We had these family pictures taken when Caleb was just over 6 months old, but I posted most of them in his six month blog post. However, I just can't get over how cute this baby is so I needed to post a few more for this month's blog post, too. I have to say, we are getting into my very favorite baby-age and every single day is a joy with this little guy.
Stats: I have no idea how much he weighs. I'm going to have to weigh him this next month because he is getting heavy! I still don't feel like he's chunky, although he's definitely got some sweet baby-fat on him. He's in nine month clothes, and even some 12 month onsies. Size two diapers, but probably should be in size three - I just am squeezing him into the ones we have. Still no teeth, very little hair.
Some things to remember:
-Caleb is the perfect baby for our family. It's hard to imagine someone coming and fitting into our family as perfectly as he does. We all love him so much, and he brings so much happiness to us.
-He's getting so alert and involved. It's so amazing to watch him watch people or things. He tenses his whole body when he's excited about what he sees and rocks back and forth like he wants to join in the party. I can tell when he sees David walk into a room just by how his body tenses up because he's so excited to see his dad.
-Caleb visiting with Great-Grandma Peaden (Grandma Joyce). She was all smiles to be able to hold him and he was really good for her. I'm so grateful that my kids live close to and know their grandparents (and have been blessed with so many great-grandparents).
-Caleb's #1 Fan? Austin Scott. These boys are well on their way to people thinking that they are twins. It's hard to know whether Caleb looks more like Austin or Lydia because to me he has his own distinct look, but when I look back at baby pictures I think they all look very similar. More than similar facial features - the gap in the size of these two is quickly shrinking. Austin was wearing 12 month things just last year, and Caleb is almost in that box of baby clothes. Looking at this picture makes me laugh because Caleb is almost as big as Austin is! These brothers are so lucky to have each other and I hope that they always love each other like they do now.
-Lydia loves her littlest brother, too. She's a great older sister and whenever Caleb starts crying, she does whatever she can to help. Including "reading" him her new favorite, recently memorized, book. Whenever she starts reading to him, he quiets right down and keeps him occupied until I can come help him. Caleb is fairly reserved with his smiles and laughs, but he loves Lydia and she can squeeze out a smile almost every time.
-He loves to be right in the middle of where his siblings are playing.
-He's sitting up so well! This is the best baby-age, when they can start sitting up steadily. He is so much more independent and loves to watch what is going on around him. I can set him on the counter while I'm getting ready, or making dinner. Or he can sit on the floor and bat at toys or watch the kids play. He's so happy about it, and so am I!
-Out to eat for Austin's birthday. Caleb is a champ and is happy just to be along with us. He's super laid back and as long as I kept feeding him little bits of beet and peach he was happy to sit in his carseat the whole time.
-There is something sweet about a baby falling asleep in their carseat. And, look at that sweet bow tie. Also, this is the same carseat that we had with Lydia. When we were carseat shopping we decided we should probably get a gender neutral carseat. Here we are on boy #2 and I'm thinking it was a really good choice!
-This is our life. Caleb and I cuddling while the kids climb all over us. And Caleb trying to eat my face.
-Caleb started eating real food this month. Like, real-real food. About 5.5 months we started feeding him some pureed fruits and veggies because he just seemed ready. At 7 months he is eating pretty much everything. It's hard to keep up with him food wise because he always wants more. He handles finger foods like a champ, so mostly I stick to small peas and diced carrots with a good helping of cheerios. I'm trying to do other things like frozen pureed squash, beans, soft apples, etc... Carbs are just so easy to give but I can tell his little stomach isn't used to so much bread and so I'm trying to find good healthy baby food options that he is happy feeding himself.
(I asked David what he remembered most about Caleb this month and he said "That he eats A ALOT." Which is true. Especially a lot for a six month old.)
--Sitting up means the top seat in the shopping cart!
-Oh my. Caleb has started sticking his whole pacifier in his mouth and chomping on it instead of sucking on the nipple part. It's hilarious. He still takes his pacifier well when he is almost asleep or very tired, but not during the day - even when he's upset. He'll just grab it, pull it out, then chew on it sideways like so:
Other things:
-He's not being the best sleeper anymore. I really can't complain because those newborn months were pure heaven. But I was hoping that by this age he'd be sleeping through the night and we've regressed to waking up 3-4 times. But I'm a pansy and can't handle the sleep training thing yet. Soon though, because we've got to get more sleep between the two of us.
-His smiles are fairly elusive and his laughs are extremely rare. You have to work to get him to smile (unless you are Lydia or David) and if he graces you with a laugh you should feel extremely lucky. But when he does smile and laugh, his whole face lights up and it's worth every second spent waiting.
-He knows his name and it's darling to watch him turn when you're talking to him.
-He goes to bed a bit later than either of our other babies did. Usually about 8:30 or 9:00, but then he's down for the night (until we start our 4 wake-ups about 1ish). It's kind of nice to have some time with just he, David, and I after the other kids are in bed.
-I think he says mama, especially when he's really upset and he sees me - he really does sound like he's saying mama mama. I know it's not a real word, not really, but he doesn't say it for anyone but me and I kind of love it.
This boy is such a wonderful part of our lives and we looooove him. Happy seven months sweet boy.
