6 Month Checkup

It's hard to believe that Lily is already 6 months old...her first year is halfway over! She is growing up so fast, I just want to stop time so that she can be my sweet baby for just a little bit longer (sigh). But the bigger she gets, the more fun she gets, so hopefully that will continue. We went to visit the pediatrician yesterday and Lily has continued her crazy exponential growth. She was 20 pounds, 11 ounces (geez!) and 27 inches long--a VERY healthy, robust baby girl!!

New high chair and big girl food!!

Lily's high chair arrived on our doorstep on Thursday, and we started tasting some rice cereal mixed with breastmilk on Friday morning. Our first attempt was largely unsuccessful (I think I got more on her face than in her mouth), but the next one turned out much better and hopefully we can start moving on to bigger and better things (mmmm pureed fruits and veggies) in a couple of weeks.

Mommy is getting old!

I wasn't expecting to do much celebrating for the big 2-7 last Monday (hey, I figured becoming a mom meant that I don't have birthdays anymore), but Jake and Lily made me feel very special all weekend long. On Saturday night, we went to Valpo and had a GREAT dinner at Strongbow, where Lily sat up like a big girl in her high chair, which was kindly padded with tablecloths by our server Lori. We spent the night at Nana Great's house, and Mommy got lots of birthday love from Lily!!

On Monday morning, Jake surprised me by 'leaving early to go the gym' and then coming home a few minutes later with breakfast, flowers, and a balloon...I was completely confused and absolutely thrilled. He stayed home from work and made me a cake (seriously, what a husband!) while Lily and I went to Stroller Strides class, and then we got to help him frost it. We got into a family frosting fight, and poor Lily definitely lost, but I don't think she minded. :)

I think there is a slight family resemblance here...

Lily looks A LOT like her daddy (she certainly didn't get those cheeks from me!). The lady behind the deli counter at the grocery store summed it up very artfully while she was slicing our turkey the other day. She looked at Lily and then at Jake and said, "You couldn't even put that in front of no judge, he'd tell you to go home!" (I guess it's a good thing we don't have to.)

Buddies...aren't they cute?

Sitting up like a big girl

So Lily learned to sit upright last Monday at our Stroller Strides playgroup...it happened out of nowhere! We had been practicing for awhile, and she only needed a little touch from Mommy to stay balanced, but anytime she tried by herself she toppled over forwards. She must have wanted to show off for her baby friends, because all of a sudden she found her balance and stayed sitting all by herself! Here are some pictures of her practicing at home this week. I have to stay very close since she is still a bit unsteady (we don't want her to bonk her little noggin yet), but she is getting much more confident. Maybe now that she will be spending a little less time on the back of her head, that bald spot will grow in... :)

Just chillin' in my diaper...this blankie feels sooo good!!

Mimi let us borrow this really soft blue blanket from Rhinelander because Lily enjoyed rolling around on it in her diaper after her bath. She does what we have dubbed the "Lily dance," wiggling back and forth on her back and looking all sorts of chubby and cute.