Letter to Mister Scott at Six (almost Seven) Months

Mister Scott,

You are six months old (almost seven now...)!  I feel bad I haven't done a post for you EVERY month like I have for your sister, but it's been quite a busy time for our family and for me personally.  I was on maternity leave with you for five months, which was really fun and I cherished spending so much one on one time with you.  You're the absolute sweetest baby and love your mama so much.  We spent a lot of time during your first five months napping together in the guest room, playing in your bouncer and on the floor, cuddling, playing with your sister, and walking Kala outside.  You've learned and grown so much!  

 

Soon after we brought you home, you decided it was your mission to eat and get as chunky as possible.  You very quickly put on weight and were in the 95th percentile on weight within your first two months.  Now, at six months, you weigh as much as your sister did around 11 or 12 months - over 21 pounds.  It's hard to find clothes that fit you exactly right - the six to nine month clothing is now too snug.  Nine months fits you alright, but soon I think you will be fitting in the 12 month clothes.  Your height is average, around the 50th percentile, but definitely not keeping up with your weight!  You ate breast milk for about 5 months and the doctor joked that I must have been feeding you heavy cream.  Now you are drinking formula.  And while you shunned it at first, you now seem indifferent.  You are also eating solids now and you certainly have some preferences.  You're fine with fruits, but do NOT like peas.  You like sweet potatoes and you don't mind a good spinach smoothie mix, as long as some mango and banana are thrown in.  We gave you your first taste of peanut butter last week and you thought it was fine.  Fortunately, you haven't had any allergies yet!

You've developed a lot of cool skills lately.  You've always had really good neck control from early on, and have been a feisty baby.  You will knock a bottle out of mama's hand quickly if you don't want it anymore.  You also are VERY vocal.  You coo and squeal when you're happy.  You also giggle laugh super hard when I kiss you or tickle you, which is the cutest.  You are really good at grabbing things and are definitely at the stage this month where you want to put everything, and I mean everything, in your mouth.  Burp cloth, toy, food, mama's hand, Dottie's hair, whatever -- it can go in the mouth.  I think you're going to have some little teeth soon!  You are still working on gross motor skills.  No signs of crawling yet, but you learned how to roll from your stomach to your back about a month ago.  You still can't roll from your back to your stomach yet, but are working on it.  

You had some firsts the last six months - we had our first Halloween, Thanksgiving, first Christmas, and rang in the 2020 New Year!  I think we were all sleeping by midnight though.  You made your first trip up to Washington, DC, which was somewhat a bust because Dottie got sick.  But, you still got to meet some of mama's mom group friends and mama's good friends Emma, Todd and little Lyla.  You were really good on the trip, which was fortunate, because it was a long car ride.  

Sadly, your great grandma Byrd passed away on Christmas Eve, and you rode with mama to Franklin, NC for the funeral.  Daddy and Dottie stayed home, but you were good company for mama.  We stayed in a hotel overnight together and drove the long four hours each way.  You weren't very happy by the end of it, but we made it.  It's sad that you won't get to know her as well as your sister and cousins did.  However, you were her favorite guest in the last few months of her life and she really only looked forward to your visits above all else.
  

Mama went back to work in February, which was really hard for her.  Not only did she have to go back, but she was promoted while on maternity leave and is now a manager of six employees.  Going back to work and taking care of two kids in daycare has been hard on mama and daddy, but we're making it work.  Mama was very worried about you going to daycare, because Dottie didn't go until she was a year old, but you took to daycare like a pro.  The teachers commented about how "relaxed" and "laid back" you are.  Ms. Teresa, your main teacher is awesome and loves you.  She takes very good care of you.  The only problem with daycare is that you do not sleep much there.  The lights are on, and the babies are loud, so you don't get many naps.  You are pretty tired when you get home.  Fortunately, you are sleeping really well at night, just like your sister did.  You sleep from about 7:30 pm until 6 or 6:30 am!  Which is great for mama, because I'm not sure how I could work otherwise.  For now you are sleeping in a Merlin suit that its a little too small for you, but we're making it work.  You are going to have to get in a sleep sack and learn to roll soon!

You are truly a joy of a baby.  You aren't ill tempered or grumpy pretty much at all.  You LOVE your sister.  You light up any time she sings or talks to you and you giggle hysterically when she hugs or kisses you.  You've been very interested in new things lately and you love to watch Kala or check out a new toy, even if that means putting it in your mouth.  You are very curious about mirrors!  Mama likes to show you both of us in the mirror and sing "Mama and Scott!  Mama and Scott!" to you, just like I did with your sister, which you think is hilarious. 

We are excited to see you grow over the next few months - it will be spring soon and I'm sure you're going to be up on your feet this summer at the water table and trying to walk and crawl.  I'm not sure if your sister will be pleased or start to be irritated with you, but we'll see!  

Love,
Mama