Isabel Therese is Six Months

Sweet Isabel - you have reached your half birthday! Hard to believe how quickly time has gone by since you were born! At your 6 month doctor appointment, you were in the 100th percentile for height, 39th percentile for weight, and 100th percentile for head circumference. The doctor said that we shouldn't worry about your weight, that you are plenty healthy. He just said you'll be tall and lean, and that you'd be top-heavy. Don't worry, he was joking - you're head looks proportional to your long body!

This month you have started moving around quite a bit; we often find you several feet from your play mat because you keep rolling and moving all over the place. You're not quite sitting up on your own but you are a "supported sitter." And although you are still the sweetest pea and a pretty relaxed baby, you've started to have a few moments where you exert your will to get what you want. Unfortunately, if we let your big sister watch a short show on TV you love to latch on to that screen; when we move the TV out of your vision, you strain your little body and wiggle and writhe and screech until you can see it again. Gosh, we were hoping we'd only have one highly strong-willed little girl but we'll see what happens with you! You've also shown us more and more that you are very social. We often have to put your bouncer on the table during dinner time, otherwise you get really fussy on your own. Once we move you to the table and you can see all our faces, you're as happy as a clam.

Your big sister has started getting more interactive with you, as you are able to interact more socially with her. Madeline likes to make you laugh, so she often starts up with a very silly cackle that seems to tickle your funny bone. And there have been some really sweet moments lately, where I've looked over to see Madeline reading you a book or showing you a toy. Makes me excited for the days when you both can play more together. Of course, there have also been moments where Madeline grabs a toy from you when she's jealous you have it, or she whacks you in the nose with her baby doll when you innocently try to grab it. So I'm also anticipating the referee job we'll inevitably have to play between you two girls. :0)

We made it through our first stretch with Daddy gone - 5 whole days! James went to a wedding for his best friend in NYC, and I held down the fort with you and Madeline. All things considered, everything went well. But we were very glad to have him back! Your daddy sure is smitten with you. We both often make comments that it's just so lovely to have a baby around. We both LOVE the 6 month phase - you're still a little baby but you have so much personality and happy smiles these days. And you're not crawling yet, so we don't have to worry too much about cupboards and stairs and what's on the ground.

Isabel Therese, we love you more and more each month and keep praying you grow to Love the Lord!