Harlow 5 months

Uggg...I just can't seem to get this post finished up. At the rate I've been going, this girl is going to be donning a birthday cap and cake crumbs before I get this wrapped up. Here is a quick recap of our sweet baby girl at 5 months.

This month we introduced Harlow to the wonderful world of trying to suck on food (usually banana) through tiny holes in a contraption that's best described as a large pacifier. The idea of it seems slightly frustrating and tedious, but she loves it and has gotten good at making short work of a mushy banana.

This picture is just to prove that's she's not always smiling. She does get  a little sad when she has sucked all the banana out.

Thankfully she also recovers really quickly.

This is her "I'm ready to get out of this" move. The second picture is her "No, mom really...put the camera down. I want to get out of here."

This month she wore some pretty adorable (and ruffly) outfits. I can't tell if she is surprised or excited about this fact (or maybe yawning).

She gets so excited when it's time to eat cereal in her Bumbo seat that she does a crazy back arching happy dance. A video of her spastic moves would be more appropriate, but these picture will have to do.

That's some joy with a capital 'J'. I can't get enough of her gleeful ways.

A quick pin up of her hair proves that it won't be long before this is girl is all blonde. Even in the womb, Sam predicted that she would be our blondest child. I think he might have nailed it.

She is officially  a paper monster. I've got to keep a close eye on her when paper is near--she'd like to destroy and devour it all.

I don't know what to say about these pictures except--how can we not just adore this happy little girl. Seriously...I could look at this smiling face all day...and sometimes I do.

At five months we also figured it was time to start teaching her some real tricks. I think these two make a pretty cute team...

...even when they aren't practicing cheerleading tricks.

Harlow is definitely finding her way into our lives in every way she can.  She is especially interested in everything the kids do.

Watching the kids play the Wii.

Watching Ruby's every move.

I think she really wanted to get involved in this one.

Ruby is also eager to impart all her wisdom as well. I love to hear Ruby repeat everything I've tried to teach in her efforts to educate Harlow.

Harlow missed a lot of the evening trips to the pool this past summer, but with swimsuits as cute as she has, we made sure to squeeze a few in before the season wrapped up.

Taking it all in.

We even let her take a quick dip with Sam. For a girl who loves to bathe she was not a huge fan of being in the pool. She was much happier in the arms of Sam out of the water than in.

Harlow is a gem of baby, but she isn't a super napper. I can't complain, though, since her lack of sleep doesn't result in a grumpy baby--just a baby that is awake most of the time.  Because of her napping style, I was surprised that one day while tearing through a magazine (pretty much heaven for her) she just put her head down and fell asleep.

This isn't her style so I wasn't sure what to do. I decided to just let her stay there asleep for a little while. When she did wake up, she did so just like this and resumed destroying the magazine without missing a beat.

Harlow loves the exersaucer--and she's not the only one. The kids love to play with her when she is there. I think she really enjoys being "on their level", too.  And she is always happy to see Max.

She is a rolling machine! I laid her on her blanket to play cars with the kids, and it didn't take her long to roll her way across the room. She is definitely a girl on the move. ( I have no idea why she is shirtless, but I'm sure there was a good reason.)

I think part of the reason this has taken me so long is because I have so many pictures of this sweet girl. But with have happy face like this, how can I resist?

After only 5 months, Harlow, you have officially locked up the title of our happiest baby. Keep the joy coming girl. We love you more each day.