Madeline's Monthly Message: Month 5

Dear Madeline,

You are now 5 months old. Why does it go by so fast? It's not fair... my heart aches when I think about it... stop growing! Sorry - that was the selfish side of me coming out a little. I don't want you to stop growing, just slow down maybe a little? I almost don't even remember what it was like to hold you when you were new. It seems like just yesterday you were a helpless bundle of perfection I could wrap up in a 36" x 36" receiving blanket. Today you are a vibrant, energetic angel baby who can sit up unassisted for up to 30 seconds before tipping over.

We spend most of our day playing, talking, singing, and looking at and touching things - pictures, toys, plants, the sky, books - anything I can think of that might interest you. Usually if you aren't interested in something you just jerk your head another direction, do your funny baby talk or gnaw on your fist, and then we move on. I like a girl who knows what she likes and doesn't like.

Since your birth I have taken about 2,000 pictures of you because you are so damn beautiful I can't stop looking at you, smelling you, and nibbling on your drool covered face.


Your eating habits are nothing like the text books say they should be, but you are healthy and happy so I am not worried. Really, I never worry about you because you are smart. You know what life is about... Sleepin', eatin' and bein' merry.

You nurse about every 3-4 hours during the day, but there have been times when you might go longer. You still eat a lot in the evening and through the night. I was advised by a pediatrician to try and get you to sleep through the night - I felt like saying, "durrr oh... is THAT what I am supposed to be doing??? So she should be sleeping at night? Whoaa." She also told me to try not to nurse you at night because you could "skip a meal" and be okay. I'm sorry, but the doc isn't there at 3:00 am when your are crying and nothing can console you but the teet.

We originally planned to introduce you to rice cereal this past Saturday, but your dad was at work all weekend due to an imporant issue and I wanted him to be a part of your first introduction to food. It's a moment in your life, he needs to be there, he wants to be there, cause he's cool. So we have postponed it until this weekend (Valentines day - awww). I figure a few more days aren't a big deal.

Your hair's getting longer. The other babies are jealous. Panteen called.. they want you to do a couple commercials. It's always been pretty long, but now it's really really noticeable so I bought some bows, and now I have started making bows for you. I think bows are cute and I put them in your hair almost every day. Even if we don't go anywhere. I also love your hair and how it sticks up though so I guess your hair-do just depends on how I'm feeling. We've also discovered sticky gems that we put on your ears and people are like, "I didn't know you got her ears pierced!!!", and then I laugh because... I didn't get your ears pierced. They just got baby punked! Haaa!

Tubby time has changed a bit. You're too long to freely kick and splash in the baby tub we have so you now lay in the regular tub. I feel ample kicking and splashing room is a necessity with bathtime. I fill the tub with about 3-4 inches of warm water and use a cup and wash cloths to keep you warm. It's much easier for momma to clean you when you aren't constrained to the baby tub. Sometimes you sit, sometimes you lay down on your back. You love having all the room to kick and splash, but you're a little hesitant to do it sometimes because the splashes sometimes go in your face... I hope you aren't like your dad when it comes to water. He hates getting his face wet, hates being wet in general. Dancing in the rain? He'd rather eat a cricket. I'll have to ask him which he'd rather do... eat a cricket or dance in the rain.

Like I mentioned before, you're sitting up...

...sort of, and you love it. You lean way forward and eventually get so forward that your face is in your feet. It's gonna happen any day now... you won't need my help, you won't fall to the side or backwards. You've also discovered your feet. You hate to have socks on and spend a lot of your time trying to get them off. I've just quit putting them on you most of the time now and you seem pretty happy with that. You also lick your upper lip a lot and do this loud smacking sound. I love all the little tiny things you do. I love seeing you get excited when you figure something out or discover something new.

You now succesfully hold your head up for long stretches of time during tummy time. The bottom half of your body is ready to crawl, but you're still working on your arms. Still, you eventually make it across the blanket on the floor... somehow all the wiggling gets you to your destination.
You love to wiggle and move. A new thing you do is suddenly jerk your head backward as if you are doing an olympic dive off a diving board. It scares mommy and daddy, but has reminded us that safety is beginning to be even more important than it has ever been. It's nice to know you trust us enough to put your life in our hands like that.

Your favorite toys? Household items such as beautifully colored cups and rubber scrapers. I don't know why we even buy toys. You aren't interested in most of the toys you have, but mommy takes a sip of water? You are kicking with joy and anticipation to get your hands on it.
You are so interested in everything around you. You pat everything with your cute little hands and you grab at anything I am holding...

...like glass bowls of yogurt with pecans in it. It's okay Mads, it's just a bowl, and it taught mommy a lesson. You also love to pat our faces, my arm in the morning if I am still sleeping and you are awake and ready to be entertained, and kitty. Yes you regularly notice and pat kitty. She doesn't run away either... I think she likes you quite a bit. She still sits wherever you are, sometimes leaning on your leg.

You are extremely ticklish now, especially in your neck and armpits. You laugh so hard sometimes you choke on your spit... and oh what a lot of spit that is. I love your drooly kisses. Your smile... we love your smile, and you smile a lot.

Mostly at mommy and daddy. When strangers come around you get a bit blank and just stare at them. It takes some time for you to warm up to other people. In the beginning of the month you would cry if a stranger held you, but I think you have gotten past that for now, maybe not. I think babies and kids are a pretty good judges of character.

I love when your daddy gets home from work for several reasons, but one of the newest reasons is because of your reaction when he walks over to you, says hi, and gives you a kiss. You love your dad so much, and I love that you love your dad. And your dad loves you and me and we love him... crimeny there is some major love going on here!!

This is what you do when I hold up the camera and say "smile"...

We'll work on it.

And this is how you look at me on a regular basis...

I can't explain to you how it makes me feel to know that someone so perfect loves me so much. You are one of my best friends Madeline. Thank you for being my baby. Thank you for your coos and gagas and da da dahs. Thank you for coming into my life with your light and twinkling smile. I adore you.

Love,

Momma