"The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep."
The quote above really seems to hit home this month, as I can't believe that my baby has turned six months old! It seems like only yesterday we were wondering if we were going to have a boy or a girl, and planning for procrastinating baby's arrival.
The below are your stats from your doctor's appointment this month:
Height: 26.8 inches (55th percentile)
Weight: 17 lbs. 0 oz. (50th percentile)
Head circumference: 17.6 inches (75th percentile)
Diaper Size: Size 2 or 3
Clothing Size: 6 month, 6 - 9 month and 9 month clothes, though you still fit into one or two three month shorts, (though not for long)
Compared to most months, this was actually a quiet month for our little family. We did not have any out of town trips planned with you and we really had a chance to be home and enjoy it! Still though, you seemed to have changed so much in the last month. Here are a few of the things you have been up to:
You got to have separate weekends alone with both mommy and daddy. We both took separate out of town trips (mommy to the lake, daddy to Manhattan) so we each got to spend our own special weekend with you while the other parent was away.
Daddy said he had so much fun the weekend you guys were alone together. There were trips to Hooters (which you slept through), trips to Bass Pro and lots of walks outside. Daddy even managed to get our friend Jordan to watch you Saturday morning so the boys could go watch a golf tournament (it was too hot outside for you, and it looked like you had fun with Jordan)!
Mommy got to spend an extra long weekend with you while daddy was at a golf tournament in Manhattan! We went shopping, went to the pool, relaxed and overall had so much fun. I had so much fun with you, weekends like that make me wish I could spend more time with you.
You did have your first two colds this month, within two weeks of each other. The first one you handled pretty well, never getting a fever or anything, but the second cold really took it out of you. It was your first time staying home sick from daycare (though I'm sure it won't be the last).
You've had a chance to try several different foods this month. Squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, avocado and bananas. Sweet potatoes are your favorite, by far. There's nothing you haven't really liked (though avocado took some getting used to). At our appointment this month, the doctor said we could start adding proteins to your diet, so I think we may start with chicken first! Mommy has still been making your food for you (it just looks so much better and is cheaper too).
When you eat, you are starting to get a little more distracted, so sometimes it takes a little longer to get through a meal, but overall you are still a good little eater!
You are eating four times a day. Usually you start with an 8 oz bottle in the morning, and then will have 2 Tbls. of cereal and a veggie, along with a 6 oz bottle at around 11:30. You will have another 8 oz bottle around 4. At around 7, you get in your last meal of the day, eating 2 cubes of veggies and a 6 oz bottle of formula.
We had to finally break down and get you a high chair this month. It wasn't really cutting it anymore to try and feed you cereal and food sitting on the couch in the Boppy. With your rolling abilities, you were pretty get at getting out of it and trying to roll right off the couch during meal time!
You truly have blessed your mommy and daddy with your sleeping habits. You are still our good sleeper, going to bed around 8 pm and usually waking up around 6:30. There are days we sure wish you would sleep in a little later, but overall, we really can't complain!
Speaking of sleep, this next video just cracks me up! I love that we can put you down for bed and you will put yourself to sleep at night (though I can't say the same thing about naps, you scream bloody murder when I try to put you down awake for your naps).
Babble, babble, babble
You are down to just two naps a days now, as we have dropped our late evening cat nap at this point. You go to bed a little earlier now because of it, but it doesn't seem like you are getting up earlier in the morning because of it.
I think that you are getting pretty close to crawling, which mommy is not ready for! There is not a single baby proofed stairwell or outlet in our house. I think we're going to have to get to work on it, because you are already getting up on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth. You sometimes like to stand on your hands and feet, like you are getting into starting blocks for a race. The video here shows how close you are getting!
Rocking, almost ready to roll!
It is starting to feel like wrangling a monkey anymore while trying to change your diaper or get you dressed. You constantly like to roll over and grab at things on the changing table (no doubt wanting to put whatever it is, into your mouth). Half of the time anymore we will just change you on the floor so we don't have to worry about you rolling off of the dresser!
You are starting to sit up on your own, without the Boppy or mommy holding you! You still have to use your hands to hold you up, and you don't sit like this for too long, but you are definitely getting the hang of it! We are also starting to see you go from you hands and knees to back on your bottom like you want to sit.
