6 months

from 5 to 6 months

Oliver turned 6 months old on March 20 (which was also the first day of spring this year). Half of a year of being parents has taught us that having a baby is an incredible amount of work and joy! Oliver is continuing to babble, explore his environment, put things in his mouth, and roll around. He also started to sit up on his own right around his half birthday. Making him smile or laugh is still one of the best feelings!

He still loves his play mat and can now roll front to back as well as back to front. This means sometimes he rolls himself right off the mat.

Bath time is still a favorite. He babbles, splashes, and likes his rubber duck and toy monkey.

He enjoys being read to and trying to look at (and eat) books on his own.

Now that he's 6 months old, we've decided he should start contributing a bit more. We're nice though and offer coffee (not really [of course]) before putting him to work on the computer. 

We recently visited the Minnesota Zoo and the Como Park Conservatory and Zoo. Below is a photo of Oliver at the Minnesota Zoo. He especially liked the noises the exotic birds made.

In the last few weeks Oli has started to grab his feet a lot. He has also filled out quite a bit. At his 6-month appointment he weighed in at 17 lbs 3 oz, putting him in the 50th percentile! Happy half birthday Oliver!

Growth

October 21, 2011 and March 5, 2012 

November 8, 2011 and March 14, 2012

Madison

Oliver's second roadtrip was to visit my sister Shell and her family in Madison, Wisconsin. It was also Chris' first time in Madison. We enjoyed unseasonably warm weather, seeing some of the local sights, loads of good food, and spending family time together. Thanks for the visit Ayres-Wilhelms! We had a great time!

Wisconsin countryside on our drive to Madison

local cherry ale

Shell, Oli and Bodie at the Community Center for lunch

break for a bagel

Oli waking up from a nap in Bodie's crib

enjoying the warm weather on State Street

coffee and the capital

Mel and Iz

Oliver laughing at Izzy's balloon

Shell's drawing of our day on State Street

espresso at Jennifer Street Cafe

cheesy grits

Izzy playing dress up

Oli taking a nap on the way back to St Paul

A day in the life

What is life like with a baby? Funny you should ask. Here's a glimpse into a day (Feb 18 to be exact) in the life of a 5 month- old and his parents, complete with grainy phone pics. Chris was working this weekend but Oliver's routine is pretty much the same on the days I work too.

Oliver wakes up and nurses from around 6:30-7:30 (Chris leaves for work at 6:45).

Oliver and I get up and I change his diaper and put on new clothes.

Coffee and breakfast for me while Oli sits in his Bjorn chair.

Coffee (me) and play mat (him).

9:00 - 10:00 nap time. 

I check email and do some work while he naps.

Oliver wakes up and nurses from about 10-10:45 while I read.

happy post meal

working on sitting

I shower while Oliver sits and plays with some toys.

Diaper change.

We listen to music and dance in the kitchen and then I eat lunch.

12:15 We watch his Baby Signing Time video for about 10-15 min.

occupied while I'm in the shower

watching Baby Signing Time

12:45 second nap for Oli and I get some more work done.

Short nap and he gets up and nurses again.

Oliver practices talking. He's making lots of funny sounds these days.

2:30-3:00 We take a walk. Usually it would be too cold this time of year to walk outside but we've been having a very mild winter.

preparing for our walk

winter walk

3:00-3:45 Another diaper change. Oliver hangs out for awhile with the cats.

talking to Toby

3:45 Chris gets home from work and puts Oli down for his third nap.

5:00 - 5:30 Oliver wakes up and nurses again.

We all hang out in the kitchen while Chris cooks dinner.

Chris and I have dinner while Oli sits in his Bjorn chair with some toys.

Oli plays on his playmat which he's loving these days.

Chris and Oli goof off for awhile.

7:00 bath time

7:30-8:00 Oli nurses and goes to sleep. 

Chris and I catch up on work, watch TV, and go to bed. 

5 Months

from 4 to 5 months

Oliver turned five months old on February 20th; time seems to be flying. Sometimes we look at him and he seems bigger than the previous day. Our 5-month-old continues to be a happy baby, smiling and laughing a lot. He regularly rolls from front to back now, enjoys his play mat, and likes to practice "talking". 

Cousins

Oliver's cousins, Izzy and Bodie, and his Aunt Shell and Uncle Graham came to visit this weekend.

story time 

The kids really had a lot of fun playing together. Izzy got to be a pro at making Oliver laugh.


Oliver Laughing 03 from Chris Bock on Vimeo.