Grayson {7 Months}

7 Months! 

Grayson Brooks, my sweet little baby, why are you already 7 months old?? I literally feel like you were just born a few days ago, and now you are over half a year old and no longer acting like a baby. In fact, I think you have convinced yourself that you are the same age as Camden and that you can do just about anything he can do. 

Here are the highlights of your 7th month:

This month you started to really sit well on your own for long stretches of time. Once you had that mastered you began to go from laying down to sitting up all on your own. Of course, you couldn't just stop there. You inch worm yourself all over the house, then sit up and play, then continue to cruise just about anywhere. To try and contain you to one spot I put you in your walker with a bunch of toys to play with. You ignored the toys figured out the walking thing so quickly, and now you literally run around the house in your walker. Oh yes, and that is not all. About 3 days ago you learned to stand up all on your own. You scared me half to death! I walked into your room and saw your little tiny head popping up above your crib rail. You had the biggest smile on your face. You were so proud of this new accomplishment. Next up...teaching you how to sit yourself back down without crashing. You are still so tiny to be standing and not coordinated enough to sit down. You have bumped your head a few times already, and I know that it is now time to start wrapping you in bubble wrap. You will thank me one day!

Your eating still has not improved. You are more accepting of food, but only for a bite or two and then you just gag and hate everything. The only thing you do like is sucking on fruit through your mesh feeder.  Thankfully you haven't thrown up any food this month, so your little body handles it better now, you just don't like the taste. You are still nursing full time, obviously you need it because you aren't getting any nutrition from anywhere else. I am going to keep on trying new foods with you every few days and hopefully soon you will catch on and like it.

Sleep is still hit or miss. There are more nights where you sleep all night, but still those nights when you need a feeding around 2ish. You go to bed now between 7 and 7:30, and typically wake up between 6 and 7, with the one feeding in the middle of the night. It is definitely not fun to wake up almost every night, however, I love you and you are spoiled, that is all there is to it! I am sure I could just ignore your cries and make you sleep all night, but I can't, my heart can't do it. I also feel bad because you are such a big boy, and you need to keep growing, but since you don't eat food I know that you need Mama's milk more often. I know it won't be like this forever {even though there are some nights where I am convinced I will never sleep a full night again}, so I am savoring all the midnight snuggles with you while I can.

Ok, on to the more fun things:

You LOVE toys, just not your toys. You LOVE Camden's toys and he is not sure if he likes that. I can put 50 baby toys in front of you, but if you see one of Camden's hot wheels across the room you are instantly drawn to it and you make sure you get it.

You love bath time still. You are done with the baby tub and now sit up in the regular tub with Camden, or on the nights when you take a bath alone we put you in the blow up duckie tub. You splash like a crazy man every night and you love the water going everywhere.

Diaper changes are a nightmare. You try to leave every time I take your diaper off. You are such a boy and don't sit still for anything.

Sassy is one of your new favorite things in the house. If she is close by you have to get to her and pull her hair. Thankfully she is patient with you and if she doesn't like what you are doing she just walks away.

You still are a Mama's boy and lean to me whenever you want me to hold you.

You had the giggles the other night when Dada was playing with you. I am not sure if it is all boys or just mine, but getting giggles out of you is VERY tough. So hearing your laughs the other night just made our entire evening better. 

You are now in 12-18 month clothes and even a few 18-24 month ones. 

Paci is still hanging on, but I am not sure for how long. You love it when you are awake, but when I give it to you after you are done nursing then put you in your bed, you spit it out. You are welcome to give it up anytime! 

I still rock you to sleep for bed and nap times, and I will until you no longer let me. I think it is one of the biggest joys of being a Mom...I could rock and snuggle you forever.

You still have just your two bottom teeth, but you are beginning to drool a little bit, so there may be more coming soon.

You want to be a part of everything. When we are out shopping and I have you in the stroller, you do everything you can to convince me to take you out and hold you so you can see the world. Your big brother was the same way and I just know you are going to be just as curious and busy as he is.

You love to give Dada huge smiles when he gets home from work. You love play time with him, he is definitely the fun one.

You love the outdoors, and the porch swing is one of your favorite things.

Well Mr. Gray, I think those are most of the highlights of this past month. You are growing up way too fast and although I love each new stage and the new experiences, I miss the little baby things you no longer do. We love you so much and just can't get enough of you and your sweet self!