five-ish months

Leah,

Oops! I knew you turned 5 months last Friday. But I kind of forgot that I was supposed to do this. I mean, it's the holidays and we're busy. Forgive me.

Ah, five months. Such a sweet, sweet age. You're smiling and laughing and "talking" at everything. Adorable. Just today, you were sitting in the exersaucer and I told Jack to entertain you while I ran some laundry downstairs (sometimes it feels like laundry is all I do all day, Leah). When I came back up, you were CRACKING UP at whatever he was doing! And he was just drumming on some of the toys on your exersaucer. But you thought he was freaking hilarious! Your laugh is such an amazing sound. And you're quite stingy with the giggles. Please keep them coming.

You have officially graduated to your new car seat! You probably would have technically fit in the infant carrier until you turned one, but there was no WAY I was going to carry you around for another seven months. Not when you're already pushing 18 pounds and breaking my back. I love you, but honey, you're kind of heavy. Now, I still have to carry you, but it's much easier with just you in my arms! So, this new car seat is kind of a big deal. I pretty much fell in love with it before you were even born. I'm kind of a nerd, but it's great. It will keep you rear-facing up to 40 pounds! Amazing! And 5-point-harnessed to 65 pounds! Amazing again! But you don't care. You care that it's brown and pink and super cute.

Unfortunately, you have your first little cold right now. Just a crusty little nose. Lovely. You're also sneezing and Jack is coughing, so I'm really hoping it doesn't get worse for you. You've already let me know how much you despise my wiping your nose. And all of this congestion junk is making your already terrible nighttime sleep even worse. So I'm a little tired. A lot tired. Leah, I'm losing-my-mind tired.

Christmas is next week! Your first Christmas. Pretty exciting! Except that it will just feel like any other normal day to you. We, your brilliant parents, have taken advantage of that fact and purchased really practical gifts for you. A new car seat. A few new cloth diapers. Some clothes. I am really looking forward to a few years down the road when you are as obsessed with some girly disney princess or something as your brother is with Spiderman. Shopping will be more fun. :)

Well, I've been working on this on and off for a few days now. And it's 10:30 and you just woke up. So I think I'm going to be done now and go cuddle you. It's just about my favorite thing to do.

Love you,
Mom

Whoa! Scary.

I bought something called Earth Balance at Cub last night. It's a vegan "buttery spread." :) Anyway, I took a stick out of the package today and couldn't help but noticed the little stamped date on the end of the box.

SEP2210.

At first glance, doesn't it look like this stuff is going to be good for another 200 years? :) But clearly, it must mean September 22, 2010. Then I realized that it's already weird that it's good for another 10 months. But I'm not going to think about that for too long. Instead I'm going to enjoy the fact that I can make a semi-normal dairy-free cookie!