Six Months

Height:  24.5 inches

Weight:  16 lbs, 3 oz.


I cannot believe our growing boy is already 6 months old. Time flies when you're having fun, I know... but this is crazy! Gunnar's 6-month checkup went really well - he's staying steady on his growth path that has him almost in the 50th percentile for weight and head circumference, and... 10th percentile for length, haha! He was in a great mood the morning of his visit and was chatting up the nurse, anyone who passed him in the hallway, and the doctor. He was even good with the shots - crying only for a minute before returning to his usual, laid-back self. He's better with needles than I am! Since the doctor visit, Gunnar got his first cold. And his second. :( He's a good baby, even when he's sick but I'm hoping we've punched the sick card enough to last us for a while.

The developmental growth we've seen this month is tremendous. The only new skill he's been working on is sitting (he's getting really close!), but socially, he's like a new baby. He laughs and smiles all the time, talks to just about anyone who will listen, and shows us his silly side quite often. He likes to mimic noises or facial expressions we make and will often laugh at nothing in hopes to engage us in a game. (It works every time.) He is enjoying interacting with the dogs more and more. He reaches out to touch them whenever they come near. He's gotten handfuls of fur on both dogs and their reactions are so funny. Hutch turns to incessantly lick the hand holding the fur; he does the same thing to us when we attempt to brush or shave him. Izzy freezes, calmly waiting for the release so she can walk away. She loves Gunnar to pieces, but fur-grabbing is where she draws the line. He especially likes watching the dogs play. We sit outside and let the dogs run and play tug-of-war while Gunnar laughs at them. Pretty cute!

This month, Gunnar slept his first-ever 12-hour stretch without waking! He's not consistent with it yet, but I think he'll get there over the next few weeks. He also started eating solids on a regular basis and tried fruits and vegetables for the first time. His first food was pureed banana. He loved it, but we think he has a slight allergy to it so he's not been able to eat them anymore. He is not a picky eater and enjoys anything we give him, but he does seem partial to acorn squash, sweet potatoes, and pears. I can add pears to anything and he goes crazy for it! I'm making his baby food and it's been a really fun process. I love trying new combinations for him and watching him discover new flavors. Up this week:  spinach! With pears, of course.

Gunnar is on the move! Ever since learning to roll both ways, he's been getting more adventurous, rolling around everywhere. Our limited soft floor space is proving to be an issue now that he's mobile and I will definitely be looking for a carpeted play area for him when we move. In the meantime, we're doing our best to keep him on the rug. He spends a lot of time in his bouncer and really loves playing in it.

During his sixth month, Gunnar got to meet up with Uncle Matt and his dad, Scott on their long journey from Phoenix to Destin. We all ate some good ol' Texas-style BBQ and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon outside before they hit the road again. We also made a trip to Jackson, so Gunnar was able to spend time with family and even got to join us on the farm for an afternoon! Pictures to come...