7 Months Old

Dear Davin,

It's your first "monthday" of 2013! It was somewhat sad to leave your birth year behind, but that's the way it is - time flies! You've had a big, big month little guy.

On December 18 we went to Charlotte for you to have an outpatient urology surgery. You did fine, but the general anesthesia you needed was scary. You were terribly freaked out when you first woke up, but you calmed down with some pain meds and were good to go after that. You also got your 6 month vaccines three days later, and did fine with those, too, other than a slight fever. You weighed in at 17 pounds, 1.5 ounces and were 27 inches long.

We spent 6 days away from home for Christmas. We celebrated here on Saturday, 12/22 and then headed to Neena and Pa Bill's house. You got lots of love and attention, which is the quickest way to make you happy. We got to go to the Pine Mountain Christmas play and spent Christmas Eve with the whole Roberts family for Christmas Eve. We left early on Christmas morning and spent two days at Nanie's. We had Christmas dinner with all the Abels on Tuesday. We stopped by Grandpa's house on Thursday and then got home late that night. It was a fun but exhausting trip. You got lots of clothes and toys, which you are pretty oblivious to still.

You're still sleeping okay most nights. You're still half-swaddled in your Rock n Play, but I really mean it this time when I say it's almost time to transition. As soon as we get your room painted, it's crib time! You sleep from about 9:15 PM to about 7:30-9:00 AM with usually one wake up to feed. You take about an hour morning nap around 10:30 and an afternoon nap that is 1-2 hours about 1:30. You have also been taking a 20 minute catnap after your 6:30 PM feeding. You sleep like a rock at night, but are a light sleeper during naps.

You are still exclusively breastfed. I anticipate starting solid foods in the next week or so. You nurse six times a day (5 if you sleep through the night) for 10-15 minutes. You wear mostly 6-9 month stuff, with 6 month onesies and 9 month pants. You aren't a fan of hats, but like socks since your feet are always clammy and cold. You have a cry/yell that sounds like a dying cat that you use when you're really frustrated. It's not pleasant, but luckily you don't use it much.

On Dec 29 you started pulling up to standing using my arm. You've perfected that skill and try to pull up on EVERYthing now. You are most content when in a standing position. You also started crawling! You did two little crawls on January 1 and then yesterday you did five or six "steps" of crawling. Your belly scoot is still more effective, so you usually quit crawling and scoot like a madman! You've also sat up from laying on your back twice. And you have a huge interest in blowing raspberries, too. It's all happening so, so fast.

Some of your favorite things are playing peekaboo, kisses on your chubby cheeks, your sister (and pulling her hair), kicking like crazy, the iPad (seriously, you'll scoot across the room to get to it, even if you have 5 toys in front of you), crinkly paper, ripping paper (you laugh hysterically), your paci when you're sleeping, sucking on your pointer fingers, your jumperoo (if you're in a good mood), when I tickle your belly and neck, and being held.

You're a joy. You won't sit still for anything, and I can tell you're going to be ALL BOY. But I love your giggles and your sweet personality. You're everything I never knew I always wanted in a son.

I love you Spud!
Love, Mommy

even standing during the photo shoot!