I think we say the same thing every week: She’s learning so much and becoming such a little person and is she ever fun at this age! I loved the newborn stage, I really did. I loved her little sleepy smiles and her sweet little cuddles and how small and perfect she was. But now it’s like she’s just exploding with personality and joy. I’m constantly amazed by her.

On Wednesday we were at one of our playgroups and one of the other little girls her same age was sitting up. “Wow,” I said. “Kate’s not sitting yet.” Two days later she made a liar out of me and just started sitting without needing me to hold her. She toppled over easily but it’s amazing how quickly she’s adapting her balance. Her core strength is definitely way better than it was just a week or two ago when she kept sagging forwards. Now she leans forward to grab a toy and sits right up straight again. She is very pleased with herself over this, and has taken to sitting there, banging a toy onto the ground and screeching with joy. Of course I have to sit right there spotting her the entire time, even with the boppy around her to catch her when she falls (or, as she is also apt to do, throws herself backwards). I got some pictures of her sitting, but when I grabbed the video camera she managed to fall forwards right over her toes and clunked her head on the floor. That video clip got deleted. Sheesh.

She’s learning to play peek-a-boo. She quickly caught on to us reacting when she is “revealed” and started pulling her blanket up over her own head. It’s freakin adorable the way she holds her arms straight up over her head (they barely go higher than her head!), the blanket pulled tight across her face. Then she dramatically pulls it down, grins, and waits for our appropriate response of “Boo!” Then she laughs and does it again.

One of her favorite games, especially in the evening when she’s more cuddly than usual, is sitting on my belly while I lay on the couch. She leans back against my knees and babbles and sucks her fingers. Then she puts her arms up, her eyes twinkle, and she leans forward to flop onto my chest where she buries her face against my shirt. I then wrap my arms around her and say “NOM NOM NOM!” while kissing her cheek and she laughs hysterically – which causes me to laugh, then she laughs even harder. Then she suddenly stops and struggles to sit up again, playing with her fingers until she flops down onto me again for more kisses and laughter. Oh my god it just kills me! The way she looks at me so impishly, the way she flings herself into my arms, the way she laughs. It is the best damn thing in the world.

She’s really starting to show that she recognizes Den and I. She’s a happy, friendly, outgoing girl, but she just lights up when she sees one of us walk in the room. It’s a great feeling.

I haven’t mentioned her sleep lately because she’s been doing awesome. I’m so glad this month has not been a repeat of last month… from 4 to 5 months old it was just a mess of frustration. Then suddenly it all clicked again and it’s great. I can now put her down at her bed time and stay up for several hours all by myself, like I am now. She’s no longer fighting naps, though they’re not always as long as I would like them to be – I’ve started having her nap on my chest on the couch again, just so she gets a really good nap in while I watch some TV.

She’s also sleeping for Den again! This is huge, because it means there’s no more screaming fits while I’m out. He hasn’t been able to get her to sleep on the bed yet, but he has managed to get her to sleep in her pack-n-play, a feat that I can’t even manage to do. So I guess it’s true, even though with me she needs to nurse, they have figured out their own methods of doing things that works for them. She stays happy, he stays happy, and I get to go out guilt-free. I’ve come home a few times and, when I ask how it went, Den beams and says, “We had so much fun!!” He’s an awesome daddy. Kate adores him, and he’s utterly smitten. He feeds her bottles, he changes her, he plays games with her. I often find him laying on the floor in her room with her beside him while they both shriek and giggle. Saturday while I was gone he even took her with him on their first outing without me, he had a retirement party to go to. He packed his (black, boring) diaper bag, dressed her, got her to nap in the truck on the way. He said she had a great time, everyone commented on what a happy baby she is.

(That coat is a hand-me-down from Devin – it was one of the things I splurged on for him, one of the things I just couldn’t bear to pack up. It makes me happy to see her in it, but a little sad, too.)