Half Birthday.

I cannot believe it has been half a year since Emma Claire entered into the world. We are celebrating six months of unbelievable joy and love. Emma Claire's personality is twice as big as she is! These days, she is full of laughter and smiles. She loves to talk and play in her exersaucer and jenny jump up. She's got the "left-right" steps down pat in those two toys...she will be walking before we know it! (Heaven help us.)

She now weighs 14 pounds 7 ounces and is 27.5 inches long.

Emma Claire is really starting to pay attention to our dogs, Daisy and Minnie. She grabs and their faces and watches them walk across the room. They certainly don't mind the extra attention, even if their ears are getting pulled :) She loves to touch and grab things now. Get close enough for her little arms to reach and she will have you by both cheeks, staring right at you with a big grin on her face. She has figured out how to fake cough and thinks its funny when you repeat her. I wonder if Chris has been letting her watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Do we have a hooky-playing girl on our hands???

In the past month she has skipped school to stay with her Jen Jen. Her most recent adventure at Jen Jen's included a game of dress-up with Paw Paw.

I warned him if there was one more Elvis outburst I would revoke his babysitting privileges.

Emma Claire had school pictures taken at daycare this month. I could not believe they do school pictures of infants! But of course she put on a show and smiled for the camera. And of course I had to buy them!

Speaking of school, they recently hung up her schedule above her crib. It basically says "I am happy anywhere you put me. I never cry."

She has also started to sit up really well (with assistance). She loves sitting with the boppy pillow behind her. But as soon as she realizes her feet are in front of her, she is bending over like a tiny contortionist and sticking her toes in her mouth!

The biggest milestone of the month is that Emma Claire said her first word! On her half birthday, we were at Chris' parents' house. She was babbling on and on and Chris' dad said, "I think she just said 'mama'!" Sure enough, she said it again! It took me a few days to get it on camera. Every time I tried to film her, she went mute. But I finally got it!

The week Emma Claire turned 6 months old was a sad one for our family. Chris' step-grandfather, Paul Highstreet, passed away. Paul was married to Chris' grandma, Nonnie (on his mom's side), for 12 years. He was quite a character! Paul had such a sense of humor and always made us laugh. He certainly loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. I am so happy that he got to spend time with Emma Claire. This picture says a lot about his personality :)

We are glad to know that Emma Claire has a special angel smiling down on her, making sure we keep her laughing through life.