6 Months Old!

I think every month that's passed has been hard, but hitting 6 months is a little more sentimental to me. In another 6 months, he will be 1! I remember when Tyler was born that everyone said how fast it goes. But, I think with Tyler I always couldn't wait for him to get older so he could "do things." I was not a "baby" person. Now that I know Ryan is our last, I want him to stay small longer.

In the past week, we have started him on a consistent schedule of eating at least one solid a day usually around lunch time. He has had applesauce, pears, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans. He does very well with it, and many times he tries to grab the spoon and feed himself! He is definitely interested in food, as he will follow my fork when I'm eating something while holding him! Tyler loves feeding him...it's perhaps the only interaction he really enjoys right now. He's still holding out for Ryan to be able to "do something." :)

His daily schedule is typically:

• up by 7am
• nap by 9am for 30-45 mins
• nap around noon for 3 hours
• bed by 6:30pm

Now, the above is his schedule without doubt with his sitter. He created it from the first day she kept him and has not deviated from it once with her. He's clockworks. With us, it's a different story. We aim for this schedule and it usually works but we NEVER EVER get a 3 hour nap out of him! So, it usually results in a third nap somewhere in the day. Sometimes Josh and I wish she could be a live-in nanny who's sole responsibility is to put our child to sleep.

Speaking of sleep, this cutie pie still doesn't sleep through the night. It doesn't matter what hour of the night it is, I'll go in there and he's just swinging his arms and legs and smiling. Normally, he wakes up around 3 for a paci and 4 for a feeding. But in the past week, he's been up hourly. So, we are prepared for tooth #3 to appear soon....

He loves his big brother and finds him hilarious! I hope one day the feeling is mutual. :)

He is rolling back to belly, and we've heard from his sitter he can roll belly to back, but I've only seen it once.

He is about a week away from sitting. He has the tripod sit going on now. I think he will enjoy the world so much more once he can sit unassisted!

He gnaws on everything in sight. Again, teething.

He LOVES being outside.

He is outgrowing his baby bath, so hopefully soon we can graduate to a larger one once he can sit up.

He currently outweighs his bouncer that we borrowed from a friend, so that is about to be retired. I'm pretty sure the purpose is not to have the baby leaning with his back touching the floor.

He likes his exersaucer and his bumbo for limited time frames.

He loves his stroller (very different from Tyler!)

He LOVES when anyone sings "You are my sunshine." It's clearly a favorite of his!

He turns my attitudes around. I get to see him for a total of 2 hours a day during the work week, so I don't have time to be in a bad mood when I'm around him nor do I want to be. I hug and squeeze him and savor this time I have with him at this age. Sure, I wish he would let us sleep better, but it won't always be like this. I have to wake my 4 year old up every morning at 8! Why he couldn't have slept this late when he was an only child is beyond me!! I rarely show frustration when I'm up a few times a night or even this week when I've been getting up every hour beginning at 11pm. I still get up, shower, go to work, and go about my day happy that I'm a mommy to two incredible kids.

Happy 1/2 birthday, Ryan! His 6 month visit is in a week (Oct. 29)!