Hello World! I'm 6 months!

Dear ClaraWren, You woke up the other day and decided that the entire world was yours to explore. All things hold an allure to your bright blue eyes, and anything within an arms length or rolling distance shouldn't even dream of escape. It all belongs to you: the toys, the food, the jewelry, the arm or leg, or the occasional, far-too-trusting puppy ear (Thank goodness Mercy has a mild-mannered, for-children-only, alter ego). You love to watch the fish in our tank, but especially like their red and yellow container of food.  I can practically see your cogs working on how you will someday get such a magical novelty into your teething mouth. Speaking of teething, you are.  You have days where you are all afuss over mouth discomforts and the only thing that can sooth you is to sit in my arms and gnaw on my _______(fill in with shoulder/knuckle/forearm).  And the sounds you make!  They are enough to make even the most stoic of non-baby loving folk squeal.  While you have made a name for yourself with the ever-present goat sounds, one of my new favorites has surfaced in the last month or so.  Should you ever stir early from a pre-determined nap time, you will sigh with delighted contentment when I return your paci to your mouth.  It's as if you are a paci connoisseur and that one is the best you've ever had.  You sniff it.  You swish it around your mouth.  You swirl it around the crib. Yes, it has indeed been a fine year for paci's.  You are still my cuddlebug and I can tell your mood by the snuggle position. My favorite is when you are very tired and lean close into my chest with your whole body.  You have discovered the wonders of toes (usually your own), rolling in circles, and are fast becoming a pro at pulling off your socks.  Lillian is the adoration of your eye and she rarely cannot provoke a gummy smile.  You hesitate only at men with facial hair, who often bring your sweet eyes to tears. We visited the pool for the first time the other day and you had none of it.  The sounds, water, and uncertainty of all the commotion was far too much for you to handle.  Instead you sat in your car seat  next to Mama and played with your toys.  I'm ok with you wanting to take things slow;  You are growing up too fast in every other way. Dear sweet sugar-darlin', I love you so much.  Your new excitement at all things within reach, and many outside of it, have been so much fun to watch, and have kept me on my toes. 7 months, here we come!

Solved!...and Adorable

 I finally braved the 'settings' portion of my blog and seemed to have found a semi-solution to getting pictures up for all to see.  We played dress-up at Grandma & Papa's house over Christmas and these were a few of the favorites.  I'm one of those so-called photographers who takes one hundred plus pictures from every angle in hopes of getting one or two killer shots.  I think Lillian was trying to pose like Grandma, and I'm pretty sure Wren is just waiting for Mama to remove the fluffy, purple, itchy that I wrapped her in.  Can you imagine what kind of Mama I'll be come Prom time?

This one just shows that Bop-Love is universal.

PS

Hey Everybody...Anybody, I haven't been able to upload photos from my camera for ages.  Anybody know what the deal is?  I'm so not computer savvy but I can find my way around if I know what to look for.  Let me know if you have an idea...

5 Months Precious

Oh my sweet Pudding Plum. You are all things edible, sweet and delicious and I find most every bakery item could be likened unto you, even hot cross buns. You are 5 months and growing faster than this Mama can handle. Yesterday you mastered rolling from your back to your belly and were so pleased with your new talent that you laughed and smiled and yelled at the carpet for quite a while before you realized that you were in fact on your belly and that upsets you. You love your big sister and your smile reaches from ear to ear and crinkles your nose when you catch a glimpse of her. She has taken to telling you bible stories and you love to laugh and listen to her talk to you. You also love your daddy. Your bright blue-belle eyes follow him all throughout the room and he always receives a coy smile when you catch his eye. I suppose you love your Mama too, but it seems more common for me to receive the best smiles when you are hungry and just want me to take you away to the bliss of warm milk. You shake your arms and arch your back when you are ready to be picked up, and cry unforgivably when it doesn't happen when you feel it should. You have also just found your toes and the endless supply of jama's with bright and playful creatures on the feet can entertain you for minutes. You are bright and easily bored. You are also very loud. You operate at two volumes: sleeping, and goatly boisterous. I'm pretty sure the neighbors might complain if they could hear you over the dogs in our neighborhood. You have several cries, as a lady must for all occasions, but my favorite is the 'goat stage' where you bellow like a cross between chewbaca and a very bothered goat. Your other noises are laced with occasional goat sounds, like during church when Pastor Troy says something of dire importance. I like to think that you're saying 'Amen!' in 5 month old. I wish I could find a way to keep you from growing so fast. You have grown 4 inches in the last few months and are in the 95% in height. We are dressing you in 6-9 & 12 month clothing because everything else is just too short. You remind me daily that I only have these precious few moments with you before you are all grown. You are so sweet my darling ClaraWren Hope. I look forward to our years together.