Month Six

Dear Rachel,

Today you turn half a year old.

Your half-birthday is also the exact same day as your Grandpa Rick's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dad!



This past month, you started holding on to your bottle almost all the time when you eat. We can even put you in your car seat, give you your bottle, and let you eat all by yourself. The only time we have to help you out is when you get close to being finished, because you have a little trouble turning the bottle up enough to get the last ounce or so.


The eating solids thing, though, has taken a turn for the worse. You used to concentrate on eating, but now, you're just so happy that we're giving you food, and so distracted by everything around you, it's almost impossible to keep anything in your mouth. We'll put a spoonfull in, you'll smile and start talking, and it will all run out. It makes feeding you very frustrating.


Something that's very exciting for us is that you've started to sit up on your own. You're still getting the hang of it, but you can certainly balance yourself. We can put you in a chair or on the couch, and as long as you have some support behind you, you can sit up on your own for quite a while.


You're very interested in your world and will reach out to touch new things. You really seem to love the remote control and the calculator. It makes you fall over when you're sitting up, but it's great that you're exploring so much. I just wish you wouldn't explore everything with your mouth.


You also figured out in the past month how to turn over from your front to your back, which is a huge relief for your mom and I since we don't have to flip you back over when you get frustrated or tired of being on your tummy. You just do it yourself.


The next big thing for you is going to be crawling. We've seen you trying in the past week. When you're on your tummy, and there's something you want that just out of reach, you'll stretch out toward it, and pull your knees up under yourself and try to push and pull yourself toward whatever it is you want.


We're excited that this month will be your first Christmas. I can't wait to see how you react to the Christmas tree. We went out to eat with some of Mommy's co-workers the other night and you loved looking at all the decorations at the resturant. It should be fun to see what you do with wrapping paper. I'm sure you'll probably try to eat it.


So that's it. We're through the first six months. Every day, you're growing and learning, and as always, I can't wait to see what the next month will bring.

Love,
Daddy