Half Birthday

Garrett,

Today is your half birthday, and I can't believe how quickly time has passed.  You are the most precious gift I've ever been given.  From the moment I catch your eye peeking over your crib in the morning, until the minute I swaddle you in at night, you melt my heart in so many ways.  I love greeting you in the mornings.  You are all smiles and kick your feet with delight when you see me or your daddy.   

You have grown so much this past month.  Your personality is coming alive, and I hope that you are always as happy as you are now.  You are rolling over, sitting up, and "talking" up a storm.  You are mostly jabbering, but every now and again we catch you saying mamamama and dadadada.  You smack your lips, stick out your sweet little tongue, and move your mouth open and closed like a wooden puppet.  You love to laugh and are even a little ticklish under your chin, under your arms, and at the tops of your legs.         

Some of your favorite toys are your jumper, your rolling musical ball, the green snail, your keys, and your blocks.  You like your new bath seat and like to play with your sheriff duck and squirt toys.  You mostly like to chew on them, but you also use them to splash in the water. 

You are a great helper.  You will sit in your Bumbo seat and help me fold unfold laundry, and you keep me company when I am washing your bottles.

Hank has grown quite fond of you, and you think he is hilarious.  Your eyes follow him around the room, and you smile and laugh at him scratching or yawning.  He will lay and let you touch his fur and sometimes he will let you touch his paws.  He LOVES to sneak licks when we are not looking or we are just out of reach.  You think this is hysterical. 

You are definitely a Daddy's boy!  The minute you hear his voice when he comes home from work, your face lights up.  You can't wait for him to stop what he's doing and pick you up.  You think he is pretty funny and you love to play with his beard. 


You are eating baby food now.  You have tried the following foods in this order:

1. pears
2. carrots (so far this is the only food that you do not like)
3. sweet potatoes (your favorite)
4. peas (not sure about them at first, but after a few bites you decided you liked them)
5. butternut squash
6. green beans

You are still eating oatmeal and taking 3-4 oz. bottles.  You are wearing a size 2 diaper.  Changing your diaper has become quite a challenge since you love to roll over and kick your legs.  You are still an excellent sleeper.  You sleep from 7:00-6:30 almost every night, give or take 30 minutes or so.  You take about 3 naps during the day.  Your naps range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.  You roll all over your crib during the night, but you mostly like to sleep on your stomach now.  You still like to be swaddled at night, but you usually wiggle out of it by the time you wake up in the morning.  You like your paci when you go to bed or take a nap, otherwise you are not really interested in it. 


Some of your nicknames right now are:

• G Man
• Baby G
• Little Buddy
• Booger or Booger Bear
• Sweet Pea or Butter Bean

At your six month appointment you had to get three shots.  You held your breath for the longest time after the final shot and cried huge crocodile tears.  As always you recovered quickly and were back to smiling at the ladies in the waiting room by the time we left.  You were asleep by the time we made it back home.  We also had the doctor check out a little rash on your back.  It looks like you have a little bit of Eczema, but it's nothing to worry about.  Also, we had the doctor check out your left eye.  Sometimes you eye lid droops a bit.  I have a little bit of a lazy eye, so we wanted to make sure that if you do too that we take care of it asap!  The doctor noticed it a little.  She said it was not bad, but we will continue to watch it.  Your stats at 6 months were:

Weight:  17lbs and 8 oz - 49%

Height:  26in - 32%

Head:  44.5cm - 70%

You have four more weeks to spend with me until I go back to work. I have enjoyed every minute of being at home with you this summer.  I love you with all of my heart!!!  

Love,

Mommy