5 Months Already?!

Maggie turns 5 months - she is doing so much more now!

We take a walk every afternoon. Henry rides his trike further and further everyday, and Maggie loves her stroller and being outside. We don't make it too far, just down the street and around the corner, but she is so patient and loves looking around. Mags really loves watching tree leaves blowing in the wind - whenever she can see a tree out of the window she is fascinated.
While she still doesn't love tummy time, she can do little push ups and push up really high. It is great to see her getting stronger and stronger. Lately she's been awake while Henry naps, so I love having one - on -one time with her.
For awhile, Maggie was sucking her thumb on her right hand quite a bit, although now not doing so as much. In the last month she really has been munching on fingers and munching on ours. Getting anything in her mouth that she can. Teeth might be coming - a little bit of drool too - but hopefully still a few months away.

Such a big girl in her swing! Watching her in the swing is so funny, for the first couple of swings she gets really red in the face and worried, but then realizes she likes it and she starts to smile.

And the most exciting news is that one week before she turned five months, Maggie started to roll from her back to her tummy! She really worked hard on this milestone - I watched her practice for a solid two months, and thought she would be rolling any day for those months. But she took her time. In the last two weeks, I could see the determination on her face as she would go after a toy and really try to flip herself. I hope that determination is a character trait that will stick around!
Her naps have mostly been a few regular short cat naps throughout the day, but in the past couple of days she has started to adopt a three nap pattern. I hope that lasts too! And she's also taken to falling back to sleep on me for the remainder of one of her naps. Reminds me of when she was a newborn, and I love it.

Grabbing her toes

And just yesterday, she sat unassisted for a good length of time, like a little tripod. She was so excited with her new perspective!

Henry really loves making Maggie smile, and she smiles every time she sees him, even if he is crying. For some reason, he started saying "DOUGH - NUTS!" to her, and it gets her every time!

If I could freeze time, I would. I hold Henry while he's watching tv or getting ready for a nap or reading, and I know he won't let me hold him as much as he gets older. And darn it, Maggie is going to do the same thing. I always have a tough time around their birthdays, and Henry approaching three and preschool age has left me with a lump in my throat all summer. And Maggie is now one month shy of six months. Six months is a hard age for me because while I get excited about starting solids, I miss that total dependence of 100% nursing. Maggie has helped out by taking her time, so for that I'm thankful! Anyone developed the stop time machine yet? If so, please let me know.