Happy Half-Birthday, Knox!! 6-Month Newsletter

Dear Knox,
This morning, we walked into your room and sang "Happy Half-Birthday to you!!" and it felt surreal that you are now closer to becoming my one-year-old and farther from being my newborn! How did that time go so quickly?! It's the age old parent question, right? I mean, each day feels like forever sometimes, but those days together seem like the blink of an eye. You have grown and developed so very much this month! Let me tell you about it~

-The first few weeks of the month, you were babbling like crazy! But, in the past week or so, you've been much quieter. While you still "talk" to yourself during the early hours of the new day (around 5:30 or 6:00) before drifting back to sleep, during the day, you are pensive and quiet. Daddy and I thought you must be working on something to have quieted down so much - as we believe Grandma is right when she says babies work on one thing at a time. And, lo and behold, you must have been working on figuring out how to maneuver your body so you put your mouth on hold. You are now rolling, sitting, and creeping - just in the past week. It happened very quickly, and I'm not gonna lie - I'm a little annoyed at you meeting these milestones so quickly. My life just got exponentially more challenging in the "keeping you safe" department! You "plank" all the time. You're exceptionally strong and sturdy!

-Another reason you may have quieted down was perhaps from the transition to a new house. We moved out of Darion just a couple weeks ago, and we've all been transitioning to our new normal at the new house. I'm both glad and sad that you won't remember your first 5 months of life in that house. You won't miss it at all, but man, was it a great place to bring my boys home. I'll forever cherish those early months with you (and your brothers) as the only place I had a newborn. The midnight feedings, the swaying in the dark nursery, the naps and bedtime routines that started there... Those last naps and bedtimes were rough for me. But, on to our next adventure in this new home!

-You LOVE attention. You just want to be held, or looked at, or played with at all times! The moment we walk away, you get pretty upset. But, as long as you are in my arms or are next to me, you are one happy little guy!

-You love being tickled. You hate when we dress you - just the process of putting your arms in mostly. You love hugs. You hate when we take a toy away. You love your feet. You hate when I won't let you eat the sink faucet during bath.

-Your hair grows the longest behind both ears. Therefore, you have these two long strands that curl upward and outward. I've called you Pippi Longstocking on more than one occasion, but Daddy refuses to let me cut these "pig tails" off!

-You're also beginning to reach for us! This is a nice and very welcome gesture! I love it! And, you look at what you want. More bottle, Mommy, a toy... it's helpful to know you are able to communicate what you want this way!

-Daddy would say you are still very suspicious of him, Banner, and Quinn. He says you are still trying to figure out if you trust them or not and "who these crazy people are?!" He thinks you know me and trust me, but aren't quite sure of them. I don't agree. I think you know each of us very well and know what to expect from everyone. Loudness, shrillness, and sudden-ness from Quinn. In-your-faceness and high-pitched baby talk full of smiles from Banner. Cuddles and hugs from Daddy. In fact, you love Daddy very much, and some days you want him more than me. You've also let him put you to bed a few times recently, and you do better for him than for me. You may very well be a daddy's boy - as you light up whenever you see him, too! I love how much you love these guys in our house!

-You're eating lots of different foods now! We've added fruits mostly - peaches, pears, bananas, apples, prunes. We've added corn as well. Up next - avocado, mango, pineapple... this is so fun! You love drooling over and sucking on bananas and peaches in the little net thingys.

-Baths are still my favorite time of day with you... and rocking you to sleep for naps and bed. You typically go down to sleep so easily. I just wish you would nap longer! Like last month, we usually get one good nap a day and two crummy ones. We've tried dropping your last nap, but if your previous naps are awful, you still really need another one later in the afternoon/evening.

-You adore your big brothers. The feeling is genuinely mutual. Quinn has begun wanting to pull on you or grab your hands or feet. I think your mobility has become slightly threatening to him, and his curiosity about you is increasing. He's also becoming a threenager, so there's that.... but he truly wants to just love on you and make you smile.

-Size 3 diapers, level 3 nipples, size 4 overnight diapers, size 6-9 and 9 month clothing.

-Bedtime is around 7:30 and you generally sleep through the night until about 6:30 or 7 (with a slight awakening an hour before then). We have to paci you once or twice or thrice, but I don't mind that if you go back to sleep right away. The biggest threat to your wakening, though, is the fact that you cannot - or WILL NOT - sleep on your back. And, coupled with the new rolling over all the time but not being truly proficient in being able to roll from back to belly, you wake up right away crying to be rolled back over. I'm hoping this will get better as you perfect the back to belly roll. You've gotten better at pacying yourself, too, but we're not there 100%.

-We visit Dr. B next week, so I'll add in those stats at a later date...

Knox Morgan, you are delightful! I know we are on the verge of a new adventure as you become mobile and into everything. It will be fun to see what personality this new chapter brings out of you! Are you a "Banner" or a "Quinn?" Are you daring or cautious? Are you into everything or more focused on one thing at a time? And, while I have some personal preferences, I will love however you are... because oh.my.goodness do I love you so much already! It's so exciting to watch the gift that you are keep unwrapping and to keep revealing your sweet personality each day.

This first half of your life has been eventful. Stressful, rocky, blessed, easy, and difficult all rolled up into one! From RSV at 3-weeks-old and breathing treatments to being more relaxed and at-ease with a third child. From never sleeping and taking hours to go to sleep to finding more ease with falling asleep. You've grown, and so have I! Thank you, Baby Love, for all you have brought to our family. A sense of calm. A new beginning.  A reminder of all that is important. A little one to celebrate and to watch continue to grow and develop! Thank you for loving us and for letting us love you!

Happy Half-Birthday, Knox Morgan!
Love,
Mommy

 (Pics coming soon. Something is wrong with my upload button!)