6 month roll call

I was inspired by the "9 month ish roll call" posts to start a thread
for us 6 month-ers. I'd love to hear how you and your babies are
doing...

As for us, DD will be 6 months on Monday. She was exclusively BF until
4 days ago when we decided we couldn't wait anymore and had to try some
rice cereal. She got a real kick out of it, but really didn't swallow
much if any. Right now I am giving her rice cereal 1 time a day and I'm
experimenting with when and how to give it (after BF, before BF, in
between feedings, morning, evening, etc). We're in no hurry
though...still happy nursing and feel secure that the majority of what
DD needs will come from that.

Our 6 month WBV isn't until later in the month so I'm not sure of her
exact weight, but I'm guessing 16+ pounds and maybe 26 inches.

Some of her talents...she can roll over from tummy to back very well
(but hasn't gone from back to tummy yet). She can sit up with just a
little assistance...a hand to steady herself with or a corner of the
couch to lean on. She stiffens her legs to stand when I hold her up and
when on the floor she can scootch herself around and end up in a totally
different spot from where I put her. She makes all sorts of
noises...coos, laughs, gurgles and her newest thing which is a coughing
noise. She LOVES her bath and would stay in there until she turned into
a prune if I let her. She likes her toys an will pay attention for a
very long time if being read to.

Thankfully, she's been sleeping through the night in her own crib since
about 3 months. She's a night owl...refuses to fall asleep until almost
midnight, but then sleeps through until 9am or later. I am a SAHM, so I
don't mind...we have no pressing plans in the morning we need to get up
early for. I would like her to go to bed a bit earlier though (even 11
would be nice), so we are working on that by getting her up a little
earlier in the morning. Anyone else have a baby that stays up late and
wants to sleep in?

We're looking forward to spring so we can get out for walks and go to
the park and the zoo...it's been a cold winter!

How is everyone else doing?
Kathy

"Kathy" wrote in message
...

I was inspired by the "9 month ish roll call" posts to start a thread
for us 6 month-ers. I'd love to hear how you and your babies are
doing...

Thanks for asking. Jaden turned 6 months 9 days ago. I started him
on rice cereal two days before that and he's taken it to it very well.
I.e. he's caught on very well to *how* to eat, but he isn't interested
in eating very much of it. I'd say a tablespoon dry per day. I tried
bananas this week, and he was completely grossed out by them.

He's about 17 pounds and 28 inches tall. He can roll both ways but
isn't particularly motivated to roll from back to front. He's been
rolling all over in his crib the last couple days though. He is
sitting, sort of, when he has the boppy pillow around him. He'll do a
sit up and get himself pretty much upright for a couple minutes, long
enough to grab a toy and mouth it, then flop back again and rest for a
minute. He grabs at everything and his arms are long enough that it is
getting really hard for me to keep anything out of his reach while I'm
holding him, yet be able to reach it myself!

He is sleeping a lot better. He has learned how to fall asleep on his
own and now sleeps basically from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am, waking to nurse
for about 10 minutes either at 12:00 or 3:00, and at 6:00, but going
right back to sleep.

Right now I am giving her rice cereal 1 time a day and I'm
experimenting with when and how to give it (after BF, before BF, in
between feedings, morning, evening, etc).

I was just reading the chapter in _The Nursing Mother's Companion_, for
the 6-12 month stage, and she says to always nurse *before* offering
solids until (IIRC) the baby is eating three balanced meals of solids
plus a snack each day. This way you ensure that the baby always has her
fill of the most nutritious food first.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 11 mo. and Jaden, 6 months
Quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

(Kathy) wrote in message ...
I was inspired by the "9 month ish roll call" posts to start a thread
for us 6 month-ers. I'd love to hear how you and your babies are
doing...

From your and Cheryl's posts, we seem to be about in the same place.
Mack turned six months a couple of weeks ago. (My due date was the
same as Cheryl's, I recall from lurking in m.k.p, but Mack came a week
early.)

