Six Months

Samuel had his 1/2th birthday this month. My little newborn became a six month old. How did that happen? This is how life goes from here on out, I guess: FAST!

Milestones: This month he decided to try everything at once. He's sitting up, lunging forward, rocking on his hands and knees, pulling himself to standing while holding onto our hands. He's adventure boy! I love watching his wide eyed wonder about the world he's just discovering. He's gonna be all over the place before we know it.

Sleep: is for wieners! (I wish I were a wiener.)

I put Sam, asleep, in his own bed at the beginning of the night, in hopes that he'll stay asleep longer than he would if he were in bed with us. (All just wishful thinking, of course) He wakes up every 1-3 hours to make sure I'm still there, and to have a little snack. After the first waking, I just bring him to bed with me so I don't have to get up and down again all night long. This would be a bigger problem if I had to get up and go to work every morning, like many moms do, or if I had older children who needed me. I don't know what I would do if I did right now. As things are, I'm able to stay in bed til late in the morning to try to make up for the sleep I lose at night.

I have mixed feelings about the nursing-all-night issue. On the one hand, it would be wonderful to experience just 4 or 5 hours of unbroken sleep every night. On the other hand, to watch him nestle down to sleep next to me, so peaceful and happy, is the sweetest thing. We both feel right, laying there together. There's such a feeling of well-being. I may try to encourage other sleep associations for him here in the next few months, for the sake of us all getting a bit more solid sleep. But, for now, I think I'll just enjoy the closeness.

Likes: Waking up next to Mommy and Daddy; his new stuffed monkey that sings the ABC song; ice water; long kisses on the cheek; rhythm and melody; chewing on carrots; to be held horizontally as though he were flying; climbing and grabbing all the things!

Dislikes: Smashed banana; getting stuck on his tummy where he can't get to his toys; his carseat, with a passion; playing with the same toy for more than 30 seconds.

Mommy: is the comforter after bonking one's head; is able to accomplish a little more during the day than she was a few months ago; is snappy when tired and is learning how much she needs the work of the Spirit to make her more like Jesus.

Daddy: is FUN; makes Sammy laugh a lot; is the one Sam looks to for affirmation after accomplishing something new, which I think is interesting and very cool.

Most Common Grocery Store Comment: "What a happy baby!" That makes a momma feel good. 

Sam's first taste of banana.

Update on the Move

Here we are. Redding, California. Which, by the way, has a pretty decent 4th of July fireworks show. Especially when viewed from a back porch on top of a hill overlooking the city. We spent the holiday with some new friends, extended family really, who opened their home to us until we can find a place to live here in town. Such a blessing.

I think my definition of family is being expanded a bit. Nothing will ever replace my parents and siblings as my first and closest family, but I am finding family now in unexpected places. I think this has got to be the grace of God for this season, as JM and Samuel and I are moving farther away from family than we've ever lived before.

Anyway, we arrived here July 1 and frantically began searching for our new home, in hopes that we would be able to move in before the Fridenparents went back home to Phoenix. We had hoped to avoid putting our things in storage, just to move it all out again a few weeks later. So we looked and looked, but nothing came up. We were frazzled and pressured and exhausted from the drive and the unsettled lifestyle of the last week. Moving across the country is no walk in the park!

Then we realized that everything would be closed July 4. At first we were irritated, because that meant that we were losing a day and would pretty much have to put our things in storage because the moving truck was due back. But the holiday ended up being a blessing. It forced us to relax a little bit and remember that we were in God's hands and that He has a plan for us. Boy, was that a relief!

So. Our things are in storage, and we're still searching for a home. But we're with family, and in God's hands, and I think this is all going to work out.