Six months

How time flies! It’s hard to believe you’re already halfway to your first birthday, but here we are.

Probably in part because of the ridiculously mild winter we’re having, you have been very healthy this whole time. You’re receiving your final Synagis injection at your next checkup unless medical authorities determine that RSV season will last longer than anticipated. You haven’t been around big groups of people very much and we still make everyone wash their hands before they get to hold you, just in case.

Your personality is really becoming obvious. You’re paying close attention to your surroundings, so even if someone isn’t going out of their way to do something funny for you, you often laugh anyway. The other night when your Papa and I were discussing furniture, I said, “Ooh, ooh, ooh! You should go see them at [the store you and I shopped in over the weekend]” and you just found that hilarious. Sneezes are also apparently very funny. (Usually just your own, but also mine sometimes.)

You’re very curious about what’s going on around you. You like to watch A and P play at Mrs. D’s house. You like to reach out for toys that are nearby. You don’t much care for being in your pack n’ play for very long because you want to sit up and see what everyone is doing.

You can’t quite sit up by yourself yet but you’re getting there. You’ve definitely got rolling to the left accomplished. (To the right–not so much yet.) You can also push up when you’re laying on your stomach, and you only need one arm to do so. Just like that picture I took of you doing a one-arm pushup in the NICU, you like to show off how strong you are. Your legs are also very strong. You can stand as long as you have someone supporting you. Sometimes when someone is holding you in their lap, you make it known that you’d rather STAND on their lap.

You still eat rice cereal, though some days you don’t want as much as others. I tried experimenting with mashed avocado one day and pureed carrots on another day, but you weren’t interested in those. Even though your pediatrician doesn’t use an adjusted age with you, I have to remember that you were very early–you should only be 3.5 months now–so I don’t need to rush to feed you food yet. You still nurse regularly unless I’m at work, and then you get a bottle.

This past week you have slept through the night twice! You’d done it a few times before and it’s still the exception and not the rule, but I was proud of you for it. Your preferred sleeping position is the same now as it was in NICU: on your left side but not quite on your stomach. Once you settle yourself into that position at night, you fall asleep very quickly, whether I’m in the room or not.

When you first wake up, you don’t really cry anymore. Now you talk to yourself. I’m not sure what you’re saying but you don’t sound perturbed. You’re in a happy mood but it still takes a few minutes for you to fully come to your senses. (It’s probably going to be like that all the time, so just get used to it. Later on I’m sure your aunt and uncle will introduce you to black coffee and it’ll speed that process up a little.)

Your other favorite sound to make is this: “what noise does a truck make?”

You’re drooling a lot and sucking on your fingers (or anyone else’s if they’re available), so we’ve wondered whether you’re going to start teething soon. I can feel something in your lower gums, so we may be close. You also like to suck on your bib or the sleeve of the person holding you.

We’re starting to work on some sign language so that soon you’ll be able to tell me what you’re thinking about!

You are an amazing, gorgeous, engaging little man. I can’t wait to see what the next six months (and beyond!) bring. I love you more than anything, baby boy.