Seven Months

 Parker Holt, you are seven months old!

You went from this newborn babe in the hospital...
To this one month old...
 To this two month old...
 To this three month old...
To this four month old...
 To this five month old...
 To this six month old...
 To this seven month old...
(Public Service Announcement: I apologize for the lengthiness of this, but I want to document and remember everything and from what I write on here, I transfer some to his baby book)

Unfortunately, we don't know your current weight and length and you won't have a Dr. appointment this month, so we may have to do our own at home estimation to figure that out - or at least get close.  I would guess you are in the 17-18 pound range and getting closer to 28" long. You still have the biggest blue eyes and hair of gold - like Mommy.  Your hair is really starting to grow.  If we had a dollar for every time someone made a comment about your big, beautiful eyes, we'd be millionaires.  We adore those big baby blues.   

You are wearing size 3 diapers.  You are wearing 6-9 month and 9 month clothing. You tend to wear a smaller size in shorts and pants.  Most of your footie pajamas are 9 months because you are so long.  Except for a few things, you have outgrown your 6 month clothes.  It has been fun to dress you in new clothes, but we miss the outfits you have outgrown too.

You take a bottle 5 times a day - about every 3 1/2 - 4 hours and as of Sunday, you are eating solids 3 times a day.  Some days you gobble everything up really good and some days you could care less about the food in front of you.  So far, you have had brown rice cereal, apples, bananas, avacado, sweet potatoes, peas and squash.  We introduced carrots to you on Sunday and the jury is still out on them.  You didn't like them too much at first, but I think they are growing on you.  Some new things you will try this month are oatmeal, zucchini, green beans and nectarines...in addition to all of the other food you have had so far. You eat the same items for breakfast, lunch and dinner 4 days in a row to make sure we don't see an allergic reaction, then you have a new 4 day menu.  Mommy is still making all of your food.  It's a very involved, time consuming process, but it is lots of fun and especially nutritious for you. I am so happy to do it - a labor of love.  I spent the majority of the weekend making a months worth of food now stocking our freezer.  Up to this point, your favorite food hands down is avacado!  Tasty stuff.

Your sleep has been a bit off for the past month.  We did lots of traveling (more on that later) and you had two teeth come in so those may be the contributing factors. Not that you aren't a good traveling baby because you do so well, but I think it was too much in too many days and various scene changes over a 2-3 week period.  Some days you would take longer naps than normal, but be up at different points in the night.  Some days you didn't nap much at all or stay up later and still wake up during the night.  There was a span of about two weeks that were pretty rough and you just weren't your Parker self.  Luckily, you improved a lot once we got settled back at home and your bottom teeth fully popped through, but now we are wondering if you might have more teeth coming in.  We haven't seen or felt of anything, but they may be on the way.  You are napping pretty good, but every couple of nights you wake up once or twice in the night and we have to get you back to sleep or like the past couple of mornings, you wake up super early.  We are still in transition mode from the pack and play to the crib, sleeping in both at different times and obviously in the pack and play on our travels, but you are getting a little to big and a little too active for it.  You may just jump out of it one of these days!  You twist and turn and flip and flop like crazy in the night.        

You are sitting up so well by yourself.  You can't bring yourself to a sitting position, but you are certainly trying at times.  However, when you are put into a sitting position, you sit and play so well.  The only time you fall over or wobble is when you are reaching to get something you want.  You love to sit in the floor and play with toys which is so fun.  We miss you being an itty bitty baby, but being able to play with you in the floor has added a new, fun dimension to our days.  When we lay you on your tummy, you make swimming motions and move your legs like a little frog.  The wheels in your head are turning and you are trying with all of your might how to figure out how to move your little body.  You get a little frustrated because you want to scoot or crawl, but haven't yet.  We know it's just a matter of time. 

You are EXTREMELY curious about everything - colors, sounds, voices, people, animals, textures - you name it.  You are easily distracted by whatever happens to catch your attention.  You are so focused and observant.  You still love your exersaucer and it goes on all of the trips we go on.  You are also starting to play more in your jumperoo and can really get to bouncing! 
A couple of new things this month...

