Ella at 5 months!

Ella, you're already 5 months old! Hard to believe, I know!

Here are a few photos from your 5 month photo shoot!

 These monthly pictures are getting harder and harder to take! She kept pulling her bow down over her face, touching the chalkboard and smearing the letters, and of course getting chalk on her fingers, which then transferred to her face, shirt, pants, etc., rolling over, wiggling, you name it. I'm going to have to get creative in the coming months to continue this, I think!

You are......

• continuing to sleep wonderfully at night... 11-12 hours, consistently.
• a descent napper. Usually you take shorter morning nap, a long afternoon nap, and a midday snooze that often times is in the car or your swing. Occasionally you'll wake up early from your afternoon nap, and that warrants another cat nap about dinner time, or else you'd NEVER make it to your bed time!
• nursing 5 times a day, anywhere from 2.5 - 3.5 hours in between. We just started you on rice cereal this week (and a post on your first time eating off a spoon to come shortly). You have one meal of rice cereal per day, at dinner time. You are doing really well with it..... each time is a little easier and less messy!
• rolling and scooting all over the place. You definitely have you're own funny little way of getting around. You are sooooo different from your brother in this way. At this age, he literally just layed in one spot and occasionally rolled over. Not you. You're everywhere.
• playing with your feet and toes constantly! I forgot how utterly adorable this was!
• still very much a Momma's girl. Although your love for Daddy has grown this month. He is a very close second in your book now. Along with Carter. If any of the 3 of us are in your line of sight, all is right in your little world. But if not, be prepared for the most pitiful little pucker-up pouty face, ever! Complete with eyes that well up with tears. Oh little girl, it never gets easier to see you get scared and weary of others around you that you don't yet recognize. Makes me sad. :(
• sitting up on your own really well, but still assisted with the boppy. You do get tired quickly, but you definitely love the view from the sitting position.
• doing SO much better sitting in your carseat, and really loving riding along in the jogger on our nightly runs.
• still sucking your thumb to put yourself to sleep, and all fingers/wrist any other time of the day!
• blowing bubbles and raspberries, and talking nonstop!
• giggling and squealing on command.
• wearing 3-6 month clothing comfortably
• getting a tiny little bit of your hair back, and it's coming in a little bit red..... strawberry blonde, maybe?! And your eyes are still blue as ever!
• in my opinion, looking more and more like your Momma every day! (This makes me very happy).

You're such a happy and sweet little baby! We love you to pieces, little girl! Can't believe you've been with us 5 whole months now. Eeeek! That is ALMOST half a year!