Better view up here...

Andrew has been practicing standing up without holding onto anything all day. He gets quite the proud smile once he stands up and has been experimenting with lifting various toys with him. Several times he's looked like he really wants to walk once standing, but hasn't quite managed it all the way yet. A few steps have been seen here or there, but nothing we can officially call walking yet. Maybe tomorrow...

Clapping

Andrew did some clapping today. At least, baby-style clapping where he just bashing his hands into each other. He's also getting much more balance and sometimes cruises along furniture while barely touching it. Last week he took a couple of steps to his Aunt Amanda but seems hesitant to really break out fully on his own.

Two teeth

Andrew popped out two teeth last week after gnawing and drooling everything in sight. All considering, he remained quite happy, but now we need to watch out when he tries to bite. Luckily many times he's just trying to give us a wet, open-mouthed kiss.

What he's like at seven months

Andrew turns seven months in a few days and is getting around really well now. He crawls everywhere (living room, under the dining room table, into the bathroom, kitchen) and pulls up to standing whenever given the chance. His favorite is pulling up on the couch, but he'll also pull up on the coffee table, dining room chairs, Sam's toy car, kitchen drawers, the Rody bouncy horse, the dishwasher, his brother...anything he can hold onto. He also just started saying "Guh guh guh" which Sam loves to repeat back to him. He's a smiley, happy baby though stranger anxiety is starting to set in slowly. So far he's "eaten" rice cereal, oatmeal and potato. I'm not sure if he really eats them or just swishes them around and spits them out.

Happy baby!

Andrew is such a happy camper - just look at this kids million dollar toothless grin!

6 month stats

Andrew just had his 6 month check-up and is doing just fine. Here are his stats:
weight - 16 lb 10 oz, 35%
height - 26 in, 35%
head circumference - 42.5 cm, 25%

Weekend of Firsts

This past weekend had a number of firsts for Andrew. He is just growing so quickly and he's only 6 months old!

1. First time pulling up to stand on his own.
2. First time crawling across a grassy field.
3. First bath with his brother.
4. First time sitting in a high chair
5. First time seeing his dad play grass ultimate. (I just hope I can still play when he gets old enough!)

We'll post pictures soon.

Dave

New joys

We've been a bit concerned that Andrew's getting a few more knocks to the head and sore knees from learning to crawl in a house with hardwood floor. Sam got to get through the crawling stage while we were at a carpeted rental and Andrew is quickly able to move off our 6 foot square rug. However, today I noticed that he has a new joy available to him that his brother didn't - drooling on the hardwood floor and then finger painting with the drool. Let me tell you, he found it entirely engrossing for many minutes.

Sitting up

A week after he started crawling, Andrew is sitting up on his own. He can get into a sitting position and out of it without assistance and only sometimes falls over. This means he's now fully free-roaming! I am writing this as I work at my desk in the kitchen and he has been crawling around the floor in the living room visiting with his toys and now he has crawled over to me in the kitchen to visit. We're back to gating the stairs again and keeping a close eye on everything on the floor!

Officially crawling

Andrew started officially crawling last Saturday, April 18th. While he can alternate his knees to move himself forward, he mostly likes to perch up on hands and toes and lie on his side and scoot around. He now explores all over the living room and targets any of Sam's toys left on the floor. It's provided new inspiration to his brother for cleaning up.

Like stealthy tumbleweed

Sam and I are eating lunch at our dining room table and Andrew is playing on the floor. He's getting better and better at rolling as a means of locomotion and I looked over and he was rolling from his car seat to the blanket and then the table like a piece of tumbleweed blowing by. I have to keep a careful eye out on what's lying around now!

Fast progression

Andrew is going to be fully crawling any day now. Over the past weekend he started to get up on his hands and knees and just this morning, he was doing the Brownian motion thing all over the living room. It is just a matter of time before he is fully directional crawling!

Brothers!

Hello, tongue

Andrew has discovered he can stick out his tongue and he can be seen practicing this several times a day. Good thing he's still at that age where it's just cute.

Phlbbt

Andrew's favorite new noise is blowing raspberries. It's adorable to see him playing in his exersaucer or kicking in his chair and going "phlbbt" with little bubbles coming out of his mouth. It's just one of those things you can do as a baby that's cute that you can't do later in life. :)

Smiley happy baby

I don't know if I've written enough about what a smiley, happy baby Andrew is. He's just a sweetheart and cheery and good-natured. So often he just looks up at you wide-eyed and then breaks out into a big grin with dimples. It just melts your heart.

4 month stats

Andrew's almost 5 months, so it's time to post those four month numbers:
14 lb 11 oz, 50% for weight
25.5 in, 70% for height
41.5 cm, 30% for head circumference

Mobility

Andrew is now a pro at rolling over on all sides and can scoot himself across the floor about 3 feet at a time. He doesn't move terribly fast, but is rather good at getting off the blankets I put him on. He's going to learn about hardwood floors at an early age...

Creation

Last night I was struck again by how amazing procreation is. I held in my arms this little 15-lb baby that was formed in my body and has grown during the last four months with his only sustenance being from my milk. I remember holding Sam and thinking about how each cell in his body was made from my body, essentially. Quite incredible.

The Other White Meat

Andrew has become quite the toe sucker. Sam took a passing interest in his feet, but at least at each diaper changing and many times in between, Andrew will grab his foot and just suck on it. I haven't counted how many toes he can fit in his mouth yet, but I'm guessing about four. Quite a big "feet" for such a little guy. :)