You did not get any new teeth this month, though I think we are getting close. Lately you have been chewing on everything in sight, and have your days where you seem to be a little more fussy than normal because of it. We think your top two teeth may be next!
After much consideration, we decided this month that we are going to switch daycares. We don't get to start at the new daycare until the beginning of September, but we did not feel like our current situation was the right fit for you. We are really looking forward to starting at the new daycare next month!
You continue to love playing in your exersaucer, but the jumperoo may be in the running now for favorite toy. You can really get to going in it, jumping really hard (especially if you are done being in it). We even find you trying to jump when you're not in your jumperoo. This next video of you playing with Grammy while in your jumperoo shows you what I mean:
Jumperoo!
You're other favorite toys to play with are the train cars you got from cousin Kaden and your Sophie. I can tell you're such a boy already, as you like smashing the cars together and making loud, crashing noises with them.
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last month:
Mr. Declan was in KC and stopped by to visit us!
How cute is he??
Aunt Bridget got in some snuggles with Declan
Gage also got in some snuggle time with Aunt Abby!
The only picture I have of Gage and Declan without any tears
Such a big boy starting to sit up on his own!
Right before he toppled over
Love him...to pieces.
What happens when dad dresses me! (Though camo onesie/cutoff jean shorts day was way better)
Gage and mommy selfie! Still looks so much like daddy.
Big boy up on my hands and knees
Drool king
Getting his "supermans" in for the day
Out shopping with mommy!
Daddy rocking me before bed
Big boy in his new high chair, and he's loving it!
Littlest (and cutest) StormChasers fan
Mom, this is how I eat it, right?
Backing into his starting blocks, getting ready for the race!
Grammy Kim feeding me dinner
What a sweet smile! Matching hats with daddy.
Spending some time with Grandpa
Love my jumperoo!
Looking up at the bird
Grandpa loves you!
Seriously, what a ham!
Playing with Grandma
Grandma loves you too!
Here are a few outtakes from your six month photo shoot:
Gage, your daddy and I love you so much. You have changed our lives, but you have made them so much richer. We are so grateful for the blessing it is to have you as our son. We have enjoyed these last six months watching you grow and change, and we can't wait to see what the next six months has in store for us. Gage William, we love you to the moon and back!
This last month has been quite eventful, full of many milestones for our sweet baby boy. Just like the last four months, there seems as if so many things have happened during the last month, so many firsts. Every day it seems like there is something new.
There was no doctor's appointment this month, so your stats are just a guess:
Height: 25.5 inches
Weight: 15 lbs. 9 oz.
Diaper Size: Size 2
Clothing Size: 6 month clothes, though you still fit into one or two three month shorts, but you also fit into some 9 month outfits
Here are a few of the things you have been up to in the past month:
You had your first full weekend away from mommy and daddy this month. At the end of June, mommy and daddy went away for the weekend to celebrate our third wedding anniversary, so Grammy and Grandpa McGuire came up to Kansas City for the weekend to watch you. You were in good hands, and it sounds like everyone had such a good time. There were a lot of walks and trips to the pool for you during the weekend.
We were able to take you to the pool a few more times this month. I think you are finally starting to warm up to it, as the last time or two you started kicking and smiling while we have you in the pool, though we have to be careful that you don't swallow the water!
We also got to celebrate your first 4th of July. Since Mommy had to work the day before and after, we didn't do anything special. We made sure to get in a trip to the pool during the day and you were asleep before the fireworks ever went off, which is okay as you are not a huge fan of loud noises, so I don't know how you would have handled it.
At the last minute, we made an impromptu trip to Topeka to see Grandpa and Grandma Blow and all of the Blow cousins. It was so great that such a last minute trip worked out so well where we got to see everyone! That is an occurrence that does not happen very often, so it was a very special trip, and I know Grandpa loved it!
Even though our first attempts at eating cereal didn't go over so well, we have kept working with you and now, you love to eat it. In fact, two days before your birthday, we went ahead and let you starting eating real food. We started you with squash (mommy made it at home with the blender) and you loved it! You didn't even hesitate to eat it, so I am going to bet you are going to be a foodie just like your mommy :).
You are now eating 6 to 8 oz of formula, four times a day. Twice a day you are also eating two tablespoons of cereal (or one tablespoon of cereal and one ounce of squash).
