Dear Axel,
Today you are six months old! Half a year has already gone by since you entered our lives. I can't believe it. Whenever I see new mommies and daddies with babies I wonder how anybody could possibly have a baby younger than mine - it seems like just yesterday that you came along. (Yet it feels like you've always belonged to the family.)
This month has been very eventful! You got to celebrate your first Thanksgiving. We visited with my family first, including lots of play time with your cousin. She was very excited to see you and loved to get close and say "Hello Axel!" We also visited Daddy's family and another cousin. You were all smiles for your great grandparents and aunts and uncles. A couple days before Thanksgiving we started giving you solid foods. You're still warming up to the idea, and perhaps we just need to try more interesting foods. You seem to like sweet potatoes, and I sneak a little rice cereal into the mix so that you get your iron. Yesterday I gave you some banana chunks in a little mesh bag - oh boy did you like that! You gummed the heck out of it until there was little left but some pulpy goo inside the bag. In a couple days we'll try a new food... maybe carrots?
You've been getting stronger every day. The sitting that we started last month is still going very well. You can sit all by yourself for at least 15 minutes (though I haven't timed you). I still make sure you have pillows all around just in case you topple over, but that isn't very often anymore. Of course, if something interesting happens behind you, you fall over trying to see it. Your legs are really getting strong too! You love to stand up and even jump if I hold onto you. Sometimes it's hard to convince you to sit down - you'd much rather stand. If I stand you on my lap and then lean you against my chest, you'll start climbing on me... you obviously are starting to think about moving around on your own!
Just a couple days ago you decided it was high time to roll over from your tummy to your back. It looked like it took some effort, but you managed to put your head down on your arm, and push yourself over using your opposite arm and leg. I was so proud of you! You've rolled over nearly every time I've put you down on your tummy since then. It's amazing to see you think about the problem and find a solution. Once you figure out how to roll from your back to your tummy we'll really have to start baby-proofing the house. When I was a baby I rolled everywhere instead of crawling.
You're always such a happy boy. You're so happy we had no idea you were starting to grow teeth, but we just discovered one in your mouth! It's your lower front right tooth, and it's really quite sharp. I hope you'll be a good boy and not bite me when you're nursing. So far, so good.
The only bad thing that happened this month is that you got your first cold. Luckily it didn't hit you very hard, but I caught it from you and was quite sick for a week or so. Let's not do that again for a while. You'll be starting day care in January and I know you'll be catching more colds once that starts, so at least we will have had a little experience in the area.
Christmas is coming soon, and we can't wait to enjoy it with you. I remember when I was pregnant, looking forward to Christmas with a 6-month old. I know you'll probably be mostly interested in the wrapping paper this year, but I still can't wait! Our tree is up in the living room (and tonight we'll actually start decorating it...) Soon we'll have all of the nutcrackers and other lights and decorations up. Next year you can have Christmas cookies, but this year you'll just have to settle for getting it in the form of cookie-flavored milk.
I love you beyond words (as usual). You are such a charming little boy, smiling all the time, and every day your personality reveals itself a little more. You are simply amazing.
Love,
Mommy
