Violet's Half-Birthday!

Happy half-year birthday, Violet Mae!

Our little blue-eyed beauty has added so much joy to our lives, and we already can't imagine life without her sunny presence.

Violet loves playing with her sister and listening to Daddy play the guitar.

She sleeps well at home but doesn't nap longer than 20 minutes when we're out and about.

She likes her pacifier, though I'm trying to only use it for naptime, and random really-fussy-times. She still sleeps better swaddled, so I'm using large double-layer flannel blankets for the purpose. (Thanks, Michelle and Brooke!) Thankfully it's been cool enough to do so!

And, we've started using a white noise CD to help her sleep well. My thought is that the CD would be great to take when we go to England, and anywhere else we travel, so that Violet will sleep great when she isn't in her own bed.

Violet didn't quite make it to crawling by her half-birthday, but she sure is close. She rocks back and forth on her knees, and then can lunge forward to get a toy.

At a consignment sale last week, I bought a large baby gate to enclose the carpeted playroom. We want to keep her off our tile floors as much as possible until she's walking really well!

Though Violet can sit for 30 seconds or so, she prefers to be lying down so she can roll around, or rock on her knees.

Cora, Violet and I were having some quality time on my bed the other morning, and I was pulling Violet's arms up to try to help her sit. But no - she straightened both legs each time, so that I was bringing her to standing instead. She only needs help with balance, and she can basically stand.

Also, the other morning she was leaning over, propping herself on her elbow to reach up into her toy basket to get out her own toys. (See photos - sorry they're blurry, I had to hurry because they move so quickly!)

Everything goes in her mouth, but no signs of teeth yet. She is nursing four times a day, sometimes five if she's having a fussy evening. We haven't started any solids, as she has shown no interest yet in food.
(By this age, Cora was trying to grab our food and watching intently as we ate.)

I plan to follow Violet's lead in giving her solids, and when we saw Dr. Brockett this week, she agreed that there is no need to push food at this point.

At the doctor's office, Violet was 15 pounds, 3 ounces, dropping her down into the 34th percentile. She is 26 1/4 inches, or 70th percentile, and her head circumference of 16.9 inches ranks Vi in the 67th percentile.

Violet had one shot and one oral vaccine, which she gobbled up! You can see her here trying to guide the nurse's hand with the dropper.

I should mention at this point how thankful I am to everyone who took the time to vote on the black and white pictures of Violet last week!
Out of more than a dozen votes, Photo A was the winner (7 votes). Photo B received three votes, C received two votes, and two voters chose "all of the above."