5...6...Picking up new tricks

Week 5
Alyssa keeps getting so big. We bought 2 large boxes of newborn diapers (hoping they would last us a long time), and Alyssa is quickly outgrowing them. I remember when we brought her home from the hospital and the tabs on the diapers could almost overlap in the center since she was so tiny. Now, we can barely close the tabs around her chubby little legs. One neighbor commented that Alyssa's legs look like the turkey legs they sell at Disneyland. She is our little butterball.

My parents, brothers, Aunt Rosy, Aunt Maggie, and Uncle Nazih came to visit for the 4th of July. They loved meeting Alyssa, and we had a great time even though their visit was so short.

Fun Fact: Alyssa's new tricks include tracking objects, licking (or sticking her tongue out at us), and smiling more often. We finally caught the end of one of her gorgeous smiles with the camera. She is especially happy in the mornings after her diaper change and feeding. I love when her smiles are so big that her eyes close and her nose scrunches up.

Likes

• Making noises
• Smiles
• Her Teta Odie, Jiddu Wajih, Uncle Joe, Uncle Pat, Great Aunt Rosy, Great Aunt Maggie, and Great Uncle Nazih
  

Dislikes

• Gas: I must have eaten something that did not agree with Alyssa's stomach because she was very fussy. Her burps are extremely loud, but cute.
• Not moving: Alyssa loves to be held upright and walk around.
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Week 6
Alyssa is 1.5 months old and is smiling so much now! She loves to smile back at us and has started to make cooing noises. She also has increased neck and upper body strength as she loves to push up when we hold her. It is hard to hold her sometimes since she is so strong and wiggles around so much. Alyssa tried out her swing for the first time and enjoyed it for only a few minutes before getting restless. I think she prefers vibrations to the swinging motion.

Fun Fact: We are starting to notice different traits that Alyssa possesses that are similar to our own characteristics. She always folds her hands in front of her like me, and she loves to bury her head when sleeping like Shereif. She is also a "morning person" like her daddy, and she seems to be very patient (during diaper changes and baths) like her mommy. It's fun to watch her personality develop.

Likes

• Being held in strange positions: Alyssa will always reposition herself in the most awkward ways when someone is holding her. She loves to throw her head back and have her neck bent all the way down. She does not look comfortable at all, but sleeps soundly like that.
• Stretching: Alyssa's stretches are so big, and she makes grunting sounds during them.
• Baths
  

Dislikes

• Stuffy nose: Alyssa has been congested for the past few days. I hate that it makes it harder for her to breathe, but her "whistles" and boogers are cute.
  
• Spitting up
• Being cold
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