I have to catch myself now when answering the question, “how old is he?” because I’m still stuck at “6 months!” AHH! I feel like his 1st birthday party is just around the corner and I need to start planning. SO MUCH has changed in the last month, I feel like we have a real boy on our hands now, haha.
Dear Ryan,
Let me tell you, this photo shoot was DIFFICULT. All you wanted to do was crawl over the arm of the chair or topple out the front of it. I was constantly grabbing you to make sure you didn’t fall and the only way I could keep you occupied and in your seat was to give you a leaf! That means I got lots of cute pictures of you inspecting leaves and branches, but not too many of your adorable little face 
Oh goodness, where to start! I guess you just had a doctor appointment (because we missed your 6-month one) so let’s start with the stats… You now weight 18 pounds and 4 ounces. You used to be near the 95th percentile in weight, but you’ve dropped and now you’re around 60 – 70. BUT, you are one TALL little boy! You’re still in the 95th percentile there… 28 inches! That means you grew 4 inches in the last 3 months! GO BABY GO!
At 6 months you loved to sit. Now you’re a pro and you love to MOVE! I can just tell you want to run all over the place. Pretty soon, little man! About 2 weeks ago you started rocking back and forth on your knees. Then you slowly started moving around the room by constantly getting up on your knees, moving back to sitting, and falling on your knees again. You’re persistent! I think today is the first time I actually saw you CRAWL, like one arm and one leg in front of the other. You went about 2 feet before you decided that was enough and you cried for mama We have a LOT of babyproofing to do!!! You’re going to be just cruising all over before we know it.
It makes me want to cry a little, because you’re so big already. But at the same time, I’m so proud. You’re the cutest thing ever! You enjoy playing on the floor (a little one’s imagination!) and inspecting everything you can find – especially the items you know you’re not supposed to have 
We’re still breastfeeding! Even though you’re enjoying biting me while nursing, I haven’t given up. It’s just a phase, right?! You really don’t seem to have an interest in food yet. People tell us we could at least do rice cereal, but we don’t think you need it. “Food before you’re one is just for fun!” I gave you a banana chunk the other day for fun. You squished it around in your fingers, inspected it like you do everything, then put it to your mouth.
It didn’t go over very well, haha. We’ll try again. You also recently started trying to pull yourself up to stand. You LOVE this glass/mirror cabinet and have learned how to open the doors, watch yourself in the mirror, and almost get up! And thankfully, you haven’t fallen over (yet).
We’re also still co-sleeping. We’re having some issues right now, I think because you’re learning to crawl. That’s a huge developmental milestone and I think it just has your mind racing! That or you never want your mama to leave your side You’re still in size 3 diapers and you’re wearing size 12 month clothes! You still wear some 9-month stuff, depends on the brand. Or depends if your mama wants to think you’re not as big as you are and insists on stuffing you in a really cute, size 9mo outfit
I think in my 8-month post update you’ll be crawling and cruising, mister. I can’t wait for all the exciting stuff ahead! But also, I listened to a clip of you “talking” when you were 1.5 months old and I miss those days too! Just trying my best to love and enjoy every moment with you, Ryan, because you’re changing and growing so quickly!
Love you to the moon and back 9,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999 times <3
Mommy & Daddy
