happy 1/2 year!

Dear Baby G,

This is five days overdue, and very late, but better now than never, right? You are 6 months old! I can’t believe how time flew. It seems like yesterday I was waiting anxiously for your arrival and here you are…6 months later, a big, strong, happy boy!

My sweet little man, I have so much to say about all this time we spent together. You have taught me so many things and have challenged me in so many ways. It hasn’t been easy sometimes, but together we are finding our way, our rhythm and I cherish every single moment we share. I’m trying very hard to be the best mama to you and do what feels right for you, for me, for our family. You are making me a better person.

My beautiful baby, this is you at 6 months old:

• You are 20 lbs. 7 oz. and 27 in. long. A big, big, boy! Your doctor said you are completely healthy and strong. Besides a little congestion and a case of mild fever, you haven’t been seriously sick. And I thank God for that.
• Out of your 6 months, you’ve been exclusively breastfed for 4 1/2. We had a very rough start but with a lot of perseverance and hope we succeeded. It’s a big accomplishment I feel proud of. However, since a couple of months ago you’re refusing to take a bottle, either with breast milk or formula. You just don’t want it. That means I haven’t been away from you for more than 2 1/2 hours at a time. I hope eventually you’ll take a bottle. It’ll make things a little easier for mama.
• You haven’t started solids yet. I was waiting until you were 6 months old. I’m going to wait one more week until we are in Lima with Nona, so she can give me some tips. We are planning to start with fresh, healthy food: a vegetable or fruit. I refuse to give you rice cereal as your first food. Why? After living with two picky eaters (yes, your daddy and big brother are really picky eaters!) I recognize the importance of starting healthy eating habits very young. I’ll try my best to keep you away from processed food. And yes, rice cereal is a processed food. 
• We have our little bedtime routine. I dim the lights, put on some Guns ‘n Roses baby music, change your diaper, put some lotion, put on your jammies on and sleeping bag and then I nurse and rock you to sleep. That’s one of my favorite parts of the day. (most of the time, when you don’t cry) I’d then put you down in your crib and you’d sleep for 4 hours until your next feeding. However lately, a week ago to be exact, you start crying the minute we put you down. The only thing that works is to put you in your bouncy chair. We don’t know what happened. We hope it’s just a phase and you’ll sleep in your crib soon again.
• You don’t sleep through the night yet. But that’s ok. You wake up 2 – 3 times a night, sometimes for a feeding, sometimes just for comfort. Some nights are easier than others, some nights I’m exhausted. I have faith you’ll sleep through the night when you are ready. You are getting big and I’m sure it’s coming. We haven’t tried any sleep training method yet and I wouldn’t like to try any, unless strictly necessary. A lot of people tell me to let you cry, but I just can’t. I think 10 minutes is the longest I can wait. It breaks my heart. Am I making a mistake? We’ll see.
• We co-sleep for part of the night and I enjoy it. I never thought I’d do that, but it’s easier with the night feedings. Putting a full bed in your room was the best thing I could have done. That means papa sleeps by himself for part of the night, but he understands. (He is secretly enjoying all the extra room in our king size bed!)
• Every morning you wake me up with a huge smile on your face. You start cooing and babbling. It’s so funny to hear you “talk”. You are the happiest boy in the mornings. That is the best part of co-sleeping, waking up to your beautiful smile.
• You rolled over tummy to back at around 18 weeks and back to tummy at 20 weeks. Since then you’ve done it a handful of times but no more. Are you being a little lazy? At around 16 weeks you were sitting with help and at around 21 weeks you started sitting by yourself.  You are still mastering it up. But you definitely like it. I think you love the new view.
• You hate tummy time. I try to put you in your tummy everyday, but you don’t like it. After a coupe of minutes you start crying screaming. Distracting you with toys just work for a couple more minutes, then you start screaming again or bury your face on the floor. Sometimes it worries me that you don’t spend enough time on your belly but I guess eventually you’ll accept it. And maybe enjoy it?
• So because of the above, you are not crawling yet. You bear weight on your legs though. When we hold you on our laps, you seem to want to move and take off. But buddy, you need to learn to crawl first. I know every baby is different and I have to let you do things on your on time frame. But sometimes I worry you are a little behind.
• You love, love your bouncy chair. That’s the only place you nap on. I tried putting you to nap in your crib but it wasn’t working. You are going to outgrow that chair very soon and I don’t know what we’ll do then. But I guess we’ll worry about it when the time comes. So far it works for your naps. Is this another mistake?
• You smile to everyone, specially the ladies. You are a little flirt! Everywhere we go everyone comments on what a happy baby you are. You’re a little shy in the beginning but then let the sweetest smile come out. 
• Oh! and of course everyone has something to say about your full head of hair! You have so much hair! Dark black hair which contrast with your white complexion. A month ago you had your first official haircut. You have everyone around your finger with that hair!
• You like when we sing to you. And if we add some silly dancing you just crack up. You love when your big brother starts doing his tae kwon do moves. You get hysterical. And we love to see you laugh that hard. Your squeals and screeches are so funny!
• A couple of days before turning 6 months old you gave us the scare of our lives. You had an episode of breath-holding spell (we didn’t know then) and passed out in my arms. My heart stopped in that moment. But somehow I managed to tell papa to call 911. It was such a quick reaction I didn’t even think about it. Everything happened in a matter of seconds. Before 911 arrived, which was in 3 minutes (literally, they were so fast!) you were fine, like nothing happened. We were all so scared, since you’ve never done that before. Nona says I had that when little and chances are that you have it because of me. Doctors say is a common thing among babies and young children, and that is not harmful or life threatening. I just hope with all my heart that it never, never happens again.
• You like story time at our local library and like your play group. I’m always trying to fill our days with fun activities for you (and me, too, like some shopping!). I have some music classes and swimming lessons in my list for you next year.

I have so much more to tell you my love. I still have to share your birth story and how we succeeded at breastfeeding. But mama has to start packing and get ready for our trip, your first trip! We are going to Lima, Peru to see your Nona and Nono and your Madrina and Tios, all the family and friends! They are so excited and counting the days to see you. It’s going to be your first Christmas in your mama’s home town. And I’m sure you are going to love it.

My sweet boy, I know God send you to complete our family and I feel extremely grateful for that. I pray to Him to keep you healthy and safe. I know He has angels looking after you, looking after all of us.

My loving boy, mama, papa and manito love you with all our hearts. You are our little sunshine, our little twinkle star, our little gift from God.

Te amo mi bebe precioso,

Mama

P.S. I wrote this in English so papa can understand. I speak to you in Spanish so I have a Spanish version of this letter.

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