Look what I made Marley for his birthday!

Click here to view this photo book larger

6 months

Marley at 6 Months
13lbs 13oz (3rd percentile), 24.75 inches (5th percentile)

Amelia at 6 Months
16.5 lbs (65th percentile), 26 inches (50th percentile)

Amelia at 6 Months:
*Can push up onto her hands and knees and rock back and forth
*Scoots backwards, often ending up in a corner somewhere or under the couch
*Loves to grab (and eat) her toes
*Is very ticklish, especially on her neck, thighs, and chest
*Babbles: Da Da, Ga Ga, and Ba Ba
*Has one tiny tooth (on the bottom)
*Still has a runny nose and has still not gone back to sucking her thumb (it's been a month, now!)
*Wakes up several times throughout the night to breastfeed
*Thinks her brother is hilarious
*Likes broccoli, green beans, pears, and pizza crust
*Isn't so sure about sweet potatoes, avocados, and bell peppers
*Favorite color is green (according to Marley)

Alki Bakery

It is a very sad day for the residents of West Seattle.  Alki Bakery unexpectedly announced last night that they are permanently closing their doors.  It has been an almost weekly tradition for us to go there for coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, clam chowder, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and a warm dry spot to gaze out at beautiful Alki Beach.  My only small consolation is that we just went there for lunch on Sunday with Nai Nai.  I really hope that there's a way this closure can be avoided.  The Beach will never, ever be the same without you, Alki Bakery!

ETA: Just in case you haven't been following the story as closely as I have, The West Seattle Blog posted an update.  We're still feeling really bummed about the whole thing.  I have a feeling we'll be avoiding the beach for a while until we can figure out a way to tell Marley.  (He's still having a hard time coming to terms with our neighbors moving over a month ago!  "Why did Paul get a new job?")

The Snot Thickens

Just as Amelia and her thumb were beginning to make amends - she'd recently thumbed herself back to sleep once during a nap and twice during the night - her cold got worse.  Much worse.  Or maybe she got a new cold, I'm not sure.  Either way, her poor little head is completely filled with snot.  And on top of that - she's got a TOOTH!  It's just barely poking through her lower gums, but it's definitely there.  Stay tuned for an update after her 6 month check up on Tuesday!

They just keep coming!

Here are some more gems that I've been transcribing over the last month or so.  Enjoy!

Marley overheard me talking with Sarah about planning a family vacation to Florida next year where I mentioned flying into Miami, and asked, "Mommy, why are you going to fly to your Ami?"

To his spoonful of breakfast cereal one morning: "Hold on tight! I'm gonna eat you really fast!"

When helping Jeff out in the yard: "I'm not very good at raking, but I'll try!"

Upon entering Curious Kids Stuff, our local toy store: "It's SO beautiful in here!"

Waitress (jokingly, to Amelia): "Are you gonna have some chips and salsa, too?"
Marley (matter-of-factly, to waitress): "Amelia only eats boobies."

Marley (in elephant costume): "Why does Chris have spikes on his head?"
Liz (in pig costume): "Because he is dressed up as the Statue of Liberty for Halloween."
Marley: "Oh!  And I can be the Elephant of Liberty, and you can be the Pig of Liberty!"

Me: "You can either walk, or you can ride in the stroller."
Marley: "I don't want to do any of the choices!"

Me: "Those people are the dog's owners."
Marley: "Are we Amelia's owners?"

And a couple other deep thoughts that I just want to remember:

"Sometimes I feel scared when you leave and my room is very dark."

"What does it look like in the mirror when I go away?"

Just a couple of random pictures

Dawn promoted me from comment-maker to assistant to the co-editor. I was going through some of our recent pictures and found these two that I thought were worth sharing.

Where is Thumbkin?

As Amelia's cold slowly winds down, I'm starting to feel desperate about her return to thumb-sucking. She used to sleep 8-10, and even up to 12(!), hours at a stretch when she and her thumb were getting along. I'd hear her stir, maybe even give a cry or two, but then she'd get her thumb and be back asleep in no time. Oh, how I miss those days! Now, when I hear her begin to stir in the night, I hold my breath and cross my fingers, silently urging her to find her thumb. But, by the time her cry reaches a wail and she's groping around for me, I know it's time to give up hope she's going to soothe herself back to sleep.

But, I refuse to give up hope entirely. I deserve this. I've paid my dues with one child who, essentially, breastfed continuously throughout the night for well over a year. Maybe I should try getting her a blankie.