Six Months

October 29, 2010

Dear Riggins,

Happy Half Birthday!  How is it possible that you have been with us for half of a year?  I have decided that babies keep their parents from sleeping during the first year so that we can be awake to soak up this whirlwind season of life.  These months have flown by, and it is hard for me to even remember your squishy, squeaky little newborn self!  So here I sit, once again trying to freeze my 6-month-old baby in a letter and a photograph.

Your big accomplishment this month has been sitting up!  This skill came to you very quickly and you now love to sit up for play time; you can even ride in the grocery cart like a big boy!  Rolling over became more frequent and you can now flip flop in both directions, even in your sleep (which really hacked you off for about two weeks)!  You still love to stand and have taken it to the next level with jumping.  You LOVE to jump.  I can set you in the Jumparoo and you will go to town.  Then, when you're standing on our laps, you will tuck your chin to your chest in a determined way, bend your little knees, and keep jump-jump-jumping!  In addition to all of this, you have also grown very interested in Weber and the two of you are quickly becoming best buds.

We are getting to see more and more of your sweet personality.  You are very laid back, content, and happy.  People often comment on how observant you are; your bright blue eyes will widen and stare at anything that catches your interest.  Despite your chill personality, you have a tough side too.  You can be stubborn and physically strong when you don't want to do something (Today, your pediatrician was amazed when you refused to move your head to allow her to look in your ears; you just stiffened your neck and shook your head with all your strength!).  On the flip side, you bounce back very quickly after you've been frightened or hurt.  You are still a boisterous little guy, always grunting, babbling, screaming, cooing, growling, blowing raspberries, and--your new favorite--clucking your tongue!

You now weigh 16.2 pounds and are 27 inches long, still in the 75th and 29th percentiles.  You are a long and lean guy and are still in 3-6 month clothes and size 2-3 diapers.  The addition of solid foods have started to fill you out a bit more, and you certainly are enjoying them!  At this point you have liked everything we've offered: rice cereal and oatmeal, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, avocado, apples, pears, prunes, bananas, and yogurt.  You still nurse every 3-4 hours and you take solids in the morning and early evening.  As for sleep, you tend to nap around 9 for one hour, around 1 for two hours, and around 5 for 30 minutes.  You go to sleep for the night between 7 and 8 p.m., and you wake between 6 and 7 a.m.

You are such a good little traveler!  This month we traveled to Oklahoma City to visit your grandparents and your Uncle Todd!  My cousin Jennifer drove over from Wichita Falls to meet you, and you got to meet several family members on your Dad's side at a birthday party.  We capped off our trip with your first visit to our Alma Mater, OBU.  You saw Shawnee Hall and Raley Chapel, hung out in the GC, bought a t-shirt in the bookstore, and visited a few faculty in Owens Hall.  We also had lunch at my favorite Shawnee eatery, Kim's Place, where Kim held you through our meal and prayed for you, just as she prayed for me when I would eat there as a college student.

Gosh, kid...you just have no idea how much your Daddy and I love you.  Every night after you've gone to bed we sporadically just look at each other and say, "He is SO SWEET!" or "He is SO CUTE!"  We just love every little thing about who you are becoming we thank the Lord every day for the gift of being your parents.  Becoming your mother is changing me in so many ways and I will forever be grateful to you for these lessons you are bringing to me.  I want you to know that from your earliest days God has used you.  He is already using you, Riggins--to refine us, to bring joy and healing to the hearts of others--and I look forward to seeing how he draws you to Himself as you grow older.

I love you, Bubba!
Momma