six months young

Dear Lizzie,

Six months ago from the exact moment that I publish this post, you suddenly appeared with your dark, swirled hair, and put an end to the waiting: it was a girl.

Now you:
-think your sister is even better than sliced bread, and definitely funnier
-clumsily reach your chubby arms up to my face and pull me to you so you can plant a wet one on me when I pick you up after a nap
-say "dada" clearly (as of yesterday, though we're not sure yet if you're just saying it or actually calling daddy by name)
-reach for anything and everything but are particularly taken with hair
-crawl backwards and sideways, and are close to crawling forwards
-still love standing up, assisted
-munch on anything you can, including, at times, both feet and both hands at the same time
-smile for photos
-giggle and squawk when you're entertained, or tickled, or even just when we say hi to you
-love zerberts on your belly, and you do your best to give them to us often
-stick your entire Soothie binky in your mouth at once, and then smile at us. It has a similar effect to an older kid putting an orange wedge in their teeth, except that all the extra plastic in your mouth makes lots of bubbles come out.
-just started the stranger anxiety phase, but show no signs of including your nanny, Kathleen, in the group of strangers; you greet her in the morning with a ready smile
-are still pretty content in general, but are willing to assert your needs when you're really tired or when your teeth are on the move
-can light up a room in general, but especially when you're wearing red - it's a good color on you
-wake up babbling to yourself and can entertain yourself easily
-have so many rolls on your legs that it's hard to count them, yet you're somehow still so little
-know the faces of your favorite people, in no particular order: mama, daddy, Pink, and Kathleen
-bring a sense of completion to a family that didn't even know you only six short months ago

Happy 6 month birthday, munchkin. We love you.