6 Months

Sweet Cuatro,

You are 6 months old now, and you are blowing energy and excitement into our lives daily.  Around 5 months and 2 weeks you started crawling.  One day you got up on all fours and started rocking back and forth.  The next day you walked your hands forward a step or two, and the next day you could slowly make your way across a small room.  After about a week of practicing this new skill, you moved on to sitting up.  You literally became obsessed with sitting up.  You would try sitting up from the side-lying position. then sitting up from the other side, then sitting up from your back, then sitting up form a crawl.

Then, to top off all these new skills, the week before you turned 6 months, you woke up from a nap, and when I came to get you you were standing up!!!  Your little legs were shaking, you were clutching on to the top rail of the crib with all your might, and you had a very nervous look on your face.  It was as if you were both utterly excited and totally terrified all at the same time.  We immediately lowered your crib (after saying a prayer of thankfulness that you had not flipped yourself over the edge).

Now life is honed in on finding a suitable surface to pull yourself up on, and then 70% of the time falling over.  This stage is full of bumps and bruises and frustrations.  But it is also full of little victories.  With each new accomplishment, your toothless grin can be seen stretching broadly across your face.

Most recently you have started practicing making new noises.  One of your favorites is saying, "A-da, A-da, A-da, da, da."  We joke that your first word is sister's name.  You also love making deep vocalizations and grunts that sound like a lion or bear.  They sound very manly and warrior-ish, whatever you are trying to communicate.

You have also started joining us at the table and eating food.  Your first taste was sweet potato - which you loved.  Then we moved on to peas, which you are not as sure about.  Next we tried applesauce, and then mango puree.  So far you are a very eager eater - grabbing at everything and sitting impatiently at table until we get the food in your mouth!!

Matchy matchy with Mama

Practicing push-ups with Sister

Practicing music with Papa

Worn out after a day of exertion!