Thursday, March 22, 2012

Happy half Birthday!!






We made it! A day that has come all too soon, yet not soon enough. I cannot believe that Amara is 6 months old. Since I don't really live in the moment as much as I should, I can't help but to think " Man, just 6 more months and she will be ONE YEAR!!" Holy cow! I have to tell myself to stop planning her first birthday party .....there is time Jenni. ( too late btw!)

 Every time I sit down to write her monthly blog, I have to start by taking a deep breath. I never know where to begin! So much has happened in this last month as far as her growth and her personality, it almost feels like a different child. Some of Amara's favorite things right now are:

playing/ sucking on her feet...
giving herself hickies on her arm...
rolling over on her tummy, and then screaming because she can't roll back over...
wearing cute summery rompers ( she said it herself)...
Being scared ...in a peekaboo kind of way, not a Friday the 13th kind...
kicking...
laughing from deep within her cute little belly...
lounging in bed with mommy and daddy in the morning ...
 Sadie Marie dog ( her soon to be partner in crime) and her fur...
Anything in a cup that Gabe or I are drinking. She wants to touch it constantly...
Baby Einstein bouncer playstation...
Listening to all of the AMAZING, Grammy - worthy songs that Gabe and I sing to her...

just to name a few.

I feel like we encountered a lot of "firsts" this month as well. Amara got told that she looks like a "doll"....oh wait.....that happens almost EVERYDAY. Not kidding. I think it is going to her head. :)

For real firsts.....We started blowing "raspberries", tried rice cereal in a bottle, spending more time in the nursery and napping in her big girl crib, trying to sit up by herself ( we are not quite there, but close), watching her first kids tv show ( leap frog on Netflix), sitting in a Bumbo, swinging at the park ( without mommy holding her), rode in a shopping cart ( not by choice - I still had to support her) and sat in a highchair while out to lunch. It is all so exciting watching her grow and be curious. She is a take it all in kind of girl. She is so observant.

I would say our biggest struggles have been trying to figure out if she is teething and knowing when and if to give her medicines, her not having a schedule yet, not sleeping through the night every night, letting her "cry it out", and for me personally, breastfeeding. I LOVE it, and I will miss it when it is gone I know. However, she has become a more and more aggressive eater and since we don't really have a schedule yet, it just makes planning my day that much more difficult. I will press on though!!

All in all, we are doing great! We are learning so much about ourselves as people and parents. It is really hard to not be joyful with her in the house. She just shines from the inside out when she smiles and the good days are GREAT days, but babies will be babies, and mommy and daddy will have their moments. I think of how God must look at us each morning....His mercies are new every morning. No matter how stressful the hours have been with Amara, after a nap....I will go to get her out of her bed, and there is a renewed spirit in me. I just want to forget before and start all over and not let it affect my mood. That is how I choose to be a mommy. Gabe and I  really try and stay focused on each other though and what is really important. We are the three musketeers....plus a Sadie Marie dog. I can't ask for much more out of life right now to be perfectly honest....Praise God! Sometimes, I have no words to speak when I want to express my gratitude to Him, I am so glad He knows my heart, and my heart is FULL!!

Enjoy the pics!



































Blessings,
 The Patillos