Liam is Six Months Old

Slowly but surely I will catch-up with this blogging thing! I've been super busy with work (covering for a teammate on maternity leave), and catching-up with life after the holidays took some time, as well. I included the list of milestones for Ava and Liam below.



Liam continues to be the sweetest little man. He has this "grown-up kid" sense of humor, laughing at my antics like a little boy would. At SIX MONTHS, he is officially as big as Ava was at a YEAR old! He got his first tooth this past week, on the ever-so-historical inauguration day this 2009. His personality is too adorable. He likes to flirt, and will look at you but then bury his head in my shoulder.



He is now going through a bit of separation anxiety. When I walk away from him (or even as much as turn away from him) he starts to cry sometimes. He isn't nearly as vocal as I remember Ava being, but he is quite the charmer in other ways. He is undoubtedly happy to his core, which makes me happy, too. :-).



He doesn't crawl by picking up his legs and moving them just yet. He is SO CLOSE! But he lifts his ENTIRE body off of the floor (like a push-up), with just his hands and feet on the floor. This kid is STRONG! If he doesn't want his diaper changed, it might take a team of horses (or parents, at least) to hold him down and get the job done.



I officially stopped breastfeeding Liam over the Christmas holiday. My supply simply couldn't keep up with his caloric requirements. :-) We have some stash in the freezer, so he will be sure to get that nourishment. I continue to make his baby food, pureeing various vegetables. He really seems to like his food and eats well. He doesn't prefer apple sauce, but he loves mashed bananas. I've also started making the "baby pancakes" that I used to make for Ava. He had his first pancakes this morning and LOVED them. His favorite food are Beech nut veggie snacks, which dissolve in his mouth. They're large enough that he can put them in his mouth himself, and take a bite. :-)



Words to describe Liam: mellow, Mommy's boy, smiley, cuddly, never lacking in the growth department :-), a vegetable lover, a music lover, bath-splish-splash-lover, spit-up KING!, super-affectionate, active, laid-back, content, giggly - especially around his big sister. The sun shines on Liam every day.



He now has more hair. I think he will definitely be blonde, at least during childhood. Although he has a head of hair, you can't really see it because it is so light. And I love his big baby blues and easy smile.



He doesn't require being rocked to sleep at night, but I like to rock him and he seems to appreciate it as well. He prefers to go to sleep in his crib, but will sleep anywhere. Ava would NEVER sleep in the car, so we appreciate Liam doing so immensely!



Whenever music comes on, he immediately starts rocking, as if that's what is required of anyone when their hear music. :-) When at my Dad and Dolly's around Christmas, we watched a train go around the train-track. Liam would rock uncontrollably (think Ray Charles plus espresso shot) while watching the train go around the track. When the train came around his way, he would stop rocking until it passed. After it passed he would start rocking again. Too cute.



His class Christmas picture from day care is hilarious. He is the only baby in the class picture who put his hand on another baby's shoulder, as if to say "she's my friend!". Already loving on the ladies, I guess. :-) I will try to scan those pictures in soon and post them.



Within the next month, I think Ava's toys will become Liam's... He will FIND a way to get to them. Time to baby-proof again! :-)



Peace, love and Gerber Puffs,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam



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Ava
Laughed out loud: 9 weeks
First rolled over: 11 weeks

Made first "raspberry" sounds: 3 ½ months
Started scooting: 3 ½ months

Ate food (applesauce): 4 ½ months

Could stand if propped up next to something: 5 months

Started sitting up unassisted: 5 months

Started crawling (army crawl): 5 months

Starting to pull-up: 6 months + 6 days

First word: (“Da-da”) 6 months + 3 weeks

Started to let go (and stand on own for a few seconds): 7 1/2 months

First tooth: 8 months

Took first steps: under 9 months

First E.R. visit / stitches: 2 years 10 months :(


Liam

Laughed out loud: 8 weeks

First rolled over: 13 weeks

Made first "raspberry" sounds: 3 ½ months

Ate food (sweet potatoes): 3 1/2 months

Started scooting: 4 1/2 months

Could stand if propped up next to something: 6 months

Started sitting up unassisted: 6 months + 1 week

First tooth: 6 months + 2 weeks

Started crawling: almost there!

First word: ???

Starting to pull-up: ???

Started to let go: ???

Took first steps: ???