It was the most wonderful time of the year. Lydia’s fifth month was definitely the busiest yet, and probably the most fun, but I’ve thought that every month so far and don’t want to cry wolf. Hence the ‘probably’ when it was absolutely hands down the most fun month yet.

No stats this month. Legit ones anyway. I did the scale by myself then scale while holding the baby trick and the difference was 20 lbs. Accurate? Probably not. Nope.

So what’s up with little Lydie lately?

During December she learned that she loves Christmas music as much as mommy. In fact, she learned that halfway through her 4th month because mommy is a Christmas crazy person who begins celebrating pre-thanksgiving. She loves the music so much that we spent our latest ride to RI singing every Christmas song in existence with the added treat of using only one single lyric. ‘Lydia’

Ly-di-a, Ly-di-a, Ly-y-y-di-a (that’s jingle bells)

Ly-di-did-di-did-di-aaaa (deck the halls, duh)

And repeat x every song for hours because she still despises that damn car seat but really seems to love her name.

Other Christmas activities involved staring at Christmas trees. We are still very much enjoying the lights on our own and will be for as long as we reasonably can and then a week after that. We drove through Bright Nights in Forest Park. Lydie’s first experience was pretty low-key because she was half sleeping and otherwise unaware despite lots of obnoxious pointing and incessant yelling of ‘Lydie, look!!!!’ Mommy was real excited, even more than when she was childless. It’s drive through Christmas. Like Lasalette in Attleboro but drive-through and thus, warmer. What could ever be better than that?!? Not that the cold was much of an issue this holiday season in New England.

Santa came to visit. He brought Lydia lots of very practical gifts. Bibs, socks, clothes, books, and eating-related thingamajigs that really were presents that benefitted both Lydia and mommy. Like a new nursing cover and formula container and bottle drying rack and… Well that’s enough talk of how Santa was a tiny bit selfish. Better luck next year.

On to the milestones:

Lydie is sitting up supported so well now. She is much stronger and proves it by thrashing and suddenly head butting you when you least expect it. She started making great use of her bumbo seat while mommy holiday prepped and we broke out her high chair to get her acquainted with it and all excited to start solid foods soon soon soon. She loves holding onto thumbs and standing/bouncing. And she’s pretty much a show off when it comes to surfing on your lap while you hold her belly.

Her favorite foods besides real food are thumbs (of the self and others variety) shoulders, chins, toys and all things.

Her favorite activity is eating. Drooling coming in second. A very close almost indiscernible second. The difference is she will yell when she wants to eat. And simply go right ahead and drool away when she decides it’s time which is always. In third place is velociraptor impersonating. Pure talent this little lady. Loud. Piercing. It’s really music to our ears.

We wear 3-4 outfits a day. Each. Because she may not be a big spitter-upper, but we end up collectively soaked on the reg. Bibs serve the purpose of putting off the inevitable outfit changes, but do only a mediocre job. I always wondered why babies require so much extra laundry… Baby clothes are so small so….what? that adds a load or two?  Nope. It’s all of my clothes that she drools all over that  make the drastic difference. We are in this laundry creating business together. The whole fam-damily. Bonded ferrrr life.

She still hasn’t rolled over except for a few flukey times that were very much assisted and very much unwitnessed by me. Definitely not rolling consistently yet. I attribute this to her lack of time spent anywhere other than in my arms. She’s not really given all that much opportunity to practice on my watch. There’s a New Years resolution – place baby on floor for like….any amount of time.

We spent Christmas Eve across the street in the newly expanded Hess Pub. Gigi and Bipi’s latest renovation was a big hit and made for an even more wonderful Christmas Eve extravaganza. Ry realized Lydie felt a little warm and was running a low-grade fever. She’s been congested for about a month now and the fever lasted into Christmas. Grammy and Pepper (my parents) and uncle Ben and auntie Kristen joined us bright and early at the Hess Station on Christmas morning. Per usual we did everything at the most wonderfully leisurely pace and thoroughly enjoyed opening presents and eating breakfast. We made the dreaded decision to stay in vs make the trip to RI for Christmas evening to rest up our Lyd-le one and not spread more germs than necessary. Overall though Christmas with our sweetheart was a great heartwarming success.

Lydia was also baptized this month. She was so grateful for her grandparents and godparents and all her family who came to share the day with her. It was beautiful and she was excited to have so many loved ones together! What a blessed little love she is! And how blessed we are to have the wonderful gift that is this most precious little girl who has the biggest smiles and a spirit overflowing with joy and happiness.

Annnnnd her monthly photos: