Six months old

This darling cupcake is six months old! So much has changed this month. Both her front bottom teeth came through with minimal fussing. 

She really is enjoying this whole eating thing.  Yogurt and hummus, and especially big fat slices of melon have been a hit. But here, Willow is just munching on a plate. 

Willow has found her voice. She sings out loud happily over and over again. I can't help but sing along with her. 

Auntie Kristie made Willow the most adorable ruffle romper and matching bonnet. 

Willow is still mostly giggles and sunshine. She's just touching her toes in her Frida onesie, what isn't there to be happy about?

Willow also does a little homeschooling with her big brother and sister. 

Willow, I am pretty sure daddy snuck your taste of your mint chocolate ice cream half-birthday cake. We love you so much baby girl you have given us sunshine, hope and smiles again that we so desperately needed. 

Five months old

Willow is such a big girl! She can now sit up on her own for a few moments at a time. While not on the move yet, she manages to scoot around and end up in a different spot than where I leave her on the floor. She does roll over from her back to her tummy. 

Willow weighs 12 lbs, 6 oz and is 25 inches long. Here she is, being measured for our Leap Year Time Capsule. 

She got to meet Uncle David this month. 

And continues to get big brother big sister snuggles on a regular basis. 

Willow loves spending time with her cousin, Mabel.  

And she is still a fan of Daddy's guitar music and his singing voice. 

Willow is sticking her tongue out all the time now. She loves when we dance and jump around like crazy people in front of her. 

More Mabel time, this time at the John Muir House. 

Kisses for Daddy. 

Willow has started making kissing sounds , she pays very special attention to our plates and the food upon them. One day, Gabriela mashed up some banana for Willow and proudly brought it to the table for her to sample, so we went for it. Since then, she has had sweet potato, carrots, lentils, and avocado as well, and appears to enjoy everything she samples. 

Willow has a tooth that is visibly on its way, though it hasn't come through yet. 

Four months old

And just like that, the fourth trimester is over. I feel like myself, I am getting plenty of rest. Willow is a complete joy, this happy baby. Sh is so alertlthis little princess puts up with all the love her big brother and sister have for her. 

Willow is starting to drool like crazy and has had a super runny nose. Could she be teething already?!

She has rolled over from tummy to back a couple times, loved her daddy's guitar playing and singing, and has officially found her toes. When I reach down to pick her up out of her bouncer, she knows and arches her back immediately, so I can get my hands around her little body and pick her up. 

When you say the baby looks like a pixie, her big sister may immediately find a pair of fairy wings for the baby. 

Willow, you are growing right before our very eyes, you are such a joy each and every day. We are so lucky to have you and the love you bring to our family. 

Two months old

It's been another whole month of having our little Willow here at home with us. She is such a delight. We can help but snuggle her all the time. 

Willow has been to some parties over the last month and has shown that she can handle crowds of people and long drives well.  

She still has grumpy fussy days followed by days of restful sleepiness. Today is an "I will only nap on your chest" kind of day. I sometimes worry about the work I need to get done when Willow cries the instant I lay her down on the bed/bouncer/floor/napper. But I'm trying to embrace the opportunities for extra closeness and time slowing down to enjoy my baby. 

Here is Willow sporting her one month acne. 

She has been giving some giant smiles, cooing her way through very in depth conversations, and even giving loud squeals. I am so ready to hear her laugh, as soon as she discovers how. It is possible that I've tried many different silly ways to get a laugh out of this sweetie pie. One day soon. 

Willow can lift her whole upper body up, kind of like upward facing dog yoga pose. She is very interested in everything that happens around her. She has been trying to suck on her hands, but she still has her thumbs tucked tightly in her fists. I am certain that her hands were this way in the womb (like a sign language letter t). She just won't pry her thumb out. This baby girl has some strong legs. She is always extending them and putting her weight on them.

Willow has some of her happiest moments on our changing table. She just coos and smiles and talks her way through, always dancing as soon as her diaper is removed. We call it the "no diaper dance".  She adores her rainbows ribbon and fabric banner and looks up at it every time. 

This month Willow has emerged as her own little wakeful, wondering, engaging self, rather than a constantly sleepy newborn. Look how much personality she has!

A mama in our homeschool group made this quilt for Willow. Isn't it adorable? 

On one of Willow's recent fussy days, I couldn't get her to calm down for anything. Gabriela is always so anxious to hold Willow. She doesn't care if the baby is fussy. Gabriela proudly walked in the room to show me that her daddy had set them both up with the moby carrier. Willow settled down and fell asleep immediately, leaving me with two content little girls.

These big kids can't get enough of their baby sister. Gabriela is always asking to hold Willow and Easton always wants to snuggle with her. He is constantly melting my heart saying the sweetest things like, "i just can't stop snuggling Willow" "Willow, you are the best baby!" And my personal favorite, "I think I fell in love with Willow". They want to read to her, bounce her, snuggle her, sing to her, and hold her nonstop. She couldn't be more loved. But sometimes she has to let them know when she needs more space. 

One month old

This has been a very healing month for our family, having welcomed Willow safely into this world; our sweet baby girl is finally in our arms to love and snuggle. It's also been bittersweet. When your four year old enthusiastically says, "isn't it so great that Willow didn't die when she was born?!?!" And your seven year old announces how much she enjoys having a baby sister *who lives*, we all miss our baby Simone a little extra.

Willow gets so many snuggles from both Gabriela and Easton. They always want to love on her. Gabriela is learning how to settle down a fussy baby, and Easton is convinced that Willow stops crying when she sees him or hears his voice. 

Willow and the rest of her family are so lucky that Lane was able to stay home with us for three whole weeks. She had a lot of Daddy Moby time during those three weeks. 

This baby sleeps a lot, much to Gabriela's dismay. In three weeks, Willow grew two whole inches! She is a champion nurser. and doesn't really cry at night. 

Willow has had some fussy days though. We think it's because she's gassy. I got some gripe water for her, and she seems to be doing better. Her favorite though is being wrapped in the moby or a sling. She will sleep for hours all tucked in tight next to mama or daddy. 

Willow has given us a few awake smiles, but most of her smiles have happened while she's been sleeping. She even giggles in her sleep, which is strange, since she doesn't giggle or laugh when she's awake yet. But we can't wait to see that!

At her two week pediatrician visit we were referred to a cardiologist because they think she has a slight heart murmur.

After an EKG, and an ultrasound in which they captured more than 70 images of her sweet heart, the pediatric cardiologist  confirmed that Willow has a tiny hole in her heart. He believes it may close up in the next six to twelve months. But, even if it never closes, it's so tiny that she wouldn't ever need medication or surgery for it, and it would have no impact on her physical activity or quality of life. So we are very grateful for that. 

In addition to being our tiniest baby yet (at two weeks, she had Easton's birth weight), and having the most hair, Willow also has the lightest eyes. Right now, they look almost blue. They are definitely lighter than our other kids' eyes, but of course we know her final eye color won't show for another few months. Lane says her eyes will be brown, but I'm wondering if she will surprise us. We have also spotted some dimples on this girl, just like her brother and sister's dimples. Her toes are so long. In fact, her second toes are mich longer than her big toes. 

Willow is enjoying her hand me downs from Simone. Auntie Kristie sewed this adorable dress for Simone, and we love seeing Willow in it.

Willow Virginia, you have given our hearts so much joy. We love you to pieces, sweet baby girl.