F I V E months!

Millie Willard you slow it down right now, sister!
This has by far been my absolute favorite month of my life!! You are SOOOOOO fun.  So animated.  So happy.  So full-of-life.  So adorable.
Are you sure you're mine???!!!.... of course you are... every article of clothing and accessory had your name on it at the hospital so we keep telling ourselves there's no way to they could have given us the wrong baby :)).. plus you are starting to look more like your daddy every day.  I'm okay with that... kind of... just promise me you'll eventually have something of mine??

It has been quite a ride this month! SITTING UP on your own... insisting to hold your own bottle when we give you one... having a double ear infection... an eye infection... we even took the infant insert out of your car seat (which makes for a much happier millie when we ride in the car) WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE DID MY NEWBORN GO?? Oh, yeah... can't forget-- YOU HAVE A TOOTH!!!

Watching you sleep is one of my favorite things to do these days--- you clasp your hands together under your chin like the most precious little cherub angel I've ever seen.  It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it and of course I cry every time I witness it.  Speaking of sleep--let's just go ahead and talk about that.  You're starting to KIND OF get the hang of it... You are in your crib.  Last week we started putting you down at 9.. let me explain.  The doctor (and most books i'd read) insisted we put you down at 7, dream feed between 10-11, and then you should sleep until 7 am.  You never got that memo.  You'd wake AT LEAST 4 times between 7 and 3:30 and at 3:30 you were up ready to do the chicken dance and party until the sun came up! Silly Girl!  I'd convinced myself that this was the reason the Lord paved the way for me to be able to stay home with you because He knew I'd be getting very little sleep.  I told myself to just buckle up and cease every minute I could spend with you, but I started to get delirious, cranky, and couldn't get anything done during the day because I was so tired.  We changed your bed time to 9 and started putting you down for a nap around 6:45... Since then you have (still woken up 2-3 times, but have gone right back to sleep.. I usually feed you just one of those times.. which is better than what I was doing and feeding you like 3 times throughout the night.. woooo buddy was that rough) slept later and later into the morning.  The first time you woke up at 5:30 am (and believe me we celebrated this because for some reason 5:30 is WAY better than 3:30).. then 6:30 the next day.. then 7 ish... then NINE O'CLOCK???... and now you've started consistently waking up between 6:15-6:45.  THANK YOU.  I know your tooth had to have SOMETHING to do with that inconsistent sleeping pattern and I'm sure the ear infections didn't help either...

Another favorite thing these days is pushing you in the jogging stroller.  YOU LOVE IT.. I think you love that you don't have to be strapped into that silly carseat and the weather the past week and a half has been glorious and you just smile and giggle your way through the breeze.  Thankfully, I'm finally able to run again (slowly but surely) and we can enjoy that time together!

Other things that you love:
-your jumper.. you stay in there for about 20 minutes occupying yourself
-SOPHIE..I don't know what it is about that stinkin giraffe but she has been your bestie
-to swing.. sadly you're about to get too big for the swing :(.. you already fall asleep and end up with your head leaning forward
-to TALK TALK TALK
-TO SMILE.. ALLLLL. THE. TIME.
-to play in the mirror
-for people to sing to you--you stare in amazement!
-to take a bath
-the pool
-lotion
-EMJAY.. You watch her in amazement, too
-you won't sleep without your giraffe lovie... Tone-tone got you a replacement one if the first one goes missing.. thank goodness she did because the weekend she gave it to us we were traveling home from her house and you had quite a BIG accident in your car seat and giraffe love #1 fell victim.. ha
-to sleep on your side
-to giggle
-the booger snatcher
-to wiggle your head back and forth and make a snorty sound when you realize it's time to eat or see a bottle (so hilarious)
-when we let you take naps with us in our bed
-other babies.. you had a playdate with Archer Crawford and Owen Harness and "wouldn't keep your hands off them"... also--you had your first kiss! :).... ha Beckett Helmkamp planted one on ya.. actually he started sucking your lip and you just did a little giggle and let him  HA
-to suck your lips together, to suck your toes, and you have started to suck your thumb much more.. it was funny when you first started because you'd throw your arm out really wide then bring it in to your face and completely miss your mouth a few times before you got it. :)
-the sound machine when you sleep (we just use an old iPhone with the "sleep pillow" app)
-to be outside

You went golfing for the first time with daddy this past weekend.  You had so much fun riding in the golf cart.  The joy on your face scooting in the breeze was so cute.

The next night (7.21.14) I was finishing up dinner and your daddy was holding you.  We were (like usual) gnawing on your hands and drooling like mad and he stuck his finger in and felt a tooth!!!! WHATTTTT??!  I hadn't felt for one in a few days so not sure how long it had been broken through the skin.

You're just the best and as I say every month.. I can't believe you're FIVE MONTHS OLD. :(
I am loving every minute of being home with you, Mills.  Thank you!