He's an active little beastie! He has tons of things he wants to talk
about, all at volume 11. Just in the last couple of days, he's started
mixing and matching his vowels and consonants a lot more, so he really
sounds as though he's talking much of the time. And he's very social
-- flirts with everyone. I see him as the next Bill Clinton (only
without the "lying cad" part) -- I call him Prince Charming. The other
day he was very surprised when a lady at the next table in Panera
responded to his screeching at her by screeching right back at him.
:-) He laughs and smiles his way through the days.

He is sitting much better in just the last week or so. He can sit by
himself for a few minutes at a time, and much longer if he's propped
up in the end of his bassinet or with my nursing pillow. Day before
yesterday I busted him rolling from back to front, so now he has no
more excuse to get all outraged when he rolls over in his crib and
ends up on his back. (He's a tummy sleeper.) ;-)

He's working hard on crawling, but he hasn't been able to coordinate
the "lift up the front end" part with the "lift up the back end" part,
so he's really just wriggling around. But it's great exercise. I
figure, just like with puppies, a tired baby is a good baby. We try to
get him out of the house for a shopping trip or a long walk with Dad
at least once a day, and we find that improves his night sleep by
miles.

As for sleeping, I'm almost afraid to mention it, but he slept through
last night for the third night in a row. I always feed him around 7
p.m. and then put him to bed, then I go in and feed him again when I
go to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. And for the last three nights, he
hasn't woken for his middle-of-the-night feed (between 3 and 4 a.m.,
usually)! He's done this sporadically for the last couple of months,
since he got his own room at four months. But I think he may be
settling down to sleep through, at least for a whille.

He's teething and has been pretty upset an hour or two at a time for
the last few week or so, since I noticed that first tooth actually
popping through the gum. Now that it's started, I'm really wondering
how long it will take for the rest to start showing up. Regardless of
the teeth or lack thereof, he seems to be enjoying his servings of
applesauce, banana, carrots, and avocado, though he doesn't actually
swallow much.

And he is utterly fascinated with the dogs and the cats (we have five
greyhounds and two cats) and is getting quite grabby in their
direction (and pretty much all directions, like Jaden).

Way more than anyone needs to know, I'm sure, but it's nice to have a
chance to burble about my Mack Baby for a bit. :-)

Kate
and Mack the Baby, 8/28/03

My son will be 7 months on the 14th.... I hope he's not too far past the 6
month mark to post

BTW, he's HUGE, 23 lbs at his 6 month checkup! The doctor was amazed that he is
BF, but said we must be doing a wonderful job. I was a little concerned that he
was TOO big but the DR. said he wouldn't suggest putting him on a diet, since
breastmilk is a perfect nutrition. He did stress starting to introduce solids
at this point to be sure that DS gets enough iron.

We've discovered a few favorites being; sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, and
blueberries. He hates the iron fortified cereal, but I haven't tried mixing it
with a fruit yet. It seems that DS is most interested in eating solids in the
AM (about an hour after BF) and around 5 PM. I'm getting used to eating my
dinner early, to coincide with him.

In the past two weeks he has mastered sitting on his own, although still has
the occasional tumble if he gets too excited or tries to reach for something
too far away.

LOVES to grab things, and I'm amazed at how coordinated he is. He will shake
the rattles and I say "shake shake shake" and bounce up and down, this gets him
laughing. We have 5 dogs, one that sleeps at the foot of the bed with us. DS
loves the dogs, grabs at them, and allows them to kiss his face (eew).

The weather is warming up and we've been out in the stroller a few days. It has
been so pleasant. I introduced DS to the baby swings yesterday. Then held him
in my lap as we went down the slides... so precious.
Thanks for letting me share.
~Tracy

(Kathy) wrote in message ...
I was inspired by the "9 month ish roll call" posts to start a thread
for us 6 month-ers. I'd love to hear how you and your babies are
doing...

How is everyone else doing?
Kathy

Ben also will be 6 months on Monday. Developmentally all our babies
seem to be about the same and on target.

