Our Lydia Love

We're back from vacation and I aim to post regularly once again! To kick off the August posts, here's one exclusively about Lydia (I'll do an Abby one shortly). The pictures range from mid-July to early August.

Lydia has long been a smiley baby and hasn't yet exhibited signs of stranger anxiety. She's usually ready to smile at anyone (as long as she isn't too tired or hungry) and will stiffen in excitement when people interact with her. She has deep dimples in both cheeks, and she throws her whole self into her smiles. My mom calls her a little relater, and she does seem a bit more outgoing than Abby (who is also quite a happy, smiley baby, though).



Lydia likes to sit in Josiah's old high chair, playing with chew toys and wooden animals from Josiah's Noah's Ark. She's becoming more adept at grabbing the toys, even when they're stuck in the little cupholder on the tray. She promptly puts everything in her mouth.

She loves to touch and grab at faces, too, and can snatch a fistful of hair in a flash (as her brother has discovered). I don't wear dangly earrings much anymore!

Lydia has broadened her repertoire of sounds in the last month. I think she likes to hear herself, and she's often quite loud. She's graduated from only using basic yells and squeals to using some syllables: mamamama, bababababa, dadadada, etc. She often starts this "talking" when she's getting a bit tired or hungry and wants to complain. It gets louder and more insistent as she gets desperate, and eventually turns into mad crying if I don't rescue her soon enough.

Lydia still sucks her thumb, especially when tired or desirous of comfort. Both girls suck their thumbs to help them get to sleep. They can pop them right in without any trouble.

With teething comes plenty of gnawing beyond mere thumb-sucking. Lydia sometimes loves to attack my chin and rub her gums back and forth (she was surprised and disgusted to find that Daddy's--with his goatee--isn't quite as palatable!).

Both girls love to be outside. Michigan's beautiful weather during our recent vacation allowed for lots of time out-of-doors! They rolled around on blankets and pulled up grass. Lydia even tasted the grass, apparently. They went on plenty of rides in their stroller and spent time at the beach by Long Lake. They enjoyed all the attention from relatives and all the holding!

Lydia and Abby have long feet, which they must have inherited from their father's side (mine and Josiah's are short and wide)! Lydia loves to push up and stand whenever someone holds her. Sometimes she stiffens so much we can't make her sit. She likes to bounce up and down in excitement. Lydia discovered her feet several weeks ago. When she's on her back, she grabs at them and has managed to suck a toe once or twice. Her legs are a bit scratched up from her sharp nails.

Just two days shy of six months old, Lydia can now sit unsupported for brief periods of time (up to a couple minutes). She can hold a toy, look where she wants, and swivel a bit while sitting upright. I keep pillows behind her to prevent a head-bump, but pretty soon she'll have the strength and balance to do without them!

Lydia is also very aware of sights and sounds around her. She turns in the direction of a voice or noise and is intensely curious about any new object within reach. She loves to scratch fabrics and vinyl to feel textures and hear her fingernails on the material. She's quick to flip over (especially when I'm trying to change her diaper or dress her!) and can roll at will.

Lydia is our big girl and Josiah's most likely contender for power and control as she gets older (based on our current observations of the girls' personalities). She weighed a couple ounces over 16 pounds at five months, and she's definitely put on weight since then. Compared to Abby, she's hefty! I love her blue eyes and delightful smile. I love that she wants to be with me. Just in the last couple days, she's started lifting her hands to me when I come close, wanting to be picked up.