6 Month Birthday

Anastyn celebrated her 6 month birthday on January 2. It is so hard to believe that she is already 6 months old. Yet, it is hard to remember what our lives were like without her. Anastyn has her 6 month check-up on January 7th, so I will post official stats after that, but here are just a few of the new things she has been doing these last couple of months.
Anastyn is rolling around like crazy. If she wants something, she finds a way to get it.
She is sitting up unsupported. She has actually been doing this for a while now, but she is gaining more and more control by the day. She is able to use her hands to remain steady and can sit and play with her toys quite well. She still falls backwards on occasion, but she is learning to catch herself before she gets too far. I am sure it will only be a matter of time before she can sit herself up from lying down. But not yet.
She has started inching herself forward on her belly. She will sometimes get up on her toes and push up with her hands until she is in a bridge position, but she isn't sure what to do from there. This next month is going to be fun as she learns she is able to propel herself forward. As for now though, she will keep inching herself forward little by little.
She loves, loves, loves her food! (Can't imagine where she got that from?) She has tried sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, squash, bananas, peaches, and still eats a little rice cereal. She started with the 1st foods, but has had 2nd foods a few times with no trouble. She has very good control over her food. She also loves to drink out of mommy and daddy's cups. She is learning how to sip from an open cup quite well. At a restaurant one day we gave her a sippy cup with some water in it and she really enjoyed that. I am definitely going to have to buy her some sippy cups soon.
She is a very happy baby and laughs often. However, her laugh seems to change all of the time. Sometimes she just laughs outright and hard, other times she almost sounds like she is coughing or panting, but we have discovered this is just her new laugh. She grins almost anytime anyone talks to her. I absolutely love to watch her break into her big grin! It is so cute!
She enjoys bouncing very much. She also loves to dance around the room with mommy or daddy. She likes to be sung to and read to. She loves her books and baby dolls.
In the last couple of days she has started doing my favorite new thing. When she gets tired, if I pick her up, she will cuddle her cheek up close to mine then she has started trying to get some of my hair in her little hand to hold as she sucks her thumb. It is so sweet how she does this, and if it falls out of her hand, she has to stop sucking her thumb, grab my hair again and then she will suck her thumb again. As I have said before, I am not thrilled that she is a thumb sucker, but as for now, she looks so cute when she does it! Anyway, what mama doesn't love when her baby starts to be a little cuddlebug!
She is getting to be pretty vocal. She likes to hear herself make new noises, especially little screams.
When she sleeps she covers every square inch of her crib. She rolls and wiggles and flips around all night. She is never in the same position when I go check on her.
She is so much fun! I know these next 6 months are sure to bring lots of excitement! We are so blessed and thrilled to have such a sweet, happy little girl!
I was trying to get a picture of Anastyn on her 6 month birthday. Apparently, as of late, she has become very sensitive to the flash and it was hard to get a picture with her eyes open. I had to post a few though, because I thought it was funny. I have about 20 pictures just like the following, all with either both eyes closed, one eye open, or she is squinting. I did manage to get a couple with the peeps open though!

Too Bright!

I think they are open here, but she is not looking at the camera.

Maybe she is winking at mommy!?

Almost open!

There we go! There are those bright eyes and big grin that we like to see!

These crack me up because there is someone else in my family who struggles very much to keep her eyes open during pictures. Does anyone know who I am talking about? :)