Merry Christmas

Well Christmas has come and gone and I do admit that I am sad that it's over. Although I am looking forward to what the coming year will bring and what the Lord has planned for us I am a little sad that my baby's first Christmas is over. You had so much fun. It was fun to watch as you ripped the paper and put the ribbons in your mouth. You would grab onto your package and rip the paper and then look up and smile. You were too cute. We took lots of good pictures, probably too many. You love all the new toys you got. You are done with rattles (for the most part) and on to bigger and better toys (such as stacking rings and sorting blocks, etc.). You also got a foam play mat which basically takes over the living room. We have moved our coffee table out so that you will have room to play and learn to crawl. You are getting closer! You can lift your whole body off the floor with your arms and you can even get your knees up under you but you just can't coordinate them both at the same time. You are starting to babble again which tells me your ears are finally better. You are feeling much better despite all the Christmas chaos, travel, etc. But you are teething so bad! You are pretty fussy and you now have two baby bottom teeth. You continue to gnaw on anything you can get in your mouth.

Getting Ready for Christmas

I love to watch the wonder in your eyes as you see new things and hear new sounds. You stare in wonder at the Christmas tree and all the lights. You just want to get your hands on any light, ornament or ribbon you can reach. I can't wait to watch you open your presents and watch as you finally get to play with the paper and ribbon.

I have been off for the Christmas holidays since December 19 and I have really enjoyed spending my time with you. You are still sick. I took you to the doctor last Friday knowing you had an ear infection... and you did. You are on antibiotics now and I don't think your ear is causing you any more pain. However, you are still having trouble sleeping and I think that you are having more teething pain. You are sleeping well during the night but you are having trouble taking naps. In the past week you have slept until 8:00am on two different occasions. That is the latest you have ever slept. Despite your discomfort you are in relatively good spirits. You have been clingy and not your usual smiley self, but overall happy just to be with daddy and me.

Milestones: You haven't been babbling ever since your ear started bothering you. I hope it clears up soon and you start babbling again. Also, you are ready to crawl! When you are on your tummy you can lift your tummy off the ground for a second and your bottom comes up and your legs are moving back and forth. You are getting pretty good at scooting but you get frustrated when you don't get very far. Also, you can pick up almost anything. You love to play in your play pen with your big basket of toys. You enjoy grabbing whatever you can out of your basket and you eventually end up dumping the basket over.

Things I Love

1. I love the way you always hold on to my finger or my hand every time you drink your bottle.
2. I love the way you stare at Daddy during dinner time like you haven't seen him all day (because you haven't).
3. I love the way you hold your arms out to me when I walk in the room.
4. I love the way no matter how you feel (cranky, upset, hurting) the minute you get in the tub you smile.
5. I love the way that from a choice of any toy you would rather have the remote control or my cell phone.
6. I love the way you like for me to stroke your head and your cheek.
7. And, I love your new found love for your puppy.

Sick #2

You are sick again. I heard you sneeze a couple of times on Wednesday and by Thursday it was full blown. When I got home from work yesterday you were so pitiful. You have a very runny nose and you are coughing and sneezing. Didn't we just get over this? You really aren't yourself. You don't really want to eat and you definitely don't want to play. You are pretty cranky and very tired! I just can't believe that you are sick again already. I think that I was pretty naive to think that if I gave you breast milk and if you stayed home with Grammy that you wouldn't get sick. Here we are, not even winter yet, and you are sick for the second time. I hope you feel better soon. On a good note, you have added "mamamama" to your babbling repertoire. It is so sweet.

Beautiful Boy

God is so good. He gave me the most beautiful baby boy. Of course being your mommy I think you are the prettiest baby of all, but I am amazed by the many comments you get every time we go out. Everybody seems to agree that you are beautiful. Here are some of the comments we have heard: "You should be on the cover of a magazine. You are so beautiful.", "You have the prettiest big blue eyes.", "You are such a handsome boy.", "You are so cute! Look at those pretty eyes." You get lots of attention when we go out. Everybody loves a smiling baby, and you smile at everyone!

