Melanie got to meet more of her family last weekend! We took a road trip to Utah to visit Brian's aunt, uncle, cousins and Gramma. Melanie did really well on the ride down.
My mom bought her these ABC blocks and she absolutely loves them!! Loves to see them fall off of the exersaucer, that is! She has been learning permanence. It is pretty entertaining to watch her push the blocks, and whatever else we can fit on the tray, right off the edge. She gets it so close, then gives it a little shove to send it over the edge, then she leans as far as she can to try to see where it went. These blocks were the perfect addition to her toy collection. Thanks Mom.
I keep wondering when the hard part starts!! Sure each day there are a marathon of things to do, but time is really the only challenge I have had to face so far. Melanie is happy with whatever we do!! Going for a ride in our big truck to the store, riding in a shopping cart or stroller, playing with her toys, rolling the ball with Brian and I... she is happy wherever we go!
She thinks it's funny to drink the bath water now. She gets really still and turns her head, then once she gets a drink, she kicks her legs and splashes so big! She is so entertaining!! 
We got to spend some time with Auntie Shirley, finally!! Her and Jerome came by for a few hours a couple of weeks ago. It was a true test of my ability to stay awake!! I have not stayed up past 11 in I don't know how long!! I didn't see the back of my eyelids til 2 that night!! Needless to say, the morning came too soon! I remember when pulling an all nighter and getting up bright and early was no big deal! Not anymore!! Melanie has been on a pretty good sleeping routine lately, so I decided to jump on the wagon with her. Early to bed, earlier to rise. (She gets to take naps, I don't!)
On Easter, we woke up to find that the Easter bunny had paid her a little visit! He left her a bucket full of empty eggs and a little pink bunny! This was also the day she turned 6 months AND decided that she was going to be a sitter. She did quite well too, I might add. It was like she had been doing it her whole life.. She never ceases to amaze us!
It was such a beautiful day (on Easter) that we sat outside on the grass for a while. It was her very first experience sitting on just the grass, no blankie. At first she wasn't too sure what to think, but she soon decided it was pretty fun to play with. You can see it in the video below.
We had Easter dinner with Grampa Larry and Roger. (Great food, as always!) She just sat there and played with her toys the whole time!! She thinks it's a good idea to chew on the end of her little maraca that I got her. Me, not so much. She is pretty safe with it. But all it takes is one time- falling forward with it in her mouth. The worries of a Mommy.
She loves to drink out of my cups! It's always a shocker when the water is a little cold, but none the less, she is ready for a big slobbery sip. I have ended up wearing my fair share if water just trying to get a drink. She reaches for the cup and I end up spilling it on myself. 
I started her on fruits and she absolutely loves them!! I have found that if I mix apples in with her meats, she eats 'em all up! I don't blame her one bit. I personally try everything I feed her and those meats aren't exactly a real treat.
Nothing like some good ol' Cat in the Hat with Daddy! She really pays attention whe it's reading time. Especially when it's the Cat in the Hat. I can say now that I know the book by heart, having read it numerous times over the last 6 months! There are other favorites too. But none are as captivating as this one. ABC is a good runner up though.
After a week of being woken up night after night tdue to an extreme wiggler, I took the side wedges (meant to hold her in place-but failing miserably!!) out of her crib. Well, this was what I <------ got in return. A little lady sideways in her crib, just having a regular morning conversation with good ol' Horton the elephant.Needless to say, the crib was stripped of all but the mattress and sheet that day. She has decided that she needs to sleep on her tummy. Yes, I lost a lot of sleep over that! Constantly waking up to check on her, tilting her head to the side, checking her breathing, etc. I have since learned to relax, though. I have learned to accept the fact that she is just more comfortable on her tummy and she will do just fine. I am proud to announce that she will be moved to her own room in a couple of weeks- after we get back from Utah!! At which point I will, more than likely, lose even more sleep for the first week or so, until I learn to relax yet again. Oh, the milestones of motherhood! 
Considering the weather climbed to a scorching 80 some degrees, we got her a little baby pool. We let the sun warm it up a bit, along with some hot tap water, and set her in it to splash away. She had a good time!! It was even fun drying off afterwards. She is already a fish just like me. 
Every day is such a good day with little miss Melanie around!! She has learned so many new things and she is so amazing!! She really is a goof ball!! She does the funniest things and she can have you in tears laughing!! We never know what she will do next and we are always cracking up at her new faces and sounds! Hard to believe it has been almost 7 months already! But it has been the funnest most rewarding 7 months of our lives!! 
