Six months old!

Dear Ben,

Seriously. Six months old? We just cannot believe that you have been in our lives for half of a year. In some ways we can't remember life without you, but it's hard to comprehend the speed in which you are hurtling through babyhood. No longer a tiny bundle waiting simply to be held, fed and changed, these past six months have produced a rolling, wiggling, laughing, babbling, grabbing, shrieking, cooing, complaining, learning ball of energy and personality.

Just in the last month you've done a lot of changing. We'll go to the doctor next week to learn about your specific physical growth, but we're expecting you to be right on target as your clothes are mostly all in 6-month sizes. You're wearing size 2-3 diapers, and I'll be sad when you've outgrown these oh-so-soft Swaddlers. (new mom note: Cruisers just are not the same!) Your eyes are changing from true baby blues to a lighter hazel/blue color. Your hair is still auburn-ish and is just about ready for its first cut! Two tiny teeth are now visible right below the surface of your bottom gums, and Daddy the Dentist checks their progress daily. (You are already a compliant patient by rubbing a washcloth on your own gums during bathtime.) And oops, you got your first suntan during the two-day car ride home from the beach...left arm only.

In other “oops” news, you could now join a class-action lawsuit against Bumbo as with one swift swivel this month, you twisted right out of that silly chair and face first onto the table top! Daddy and I both lunged for you, but you are a quick one! And a brave one too - didn’t squirt one single tear. (Which helped Mommy to be strong too, I might add.) We have since moved the Bumbo into retirement.

This impressive torso and lower body strength has been exhibited in more AAP-approved activities as well, such as pulling your legs under your bottom and schooching forward on the floor like a wobbly little inchworm, arms by your side. Daddy is concerned about your lack of confidence in your arm muscles, but I say "no rush" because once you raise up on your arms, crawling (thus the required baby proofing) is only a few pushups away!

Still sleeping through the night (with the previously mentioned week's exception), you are now able to fall asleep on your own after playing and discussing the day's events with your cribmates: Lovie the blanket, Elephant, Lamb and Giraffe. And our "where's Ben" game is now much more interactive as you can pull your blankie off your own face for the big "there he is!" reveal!

That being said, we haven’t heard a really good belly laugh in a while, which we realized as we watched this video from several weeks ago.

Not sure if we’re losing our comedic timing or your sense of humor has just become more discerning, but we’ll keep trying everything we can think of to make sure we hear that contagious giggle at least once a day!

We do know from past experience that this kind of persistence pays off. Introducing rice cereal to your single-entree menu was not well received at first, as you’ll see here:

But I kept trying, and now you love it so much that you would lick it straight out of the bowl if your tongue was long enough (You tried. It didn't reach.) I can not fill you up with it! I've given you not just seconds, but fourths before! Turns out that it may be an inherited taste. Your daddy liked it so much when he was little that he can remember making it himself until Nana had to cut him off!

Your love for Zoe grows stronger every day, which is sadly unrequited at this point. Your squeals, neck craning and arm flailing when she walks in the room are met with a mix of apathy and disdain. But don’t you worry – I have a feeling she’ll come around once you learn how to throw a ball!

You’re still our #1 cuddler, and even though I know you need your exercise (especially after a hearty meal of rice cereal), I love to hold you as much as possible, particularly on those special occasions when you purposefully reach out for me. Melts my heart.

As you get older, you’ll quickly learn that birthdays are a pretty big deal to your mommy. On your half-birthday (see?), you should know that you are our gift, whose health and wellbeing have given us so much cause for thanks. Daddy and I are humbled by the responsibility we been given to raise you and ask the Lord for guidance on a daily basis. “Love” fails to describe what we feel for you, but we do love you Ben, more than you will understand for a long time to come. Keep growing, sweet boy - as Daddy often says, “you’re the best!”

Love,

Mommy