Sunshine, Rainbows and Bananas: Cael

Happy Half-Birthday Sweet Baby Boy!!

How time flies when you are having the best time of your life! Every month of your life seems to get busier than the one before. The past six months have been the craziest and most-rewarding of my life. My son, you are constantly keeping me guessing and you amaze me everyday! Just when I think you've mastered something new, within the same minute, you are already doing the next thing. I would like to say that I wish time would slow down, but this is way too much fun; so we are just trying to capture each moment and fully embrace everything with the most open arms and hearts. The past month was yet again jam-packed with exciting events. The beginning of the month we were lucky enough to go to Ohio for daddy's spring break week to celebrate Easter, Harper's baptism and your baptism and your first opening day for the Reds, in Cincinnati!! It was so special to see you baptized where we were married almost three years ago and where Daddy grew up going to church on Sundays. Mid-month you showed us you were boss of the house and impressed us with more milestones...sitting on your own, eating baby oatmeal with a spoon (video), rolling over in your crib while you were awake so you could "get comfy" to sleep on your side and stomach, and saying your first deliberate words...on top of your funny babbles. You went to watch your first baseball game to see Daddy coach, and you made the fans and team laugh like crazy when you squealed at everyone on the field and even reacted when a ball was hit. I knew you loved to see baseball on tv, so I was equally excited to see you loved it live because it has always been a passion of ours. Toward the end of the month, we had a visit from Gammy Kathy, Auntie Jennifer and Michael. We went into DC, and you had your first metro ride (and of course, loved every second of it!!). I absolutely cannot wait to see what the next half-year hold. I do however hold my breath every time I realize you are that much closer to being one-year old.

I thank God everyday for choosing me to be your mommy!!

I love you Caelbo!

Height: 27 1/2 inches (75th percentile)

Weight: 19 1/2 pounds (75th percentile)

Head Size: Helllllllo Gonya head (sorry bub, you get this from your momma!); an amazing 18 1/2 inches (95th percentile)!!

Size: 9-12 month clothing for the most part...just depends on the brand. Still in size three diapers. Size one shoes, but probably need to put you in size two very soon since Daddy thinks I am squishing your toes into the 1's. haha

Sleeping: I know we should consider ourselves lucky parents because you still sleep from 9:00 p.m. until 7:30-8 a.m. HOWEVER, this whole teething thing (we are assuming, based on the drool all over your face!) is messing with everything, and we are like walking zombies most days. You will wake sometimes every hour, with your eyes closed just fussing and not able to soothe yourself back to snooze-city until we walk in your room and put the pacifier back in your mouth. Luckily, we don't have to speak or even get you out of bed at all...but you will not go back to sleep without the pacifier the past few weeks. Some nights you make it until 5 before doing it, but we were sooooo spoiled when you were a "baby" sleeping eleven hours SOLID without a peep. I do feel fortunate that you only feed at 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., because if I had to function enough to nurse you in the middle of the night, it would be game over! I just hope this phase passes soon and we can all get some good sleep.

Eating: You are a champ at eating! I am so happy that you have been exclusively breastfed for the first six months of your life!!! Cheers to an awesome baby and boobies! haha :) Your doctor told us that since you were, we are able to give you ANYTHING (except honey), in no particular order or with any wait period...and you should be fine! Literally...anything....even eggs, peanuts, etc....you should be fine. Horray for starting solids!! ....and not having to follow a regimen (because let's be honest, who has time to keep track if it has been eight days between sweet potatoes and green beans?) We did give you baby oatmeal this month, which we make with1 1/2 ounces of breastmilk, and you love it! We cannot wait to see what you think of food. We did try bananas on your six month birthday, and needless to say....you HATE them. We'll just keep trying, since we know everything is going to taste a little different at first. And on another funny note...mid-month, your nursing blister came back on your lip. It was a cute reminder for Mommy of what you looked like just a few months ago.

Playing: Man can you move!! I will put you in one place to sit and play while I get a shower, and by the time I get out you are halfway across the room from scooting yourself to another toy. Time to childproof EVERYTHING! Your favorite thing is to be in your jumper "exercising!!" You just squeal at the top of your lungs in delight when you jump high and it makes everyone laugh (video). When we got home from the Ohio road trip, you went crazy on your blanket like it was the first time you touched ground, rolling from side to side and grinning from ear to ear. You are seriously the best little traveler! We cannot say enough about how well-behaved you are in the car, even for the ten hour trip we made this month. It makes us so excited for family vacations in the future! Mid-month we celebrated your friend Sean's baptism and you loved playing with him and Liam (video). You are a little social butterfly like your daddyo!

Milestones: On April 22nd you said your first deliberate word..."da da" while looking at him, screaming it at him from across the baseball field, and telling me "da da da da da" when I said "who do you want to go see?" Ms. Millie had the flu for a few days this month, so you got to come to work with Mommy....and you sat so well playing under her desk choosing different toys and babbling da-da (video). Sitting in the grocery cart like a big boy...and in the stroller without your car seat (this was a sad one for Mommy because I always liked to look at you in the stroller, but now you love to look at the world in front of you). We also tried drinking out of a sippy cup for the first time...it was a new experience that you weren't quite sure of (video). Oh, and you found your tongue!! Ms. Millie gets so embarrassed when you stick it out in public to all of the ladies complimenting your cuteness. haha

"Caelisms": The weather is getting so pleasant, so we are able to just grab a blanket to sit outside together after work and on the weekends. We have discovered if you are fussy at all, just to take you outside for some fresh air, and you are happy as a clam!! I'm sure this will be trouble when you are old enough to tell us you want to go outside constantly, like your big cousin Waylon...but for now, it is such an enjoyable time to share together in the sun.

Mommy has always LOVED the smell of your breath, and fear that with starting solid foods next month it won't be the same. Everyone laughs at the dinosaur noises you have made since birth. Ever since you were born, when you are done with your bath every night we say, "now it's time to drip dry!!" and stand you up or hold you in the air to dry you off a little before wrapping you up in the towel....you love it, and now giggle with anticipation when we start saying it! The smirk/smile that you give me when you know you are being ornery. Your curiosity and trying to figure out how things work by examining them, and undoing it (literally....you have taken apart your toys and put them back together. Your affection toward others and snuggling on my shoulder when you are sleepy, and only when you are sleepy...otherwise in our arms you are pretty hard to manage anymore because you want to get down and go-go-go. You still suck in your sleep, and it melts my heart every time.

Now for the picture extravaganza celebrating the sixth month of a wonderful life!