Half a year!?!?

Half a year...6 months. We reached this milestone back on Feb 21st. Whoa. Time flies, yet at the same time, it seems like forever ago that Hudson was not apart of our lives.  The saying the the days are long but the weeks are short is so true. Part of me felt like I would never make it to 6 months, and a part of me feels like it will be a year in the blink of an eye.

Hudson is truly a joy in my life and I love getting to hang out with my little buddy each day.  It's ridiculous how the smallest, little things make me so happy, like his little cooing, laughing hysterically when we tickle him, the way he pounds his feet rhythmically on his crib mattress, the sounds/grunts he makes when nursing and is apparently bored, or his silly faces he makes when he gets new food. He really is my little buddy.  My BFF (in addition to Colby, of course).

We had his 6 months pediatrician appointment, and on top of 4 shots (which Hudson was a complete trooper for--cried until the nurse handed him to me where he burried his face in my shoulder for 2 seconds then looked up and smiled at me and the world was once again ok), we got his growth standings.

Weight: 17 lbs--just below 50th percentile
Height: 26 3/4"--just above 50th percentile
Head Circumference: 44.9 cm

Since his first check, his percentile has dropped consistently back toward the average.  Apparently this is normal, so I'm not concerned.  He still is eating like a champ.

Here's what our little man has been up to this past month:

• The biggest change is that he is eating solids consistently.  He eats veggies and fruits.  He was not a fan of peas or bananas, but loves everything else we have given him.  He has had peas, carrotts, sweet potatoes, green beans, squash, pears, peaches, bananas, apples and rice and oatmeal.  He eats solids after nursing in the morning, and at dinnertime before nursing.  I feel like he would eat 5 containers if I let him--he loves it so much!  We give him a fruit/veggie and grain each meal.  We started with premade baby food, and I have recently started making my own from fresh/frozen produce and like doing it that way.  He continues to nurse 5 times a day with one of them being a dream feed. 
• He has really discovered his feet, and can often be found with his feet in his mouth.  He also will use his feet as a second set of hands when laying under his toys and is trying to get one in his mouth. 
• He has continued to show a growing interest in toys and will hold onto them and play with them for extended periods of time.  If he drops one or it get away from him, he will reach out and try and retrieve it.
• While not completely sitting on his own yet, he easily sits with support.  I feel that the main reason he isn't sitting fully yet is he is too much of a busy body to sit still.  He wants to constantly be moving his head around, or reaching for toys, and he doesn't quite have enough balance to do these things and sit.  If I get him to focus on one thing, he does a good job at sitting unsupported.
• Hudson has pretty much resigned from rolling over.  I believe he is simply content on his back or stomach, knows he can roll, but has no need to do it, so doesn't much at all anymore.  
• He has continued like a champ with his sleeping.  He sleeps 12 hours straight at night. He still takes 3 naps a day, and they are getting to be consistently longer.  He also goes longer amounts of time between naps, 2.5-3 hrs, which puts his evening nap at 5:30 or 6.  I see that one dissolving in the near future which makes me sad.  It's a great nap for me to make dinner. 
• We had suspicion that Hudson was getting teeth, but he didn't have any sign of them by 6 months.
• He has started making the funniest scrunchy face where he wrinkles his nose.  I wish I could get a picture of it!  He also has picked up on somewhat of a fake laugh. Pretty cute.
• He is reaching for things more, including people.
• He gives what I believe are hugs.  He will actually bury his head in your shoulder for a second, which is a huge improvement for our anti-cuddle guy.
• He no longer has to be held facing out, but will let you carry him with his chest facing yours.  He does enjoy turning his head around to see where we are going if walking, though.
• He is in what I call the "discovery phase." He is noticing so much more around him.  My favorite discovery this month was when I took him out on a towel laid on the grass.  He scooted to the edge and cautiously ran his fingers in the grass.  I couldn't get him to look up at me no matter what I did.  He was so intrigued by that grass.

And, because I'm obsessed with this kid's cuteness, here is an overwhelmingly large amount of photos. :)

{I try and take his monthly picture with this bear, but Hudson was waaaayyy too distracted by the bear. }

good thing my kid loves (tolerates) the camera.