Mattox's 7th Month

{Taken Saturday, October 3, 2015}

{Taken Tuesday, September 8, 2015}

{Taken Wednesday, September 16, 2015}

{Taken Tuesday, September 22, 2015}

{Taken Tuesday, September 29, 2015}

Looking at your pictures from this month, I think I learned my lesson the hard way.  I dressed you like a little man on too many occasions, and you just seem so big now!  *Sniff*  You are just growing up too fast.  You may just have to go back to wearing more baby style clothes like snuggly little sleepers which you look so cute in.  We did have to buy you some new ones since you have grown so much.  You have continued to make so many changes and developmental accomplishments this month and are still just the sweetest little guy.  We love you bunches and bunches! 

Size:  You finally went to the doctor for your six month check up on September 21st.  You had a rough week the previous week with teething and getting your two bottom teeth in and had not wanted to eat as well.  That is about the only time you haven't finished your bottles.  You would just chew the nibble and not suck, and I also feel you did this while nursing too.  So I wasn't surprised at this checkup when you had dropped down a little in weight percentile.  You weighed 16 lbs. 8.5 oz. (22nd percentile) and were 27 inches long (49th percentile).  You started back eating well the next week and have been doing well since then so I am confident you are moving up again in your weight category.   You have been wearing size 3 diapers and mostly 6 to 9 month clothes and some 9 to 12 months sizes.  

Developmental Accomplishments:  You are still very happy and give us lots of big baby grins and giggles.  You have been sitting up by yourself for the past month and getting really strong and stable.  You can also stand with little support for several seconds and have very strong legs.  I do worry a little that you may turn out to be "lazy" like big brother Brody and not want to crawl or walk for several more months, but you seem to like being on your belly more than Brody did so I am hopeful you will be crawling by Christmas or even Thanksgiving.  You love your exersaucer and playing on the floor with your big brothers more now too.  I just love when Brody wants to play with you, and you get the biggest smile on your face when you watch him and will just giggle at both of your brothers even when they are across the room doing some of their silly antics.  You still have just the two bottom teeth, but I swear I could feel those top teeth yesterday with my finger.  One developmental accomplishment that I think is starting pretty early is your increased separation anxiety.  For the last few days, you start fussing within moments of me leaving the room.  It is making it really hard for me to get things done during the day when you "need" me to be right there in the room with you all the time.  I hate to hear your sad little cries though.  

Sleeping:  You have still been sleeping through the night well even with our traveling this month and staying in a hotel.  You usually fall asleep by 9:00 p.m. most nights after a final feeding.  I still refuse to move you out of the bassinet in our room and am more thankful than ever that it is a larger than average bassinet that can accommodate older babies.  Of course, you are getting a little long for it and often put you feet up over the side.  

Eating:  You have still been doing well eating, and we are still chugging away at breast feeding which I am thankful for.  You have moved up in taking between 5 and 6 oz. at each feeding.  You usually get a 5 oz. bottle of breast milk in the morning, and a 6 oz. bottle of formula with cereal in the afternoon with breast feedings in between.  You really loving eating solids and have really been doing well with every food you have tried.  We have been trying some thicker purees and this week you have tried some chunkier food in preparation for beginning finger foods.  You have now tried avocados, peas, squash, apples, pears, bananas, sweet potatoes, peaches, and zucchini.  You have been getting more mixed flavors now too.  I have fed you diced bananas with some pear puree for breakfast.  Zucchini was a little too watery by itself so I tried mixing a frozen zucchini puree with some acorn squash puree, and you seemed to like it.  I also mix some rice and oatmeal cereal with some of the purees.  We are starting to try to feed you three meals a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  

Nicknames:  Mattox Pattox (Mommy's nicknames for your brothers are Evan Pevin and Brody Pody so yours goes with theirs); Matt Matt; Matt Patt; Matty Patty.  Also, we call you "Squealie Pig" because you love to shriek and squeal really loud, sometimes happily and sometimes when you want to get our attention.  I love my little squealie pig!  

You're a thinker! 

You think you are so big sitting up by yourself.  Some of your faces make me laugh like the one in the bottom right picture where you look like something stinks.  Haha! 

Looking so long when you are all stretched out in your crib.  And of course, who wouldn't love that little monkey pirate booty!

Those wide eyes always make you look surprised or startled!

His golf themed outfit called for a golf ball prop. 

Big brothers love snuggling on Mommy's bed.  I don't know why your little sleeper was unbuttoned except from a recent diaper change or needing an outfit change. 

Ugh, you just look way too big!

Cuteness playing on the big bed in our hotel room. 

Oh, overalls!  I had to dress you in these just like your big brothers. 

My three sweet boys.  I actually think I found these Old Navy overalls at a children's consignment shop in Charlotte.  I found some great baby clothes really cheap there.  

You make the silliest faces these days.  Ever since you got those bottom teeth, you like sticking your tongue out a lot and do it all the time.  

Big brother trying to sneak in for some cuddles. You put your little arm around his neck so sweetly. 

Ugh, you look like a little man here!  Why do I keep torturing myself?  My beautiful handsome little man. 

Of course, I do like comparison pictures like these. 

Sitting up so proudly because you are 7 months old!