This one time.....at boat camp....

OK, so there was no boat camp for Livi, but there was boating and camping....along with some other excitement in her 5th month. (She is 5 months next Wednesday)

What I love about the 4th month:
- She reaches for things like they are all chocolate cake after not eating anything for 3 days
- She yelps, screaches, sings, and aaahhhhs like her voice is the most amazing thing she's discoverd (it is ooober cute)
- She loves to sit up and tries all the time....she can sit up from leaning forward, but no side control yet
- She learned to roll over from her tummy to her back finally....just when it looked like she never would....and the cutest thing is how she does it....she puts her arm back and tilts her head back and hopes gravity takes over....I swear she lingers there for a minute sometimes squeeling....OMG I can burst
- Her awareness of me and others is adult like....from smiles, laughter and simply watching what you're doing and wanting what ever you have in your hand
- Sharing my food....not formally introduced to solids yet, but I let her taste things on my finger....she loves everything
- She shows affection in her own sweet little way
 - AND FOR THE BEST PART......SHE FALLS ASLEEP ON HER OWN!!!

Some firsts for Livi:

Modeling for Gucci:

OK not Gucci....just me....but OMG I love that picture.

Her first Olympics were a nail biter:

Her first boat ride on mommy and daddies new boat was fun! she slept the whole time, until we docked...here she is under Grandpas's watchful eye in her cabana:

And she was a happy camper on her first camping trip....even figured out how to pull the pull toys...OMG that was hilarious....

She loved sitting around the fire and telling ghost stories. Literally. The sounds she was making would have complimented the best hair raisers. And we did lots of her favorite activity....looking up at the trees. This trip was also a turning point in Livi learning to fall asleep on her own, whithout any giggling, rocking, strolling, bouncing...ect. She was about to sleep on the mattress in the motorhome....and this mattress was foam and no spring for us to bounce her to sleep, so we tugged at the blanket she was laying on. That actually worked. By the end of the trip, I had placed her in ther tent so we could pack up and when I looked over again, she was sound asleep.

Mark today, August 30th...as day I had hoped and dreamed of in her sleep training. I put her in her crib for a nap and walked away. I checked on her a few minutes later and she was sleeping. I had no idea what that was like until now, and am so happy to not have had to force her with Ferber or similar crying methods. It is still a work in progress but our camping trip was a turning point and she did it by herself. I am so proud of her and a little ticked at myself for having put sooooo much pressure and stress on myself about how I'm going to train her. And I regret the stress I had put on her during a few naps when I was trying to train her. Apparently.....I need to learn to give her more credit. At 5 months, she has nothing short of blown our mind. This little tiny person can express so much with no words, has so much love in her little heart and is smarter than I could have ever imagined.....already she is teaching me a few things. "We'll figure it out mom....just have some patience...and trust me".