High Five (Months)

ME (Maren Elizabeth),

I guess this is when things start to speed up. Over the last month Ive found myself saying the phrase "shes growing up so fast" more than Id like. You can reach your feet now, and you play with them and suck on them any chance you get. You have started mimicking your father and I by blowing raspberries and seeming to love watching hockey (that parts your dad!). You watch us eat with endless interest and try your best to intercept any forkfuls that come anywhere near your mouth. And my heart really came to a standstill a few weeks ago when you grabbed for my morning mug of coffee over and over again until I let you hold it and try out your skills sipping, rather than sucking (dont worry, I waited until well after the coffee was gone).

Everyday you seem thisclose to rolling over but you still havent mastered that one....we tend to think youre lazy but perhaps youre so content with the scene on your back that you really dont care to see the world from your bellly. Regardless you are so enamored by the world around you these days that every meal is string of starts and stops due to distractions like the cat walking by, wind making the curtains flutter, someone clearing their throat, or an interesting page uploading on my itouch. Oh, and thats right, your father is very pleased that you seem to be drawn to technology at the fresh age of 5 months old. I have a feeling that you'll be accidentally calling most of the folks in your dad's contact list over the next few months considering how excited you are to touch the screen and make the images change.

Unfortunately my feeling that you'll be a handful as you grow up continues as you've also discovered, this month, the ability to voice your displeasure with a raspy disgruntled squeal and an occasional full body moan. Now that you've discovered your feet you masterfully use them to push me away when Im engaging in unsavory activities like clipping your fingernails or sucking boogies out of your nose (and its not very ladylike that you have a lot of them by the way). And you do the same as you flirt with your dad and pretend to not like the fact that hes constantly kissing on you and tickling your growing belly.

Im both amazed and appalled at how much you've learned in such a short period of time. I can't believe how many skills you've picked up just by observing us over the last few months. And this makes me wonder what the heck month 6 will bring....walking, swimming, mastering the barbecue grill? Who knows! Whatever it is, your dad and I will be here with our mouths agape, marveling in the little person you are becoming and enjoying every minute we have with you, our smiley, giggly girl.

Lots of love and a sippy cup,

Momma