La La La

Emily is learning to use her tongue, and she's been working on a couple of imitations. I've caught one of those in a little video, which I will try to post after I'm done with the blogging (we'll see how long Emily sleeps!). She puts her lips together and tries to buzz, blowing bubbles and drooling everywhere. But she also likes to watch me as I say La La La, very closely watching my mouth. So I sing all kinds of songs to her with La, and she stares intently and happily. She also likes listening to music, so I've been going through my CD collection ripping it onto my computer. Travis bought a new sound system, which we had originally planned on being our Christmas present to each other - in 2004!! It sounds awesome, and Emily loves to sit with a toy and chew and listen. Yesterday's tune was Tchaikovsky's violin concerto. I mean, hey, why not listen to really good stuff if you're going to sit and listen intently to something? :)

I am trying not to gauge Emily's accomplishments too strictly. I feel like there is some expectation for her to quickly reach developmental milestones - to do things on the same pace as her parents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins - but I'm really okay if she just gets to things as she gets to them. She rolled over once, but not since, and it was probably by accident. It's taken a long time to get a laugh out of her, but I think it's just that she's not a very giggly girl. I heard her giggling when she was talking to another baby this weekend, so that was music to my ears but it's really okay if she's too serious to laugh much, cuz she's certainly happy and smiley. I know I should have an eye out for a few key developments (the thought of autism scares me to pieces) but other than that I am doing my best to just relax and enjoy her as she grows. She is the most wonderful little 5-month-old and I love her for everything she is right now!

I finally have a mother-in-law story, but although it left me feeling a bit hmph-ish I'm sure it wasn't malintentioned. Those of you with true Mother-In-Laws will not have any sympathy for me at all. :) We were in Barnum last weekend, and we started looking through some of Travis's pictures from when he was 4 or 5 months old. It was fun to see which expressions and features of hers come from him - those cheeks are most definitely his! (and his dad's, too). Nancy was marvelling at how big and beautiful Baby Travis's eyes were, then she looks at Emily, and says, "But her eyes are definitely yours." Well, they really are, and I'm sure Nancy would agree that they're still gorgeous, but it did come across weird. I know she's just reminiscing after her own baby, but Emily is mine and I think it's great that she looks like me too!

This has been such a dreary winter. I am so glad that February is over (I think I said that last year, too!), even if we are supposed to get more snow tonight. I can tell the sun is higher in the sky and it's light a little longer each day, so even though it's overcast, windy and cold today, well, maybe it'll be warm soon. I can't wait until I can use my sunroom, and take Emily for walks in the stroller, and just get out of the house without bundingly up and bracing myself for that blast of winter air!