Second child: Firsts

Sweet Georgia is changing by leaps and bounds. She continues to be a petite little thing - weighed just under 14 pounds at her 6-month check-up, so hasn't quite doubled her birth weight. I have been thinking of her as just a little baby because she looks so little, but she is, in fact, 6 months old. Like I've said, gross motor isn't her thing, but she is learning new things almost every day. I love this age!

Also, second child syndrome, no baby book for Georgia. Yet. I do have plans to make one, of course, but just quite haven't found the time. I made Ellen a little book from Blurb for each month and I hope to do the same for Georgia. In the interim I'm keeping notes in my iPhone about all her new things - thanks, technology.

FOOD! As mentioned, I was being mildly harassed about starting her on solids. I wasn't sure she was showing all the signs of being ready, but I thought we would give it a go. I also explored the idea of 'baby led weaning' - starting Georgia not on purees, but pretty much exactly what we were eating. I generally believe in the idea, but in the end, I decided to start the way we did with Ellen. It certainly worked well for us before. I think we will transition to more solid-type foods pretty soon as G is already expressing interest in what is on our dinner plates.

 We started with apples, and have now done apples, butternut squash, peas, banana, pears and peaches. Her first taste of food ever was actually a little bit of avocado leftover from Cinco de Mayo and she made the most horrible gaggy face with the slightest bit of texture. Picky, this one. Ellen loves to help feed her, as you can see. It's great, actually, because if Ellen isn't right in Georgia's face, then she twists and turns in her seat to try to find and watch Ellen and can't focus on eating anyway.

 We try to keep her busy during our meals with puffs or Mum-Mums, which is only mildly successful. We've also started a sippy cup with water, which keeps her pretty busy (and wet). Also, yes, we are fully into "baby toupee" stage.

Also, summer bath season has arrived, amiright? UGH. I fully admit that our girls aren't bathed every night, or even every other night in the winter. If you had this much hair to wash and dry, you would understand. However, baths are really just essential once the sunscreen and daycare grime makes its appearance. I put Ellen on the counter and wash her hands and feet every day when we get home from school, but I just decided last week to finally tackle two kids in the tub. They both loved it, of course. This was the closest to a laugh that I've heard out of Georgia!

With the weather craziness both girls have had some trouble settling down for bed, I think partially because it's been so hot upstairs. (A/C is now on, thankfully). So, in desperation, I gave Georgia her first "lovey" in bed last week- a burp cloth. She wasn't interested in the soft purple hippo lovey. She snuggled up and went to sleep. I took a few pictures, then promptly removed it because I'm still afraid she will smother herself.

And, no real photo documentation, but Georgia is great at rolling back to front, but has still only rolled front to back a time or two that I've witnessed. She is getting stronger at sitting up with her Boppy for support. She communicates in raspberries - immediately does it when she sees me walk in to pick her up from school, and I do it back. She is a serious kicker - I can tell when she is done napping, not because she always cries out, but she starts kicking her feet hard on her bed, or on the wall, and it's LOUD. Also, when I nurse her at night and put her down, two things I want to remember: One, she is like a cat and is so easily distracted by the evening light that shines through her window, bounces off my iPhone and dances around her walls and ceiling. Two, I put her on my shoulder to burp and she has started playing "peek a boo" - burying her head in my shoulder, then pushing up to look at me and smile. Over and over and over. MELT.

Finally, if I've given you the impression it's all fun and games around here, it was 6 months and 15 days until Georgia pooped on my white couch, and 6 months and 16 days until she pooped on my white bedspread.