Six Months

Grayson is six months old! I really love the stage he is in - he is so much fun, very busy, and his personality is starting to shine through. Here are a few notable things about Grayson at six months:

Curious - It started at about 5 months, but seriously what felt like overnight, Grayson changed. He changed from our calm little baby to a busy body. He wants to touch and grab anything and everything. He lunges at and will knock over just about anything sitting within reach. Most things go directly into his mouth. It's fun - but definitely changes the game and certainly means gone are the days of eating dinner with Grayson on our laps. 

Rolling over - He first rolled over around 5 months. We would lay him down on his back and then find him on his stomach. At first, he was a sly little roller because we rarely actually caught the roll in action. But a few weeks later it all changed. Now he can cover our 10 by 10 foot rug by rolling over and over and over. It's cute and fun and again, changes the game. You can't just confidently sit him down on the bed or the changing table anymore. 

Sitting up - Being such a "sturdy" little kid, sitting up came pretty naturally to Grayson. Again, he first started to sit up really well around 5 months. Now I can plop him down and he will entertain himself, sitting up and playing with toys, for a good 20 to 30 minutes. It's actually a welcome little break as I frantically try to fit in a few to-do items here and there.

Babbling - Grayson has always been a vocal baby, but he's amped up his baby babble. He loves the syllables "da" and "ba." He also loves to sputter his lips and if you're not careful, you get sprayed with his slobber...which leads us to the next point. 

Slobber - Grayson drools and drools and drools. Sometimes I wonder if there is any hydration left in his little body. People often ask me if he is teething. I've been thinking he's teething for like 2 months now. I have no idea. But if slobber is an early sign of teething, we are certainly headed in that direction. 

Eating solids - I've had such an easy and wonderful experience breastfeeding Grayson. And so, I wasn't eager to jump into solids because to me, breastfeeding was so much easier (portable, clean, and easy food on-demand). But after we returned from Christmas break, we gave in and tried rice cereal. He loved it the first time, but we did have a few nights of "failure" as he got used to the idea and some new flavors (veggies and fruits). Now, he's eating like a champ and is up to eating solids twice a day. He loves everything except peas. Literally, he spit them out and grimaced. I didn't force him. I tried those mushy peas...I grimaced too. Next step is learning how to make my own baby food. 

Momma's boy - I'm not simply trying to flatter myself here, but this boy loves me. I'll take it. 

Dad's Pal - Stuart pretty much wins Dad of the year. He cares for Grayson half of the week when I am at work and he does such a great job. It's so much easier leaving for work when I know Grayson is with Stuart. They are best buddies and Stuart often knows all the little tricks to get him to sleep. Stuart is better with babies than most women and I'm proud of him for jumping into this Dad thing so willingly and happily. Stu and Gray have always had a strong bond - since the very beginning - and I love watching them together. 

Still growing - Grayson is now 21 lbs. (95%) and 28.5 inches long (98%). He is a healthy, happy, and big boy and yes, I hear about it basically every time we are in public. I know he's big, but I wouldn't have him any other way. 

It's crazy to think about how much our life has changed in the past six months. I do not have a newborn baby anymore, I have a legitimate child who has a personality and mind of his own. He's still so good natured and happy and I just loved spending time with him. His first Christmas was special, while he didn't really care about presents or the festivities, we just loved the chance to dote on him and spoil him and enjoy being a family of three during that special time. 

Yesterday, Stuart was telling me an experience he had. He was feeding Grayson and had this overwhelming feeling of exhaustion (we've been sick this week and endured a few long nights). He said he felt like he had just finished the first mile of a marathon and felt like he couldn't run much further. He said it hit him what a commitment being a parent can really be - I mean, we are in charge of this person...forever. And yet, at the same time, he had an equally overwhelming feeling of love and peace.

I think it was an appropriate analogy. Not only is there a physical toll of parenting, but sometimes, the emotional toll can also feel overwhelming. You've never been so in love with another person before, you've never devoted so much thought, time, and energy to making sure that person is healthy, happy, and safe. It is hard. And at the same time, we are so lucky to experience this kind of love. We really wouldn't have it any other way - especially since we've had it the other way. Those times of life without Grayson are enough to let us know with 100% certainly, this is better. 

And now the photo montage (I got a new camera and am dabbling in the world of photography. I am such an amateur so no judging, but it was an excuse to put on my own little six-month photo shoot. Also a good excuse to buy Gray some cute clothes (I think I keep Baby Gap in business)).