"I'm Your Buckaroo" {Luke 6 Months}

Happy half birthday to our Little Man, Buddy Boy & Ookey!  The past six months have been pure bliss filled with lots of love, laughter, snuggles & smooches.  He's a near perfect baby (at least for us, anyway...he still gives his baby sitters some trouble) and is learning new things everyday.

• Luke's favorite activity is probably chasing Carly around the room.  We can run circles around our couch for hours on end & both kiddos are so satisfied!
• He is reaching for everything in sight and makes the cutest determined face while he focuses on getting his hands to do what he has concocted in his mind
• Seriously dislikes being tickled unless his thigh is squeezed in which case we get some smiles
• Smiles on command but only lets out a giggle if something is really funny...ie throwing his hands up in the air or rolling a ball down the stairs
• Loves to play patty-cake & 5 little monkeys
• Enjoys music in the car
• Puts everything in his mouth
• Has a continuous stream of drool from his lips to his shirt around the clock
• Is a sweaty, drooling boy...and smells quite tangy when he wakes up from a nap...yuck!
• His favorite food is banana but really loves any fruit, oatmeal & sweet potatoes.  Not super into anything green quite yet
• Fully sitting up and beginning to successfully rock on all fours
• Bounces in his jumperoo multiple times throughout the day
• Has outgrown his bumbo and complains most times he is put in there
• Loves to be outside...but whines every time we try to take him in the pool
• Could go on a walk in his stroller or chill in the bike carrier for hours
• Loves any toy that lights up & sings
• LOVES to be read to
• ....and still wants to be carried around 80% of the time ;)

It's amazing how allowing my baby to fall into a "guided" rhythm has worked so well.  I really disliked how stressed I was about Carly's sleep and am glad that I've improved in that area with my second.  At 4 months Luke was nursing 3 times/night and taking those silly 45 minute naps, at 5 months he was nursing twice/night and took one long nap in the afternoon if I stood over his bed at the 45 minute mark ready to re-insert paci before he was all out of sorts and at 6 months he is taking 3 good naps & only getting up once a night.  See, it just takes time.  Here's what his rhythm looks like:

9pm-5am: Sleep
5am: Eat
5-8am: Sleep (often times sleeps from 6:30-7:30 with Mommy then when Carly wakes up I roll away & he continues sleeping)
Nurses at 8, 11, 3, 6 & 9
Naps from 10-11, 1:30-3 & 5-6
Generally eats a banana for either breakfast or lunch & a bowl of oatmeal around 8pm.

He's been pretty consistent with this schedule which helps so much for planning our day! Carly was so unpredictable until about 8 months so its been a nice change of pace. The other thing that is AMAZING is that 90% of the time when I lay him down he...guess what...goes right to sleep!! No cry it out which makes this mama's heart EXTREMELY pleased.

Luke is 18 pounds, 10 ounces & 27.2 inches long.  He wears 9 month clothing a few 12 month hand-me-downs.

I love this boy with all my heart and thank God every day when I'm snuggling him to sleep at night for giving me a son.  He's healthy & happy and such an added joy to our family.  I am just so thankful God has orchestrated our children in the way He has. :)

I just had to include this...what the photos looked like pre-edits! HA!