6 Months Old

These are pictures of Aria's 6 month old pictures that we had taken at The Picture People. Unfortunately, the quality is lacking here ( I took pictures of pictures), but I wanted to share them because they're just so cute! She did a great job at her first professional photo shoot!

A Day At The Park

We took Aria to the park by our house this past weekend. I think we all needed some fresh air, and the sun was shining so it was nice to get out of the sick-house for a bit. We walk past this park all the time, but we've never stopped until today. Aria didn't care much for this bouncy bull-thing that mommy really didn't fit on. Mostly she just liked watching all the kids run around!

We went on the slide probably 5 times hoping for a laugh, a smile, a reaction of any kind really. Nothin', we got nothin'. But at least the picture's cute! We'll have to try the slide again another time.

The swing was the only thing she seemed to even mildly have an opinion about. She liked it okay. I wouldn't say she loved it; just that she liked it. And really, she just liked going forward when the breeze would blow in her face. We have a mellow girl, what can I say?

5 Month Milestones

So, we'll start with the bad news: I currently have pneumonia.
Next, the good news: Aria and Gabe are both still healthy!
Bad news: I'm missing a good chunk of time at work.
Good news: I get to spend some much needed time with my two loveys.
Good news: I actually have a moment to blog!

So, the good news outweighs the bad, as far as I can figure. :o)

We have had lots of milestones this past month!

First of all, Aria is now eating a variety of homemade baby foods. It's nice to know that what's going in her tummy and on her face is pure and natural, and I am secretly in love with being a "crunchy mama" in that way. Now, if I could just remember to feed her before bedtime...

So far, Aria loves: butternut squash, green beans, pears, carrots, oatmeal
So far, Aria hates: green peas (just like her mommy!) and rice
The jury is still out on: avocado and sweet potatoes

Aria has also started riding all over the house on her little trike bike...just kidding. She got this little pink ride-on toy from G&G for Christmas. We just put it together for her. And, what I meant to say is that Aria has also started chewing on her little trike bike all over the house. That's really all she's interested in right now. According to Aria, if it doesn't fit in her mouth, it doesn't belong in the house!

Yup, it's official. She's found them.

This picture is representative of when this little girl is happiest. She likes to stand and she likes to "walk around". Although she CAN roll over, both ways, she generally prefers to scream at you until you pick her up and put her on her feet or hand her the toy she wants. Such a lazy-bones! I think mommy and daddy have spoiled her and now she thinks she's the queen. ;o)

This is my current favorite picture. I truly cannot get enough of that wonderfully happy, open-mouthed, gummy smile! I just love this little girl!

Another milestone this month is sitting by herself. She can't pull herself up to a sitting position yet, but if you sit her down, she can stay up unsupported for about 5 minutes. Now that she knows she has this skill, she is no longer a fan of her BebePod seat (which stinks for us because we don't have to be so attentive when she's in the seat). Since we have all wood floors, I am super paranoid to leave her sitting alone for fear that she'll smack her little head. So, we just sit around on the floor together while Aria plays.

This is another one of my current favorites! Since I've been sick, I've been sleeping on the couch in an attempt to keep these two well and also because my incessant coughing wakes everyone up! Usually Aria sleeps beside our bed in her pack n' play, but recently she's been in bed with daddy so he can reach her paci more easily when it falls out and she starts flailing around "looking" for it. Every morning when I go into the bedroom, the two of them are cuddling like this and it is just so sweet!

Look Guys, I'm 5 Months Old!

Aria loves to hang out in her jumperoo - even though she can't reach the floor yet, she loves to chew on the seat and toys and watch all the flashing lights.

We took a little road trip up to Ventura to visit Natalie, Robeson and Benjamin since we hadn't seen them since a week after Benjamin was born. It was a beautiful sunny day so we took a walk on the beach before meeting up with them for lunch. Ventura sure does have some nice beaches!

Here's the best picture we could get of Aria and Benjamin together. Benjamin was very interested in Aria and wanted to touch her and chew on her bib...Aria was not amused, to say the least, and got a little freaked out. Poor Benjamin just wanted to taste his new friend! He is such a cutie and so active! I love that he is rolling all over the place and so alert and interested in everything. I think Aria is just more mellow. She's taking her sweet time with rolling over and becoming mobile, but we're ok with that!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Here's a pic for y'all with a "secret message" for Benjamin!

Dear Aria,

You are 4 months old today! Daddy and I can hardly believe how fast these 4 months have flown by.
You have more than doubled your weight and have grown close to 5 inches in length since you were born - amazing! You rolled over for the first time last weekend, just one week shy of your 4 month birthday. You are grabbing at and holding your toys and putting anything and everything in your mouth. I'm pretty sure you are beginning to teethe, even though I can't see any pearly whites yet, because you are chewing on everything! We love you more than ever and you brighten our every day with belly laughs and sweet smiles.
Daddy loves to dance with you and tickle you and eat "your neck" - all of which you find hilarious. No one can make you laugh like Daddy can!
I love to sit and talk with you. You are quite the conversationalist already! You will coo and ahh in long ramblings with such a range of faces that I'm sure you're telling quite the story. I can't wait until I can actually understand it all. :o)
You are such a sweet girl and we simply cannot get enough of you!

Some of your current favorites are:
...getting your diaper changed (or just being naked, really)
...kicking and splashing in your bath (I've taken to wearing an apron when I bathe you because you literally soak me every time)
...going for walks outside in the stroller (but only if you're facing forward)
...TV!!! This is a tough one - you are such a TV junkie! We really can't have it on much while you're awake or you will figure out a way to watch it. In fact, this is the reason you first rolled over - so you could see the TV - you are SO your Daddy's child!

Some of your current dislikes are:
...being rocked and/or cuddled (unless you are REALLY tired and almost asleep). You prefer to be put in your bed with your paci and left in peace to drift off on your own.
...being burped in the middle of a bottle, before you're finished eating
...rice cereal, ha ha, I have tried to give you rice cereal three times now, but so far, you are just not having it! I guess you'll let me know when you're ready for it, so for now we're just sticking to milk. You're pretty happy about that.
...losing your paci in the middle of the night. Actually, this is one of Mommy's dislikes too! :o)

Sweet girl, we are so, so blessed by you! God gave us such an amazing gift when He gave you to us.

Love,
Mommy

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