6 months old

Dear Spencer,

Today you turned 6 months old. 6 months!

We started the day with a trip to the pediatrician. You weigh 17 lbs. 7 oz. and you are 26 inches long. Right about at 50th percentile for both weight and height. You only had to have two shots instead of the usual four. The first you didn't even notice. During the second one you froze, your eyes got really big and then came the crying. Not as much this time -- and for the first time I didn't cry at all. Brave mommy.

You get to start solid foods today. We'll start with rice cereal and then move on to veggies and fruits. Your daddy is so excited about being able to make your baby food. You'll learn early on that your momma doesn't do too much cooking because daddy loves it and is really good at it. So, soon he'll get to take a turn in making your food.

Today we hit 6 months of only breastmilk for you. I can't tell you how happy and proud that makes me. We struggled at first but you finally got the hang of it and you've been growing and thriving. Lately you've found it difficult to pay attention to eating because there is so much else to see. We play a little game that helps you stay focused -- you hold your hand up and I pretend to bite your fingers. It is a fun game for you -- one that occaisionally you find funny enough to laugh out loud about. Sometimes when you get distracted you bite. So far no broken skin, but it has been close. And no, it isn't funny so you shouldn't bite and laugh!

Someday you may decide to sleep through the night. I asked your doctor for advice and she said to let you cry. I just can't do that. Hopefully you'll be able to figure it out on your own. Your nanny told me she read that you should be sleeping 11 hours a night. I told her you couldn't read so you probably didn't know that. In the meantime I spend half my time at work walking into walls and being ditzy. I hope that part goes away when I start getting some sleep.

Other things worth noting, you have two teeth! you can sit on your own for quite awhile before tipping over, you have a great sense of curiousity and you are very entertaining. You are crazy about the dog -- and when she does bad thing (pretty much always) you laugh and laugh. She doesn't seem to mind when you pull her hair and your giggles when she licks your toes are priceless.

Life with our little family is pretty great -- and was made even better when you came along. I didn't know how much joy I was missing out on until you showed up. Thanks for making every day a happy one.

Love you, mommy