Dear Mason: 6 month edition

Dear Mason,
I cannot believe half of a year has gone by since we first laid eyes on you! Each month you just get more and more personality & bring more and more joy to our every day!

You are of course still growing, but your growing doesn't seem to be as quick as it used to be. You are 18.25 pounds (59th percentile), your head is 44cm (66th percentile) & my short little one, you have only grown 1/4 of an inch since your 4 month check up. You are 24 3/4 inches tall (1st percentile). You are wearing 6 month onesies & still wearing mostly 3 month pants and shorts. We also moved you up to size 3 diapers this month.

You still absolutely love going to your babysitter every day. You have not cried a single day that I have taken you. We are so incredibly lucky that we found her! The second we walk in you are met with open and excited arms from either Tiffany & Jason & their kids. You love each of them so much! Before we leave for school the little ones beg to hold you & they beg me every day on the way to school to let you stay with them after school for a while. It's precious! Mommy was very nervous about leaving you every day but you are definitely with people who love you like their own!

Food has continued to be a no go for you my boy! We continued trying oatmeal 1-2 times a week. You continue to hit the spoon, push our had away, spit the food out & gag any time we put it in your mouth. So far we have tried both oatmeal and rice cereal, both of which you hate. We have tried both cereals mixed with banana, this is probably the food you have liked the most but you still didn't make it past 3 bites. We have also tried both mixed applesauce which was awful the second it touched your mouth.

We thought ok lets go to solids everyone says you can't go wrong with sweet potato. I made up some sweet potatoes, NO GO!

We then went to avocado. You love to put things in your mouth with your hands so we just put it on your tray, after you tasted it and gagged you threw every single bit of it on the floor.

Needless to say we have given up on food. We have heard that 'before one is just for fun" when it comes to food. You seem to just love mommy's milk & that's perfectly fine with me! I'm going to enjoy every second of it while I can.

On a fantastic note, your reflux has gotten so much better this month. I'm still in a little bit of disbelief because it had gotten so out of control last month but I'm happily taking it! This past Sunday we ran out of your reflux medicine and didn't realize it in time so Monday after profusely apologizing to Miss Tiffany we sent you to daycare without it & you had a great day! So we just decided to keep rolling with it & you've done great! I've had a little bit of tomato sauce and some salsa and you have handled that well without medicine. We are so thankful! I did have some coffee this morning which was a no go for you. We did have to give you a dose of the medicine because it did give you reflux this afternoon. So I am going to just continue with no dairy or coffee for a while longer. Surprisingly, dairy used to be my favorite food group but I don't think I'm going to add it back in because I just don't really miss it.

 You're still pretty scheduled I think but it isn't as strict as it used to be. Your eating times are consistently the same, but we just let you nap whenever you start to show signs of being tired. Your bedtime continues to move up but you sleep so much better when you go to bed earlier. We are starting your bath now at 6:30 and you are down by 7:15 & sleep until between 5:30-6:30. If you wake up at 5:30 I normally go in and rock you and hold you. You're only little once so I'm soaking all of it in that I can! This month I've also developed a bad habit of going in after you are asleep and picking you up and rocking with you for a while. Daddy tries to discourage it so typically I sneak in there and about 5 minutes later see Daddy's head at the end of the hall shaking his head at me. You never wake up & my working mom heart just needs it!

Last month you had just starting rolling over from back to belly. Now you are rolling all over the place! You have also started scooting backwards everywhere. I will put you down to play and you typically will end up on the other side of the room. The other day you rolled your way under the kitchen counter!

You have always been pretty content to play on your own but this month we are noticing it even more. Your favorites this month (besides the floor) are the exercise jumper & high chair. We can sit you in either of those while we do things around the house and your are as content as can be for about 20-30 minutes. 
This is the first month we have put you in a swing outside & you love it!! In the evenings we will put you in your swing and sit in ours and we just sit out there and relax and you just take in the outdoors.

One morning when daddy was cooking breakfast he gave you a spatula. This as become your favorite toy ever! You take it with you everywhere you go and get grouchy at us if we take it away from you. you've taken it in the car, to the babysitter, mommy's school, outside, the bathtub. We have spatulas all over this house for you!

Your other favorite toys are the toy remote, Sophie the Giraffe, a cup, your stuffed Deputy Peck & a blue teething ring.
You have really found your voice lately. You love to laugh or talk super loud to us.

You are starting to really like books & being read to! In the evenings you will let me read you between 4-6 books. This makes mommy's teacher heart so happy. I have always had a love for books and reading so I hope you develop the same love. Your favorite book right now is "Red Truck." My favorite book to read to you is "How Do I Love You?" I'm pretty sure that's your least favorite book though because as soon as I start it you are done with story time. Haha!

You are starting to care less and less for your paci. This makes us happy because maybe it won't be too hard to take away. If you decide you want to suck on something you will use whatever is closest a paci or a thumb you aren't really a thumb sucker it's just sometimes convenient to chew on. We give you a paci when we put you down at night but normally you spit it out before falling asleep & hum yourself to sleep.

You are still all Momma's boy!!! Uncle Cal & Aunt Cassie were over the other night and talked about when Boston changed over to be a daddy's boy so I am relishing every month that you are attached to me! You are reaching for me more & more & I love that I am your sense of safety and comfort!

Fun happenings from this month:
*Oggie came for a visit

*You experienced your first earthquake  *You had your first trip to the zoo

*You had your first ride on a 4-wheeler

*You drove daddy's truck to check the deer cameras

*You had your first slumber party with your cousins Addy & Lilah
*You're sitting up on your own
*You're standing when holding on to something

*You had a playdate with a new friend!

*You are rolling & scooting all over the place!

 *You played the real piano for the first time with pops!

We just love watching you grow up and develop each month. We love seeing the personality you are developing and the milestones you are reaching. You are a very happy, passive, laid back baby boy and we are so lucky for that! We can't wait to see what this next month brings for you. We love you Mason Porter!
Love, Mommy & Daddy