Watch Me Grow!

Like the rest of these recent posts, this is a little late. The pictures were taken in a rush on my phone - but at least you can see that our little string bean continues to get longer! (She actually can support herself much better than is shown in the pictures - but when you toss her down quickly when she is tired this is what you get!) The pictures below were actually taken at closer to five and half months, but I didn't want to let the month pass all together.

It has been really fun to watch Harper grow and learn over the last few weeks. She seems to be developing something new everyday.

• She is almost sitting up independently (she lasts for a minute or so and then needs a spotter to stop her from toppling).
• She is really itching to scoot and crawl. She is just figuring out that her rolling abilities can be put to use to get where she wants to go - but she doesn't yet do this consistently.
• She is still solely breastfed, but she is definitely showing interest in what we are eating.
• She grabs anything that you place within her reach (include green bean casserole off my plate at pre-Thanksgiving).
• She is constantly drooling and we think we are very close to a tooth or two. (Hopefully we will have more to report on this in our 6 month post in a few weeks).
• We recently undertook the task of teaching Harper to fall asleep on her own at night (she has always been a pretty good sleeper but only after she feel completely asleep while eating and was quietly placed in her crib without waking her). I am proud to report that one week into the new routine and Harper went into her crib silently (but awake) after her daddy read her a book. (It actually only took a few days to get the new system down, but it still feels very new).
• Harper thinks Hesburgh is by far the most fascinating and entertaining toy in the house. She loves to be held close to him and pet/grasp his fur. She particularly likes it (and laughs out loud) when he licks her hands. Unfortunately, Hesburgh is not 100% sure what to do with this newfound popularity. He seems to be trying to determine whether to avoid her or whether to embrace it! He continues to very gentle and loving when he does give in her to pleas for attention.
• Harper continues to be a little girl. She seems to be long but is still a skinny minny. (I am not sure how this is possible because she seems to eat constantly).
• Harper and I will head out for, yet another, trip on Thursday. This time we will head to Chicago for the annual Christmas shopping trip with Grandma Drelick. We are both very excited!