Ben's been rolling from front to back since December and is quite
proficient. He started rolling back-front last week but is more
inclined to arch his back and push with his feet to get where or what
he wants instead of rolling over. Even though as I type this he is
next to me rolling his way across the dining room to get a toy he
wants.
He sits very well by himself and can hold a toy in two hands and
balance sitting for a minute or two before doing the weeble-wobble and
tipping over. He can sit for a very long time if he is a little
supported or doing 'the bulldog' with his hands in front of him.
We've tried a little cereal and he isn't particularly fond of it-or
pears or squash or applesauce. He's turned a few postcards/papers to
mush but I don't think that counts as solids. He does enjoy breastmilk
in a cup though and goes after MY food with gusto. I really think he
is going to remain mainly breastfed and go straight to table food in a
couple months.
He's a very happy little fellow and a huge flirt. He is very generous
with his smiles and has no stranger anxiety at this point.
He has no teeth and none seem to be in his immediate future. Maybe in
a month or two. I can see where they are getting ready to erupt but
they aren't 'right there' ya know?
Sleeping? Well, we're working on it. He still sleeps with me but right
now is only really nursing once a night. I can live with it.
He was at the docs yesterday for a sick visit and was 15-10-he was 27
1/2 inches at 4 months. I'm guessing he'll be 16 lbs and about 28 1/2
inches at his 6 month visit on the 23rd. Long and skinny and still
very bald.
He currently is having a rough time. He has an ear infection and a
nasty bronchitis and I am using the nebulizer on him every 4 hours or
so. If he doesn't improve we have to go back to the doc tomorrow
morning. I'm having a hard time keeping him hydrated because he
doesn't want to nurse and when he does settle down and nurse he coughs
so hard he often throws it all up. :-(

That's Mr Ben for you. An absolute joy for our whole family.
He is NEVER at a loss for attn. His big brothers and sisters all adore
him.

Karen

Wow! Your baby really is a healthy size! I thought it was just
mine...22 pounds at 6 months...27 inches long. he's wearing 12-18
month sized clothing. He eats rice, banana, acorn squash, sweet
potato, and today we will introduce carrot. I make all his baby foods
and I enjoy it SO much! He drank water out of a sippy cup a couple
times, but has since lost interest.
He has rolled from front to back 5 times, but never the other way
around. He sits practically inassisted....I just throw a pillow
behind him in case he becomes unstable.
He goes through phases of blowing "raspberries" for long periods of
time...just blowing spit all over the place! It was particularly good
timeing when he chose to do it at the packed rummage sale
yesterday...blowing spit in everyone's direction.
His sleep pattern has made a 180. He used to sleep 12 hours, from
6:30-6:30 uninterrupted since 2-3 months old. For the last week, he
is going to bed between 8 and midnight, and still waking at
6am....with several wakings in the middle of the night. He has 4
teeth, but could be cutting more, or just needing less sleep. Though,
i have noticed that he has been pretty gassy lately...so his belly
could be hurting. He has had the silent but deadly farts.
I think he is ready for a nap now...so i;m off
M and Mr. B 9/1/03


(All4meUC) wrote in message ...
My son will be 7 months on the 14th.... I hope he's not too far past the 6
month mark to post

BTW, he's HUGE, 23 lbs at his 6 month checkup! The doctor was amazed that he is
BF, but said we must be doing a wonderful job. I was a little concerned that he
was TOO big but the DR. said he wouldn't suggest putting him on a diet, since
breastmilk is a perfect nutrition. He did stress starting to introduce solids
at this point to be sure that DS gets enough iron.

We've discovered a few favorites being; sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, and
blueberries. He hates the iron fortified cereal, but I haven't tried mixing it
with a fruit yet. It seems that DS is most interested in eating solids in the
AM (about an hour after BF) and around 5 PM. I'm getting used to eating my
dinner early, to coincide with him.

In the past two weeks he has mastered sitting on his own, although still has
the occasional tumble if he gets too excited or tries to reach for something
too far away.

LOVES to grab things, and I'm amazed at how coordinated he is. He will shake
the rattles and I say "shake shake shake" and bounce up and down, this gets him
laughing. We have 5 dogs, one that sleeps at the foot of the bed with us. DS
loves the dogs, grabs at them, and allows them to kiss his face (eew).

