Happy half birthday Caleb!

Half a year.  I've had this sweet boy in my life for half a YEAR.  

What a 6 months it has been.  

Caleb and I have changed and grown at just about the same rate since he was born.  Caleb has grown physically and mentally, and me, I've grown emotionally and spiritually (and shrunk physically!!!).

  Thank you Lord for all that You have done in the both of us to mold us into the people you want us to be in order to glorify You.  

Here's what sweet Caleb is up to these days.

Size: Caleb is fully into 6 months clothes.  He's wearing some 6-12 month and some 9 month clothes as well.  We went to the doctor this week and he is 18.5 lbs (70th percentile), 27.5 inches (85th percentile), and his cute little head is 17.5 inches around (50th percentile).  

He's in between size 2 and 3 in shoes.  

I bought him some Toms in size 3 and I am torn - I want them to fit so he can wear them but I am in no hurry for him to grow!!

Likes: Caleb loves people, any fabric toy, and we are having a love affair with tags.  

He can find the tag on any toy.  I might try to sew him a taggy blanket if I get really adventurous.  

He loves floor time where he can move around but also loves to sit with you and interact.  

He's loving sitting in his high chair and still is content to sit in the bouncer while I get ready in the bathroom.  

Dislikes: A new dislike is when we take something away from him that he was intent on having whether it be an appropriate toy or something he shouldn't have.  

Crying is involved here.  The will is coming out!

He's not a fan of loud noises such as the food processor although the hair dryer is acceptable.

Oh my heart!  Those eyelashes, lips, and cheeks!

Working on/Milestones: This month, Caleb started on the road to crawling.  

About 2 weeks ago, he pushed up on all fours and a week later he was inch worming it across the floor.

  Now he's starting to put one hand in front of the other.  

I'm guessing that by the 7 month post, we're fully crawling!

Still no teeth, but LOTS of drool!

Eating: This week, we started solids!  Caleb's first food was sweet potatoes.  

I made them in my beaba babycook.  

At first they were way too thick, but I added more liquid and he's enjoying them now.  The first day he was gagging and giving us disgusted faces.  Now he opens his mouth for it and actually eats some.  

Tomorrow, we're trying avocado and next week bananas or pears.  

Its so fun to watch him try something new.  

Later I'll dedicate an entire post to his first food experiences.  

He's still nursing 5-6 times a day.  

 I asked the pediatrician, and she said to maintain just that for a while and not to cut out any nursing just because we're adding solids.  

Crunches!  I wish I had his dedication to working on my abs.  I've tried this exercise - legs off the floor straight out and head up...its hard!!

Sleeping: Caleb slept through the night for the first time this month!  

It was a glorious day.  

He is doing it more and more...I'd say every 3rd night or so.  

When he does wake up (as long as we're not out of town), its not usually until 5 or 6 so I still get a nice stretch of sleep and he goes right back to sleep.  

He's goes down still around 7:30 and wakes up for good around 8.  

As I had hoped, I have great news about his naps - they are much less trouble!  

His first nap, around 9:30 is almost always painless and he goes to sleep for at least an hour with no crying.  

Then there's a nap around noon and then 3:30. 

 Of course the last two naps vary a bit and sometimes there's crying, sometimes not but there has been definite improvement with much less crying!  What a relief its been.  

This is his making raspberries face.  LOVE.

Ok, so here's the progression of his "crawl".  

Up on all fours, rocking.

There's something I want!  Launch forward!!

Launch again and lunge forward with face.  

We are so in love!  So thankful for this baby boy in our life.  Each stage is such a delight and its so amazing to watch his mental and physical development.