5 & 6 Months

Vince is growing like a weed and changing so much!  He's now 6.5 months old and learning new things overnight.  It seems like once babies reach six months, they become less infant-like.  That's definitely true for Mr. Vince!

Throughout his fifth month, he started baby food.  His first tastes were green beans, which he likes.  He's been through all of the veggies and fruits; he likes all of them except peas.  He literally gags and makes some pretty awful faces.  I remember his sister was the same way with peas.  Eventually she really learned to like them.  Nowadays, peas are one of Vera's favorite vegetables.

First taste of baby food.  We got a few sour faces.

Vince nearly refuses to lay on his back.  When you put him on his back, he immediately rolls over.  When he is on his belly, he vigorously kicks and "swims" on his abdomen.  It's pretty funny to watch.  When sitting in his bouncy seat or swing, sometimes he gets so excited that he flaps his arms and legs--super crazy baby!

So excited!

Recently, he's started to roll and scoot a little when he's down on the floor.  If there is something he wants, he finds a way to get to it.  It may take him a little while, but sooner or later he finds his way to it.  He knows how to use his arms and turn himself toward whatever he wants.  When he's on his belly, he really gets rocking, and sometimes he can get his knees under him for a few seconds.  He's going to be crawling sooner than I am ready!

During these weeks, Vince also made his debut in the ExerSaucer.  He loves it!  He's gotten really good at getting the whole thing rocking as he jumps.  Recently, he sat in the Jumparoo at my parents' house, and he really gets that thing bouncing too!

First time in the ExerSaucer.

He reaches and grabs anything he can.  He's started to pull our hair and grab my earrings.  He scratches and pinches while you're feeding him and as he's trying to fall asleep.  Speaking of, he's pretty easy to put to sleep.  If he's tired, oftentimes his eyes are closed literally seconds after you sit down to rock him.  I think he's almost ready to start going to bed awake and putting himself to sleep; although, I will never be ready to give up the rocking and snuggle time.

Overall, he is a very happy and friendly baby.  (It's hard to believe he is the same kid we had a few months ago!)  When you talk to him, he will always give you a big, toothless smile.  He has started to really jabber and squeal a lot.  He can also say mamama and dadada.  Often, when he wants attention, he whines like a little puppy until you give him his toys, feed him, or give him the attention he wants.

He must've had a rough day at Patty's because he fell asleep in his bouncy seat watching Vera run around.

Vince really loves his sister.  He's always looking for her and laughing at her.  When the house is quiet, we can tell that he is looking for action and noise.  She does a good job of being in his face and teasing him with toys.

Around the end of the year, he developed a diaper rash, low-grade fever, and snotty nose, which prompted us to believe he was teething.  Sure enough, about 2 weeks later, two little teeth popped through the skin on the bottom.  As of now, they're becoming more visible when he smiles.

He was feeling so lousy that he fell asleep while I was folding clothes right next to him.  Poor baby!

Around the same time the teething started, Vince also learned to sit up on his own.  He's still very wobbly, but does a pretty good job with some pillow propping.  He loves to sit up and play.  It gives him a better view of the action going on around him.  I'm afraid we'll be packing away the swing, bouncy seat and playmat really soon.  :(

Sweet boy!

We've had several snow days lately, and one day I walked up to Vince and said, "Yay Vince!" and he started to clap.  He's really getting too big too fast.

Overall, he's meeting a lot of his milestones sooner than his sister.  Patty told me that it's because he's the second child AND he's a boy.  Regardless, he keeps us on our toes and makes our hearts happy.