182 days old...

Or six months... whichever... :)

We have officially made it half a year... WOW!!

I remember when Ben was about 3 weeks old thinking that we would NEVER get to this point. He had just started to look at me when he was eating, not smiling, not grinning, or even acknowledging that he had recognized me, but he definitely made eye contact. I kind of remember (to be honest most of that time is a blur of sleeplessness and an overwhelming feeling of "in over my head" but I digress...) anyway sometime around 3 weeks he had for the first time looked at me and I remember thinking how far away six months seemed. Turns out, I was wrong, it all passes by so fast, and while I don't wish for that early stage again, I am starting to appreciate more and more when parents say "it seems like only yesterday..."







Okay lets move on the new things for this last month of advancements...

Ben is still sleeping thru the night, just about every night. He has a great schedule set during the day. He gets up around 7, eats, naps, eats, plays, naps, eats, plays, eats, then to bed around 8:30. One funny thing about this month, his hair has really thickened and he now has a full head of thick beautiful blonde hair. The funny part of that is the daily dose of bedhead that is so much fun! :)



With that you probably assumed that he is a good eater, you would be correct. He has started recently blowing rasberries with a mouth full of food, but we are working on that. It's a little bit messy, but nothing that can't be cleaned up later. I don't encourage it, but secretly it is a little bit cute. :) He has tried every type of level 1 baby food that is at the store. Bananas and carrots are his favorite, but he doesn't turn anything down. I only assume they are his favorite because he always makes room for them, I usually have to cut him off, he just keeps putting them down, no matter how much he's already had.



He can sit up now with no problem. For a while he could sit for a little while but then would fall over causing many bumps on his head. Not any more. He has started playing in his playpen for short periods of time in the evenings, usually while Tyler and I eat dinner. He doesn't like to be left in a room by himself, that leads to immediate crying, but as long as someone is in sight, he is perfectly content to sit there and entertain himself.





The Fourth of July came and we went to the Naturals baseball game. He watched the fireworks, it was an AMAZING fireworks show, and he didn't cry or act scared of the noise, he just flinched in anticipation of the noise. Overall we had a great time at the game and enjoying the holiday. We even played with sparklers. :)



Ben took his first boat ride this summer. I don't think he liked the lake as much as he likes the bath or the swimming pool, I think the bulky but very necesarry life jacket puts a damper on the fun. Still the boat ride was fund, and very relaxing for him. In fact he fell asleep both times.



Lillian was with us on her first boat ride as well, and it was a fun photo opportunity for the kiddos.



Still no teeth, but definitely teething. Benjamin chews on EVERYTHING!!! If he can get his hands on it, its going to his mouth. Sometimes if he can't get his hands on it that doesn't stop him, he just lunges his mouth towards it and still tries to get it into his mouth. I have become definitely more aware of sanitizers and germs. That tooth is working it's way in, slowly but surely. You can feel the very tip with his spoon or with the tip of your finger, but still can't see it. Should be any day now.



His Dr.'s appointment this time went great. He's right on track in weight and height, has met all his developmental milestones, and got some advice on the next foods to try. He still has a larger than average head, but nothing to worry about, have you seen Tyler's head!!! :)



To wrap up this post, basically the last 182 days have been a blur. Still can't believe it's been that long. I know that the next 182 days will be the same. There is a Psalm that reads, "Teach me to number my days so that I may gain wisdom." I dont remember which psalm that is from, but it's so true, and right now it's my prayer. I am trying not to wish away any of his "stages" even the ones that pass in a blur of sleeplessness and uncertainty, and some day in the not so far off future I know I will be the blurry eyed mother, standing there saying, "it seems like only yesterday..."