My How The Time Does Fly!

Well Cecilia's approaching the 5 month mark, it feels hard to believe that our little baby is now a great big baby! She plays so well on her own now, the term "tummy time" has a whole new meaning, we simply put down a blanket for her and she lays around on it cooing and twisting and rolling and grabbing for little rattles, miniature cloth carrots and crackly sounding soft books. With her wild brown hair (which is lightening) and bright, bright, wide eyes she looks like "Astro Girl." She's teething so very hard and we're starting to see some little white spots under her fantastic little gummy grin, and the girl's not afraid to smile... She's got smiles, and she knows how to use them! She also has vocal chords, she can now very effectively give a holler, or a hoot, or a great big belly laugh, and she doesn't ever hesitate to have her opinion known.

It's incredible how quickly the girl learns new skills, I remember when her namesake Cecilia Ziko was here in late August she started to hold on to toys for the first time. It was quite clear that the use of her hands was a vehicle to get objects into her mouth. She's gone from that early, blind "hand-eye-mouth" coordination to her current ability to very easily grab anything, and everything she can possibly see! The development is SO FAST!

It was around the same time in August that she flipped over for the first time; then only last week I was laying in bed with Ceci having morning cuddle/hang-out time and she got her little knees up under her butt for the very first time! Now only a few days later Cecilia can very easily get on hands and knees for a prolonged period of time, until she looses strength and sort of topples over/face plants. I even saw her lift one arm today, and another time one leg! I imagine she'll be some kind of mobile very, very soon, it's very exciting and quite intimidating all at the same time. We're not very far away from her having the ability to get in the kitchen cabinets, banging things around and wearing saucepans as hats!

Very impressive, I feel so proud of Cecilia, and you can tell she's proud too, as she let's out excited shrieks as her abilities change! And boy is the girl curious, and engaged with every little thing going on around her. If she's nursing and someone walks into the room she pops off the nipple like it's no thing, and lays there staring with a little milky mouth smiling up at the new entertainment. Then, just as easily as she popped off, she comes right back to nursing and has a little snack, until she's distracted even further. It's become quite evident how much more nursing is about than just nutrition, it's comfort and "home-base" as she grows and becomes more and more extroverted. I become a safe place for her to check-in with as she explores the world. It's a really beautiful relationship, I am so happy that I can supply that kind of security for her as she curls up like a little monkey on my lap.