Happy Half Birthday!

Jeffrey is 6 months old today! As the country remembers what happened on 9/11 twelve years ago, I am remembering a sweet, tiny baby being born in the early morning hours. He has brought us an incredible amount of joy and taught us lessons about ourselves and each other in that short time. I cannot even fathom the amount we will learn from him and how we will grow individually and as a family in the years to come.

Jeffrey is sitting up by himself now. He loves to listen to stories and will sit and listen to entire books, (not just short board books!) while looking at pictures. When I read books over and over, he anticipates what will happen with a gasp or a giggle. He is eating "solid" foods two times a day. He likes everything but peas, which actually made him gag multiple times as we kept trying. We've learned that prunes truly work! He is still nursing...straight from the tap since 3-11-13! Most of the time Jeffrey goes to bed and down for naps so nicely. For one week now, he's been sleeping TWELVE hours straight at night!!! Before that, he was waking to be fed 2-3 times a night, so this is incredible! I told Mom I don't know what to do with myself in the evening, not having to go to bed so early and she said, "That's where second babies come from!"

 

Jeffrey's always slept on the same spot on the right side of his head. I even asked about it at his two week appointment. We tried repositioning with rolled up blankets, (they don't sell any repositioners at baby stores anymore due to SIDS.) His doctor was concerned at his two month visit, but said we'd keep our eye on it. We saw the doctor at three months to readjust his reflux meds and he referred us to a specialist. Then at his 4 month appointment, the doctor saw so much improvement he said he would not have even referred us!

The scans at the specialist kept showing improvement. He was borderline last month for getting a helmet. This past month, he showed very little improvement, so we decided to go ahead and get the helmet. So, he'll be sporting a helmet for the next 3-5 months, 23 hours a day! They say it's harder on the parents than it is on the kid and that they get used to it so quickly. Like mom said, "What's the difference in doing that and getting braces on your teeth?" I am actually very relieved at this conclusion because I have been fighting with positioning him both during sleep and all day, every day. I won't have to worry about it any more AND when he falls over, he'll have head protection!

 Jeffrey has had a great 6 month birthday so far. I got up and had a cup of coffee before he woke up at 6:15. We walked to the park, around the lake and back to the house for a nap. We went to library time at 10:15 and Aunt Jen came for a visit. Lainey and Bo, (we are calling Graham Bo because Brant's mother is "Gram" and it was getting too confusing,) sent a video message early this morning singing "Happy Half Birthday" which was so cute! Jen told me later that Lainey asked, "Mom, why don't we celebrate half birthdays?"

 Monday we went to our first Stone Oak Moms baby play date. There were 10 babies there, which is a LOT at someone's home. Jeffrey likes parties and people usually, but he has been getting really fussy at events like this. It's either the noise level, teething or anxiety that I am going to leave him or be separated. I hope that goes away quickly, because I had a great time. It seems to be a great group of women that I could see myself becoming great friends with! We just need to get Jeffrey acclimated!

I am remembering being in New York City a month and a half before the towers fell. I am remembering what 9/11 was like for our entire country 12 years ago. I am also celebrating September 11, 2013 and our precious baby boy today!

SMOOOOCH! I love this baby!!!!!