Six Months Old

Dear Will,

Remember how I said last month was a big month? Well, as it turns out, you're at that age where every month is a big month! You seem to discover something new each and every day.

Among your favorite recent discoveries? Your feet. You love diaper changes, since you get to lay back, grab your feet, and try to pull them into your mouth. When I prop you up to sit, you immediately lean forward and grab your toes. We're having trouble getting you to sit independently, since you're always lunging for your feet and toppling over.

Though you rolled over for the first time around Christmas, you really started rolling over this month, flipping from your tummy to your back easily and often. I can barely put you on your stomach without you immediately rolling over. You're always so proud of your accomplishment, wildly kicking your feet in excitement. Sometimes you'll roll to your side from your back, but you don't seem to have the momentum or coordination to flip fully yet.

You love music and dancing. We spend most of our days with you perched on my hip, bouncing around and singing songs. Your favorites are "10 Little Fingers", "Where is Thumkin?", "B-I-N-G-O" (though we sing "S-TE-L-L-A") and "The Wheels On The Bus". When you're fussy, I usually make up songs to narrate whatever we're doing. It doesn't matter what I'm singing about. You just love to be sung to.

We read every single day. Your favorite books are "More, More, More Says The Baby", "Brown Bear, Brown Bear", "The Hungry Caterpillar", "The Bear Snores On" and "Goodnight, Moon". We also have two picture books with illustrations of pets and farm animals that you love to look at. I hope you always love reading.

We started solids this month, which has been endlessly entertaining. I love feeding you with a spoon and watching you try new things. You eat all organic (of course) and I'm making most of your baby food myself. Your favorites include oatmeal, avocado, squash and bananas. You hate rice cereal and applesauce.

You need all that extra food because man oh man, are you growing. You now weigh over 16 pounds (30th percentile) and measure 25 inches long (70th percentile). Long and lean, just like your mama.

You are still enamored with Stella (and all other dogs). You stare at her where ever she is, what ever she's doing. You squeal with delight when she licks your hands. And though it startles you a bit, you grin from ear to ear when she licks your face. You reach out and pat her now, though we're working on not grabbing and pulling (be gentle!). She's so good with you though, patiently waiting for you to release her ear or her lip when you get a good grip.

Over the past few months, I've had several people describe you as "pensive". It's an odd word to describe a baby, but it fits you. You are Mama's serious boy, thoughtful and tentative. Sweet and smiley. Perfect in every way. You literally make my world go round.

I love you, my darling boy.

Mama