afton's seven months

Seven months has sure come quick and and we're loving every second.

I know my baby has been changing daily... but this last month seems like she's been changing and growing every hour! 

Afton is:

... sitting! She can sit by herself for a little bit, but if she gets distracted or something is out of reach, she'll bellyflop or fall backwards. But she's getting better and stronger every day.

... still teething - but had her two front bottom teeth poke through this week. We've started calling her "Sharp Tooth". They are sharp little things! She's chewing (more like gnawing) on everything. Poor thing, she's been hurtin' lately, and it's kept her up at night. But she's still so good and most of the day, is a happy smiley girl.

... clapping! Branson taught her how to clap and now she does it all the time. It's adorable. She gets so excited and has started doing this panting/laughing thing, then will clap. It's so fun!

... definitely a strong-willed girl. So far, we've only had a few complete meltdowns, bu we've already seen her stubborn side. I think we're in trouble. (Double dose of Larson AND Ashcraft stubbornness. Yikes.)

... getting longer every. single. day. At her last visit to the Pediatrician, she measured in the 91st percentile in height. And she's only gotten longer since then! She's a tall drink of water, that girl. All legs.

... loving real food. She's had quite an array of different "real" foods - from fruits and veggies, to bread and popsicles,  to guacamole and curry. And she's loved every single bite. She can't get enough, and gets mad when she finishes whatever I'm feeding her. At the same time, I feel really blessed because she's also still nursing, and has had absolutely no trouble going back and forth. We're lucky.

... a musician! She loves to sing, and she LOVES to play the piano (and I couldn't be happier)! It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. She likes to play high and low, loud and soft. We were at my parents house a little while ago and she would play and play and then stop, and start pounding the music - like she wanted the page turned. So my mom would turn the page, and Afton would start playing again. Over and over. No joke! It was so funny! 

... loving different textures and fabrics and feelings. She will sit and "pet" a rug or her stuffed animals or faces over and over again, so gently, just rubbing her hands over it. It's so sweet! She loves feeling different blankets, and has discovered that tags on blankets feel different than the blanket. I love seeing her discover new things and explore the world.

... my joy. It's amazing how much you instantly love a new baby - when you find out your pregnant, then more when you find out she's a girl. Even more when you see her in each ultrasound. And the incomprehensible love you feel the second you hear that first little scream, and hold her for the first time. But I'll tell you what - that incomprehensible love has infinitely grow every second that she has been mine. I feel so blessed to be her mother. And so lucky to feel such an insurmountable joy.