6 months old...

My darling little Eli,

You are now 6 months old. Oh my! Where has that 6 months gone? It seems like only a few weeks ago that we brought you home from hospital, a tiny little thing so dependent on us for everything. But now you are growing more and more each day, learning new things all the time and amazing us with your cuteness every day.

The last month has brought so many new experiences into your life. You seem to have grown and developed so much since you were 5 months old.

Probably the biggest milestone you are so close to now is crawling. At 6 months! Oh my, do I have my work cut out for me now! You don't quite have the hang of moving your arms and legs yet (thank goodness!), but are up on all fours and starting to 'rock' a little. At first, you found you could get up on your toes, in this cute little pose that I think looks like some pilates move! Your cute little bottom stuck up in the air... then you found how to get from your toes to your knees. And you do this a lot now. I love to just watch you - you reach for your little toys, and I can just imagine you're wanting so much to get there, but just can't figure out how! I am so proud to see you get from your tummy to all-fours. How clever you are! I know it will only be a matter of a week or so now and you'll be getting around the house, so Daddy and I are looking into getting the stairs barricaded with a gate or maybe popping you in a nice big playpen.

You love to talk and your gorgeous little high-pitched squeals of delight and excitement can be heard all over the house (and probably the neighbours house too!). In the last week or so, you've started what actually sounds more like a word... you say "Ahh-b" and the 'b' bit you stick your tongue out like blowing a raspberry. So cute! Daddy caught it on video on his phone and we love to watch it over and over.

You are particularly vocal with your brother Jaidyn. You two get on so well. He loves to talk to you, read to you, tell you about his toys, watch movies with you (you look at the TV a little!), and especially blow raspberries on your belly, which you think is just the funniest thing! One of your favourite times of the day is when we go to pick up Jaidyn from school. When I say "let's go pick up Jai", I am sure you are knowing what I'm saying, or just that you know the name 'Jai' now. He gets the biggest smile and excited little kick from you when he gets in the car.

You also love it when Daddy gets home from work. Sometimes he is rather late, so you don't get to see him before you go to bed, but most nights you are still awake. Its so special for me to watch. You are often getting whingy come 6.30pm but when Daddy walks in the door, your face lights up. And when he picks you up, you are happy again. You often like to have a little chat to him too, telling him about our day no doubt. I know it makes Daddy feel very special too.

Your little giggle would have to be the most precious sound. You are now starting to really get the hang of peek-a-boo too, and you love to be the one who comes out of hiding! Mummy throws your little blankie over your head and says "Where's Eli?" and your little hands pull it down so you can see me - "There you are!"... you kick and flail your arms around and smile and sometimes laugh too. You are also very ticklish and giggle and giggle when we tickle your little tummy.

You are still sleeping for at least 30 minutes every 3-hour feeding cycle. I don't know if this is still normal at 6 months, but you still get sleepy and have a little nap. And I feel blessed. You probably have one or two 'good' 1-1.5 hour naps too, and at the moment I'm trying to get a little sleep in there too if I can - usually after lunch time. You sleep soundly all through the night. I usually have to get up and move you and give you back your dummy once or twice in the early morning as you are moving around so much now and often get yourself in weird and seemingly uncomfortable positions in bed, plus I like to put your sheet back over you.

You love your food. At the moment, you are having a morning bottle, then after your sleep you have a bowl of rice cereal mixed with fruit. Often you'll still want more so you'll have the rest of the fruit tin too. We haven't introduced anything for lunch yet, apart form the bottles which you still have every 3 hours or so, but sometimes you'll chew on a rusk stick. For dinner you have a plate of yummy home-cooked vegies, usually followed by a tin of fruit or custard. Your little belly sticks out so much after that. So cute! A fat little pookoo. You often eye off our food when we're eating and have at times tried to grab Daddy's beer too!

You are still a dummy boy. Although you're not obsessed with it, you do like to have it to calm you down, and when you go to sleep, even if you often spit it out when you're asleep. Your thumb creeps into your mouth sometimes too, but its more of a thing to chew on when you're happy. Your hand doesn't curl into a fist like most thumb-suckers, but is splayed with just your thumb in your mouth, chewing and sucking away. Nana is not impressed when she sees it though, and she says, "no grandson of mine is going to suck his thumb" in her funny Nana, not-serious voice.

Exciting news in our house this month. We have found out we're having another baby! You are going to be a big brother! Which is quite a strange thing to think, when you are just a baby yourself. You will be just over one year old when your baby sister or brother arrives. So you better promise to be a good boy for Mummy coz I might just go a little crazy!

You are definitely a huge part of this family and this household now. Its bizarre to think what life was like before you - a little quieter maybe, a few less grey hairs too no doubt... but we love you so much my darling and that love only grows deeper every day. I pray that God continues to bless this little family, and that His plans for you are great my little Elijah. Afterall, you do have quite a biblical name to live up to. But I don't doubt at all that you'll do great things for His Kingdom.

All my love, Mummy xxx