Now We Are Six

When I was one,
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four,
I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just alive.
But now I am six,
I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six
now and forever.

Author: A.A. Milne

Sweetest Lucy-- 
 It is so unbelievable to me, yet utterly inevitable as well, that you have turned six years old today. From before Day One, you were yearned for, prayed for, hoped for, and wanted. From Day One, you were a surprise and a mystery-- stunning us with your unexpected blonde hair and blue eyes, confounding us with your colic and infant frustrations. You've been easy on the eyes and challenging to our souls every step of the way, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I think you were a gift to me-- a puzzle to be slowly, lovingly puzzled over, maybe one day to be "solved". Your feelings run deep, and you've only just begun finding a way to tell us a little about them. You find your way to your own enlightenment through creativity-- through your artwork, through your pretend play and costumes, and through your quiet times alone with yourself. You have begun to find your way to friends and are learning how to engage socially, and it is a joy for me to see you thrive at school and out in the world without me. 
But I confess I also miss you. I miss you being one of my constant sidekicks throughout the day. Miss you and Quinn as my daytime duo. I miss being able to give you more time and space to meander through life at your own pace in your own style. If I could, I'd give you a nearby woods and our meadow and I'd slow our days so we could all wander wildly a bit more, create music a bit more, make art a bit more. I ache for that, really... For all of us. But for now, I hope it's enough that I try to create space and time for some of it here at home, sometimes. That when you ask to "make", I almost always say yes. I hope you feel heard and supported. I hope you feel unconditionally loved. 
Six means you're officially a real, big KID. Six is the gateway to the world, and from here on out, it just goes faster and faster, and you'll just get more and more amazing. I cannot wait to see it unfold. 

But for today: stay six, enjoy the rare delight of another birthday, and know that so many of us are sending you magic and love and extra wishes. 

All my love, 
Mom

Miss Larkin at 7 Months Old

 I'm nearly two weeks late for this post, but back on March 30th, Larkin rolled over (literally) to SEVEN months old. There's no stopping her now, and she is determined to find her independence and grow right on up and out of babyhood as quickly as possible. 

Despite my wishing for her to SLOW DOWN, she sure is fun right now. It really is a perfect baby age, this 6-8month stretch. So many expressions, so responsive, but not yet mobile and tricksy. She's the light of all of our lives, even Quinn's, and we're utterly lucky to have her in our family. 

Larkin at 7 months:

1. This girl is a rolling FOOL. I swear she's a more adept roller earlier than any of my other kids. She can get herself all over a room just by dropping one arm and tucking into a roll. She lands on her tummy and loves to crane her neck to look around as she props herself up on both arms.... But as soon as she spots something she wants-- a toy or a new destination-- she drops the arm again and is off and rolling once more. 
2. She has moved from "beginner" at baby food to very skilled. She loves to be fed the purees and keeps most of it in her mouth now... but her FAVORITE thing is eating Baby Mum Mums. And she is a PRO at those. So far, she's enjoyed avocado, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, pears, and bananas. 
3. She's officially "attached" to her Foxy Loxy lovey-- she takes it with her as she rolls all around her crib, and wakes with it in her arms every time. 
4. She's learned to chatter and babble during her 6th month- every so often she'll go into a series of "a-da-da-da-da-da-da!!!" babbles, and even when she's not practicing consonants like that, she is often shrieking or making loud noises just for the heck of it. I think it's because she's a 4th kid in a VERY loud household. She's just learning how to be heard. 
5. She continues to LOVE being outside. Its a sure way to shift her mood quickly! 
6. And she loves LOVES being worn. When she's getting fussy and tired and won't stay content on the floor or in her jumper or exersaucer, I know I can get a little more time out of her by putting her into my ring sling as I finish up whatever it is I'm trying to do.  
7. She also still adores Daddy's forward-facing "chair-carry" he's been doing since she was teeny:
   

8. Larkin avidly follows her brothers' antics and her daddy's goofy faces and it is very easy (and satisfying) to make her laugh.
9. Still no teeth! But I *swear* they are coming. They have to be... she's showing all the signs (but don't they all? For AGES??? ugh.)
10. She sits up!! She's still wobbly, but she can do it for a minute or more. 
11. Her current favorite song is the Pokemon Theme Song. For real. She lights up and quiets down every time! 
12. She's just a light--- her smiles are abundant, her whole body wiggles when she's excited (to get out of bed, to get out of her car seat, to head to a bath, etc.) I wish I could bottle this up for all of you so you could feel the same delight we all do when we're around her. ♥

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(Photos taken on Larkin's amazing bird quilt made by my friend Melanie Hess of Thoroughly Modern Minis, on Etsy. See her 1 month photos HERE, her 2 month photos HERE, her 3 month photos HERE, her 4 month photos HERE, her 5 month photos HERE and her 6 month photo HERE.)