Luca letter: 6 months old

I’m a broken record, I know, but I’m seriously stunned every time another month rolls around and it’s time for the next letter. It’s taken me so long to write this one that the next one is due in only 2 weeks!

Things are progressing…

You’re continuing to progress in some skills that you’ve already developed. For example:

Swimming class

This month you moved into an official “paid” swimming class instead of the free ones for babies up to 6 months. And within the first two sessions you’d already had your head underwater – very impressive!

Sitting up

You’re nearly there. At the moment you’re able to balance yourself for a little bit before falling to the side. If I sit with you with my legs on either side you always rest a hand on my leg, just for reassurance. But you’ve mostly got this, you’ve just got to have faith in yourself.

No crawling yet – you’re still up on your hands and knees and rocking, but it’s like you haven’t worked out the coordination yet. That doesn’t mean you’re not mobile though! You’ve worked out that if you want to get somewhere it’s a matter of rolling and a bit of break dancing i.e. laying on your back and using your legs to push yourself around in a circle. Before I took this photo you were originally beside me, then bam – across the room you go!

Your third cold

Another nasty one, with lots of nose sucking going on so we can keep your airways clear. This time I caught it too and it was tough. I had to ask your father to come home from work one day, and as soon as he arrived I handed you over and went straight to bed. I slept for 3 hours straight. Apparently he came in a few times to try and wake me up and I was out of it, so I must have needed it!

As for you, there were a few hairy nights when your father really worried about your breathing. Thankfully you managed to get through OK.

And some new things…

Started at daycare

You started at  daycare in preparation for my return back to work next month. It went as well as could be expected. You love your teachers, and when you were away for a couple of days, on your return you gave them a huge smile and actually leaned towards them for a cuddle.

The first day I dropped you off I went back to the car and bawled my eyes out. I felt so selfish returning back to work, but I knew it needed to be done. Financially, your father and I always want to make sure that you’re taken care of (don’t think that means you won’t have to earn your own way some time in the future). It also means you get some socialisation and exposure to toys and equipment we don’t have at home.

You’ve had a few issues with feeding, mainly refusing the bottle a few times for them. It’s your way of rebelling a little bit, you’re not happy about the fact that I’m not there to feed you. But alas, little man, soon you won’t need me in that way at all! Since last month you’ve been eating solids and enjoy them so the teachers at daycare know they can serve that up to you. You still have milk from me, and occasionally the bottle from dad, but not so much for your teachers. They’ve also had to feed you from a syringe a couple of times. But we’ll crack you!

First camping trip

We took you on your first ever camping trip this month – it was fantastic! You did so well, and we got some amazing photos of you. The only thing we’ll need to change in the future is what you wear to work. I think you were a bit cold so you struggled with sleep a little, but after we rugged you up more you passed out for a good stretch of sleep.

I can’t wait until you’re a bit older. Hopefully you’ll enjoy camping as much as we do!

More hair

You’ve been bald-looking for so many months, and finally you’re starting to get some more hair. It’s a dark blonde colour, so there’s a good chance you’ve got the same colour hair that I do. It could turn brown still to match your fathers, so we’ll see. But we’re thrilled to see it starting to thicken up.

Discovering gravity

One of your favourite games to play at the moment is dropping things onto the ground. You’ve discovered gravity. It’s fun for you when you’re sitting in your high chair to pick something up, lean over to the side, hand the object out as far as you can and then drop it. Rinse and repeat with whatever else is on your high chair. It drives us nuts having to pick up so many things, but it really is fun to see. After all, how are you ever going to learn about this stuff if you don’t try it for yourself?

Pulling hair

One day I bent down to pick up a fresh nappy and a new outfit for you out of your change table/drawers. Suddenly I felt this tug at my head, and I was stuck!

It seemed you had suddenly learned that you could pull our hair. Hard.

Thankfully you’re also learning that “ta” means to let go or hand over whatever you have in your hands, so it’s getting easier to get you to release when you pull our hair (or chains, or glasses off our faces). But there have certainly been some painful moments!

First night without me

I had a night away this month when I went to visit the Commonwealth Games! We had prepared hard, testing you with formula and the bottle and you were doing really well. Then when I was gone, you suddenly started to refuse the bottle. Your poor father and Nonna were so worried, and managed to get you to feed by syringe. I returned the following morning to feed you, and you fed great for me, but you certainly didn’t make it easy on them! As for me, well, I didn’t have a great sleep while I was away because all I could think about was you!

The following weekend I went to the closing ceremony, which is when you developed the cold. Your poor father again was so worried and stressed. I came home, fed you, pumped and managed to get to bed for 2.5 hours of sleep. That was a rough night.

Sleeping patterns

Still not great. We’re still struggling.

For now, you’re still up at least 3 – 4 times a night, and 30min cat naps during the day. I’m at the point where I’m going to start a sleep program with you and see how that pans out.

Weight

You’re weighing in at approximately 8.6kg – growing quickly bubba! Based on that you’re in the 85th percentile, so you’re going strong!

Family update

We’re doing well! After nearly 7 months off it’s time for me to prepare to head back to work 2 days a week, hence the start at daycare. I’m a bit excited to get back into doing some work, but I’m also sad too – I’m going to miss you! I spend every day with you, and it’s like I’m missing a limb when you’re not there. I know it’s for the best though, as it means you develop new friends and have some social interaction. For me it means that I can be mentally stimulated, and financially we’re better off. So it makes sense. If I could wave a magic wand though we’d be doing something very different.

Your dad is doing really well too. He’s still charging around doing a lot, working a lot doing things around the house like maintaining the yard and cooking dinner for me (and I guess you too, eventually, since it comes through the milk). He’s still playing indoor soccer and working on his projects as well. It’s very rare to see him sit still.

Other than that there’s not too much going on.

Your grandparents are all well. Your nana is preparing to head overseas for 6 weeks, so by the time she gets back you’ll be 8 months old! Crazy!

We’re also finally starting to make preparations for your baptism, which will be exciting. I had hopes of you wearing your father’s baptismal gown, but given your size there’s a high chance you’re not going to fit. So I guess in that case we’ll look for something else.

Anyway that’s about it for this month, so I’ll leave you with some other cute photos of you. Until next month!