Guess Who's Six-Months-Old?!

On Saturday Jameston celebrated his HALF-BIRTHDAY! I've said it before, but I'm gonna say it again (and probably every half-birthday [okay, maybe every month] from here on out: it is amazing to us how fast he's growing! We describe him as our little "sponge" these days, because it seems that he's soaking up the world around him at a rapid pace. Speaking of soaking...

Jameston continues to put everything in his mouth these days! His bottom centrals are in (we haven't been able to get a picture yet), and his top gums are still red from the next two teeth inhabitants. We are anticipating he'll have four teeth by the end of the month! For gum relief (we presume) this is a common face we have seen lately:

along with a little slobber!

This last month has been filled with some fun "firsts:"

First ride in his stroller without the carrier---check!

First time eating solids, and in his high-chair---check, check!

We registered for this inexpensive Safety First seat, which came highly recommended to me by my friend Jessica (mother of three). It is great because it can connect to any chair with a back, and also because we can even set it on the floor, which Jameston likes because he can feel the carpet on his feet :)

First time for him to "sleep through the night!"---Check, check, check!

Although he hasn't stuck with it as well as we had hoped, he's getting there!

These days our little man LOVES:

His Baby Einstein Discovery Center,

his Jumperoo,

He was so mesmerized at first with all the toys on top that it took him awhile to figure out he could jump while playing! (This toy is wonderful, and is great for when Mommy needs to be hands-free :)

And FOOD!

Our little boy is getting BIG because of all the solid foods he's eating, and we are anxious to find out what he weighs when we go in on Wednesday!

Over the last three weeks he has tried green beans, peas, squash, carrots, avocado, bananas, pears, and applesauce. What a food connoisseur! His faves: bananas and carrots; least favorite: avocado and squash...

Oh, and he also uses his spoon as another teething toy! And we sometimes forego a bib at his feeding before bedtime since we are about to give him his bath :)

Mommy is making most of his food from home, and she is still nursing/pumping about 6 times a day (which she is hoping to do for at least three more months if she can keep it up). At daycare, Jamston is taking two 7 ounce bottles like a champ, along with two snacks (usually oatmeal and fruit in the morning, and either carrots or applesauce in the afternoon).

These days our-sixth-month-old is up to a lot! No longer are the times when he can lay content just looking at bright objects, playing with his hands/feet, etc. He's an active little fella, and his current antics are:

• Rolls like crazy, and in deliberate directions to get certain things he wants
• Sits up on his own, albeit a little wobbly because his belly gets in the way :)

• Stands on our laps when we're burping him (we are still having to burp him and hoping his spitting up gets better once he's sitting up more)
• "Sings" when music is on, especially in the car. We hope to catch it on the video camera soon without him realizing (as soon as he sees the red light from the camera, he's entranced and stops what he's doing!) He's known as the "opera singer" in his daycare class!

• He wants to hold and touch everything he sees...he's a big fan of his Tigger the Tiger stuffed animal, anything with textures (corduroy, carpet, etc.), and our faces :)
• His vocalizations are becoming more consistent and repetitive babbling, and, oh man, he can squeal, yell, grunt and gurgle with best of them!
• He has been very clingy lately, and we've been told it could be due to his teething pain. When we set him down, it can't be for very long, and when we go to pick him up again, he wraps his arms around our neck. Soooo sweet!
• He knows his name! He will look at you, depending on what he's doing, as soon as he hears us call his name. Love it :)
• One of his favorite items this past month: teething rings! And he also loves chewing on his burp cloths and blankets (and washcloths, when Mommy can remember to chill them :) He is over the pacifier yet again, because all he wants to do with it is chew on it. Oh, and he has found his thumb (picture to come)!

Our lives have been abundantly blessed more than we could have ever imagined, and it is hard to think that it has already been six months since we became parents to our precious little boy.

My heart fills with joy and my eyes tear up as I sit here and type this and think about how much we love our little boy! Can't wait to see what the next half-year has in store for us and everyone who loves you, Jameston!