Happy 1/2 Birthday

JJ entered our world 6 months ago today.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone and how much he has changed.  That night and day are still very clear in my memory.  The first few weeks that followed are a jumbled mess of over-tired recollections.

Right now I'm feeling like I could get the hang of this Fatherhood thing.  I've come so far and I know JJ and I have an ever-growing bond.  The smile I get when he sees me in the morning or when I get home is priceless.  Making (and hearing) Bubba laugh is the single best thing in the World.  I just have to raise my eyebrows and say "Boing Boing!" to get a big wide smile.  E thinks JJ is so easily amused by me because I look funny (all face and no hair), maybe she is right.  To think I didn't feel connected to our little boy at one stage... 

Bubba decided to mark his half birthday slightly early by sleeping through the night for the first time on Monday.  E and I were shocked, it was very odd to have not had to get out of bed.  He had been gradually sleeping for longer stretches since we introduced solids but he managed 11 hours.  11 hours!  The night before he did 8 hours and that was the most sleep E had had in one go since before he was born.  Of course, last night he woke up twice and didn't really want to go back to sleep at 4:30 am.  Maybe he's at the tail end of another growth spurt (the last time we got a few days in a row of solid sleeping was after his 3 month spurt) or maybe he is gradually getting better at sleep.  He does go back to sleep on his own fairly well now.  Normally he fusses until he rolls onto his side then nods off.  It is actually very cute to see him go through the process.

We're also amused by the variety of positions he wakes up in.  He's quite good at doing a 180 degree turn during the night but there really isn't much room to spare when he gets to 90 degrees!  Occasionally he wakes up at a right angle to how we put him down and I'm sure it is because he has bumped his head on the crib...

As a little gift I got JJ the classic doorway Jolly Jumper.  He has almost outgrown the one on a frame that we were given by a friend.  It served him very well but we've only got a single link of chain left.  JJ has figured out how to get good air now and use both legs at the same time, rather than riverdancing in it.  We've also had to move his exersaucer up a notch.  I'm sure we will find out that he is continuing his rapid growth next week when we visit the Doctors.  It must all be in his legs though as the onesies that we bought at 3 months still fit!

E and I have made an amazing little guy.  He is so happy, expressive, amusing and cute!  He's developed and learned so much in his first 6 months.  Feeding him is a real treat (especially when he doesn't grab the spoon all the time), and seeing him sit and play with his toys is fantastic.  He'll even reach out to grab a dropped toy and be able to correct wobbles!  I also love that he is fascinated by his feet and getting them into his mouth, something that I found out I can still do too!

JJ's first 6 months have flown by and were easily the most wonderful, challenging and exhausting months of my life.  I have a feeling that the next 6 will be just as good if not better! (but slightly less exhausting I hope...mind you, he will start to crawl/walk so who knows)

Almost 6 months!

Our "little" Bubba is nearly 6 months old.  Today is 6 months after his due date and those days of just waiting for the call seem like a dim and distant memory.  I can't believe how fast time has gone since he entered our world!  I also can't believe how much he has changed and developed. 

JJ's latest trick is sitting up on his own.  One day he just started doing it.  Now he can sit on all kinds of surfaces (the floor, the bed, our laps) and stay stable (he also has great posture).  He can even reach around for toys or his feet and not face plant (too often anyways).  I think he actually enjoys falling backwards onto the duvet.

His other recently acquired talent is not really wanting to go back to sleep after his feeds at night unless we just kiss him on the head, say night night, pop him in his crib and leave the room.  He'll keep himself amused for a while then drop off back to sleep.  Its weird but fantastic!  If we try to sooth him to sleep or hold him he gets all fidgety...  When you check on him he's either flat out on his back or curled up on his side looking really peaceful.  To think he can now drop off to sleep on his own is incredible, considering the effort it took to get him to sleep a few months ago!

Solid food is also progressing well.  JJ has now experienced rice cereal, chicken, pork, sweet potato, carrots, peas, green beans, peaches, plums and bananas.  He hasn't refused any of these flavours but its fair to say he isn't a big fan of peas or green beans yet, maybe he just doesn't like green things...  Some days he will really pack it back and I know E is not having to feed him herself as often.  This decline in the frequency of breast feeding is also incredible as, once again, JJ used to be almost permanently attached to E!  I do think E finds it weird that JJ now gets sustenance from other sources but she takes pride in preparing all of his food.  We eat well so why shouldn't our Bubba?

So next week our little guy turns 1/2, maybe we'll get him half a cake or half a card?