You sat in the grocery cart at both Target and Kroger.  It's going to take a little bit more time before you can sit in there really well, but we are practicing and you will get more used to it.  At Target Tuesday you were asleep so I just left you in your car seat.  You tend to slide, lean to the side or slouch in the grocery cart and also want to grab everything.  I was trying to pick out some avacados and you were doing all you could to reach and grab a tomato.  And instead of playing with the toys I had taken in for you, you were more interested in Mommy's list and pen.  Isn't that always the case?  I can't wait for the day you can help me grocery shop.  Oh what fun that will be.

You started staying in the church nursery on Wednesday mornings.  Every Wednesday morning in the Fall/Winter and Spring, Mommy goes to a Women's Bible study.  Last year, I was pregnant with you at all of the studies, but this year, you come along with me and play in the nursery. It's great together time that I look forward to every week.  I love the Bible study and I love anticipating getting to pick you up after class and see you so excited.  Plus the ladies at church love to see you!  

You went to your first Stone Family Reunion.  This year it was held at Mo-Ranch in Hunt, Texas.  We actually went a day early and spent some time at Granny and Grandpa's house in Fredericksburg and then followed them to the reunion. We also went back to their house after the reunion to spend one more day.  Granny and Grandpa sure enjoyed having you at their house.  We spent the weekend meeting some of your family, playing games, going for lots of walks in your stroller, eating, talking, laughing...you also watched Mommy, Daddy and Grandpa play washers and horseshoes.  You also got in the swing for the first time.  It was a big swing so you sat in Mommy's lap which put you to sleep - so sweet.  We didn't get pictures of you with everyone at the reunion, but you were adored by all.  It was the first of many reunions so more good times await you as you grow up.   The reunion crowd was smaller this year, but we still had a great time.
 
 
Gramps and Mamaw came up to the Dallas area the last weekend of August to celebrate their anniversary and attend a couple of Texas Rangers baseball games.  We met them for breakfast on Saturday morning and then hung out at their hotel for a while.  We got some super cute pictures of you on their hotel bed.  Unfortunately, I don't have them on the computer, but we have some great printed ones.  Mamaw is coming to visit next week so we'll be sure to get some pictures.    
We took another trip to Arkansas at the first part of September because Daddy had to work for a week there so we spent time at Grandma and Grandad's while he worked.  You are so lucky to have a father who works hard to provide for our family and we are blessed that the Lord has allowed me to stay at home and take care of you, Daddy and our home. I'm very grateful to your Daddy for what he does for us and for the opportunity I have to stay home.  We had a great time as always at Grandma and Grandad's house. While we were there, you also got to watch your first of many Dallas Cowboy games.  Luckily the first game they looked awesome, because the second one was awful.  Bless you for being the child of a Cowboys' fan.   
What a character you are, Parker Boy!
The living room floor after a hard evening of playing...
Thursday, September 27th marks a very special anniversary in our life Parker. One year ago, on that day, we went to the Dr. to find out you were a boy - hooray!  What a special day that was and as you will find out, we are big on celebrating all of the many special days in our family. 
Speaking of special days, just wait until you get to celebrate your first Thanksgiving and Christmas - they are just 2-3 months away.  Oh what fun will we have!  We have oodles of traditions and holiday fun to share with you in the coming years.  It makes me giddy at the mere thought of it all. 

Our sweet family that I treasure so much.  You aren't looking at the camera, but that just reiterates my comment above about you being distracted curious (better word) about the world around you.  Off to church we go... 

Parker you are a precious little boy and these past seven months have been a blast.  There have been good days and some not so good, but having you as our son is simply the best.  I can't believe we are just 5 months away from celebrating your birthday.  (And no, your plan-loving Mommy doesn't already have a few ideas up her sleeve regarding that celebration - hah).  I've said it before and 'll say it again, you change each and everyday and we love having a front row seat.  We enjoy you so, so much -  you are just a delight.  We love you little P-Man!

Until we meet again...
Riley

P.S.  Fall is in the air and our house has a few decor items out to mark our favorite season - hope to blog those pictures soon. 

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