I want to stand!

Lauren has gotten really good at standing. She can pull herself up from sitting, and prefers to have you help her stand instead of sitting or laying down. Before long she'll be running around the house!

Such a big girl!

Lauren's hair has gotten so long we figured it was time to accessorize! Check out her hair bow barrette. She looks like such a big girl! 

  

Bath time is the best time

Lauren still loves her baths! She could hang out in the tub for hours. She loves putting her hands under the running water and just recently learned how to really splash. Pools this summer should be fun! Enjoy the video. (Of course she puts the washcloth in her mouth!!! Ha.)

Faster than a speeding bullet

I am a human octopus! Burp cloths, cell phones, remotes--if it's in my reach, I will grab it! Keep everything out of arms reach, or it's mine. Just ask dad how much I like to grab things....I went to grab his large glass of coke at dinner the other night and it spilled all over me, him, and the table. Mom & dad are going to have to get learn to be a lot quicker than me! Here are a few photos that I like to call, "things I put in my mouth."

Fun with baby food

She's by far the messiest eater on the block, but feeding Lauren baby food has been so fun! I love making it too. So far, she has tried:

   - Sweet potatoes

   - Yellow squash

   - Carrots

   - Avocados

   - Pears

   - Bananas

Her favorite is sweet potatoes, and least favorite has been avocado. She's so cute when she eats it, and insists on holding the spoon herself. After staining a few outfits and many bibs, I have quickly learned that feeding her without a shirt on or with a plastic bib is really the best bet!

6th month appt

We just got back from Lauren's 6th month check-up (it was actually closer to 6 1/2 months). The appt went great! She is still registering in the 97th percentile--big girl! She weighed in at 19 lbs, 13 oz and 26.5 inches in length. The doc was impressed with all of her food eating, her sitting, and her ability to stand. She said she was overall a bit ahead of the curve in development! Those milestones are so small at this point, but it's still fun to hear she's doing well. Here's a funny pic from us waiting for the doc to come in the exam room (note, they make her strip to her diaper for the appts. And, yes, there is a diaper hidden under all that chunk!)...

Beagles and Baby

It's was so cute to me when Lauren first started really noticing and paying attention to the dogs. Now, she just loves them. She smiles and laughs at them all the time. And, she always reaches to touch them. Sydney sort of scampers off, but Willie comes up and lets her tug on his ear or grab his feet. He'll usually just lick her face or hand in return. It's really cute to see them interacting together now!

Happy Mother's Day!

I've had the best first Mother's Day possible! Scott took Lauren when she woke at 7:00 and let me sleep a bit longer. Then, I woke to breakfast in bed (strawberry crepes--yum). I took a long, hot shower and then trotted in to the kitchen to find beautiful flowers and cards from Lauren and my two furry children, Willie & Sydney. I was also gifted a full day at the Lake Austin spa! Sooooo nice. We then met our friends Jay & Vicki and their 4-month old Sadie, along with our other friends David & Kendra and their 5-month old twins, Ethan & Eva, for a super yummy brunch. After we got home, Scott helped with the dishes & laundry. Can Mother's Day be every day? It's my new favorite holiday!

Daddy, teach me guitar

Lauren loves, loves, loves when daddy plays the guitar. She just stares at him and his guitar as he plays and sings to her. It's the cutest, and is so sweet for me to watch!

Happy 6 month birthday!

Can you believe it? Lauren is six months old today! Holy moly that flew by fast. You know from recent posts that she: can sit on her own, unsupported, for a couple of minutes at a time, can stand, holding on to something, for a minute or so on her own, is eating baby food and drinking from a sippy cup, and that she sits in a high chair (at home and in restaurants). 

She also: 

• Smiles and laughs all the time! She lets out the most amazing squealing laugh when she is tickled.
• Absolutely loves the song, "Itsy Bitsy Spider." If she's crying, she will clam right up if you start singing it. 
  
• Sleeps from 8pm - 6:30am most days (woohoo!)
• L-o-v-e-s bath time. We can't wait to get a baby pool this summer.
• Is currently wearing 9 month sized clothes
• Loves all toys that light up and make music
• Is starting to pull herself up on all fours

She is so much fun!

So many new things

Now that Lauren can sit up pretty well (in the high chair, and on her own for a minute or two, etc.), and because we no longer are using the infant car seat, we figured it was time for her to try a shopping cart on her own. And...success! She didn't even fuss to get out or to be held. I think the toys that attached to the seat cover helped lots. I also think she just enjoyed having the freedom to move and look around. Can you believe all these changes? My head is spinning.

 

Baby food video

Here's a video from feeding her today!

Baby food and car seats

We switched out Lauren's car seat to the larger, convertible car seat (still facing backwards). She's been in it twice now and she seems soooo much more comfortable! The little chunky monkey had just completely grown out of her infant seat. In fact, she seemed so comfortable that she didn't even fuss the two times she has been in it now! Amazing. Seriously, this is amazing.

Last night I stayed up and made a bunch of baby food (sweet potatoes). This morning, she got some for the first time. She LOVED them! She kept reaching for more. It was so cute! Such a big weekend.