7 Months!

And I thought so much happened between 5 and 6 months...

Bennett is now eating his feet (yea even thought he has been grabbing his feet for a couple months, he just now decided he wants to eat them - i bet it is thanks to his two teeth). Yes he broke two teeth in one week (bottom two)! And they HURT (Bennett AND anyone else who is naive enough to lend Bennett a finger to play with). He is also (finally) rolling from his back to his tummy. He always had the strength to, he just refused to. He has always been more of a back baby. But now, he rolls all over the place to get what he wants, and it makes him seem so much older for some reason.

He started pulling up holding on to my fingers (without me actually lifting him) a couple weeks ago, and this morning he pulled up holding onto a barstool without any help at all. He still has not gotten up on all fours though, and every time I attempt to place him on his knees he stretches his legs as straight as he can and resists it. So, following in the footsteps of his mother and father, he may just walk before he crawls.

He is banging all his toys, using things like plastic forks and spoons to bang other things like he is drumming. He LOVES his jumper...he is crazy all over the place jumping, standing straight up in it, then sitting back down and hammering away. When he sees it, he starts jumping, even if that means in your arms. You better be on your A game or he might just jump out of your arms. When I say "Bouncy bouncy bouncy" he starts jumping, bc thats what I started saying when he was in the jumper I guess. He jumps in his exersaucer to watch all his toys bounce and bang around.

He loves dogs and watches them quite closely. He is not afraid of them at all. He will stand up holding on with just one hand. He will stand on anything we put him up against. After standing for awhile, he will test himself and try standing without holding on to anything, but always falls to his tush with a thump. He then looks at you to see what your reaction will be to his fall. If you cringe and act sad or upset, he will too and pucker up that lower lip with a cry. If you smile and say "youre OK" or something positive, he will just brush it up and keep happily playing. Its crazy how he is already in tune with our emotions and reactions.

He has tried to sit up while lying down but hasnt gotten very far. He strains his neck and tries to pull his upper body off the ground, but he is still just too little and hasnt figured out how to roll over to his side first. He had meats for the first time yesterday - Stephen fed him Turkey, and said B just didnt know what to think about it. All I think about it is that they STINK!

I have been meaning to have a "Bennett's normal day" type post with times and everything, but always forget to record the times to start it off. But here is a general run down:
6:30am-7:30am = wakes up, the earliest I will go to his bed though is right after 7.
7:15-7:45am = feed him his bottle (7 ounces) depending on what time he wakes up
For the next hour he plays, and then about an hour after he had his bottle (8:15-8:45) I will feed him Fruit. We continue to play, and then he goes down for a nap at 9:30. (its weird bc it doesnt matter what time he wakes up, he always gets tired around 9:30). He will sleep anywhere from 1-2 hrs (not so much 2 anymore!!!). Then around 11:30 he will have his second bottle. Today I am also going to start another solid meal at this time. This is usually when we get out of the house, so he may snooze on and off in his carseat while we are getting in and out of the car. He eats another 7 ounces around 3:30pm. This is the iffy time when it comes to naps. Usually, he will go down for a nap around 4:15-4:30 or so, and maybe sleep for an hour. Some days, though, he wont get sleepy and/or fussy until 6, and I hate putting him down for a nap at that time, but I still feel like he needs the sleep.
7:00pm = Stephen feeds him veggies. After eating, Stephen gives Bennett a bath. Bathtime lasts as long as Bennett wants it to - he loves it. I usually try to get dinner ready at this time, or if it is already ready, Stephen and I eat after B eats his veggies and before Stephen takes him out of his high chair for a bath. After his bath (which he doesnt cry after now!! yay!!!) I will feed him 8 ounces. We rock, or sing, or listen to music, and then I put him in his bed. He is usually wide awake when I do this, and will roll around in his crib for a little while before falling asleep pretty quickly, usually around 7:45pm. Whew!

While he is eating his bottle, Bennett now loves to look at his hands - just hold them up in the light, slowly rotate them around, and stare at them. Its so funny. B is also making lots of funny noises and faces now. He crinkles up his nose, purses his lips, and blows in and out of his nose, kind of like a bull. He also sucks in his bottom lip (Im guessing to feel his teeth) and then makes a loud kissing noise as he sucks in then lets his bottom lip go. It is hilarious and results in many out of control belly laughing sessions from his parents.

Bennett also loves textures. He scratches/rubs everything he can get his hands on. Sofas, chairs, leather, blankets, his plastic bottle (?), my hair, his rubber bathrub, carpet, rugs, sheets, paper, tissues, grass, leaves, etc. And he knows when something has texture and will lunge to rub on it. He loves splashing the water with his hands too. When I say "Im going to give you a kiss" he stops what he is doing, sits really still, and opens his mouth. So cute. He knows the signs for "Milk" and "All done" and I think he is starting to understand "Sleep."

He is wearing 9 month size, and even that size is getting too snug in the length. But still too big in gerth. He is always kicking his legs, especially if he is excited/happy. He babbles and talks to himself. He squeals and shrieks, but still doesnt giggle very much. You can tell he thinks something is funny but he hasnt started regularly laughing.

He entertains himself more now, and is overall an incredibly happy, well behaved little baby. He used to fuss for reasons Stephen and I couldnt figure out, but now his fusses are few and far between. We are LOVING this age, and he really is growing up so fast. Its hard, bc I dont want to freeze time bc Im so looking forward to everything the future holds, but it is a little sad that it is all going by so quickly. He is so much fun and of course like any parent does, I think he is a GENIOUS! :) I am loving being his mom and we are finally at a point where this parenting thing is "normal" and easily managable and strangely relaxing at times. I know that will continue to change though, as B starts to be more mobile and get into everything! So yes I am enjoying the fun, happy, playful yet NOT MOBILE stage for everything it is worth.

We love you Bennett Michael!!

Playing with Daddy in Daddy's shop

I did this to myself Funny Face


This is what happens when you turn your back to me for 5 seconds in my swing now. BUCKLE UP!
Taking after my Aunt Erin and her sleeping habits (yes my sister sleeps like this)
Wearing my mommy's old Tshirt at the beach
My kissy face
MWAH!