The Life of Rob & Jess Plus Two: Holy Smokes... I have a kid who's half a year old!

Dear Parker,

Where does time go?! I can't believe you are getting so big! You are 6-months now and getting bigger every day. You smile all the time and are generally a happy baby. I'm not going to call you easy, but you are definitely a happy baby.

I took you in to see the doctor just before Thanksgiving for a lingering cough and we left with a referral for the neurosurgery department of Texas Children's Hospital. Sorry baby boy, you have a flat head, or in science terms, plagiocephaly. The pediatrician is worried about your fontanels. You still have a large ridge at the top of your head and the soft spot at the top of your head is very small. Your soft spots aren't supposed to harden until you are about 2, so that is cause for concern, which could be Craniosynostosis (definition: congenital premature fusion (closure) of one or more sutures on a baby’s skull. Sutures are seams that connect individual skull bones. When these seams are open they allow the skull to expand in an even fashion when the brain grows in infancy. When a suture has closed too early, the skull cannot expand in a uniform fashion.) It has taken a very long time to get into see the specialist. I called to make an appointment the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and can't get you in until December 29th. So, there will be another blog post about that, later. There is a good chance you are going to end up with a baby helmet.

This month:

Weigh 16.47 lbs and are 27.5 inches long.
You experienced your first Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving in Arkansas and you had a great time. You loved seeing your cousins, Maddison & Tristin. We took Meier family photos and you were a rock star. You didn't sleep all that great until the last two nights, but overall you were a real trooper.
Tried to eat/suck on the arm rest of the airplane during our travels. Your dad just about freaked. It was hilarious. You would just reach your arms out and open your mouth wide to get your mouth on the armrest.
Still love your jumper!
Can sit very well, but can still topple over if we don't put a boppy behind you.
Still love to stand. You can stand against the couch & ottoman at home and move side to side down them almost by yourself. You could stand and play with the remote controls for an hour.
Got to take a trip to Austin to meet some more cousins and you loved watching the 2-year olds on the playground.
Got your first ear infection and legit fever (102 degrees!)
I can see your first tooth! It's not all the way in yet, but its just under your gums.
Generally sleep through the night.. about 8:15 to 7ish. But, this past week with your ear infection you have NOT been a good sleeper.
Have a serious drool rash.
Seem to really like your solid foods. You eat cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, prunes, mangos, bananas, and apples. You aren't a fan of anything green. These solid foods have started to mess with your bottle feedings though. You are not a good bottle eater. Every bottle seems to be a battle. So, I'm trying to re-jig your schedule. I think I'm trying to feed you too many bottles, too often.
Refuse to roll over and lay on your stomach. You pretty much scream bloody murder when on your tummy. You have started getting up on your side. So, I'm hoping you start rolling over, soon. This will really help your head, too. We are under DRs order to get you to roll over.
You are quite the pooper. You poop 3-4 times a day it seems and go through 2 to 3 outfits a day.
Really like the game peak-a-boo.
Still love your stackable toys and anything that crunches.
Can play independently play on the floor with your toys for a little bit as long as you aren't tired.
Started to need your pacifier more. I think this is daycare's fault. But, if you are happy with it, I'm happy with it.
Stayed with your dad and your Mimi & Papa Randy at the house for three days while I went out of town for a work trip. You were such a good boy without mama. But, I'll never forget when you saw me for the first time after my trip. You smiled so big and when I picked you up you tucked your head into my shoulder with smile. You even blushed. It melted my heart and I hope I remember it always.

The Christmas pictures below are the ones I took for our Christmas card. I know I'm biased. But, I think your the most handsome six-month old around.

I'll love you forever and always baby boy.