I love the 6 month old stage. I think it might be my favorite stage so far. Despite the rocky start, you have become such an easy baby. You love to go out. You are so content to sit in the high chair or ride in the shopping cart (yes, you are riding- I am no longer carrying you in the Baby Bjorn). As long as you get enough sleep you are happy when you wake up in the morning and happy when you wake up for your naps. You eat anything I put in your mouth and you play happily in your play pen or swing or on the floor or wherever we put you. You smile a lot and you laugh so easily. You are so much fun. Of course you still have your fussy moments but compared to all that we have been through (with the reflux) you are so easy!

Having said that this is my favorite time thus far I must note that I do terribly miss when you were teeny tiny. I think about it all the time. You were so tiny when we brought you home from the hospital. You fit perfectly on my chest and you would lay there so quietly and contently. I can't believe how fast it has all gone by and pictures just aren't enough to capture the moments that we share together. I hope I never forget. I love you Bubby.

Here is a picture of my beautiful, curious baby boy. This picture shows how you take it all in. You are curious about everything!

A Big Day and A Long Night

Yes, you have definitely started babbling. No doubt about it! I love to hear all the "abababa" "dadada" and "abadapa". It is so fun. I do admit that I was a little worried since you are so late doing it, but God is good and he faithfully shows me time after time that you are in his hands. Our timing is not his...even when it comes to baby babble.

Yesterday was such a great day and I was going on and on to daddy about what a great day you had (hardly any fussing), and how you have slept through the night the past 5 nights in a row. I guess I shouldn't have opened my mouth. :) You were up all night last night crying. Why? At first I wasn't sure. The one thing I am sure of is that you are such a good night time sleeper that if you wake up crying then something is wrong. It took me a little while to figure it out, but you are teething. I thought that you were several days ago but you weren't really showing signs of pain and your gums still felt smooth. Well last night I went to put some baby Orajel on your gums and I felt a little rough spot on your bottom gum trying to poke up. You soon will have a little baby tooth. It is exciting although I am exhausted.

You had a doctor's appointment today. You weigh 18 pounds 3.5 ounces and you are 27 1/4 inches long. Dr. Byars says you are in the 75th percentile.

"Pick Me Up"

You are so cute when you raise your arms up and out to me or daddy. It's your way of telling us to pick you up and I just can't resist. You are reaching and grabbing at everything. Anything that's in my hand...you want it!

Tonight daddy and I took you out for some Christmas shopping. We had a lot of fun and you were so good! And tonight we heard the beginnings of babbling. I heard you make two raspberries and you were playing around a lot with your tongue. You were making /da/ sounds over and over and some other sounds/noises we had not heard before. You were experimenting with your tongue and came out with lots of fun noises. I am so excited that you are on your way to babbling.

Six Months

Six months ago today I was laying in a hospital bed with daddy by my side awaiting your arrival. I can't believe it has been six months. We have already been through so many ups and downs that I'm sure the next six months will be just as bumpy. But I am figuring out that that is how it's supposed to be. No road is perfectly smooth without rocks, bumps, hills, etc. We don't know what each day will hold for you or for us. You continue to surprise us, entertain us, and keep up on our toes! I have loved every minute of it.

Today, you showed me how you could scoot around the floor on your belly. You little monkey! So you roll onto your belly, you push up on your arms so that your chest is off the floor and you drag and pull yourself across the floor with your arms. It was so fun to watch you today for the first time. I get so excited when I see you do something new. You are really moving now! You love my cell phone so below is a picture of you "scooting" to my cell phone. I also finally got a picture of you asleep. Still precious...and yes, still sleeping on your belly.

Tiny Toes

Oh those toes! Tonight in the bathtub you were so cute when you grabbed your feet and inserted your toes directly into your mouth like that's where they were meant to be. You looked like a pretzel. You sucked on your big toe for awhile and they must have tasted good. I didn't have my camera anywhere near and Daddy wasn't home so I didn't get any pictures...but I will!