Gwen is SIX Months Old!

It's hard to believe, but Gwen has made it half away around the sun! It's been a busy month for the babe, but she's taken it all in stride.

Over the last month, Gwen has spent some time in a few new places. Gwen started the month visiting Grammie and Poppa Crosby in Florida. When Ashley went back to work in September, Gwen started staying with a new babysitter, Hannah, and made a new friend, Hannah's eighteen month old daughter, Isabella. During her first trip to the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, Gwen was more interested in watching the other kids than in the books. (The kids weren't exactly exhibiting appropriate library behavior as they were running around and doing flips in the padded children's reading area. It was pretty entertaining!) Gwen also made her apple picking debut at Bowman's Orchard.

Gwen got her second tooth this month, and she knows how to use it! She now has her two front bottom teeth and she continues to like to chew on everything. Most recently seems to prefer chewing on fabric (cloth toys and her burp cloths especially) and fingers. She also enjoys sucking and chewing on a washcloth if available.

Gwen does this thing Ashley calls "mauling." When you hold her facing you and she's in the mauling mood, she'll dive at your face and try to suck or chew on whatever part of your face she can get in her mouth (chin, nose, cheek, etc.). She uses her hands to hold your head so you can't escape while she is doing this. She thinks it is funny and smiles and "ahhs" in her little sweet voice. It seems like a sign off affection, perhaps a very primitive form of a kiss.

Gwen is great with her hands and getting them on whatever she wants. She grabs a toy, puts it down, and chooses another. She has also taken an interest in Ashley's jewelry, and Ashley has to be careful as Gwen grabs at earrings and necklaces with great excitement. Gwen will look at her fist or her fingers as she moves them. She finds her hands very interesting.

Gwen has turned into quite the rolly-polly-olly! Forget the blanket to roll around on, because she's rolled off of it in a matter of minutes. Although she may try to roll toward something she wants, often she seems to just roll for the pure enjoyment of it. When she is placed in the sitting position, she'll stay upright pretty well. She likes sitting and having a few toys in front of her. She'll grab one toy and then switch it up with another.

Gwen does this funny thing when she is happy or excited. She pulls her legs up and kind of folds at the hips, and then straightens out really quick over and over. When you are holding her and she does this, it can be a challenge to hang on to her! The cutest is when she is put in her crib at night, she rolls onto her stomach, and does this while smiling with her eyes shut. She's happy to be in bed!

Gwen is a happy and sweet sixth month old. She's so much fun to have around!