Malia is 5 months

Dearest Malia Belle,

You are now 5 months old, I'm not sure how 5 months have gone by already. Everyone says it goes faster with the second baby and they are so right. I have blinked and you are now such a big girl. You have become completely alive and so alert. Because of this, it is super hard to nurse you when we are out and about. You pull off and want to look around at every little noise. I can't nurse you anymore on the couch, in the living room, but have to go back in your bedroom, with the sound machine on. I absolutely can't talk or you pull off, look at me and start laughing...it is actually pretty cute. At night, you love to scratch at your nursing chair, while I'm burping you after you nurse. You love the textures of things, to feel all the differences and the noises they make. Another super cute thing you do when I am burping you is squish your face into mine, it is the sweetest little gesture.

You love to be goofy and play. You and your brother make each other laugh and it melts my heart. You think he is the funniest person on the planet and just watch him, completely mesmerized. You reach out for his toys, wanting to play with them so badly. He is not super into sharing them though. :)

You have gone from having this random karate chop arm to being able to pick up what you want. You get this look on your face of absolute concentration, using your tongue to help you concentrate...you really are learning how to use your brain to make your arm move to pick up what you want. It happens in slow motion. Whatever it is that you have picked up goes in your mouth...everything in the mouth! It is pretty amazing to watch you play with your binky now. You take it out, twirl it around in your hands ( well, maybe not a twirl) and then put it back in your mouth.

Music class is one of your favorite things we do. You are so cute in music class, you just love music and to be sung to. It makes you smile and laugh.  If you are feeling fussy, I just have to bust out in song and it makes you happy again.  You also think it is so funny when mama is dancing and being silly.

I love that you are giving mouth kisses now, oh my goodness...it is heart melting sweet.  I remember when Kekoa started doing this too, super slobbery, open mouth smooches...the best!  I really only get them after you are done nursing.  Maybe you are telling me thank you mama!

Your sleep has totally changed this past month, from being ok to super terrible.  You started off the month so strong too, slept almost 8 hours between needing to nurse, but it has been downhill since.  You are waking up so much during the night and I am exhausted, sometimes even every hour.   There were a few times I have had to put you in your swing in the middle of the night to get you back to sleep.  Not sure what we will do when you outgrow that swing!  Your naps have also become sporadic, sometimes you just don't want to nap.  I hope this non-sleeping phase passes quickly and you get back on track.  I know it is because you are just so excited about everything, there is this whole big world all around you and you don't want to miss out on any of it!

You had your first time in the swing this past month and you just loved it.  Each time I put you in the swing, you laugh and laugh...think it is the funniest thing.  Your favorite is when your brother gives you a push, which he also loves to do.

You have taken on sitting.  You love sitting in your high chair to watch all the action at the kitchen table.  You try to tripod sit, but still have a serious forward lean going on.  The funniest/scariest thing you do is sit up in your bath tub!  Yes, you launch yourself forward and then hang your arm off the side like you are lounging.

You are starting to get a little bit of stranger anxiety.  You are fine until you realize it isn't me or baba holding you, then you start to fuss, with your cute pouty face.

We just love you so much Malia Belle.  It is hard to imagine our family without you, you just fit in like you have always been here.  You make us laugh so hard each and every day with your cute little antics.  I do predict that you are going to be our little rascal and into everything.  I was trying to read a story to you on the couch and you were trying to launch yourself off, wanting to explore so bad.  You are already trying to crawl when you are on tummy time, moving your legs and your bootie goes in the air, but you movement yet (thank goodness)

Happy 5 months sweet baby girl...

love,
your mama