Where Did Half a Year Go???

Today our pride and joy celebrates his half birthday! Oh my. Everyone told us that time would fly once we started having children, and they weren't lying. We blinked and six months disappeared! I can't believe all of the changes and growth we've witnessed in Kaiser already. Brett and I have learned more and loved more than we could have ever imagined. 

We went for Kaiser's 6 month check up this morning, and of course he's doing just grand! Here are his stats:

(6 months & 26 weeks both fell today, so we had to take both pics!)

15 pounds 15 ounces (24th %ile)

26 inches (30th %ile)

Again Kaiser turned on the charm for Kathy, our nurse practitioner. He just stared and stared at her and even started talking to her a bit! Kathy and I mostly talked about transitioning into more solid foods and a sippy cup. We discussed teething (which Kaiser hasn't started yet--totally okay with this nursing momma!), and I found out that he needs special prescription drops with fluoride in them, because apparently the township we live in is the only place in Pittsburgh that doesn't have fluoride in the water! She also touched on stranger/separation anxiety, which can pop up around this age and I've noticed a bit of lately. Kathy just went on and on about how cute he was and how much he looked like his daddy, which his proud mama hears all the time! Kaiser again was a trooper with his vaccinations. He cried pretty hard initially, but recovered quickly once in Mommy's arms. We'll look forward to another check up in 3 months. 

Kaiser, here is what you've been busy doing in the past month: 

• You started eating solid foods two weeks ago! So far, we have tried out rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, and wheat cereal (for the first time today). You've been eating about a tablespoon after you nurse in the late afternoon, and you get better and better at keeping most of it in your mouth every day. One thing's for sure: You are very easily distracted! When you breastfeed, you get down to business, but when you sit up to eat in your Bumbo on the kitchen table, you turn your head from side to side to look at anything and everything--the TV, the backyard, Berkeley, whatever's behind you on the table. Mommy often has to remind you by saying, "Yum, yum, yum...OPEN!" 
• You are sitting up like a champ! You began to hold yourself up for several seconds at a time a little over two weeks ago, and now you are sitting alone on the floor for really long stretches (and by long, I mean 10+ minutes!). At first Mommy was always by your side and would catch you if you lost balance, but she's started backing off a little bit and letting you fall (on the carpet, of course!). She wants you to learn that it's okay to take a tumble now and then. But, at this point, you rarely fall down; more often, you just get tired of sitting still and fuss so Mommy or Daddy will come pick you up.
• We love hearing your laughter more and more each day! Nothing tickles us more than listening to it. Lately, saying "I'm gonna get you!" or "Choo choo choo!" or blowing against your neck or under your armpits will send you into a fit of giggles. We've heard you shriek a few times, and it's hilarious! 
• You make your fair share of noises, but you are not babbling yet. We try to get you to say, "Ma ma ma ma ma" and "Da da da da da," but haven't had any luck. People who meet you say that you are so quiet and observant. You look like you're studying everyone and everything. Apparently this is what Daddy was like when he was a youngster, too. We can't wait until you find your voice and start jabbering!
• You are still an outstanding sleeper. Your morning nap is now about an hour, your afternoon nap is 2-3, and you are down for the count for 12-13 hours at night (every night since April 7--Way to go!). Really the only thing that's changed on this front is that you are no longer swaddled; we just lay you down in your crib, give you Buster, your blankie-bear, and say goodnight. You usually make "settling down noises" for a few minutes, and then it's off to dreamland! 
• You easily roll from your tummy to your back, but have only rolled from your back to your tummy twice. One morning last week, Mommy came to get you and found you looking less than thrilled that you'd accidentally made the flip. Then, just last night, Mommy checked on you and found you sleeping on your tum tum. (She decided to gently turn you back over, so that you didn't wake up and get upset at your little predicament!)
• You have finally truly discovered Berkeley, and you two are getting along splendidly. You've been eyeing her for a while, but now you are really interacting with her and reaching out with curiosity to touch her. The other day, you were sitting on the floor under your gym, and Mommy came around the corner and found Berkeley giving your face a bath with her tongue. You seemed pretty content, but Mommy had to put an end to it. :) We know that before long, your reaching out may turn to grabbing her paws/ears/etc., but we have a feeling she'll just love the attention.
• You very intently watch us when we eat or drink. Your eyes follow the utensils as they go to our mouths, and you reach out to try to touch our drinks. You are especially infatuated with my Coke Zero cans!
• You kick like a maniac, and you have ridiculously strong legs! Daddy and Mommy are surprised that you don't have bruises on your heels from kicking the floor so hard when you get excited. Mommy was in the basement the other day and could hear you thumping away above her, and when she lotions you up at night she has to keep her legs to the sides of you so you don't kick her right on her ankle bones! Ouch!
• You love the taste of your vitamin D drops. Daddy and Mommy think they smell less than appetizing, but apparently they are like candy to you. Every night after bath time, Daddy lays you on your bedroom floor in your towel, and you fuss and kick like mad until Mommy gives you your "medicine". You have started pulling her hand down so that the dropper comes to your mouth more quickly, and you suck those drops down! After you get your vitamins, you are relatively calm. 
• You discovered your feet over a month ago, but haven't had any luck getting them in your mouth until just the past few days. (We think it might have to do with that cute little belly you have in the way...) Now when you are sitting in Daddy's lap or are in the tub, you suck your toes like crazy! 
• You still like your baby gym and spend time under it each morning while Mommy showers, but you love your exersaucer! Whenever I come to look at you while you're playing in it and say, "Kaiser, are you having fun?" you break into a huge smile and start bouncing up and down. It's so fun watching you learn how to operate all of its bells and whistles. 
• You have stayed pretty busy traveling and spending time with family lately. You took your first trip to Michigan to meet Uncle Kent, Aunt Kir Kir, Connor, Sydney, and William. Auntie Cindy came to see you in Pittsburgh last week. In just a few days, Uncle Justin and Bond will be here, and in a couple of weeks, you and Mommy are taking another trip to see Oma, Grandpa, Papa, and Nana in St. Louis. YaYa is meeting us there so she can love on you, too!

Here are some pics of our handsome devil: 

Mommy's a sucker for these seersucker shorts! 

 Folding laundry--such a great helper! 

Pint size. 

Getting ready to go to lunch on Mommy's bday.

Playing with a new toy from IKEA. 

Proud Daddy with his goofy boy. 

We knew his tootsies would make their way to his mouth at some point!

Testing out his new sippy cup.

Take a look at how much our boy has grown! Kaiser is so much more than we could have ever asked for or imagined in a son. God is too good to us. Daddy and Mommy adore you, Stinker!