Gray's 7 Month Update

We have a seven month old! Here's Gray's update for his seventh month.

Developmentally he's growing by leaps and bounds. Right after he turned 6 months old he started sitting up unsupported . . .

. . . which led to his first shiner a week later when he dived headfirst into Nora's train table. Really, that was his only serious fall though - every other time he fell he would do a sit-up AS he was falling and avoid hitting his head! The kid is strong and learns fast. :) He's already improved so much - I can now sit him down on the floor with no worries. As long as Nora doesn't come along and try to tickle him. ;)

He only started rolling from back-to-front recently. Most of month 6 his rolling looked like the above photo - SOOOOO close! You remember he rolled from front to back when he was ten weeks old, so it's amazing to me that it has taken him so long to figure out the other way. But he just hasn't been interested until recently. Mostly, he enjoys being on his side. When he is on his belly, he scoots just a little bit (mostly backwards!)

Eating-wise he's doing great! He's eating what I would call "stage two" foods - Cheerios, puffs, soft bananas and pears, thicker and chunkier purees, crackers, etc. He doesn't love drinking water from a cup, but occasionally he will practice for awhile and he does well for a first-timer. His pincher-grasp has really developed quickly! But it's great because he can "sort of" feed himself now. When he gets ahold of food and tries to make it in his mouth, he succeeds about 50 percent of the time. Go Gray go! (He loves it when I cheer him on.) ;)

I stopped giving him his blue blanky this month because of the above photo. He would pull it over his head and give me a heart attack when I walked into his room everyday. Sometimes at night I wait until he's sleeping and then go in and cover him with it so he stays warm. He sleeps great still: 10-12 hours per night, and three naps daily - although I think he's about ready to give up his third nap already. Maybe not, but I am willing to bet that his eight month update includes that the third nap is dropped.

He still likes to stick his tongue out all the time!

Seriously. ;)

Here's Gray playing with his cousin Benny, who is three months older. They are starting to get closer in ability and size as they get older, so that's neat. I love that they get to grow up together. ;)

This past month we had family pictures taken, and I went ahead and got Gray's 6 month photos done as well. Here are some of my favorites:





My cousin Heidi of Heidi Clark Photography took these. Aren't they awesome!!

Until next time . . .

Grayson's 6 Month Update

Here is our 6 month old boy! :)

I must admit, I cried and cried the night before Grayson turned 6 months old. How is it that my baby boy is not really a newborn anymore??!! It's absolutely cruel how fast this all happens - even when you are expecting it!

Grayson continues to grow beautifully. His personality is wonderful - he's so laid back and go-with-the-flow, but also a CUTE-LITTLE-STINKERBUG-FLIRTY-PANTS! ;) Anyway, he smiles a LOT, although sometimes he will just look at someone and burst into (real) tears - which is really cute and funny because it's SO heartbreaking-ly adorable. He's impossible not to love, really. I have the easy job!

Developmentally Grayson is doing well. At his 6 month checkup he weighed in at 19.5 pounds, and is 27.25 inches long. Both of these are in the 80th percentile for his age group. He isn't rolling from back to front yet, but the doctor said that larger babies can have trouble with that. He's pretty close, as seen in the above photo. :) (Side note: I love that picture. It just sums up Gray's personality so well!) He plays for long stretches on his belly or back on the floor, and also loves his Exersaucer. He's recently learned to jump, and that is his FAVORITE activity!! :) He can also sit pretty well for his age. I have just recently started putting him on the floor with a boppy around him - but I stay close because he loves to dive headfirst into the ground chasing after his toys! He also has his tongue out all. the. time. Just like his daddy!

As far as eating goes, well Grayson loves it! :) We are in the process of weaning off of breastfeeding, which has been harder on me than him. He's also eating baby food of all kinds, rice cereal, oatmeal, puffs, cheerios, and bananas. This month he really started to enjoy food and open his mouth to expect the spoon. His first time eating a banana he did great! Hardly any choking. When he ate puffs for the first time, he did well but did choke a few times. It didn't take him very long to get the hang of things though - he hardly chokes anymore. This morning for breakfast we nursed, and then he had 2 Tbsp. of rice cereal with fruit, a quarter of a banana, and about 15 Cheerios. So he's a good eater!

Grayson spent a LOT of time outside this month! He likes to go for walks in the stroller and I took him on his first trailer ride on the bike. He also played outside on a blanket, in the grass, and in his pop-a-tot. Occasionally I will carry him around in the Moby wrap. He likes to feel grass on his feet and hardly ever wears shoes or socks. He kicks them off!! He spends a lot of time when he's outside watching his sister and the other kids - you can tell he wants to run around with them! We also spent a little time swinging on the swings, and I put Nora's old Jenny-Jump-Up on our swing set for Gray to jump in. He will probably like it a lot when he figures it out. ;)

This month we are having some work done on our basement, which required us to put everything down there into the guest room or the center of the basement. It was great for the kids because it created this "track" for them to play on indoors! On rainy days Grayson is learning to use his walker down there while Nora learns to ride her big girl bike. It's been a lot of fun!!

That's about it for now. Gray remains a joy to have in our lives! Until next time . . .