Ben 6 months old

Ben was 6 months old last month. Time is flying by! He is super cute and active. He is always reaching for things and he is able to manuever himself around to get what he wants too. He rolls around like crazy and repositions himself to get the best view of everything going on around him. He makes lots of noises- he blows raspberries and brrs. He says dadadada, gaga, other g and d sounds, and squeals. He is really fun to listen too and carries on great conversations.

It is a little easier to get him to laugh now too- he giggles with activities, tickling, blowing bubbles on him, bouncing him, and sometimes he just laughs when you are laughing. He loves watching Ainsley. He watches her closely and laughs at her antics - especially when she is acting "crazy." Either by running, laughing, jumping, or getting in his face and bouncing around.

We do not have our 6 month height and weight yet- he has not been in for his check up yet. His doctor is out of the country for a few weeks, so we go later this month. We weighed him at home and got 20 pounds.

Ben sleeps from 8 pm- 5 or 6 am. I like 6 am better, but unfortunately, he often gets up closer to 5 am most of the time. YUCK for me, but he is so cute and happy you can't be mad. I wish I could sleep in though.

Ben has done well with solid foods. He has liked everything we have offered so far. He is eating: oatmeal, rice, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, apples, bananas, and prunes. He holds a sippy cup well and chews on it and sometimes actually drinks water.

sweet potatoes


He is happy to join the family at meal times. We often feed him while we eat ( he usually gets 2 meals a day). Sometimes we just put him in the highchair so we can interact with him while we eat.

He is sitting up pretty well on his own. He can hold himself up but still loses his balance frequently as he reaches for things around him. He is always trying to get things and somehow ends up with objects that I have already moved. He wiggles around until he grasps it again and then I have to move it farther away.

He chews everything. Anything near him goes in his mouth. He does not have any teeth yet, but is really bothered by his mouth. He has had a few days where he is fussier than normal which I think is because of his teeth. He has not been sick at all recently which we are very thankful for. Ainsley has been sick pretty regularly this summer- every 2 weeks.

Ainsley really seems to be enjoying Ben more and more. She loves to snuggle him and she likes to entertain him and help with him too. She does want her own attention too- but she likes her brother which is fantastic.

We have been spending a lot of time at the pool too- we all enjoy the water, especially during this horrible heat wave.

Check out Ainsley's long legs- what a great picture!

Ben just needs something to chew on - here he is chewing his hat strings. So content! Ainsley loves her tube and "swims" around while wearing it. She doesn't like getting her face wet yet so we are not really swimming. She does love the water though!

Hanging out in the exersaucer. Big sis is always nearby!



Snuggling





My Mom and Sara, my sister, came to visit for a week in July- right around Ben's 6 monthiversary. It was an awesome visit! We all had a great time with the kids and each other. We spent a lot of time at the pool, did a little shopping, and played lots of fun games with Ainsley. Of course, they both got a lot of quality snuggle time with both kids. Ben has the most kissable little face!





I took Ben to have portraits done on his 6 month day. My Mom and Sara went with us. It was pretty much a disaster, but we got a few decent pictures. Ben- usually so happy and tolerant, was fussy. He had a bad teething day and was also tired during picture time. We worked hard to get a few good shots- but he usually smiles so much better. Ainsley was also coming down with something- she had a fever but no other symptoms, and she felt better after tylenol so she came with us. You can tell by her picture she was not 100%. My sister said it is a picture of "the saddest kids in the whole world." You would certainly think that looking at them. It does make me laugh though.








fun with Mandy