6 & 7 months

Luca has a very happy disposition. He is constantly smiling and is very laid-back. He is such a joy. Since he is our first we don't have another baby to compare him to, but we have been told that he is a very good baby. I mean, I know he is but I wasn't sure if all babies were this laid-back and happy all the time. He rarely cries, and if he does it's because he's tired. He wasn't a gassy baby either, so he didn't cry much from something not sitting right in his belly. I am thankful his father's personality has rubbed off on him (and me). I know all parents say that their baby is the best, but seriously. Luca is the best. He's the sweetest, most loving boy. I am so incredibly grateful he is ours!

6 month stats:

Length- 26.25" (31%ile)
Weight- 17 lb 6 oz (46%ile)
Head Circumference- 46 cm (98%ile)

- We celebrated Luca's first Christmas. It was a lot of fun celebrating with him. It felt a bit surreal, being a parent on Christmas. I still don't believe that that is possible. He was happy as a clam but oblivious as to why. Sarah made the trip from Nashville because she got TWO WEEKS off. We had the best time hanging out with her. Our Christmas day was me, Lee, Luca, Sarah, and Josh. Christmas night my cousins came over with their four kids and we hung out and ate dessert. And Lee put Kristi to work building the exersaucer. My mom and Heather came back from CT the day after Christmas and we had another celebration with them when they got here. We missed seeing both of our families during the holiday, but we had fun celebrating in a new way this year.

- We started giving Luca cereal. He isn't a fan. Sometimes he will willingly eat a few bites but for the most part he is not interested in it. In fact, the only way we can get him to eat it is by tricking him to open his mouth. We do this by making him laugh, smile, or drink water. 

- He loves drinking water. LOVES it. And if he sees my water bottle, or Lee's water cup he will scream and reach out for it because he needs some NOW. 

- He loves being read to/books in general. He will sit and play with them, look at them, etc. all day long.

- He likes  having the option to stand, with help of course.

- At 6 months he started sitting on his own, briefly, but on his own nonetheless.

- He hates to wear socks/have his feet covered. The socks are usually off and in his mouth minutes after they are put on his feet. If you put a blanket over his feet as he is sleeping in your arms, he will kick it off. 

- He loves to play peek a boo. This is his favorite game to play and the best way to get him to smile at 6 months. 

- He sticks out tongue and loves to play with it.

- He started recognizing his bottle and what it meant. Which also means that he started screaming when he sees it because he is ready to eat.

- He no longer needs to be sung to sleep. As much as my throat appreciates it, I miss this stage and those sweet moments we spent together. 

- By the end of his 7th month he started sitting for an extended period of time completely on his own.

- He loves being on his tummy. He can't lift himself up yet, but he moves like he's crawling. He just isn't going anywhere.

- He had croup during his 7th month. That was brutal. I am pretty sure there is nothing worse than seeing your child suffer- especially when it is breathing related.

- I have been making Luca's food. He seems interested sometimes, but for the most part he is not into it. I have made sweet potato, peas, carrots, green beans, avocado,  and banana. He doesn't love anything so far. 

- I discovered a birth mark above his left knee. It is a very faint, light brown color. I am not sure if I am really unobservant or if it became more prevalent this month.

- Luca experienced his first snow! He liked to watch it fall out the window.

And now for the best part- pictures of our fun, happy boy. (There are a lot- brace yourself.)

Christmas: 

Baking, singing, and dancing with Auntie.

Christmas Eve, after church photo shoot.

Luca's first stocking (made by his grandma Goodin!) on Christmas morning.

First time in his exersaucer/poopersaucer on Christmas night- thanks to Kristi :) 

6 months:

Twins!

Learning about the music industry with Auntie.

First time eating cereal- this is what he did for about 4 months, every time he ate it. 

A little piece of my Nana in Luca's nursery.

It is exhausting being a cute baby- with all the cuddles and baby giggles.

7 months:

Those eyes- gets me every time. 

There is nothing sweeter in the world than seeing your husband love on your baby.

Just hanging out- one sock on, one sock off.

Hanging out in the jungle.

First time in the stroller like a big boy- no more car seat!

Visiting with my Aunt Cheryl and Aunt Gail.

The above series kills me- he was flirting with my cousin Melanie, hard core. 

First snow storm!

First Valentine's Day and sick with croup.

Early Saturday morning trip to the doctor, thanks to the croup.

Those cheeks!

This is what happens when Dad is in charge!

We have a sitter!

And I will leave you with that. 

He has brought us such joy- he is the greatest blessing we could possibly receive. 

worst.blogger.ever.

I am probably the worst blogger in the history of bloggers. I think about blogging daily. But then my day happens and it's 8 pm and I am ready for bed. Here's the thing. Luca is seriously so much fun that when he's awake I sit on the floor and play with him. All day long. And when he's napping? I work for my mom's business, and I write blog posts for her. And when Luca is in bed at night? I always choose to spend time with Lee, and I never even pick up my computer. In fact, I love to read other people's blogs but I am so behind on those too.

