So happy to be half a year old!

Madeline, you celebrated your six month birthday today without too much fanfare, though you did get to attend your first rodeo. You seemed mostly perplexed watching all the animals, but you were in a wonderful, happy mood. I am just in awe that you are six months as I feel like I’ve been really trying to consciously mark the passage of time, to enjoy and savor these fleeting moments while you are so tiny, and I’ve been home with you even longer than I was with your sister. For this reason I keep catching myself surprised when I register that you are six months; I really just can’t fathom it. But you indeed are getting bigger and older! You just finally outgrew the 0-3 month clothing and transitioned into 3-6 month, and your little sunhat no longer fits you. You’re adept at rolling front to back and back to front, though some days you don’t roll at all, while others you roll your way several feet. You’re starting to sit up unassisted for several seconds at a time, and have just recently started enjoying spending time in your Boppy chair (this is great for you to sit in and join us at mealtime!) and in the Exercauser.

Just starting to sit!

We also took you for your first walk in a standard stroller (one where you sit upright on your own rather than lying in your carseat). You are a happy, engaged baby. You are very strong, often latching onto my hair or earrings and I have a hard time breaking your grasp. You’re also becoming very vocal, you love to chat with us and have just recently added ‘da-’ sounds to your repertoire. You’re such a wonderful addition to our family; we’ve loved having you with us these past six months!

Emma: Today we took you to your first rodeo. You were moderately excited about it, though I’m not sure you fully comprehended what exactly a rodeo was ahead of time. You have a Cowboy Mickey book that we’ve read over and over, so I kept referencing that in the lead-up to today’s main attraction: the rodeo! I got you all dressed in your John Deere shirt from your grandparents and your pink cowboy boots, I donned my own cowboy boots, and even tried on your sisters but they were too big. Anyway, after appropriately dressing for the big day we headed out. When we arrived we ducked into the arena to see what was going on and it was a perfect event for you – sheep herding. It was fascinating to watch the dogs do their work, and fun to watch the sheep react. We watched for almost thirty minutes, and I was able to feed your sister and you enjoyed a snack while we watched. Always trying to stay ahead of you and boredom, I suggested we move on before you were officially over it. Well, that and your sister was done eating and was over it, and was making this fact known with loud babbling that was approaching crying. I wasn’t sure if our sounds could hinder the dog’s ability to herd, or the sheep’s ability to respond, but didn’t want to find out…

So we made our exit and worked our way to the kid’s area. There was a petting zoo and we quickly got in line for it. I was really curious to see how you’d react and if you’d be tentative. The petting zoo contained quite a lot of animals and included pigs, goats, a cow, a chicken, and llamas. You weren’t hesitant at all! You pet the animals and even brushed some. You picked up straw off the floor and tried to feed it to them, prompting a nice gentleman to hand you some of the feed. You were in there for probably thirty minutes and I wondered if we’d be able to get you out of there. But, with the promise of a pony ride we were able to exit without issue.

We headed to the pony ride line, and it was quite the line. I was afraid you wouldn’t have the patience for it, and suggested Madeline and I could stand in line while your dad and you went exploring. But your dad said that they’d wait with us and if you started getting antsy then he’d walk around with you. But you were simply fascinated watching the horses, and you made it the entire time, patiently waiting your turn. I was really impressed. We told you the names of all of the horses and you wanted the one named Cowboy. I tried to prepare you for disappointment as the likelihood of you getting Cowboy wasn’t great (1 in 7 to be exact). When it was finally your turn for a ride you were the last one of the group, and therefore didn’t get to choose your horse. I stayed and took pictures, and didn’t pay any attention to which one you got on. Afterward your dad informed me that you got Cowboy! You were what I can only describe as ecstatic the entire ride, wearing a huge grin the whole time. I really am worried that someday soon you may request a horse. Afterward we were talking about the ride on the horse, and you told me, “Mom, it’s called a pony!”.

After the ride we got lunch and needed to leave as it was already past nap time. You were devastated to have to leave. You wanted to go back to the petting zoo, and you kept asking what animals we were going to see next. I felt sad that we had to leave when you loved it so much, but was so glad we got to go and that you really enjoyed it. We’ll go next year!

Today was your baptism and since we all slept in a bit a crazy morning ensued. We were running around trying to get ourselves ready as well as you and your sister. You’ve both had a cold and so we had you lying on the floor in the bathroom while your dad took a shower so that you’d be in the steam from the hot shower. After he got out you were happily playing on the floor on your back. So we left you there, with the door open so we could keep an eye on you, while we continued to get ready in the bedroom.

You’ve been so close to rolling over from back to front for the past couple of weeks, getting closer each day. You pull your knees to your chest then roll to your side, and reach out to your side, usually to grab something. You teeter on edge, seemingly about to go over, but haven’t yet quite figured out how to overcome the hurdle of your other arm. I’ve thought you were so close these last few days that I keep videotaping you, hopeful to get the first rollover on camera.

Well, this morning in the midst of getting ready, your dad peeked into the bathroom to check on you and nonchalantly proclaimed that you’d rolled over and you were on your belly! You were happily lying there, just looking around. I couldn’t believe we’d missed the first rollover! But we had to quickly move on from that big milestone to get ready for your other (scheduled) big milestone of the day – your baptism.

We had your baptism at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Breckenridge, the same church your father and I were married in over 11 years ago.

In front of the church where we got married

We were so lucky to have the entire Kandt family here for the occasion.

The whole (Kandt) family

You wore the baptismal gown that your sister wore and which was also worn by your cousins Liam and Kyle, your Uncle Kyle, and your Papa.

All the people who wore the baptismal gown (with you in it)

You were so cute and happy as we got you ready for the service in the basement where I got ready for our wedding. It was so special to be there again for this occasion. We took our seats at the front of the church and you were very content to just watch the pastor, listen to the service and music, and play with your purple teething ring (which went flying a couple of times but didn’t cause any disruption).

The purple ring

When the time came for the baptism the entire family went up to the front of the church. Your dad held you for the beginning portion, and you happily looked on. Then the pastor held you and baptized you with water, and you made a few sounds but didn’t cry. Then he carried you up and down the aisle to introduce you to the congregation and you were just so cute. Uncle Brett said it was like you were putting on a show. You were so happy and just took it all in. At one point you did your common action of looking up to see who is holding you, and you studied the pastor’s face for several seconds before deciding he was an ok person to be holding you and turning your attention back to the congregation. You were just perfect.

Checking in with the pastor

Modeling the baptismal gown