Six Month Update

I can't sleep....

...is that supposed to run in the family?

Anyways...so here is an update for you!

Michael turned 6 months old on Sunday and, once again, he seems to be right on track developmentally for his age.

Michael is not nakies in this picture...there is a diaper. I would never think of putting a nakies baby on our bed!

Some fun things that Michael is doing is reaching for things that he wants. I mean, he sticks his arms straight towards whatever has caught his attention, and he sticks his lip out and the look on his face is clearly: I want that.

It's way cute.

Michael is continuing to perfect the roll-over, and is getting really good at moving toward toys and things he wants. This is a good sign for me, because he is starting to make the connection between what he wants, and how to get there--good steps for mobility!
He is also making fun sounds, like "ba!" and "thhhh" and "mmmmm" and, of course, "pppbbbttt!!!"

On several occasions, I swear I've heard him say things like, "hey!" and "ok!" It was not my imagination!!

Some not so fun things (well, there is really only one) is that he is starting to protest when things don't go his way, or he wasn't done playing with a toy when it was moved out of his hands (so I could dress him, or something). He will cry. He is getting a bit testy when we are doing things he is not a fan of, like getting dressed. So, he is starting to profess his opinion, which is good. I'm glad he has strong stances on things. So does his Daddy :)

The sleeping thing is back to hit-and-miss. After great strides, he is back to his 30 minute catnap most of the time....oh well.

But hey, he is sleeping through the night!! So I'm not too stressed about it all. Well, I try not to be stressed about it. His afternoon naps are very painful to get him to go down for. I don't know what changed, but I can no longer just put him in his bed and have him get himself to sleep (we can for the morning and nighttime...weird, huh?) but for that afternoon nap, it is a very consistent (and painful) song and dance. It always involves him screaming his head off for several minutes (no matter what I do...hold him, rock him, walk around...nothing calms him) and then at some magical moment, he decides he is done and he goes to sleep. Of course, his first few minutes of sleep are laden with quick breaths from his hard crying...but I don't know how to fix it! It's just what we do now, I guess.

I don't like it. I wish I knew what was wrong, or what to do to prevent it. I don't think it's over-tiredness, because when I put him down earlier, it's the same thing...I dunno. Hopefully we can resolve it soon though.

But, back to good news...his nighttime sleeping is going amazing! He's a good little sleeper and will go from 7pm to 6-6:30am and after waking up with either some crying, or maybe even some singing, he'll stay in his bed playing with his blankie (thanks Aunt Wheetah!) or I'll put a toy in there and I'll be able to sneak a few minutes of sleep until 7. It's nice. I don't feel nearly as tired anymore in the day!

*quick tangent: I was teaching a class the other day and introduced myself, and told everyone about Michael, and what he is learning and how we are happy he is finally getting some good sleep....and as we went around the room, another mom introduced herself and talked about her son and said, "Well, he's been sleeping through the night since he was two weeks old, so I feel sorry for you *smirk* Yeah, he's pretty chill."

Grr! I hate "mom competition"! It's ugly and nasty and gross. Especially when you are comparing your child to my child and my child is being presented on the "losing end."

I was about to offer some defense for Michael and reiterate just how great he is, and we love him just as he is because he is just perfect...and then wipe that smirk off her face by explaining that in 14 years her baby is going to be rolling outta bed at noon everyday and will be lethargic and lazy while baby Michael will be finishing writing his third book by then....


...but I was supposed to be teaching a class on the love of God, so I held my tongue.

I hate mom competition. See what it does to me? *end tangent*

I do have to say, in all my reading of baby sleep problems/solutions, I am pretty much ready to admit that Michael does not have a sleeping problem...at least not as bad by a long shot, as some other babies. I mean, I read these stories and I feel guilty for ever complaining! Michael is a good little boy who sleeps well at night, can get himself to sleep on his own, is cheerful in the day, and can at least take predictable naps. They may not be long, but goshdarnit, they are pretty regular and predictable!

Remind me of that last paragraph...like tomorrow around 1:30 when I'm pulling my hair out!


So in addition to our great advances in the sleep department, the last big thing to mention is that.....


Michael is eating solid foods!!!

He is a GOOD eater!


anyone surprised?

He likes pears, sweet potatoes, carrots and LOVES apples (he ate a half an apple at one sitting!).

He reaches for the spoon and helps me get it to his mouth.




And he leans forward with that cute upper lip sticking out to tell me he wants more.


And he drinks from his sippy cup (and soaks himself every time!)


And he is just so cute.


Sometimes, he is a little unsure....

... but after a few minutes of eating (plus, you know, Daddy), he just loves it to pieces.

It takes a bit more time, because now it is just a supplement to nursing rather than a replacement of it...so it adds a good chunk of time to our morning and our evening routine...but it is all part of the process, and it is super fun!



So we are halfway to the 1 year mark! It's hard to believe! Six months seems like such a big milestone! And we are continuing to have fun with it all.