Cai Alexander: Seven Months

How in the world do I have a seven month old? A few months ago I remember watching a friend's seven month old (I think Cai was three months), and thinking, "Wow, I can't even imagine Cai being that old!" And now he is! It blows my mind how much he has changed this month!

New Things
Cai can...

• Go from laying down to sitting on his own. 
• Belly crawl, with a smidge of real crawling. And he's REALLY fast.
• Fall asleep on his own without the swaddle. You DON'T EVEN KNOW what a a big deal this is. It took two horrible naps with lots of screaming and crying and sweating, but I can now lay him down awake, leave the room, and know that he'll fall asleep. It's so cute to see the different positions he sleeps in now!
• Blow raspberries. 

• Understand "no." He doesn't obey most of the time, but he clearly knows what it means.
• Swallow more of the food he puts in his mouth. Before it was mostly just tasting things, chewing them and then spitting them out. Now he swallows most of it.
• Eat; new foods include:

• Oatmeal
• Cucumbers
• Yogurt (we're going to wait on trying that again...we think it gave him MAJOR gas which is rare for him)
• Grilled cheese
• Ciabatta pizza (made entirely with ingredients from the farmer's market and local milk store)
• French toast
• Scallions
• Plum Organics Super Puffs, super purples
  
• Organic teething cookies
• Apple sauce
• Tomatoes
• Climb up small steps.
• Grab Finn's bone.

Sleep: Six months has been the hardest so far. We had some nights where he was up every hour. Other nights were he was up for two hours at a time. And some where he was up around 1:30, went back down, and then would wake every ten minutes, giving Mama just

enough time to get in bed and get comfortable before screaming again. We've also had some where the only way he would fall asleep is snuggled on the couch with Mama. It's definitely improving. Three of the last four nights were pretty good, five over the past eight were pretty good. I've learned that I am a MUCH nicer person when I sleep well.

Likes: Cai's favorite things right now are:

• Chasing Finn around to try to steal his bone.
• Chasing Finn around in general, especially if someone is carrying him around. He laughs SO HARD.

• Getting into EVERYTHING.

• Mama singing "Skinamarinky Dinky Dink"

• Necklaces.

• The wood stove. This little stinker chooses the most dangerous spot in the house to play.

• Mama's dirtiest shoes.

• When Finn walks in front of the stroller on walks.
• Being on Mama's back in the Beco carrier.
• Uncle Tyler's computer.
• Spending extra time with Daddy. Steve was out of work for six weeks+ and the extra time they had together was wonderful.