Six Months

Baby boy, where has the time gone?? It feels like just yesterday that you were the tiniest of little guys hooked up to a ventilator in the NICU. Now you are our sweet smiling, giggling, squirmy little man that wants so desperately to be on the move. You are definitely not content with sitting still and once you start to crawl, I have a feeling that you are going to keep mommy and daddy on our toes. Speaking of toes- your new found fascination has been your pudgy little feet. You have been staring at them for some time now, wondering how you were going to reach those sweet toes at the end of your chunky legs. Well this is the month. You cannot. Get. Enough. of them. and you constantly sound like you are doing baby crunches to reach them. Another favorite from this month- eating real food. And lots of it. Squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, pears, peaches, bananas and rice cereal- we haven't found anything you don't eagerly scarf down. I have a feeling this may be a preview of your teenage years. You have become a champ at rolling from your front to your back and have just started to roll back to your front. You love to laugh and we will do just about anything to make you laugh. Sometimes you just burst into giggles when you look at daddy. It's OK- a lot of people do that. You love to bounce in your jumper and throw all of the toys off your play mat. You are mesmerized by music of all kinds- even mommy and daddy's singing. You really do have the sweetest of temperaments and are content just to look around the room and take it all in. Yes, this has certainly been a big month for you, little man. Here are some of our favorite highlights:

You went to your first Clemson basketball game and your face in this pic pretty much sums it up.

You passed out in daddy's arms once he took you out of the loud arena.

You woke up just in time for your first experience in downtown Clemson.

We have been spending more and more time outside as it warms up. It has literally been cold for your entire life and you seem to really like the much-needed sunshine.

You celebrated your first St. Patrick's Day.

And went to the gym for the first time with mommy. Can we say cankles?

You are so happy to see us each and every time you wake up- whether it's in the morning or from a nap. This was taken on your actual six month birthday before I left for work. I am so incredibly thankful that I only have to work out of the house two days a week. We have a very sweet nanny that comes over on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are days with daddy.

Here is an example what you get to do on your days with daddy...

We participated in the baby dedication service at our hometown church- the same church where mommy and daddy got married.

Here is a pic we snapped while trying to keep you entertained at your six month doctor's appointment. You are now 17lbs 1 oz and 26in long! This puts you in the 50% for both weight and height, but sweet boy, you are anything but average to us.

This seems a lifetime away from where you started six short months ago...

Yes, baby boy, we love you so incredibly much and are so blessed that we get to be your parents. We are going to soak up these precious months as they are starting to fly by faster and faster.

Weekend Recap

I know that this time last year, I was already complaining about how hot it was. This year, the warm days can't come soon enough! Our little guy has really only known cold weather since he was born, so we are just now getting to see how much he loves the sunshine. We are finally getting our first taste of Spring and are trying to soak up as much as we can in between naptime.Yesterday, Finn experienced his second trip to Clemson to celebrate uncle Seth's birthday and catch a basketball game. While it was a fun time with family, it may have been the most terrifying experience of our little man's life. He doesn't handle loud startling noises or too much over stimulation very well... you get the idea. Here are some pics before the meltdowns.

My matching boys.

These were taken with a phone, so the quality isn't the best.

Finn and cousin Colton taking in the game in between the tears.

Daddy took the little guy out of the game and he passed out.

As we walked back to our car through downtown Clemson, he got his first look at college life.

 

Today, we had a family picnic down by the river.

Five Months

Well it is hard to believe that you are five months old, little man! You are showing us so much of your personality that it feels like every day there is something new. There are some things I wish would stay the same forever, like the fact that you are so in love with your mommy and daddy and think we are the funniest people on the planet. Seriously, your sweet little laughs just warm our hearts! There are also things right now that I wish would pass quickly. We are trying to break you of your swaddle and you are not a happy camper about it. You are such a great sleeper that it breaks our hearts to hear your cries in the middle of the night. But because you are a champ at rolling from your front to your back and getting better at rolling from your back to your front, we really need to get you out of that swaddle. You really love playing with your toys on your play mat now and have also become quite the squirmer. You know when we are heating your bottles and stare at the warmer until it's done. Once it's done, you immediately begin reaching towards it with an open mouth! Here are some highlights from the month.

You got to experience your first snow days! 

You celebrated your very first Valentine's Day with mommy and your friend, Teagan.

Once we finally got some warmer weather, we went on some walks around the neighborhood.

Your daddy had a K-Life trip to Disney World and brought you back your very first Disney souvenir!

You really love being outside and going on walks with mommy and daddy!

We celebrated your great grandmother's birthday.

This month, you started eating solid food! Right now, your favorite is squash and you try so hard to take the spoon from us and feed yourself. You are quite the advanced eater, sweet boy! 

I'm a boy mom

I'm a boy mom. This is something I honestly have to keep telling myself. After almost five months, I am fully aware that we have a baby boy. The spit up stains, poopy diapers and endless bottle washing remind me daily that we have a baby and I wake up every day thankful that I get to be his mom. What I have a hard time trying to visualize is that we do in fact have a boy. Since I'm being honest, I should say that I am more comfortable with girls. I am a girl. I have three nieces. All of my friends have girls.

Boys are a whole different ball game. They're loud. They're messy. They don't. stop. moving. They play with legos and trucks and salamanders. I know princesses and Barbies and tea parties. I play dress-up and paint nails and love going to the American Girl store.

I also know that this boy certainly has my heart. He always will.

I may not know every piece of equipment at a construction site or the names of Thomas the Train's friends, but I can promise you this much- I will learn. I will learn all the powers of the superheroes. I will learn what makes rockets fly. I promise not to scream too much the first time you catch a frog. I will kiss your scraped knees and try not to freak out the first time we drive you to the emergency room with a broken arm from climbing a tree. I am your mom. I will take you on field trips to the fire station and listen to your stories about things exploding. I will be on the sideline of every sporting event and learn the best way to get out grass stains. I will learn how to build sand castles and how to smash them down. While I realize we may not wait in line to see the princesses on our trips to Disney World just yet, I can promise you that I will learn how to build the biggest tower that Lego-land has ever seen.

I'm a boy mom. I'm Finn's mom. And I wouldn't have it any other way.