Just over 4.5 months update

Finally, after almost two months, Amanda's sleeping has improved again and she is sleeping a 6-9 hour stretch each night. Heaven! We finally figured out the problem - she is teething! Although her teeth haven't come through yet, she has a couple of little "tooth buds" on the bottom, which appeared after a few particularly sleepless nights. It looks like now we get a brief reprieve until the next teething incident begins. Mandy now sleeps in her crib in her own room - a transition that has been much harder on us than on her! She is quite happy in her room and especially loves looking at the animals on her wallpaper border. However, we have found it hard getting used to her not being right next to us all night. Amanda's giggles are getting stronger and easier to encourage, and she is so happy and friendly - just loves having lots of faces to look at. We had an exciting first Halloween - Amanda dressed up in her adorable ladybug costume and helped us hand out candy at the door. She also wore the costume to our Mom & Baby group, and to do some visiting with work friends. Had to get lots of wear out of it! I visited a couple of friends with brand new babies this week (congratulations to Pip on the birth of Jennifer, and to Cynthia on the arrival of Erich!) and was stunned to realize how small newborns really are. As someone said to me, you swear you will never forget how small your baby was, or how tiny she felt in your arms, but you do! But each new stage brings such joy...this parenting thing is really bittersweet!