More Fun Photos and Some Catching Up

So the recent post about Halloween was just a quick one, and we have more to share about our October.

Joseph turned 6 months on October 4th. At his check up, he was 15 pounds, 15 ounces (21st percentile), and 26.25 inches long (40th percentile).  Both are markedly lower percentiles than at his 4 month check up.  When asked if that was a concern, the doctor pointed to him, as he wriggled and writhed non-stop for his visit with her, and said, "It's a simple equation for calories in and calories out.  Look at how much he's moving!  It's no wonder."  And so, that's that.  His massive growth spurt from 2 months to 4 months has moderated, thankfully, and we have noticed that he still fits in most of his 6 month sized clothes.  That keeps us from having to go crazy with clothes shopping; we'll take it.  These two photos were taken within a couple days on either side of Joseph's half-birthday.

This month he has improved his mobility by twisting his body as he rolls over, so that he can use rolling to get from one place to another.  He pushes on heavy stationary objects with his feet and legs to change directions, and he is gaining core strength by trying to sit up from a completely prone position.  His teachers at school regularly comment on how he is "all muscle", and this week he has begun doing pushups -- on his tip-toes, not just on his knees!  Also, he likes to use his feet for things, such as tapping (banging?) his feet on surfaces to hear the noise and lifting objects near his feet toward his hands.  His teachers also say he is a big flirt, noticing all who enter the room, smiling at them and basking in the attention they pay him.  We always knew he was a pretty social kid around us, but apparently he is like that even when we are not with him!  He has adjusted to school pretty well, although, similar to his big sister way back when, Joseph does not nap for very long in the infant room, when there is so much other activity happening around him.  Jenny visits him once a day most days so he can have a milk snack, and sometimes he falls asleep with her, and then she gets to tuck him in to his crib for a nap.  We feel so lucky the kids are close by at least one parent during the work week!  These photos were taken one morning in his classroom....

 

Joseph has wavered between being enthusiastic about eating and mildly tolerating eating.  He is definitely more of a veggie guy: green beans and squash are big hits.  Carrots and pears are OK.  Peaches gave him a bright red bottom (or so we think).  Some days rice cereal is yummy; other days he doesn't really want much of that gruel.  Maybe some new teeth will be poking through soon.  Regardless, he often enjoys sitting at the table with us at meal times, and he has picked up a messy habit of "making raspberries", as seen here (and it gets very messy when he does it with a mouthful of food).

Hanging out -- the Boppy has many uses!

And, of course, the love between siblings is magical....