6 months old & 3 months down

It is so convenient that the same day of the month marks both Emmy's monthiversary and Nick's deployment countdown. We are halfway through Emmy's first year and halfway to the halfway point of this deployment!

How does one celebrate such a momentous day on the calendar?  Why at the pediatrician's office with vaccinations, of course!  I am proud to report that our girl now weighs 15 pounds 13 oz, is 26.75 inches long, and has a perfectly clean bill of health!

Developmentally, she is right on target as well! Obviously inheriting the procrastination gene, she decided to complete her roll-over on the examination table just before her doctor walked in the door! We have been practicing rolling over for quite some time now in hopes that we could report this milestone as completed at her check-up...She figured it out just in the nick of time!  My life has now just become a little more complicated and a lot more exciting!

She is a very busy girl.  Literally.  She is flails her extremities in every direction during most of her wakeful periods.  Emmy's cuddle time is reserved for the brief period of time right before she falls asleep.  It's positively blissful.  She is in a constant search for the next interesting item to introduce to her mouth.  She doesn't discriminate--chew toys, stuffed animals, diapers, or body parts (hers or mine)--they all taste good to Emmy.  She absolutely loves to hear the noises that come out of her mouth, the higher pitched the better!  Emmy starts everyday with a smile and a squeal.  I get a giggle each time I smile at my girl, which leaves her in a perpetual state of laughter.  Her latest interest is "blowing bubbles" (more like "spraying spit"), it never gets old.  She sits up with some support and loves to stand while gripping my fingers.  She also loves it when I sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and act out the lyrics on her tummy with my fingers... She giggles each time I sing the first line, which leads me to believe that it's her favorite.  She prefers Darla to Molly (she's not the only one) and stares lovingly at her while Darla relentlessly attempts to "kiss" her.  Bathtime is always a hit as is our water play in her baby pool.  I never knew how much I would come to love sitting in a few inches of water in a blow up pool in my backyard...It's quickly becoming my favorite pastime. :-)

Emmy has been consistently sleeping through the night since she turned 4 months old (thank you, Lord!)  Her day begins between 5 to 6am and ends around 7pm.  She manages 3 naps with lots of active play in between!  She loves to eat "solid" foods, her menu choices include rice, oat and barley cereals and most recently bananas.  The next addition will be avocado!  The drooling, gnawing and gum swelling leave me wondering when her first bottom teeth will poke through, but I'm certain they're on the way!

Despite my desire to be done with this deployment, I've made a cognizant effort to not wish away time, each day brings with it such awe-inspiring change...

1 hour old

1 month old

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old

5 months old

6 months old!!  Happy Half Birthday Sweet Girl!!