Alli's 5 Month Photos

Yesterday Alli turned 5 months old. I can't believe it. She's changing all the time - new sounds, new expressions, new fun things. Here are a couple of pictures to enjoy.

Splish Splash I was Takin' a Bath

I've been asked numerous times if Alli likes taking a bath. My only response is "well, she doesn't hate it". When we bathe her, she doesn't seem "happy", but she isn't upset either. I've tried to kick her legs to let her see the water splashing, and same with her hands. Still no real reaction, so we just go about bathing her and getting her out of there.

This weekend we finally saw some interest. Legs kicking the water. More like a "hey, what is this stuff anyone" sort of kick as opposed to the "wahoo, this is really cool as I make a total mess!" So, it's a start. She has also taken interest in hold on to the pitcher as I pour water over her. Either she's very helpful or very inquisitive. I'm guessing inquisitive right now, but I thank her anyway. :)

On a different note, Alli has started making a new sound. Mmmmmmmm. I like it cause I'm waiting for the "mmmmaaammmaaa". :) I think I heard it once, but it could be just wishful thinking. :)

Alli's peach fuzz is getting longer. It just started growing this past week. I hope it continues - it would be so cute for her to have some hair. We'll see. For all I know it will grow and fall out and she will be a bald baby for a couple of years!

I think I posted before that Alli likes trees blowing in the wind. Well yesterday we were at a friends house and it was a windy day. They had huge sycamore trees in their backyard and Alli just stared and laughed at them. I swear we could have been there for hours, but I was cold and she was heavy. We went outside a few times though to watch the trees. Now I am trying to figure out where in the yard we can put a sycamore!

Let The Good Times Roll

Everyone always told me to enjoy each phase of your kids because they go by so fast. Alli is closing in on 5 months and I'm seeing the changes. With each phase are the fun things and the things you miss. I love the fact that Alli smiles and "talks" so much. We get to sing together and have "discussions". She is really liking sitting at the dinner table with the family as we found out this weekend. But I lost the little baby that falls asleep on your chest. I haven't tried to do this for a while, but today I did because I was tired and thought it would just be nice to fall asleep with her. Nope. Head was up and looking around. Wanted to explore, more like tummy time than nap time. In some ways, what a bummer. But as I listen to her talking to her daddy right now, I understand the new joys that each phase will bring.

Stroller Strides

Krista takes Tyler and Alli to a Stroller Strides class a few times a week. She's worked out a great schedule around naps and feeding to make the class fit in. The kids get to sit side-by-side in a double jogging stroller. At first, like anything, it was a little hectic. Tyler would "help" by making sure Alli always had her pacifier in her mouth. Alli didn't really want the pacifier, but apparently that is where Tyler believed it belonged. The problem was, Tyler wouldn't always make it into her mouth. So she got it in her eye, forehead, cheek, etc. Tyler finally got used to the fact that Alli didn't always want the pacifier and the two would stride side by side without a problem.

Well now Tyler is finding more ways to be helpful, and this is truly helpful! See the picture below!

Growing, Growing, Growing

We just went up another diaper size. Little baby girl is now in a size 2 diaper, although we are going to use up our last remaining size 1's. I can't believe how big she is. Another grouping of onesies that will be outgrown in a couple of weeks as well.

Her personality is just precious! She just giggles like crazy when you talk to her, especially mommy, who seems to speak "Alli". I can pretty much imitate any sound she makes, and that makes her giggle.

She also likes watching mommy and daddy do chores around the house. I had her in her room on the floor while I was folding her laundry today. I told her about all the different things I was pulling out of the laundry basket, and she thought that was just awesome!

I also found that she loves watching the trees blow in the wind. She watches intently for long periods of time (when we find trees to watch). Today it was a tree outside the window where I was feeding her. That wound up being more fun than eating, so eating took a back burner.

Krista loaned us a mirror to put in the car so we can see Alli's face while in the driver's seat. I've learned that you really need to looking only when stopped at a light. But now car trips contain much more cooing as Alli looks at the baby in the mirror and talks away. It's quite fun!!

Notable Notes

Last weekend my mom came to visit. She and I spent some time working on Alli's room. We hung some wall-hangings that match the crib bumper, and also painted and hung a shelf with wooden letters "A L L I". It's soooo cute. Alli had fun with Grandma, and Kim and I got a little break for a few hours one afternoon, but were only able to use it to take care of some errands.

Last night we had the Rosing clan and Ann's nephew Chuck over for dinner. Katie is 4 months older than Alli and Alli just smiled like crazy at her. It was very cute. We are hoping they become good friends as the Rosings are planning on moving to Fountain Hills sometime, and Katie and Alli will be in the same grade going to school.

Alli is definitely talking a lot with lots of different sounds. I think one of our favorite things right now is diaper changing time. She's at just the right level for a great conversation, so she and I spend lots of time talking, singing, and laughing at the changing table. Her favorite song is "A B C's". Who would have ever thought that song would actually make someone giggle. But it does.

This morning was another funny Alli episode. She decided she wasn't very hungry, but was very interested in the ceiling fan. (It was turned on.) So she looked at it and laughed, then latched on and took a little milk, then turned and looked at the fan. Still there. Laughed at it and then turned back to me to get more milk. I think she did this about 6 times until she just couldn't help herself and just had to stare at the fan. What a cutie! It made me smile to watch her be so interested in the spinning fan.

The Right Hand Rule

I just wanted to put a post in to declare that Alli appears to be a right-handed girl. She's constantly grabbing and reaching with her right hand. That probably makes sense since Kim and I are both right-handed, but I think it's cool that it's obvious now. :)

On a side note, Kim uploaded the 4 month old pictures that we took of Alli onto Flickr, but here are a couple of cute ones in case you don't want to follow the link.

Alli's Four Month Doctor Visit (continued)

Since people are so quick to read the updates, I decided to make a new entry for the stats from this visit.

Eyes: Still blue. They said they should have turned by now if they were going to change color, but my mom also said that mine changed late. For now, blue eyes.

Weight: 12.6 lbs - 35th percentile (she's catching up!)
Height: 23.5 inches - 30th percentile (here too!)
Head Circumference: 15.5 inches - 15th percentile. (I guess she has a small head?)

Dr. Patel said developmentally she looks great - holding her head up by herself, tracking with the eyes, smiling at people who are talking to her, cooing, etc. Dr. Patel also said we could try a little rice cereal when we were ready. I'm planning on holding out just a little longer. I've read that families with food allergies are better to hold off on solids until after 6 months. Dr. Patel said that we could start rice cereal to get Alli used to swallowing instead of always sucking, but hold off on the other solids for a while. She said Alli obviously doesn't need any extra nutrition since the breast milk seems to be doing quite well. We'll think about it. Maybe next month we'll try a little rice cereal.

Alli's Four Month Doctor Visit

As Long As I Have My Toes...

For the last couple of weeks, Alli has really enjoyed holding on to her toes. It seems that's almost her new way of pacifying herself. Well, holding toes and shoving her fingers in her mouth.... She rarely takes a pacifier - spits it out like it was the most foul-tasting thing on the planet.

This morning was a first for me though - she had to hold on to her toes with one hand while feeding. Interesting. It was fun until the toes became more interesting than the food. She didn't really like it when I "took them away", but she had to eat... She was happy later though when she found them again. :)