Reed is 7 months!

Stats: We won't go back to the doctor until Reed's 9-month check up, but he's probably 17 lb. and 28 in. (give or take).

Milestones: This month, Reed has started sitting up on his own. He's still a little wobbly, but he can sit for a good while in his crib or playing on his blanket. When he topples (yes, it's happened a few times), he looks at you with panic for a minute to see if you'll react. The first few times, I did, and it led to a lot of tears. After that, if you don't freak out, he seems to shake it off pretty quickly.

Behavior: He's still such a happy, good-natured baby. He rarely gets upset and is a patient trooper when we're out and about. As long as he's fed and clean, he holds up really well.

Sleep: I think sleeping is Reed's favorite hobby. He still is going down for a cat nap around 6:30 or 7 and sleeps until morning, with the exception of the one last night bottle that he takes around 10 or 11 (right before we go to bed). His naps are less predictable, but he does take one in the morning, from about 8-10 a.m., and another in the afternoon at school.

Clothes: This boy is LONG! He's in all 6 month sizes now, and some 9 month pants for the length. Poor guy has a hard time keeping pants that are long enough.

Food: Reed might like to eat as much as he likes to sleep. He's tried so many new foods this month. In addition to his rice cereal, he has eaten green beans, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, white potatoes and bananas. He's still getting five bottles a day (one in the morning, three at school and one before bed) with a "dinner" of 1-2 ounces of food.

Side note - I've been making Reed's food and have been really surprised at how easy it is. I buy one or two extra servings of vegetables at the store, cook them when I cook our own vegetables and save Reed's portion or puree. Then, all I do is put the puree in an old school ice cube tray and freeze overnight. The cubes pop out easily and can be stored in a plastic bag in the freezer, ready to be defrosted quickly before dinner. It maybe takes me an extra 10 minutes, and we're saving a ton of money. Totally worth it!

Likes: Reed loves his O ball and his Sophie the Giraffe squeak toy. He's a big fan of playing on his train quilt, and he's starting to explore the world around him by scooting and rolling. He still really likes his bouncer, but he's getting a little big for the monkey bouncer.

The most fun has been watching Reed discover his puppy brother. Reed will watch Tex intently and try to reach out and pet him as he walks by. Tex doesn't seem quite as interested in Reed, but he is very patient and graciously receives the pets and sometimes overly enthusiastic baby affection.

Dislikes: At first, he wasn't a big fan of green beans... The texture wasn't anything like the rice cereal we'd been giving him for a few weeks, and the face he made when he tried them was priceless. At first, we thought he inherited his daddy's disdain for all vegetables, but he started to like them after a few attempts.

Favorite Moments: Reed's baby dedication. On Sunday, Nov. 24, Reed was dedicated at our church, Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. His friends, Brooklyn and Jackson, were dedicated at the same time, and Mrs. Julie read the scripture verses that we picked out for the babies. 

Reed and Jackson talking before church starts...

Erik and I chose Joshua 1:9 to pray over Reed's little life: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

 

We pray that Reed will some day understand the salvation that God so mercifully gives us through his son, Jesus. As his parents, we promise to teach him about the Lord and his Word. Our precious church members and staff also committed to helping us teach Reed about God. What an overwhelming outpouring of love!

Most Challenging: The most challenging thing this month, I think, has been watching our tiny baby become a "big" baby. He is growing so fast, and he's starting to accomplish milestones one right after the other. Reed is a great baby, and he'll be a precious boy, but it just seems to be going too fast.

Riding on the big kid cart at school. He looks so grown up!

Looking Forward To: We'll be traveling to Arkansas next week for Thanksgiving, and we always love seeing Grandma, Macy, Larry, Keith and Katherine. Plus, they live on a beautiful lake, and the views are amazing. We just love it there, and we can't wait to introduce Reed to Little Rock.