5 months!

      Is it true ... is my baby girl really and truly five months old today?!

     Is this the same baby who was a tiny newborn not too long ago? Who ate and slept all day and night - who screamed at the top of her lungs constantly?! Is this the same baby who needed to swaddled, jiggled, rocked, and bounced at all times, who slept right beside us so we could watch her as she slept? 

     It's hard to comprehend how much babies change in their first year. It's a miracle I love witnessing day in and day out. But, it all happens too fast. I feel as if I've turned around, and Madelyn is already growing up to be such a big girl.

At five months, Miss Madelyn continues to change with each passing day. Her looks keep developing (and I keep hoping she's starting to look more and more like me, although she definitely still has her father's features!)  Her sleeping habits have thankfully improved since those early newborn days. She takes two two hour naps in the morning and early afternoon, followed by a late afternoon cat nap before dinner. At night she sleeps unswaddled in her crib for 11-12 hours per night (uninterrupted if we're lucky). She eats 4 times a day, and at night, she scarfs down 8 ounces in no time - letting her father and I know the time is quickly approaching when she should begin solids (a whole other realm I am completely overwhelmed by!) Her personality is shining brighter each day, and her smile lights up our world. 

If we could, we would simply act goofy all day in hopes of seeing that smile light up the room. (Which, in fact, we did - and we have it captured on video below because we are that goofy.)

Everyday she amazes us with the love and joy she brings to our lives. There's nothing better. Five months - and everyday she's changing, she's also changing us. 

You are the closest I will ever come to magic. ― Suzanne Finnamore