Ian's 6 Month Letter

Here is the letter that I intended to post on Wednesday.
Dear Sweet Ian,
It has already been 6 months—half a year!—since you came into our lives.  I cannot believe how fast time flies, or how much you change every single day!  You are turning into a little boy and don’t look like a little baby infant anymore.  You have so many little expressions and sounds that you make…daddy and I love to play with you and get you to make all of your fun faces.
Your biggest milestone over the past 2 months has been learning to roll over.  You did this the first time on the day after you turned 4 months!  You still only roll from your back to tummy…to the left…but this seems to get you by just fine.  We joke that you’re going to be a marathon runner because you are always kicking your legs and moving around.  Even when you’re on your back, you have done complete 180 degree turns!  One day, daddy put you in your crib for a nap, and came back later to find you facing the end of your crib and playing with your bumper.  It was so adorable!  You are becoming more active with playing, and love to reach and grab for anything in the vicinity.  Your favorite things to play with are your blue crinkly elephant that daddy got you when you were “a good boy,” Sophie the Giraffe, any type of ring or hoop, and all of the toys on your Jumperoo or Exersaucer.  You also like to play with mommy’s hair and try to grab at our food on the table.
Mommy and daddy sing lots of songs to you, and you LOVE them!  It’s probably because we act goofy while singing.  Your newest favorite is “Skinamarinky Dinky Dink,” but you also still like “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and “Patty Cake.”  You still like watching Baby Einstein videos, so we let you watch those occasionally.  Bath time is one of your favorite times, and you are splashing more and more!  Mommy usually gets so wet during bath time!  You like to play with your water toys and smile when mommy sings “Splish Splash” to you.  You are making lots of new sounds, especially one that involves rolling your lips together and making little spit bubbles…haha!
Last week, you had your first taste of rice cereal.  Up until now, you have been nursing and having some formula supplementation.  You made some funny faces with the rice cereal and didn’t seem to be a big fan at first.  By the third day, you seemed to get more used to it.   Last Saturday, you tried your first vegetable – yellow squash – and you seemed to like just fine!  I’m thinking that you’re going to love food, just like mommy and daddy!  After your 6 month doctor’s appointment tomorrow, we will start getting more aggressive with the solids, and will probably start feeding you them twice a day.  I wonder what you’re favorites will be?  I’m going to guess carrots and bananas.  We’ll see!
Mikah is still babysitting you when mommy and daddy are at work.  This is generally Mondays and Tuesdays from 2-5pm and all day on Wednesdays.  You love to be with Mikah and enjoy time with Karly and Silas (Mikah’s kids).   The weather has been warming up, so you’ve been spending some time outside.  Mikah said that you walk backwards around the patio in her walker.  So cute!  You also attend the church nursery on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.  Everybody talks about how you are such a good and happy baby!  We still have our LifeGroup on Thursday evenings.  All 5 babies are here now, and it is so fun to watch you all grow together.  You all definitely keep us entertained...and busy…during our group nights!

I think that you recognize family now.  March 3rd-6th was your first vacation – we went to Dallas!  On Thursday morning, we left right after your 6am feeding and you slept until we got to Norman.  We made a quick stop at All-Saints so nanny could show you off to all of your friends.  You smiled so much when nanny held you and talked to you!  After that stop, you slept the rest of the way to Flower Mound.  During our time in Dallas, you had so much fun playing with Eden.  She did all kinds of things to make you laugh.  Aunt Heddie would hold you and walk around the house.  Eden would run behind her like she was chasing you, and you just giggled and giggled!  You must have known that we were out of our routine because you didn’t sleep well while we were on vacation for the first few nights, but the last night was better.  We also got to go and visit Chad, Ali, and Eme.  You and Eme were so cute hanging out together in your bouncy seats.  It was funny to see Eme (almost 3 years old) in her bouncy seat!  The trip back home wasn’t quite as smooth.  We left in the early afternoon and I don’t think you were too tired. You were a little fussy on the way home, so we made another stop in Norman to see Nanny and Papa.  This break helped to tire you out and you slept better the rest of the way.
You have been doing great when we are at home and in our normal “routine.”  You generally wake up around 8:30 or 9:00am and play with daddy, he feeds you and you take a morning nap.  After your early afternoon feeding, you typically take another short nap.  You love to play in the afternoon and you’re excited when mommy gets home from work.  You eat again around 5:30 or 6pm, then we play, run errands, and have bathtime.  Your last feeding before bed is around 8:30pm, then you’re off to sleep for the night.  You had been waking up around 3:00am and mommy would feed you because you were fussy; however, last Saturday night, we tried the “cry it out” method because you’re getting too old to need a middle-of-the-night feeding.  You cried for a little while, then went back to sleep on your own.  The next night, you slept until 6am!  We will see if things continue to work out well.  Mommy can hardly stand to hear her baby cry, but I know you’re not hurt or sick.  I just want you to learn to soothe yourself.
Well, I’ve pretty much written a novel, but I love to document all of these little details.  Time is going by so fast, and I don’t want to forget everything that we’ve enjoyed and seen from you thus far.  We love you, Ian Jace!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy