Chaos

Declan is six months old! From the moment we had him, we've been hearing about how this is the best stage of babyhood. And now I can really see why. For the first time, Declan is smiling at me to try and get my attention, and he's more free with laughter and fun. I think that now that he can reach for toys and roll toward something he wants, he's so much more content.

Yesterday, my friend Becky came over and had such a good time with Declan on the piano. I posted the picture above. Declan was kicking and pounding that piano just like Jerry Lee Lewis. It was amazing, especially because he got his six month shots yesterday. The other times, he was just lethargic and fussy. Yesterday, it was like nothing had happened. And I'd blame it on his bigfatbaby status, but, sadly, Declan is no longer a bigfatbaby. A moment of silence please.

Declan has officially changed his status from bigfatbaby to Dex the Tank. Declan's weight is now only in the 75th percentile, 19 pounds, but his height is in the 97th, 28.5 inches. Nearly everyone who sees him, including his doctor, notes how sturdy he is. He's like that kid from junior high who's a rolly polly and then goes out for football. He's my little butterfly. And he's about to start flying around like one too. This kid is just one connecting moment away from bounding around this house. He loves to set his sights on a toy and wiggle worm his way over to it. There's an immense sense of pride in me as I watch him take that toy and stick it in his mouth for some well deserved chewing.

He's also started shaking things up and down. I've taken to singing "shake it, shake it, shake it like a polaroid picture, hey ya" when he does this. I think I'm funny.