Happy 1/2 Birthday!

Dear John Brooks,

   Today you are 6 months old! I can’t believe we have been hanging out together for 6 months already – especially because I never thought I’d make it past those first couple of weeks. Time certainly has been clipping along at a swift pace these past few months! I am writing this letter as a reminder for you and me of what your life was like at this stage.

    You have been eating solids for two months now. Your favorite foods thus far are carrots, apples, bananas, and peaches but you will eat pretty much anything that we give you. So far, the only foods that you don’t particularly like are green beans and the apple, banana, strawberry combo. We can tell time by your eating schedule. You nurse/take a bottle every three hours like clockwork from when you wake up until when you go to bed. We give you rice cereal at breakfast and fruits and veggies at lunch and supper. The extra nourishment has allowed you to gain at least 2 pounds since your last checkup! You also like to try things on mama’s plate and so far have tasted – greek yogurt, applesauce, watermelon, peaches, bananas, pork roast, creamed corn and key lime pie. You looooove key lime pie. You even like the song “Key Lime Pie”. We are starting to place a “sippy” cup on your high chair tray but so far you are more interested in drinking out of mama and daddy’s big cups than drinking out of your cup.

    Speaking of bedtime, you are a GREAT sleeper (knock on wood)! You usually go down for bed around 9 pm and we usually get you up around 8 am in the morning. Mama and Daddy are so thankful that you are a good sleeper. You even sleep well in your pack and play! All that night time rest makes you not a great napper but we don’t complain about that one bit. In the mornings we usually find you lying on your side sucking your thumb. I think its funny that you don’t cry when you wake up in the morning.

    Besides eating, some things you love right now are: sucking your toes, being outside, rolling, playing with your giraffe, you also love balls and can pass a ball back and forth between your hands. You are soooo close to crawling – up on all fours rocking back and forth- and you are getting the hang of sitting up as long as you have your arms in front of you to brace yourself. You babble alot, blow raspberries, and have figured out how to run your hand over your mouth while making noise – its your newest favorite trick. You also LOVE bathtime!

You are very inquisitive and stop what you are doing when you hear a voice as if you are trying to listen to what the person is saying. You like to see what is going on and sometimes crane your neck to get a better view of the world above/around you. You have a lot of facial expressions and can work your eyebrows to convey how you feel. You also know how to raise one side of your lip – a trait you were born being able to do. You like to study and observe new situations and people and often have a very “serious” look on your face. Once you get to know people they see the beautiful smile that lights up your face and how bright your eyes get when you are excited!

John Brooks, you are sooo loved by everyone in your family! Your dad and I are so blessed to have you in our lives and are so thankful for the moments we have had and the moments that lay in store for us as a family. I love it when you snuggle up on my neck and put your arm around my shoulder! Daddy loves it when you two play “peek-a-boo” and when the two of you“talk” to each other.

Happy 1/2 Birthday to my sweet baby boy!

 

Love,

Mama