The sixth month

He:

*In one month has gone from having zero teeth to four. Holy moley.

*Has a new favorite game: we have our back to him and then turn around real quick and say "hi!" It cracks him up every time!

*Is a little obsessed with whatever people are drinking. It's gotten to the point where anytime we pick up a glass I take a sip and then just automatically put it up to his face. He likes to feel the outside of the cup/can/bottle on his mouth - I think most times just because it's cold. 

Exhibit A

*Is still struggling a bit with sleep - he was at the point where he'd only make noise once a night, Ben would go in and give him a bottle, and that would be the end of it. However, teeth threw everything off, so we're trying to work our way back to that.

*Has started to slooooooowly get better in the car. After the little fender-bender, we got a new carseat - it's a newer model of the one we had but it's a lot cushier. Between that and Parks realizing he can look out the window, car rides are not quite the scream fest they used to be. (Praise Jesus!)

*Holds hands with me a lot and it melts my heart! By holding hands I mean he holds a finger or two of mine, but he does it while he's taking a bottle, and a lot of times when I'm wearing him in the carrier. It's like "hey I'm all snuggled up to you Mom, but I need to just be a little bit closer." Well okay baby boy, not a problem!

*Has a ridiculously cute Halloween costume - have no fear, a picture will be shared!

*Will be trying foods soon - I can't wait to see the faces that will be made during this process!

She:

*Has made it past six months of exclusively pumping! My long-term goal is still a year, but right now I'm just taking it one month a time; I have a countdown app on my phone, and I create a new one each month so getting to the next month is more of a celebration than a chore.

*Is trying to savor the season, even as it gets chillier. Parks LOVES being outside, so we bundle him up and push him in the stroller or I strap him into the carrier. I'm going to try and keep doing this for as long as we can - maybe not in craaazy cold weather, but a little bit of fresh air each day does him so much good!

*Pretty much doesn't talk about P's sleep struggles except with close friends and family, because I'm tired of hearing about "cry it out." If it worked for you, great, but it's just not for us, and while that might change later on, right now every time I hear it, it makes me cringe, or feel really defensive.

*Is a little flabbergasted realizing we are into P's first holiday season - Halloween, Thanksgiving in a few weeks, and Christmas right around the corner. Holy crap!

*Loves how he greets me when I pick him up at the end of the day.

*Has realized you never stop being a mom. That sounds like a no-brainer but it's really been emphasized to me by my mom and mother-in-love. They've done SO much for us the past six months and while I'm not wishing time away, it's fun to think of how I'll be able to help Parker when he's becoming a parent as well. Their example is amazing. (Talk about the circle of life!)

We:

*Celebrated our eight-year wedding anniversary - whaaaat?
*Are practicing being more considerate of each other - marriage can be work on a good day, but add crappy sleep and a clingy baby, and it's a whole new ballgame!

*Have an upcoming out-of-town wedding and Parks won't be doing with us. (He'll stay with my parents). It won't be our first night away from him, but it will be the first night in a different state than him which I know might be hard, but I'm focusing on how Ben and I will have a whole car ride to just talk and laugh and be. I'm looking forward to that re-connecting time!