6 months!

Do you know someone who constantly raves about how great something is? She won't shut up about it--something so great, but you couldn't possibly understand. But she's not exaggerating at all. This thing really is great. It's annoying, right? I hate people like that.

So forgive me, indulge me, or perhaps just skip this post.

Annabelle is officially 6 months old. And the last 6 months of Annie? They've been great. Sleeping? Great! Eating? Great! Temperament? Great! The other day, I ran errands all morning while Mabes was at a friend's house. We got home, and Dave asked how Annabelle did. I frowned, shook my head, and muttered, "it was rough." Shock took over Dave's face, "Really?!" I'm a terrible liar and just started laughing, "Of course not! She was a perfect angel--despite being hungry and tired she would still smile and laugh at me anytime I looked at her! *I* was fussier than she was!"

In the last couple of months, her personality has started to show. I can't really put it into words, but she's just funny. While she continues to enjoy the same activities she did as a newborn--cuddling into your chest, not crying, and making adorable baby noises in her sleep--she has discovered some new favorites: grabbing your hand when you pat her chest, stealthily rolling when we're not looking (though Mabes foils her attempts to go unnoticed and yells, "Mom! Babybelle ROLLED OVER! AGAIN!"), attempting army crawls, baby supermans (supermen?), and chewing on her toes:

I think once she got the whole ball of her foot in her mouth.

And I love the following picture. The look on her face generally precedes a giant smile and squeal. But for a minute, she'll just be still and look as sweet and coy as she can, watching as you fight the urge to bite those thighs. And then she'll break out the crazy smile pictured at the top of this post, and you squeeze her as she lets out a belly laugh. And that is just one of the many reasons that the last 6 months of Annabelle have been so great.

Oh, and her 6 month stats: 16 lbs, 6.5 oz, 27 inches tall. (60th percentile for weight, 90th for height. By comparison, Mabes was about 20 lbs at 6 months--she didn't have her 6 month check-up until she was 7 months, and was 22 lbs 1 oz, 27.5 inches then.) Her appointment this morning went really well. She was a little nervous about the nurse and doctor, but warmed up quickly. The doctor kept commenting on how observant she is, but with a sister like Mabes, Annie is used to watching and trying to figure out what on earth is going on. She didn't love the rotavirus vaccine (it's a drink) and made faces after each sip, and when it came time for the shots, she flinched after the first one, and it wasn't until the second and final shot that she made a face and let out a maybe 3 second cry. And then she was fine. The nurse kept saying, "I can't believe she didn't cry! That went so well!" Proving there were no hard feelings, Annabelle smiled and giggled for the nurse on her way out.

Annabelle after her shots, obviously distraught. At least she has Murray, her lamb, to comfort her. After I took this picture, she ripped off one of the bandaids to inspect. Other than that, you'd never know she got shots today.