6 Months!

Dear Carter,

It’s been six months since you entered our lives. Sometimes it feels like it’s been just a brief moment since you’ve joined us, and other times I can’t remember our lives before you. Your father and I are pretty proud that we’ve kept you alive for a whole six months without any major incidents, which is more than I can say for some of the houseplants we’ve previously had in our care.

You had a busy month little boy! The highlight: FOOD! Well, kind of. We started feeding you cereal in addition to milk. I really wanted to hold off until you were 6 months old to start solids, but you were having none of that. You were more than ready to start. The first time we fed you I’d say you got down about 90% of it, much more than I expected. You actually grabbed the spoon with both hands to shove it in your mouth faster. Now when we put you in your seat to eat you flail your arms and kick your legs wildly. I’m pretty sure you know what’s coming and you’re excited about it. You are a Jobin, after all. You also thought the whole process was hilarious. The first time we fed you, all you could do was laugh. I’m not quite sure what was so humorous, but before long we were all laughing. Who knew cereal was so funny?

We survived your second cold, complete with mama’s second cold of November as well. You are such a trooper. I never imagined I would willing extract snot from someone’s nose, but that’s how much we love you. We just want you to be able to breathe (and subsequently, sleep). Hopefully all these little illnesses are making you stronger and you’ll grow up to have an immune system like your father. You’re not sleeping as well as you used to, which has left us a little haggard and worse for the wear this month. Yet there’s part of me that enjoys your late night feedings. I know my days where you will cuddle in my arms are numbered and I’m trying to enjoy every moment of you needing me.

We celebrated our first Thanksgiving with you a few weeks ago. This presented just one more glorious occasion for me to dress you up in some cute clothes. I had picked out a sweater and matching hat with sweet little elephants on it, but your dad told me it was too pastel and Eastery. You’re very lucky to have such a caring daddy looking out for your wardrobe choices. You were still pretty dang cute, I must say. You and your dad wore matching outfits (even though I’m told boys don’t wear outfits). Next Thanksgiving will be much more exciting for you. This year you really didn’t get to try much. That didn’t stop you from trying. At one point you managed to squirm out of my lap and grab on to my plate with both hands. It didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, but it was a great picture. Next year you’ll understand the joys of turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce and most importantly crescent rolls and pie!

You’re doing lots of funny things lately. I cannot even begin to describe how much rolling there is. You’re still refusing to roll from your tummy to your back though. You’re very proficient at rolling from your back to your tummy. That takes literally 2 seconds. Then, about 5 seconds after that, you get mad and begin to fling your limbs in the air. I don’t think you’re going to crawl anytime soon because you’re too busy flailing your limbs instead of utilizng them in any type of useful fashion. You also hate to bend your elbows. You must keep your arms straight at all times. If we bend them for you, you immediately fling them back to the straight position. When we hold you on our hips, you look like you’re trying to fly or something. You’re still a big fan of your tongue. Your chomping has intensified. I’m expecting your teeth to sprout any day now. I’m a little concerned you’re going to chomp your fingers off when you do have teeth. You also have this new cough/laugh noise that sounds like a machine gun. You will go on making that noise for 10 minutes, sometimes longer. I’m not sure why you like it, but I think the sound is funny to you. And in all seriousness, you are LOUD. You’re just a tiny little person with a huge capacity for a noisemaking.

As we decorate and get ready for Christmas, your fascinated by all the lights. You do not care for Christmas songs though. In fact, when I sing certain ones you immediately tear up and start wailing. Someday we’ll show you the video. It’s almost unbelievable. I sing, you cry. Your dad raps, you laugh. And on and on.

As we prepare to celebrate a little baby who came to change the world, we are so incredible thankful for our little baby who changed our lives forever. We couldn’t imagine the world without you little one.

Love,

Mama