My Dearest Little Lu,

Your fifth month has been so much fun. Your sense of humor has come alive and you are all giggles and smiles. It’s so much fun to watch you explore your world as you gain more control of your hands and feet. Toes are your new favorite snack. You have never been a fan of the pacifier but you have absolutely no interest now that you have discovered your feet. It constantly amazes me how quickly things change in your world. One day you have no interest in your appendages and they flail all over the place, the next day I go to fetch you from your crib in the morning and you are squealing with delight over the new discovery you have made. HANDS! FEET! THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME!

Over the last few weeks you have become increasingly more and more aware of your environment and subsequently more and more sensitive.   A helicopter took off in a tv show I happened to have on in the background and you absolutely lost your mind. it took you several minutes to recover and for the screaming to stop. And while we are talking about the screaming, is it really necessary? I appreciate you reserving your freak outs for only when you REALLY mean it, but a light cry could really get your point across just as well, baby girl.

I love that you have started to show attachments to certain objects these days. You have your favorite lovies—George Cooney and Owl Pacino, and your favorite stuffed animals—Blue Elefun and your serenading Sheraffe. You have favorite songs that we sing to you—You Are My Sunshine and Knock Three Times, and favorite songs that we listen to—Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain, and She & Him’s I Was Made For You. You love for songs to be repeated over and over and over again and you seem to know exactly when the chorus is coming. That’s when you start giggling like it’s the funniest thing you have ever heard.

Over the course of the month you have started to act more and more like a little lady and less like a baby. Your facial expressions are more defined, you have your own ideas about what is funny and your laugh...YOUR LAUGH...oh my goodness, it is the most wonderful sound. A rousing game of peek-a-boo seems to entertain you endlessly.

This month has brought several changes to your sleep habits. We said goodbye to your beloved swaddle after you managed to flip yourself over and woke up screaming in the middle of the night. I was so nervous you would never fall asleep again. The Internets had me very worried. But in true Lucy fashion you rolled right with the punches. The very next time I laid you down you went right to sleep like it was nothing. So far you have been so flexible with us as we navigate this road of first time parenting. We are so very grateful, little one.

There are so many things about this stage in your life that I love and cherish so much; too many to list, really. I love the way you play with my face while I’m feeding you. I love that you grab my hands and hold them close to your lips to comfort yourself. I love the way you smile with your entire face. I love the way you lay your head just under my chin against my chest when you are really tired or overwhelmed. I love holding you as you fall asleep and watching the funny way you contort your lips as you drift off to sleep. I love the way you heartily laugh at your papa when he’s playing with you. You have such a sweet little way about you. I will miss all these things very much when you grow up and stop wanting to snuggle with us every night, but I am so looking forward to your next steps. You have captured our hearts.

All my love,

Mama