This last month has seemed like there were a lot of changes but I think the biggest change has been getting teeth.. which means teething, which changes everything else. Like sleep. And his formerly always easy-going self is now occasionally fussy. He got is first tooth on May 1st, and the second a week later.
He was not particularly thrilled about this photo shoot.
He is roughly 27.5" long and I haven't weighed him. He is solidly out of 6 month clothes and into 9-12 months. He is getting a lot better at sitting up. I don't quite trust him to walk off and leave him sitting, but I don't have to hover quite as close. He can even recover sometimes if he leans too far to one side, however, he's his own worst enemy with arching his back and throwing himself backwards. He seems to have the beginnings of some intentionality in his movements. In the walker, he seems to be trying to follow one of us around (although he can only go basically backwards and forwards) and I think he's starting to use rolling to get to things now. He enjoys reading books, but mostly to look at the pictures and pat the pages. Bonus if the book is textured, then he's all over it. I see his little pincer grasp starting to emerge too.
Chewing, no.. not chewing.. Reading with my mouth. Ya.
We also introduced 'food' this month but in the end, that's getting put on hold until next month. We started with breastmilk yogurt, which the first time he had it, he loved it! Couldn't get enough of it or the spoon. Then that night he threw up four or five times and I thought it must not have agreed with him. Then the next day (in the car) Emerson threw up and the following day Blake and I were hit. It's so strange that it started with him. I held off on feeding him more for a few days and when I tried again, he was really adamantly against me putting anything in his mouth. I put some on his tray and he enjoyed playing with it but he didn't make any attempts to put it in his mouth (and trust me, he's good at putting things in his mouth). So we'll try again next month. I'll do breastmilk kefir next time because it's even more probiotic rich than yogurt (and easier to make) and probably egg yolk and avocado.
Another new thing this month is his... we'll call it communication. He did start putting his hands up when he wants picked up and he has a certain way of telling me he wants to eat. The kicker is that all of a sudden when he's playing with something and it's taken away (by me, Emerson, or he drops it) he really throws a fit. I'm not sure if that's communication or a behavior but it really surprised me. He just clouds up and rains. I think it surprises me so much because he doesn't really cry unless he's really, really hungry and tired (like in the car when I can't stop to feed him). Otherwise he mostly just whines. And it's just such an obvious tantrum, so classic. I think I'm a little jealous actually. I look at him and think how many times I wish I could respond that way ;). And because I'm mean, here's a video of it.
There you have it. Our little guy that loves his little world. There aren't as many photo shoot pictures because he just wasn't having it, and because a lot of the time he was tolerating it was taken up by our photographer in training ;).
His teeth, the second one is probably not visible through the spit bubble.
Are we done yet?
He really loves this little stainless steel cup from Emerson's kitchen.
I took the cup away.
No shower and no make up.. but she's getting better at taking our picture :)
"Just don't take my cup, okay"
He loves his LOUD sister (I mean seriously, turn down your volume for this one)
I really did take pictures on April 25th, when Harrison turned 7 months.. I promise! The same day I also took some newborn shots for my friend and then a few days later I took some pictures of my newborn niece. I got the newborn pictures edited and shared and that used up all my computer time until now.
I can hardly even remember what Harrison did just before turning 7 months. We had a six month check up and he was in the 80-something percentiles for height and weight. He weighted 17lbs and 6oz. He just started sitting up for over half a minute, but continues to be pretty unsteady and usually ends up arching his back and losing his balance. This kid is a roller! Emerson didn't roll at all but he gets himself all over the place by rolling. I don't think he actually intends to go anywhere. We've tried putting all the toys in one corner of the rug and him in another and he looks at them, tries to reach them and then gives up, yet eventually he'll roll around and play with whatever he finds, book basket, shoe, carpet fuzz and oh hey, a toy! I've been a little lacking on videos, so here's some laughter:
Harrison is still very much my happy, sweet boy. Wakes up happy and goes to sleep pretty easily. He LOVES to put everything and anything in his mouth but doesn't quite seem ready for food yet. He is still my blankie boy and loves his mommy. He also loves to watch Emerson and continues to prioritize socialization and staying alert to any possible noise or movement in the room over eating and sleeping. I still have to take him to a different room if I actually want him to eat. His sister is losing patience for that (which makes mommy lose patience).
I am just treasuring every moment with him, because as usual, this first year goes so quickly. I'm excited to see what will develop as time goes but I'm in no hurry for those thighs to slim down or those cheeks to melt away. I'm soaking in every smell, every smile and every moment to sit and cuddle (even if it means his sister is stamping her arm up in the next room...).
Aaand pictures.
This sequence cracks me up
Trying on cute hat
Baby realizes cute hat is on his head
Baby does what babies do with hats
Puts hat in mouth
He doesn't look as tired of pictures as he was ;)
He's just so sweet and patient with her (if babies could actually be patient)
I left them at storytime to go get some books and I get this picture in a text. First time sitting! Daddy said he balanced for 45 seconds.
There was some adult foot support here, under the water.. but they both love their baths.
Helping me do laundry
We sure do [Love life]
I love this picture of her. It's just exactly Emerson. Messy hair, real smile. She was so proud to be taking pictures of us. She's getting pretty good.
She took this picture <3 a="" and="" few="" focused="" it="" less="" like="" more="" td="" that="" were="">
And several like this.
And since you made it to the end, another video. This cracks me up (wait until the end).. it's classic Harrison.. just easy going love bug.
Harrison is still our smiley, happy guy. He's into his raspberries and chewing on his fingers or ... anything he gets his hands on. I thought he might be teething because he was moving his tongue really funny but I think he's just chewing on it. ;)
He hasn't grown in length, still 25.5" and I haven't weighed him (his 6 mo appt is soon). He seems to have gotten wider though, mostly in the cheeks ;). He still fits into some 3 month clothes, mostly 6 months though and some 9 month (especially pants, primarily because of the fluffy cloth diaper bum).
Harrison is a talker too. He babbles away and we get a lot of /d/s and /b/s right now. He really gets to talking to his toys while he plays and as he gets hungrier, he gets a little more aggressive with his eating/talking. :)
He still loves tummy time and can do it a little longer each day. He really wants to sit up, and likes to try. He's gotten a little more stable but isn't anywhere close to independent sitting yet. He's good at grabbing and bringing to his mouth though!
He's just so happy and full of smiles. He does love his momma best ;) but daddy, Emerson and almost anyone that stops to talk to him are close behind. He's pretty good at entertaining himself but also loves having books read to him or songs sung to him. Emerson is really good about singing songs to him. He's ticklish under his arms and on his thighs and even if you don't touch him ;).
He's really not ready for food yet, and doesn't really have signs of teeth either, so we'll hold of on that for awhile.
Harrison is a great sleeper (dare I say that publicly) in the sense that he takes nice length of naps and has a sort of rhythm to his naps (not really a schedule but it's predictable). He also is pretty good about laying down and talking himself to sleep, as long as he's nice and full.
I just can't get over how sweet he is! I just love how his face lights up when I see him. We sure love this guy!
Hmmm.. yes, I could eat that!
What?! Did you say something?
Raspberries!
And all our favorite outfits...
Spoiler.. this is his Easter outfit
I love this flannel
And my new favorite jammies
She was all ready to take a picture and then she notices a hang nail... she's obsessed with hang nails.
I loved these shots with Emerson, thought I'd give him the chance to develop his inner shutterbug...
