Half a Year of Hank!

It dawned on me the other day that I haven't done an All About Hank post in a while. Hank turned 6 months old last week and I am in awe at how quickly half a year can go by. I can hardly imagine Hank has a little 6 lb. newborn anymore. He's getting so big! Watching him grow, change, and learn is such a joy. Hank's personality has really begun to come out this month. He loves being in on the action and we say he has FOMO (fear of missing out) because if people are around, he will carefully observe  everything going on around him. He'll even not play or sleep sometimes in order to "hang out" with people. He is a sweet boy, and he is pretty chill. He is very attentive and knows and adores his parents and grandparents.

Hank started Little Gym this summer and we both enjoy the Mommy and Me classes where Hank plays with balls, bubbles, practices tummy time, sings songs, moves and stretches, and best of all, hangs out with other babies!

He also started solids this past month! He had baby rice cereal and oatmeal for about 2-3 weeks at first. This past month, he's  tried butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, and just last week he had his first fruits of bananas and apples. Hank only has baby food twice a day, late morning (just a fruit or veggie) and around dinner time (a veggie and rice cereal). He still drinks 8 oz. of formula about 3-4 times a day. It's so exciting having Hank try new foods and sitting in his high chair. I still enjoy our snuggly times with the bottle, though, too! I had plans to make my own baby food and got books from the library and did a lot of reading online. But when it came down to it, store bought is just so much easier! We've been using Gerber and Beechnut brands. I've pretty much just been following Hank's lead when it comes to the solids stuff. I try and serve a new food for 3 or so days before I introduce something else, but he seems to enjoy everything he's had so far. I think squash might be his favorite.

This month Hank also went in the pool for the first time. He is very stoic in the water and doesn't cry or smile, I think he's trying to figure out what is going on! He likes water and we have also used a small blow up pool in our backyard. Hank is starting to learn how to reach for things in the water and splash. He is still in his baby tub but without the sling. Since he can't sit up independently yet, AJ and I sort of hold him up in the tub.

Hank is wearing 6-9 month clothes and the plain 6 month ones are getting a bit snug, and the 9 month ones are just a little big. This boy has quite the wardrobe from hand me downs, gifts, and family and friends. I think his wardrobe is set until he's at least 18 months old! I used up my size 2 stash of diapers and moved onto size 3's this month. I like Huggies the best but have also tried Honest Co., Target brand, Pampers and Kirkland brand too.

Hank loves his little play gym and the kick piano is still a big hit. His favorite toy is his Moose and he also loves the V-Tech play cube and this fun water mat he lays on for tummy time. He sits in his Bumbo seat sometimes but his chunky legs are almost getting too big for the leg holes! He is rolling all over the place and has been moving around a lot more when we change his diaper. He also loves pulling my hair and I have to be careful with dangly earrings around this dude! When he sits in his high chair while we have dinner he likes to play with his squishy blocks and linking rings. He also, to my delight, loves his baby Starbucks teether! (He LOVES putting anything in his mouth!)

Hank goes to bed in his crib (drowsy but usually awake) anytime between 7:30-9:00 depending on how tired he seems. He gives us definite cues when he's ready for bed like rubbing his eyes. He wakes up most days between 6:30 and 7:30. We love the Graco lullaby sound machine and set it for an hour of play when we put him in his crib. He naps pretty irregularly. He usually dozes off in the morning after his first bottle for around an hour and then he usually has 2 naps of about 30 minutes each during the day. Every once in a while he'll do like a 90 minute stretch in the afternoon and/or morning but that's pretty rare. He does his best napping on a big blanket on the floor next to daddy.

Some things I want to do in the next month or so: Switch to the regular bathtub when Hank can sit up, read at night before bed, and try brushing gums. I bought a baby toothbrush and toothpaste but we've yet to try it.

We are so crazy in love with this sweet little man. He is the delight of our days and we adore being his parents! Half way to 1, Hankster! And just for fun, here are his first 6 monthly pics!