Grayson is 7 MONTHS!

Dear Grayson,

 Grayson Patrick you are 7 months old! I’m pretty sure 6 months came and went with the blink of an eye. You continue to rule and we thank our lucky stars for you every single day. You are growing perfectly and now round out at 17lbs, 8oz (35th %). You are 27 inches tall and in the 50th percentile for height. You currently wear clothing that is sized 6 mos, 6-12, 6-9, and 9. You wear diapers that are size 3. You seem noticeably bigger to me and are much heavier to lug around (not that that stops me--- you love to be held). You continue to drink only breast milk and now eat various baby purees, yogurt, puffs, and you’ve gnawed on your first pizza crust and a piece of French bread. You have two meals a day—breakfast at Daycare (oatmeal/fruit or yogurt) and dinner at home (veggies). You love all food and haven’t had any issue with anything that we’ve tried. You may or may not have tried Ritas Italian Ice and vanilla soft serve {you preferred Ritas—strawberry lemonade to be exact}.

You’ve made some huge developmental leaps this last month. You currently get on your hands and knees and push yourself forwards. Prior to June 10, 2012 you were scooting and spinning around like an old pro. Exactly on the 7 month mark, you mastered the army crawl and get around very, very quicky. We can lay you on the bed and you’re attacking our phone on the other side of the bed within seconds. You are so obviously a male. You love nothing more than the remote and an iPhone. You have mastered the pincher grasp and not only pick up the puffs on your highchair tray, but you also bring them to your mouth with ease. You can grasp anything and everything, including a daily attempt at my iced coffee straw. You sit up much easier now and are starting to pull up on us.

You are so fun to play with and you really, really respond to us now. You have started to become really ticklish and you laugh whenever we tickle your (very) meaty thighs. You love playing peek-a-boo and get a huge kick out of it every single time. Your laugh is so adorable and contagious. You smile so big and are the happiest baby around. Of course you have your moments and have learned to whine a lot more than you used to, but when you smile (and you do it a lot) it’s contagious.

You love playing now and you are obsessed with jumping around in your jumparoo and could spend hours in there at a time (and reportedly do at daycare). You also love your stacking cups, Sophie the giraffe, and taking walks in the stroller.

I have an awful singing voice, but my singing always calms you down right away. At night, you prefer twinkle, twinkle. You also love when we sing the Grayson, Grayson, Grayson song (sung to the tune of “wiggle, wiggle, wiggle- LMFAO Sexy and I know it.” <-- I know, appropriate for a baby, right? You crack up every time and smile so big. You are also partial to Pop Goes the Weasel and love constant entertainment from Mom and Dad. You still aren’t particularly vocal, but you shriek and squeal with delight pretty regularly. This month you took your first dip in the pool and although you were unsure at first, you like it now. You love being outside and you’re a total people watcher. You also met your great grandmother, Veronica for the first time.

Grayson Patrick, I love you so much. There is nothing in this world that compares to the happiness that you bring me. I feel so lucky to have a son. Nothing compares to the bond that I share with you, and I hope that it ALWAYS stays that way. Nothing compares to having you for a son. You rule! You make me smile! You make my whole world!

I love you tons and tons, Mommy

Grayson is 6 Months (A bit late)

Dear Grayson,

 

I know I say this every month, but seriously—how are you 6 months old already? I fondly remember the tiny little thing that I brought home from the hospital so long ago.  I often miss how you would curl up onto my chest all day long for your daily cat naps.  Although I miss the newborn stage, I wouldn't change a thing because the Grayson that we have now is just SO much fun. 

 

You are so alert. You are so interactive and you smile at daddy and I like we are the funniest/best/most entertaining things that you have EVER seen.  Every day when I pick you up from daycare you are looking at the door just waiting for me.  When we lock eyes your smile is infectious.  You really recognize us now.  There's no doubt that you recognize your own name as well.  When we start saying G-R-A-Y, your head immediately turns and scans the room until you can find the source.  

 

You seriously light up my life.  I often wonder how I lived before you?

 

This month you've battled croup (again) and you've grown a bit more.  You currently weigh 16 lbs, 7oz (30^th percentile), you are 26.5 inches long (50^th percentile), and your head is in the 75^th percentile.  You continue to wear size 2 and 3 diapers and you can still fit in your 3 month Carters onesies.  You also wear sizes 3-6, 6, and some 9 month things.  You still only have the same two teeth that came in shortly after your four month mark.  You now eat solids—2 meals a day (we added the second meal at 5 months, 3 weeks).  You get a fruit and cereal at daycare and then I feed you a veggie every night.  You are a huge fan. So far you've had peas, green beans, applesauce, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, pears, peaches, and mangos.  You do not discriminate and love them all equally.  You still nurse as well and that continues to go really well.  I'm pumping two times a day at work and so far so good!

 

You are sleeping a bit better, but you still nurse at least once at night, usually between 1:30-4am.  Although you've been rolling for awhile, you now roll like a maniac.  You roll the second we try to change your diaper and/or dress you.  You are one SQUIRMY worm.  You've learned how to roll in the pack n play as well, which makes for some restless and sleepless nights.  Despite knowing how to roll, you aren't in love with sleeping on your stomach.  That does NOT stop you from flipping over onto it every single time I lay you on your back.

 

Not only do you roll, but you're also learning to scoot.  You start by getting yourself into a downward dog position and then moving yourself forwards. I am SO not ready for this.  You are way too little to be acting this big.  The downward dog thing is hysterical.  You've also started to try sitting on your own for a few seconds at a time.  In fact, you started doing this more consistently on mothers day—2 days after you turned six months. 

 

We introduced you to grass and the swings this month, with a picnic at the park.  You love being outside.  You LOVE the animals.  One look at Polly, O'Snap or Sage puts an immediate smile on your face.  You love reaching out the grab their fur and they generally tolerate you.   

 

You love the song the Itsy Bitsy Spider, you love reading books, and you love to squeal.  For some strange reason, you REALLY love when we smell your feet and say "pee-yew, Graby. You stink."  Language wise, you stick to mamammama or shrieking.  You also love your exersaucer and will play in there long enough for us to eat dinner.  You still love to eat your toes, and you love any toy that you can get your hands on.

 

You still have a million nicknames--  Gray, Gray Gray, Graby, Boo, Boo Bear, Bug, Buggy. I call you Grayson on occasion.  You are still gorgeous too! Your eyes are still piercingly blue and your lips are totally kissable.  Too kissable! Although now when I say, "Grayson, can I have a kiss?" you know to lean in for one (well, at least half the time when you aren't distracted).

 

The coolest thing about you is just how happy you are.  Your personality is really coming out and I love watching you grow and change every single day.  I didn't think it would be possible to love you any more than I did the second I met you, but I do.  There's nothing like it.  Nothing can top you sweet boy.  You're still the best thing I've ever done!

 

Love,

Ashley