7 months and all caught up!

Charlie had his "6 month" appointment last Thursday and things went really well! He weighed in at 18 lbs 3 oz and measured 28.5 inches. This put him at the 50th percentile for weight (remember that he started at the 5th when we came home!) and the 90th percentile for height!! The nurses and Dr Dracker are all very pleased with the progress he has made, as are we obviously! He got his 6 month shots, which he was not very happy about, but was really good otherwise! We go back for his flu shot at the end of the month. Dr Dracker also wants him to get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available, but we have heard mixed reports about what the recommendation is. I wish that there was one recommendation that everyone followed so that I am not left second guessing what we should do, but it seems like everyone takes their own interpretation of what is best. I was talking to Dee about it last night and she is going to do some investigating for us though, so we will see!

One of his little teeth on the bottom popped through last week. The one next to it is so close that I am sure it will make its appearance in the next day or so! He is eating really well. He seems to have fallen into a routine where he only eats 4 times a day, which makes me a little nervous, but he is eating a really good amount. We added oatmeal into his brown rice cereal this week with no problems and have mastered sweet potatoes and bananas now. We tried avocado for the first time last night and it seemed to go over well, though it does look a little gross! We have also let him start practicing with the sippy cup. He doesn't always succceed, but it gives him something to do while we are eating dinner! We tried those Gerber Finger foods (the puffs that dissolve), but he seems to just gag as it sits on his tongue dissolving. It is good practice to get used to though I guess!

Charlie is doing a great job sitting up. I sit him up on his floor mat with some toys and he just chills there and plays to his heart's content! He is able to maneuver himself around to get what he wants without a problem. If he falls over he can't manage to get himself back to sitting up quite yet, but I am sure he will get there! He really would like to be mobile. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth, but hasn't figured out the coordination yet. He is particularly fond of doing this when he wakes up from his naps, but usually ends up rocking himself right into the side of the crib or his music box and bonking his head - not something he particularly enjoys! :-) He keeps doing it though, so I guess it can't hurt that bad!

We made the switch over to Charlie sleeping in his crib at night. Up until now he has been in the pack and play in our room over night, but last week we decided it was time for the move. He is still sleeping really well and with the exception of one night, has continued sleeping for his usual 10 to 12 hours straight through! As you may have seen in older pictures, we used to have Charlie's pacifier taped to a rolled up cloth diaper. This was a trick we learned in the NICU that helped him keep the pacifier in his mouth or put it back in for himself. A couple weeks ago he started pulling the pacifier off the diaper roll, but still loves to cuddle with the taped up cloth diaper. It has become his teddy bear/security blanket, I guess! Luckily he doesn't seem to mind when I swap it out for a clean one, so that it good!

Charlie is really just getting so big and learning so much every day! I keep finding myself getting all teary eyed looking at him because he is just so amazing! Time flies when you're having fun!!

"Hi Mom! Just popping in to say hello!"

"I am a Super Star!"

"What's so funny? All the cool kids suck their paci like this!"

"I don't know why you guys make me use this thing. You holding the bottle for me is much more efficient."

"Pinned ya! I told ya you wouldn't beat me Teddy Bear!"

"What?! There is someone out there who doesn't think I am the cutest 7 month old ever?? Blasphemy!"