Finally, A Real Update

A recent family photo, taken just in time before a windy day blew away all our pretty leaves.

Holy crap, this month has been busy! As I mentioned before, we've had lots of family visits. My mom was here last week for an extended weekend and she had a blast watching Noah. It's always so nice to have parents in town, because they cook and clean! Lord knows I need the help! Work has also been insane. I am so busy every day that pumping regularly is almost impossible. The really hard part is that I often get called on to help out with issues in the school, like a kid melting down, or a student making suicidal statements, or a parent who showed up unexpectedly to talk to me. Sometimes I truly can't take a break to pump. As a result, my once overabundant supply is no longer keeping up with demand. It really bums me out to know that we need to start transitioning to formula soon. Mostly because I didn't plan on it, it's just become necessary. I wanted it to be on my terms, but life (work) is getting in the way. I guess I never really set a firm goal for myself, and I really wanted to stick with breastmilk exclusively until 6 months. So I did get that far. It's just hard to let go. What can I say, I have a nasty streak of perfectionism and a mild case of OCD (must make more milk!). My plan is to continue pumping as much as I can, and supplementing with formula as needed. We shall see.

Aside from all of that, Noah turned one-half year last Thursday. It's really hard to believe he's 6 months old already. Here's an update of his latest and greatest accomplishments:

• Still wearing size 2 diapers
• He's blown out of 3/6 month clothing, and mostly wears 6/9 month stuff. He's long and lean, so some 6 month stuff is too short for him, but roomy in the middle.
• He weighs around 15.5 pounds. We'll get the newest stats at his 6 month appointment next Monday.
• His beautiful, big eyes have the most amazing, dark, thick lashes. The color of his eyes continues to change. The center of his eyes are turning a vivid brown, but the outside is still a bluish, greenish, hazel mixture. If they stay this way, girls' hearts are going to be melting in about 16 years or so. (Mine already does, every single day.)
• His hair is starting to get a little longer, and much fuzzier.
• He drinks around 25 oz of BM per day. I make between 20-25ish. I only nurse him overnight because my supply is pretty crummy the rest of the time. I make the majority of my milk in the morning and late in the evening after he's in bed.
• Solid foods are hit and miss. Rice cereal doesn't seem to interest him too much. He'll never eat more than 1.5 tsp with about 4 tsp of milk. That's practically nothing! He has also tried sweet potatoes and pears. He seemed to like both, but again, he won't eat much at one sitting.
• With the introduction of sweet potatoes, his poo turned to the consistency of peanut butter. He also has been pooing WAY less. Not sure what's normal and what isn't anymore. Hmmph.
• He grabs everything that gets within reach. Mommy's hair is especially fascinating. (Ouch.) Once he gets ahold of something, he waves his arm wildly, thrashing like a mad man. Sometimes whatever he's grabbed gets catapulted a good distance from him. He'll often look for something he's dropped, but if he doesn't see it right away, it's out of sight, out of mind. Also, if it's in his hand, then it's in his mouth. He chews/sucks on EVERYTHING!
• When in his jumperoo, he jumps (and jumps and jumps), plays with all of the toys, and laughs. He loves his jumperoo!
• He can sit unassisted for short periods of time. When he gets excited though, he kicks his legs which makes him tip. He also tips over if he starts mouthing something. Which is all of the time basically. But he's made a lot of progress in just the last week, so I think we'll have this sitting thing mastered in no time.

Gilbert is very motivating... "Gimme that dog!"

• There's no such thing as "tummy time" anymore, because he spends all of his time there. Definitely not something we have to make him do.
• He still does the inchworm thing, but he doesn't seem to realize that it's actually getting him somewhere. However, he does seem to have some understanding that rolling can get him closer to something he wants. If someone lies next to him, he sometimes rolls in their direction to get closer.
• He is still absolutely in awe of Gilbert. Nothing can capture his attention like the dog. He has recently been reaching for him and grabbing his fur. Gilbert isn't too sure he likes any of this.
• Blowing raspberries with Noah is more fun than I ever thought possible. He mimics us, and all on his own (just yesterday) he decided it would be way more fun to stick his tongue out when he does it. It's a spitty, drooly, adorable form of entertainment for our whole family.
• One of his favorite games is looking at mommy in the bathroom mirror. He'll first spot me in the big mirror, then he'll look to the side and find me in the vanity mirror on the left wall. Then he goes back and forth between the two mirrors, always making sure he catches my eye and smiling a HUGE smile before he changes mirrors. It's the cutest game ever.

Overall, Noah is a happy, easy baby. I never knew I could love anyone this much, and every day I love him even more. My heart, my life, is so very full.