You are learning how to grasp toys and put EVERYTHING to your mouth, and I mean everything. So far your favorite thing to chew on is your burp rags, especially the gross, spit up ones. However, you are starting to really love your Sophie, I think her soft rubber feels pretty good on your gums since you have been teething.
That's right, our little man, you popped not one, but two teeth this month, at the same time! Your bottom front two teeth have popped through at the exact same time. No wonder you had a few days that you were a little fussy, though I must say overall you have handled it rather well! You still have been sleeping through the night, though I think it explains why you were boycotting your naps at daycare for a while.
Also because of your teething, you have started drooling....all the time. Now when I pick you up from daycare I find that the front of your shirt is pretty damp from all of the drooling you are doing. Mommy has learned to become an expert drool ducker.
Nothing has changed in the sleep department, as you are still our good little sleeper. You have been going to bed between 8 and 8:30, but you are starting to wake up a little earlier recently, between 6 and 6:30. Mommy and daddy are (selfishly) hoping that this is phase and that you will go back to sleeping until at least 7.
In the mornings now when you wake up, instead of waking up crying, you wake up babbling and talking to yourself, which has been a fun change for us. Now when we come in to get you, you give us the biggest grin like you are so excited to see us and happy to start your day. Seriously, just melt our hearts.
You like to roll at will, front to back and back to front. You are also really starting to work on your scooting skills. I have a feeling we're going to need to start babyproofing the house soon because you seem to want to get on the move, and fast!
You are also doing so well sitting with support, either in the bumbo or the boppy. Just recently I have started to see you sitting yourself up from leaning back in your bath seat or your bouncer. You are on your way to sitting up on your own!
You are such an active little boy. You like to do all sorts of different activities, whether it be playing in your jumperoo or on your playmat. Your favorite though is your exersaucer, I think because it is so interactive for you and you love all of the noises it can make.
You still don't quite give out laughs freely, but we are definitely hearing it more and more. Sometimes if I just say something you think is funny, you will just start giggling, which I love!
You LOVE to babble, babble. Half of the time you sound like a screeching pterodactyl (you can get pretty loud if you want). The daycare seems to think you have learned to be loud because she is so loud. I don't know if I would disagree (though I'm guessing too you just like the sound of your own voice).
You love to do 'Nanzer with daddy. Anytime you start to fuss or whine, if daddy bounces you on his knees while doing the Bonanza theme song, you light up at him and give the biggest smiles and squeals. You may end up being a John Wayne and western fan just like daddy!
As you start to show us your personality more and more, we are learning that you are overall a pretty chill baby. However, when you do decide that you are upset, you have a temper, and quick! And when you get upset, you can cry loud, like someone is hurting you! I guess they were right that when you cried as a newborn, we hadn't heard anything yet (and I'm sure it can get worse).
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last month:
Sporting the overalls, ready to go hang out with Grandpa on the farm!
Cereal face
Getting some play time in before bed
Taking a play break to watch American Pickers
Eating cereal, definitely going better than before!
Chilling with daddy after work, your eyes match his shirt!
Watching golf, or the Royals....it's what they do (and look the exact same doing it!)
Swimming with mommy (though you don't look so excited)
Looking cool with my shades
Meeting Aunt Sheri and cousin Sadie for the first time
Cousin Emma, what a sweetie!
Gage meeting cousin Emma, though he's not too interested
Grandpa Blow with his grand-girls
Gage with cousin Maddie
Gage with cousin Sadie, she is such a great big sister to Emma!
All of the Blow grandkids, what a special day, that doesn't happen often enough!
Mommy meeting baby Emma
Gage ready for the luau with cousin Maddie and cousin Lauren
This guy had such a good time partying with his cousins!
Happy 4th of July!
So excited, squealing like a pterodactyl!
Such a happy guy
Caught him laughing
"Say what?"
What happens when daddy dresses me...not quite matching
Two teeth coming in already!
Here are a few outtakes from your 5 month photo shoot (which I must say, you're making it harder and harder to do, you just want to move!):
As if that wasn't enough, here are a couple of my favorite videos from the month:
I so LOVE to hear his laugh!
Our little rolling machine
Gage, you have been such a blessing to your dad and I. We so love watching you grow and change, and think that you are a special little man. We love you to the moon and back!
