7 Months!

Where has time gone? Seven months already! Merek is as cute as ever. As I was writing things down to include in this post, I realized it was similar to his 6-month post. So just a few new things :)

Merek is constantly moving his hands--when he eats, when he is watching the kids play, when he is riding in the stroller--always his hands are moving. He still rubs his feet together a lot, especially when nursing or sitting in his high chair.

He loves the telephone! Whenever I get it to call someone he gets very excited. He looks at me expectantly while I'm talking, and if it's more than a few minutes he starts squawking because he wants to talk on the phone. He really like listening to Grandma talk to him over the phone. He gets a big grin on his face every time she says hello.

He lies down pretty well for his naps and nighttime. Sometimes he'll fuss a bit but it usually doesn't last long. He still isn't sleeping through the night--up two times most nights. During the day he tends to take two naps, one in the morning and one in the early afternoon. The morning one is about an hour long. The afternoon one can last two hours. For some reason, my babies are never good nappers.

Merek is really loud. He can scream higher than a bald eagle and when he squawks it is crazy-loud! I guess being the fifth child he has to be heard. Even when he is just "talking", it is loud. I know his hearing is fine so it must just be the "needing to be heard over everyone else" thing.

He is quite a trooper going to all the kids' ball games. People always comment on what a good baby he is. He'll hang out in the stroller or sit on my lap. One of the dads at M's games, loves to hold him. It's nice to see a man enjoy holding a baby so much. He always asks, "Can I hold your baby?" He is really sweet with Merek. His youngest is on M's team, so they haven't had a baby in the house for several years.

As far as food goes, Merek is still eating well. He can polish off a bowl of rice cereal or oatmeal, along with two Stage 2 containers in one sitting. He sits there with his mouth open like a baby bird, waiting for his next bite. If I'm too slow, he'll start to protest. Beans and pears are not his favorites, but he'll eat them if he is really hungry. Sometimes if a bit of food starts to drip down his chin, he'll bring his hand up to his face as if he is going to wipe it away or catch it. That is interesting to me. He can also feed himself Cheerios now. I LOVE watching him try to pick them up. He is working on his pincher skills--it really entertains me to watch him try to pick up the little O's. He is very determined.

He has been sitting up well for a few weeks. He'll still tumble over he if leans too far one way and sometimes falls back. We try to keep a pillow behind him so he doesn't bonk his head. It is nice to be able to put him down on a blanket with some toys to let him play. And know he isn't going anywhere--I know that won't last long!

Merek is wearing 12-18 months clothes now. He has a few 9-12 months items that still fit. After the box of size 3 diapers is finished I'm buying 4's next. The 3's are getting a little too small. He still fusses when I get him dressed, especially when I have to put his arms through the arm holes. He's been doing that for months. I'm surprised he hasn't grown out of it. He loves his baths and will sit and splash in the water for quite some time.

A few other notes: he loves to chew on the medicine bottle topper (the thing you squeeze to get the medicine in the dropper); he giggles for the "blue-orange-green" chant with the cars on his exersaucer (just like Lina did); he can put his pacifier in his mouth by himself now (yea!); he is really ticklish under his chin and laughs when I clean up under his chin; he always scratches the wall next to the dresser when I'm changing him (he must like the texture feel of the wall); he likes to turn his head up so he can see the lotion bottle and powder while I'm changing him (there is a picture of a baby on the powder bottle); he is fascinated with the vacuum, doesn't cry when I vacuum right next to him, and looks for it--twisting his body around to see it--when I put him in his highchair; and he GURGLES really loud when I change him.

Love this little guy!