Alexander - 6 months

• One of the few large items we actually brought with us to Norway was our Christmas tree. Although next year I might brave the fear of allergens and buy a real tree, it was so fun to put it up with you! You love looking at the lights and the ornaments!

• You are now able to sit up in a high chair. It makes meal times so much easier because we don't have to pass you back and forth! It's also made eating out MUCH simpler!

• We all went downtown to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. Stavanger looks so festive with lights and garland every where! We bought some hot chocolate and peperkake and strolled around. Then we met up with some friends, the Rices, to listen to some Christmas carols and countdown to the Christmas tree lighting.

• You had another round of shots this month. Words can NOT express how much I hate taking you to get your shots! It breaks my heart to hear you cry, but as a world traveling baby I don't want to risk you getting sick. 

• We've started giving you real food this month. Or should I say, you've started giving yourself real food. We put the food on your tray and let you feed yourself. The times I've given you preloaded spoons of porridge or yogurt you grab it and put it in your mouth yourself. Independent boy! I love it! So far you've had broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, apples, bananas, rutabaga, butternut squash, avocado, and porridge. It is so fun watching you explore different food and textures for the first time.

• You are CRAZY about cups. We can't drink in front of you any more because you want a sip too. You haven't gotten the hang of sippy cups yet but as an SLP I'm OK with that. At first you would choke on the water and it mostly ended up down your bib. But now you're actually pretty good at drinking it. 

• We've really seen you grow a LOT this month. You're now able to sit up...although we have to keep a close eye on you because you easily topple over and haven't quite gotten the hang of catching yourself yet. You love to play on the floor on your blanket with your toys and have gotten good at rolling onto your belly and back onto your back.

• There have been some really fussy periods this month. First we thought you might be sick, or that the shots were making you feed bad. Your sleep schedule was terrible and you never wanted to be put down. Your dad does an amazing job of giving me a break in the evenings by holding you in the carrier while he cooks dinner. It's one of the few places you would be happy for a while. We figured out finally the cause of your fussiness...TWO teeth popped through the night before we left for Texas!

• You and Bailey have become quite the BFFs. You love to pet him and although you've obviously not learned how to be gentle Bailey is so good and lets you yank out his lovely fur. I think he loves the attention so much he doesn't even mind. I have to keep a close eye on you two though because Bailey likes to give you open mouth kisses...ugh!

• Big news this month...we've FINALLY ditched the swaddle! Your sleep had gotten so terrible that we decided it couldn't get any worse. Within the first night of no swaddle you went from waking every 1-2 hours to waking up only 2 times! It almost seemed to good to be true! Obviously you were ready...and it's made bedtime so much easier. Plus you look so stinking cute sleeping now!
  

• We celebrated your 6 month "half-birthday" in Texas again. You partied with Nana and Papa while we had a night away! It was our first night away from you and I'm not sorry to say that I slept like a rock! I knew you were in good hands so I really didn't worry that much. Even after 10 hours of sleep I still felt exhausted the next day. I guess it takes more than one night to catch up on 6 months of sleep deprivation!

Alexander, it has been the hardest most transformative 6 months of my life. I would never have imagined that I could wake up in the middle of the night and still be happy because I was cuddling you. You are starting to grow and develop at a rate that is alarming...I see that your babyness will be gone before we know it! But I love the little person that you're growing into...vocal and opinionated, strong willed and silly. You're the coolest little guy I know and happy half-birthday my sweet baby boy!