I love my life. I love being home with Luca, and I am so incredibly thankful that I am able to do it. And I really like blogging, mostly because I want to document what's happening so that I don't forget it. Not because I think my life is so amazing that other people are dying to hear about it. I want to be able to look back and reread things that happened and relive those moments all over again. So I am going to do my best to get better at this.

Here is a recent Luca picture to hold you over (Sarah, H, and Amy) until I get to post the monthly updates (I am like 4 months behind, but I will post them...slowly but surely).

Ok, I posted more than one. How could I not? Do you see those cheeks?

five months

This was a big month for our Luca Loo! Here is what happened:

- We celebrated his first Thanksgiving. My family came from CT and Nashville. It was wonderful all being together, of course. 

- We moved- which means Luca now has his own room. I won't lie to you and tell you that I was ok with that. I sobbed like a baby the first night he slept in his own room. I begged Lee to let him sleep in our room for just one more night. Lee told me firmly, but gently, that that wasn't going to happen. And then he hugged me until I stopped crying. I know it's what's best for us and for him (Luca) but that didn't make it any easier. 

- When eating or relaxing, Luca will sit and cross his feet, he is so proper. It's the cutest thing to see!

- He started really reaching and grabbing for things, on purpose, this month.

- He loooves sucking on his toes. It's his new favorite activity.

- He started to scream, just randomly while playing or laying, he will just let out a really really loud screech. 

- He started laughing hard, a genuine belly laugh. This is, of course, my favorite.

- He is kicking harder too. He especially thinks it's fun to kick in the bath tub.  

- His favorite daily activity has been to lay on his new letter tiles moving his legs like he's running and talking/screaming at the same time. 

- He scrunches his nose up before he smiles, just like my Nana did.  

- He got his first cold, which was awful to watch. I HATE when he is sick. :( 

- You may have noticed in most of Luca's pictures, especially those from his first few months, that his head is always facing in the same direction/in the same position. We noticed it when he was around 2 months old, and we talked to both our pediatrician and chiropractors about it. Our chiropractors are wonderful and have been adjusting Luca since he was 3 days old. They have been working on it, and his pediatrician has been monitoring it as well. He is doing much better and it seems to be almost fully corrected. I will post a separate post on his chiropractic care soon- it is pretty amazing what they do and how it works. 


Here are some pictures of our boy:

Poor Luca trying to sleep with his first cold :( 

Scrunching his nose like his great Nana (my Nana) did.

Uncle Josh graduated this month too! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sitting in my new high chair for the first time! 

Crossing his feet!

Determined to suck on my toes while my mama packs.

He thinks his Uncle Josh is the coolest.

And his daddy? His absolute favorite.

Where does the time go??

that moment.

Luca is now six and a half months old. It is crazy how fast time is flying by. It feels like just yesterday we were at the hospital welcoming him into our family. That moment, when he made his entrance into the world, that moment was the best moment in my entire life. That moment, when I first laid eyes on my precious boy for the very first time still (almost daily) replays in my mind, and each time it does my eyes fill with tears and I am almost certain my heart will burst.

You see, that moment is one that no one can prepare you for. As much as you love someone else's kids, it will never be the same as the love you feel for your own child. That love is something that you can't comprehend until it happens to you. People told me that, especially when I worried (as I am sure many moms-to-be worry), "What if I don't love him enough?" They told me that is probably the most ridiculous thing to worry about because that love is inevitable. Even after hearing that though, I still didn't grasp the concept. Because the truth is you can't imagine or understand or prepare for that love. Until of course, that moment.

Labor was grueling. Hands down, the hardest, most painful thing I have ever had to do. While laboring I informed Lee, multiple times, that we were NEVER doing this ever again. I was in so much pain, there was no way I would put my body through this a second time. I shudder, even now thinking back to that pain. But what made that pain worth it? That moment.

The one where I felt like I had nothing left to give. Yet somehow I managed to gather up all my strength and courage and push one last time. The one where I was sweating and exhausted and I looked down and saw my precious baby boy for the very first time. He was perfect. He was crying, and the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. That moment where I got to talk to him and see his face at the same time. That moment where my family of two, became a family of three. That moment when my life changed forever. And my heart grew 50 times bigger only so that it had enough room to house all of my love for this precious little life.

That moment was unreal. It changes you. That moment is by far, my favorite. One that I would have endured anything for. That moment puts a smile on my face every single time I remember back to it. And every time I remember it, my heart is flooded with emotion.

Now, having experienced it myself, when I know someone is pregnant and expecting their first child I am over the moon for them. Why? Because I know that they get to experience that moment. And my heart is filled with joy knowing how much richer their life is going to become after they have that moment with their precious baby like we did with our love, Luca.

I am so grateful for that moment. Because that moment is what life is all about.