7 months

Unsure of weight/length/head (next check up is at 9 mo), but he is getting heavier, mostly known to be true because mama's arms are noticeably stronger!  And getting longer because several of his 6mo outfits are getting too short to button comfortably.

On July 5, one little tooth popped through the gum line (bottom middle right) without any warning!  Not a single abnormal fuss or change in appetite or anything.  I just happened to put my finger tip in his mouth and felt it.  That same weekend was also his first taste of watermelon, since he was a big boy and everything with his first tiny razor tooth.

Real food that he has eaten (and mostly enjoyed): avocado, peas, pears, prunes, sweet potato, carrots, green beans, blueberries, oats, watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, organic O's cereal, cinnamon and ginger.  His favorite is avocado (he always sucks it right down), followed by anything mixed with oats (especially sweet potato, apples or blueberries with cinnamon).  His least favorite is definitely green beans.  He will only eat them mixed with something else.  Next up to try: quinoa, summer squashes, peaches, apricots, MEAT!, and more spices.

Daily routine:

6-6:30am wake!

6:30-7ish am snuggle and nurse (this is the only time of day he will still nurse, so I really cherish my mornings with him)

7-7:30am bottle (organic soy, 4-6oz) and breakfast (usually oats with fruit and cinnamon)

7:30-8:30am play and read

8:30am lay down for first nap in crib, falls asleep without any struggle

9:15-10am wake (if he wakes on the early side, we lay in the floor in his nursery and read Winnie the Pooh - it's surprising how long he will pay attention to a chapter book!)

10am-10:45 stroller ride for baby, jog for mama, or run a quick errand if necessary

10:45-11am bottle (6-8 oz) and meal (usually veggies and/or prunes if those are *necessary*)

11am-12noon play in the living room, read, practice sitting (he can sit unassisted for a long time, but stillfalls straight backwards sometimes and bonks his head) or play outside in the garden or in our little baby pool on the deck

12noon lay down for second nap

1:30pm wake

1:30-2:30pm usually running errands, to the grocery store or Target... Lately we've run into some thrift stores looking for some new furniture (he is a GREAT thriftiness partner!)

2:30-3:30pm bottle (4-6oz) and possible another meal if he seems interested (veggies) or play

3:30pm lay down for third nap

5pm wake and snack on avocado

5-6:15pm hang out, either a stroller walk, playing outside, reading, running an errand, playing with dad to pass time until bedtime routine starts

6:15pm head upstairs for optional bath time, nightly lotion and getting PJs on

6:30pm last bottle (6-8oz, and rarely he also wants to nurse) and snuggles

7pm lay down for night time!  He falls asleep and almost always stays asleep all night

On Mondays and Wednesdays, sometimes we go to story time at the library, and that is super fun.  On Thursdays, I often work, leaving the house at 6am, and my mom watches James while I'm gone, so she goes through this same routine with him and he does really well.

Lately he has had a shorter first nap, so I wonder if he is ready to stay awake a little longer than only 2 hours (though mostly he is quite ready for a nap right at 2 hours of wake time!).  Maybe he will drop a nap soon and only have two each day.

He is so fun and lovey right now - giving hugs and kisses and snuggling into your neck when you hold him. He isn't mobile yet (other than rolling a lot), so he is really quite easy, too.  I'm thankful for this season with my tiny boy!