Dear Adam: 6 Months

Dear Adam,

Exersaucer for the first time!

So pleased with yourself

Halloween costumes! Rock band!

You love having Grayson read to you!

Chillin' with Daddy at Grayson's birthday party at the GA Southern Wild Life Center

You and Grayson sometimes come to our bed in the mornings. So sweet!

Cutie!

After eating black beans for the first time! Yummy!!

New shoes! Thanks Grammie and Pop Pop!

Hanging out in the high chair while Grayson plays outside

Everyone says time goes quickly and kids grow up too fast, but I'm achingly aware of it with you. Of course I am excited about you reaching new milestones. I'm one proud Mommy! But as you move further away from infancy, my heart breaks. Daddy and I were talking last night and I got choked up just saying that it's hard for me to see you grow up so fast. I know there is a chance we'll have more kids. We haven't ruled it out completely. But we are also not necessarily planning on having another baby. And each passing phase for you reminds me that it could be my last time being a part of that. You could be my last squishy newborn, and that's hard to think about. But I will say this, sweet boy, whether you are my last or the second of many, your very existence is precious to me. At least once a day I thank God for trusting me to be your mommy. I love you very, very much!

This past month you have grown so much! You're still in 6 month clothes, but I'm sure you could wear 9 month at this point. You can sit up unassisted, though you still topple over regularly. I surround you with pillows, just in case! I've seen you roll from tummy to back a couple times, but you don't do it often. In fact, you aren't a fan of laying down at all these days. You love sitting upright! I don't know when you'll start to scoot or crawl, or consistently roll in both directions, because you are always sitting up. But I'm sure you'll get there before too long!

You love to babble and squeal and "talk." You speak in consonant sounds now, so you are often repeating "da," "ba," and "ga." It was the craziest thing because you just woke up one morning talking like that! You have been talkative for quite a while now, but it was just little squeals and giggles and coos. Then one morning you woke up and you were just babbling away with all kinds of different sounds! We were amazed! You say "dada" quite frequently, but I'm not sure you actually are identifying it to mean "daddy" yet.

This week you had solid food for the first time! We thought it only appropriate that black beans would be your first food. It's always been Grayson's favorite, and we eat them at least 1-2 times a week in our house. So, you might as well get used to it now! I blended some up with a little bit of breastmilk and you ate it up! No gagging or coughing...and you actually chewed! Other foods you have tried so far are avocado, banana, and some sweet potato, apple, banana baby food pouch (just a tiny bit while we were tailgating with friends yesterday!). You have happily eaten everything we've offered. So far you are a great eater! Keep it up, please! But if you don't...well, we're used to it!

You've recently started reaching your arms up when you want to be picked up or held. It's the cutest thing! How could I say no to that?! You enjoy being in your exersaucer or sitting in your high chair, or just sitting on the floor playing with toys. You also like being worn in the Baby K'Tan. We don't do this too often, but when we do, you are pretty content! You like watching TV. Yes, this happens. Grayson watches TV sometimes, so of course you happen to watch it a little too. You don't watch full episodes or anything, but it does capture your interest for short bursts of time. Admittedly, this is helpful when mommy needs to switch the laundry or use the bathroom or do something for Grayson!

You went trick-or-treating for the first time this week! Well, technically you were just in your stroller, along for the ride, while Grayson did Greek Street Trick or Treat. But still! We were a 90's rock band. Though your costume was just a red onesie that said "Tougher than I look" and had a scull and crossbones on it, and some black jeans. In every picture your shirt was concealed from the stroller straps or how Daddy was holding you. Oh well! :) We also plan to go trick or treating on actual Halloween, which is a few days away. We cut out some felt pieces to stick on an orange onesie to make you a jack-o-lantern. Again, your shirt will probably be concealed most of the time, but we'll know you are still in the spirit!

I want to thank you for being the world's best baby, by the way! Seriously. You are so easy going. I mean, Grayson was an easy-going baby too, but you take "chill" to a whole new level! Definitely the most chill Curley these days! You rarely fuss or cry. You happily join in on all the things we do as a family, making it possible for Grayson to still have fun experiences (like going to the Wild Life Center for his birthday, going to the movies, going trick-or-treating, tailgating, etc...). You are almost always happy and smiling. You are so warm and snuggly and squishy. You fall asleep quickly and easily at night. And even though you still wake up at least once or twice a night (I'll give you a pass on that one), I still wouldn't trade you for anyone else! ;)

My sweet baby, you have my heart! I know you'll be a little reckless with it as you grow up, but every moment with you, no matter how simple, is precious to me. I cherish the way you wrap your chubby arms around my neck and chew on my shoulder when I pick you up. Your joyful laughs are infectious. Your big blue eyes melt my heart. I love the way you always grab for my hand while nursing and how you pop off and stretch back to look at the world upside down when you're finished. I used to think my heart had no room for anyone other than Daddy. And then certainly no room for anyone other than Daddy and Grayson. But what do you know? You stretched it and grew it and now I'm totally in love with you too!

Happy 6 months, littlest! Now the fun is really about to start! :)

Love,
Mommy