Jackson {6 Months}

Sweet Baby J, I can hardly believe that you're already 6 months old.  Seriously -- that's a whole half of a year.  How the heck did that even happen???

The past couple of months have been a complete whirlwind, which is partially the reason that I never got around to writing about or posting the pictures from your 5-month photo shoot -- oops!  Shortly after you were born, your dad and I decided that we didn't like the fact that it took him over an hour to get home from work and that we needed to move further north.  We put our house up for sale at the beginning of June, and after being on the market for only 2 days, we had received 2 offers.

Packing up an entire house and moving is not an easy task -- especially not when you have a baby.  Most of the work was done while you were napping, which is why it took me quite a bit of time to get everything packed up, but thankfully, that's all behind us now.  At least for a little while.  Unfortunately, we don't have a new house quite yet, but your great grandmother has offered to let us live in her house until we find a place since she is currently living in an assisted living facility.  This past weekend, we moved out of our home and into my grandmother's house for the time being.  And as if that wasn't crazy enough, we also found a house this past weekend, made an offer, and found out that it was accepted.

You would think that doing all of this with a baby in-tow would make things even more stressful, but actually, having you around makes things so much better.  The thought of selling our house without knowing where we were going to end up was a little scary, but I knew that we would be just fine no matter where we ended up -- as long as I was able to take you and your dad {and Annie and Amos, too, of course} with me.

You really are the center of my world, and I have never loved anyone or anything more than you.  Until I had you, I had never realized how selfish I was.  I had always thought of myself as giving -- I mean, I volunteered on a regular basis and tried to be a good person, but before you were born, my life revolved around me.  I did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do, and I did it in whatever way was best for me.  It's kind of embarrassing to admit that, but it's true, and I am so glad that you have changed all of that.  Now I do what YOU want to do {at least what I think you want to do} when YOU want to do it, and I do it in whatever way is best for YOU.

Thank you for making me a better person and for helping me to realize that this world is not all about me.  I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Your Mom

P.S.  If you're wondering where your stuffed dog is, he's packed away in storage at your Pops and Big Momma's house.  Poor Mr. Dog.  Hopefully he'll forgive us for leaving him out of this month's photo shoot, but if he's anything like you or your dad, he's probably enjoying a break from my camera. ;)

{6 MONTH STATS}

Measurements:

• Weight: 20 pounds 11 ounces
• Length: 27 inches

Sizes:

• Clothes: mostly 9 months and some 12 months
• Diapers: size 3
• Shoes: size 3

Eating:  As you can see, you are still such a great eater.  Up until now, all you've had is breastmilk, but this coming weekend, we plan to start you on solids and are excited to see how that'll go.  During the day, you nurse every 3 hours and then once in the middle of the night.  Thankfully, we have now found a bottle that you like, too, which really helps on the days that you stay with your Mimi.  We had originally registered for a bunch of Dr. Brown's bottles since that's what all of our friends recommended, but we realized a couple of months ago that you were better about taking milk from the Avent bottle that we received as a sample in the mail, so we bit the bullet and bought all new bottles.  It was so worth it!  Less screaming for you and less bottle parts to wash for us.  It was a win-win situation for everyone.  As for the number of ounces you drink, I'm a little unsure of that.  Sometimes you will down 8 ounces and want more, and other times, you barely drink 6, but usually you drink anywhere from 6-8 ounces each time that you eat.

Sleeping:  You're still a great sleeper, too, but not quite as good as you used to be.  A couple of months ago you were sleeping through the night, but while we were on vacation at the Hyatt Lost Pines, you started waking up in the middle of the night again, and unfortunately, it has continued.  You usually get up at around 4 or 5 in the morning, and I realize that I'm probably going to have to break you of this habit at some point, but for now, we both get to bed quicker if I just go in there and feed you.  I really do think that you're waking up because you're hungry {and not just because you aren't able to soothe yourself back to sleep} because you take an entire feeding, but then again, I also realize that you're not starving and that a 20+ pound baby should be able to go the entire night without eating.  On a typical day, you usually wake up at about 7:30 or 8 and take naps in your crib from about 9:30-11, 12:30-1:30, and 3-5.  You might take a quick catnap in your swing or stroller sometime in the evening, and then after we have given you a bath and fed you one last time, we put you to bed at about 8.

Likes:

• Taking sips of water from our glasses or water bottles
• Rolling all over the place -- from your tummy to your back and from your back to your tummy
• Laying on our bed and hiding under the sheet
• Chewing on your Sophie giraffe and your colored links and sucking on your pacifier when you're unhappy
• Playing peek-a-boo {I'm so glad it doesn't scare you anymore!}
• Laying in bed and talking/squealing to yourself after you wake up
• Pretending to be shy -- hiding your face in my shoulder and then looking back at someone with a big grin
• Reaching out and grabbing things that are in our hands
• Putting everything in your mouth
• Watching Annie & Amos eat while sitting in your bumbo
• Not having to take that nasty tasting acid reflux medicine anymore!
• Locking your legs and shaking your body when you're excited
• Playing in your Little Einstein jumper -- pushing the buttons that light up and play music and trying to put everything in your mouth
• Sleeping unswaddled {we actually dropped that habit cold-turkey shortly after you turned 4 months}

Dislikes:

• Being put down for a nap if you're already overly tired
• Riding around in your carseat for an extended period of time -- especially if you're hungry
• Taking a bath if you're overly tired and/or hungry
• Getting out of the bathtub
• Taking a shower {which we do when on vacation}

You really are such a happy baby these days -- you don't have nearly as many "dislikes" as you used to!  For the most part, life is great as long as you are well-fed and well-rested.  You are definitely your father's son. ;)

I love you, baby boy...

...even more than you love your feet. ;)