Tales of *tiny* Ty: Seven Month Round-Up

I stand amazed. Not only because I am now in possession of a seven-month-old, but the seven-month-old I am in possession of has improved dramatically. I can't count the number of good naps he's taken or the hours he's spent happily stuffing things into his mouth while sitting up over the past month. A few weeks ago I even remember saying that he'd had the best week of his life. My mom thought I was being mean but I was paying Ty a huge compliment! He's been a real joy to be around and I think I've joined the club of parents who talk about what a blessing their child is :) Congratulate me.

Back in his newborn days I'd heard from more than one source that once a baby reaches three months, things change and they mellow and life is better. I'm sure they say that both to encourage the moms walking around with bags under their eyes who find themselves crying for no reason, and because it's usually the truth. I won't dispute the fact that Ty did start sleeping through the night prior to three months, but outside of that I did not experience the great change that supposedly happens at that milestone.

No, for us six months has been the big one. So, let me put that out there: If you still want to pull your hair out (if you have any left, that is, as it's probably still falling out by the handful at three months postpartum) when the baby turns three months and one day, be encouraged with the thought that change may still be in sight a little further down the road. And really, it will be here before you know it.

I thought we might have a crawler on our hands by this time, but he's yet to make his move. We've caught him raised up on his hands and a knees a few times, but it's a pose he can't hold for long. We're safe for now.

He's been eating very well for the most part and Todd usually feeds him breakfast and dinner. Back when we first started I was also trying to give him something at lunch too, but he was refusing to take it and I didn't force it. I don't think you can force food on a baby. For now we let him eat as much as he'll take from the bowl I make him. We trick him into eating vegetables by giving him bites of fruit. So judge us. I feel like now is not the time to have food battles, that will come later we we can communicate with him, and when he's actually hungry for food. As it is now he still nurses 5-6 times a day so I doubt he's ever actually hungry for food. No, now is the time to teach hm that eating is fun!

His favorite things are apples, tags, and Todd's belt buckle. He'll take an apple any way he can get it. When Todd or I eat one, he spits out his paci and tries to pull our hand holding the apple to his mouth :) We enjoy sharing one with him. He also has some applesauce nearly every day with his dinner, and it is by far the food he loves most.

Regarding tags, he finds them on everything. Play mat, blankets, stuffed animals, you name it. Seriously, he's got a thing for tags, and they don't all feel the same. Todd's belt buckle is probably his latest obsession. He likes the way the metal tastes, feels, and looks, I think.

And now for the pictures :)

Have I mentioned how much I love bath towel baby?

Pre-bath :) 

The time we caught him sitting with is hands nearly folded on his highchair tray, just watching us in the kitchen :) 

Yes indeed :) 

Such a big boy...how did this even happen?!

Who's Who?

Ok, misleading title. The identities of the babies pictured below are obvious; right? The two average-looking babes on either side are Todd and myself, respectively. Just so-so, we know.

BUT—, that stunning specimen of an infant in the middle...now he's a different story ;) All three of us are about six months, give or take a few weeks I imagine.

So, your next step is to tell me who Ty favors. We already know the correct answer; I just need to make sure the general public agrees.

While compiling this image, Todd commented that pictures have come a long way. So have babies, apparently ;)

Here's my keepsake of Ty's six month. Little glimpses of his little life right now :)

Picnic at the Park

There's  a little park and playground near our house and this week we took Ty for the first time. It was fantastic. We didn't really do much, besides take an inordinate number of pictures (and by "we" I mean, mostly "me"), but it was fantastic. The equipment has probably been there for, I don't know, a bunch of years and there were kids running around and people sitting at cement tables eating takeout...it was a park of parks.

But what MADE this place for me, what really sealed it in my mind as one of my new "old haunts" was the way the evening sun poured through the trees and lit everything up all golden and prefect. Perfect if you're like me and came armed with a Nikon wrapped around your neck. Probably super annoying if you're playing catch or frisbee or something. But I was just there to take pictures of my tiny boy doll (uh, that'd be Ty, just so we're clear). I went a little, shall we say, over the top. I click-click-clicked until Todd and Ty had probably both about had it.

But I think it was worth it.

I did say this was a picnic at the park. Butternut and avocado coming right up!

Here's some proof that I was there (Todd's idea). I fed him his "dessert": applesauce. He's a big fan.

I think we'll go back sometime. Like when Ty can, you know, play ;)