The Ai-owl-lo Nest: January 2013

Oh Arden, how you amaze your Daddy and I! You are now 7 months old and growing bigger and bigger every day! It makes me so happy and sad at the same time. You are now 19 pounds! I feel like the only time that I get a glimpse of what you were like as a newborn is when I am nursing you to sleep at night and the lights are turned down low. When your eyes are closed and you are full and happy, I get to go back in time to what you looked like 7 short yet very long months ago.

I know I have said this every month, but you have changed by leaps and bounds this month. You are the sweetest and most outgoing little babe I have ever seen or met. Your smile really lights up my heart and I love making you smile and giggle more than anything. Your favorite game right now is peek-a-boo. You love when I hide behind the edge of the bed and pop up and scare you. As I pop down, you peer over the bed so you know it is coming but you like to prepare yourself. You don't like surprises...just like your Mommy! A guaranteed giggle inducer! Your Daddy loves to do the Arden roll up...you love it!

You are already so affectionate. You get the biggest smile when I kiss your cheek or bring you in for a close hug. I love that about you! You are sensitive and loving...just like your Daddy. :) Never lose that! You also love to act silly and try to eat my whole face. You put your whole mouth over my lips and drool like there is no tomorrow. You just keep your mouth open and laugh. Who knew that an adorable sense of humor started this early??

You have started to eat purees!! You do such a great job and you have not gagged once! Here is your first food adventure with sweet potatoes!

Your favorites so far have been sweet potatoes, peaches, apples, carrots, blueberries, and mango. You are not such a big fan of peas, string beans, squash, and meat.

You roll around to get where you want to go and I am very impressed with your technique. You will roll sideways to maneuver your way to move forward. I am trying to teach you to crawl and you get so frustrated with yourself when you cannot do it. You are moving your legs and scooting your bum, but you have so far managed to only scoot backwards. I think you will get it very soon though!!

You also now sit completely unsupported and can hold your hand behind you to look behind you...impressive!! I am always amazed by what you learn on your own. I am now working on trying to teach you clapping. You are almost getting it! You now do "monkey see, monkey do." When you want to "talk" to me, you make this high pitched squawking sound. I make the same sound and like ping pong, we go back and forth saying it. If I put my face by yours and say "kiss" you give me a big slobbery kiss. Little Lola gives me a less slobbery kiss!

Here are some pictures of the past month. I am excited to see what this next month will bring!! No doubt that it will be pure amazement!

Sleeping off your first cold at 6 months. :(