Seven Months Old

Happy 7 months! 

Oh Walkie Talkie,  you are such a sweetie!  We love you and can't believe that 7 months have come and gone already.  

I am a sucker for those kissable cheeks of yours and that little profile.  

I don't know how you do it, but you just keep getting more adorable with time! 

You are such a happy little guy, but oh dear, you started your seventh month off with a bang.  

I think those sad eyes say it all...

 You ushered in the new year and another month with your first cold, which was terribly sad for everyone.  But especially you.  We tried to see if you could beat it for a few days but after it became apparent that you were not getting better I took you in to the pediatrician. 

We were tired of seeing you so miserable and your sleeping was all over the map because you couldn't get any relief from your coughing and and congestion.

Thankfully we were able to rule out RSV and Pneumonia but you did have some fluid in your ears. We came home with a prescription in case you needed it, but thankfully you started to feel much better within a few days. We did learn while you were at the doctor that you now weigh 19lbs, which means you gained almost 2 pounds from your last appointment! I think all that baby food is really helping you pack on the pounds. 

We did make one purchase for you this month and it has proven to be a lifesaver in helping you sleep at night.  This little rock and play puts you at just enough of an incline to really help relieve the pressure in your ears and keep your congestion from launching you into a coughing fit.  We really wish we would have bought this back when you were struggling to sleep through the night a few months ago, as you love it and sleep great in it.  We only had to use it for a few nights before you were able to go back to your crib, but the sleep we reclaimed over those nights made this worth every penny!  Once we got you feeling well again you lapsed into a beautiful pattern of taking two naps a day, usually a few hours each time, and then sleeping between 11-12 hours at night.  We are so thankful!!  

All of that sleep did the trick and before we knew it, you were feeling and acting so much happier!  We saw the sparkle return to your eyes again and you let us dress you like the Texas Ranger who bears your name  :) 

You began really preferring certain toys this month, especially this light-up book. You love to sit and stare at the lights and we are noticing how much you love to sit on our lap.  You are definitely a social baby, you don't like it when the room empties and you find yourself all alone...we hear lots of squawking or downright crying when we walk away.  You LOVE to have all of your people around!

 After making the bumbo seat work for awhile, we finally bought you a new highchair that sits up at the table with the rest of us.  With a bigger table in our kitchen we didn't have room for our big highchair so you got a brand new one!  Your Dad thought I chose a girly pattern but I couldn't help it, I wanted it to look good in my kitchen...sorry buddy! 

 Despite the fabric choice, I think it's safe to say, you love it! From the first time we strapped you in, you were all smiles.  I think you really love seeing what we're all up to during dinner and of course you are all about eating along with us.

And speaking of eating, you figured out how to grasp puffs by yourself this month, although you aren't quite efficient at using your pincer grasp yet. You mostly just grab a handful and then try to get something in your mouth by way of stuffing your whole hand inside.  We have to watch you carefully so you don't get too many in there but you are quite proud of yourself!  

Your favorite kinds of baby food to eat right now are: 

rice cereal

oatmeal

bananas

pears

apples

carrots

and sweet potatoes

You don't want anything to do with green veggies or prunes. 

We can't say that we blame you. They do not look or smell good!  You also decided this month that weren't thrilled about nursing anymore. You sort of just weaned yourself and preferred the bottle so much more. I fed you first thing in the morning for awhile but by the end of the month, we transitioned out of that and now you are consuming formula and baby food exclusively. I was a little sad to let that stage go, but you made it clear you were ready to be done and we were both happy to give up the wrestling match that nursing had become! 

 You've turned into a wild man in your exersaucer now.  You love to stand up and bounce all over the place!  It makes me smile to think you are the third sweet face I've been privileged watch enjoy that thing.  You've loved the view in there for a couple of months now but it's really great to see you play with all the toys and lights!

The Christmas tree was very fun for you to watch over Christmas and we kept it up through January because all of us loved the sparkling lights on those cold, winter days.  By the end of the month I knew it had to come down, however, as you kept rolling yourself closer and closer to it and even reached up to grab an ornament or two!  Ava and Carter got a big kick out of that and laughed like crazy, which made you want to do it again and again.  How fun to enjoy your first Christmas with all of us giggling along as we watch you soak it up.

 Grammy and Grampy came this month to help Mommy while Daddy was on a 5 day ski trip in Montana.  Grammy and I felt so bad after we propped you up for a picture and then you fell over and hit your head on a cabinet.  You had a pretty big bump on your forehead for the rest of the day...You are definitely sitting up, but you are not totally steady yet.  I think I shed at least a few tears while you cried about your bump!  So sorry, buddy! 

 We also took you shopping with us and moved you to the big seat in the cart for the first time!

You LOVED it!  

And you looked so old to us.  Homegoods is like Mommy's favorite indulgence, so get used to that seat Walker  :) 

 One thing that began changing this month is how much you wanted to be in on the action with your siblings.  Now that you are on the floor so much, you found a way to roll and scoot yourself closer and closer to them so they would play with you too. 

 You were so proud of your big self and you are so lucky to have built in playmates!

 They adore you Walker and for now they love to have you close to them and to include you too.  You get so tickled to see them every morning and the same is true for them.  Daddy and I love seeing you three together!

More and more you began sitting on your own and playing with all your toys...it's fun to see baby toys in our house again and to watch you delight in all of them!

 You have grown so much in this month of January and we just love you, buddy!

 You are the best little brother and you make your big sister and big brother laugh constantly. 

For the first time you were lunging out of my arms at the play land to get down on the floor with Carter and all the other kids...

 ...and when it's not freezing cold, we've started using the stroller for you as opposed to always keeping you in your infant seat!  You also love that new view, but it will be so much sweeter when it's not winter and you don't have to be bundled up.

 Every month with you keeps getting better and better, Walker!

We're so grateful for you, the third monkey in our bed! 

Happy 7 months, Walker Cole!