I cannot believe Juliet is five months old. Time has really flown by, and it feels like I was just waddling around 10 months pregnant with my feet so swollen only flip flops would fit.
Our baby girl is growing and changing constantly. This month, she has:
- Grown to 25 inches long (40th percentile)
- Gained so much weight that she is now 14 and a half pounds (25th percentile)
- Started reaching for things with the intent of putting them in her mouth
- Learned to laugh a real laugh
- Demonstrated her understanding of cause and effect
- Chewed on Ninja's collar
- Gotten even stronger
- Discovered her feet
- Started to fight sleep when she's afraid she's going to miss something
- Learned how to stick out her tongue
- Charmed pretty much everyone she's met
Juliet's actions are becoming more much intentional. She now reaches for things she wants instead of accidentally grabbing them as she flails her arms and hands around. She's almost figured out how to get her pacifier back in her mouth correctly! Last Sunday, Ray was holding Juliet while he looked through a magazine. Juliet, who is fascinated with colors and patterns, grabbed the page, tore off a piece, and immediately stuck it in her mouth. I think the coolest thing she's figured out in terms of cause and effect and deliberation is her bouncy seat. My friend Leah gave us a seat that's similar to this. When Juliet jumps, it lights up and plays music. She has figured that out and pretty much consistently jumps while in it to keep up a steady stream of music and lights. Perhaps the music can make Mama and Dad a little crazy, but if it keep her entertained while we cook supper, it's totally worth it. Yesterday, she began reaching for the bird and banana that hang down and trying to put them in her mouth.
Another fun development this month is her understanding of peek-a-boo. We play two different versions. The first version involves me tossing the burp cloth over her head and asking, "Where's the baby?" She snatches the cloth off her head and laughs and laughs when I say, "There she is!" The other version is the traditional version where I hold something (the burp cloth, my hands, whatever's close) in front of my face and then remove it and say, "Peek-a-boo!" She finds this hilarious and laughs her big-girl laugh.
Juliet has found her feet and is constantly grabbing them and pulling on them. Before, we had a difficult time keeping her socks on because she would kick them off. Now, I only bother putting socks on if it's cold and we're going outside.
A not-so-fun change this month is her fighting sleep. It's classic eye-rubbing and crying and jerking her head back up the second she starts to doze off. She seems to do it most around 8:00 p.m., when she should be going down for a cat nap. I am curious to see how this behavior changes as she gets older. I'm hoping she'll grow out of it sooner rather than later, but I'm pretty sure I've seen lots of toddlers doing this.
One last little thing to mention... Annie and Pop are keeping Juliet until the end of April, and we have secured our nanny for May. I am beyond thrilled. I've been trying to get June to be our nanny since before Juliet was born, but she was working for another family who simply refused to move away. Until now! Having someone come and take care of Juliet at our house will be a tremendous help, especially for me when Ray is traveling for work. And it's awesome to have someone whom we trust completely taking care of Juliet.
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