7 Months!

I hate that you're growing so fast! I'm at least satisfied that I can look back and say I really soaked in your newborn times by snuggling you and holding you all the time, and I'm still snuggling and kissing you as much as I can! Because it feels like any second you're just going to grow up and walk away. And I want you to stay a baby forever!

• Solids has improved. The first thing you readily accepted, shortly after my last post, was multigrain cereal. Then you ate butternut squash and loved it. You will eat a whole container of that and sweet potatoes and lean in for more, or grab my arm as you lean forward with your mouth open. You are not as enthusiastic, but have also eaten green beans, peas, carrots, and avocadoes. You've had some small pieces of pulled pork and chicken.In your mesh feeder, you've enjoyed grapes, strawberries, and bananas. You get so excited when you see this and suck out every drop you can.
• You are army/wiggle crawling everywhere. And rocking on your knees a lot. You just fall forward on your face and go. You love remotes and shoes and paper and anything else that isn't a toy.
• You love to talk and yell and laugh and even "sing" loudly at church.
• You hate and refuse your binky completely now and cry if I try to offer it. You still snuggle in a cradle hold to fall asleep, but will often still cry as I hold you and cry yourself to sleep. I'm not sure why you fight it so much. But then I can put you in your bed and you'll sleep.
• You nurse to sleep at night. I love and cherish both of these quiet times of snuggling you. If someone else (usually Miles, but all the kids and Dad do it) doesn't barge in and wake you up. Sometimes I think it'd be more important to let you soothe yourself to sleep, but I'd rather hold and love on you while I can, because 7 months has already flown by.
• You sleep ok at night. You can do a 6 hour stretch. It's just inconsistent. Sometimes you're awake by midnight and want another feeding. Then you'll sleep until 6. Other times, you only wake around 2 or 3 and sleep till morning. And other nights you're up at 12 and 4 and 6. 
• You are the cutest little clapper and love to sit and clap and talk, or lie on your back and clap.
• You love your toys and play well on the floor.
• You love your siblings and save your biggest smiles and laughs for them.
• I love your big toothy grin when I'm getting you out of your crib after a nap. You're usually so happy then.
• Dad loves that toothy grin too, and you love him so much. He often snuggles with you in the morning and you get some extra sleep. You love to eat his nose.
• You're so serious for strangers and just stare at them.
• You love the store and looking up at the lights.
• You enjoy time outside and in your stroller on walks. But not if we're stopped. Then you gotta get out.
• You like attention and will roll and play awhile, but then get on your tummy and cry for me. You stop immediately in my arms.
• You totally prefer Mom and will often be fine with whoever has you until you hear or see me, then you cry and reach for me.
• I found you in your crib once sitting up, so you got yourself from lying to sitting somehow.
• You give the best kisses.
• You like peek a boo and silly games like that that make you laugh.

Solids

I waited until about 6 months to start, and then you were also able to sit on your own. I thought you'd love it since you're always reaching for our food, but you hate them so far!

• First we tried pureed peas. You loved the spoon, but hated the food. You still tongue thrust to try to push it out. Eventually, you even made yourself throw up as I tried to feed you.
• Next, you tried frozen grapes in the mesh feeder. It took a minute for you to get it, and then you liked them, so we've done them a few times.
• Your next food in the mesh feeder was frozen strawberries. You loved them and sucked it forever!
• We tried peas a few more times and you weren't a fan. So the next puree was carrots. You didn't seem to like those either. If I coated the spoon, you'd take it and suck it and eat some, and didn't hate it, but didn't want spoonfuls either. So you only ate a little of that over a few days.
• Dad tried to give you mashed sweet potatoes, and you spit them all out.
• Today, I tried to give you a piece of banana and you wouldn't take it, but then I put a chunk in the mesh feeder and you loved it! I'm thinking we'll take a little break from trying (and wasting) purees, and just stick with the mesh feeder a bit longer.