeals, screams, laughs, coo's, grunts..... all the noises are tooo cute. When she is mad she will scrunch her nose and rub her feet together.

She has no desire to crawl, roll over ( although she can) or stand up. She is spoiled. We are working on these skills everyday at home. She can sit up by herself but still needs a little help after a few seconds. Well, more like she needs to be supervised, haha. I am so proud that she has finally wanted to do this, I was starting to worry. But I have realized that Bristol is on her own time schedule, she will do what she wants when she wants. And I have finally come to grips with it. I can't wait till she can sit up with no help and play with her friends at play group. She is one of the youngest and while all her friends are on the floor playing she is sitting in my lap. I can't wait till she interacts with all of them.

It really is a new day everyday with Bristol. I love watching her grow, learn new things and becoming a little person. It does pain me a little bit to think that this time with her has gone by so fast. I can't imagine going back to work in August and leaving her at a day care.

Speaking of day care, if you have any recommendations on a place PLEASE let me know. Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, if you are willing to or know someone who would watch Bristol full-time next year let me know! :)

Thanks!