Dear Doster- 6 Months

 Dear Doster,

6 months. That’s half of a year!  Ever since I came back to work, it seems like time is racing by me.  The last month has been pure joy.  You had your first Thanksgiving, and I think that our entire family can admit that your presence is what we are most thankful for this year.

A favorite moment for me was during the blessing.  We were all holding hands around the table, and you grabbed Uncle John's hand, as if you knew the routine.  Ah, melted my heart.

I am such a slacker; this is, literally, the only picture I took on Thanksgiving!

Somehow I have this picture too.  I'll have to get with the grandparents and steal their pics!

I’m getting much better about dropping you off at school.  I still cry sometimes (again, not because you are unhappy or because I’m worried—only because I miss you!).   I’m trying to live in the moment more during the time we spend together. 

In other monthly news, we took you to see Santa the weekend after Thanksgiving.  You were a pro.  You stared at Santa and were very chill.  Good job!  You also took a huge poo in Santa’s workshop.  James and I were very impressed with our pit-crew-like speed and even high-fived after we aced our first public diaper dash.

Size:

We just had your 6 month check-up today.  You clocked in at 17 pounds, 3 ounces (44th percentile) and 25 and 3/4 inches (24th percentile). 

You are now in size 3 diapers all the time, and are wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes.

Feeding:

Trying to hold your own!

You are still mostly a bottle guy, but we’ve been doing a little cereal for breakfast over the last month.   We’ve tried cereal and oatmeal and you seem to slightly prefer the latter.  You aren’t a huge eater, but we are practicing.  You LOVE your bottle and you even try to grab it.  You can put it in your mouth by yourself, but you haven’t quiet grasped the concept of the angle.  A for effort!

Towards the end of the month, we moved you to 4 bottles a day or about 1 every 4 hours that you are awake.  Half is formula, have is from me.   Let me give myself a little pat on the back for surviving 6 months of the pumping game!

Sleeping

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  You are still an incredible sleeper.  When people ask me about your sleeping schedule, I almost hesitate to tell them.  I’m afraid they’ll think I’m lying or bragging.

You do 11 or 12 hours per night and you’ve made huge improvements in napping.  You aren’t the best napper at school, but on the weekends at home you are a pro. 

You bounce around all over your crib at night.  Your dad and I love seeing what positions you will ultimately wake in.  Sometimes your chubby little legs get caught in the crib slats-- it's just about the cutest thing.

Personality

You are still a happy man, even when you aren’t feeling well.  You’ve had a little cold this month, but you’d never know it by your disposition.   Your teacher was bragging about you again last week.  She called you her “baby of the year.”

You usually only cry when you are tired or when I blow your nose with our snot-sucker.  Can’t say I blame you.

Sometimes I think you are trying to be funny.  When you make weird noises it cracks me up.  It’s almost as if you continue doing it just to keep us laughing.  Our little comedian!

Development

You change so quickly that I could never keep up with all that you are doing.  Some quick highlights:

• Rolling all over the place
• “Practice” sitting (with assistance)
• Grabbing EVERYTHING
• Putting anything in your mouth
• Reaching
• Kicking
• Making funny noises with your mouth
• Laughing Laughing Laughing

Thank you for being such a good baby.  You fill up my heart every single day.  I never imagined I would l love being a mom so much.  It is all because you are so wonderful, and pretty easy on me.   I’m so lucky.