The Things Too Small To Forget: Julianna's First 6 Months of Life

How is December upon us already? Since Julie's birth, time has seriously picked up speed. When you have a newborn, random strangers at the airport tend to give you advice.  Albeit thoughtful and typically good-intentioned advice, like "Cherish every moment! Before you know it, she'll be 18!" I know it must be true, because that is the advice I get from most.  If the past 6+ months have been any indication, I will be gray-haired with grown children before I know it.

Before they get away from me, there are so many little and seemingly insignificant details about Julie's almost 7 months of life that I want to remember. So, true to my analytical personality, I'm breaking them out in list format:

• Her long and dainty fingers that everyone commented on (now her hands are chubby little paws :), so great) and how she loved having her hands covered- mittens seemed to calm her down

• The first time Julie smiled at 2 weeks: it was the middle of the night and I was almost out of patience and completely exhausted with how many times she had woken up. I picked her up and she looked right at me and cracked a gorgeous grin.  My heart melted all over again. It was a gift from God to this frazzled mama, I am sure.

• Even though she hated the first couple, she quickly learned to loooove her baths and used to cry as soon as I took her out. Here is a picture of her very first bath, followed by one at 4 months:

• The first time I laid her in the crib for a nap and how my heart hurt at how tiny she looked in it

• The obvious joy that lights up her face when she is about to nurse is completely hysterical

• After a long nap, she has taken to popping off from nursing to look at me, say a few nonsense word/ sounds with a grin plastered across her face, before happily latching back on. Repeat.

• Sometimes, she latches back on slowly after babbling, but other times she flings her head with reckless abandon and hopes for the best. She often misses completely. 

• Her laugh. A baby's laughter is probably one of the most joyous sounds there is: 

IMG 1028 from Katie Braman on Vimeo.

• The way her dad holds her like a football, sometimes even while watching football:

• Her habit she developed around 6 months of having to pop off nursing any time there is movement, or new conversation in the room, before popping back on

• When she wakes up in the morning, smiling and chatting with me as if we hadn't seen each other in a long time

• When she wakes up happy and I can hear her talking to herself in her crib.  I was so excited I was able to capture one of these moments: 

IMG 1285 from Katie Braman on Vimeo.

• The mornings when I have brought her into bed with me to get just a littttle more sleep, and I wake up and look down and see this face:

And to recap, here's the little turkey from 0-6 months in pictures: