Smith Family Weblog

With apologies for the sporadic posting, I offer a quick update on our sweet baby . . . In the last couple of days, Owen has started to say “Dada!” with increasing frequency and much jubilation.  Some say six month olds aren’t yet able to associate the syllables with the person, but if you could see Owen’s eyes follow his father around the room, you’d have to think he knows exactly what he’s saying, or demanding, as the case may be.

Another first: Owen waved yesterday, as he bid my friend Sarah goodbye. He was so startled by our reactions he may never do it again.

Owen hit the six-month mark a few days ago. He’s changed so much in the past month alone it’s nearly impossible to comprehend.

He’s still very mellow–calm and ready with a smile (and occasionally a laugh, if you’re willing to work for it)–similarities he shares with his father, and really with his eldest sister, too.

Owen most definitely prefers to be held, but instead of snuggling much now, he’ll reach to touch your face, and then bounce up and down as you hold him on your lap. It’s almost as though he’s struggling to move faster and farther–I keep reminding him that he’s a baby, and he needs to stay close to his mama right now. Nevertheless, I can definitely feel him pulling away, and before long we’ll be chasing after him (probably through a house that isn’t quite yet ready for a a baby on the run). This reality is surprisingly sad for me, but I am trying to focus instead on the fun to come.

Tummy time results in a bit of rolling, though not much. It’s rare to see Owen go from his back to his front, perhaps because he’s perfectly happy lying on the floor, chewing on his toes. He babbles quite frequently, forming syllables that together sound hilariously close to “Ava.” He’s still saying “mama,” even sometimes when I’m actively coaching him to do so. He adores singing, his sisters, and grandpas–even if, as Doug notes, that’s only because their presence means a grandma must be close by. Like a child of any age, Owen knows grandmas are really where it’s at.

We just had his sixth-month check-up on Friday, and our doctor noted that his length is now around the 95th percentile. His weight isn’t changing rapidly; he’s just under 18 pounds, putting him in the 50th percentile there. His measurements are very much like Ava’s at this age.

Our doctor was surprised he was still waking a couple of times each night, at least until I admitted he’s continued to sleep in our room in that tiny little bed next to us. She reminded me that I’m programmed to wake when he does, and the minute Owen hears me stir, he’ll expect some attention.  As much as I hate to have him so far away from me, I want to follow her advice. I will say, my sleep is often interrupted for many reasons, and I think it’s starting to wear on me a bit. Of course, the night following a round of vaccinations is a bit out of the ordinary, and so Bryan and I took turns holding him through fitful and fussy sleep Friday night.

I’m happy to note, though, Owen completed his first full night in his room last night, waking only once to eat at 3 am, and then chirping happily when he was up for good at 7:45 this morning. I wasn’t too lonely in the meantime—both Ava and Olivia found their way between Bryan and me, into what is increasingly becoming too small a bed.

We introduced solid foods a couple of weeks ago, and Owen has had sweet potatoes, squash, apples, and avocados; the latter was a clear favorite until we introduced bananas on a whim last night. I spent this afternoon stocking the freezer with purees, and green beans are next on the docket.

I return to work full-time tomorrow, following what can only be described as an incredibly generous maternity leave. I’ve worked from home each afternoon since mid-September, and while this plan was quite perfect when Owen was four months old, he now no longer snoozes on my shoulder for three hours as I type on my laptop. Instead, he’s much more interested in interaction, and as such should thoroughly enjoy his additional time at Diane’s. I will spend an hour with him midday, just as I did with Olivia. Overall, I’m looking forward to the return to a regular schedule at work, but I will most definitely miss my time with Owen in the afternoon. I’ve instructed him to sleep all day so I can keep him up late into the evening. He seems compliant.

The last six months have been truly transformative not only for Owen, but for each of us.

For that, I am grateful.

Just a few days shy of six months old, and now sporting two bottom teeth!