The weather is warming up and we've been out in the stroller a few days. It has
been so pleasant. I introduced DS to the baby swings yesterday. Then held him
in my lap as we went down the slides... so precious.
Thanks for letting me share.
~Tracy

22 pounds at 6 months...27 inches long. he's wearing 12-18
month sized clothing.

Yes! I keep thinking ,,, will I even be able to find sizes for this boy in a
couple months! I've gone so far as to buy some 2T shirts, so that I can
actually throw them in the dryer and not be afraid they will shrink up too
much.

He has 4
teeth, but could be cutting more

Wow, four teeth. Koby is just getting his first tooth, I'm curious to see how
long it will take for others to come in. I guess I have to say good-bye to that
adorable toothless grin. I'm thankful so far, he hasn't seemed too out of the
ordinary. Although he has been rather interested in chewing on my hand the past
few days. Hopefully all the other teeth will come in as peacefully as this
one.

~Tracy

Kathy was all, like:
I was inspired by the "9 month ish roll call" posts to start a thread
for us 6 month-ers. I'd love to hear how you and your babies are
doing...

Sprogly turned 6 months a week ago. I jumped the gun by about of week and a
half WRT solids, because he seemed so interested. He's had banana (loved
it), squash (loved it), sweet potato (ew, yech), and barley cereal (loved
it). I had a funny feeling he'd be a chow-hound. g

At his 5 month WBV, he was 28 inches long, 17.5 lbs, and at his 6 month WBV
yesterday he was 28.5 inches long, 18 lbs, 2 oz. So, it seems that his
growth has slowed down a bit, but he's doing well. He's long and lean--I
joke that he has little baby six-pack abs. As someone else mentioned, he's
in cloth diapers, and you can't see how lean he is at first glance, because
they make him look chunkier than he is.

No sign of teeth yet. His babbling gets more and more complex, mixing up
sounds, and he sings to himself a lot.

He's been rolling from back to front since New Years, and front to back for
maybe a month or so, but he doesn't seem that interested in doing it very
often--mostly just when he has his "naked time." Also, he often fusses when
he's on his belly, though I've *seen* him roll from belly to back several
times, so I wonder if he forgets how to do it.

He's not sitting by himself yet, but will sit well with just a little
support for quite a while. He *really* likes to sit, though, so maybe he'll
be motivated to work on that. (Which reminds me...a friend of mine and I
were talking recently, and she said that both her babies were big, and sat
and crawled late. She theorized that bigger babies have more to move around,
and so they're a little later sitting and crawling. Anyone think there's any
truth to that?)

Sleep is so-so. I work full-time, and we co-sleep. He nurses several times a
night (which I don't discourage, because otherwise I'm afraid he'll eat more
at daycare, and then I'd have to supplement with formula...). Sprogly and I
have just started sleeping in the bedroom with Bloke again after sleeping on
the spare bed in the living room. Last night was rough, every time Bloke
thrashed around he woke Sprogly and me...I'm thinking we'll put a
single-sized mattress on the floor next to our queen-sized one, and Bloke
can sleep on that and we'll all have more room. (I'm really wishing I'd got
a king instead of a queen-sized mattress to replace our old full-sized bed.)

I love my little brat so much it hurts. I'm mulling over plans to make some
big life changes that would allow me to spend more time with him, but it's
really hard (and scary) to move in that direction because I'm living
paycheck to paycheck as it is, and have an almost uncomfortable amount of
debt, and absolutely no spare time. But my current situation might change
anyway, as far as my job is concerned, so I may not have a choice in the
long run. But it's a bird in the hand with benefits, versus two in the bush
with none (probably), so it's scary stuff.

Anyway, here are some pictures of my bratty boy:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1vy2t/sprogly/

Squash-monster! How cute.

zeldabee wrote:
Anyway, here are some pictures of my bratty boy:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1vy2t/sprogly/


:::melting:::
Absolutely precious!!!!