6 Months Old!

It's hard to believe that Ryan has been in our lives for over 1/2 a year! It seems like just yesterday that this new little person entered our lives and changed us forever. I look back at these past 6 months and it's amazing how quickly he has grown and changed. In six months, he has gone from not being able to hold his head up and focus, to now sitting on his own and recognizing familiar faces. Then there were the nights of Ryan waking up every 45 minutes and holding him all night, now to nights of sleeping in his own room all night. I now even get some nights of uninterupted sleep!

I have also found myself to more comfortable as my role as mom. I'm no longer overwhelmed going out alone with him. I know that he has a favorite blanket that will help him get to sleep. I know what toys will stop the tears and bring on the smiles. I know the signs when he starts to get sleepy and needs a nap. 6 months ago...I didn't know a single thing!

I'm excited for the next 6 months and what new adventures it brings! I'm sure it will be a wonderful ride!

Here is Ryan's 6 month photo-taken on the night we got home from Montana. My cute little boy still smiling after spending hours on end in the car that day!

He had his 6 month check-up the other day. Stats are:

Weight: 16 lbs, 12 oz (almost exactly 10 lbs gained from birth!)-36th percentile

Height: 26 3/4 inches long-62nd percentile

Head: 16 7/8 inches long-17th percentile

He had 5 vaccinations at the appt. 1 oral and 3 shots. When the nurse gave him his first shot, he didn't even cry! Such a tough guy! But then when the 2nd & 3rd came along...he was done! But only cried for a couple seconds after and then was his happy self again! Love this little boy!

Road Trip to Montana

Ever since I found out that my best friend was pregnant and due at the beginning of May, we had been planning our trip to drive out to Montana to meet her new bundle of joy. We chose Memorial Day weekend to take advantage of the holiday and stay an extra day. We've done this trip twice before...but never with a 6 month old! It wasn't as bad as I expected, but it still took longer than before.

We left bright and early Friday morning and hit the road (after a Starbucks run, of course!) Ryan fell asleep even before we hit Issaquah-Hobart road on Hwy 18. We stopped in Ellensburg to let Casey stretch her legs at our favorite dog run and to feed Ryan. Afterwards, it would be my turn to drive. After our stop, we hit the road again. However, Ryan did not fall asleep as anticipated and screamed the whole way until Moses Lake. Time to switch drivers...and I ended up sitting in the back with Ryan for the remainder of the trip. Ralph was a trooper and drove a total of 10 hours! Ryan finally settled down, but I feel so bad for him having to be strapped in to the car seat for so long. Poor little dude!

During the drive

We finally arrived in Helena and met little Colby for the first time! It was so amazing to see our two babies finally together! Ryan immediately took to Colby and reached out his hand to "pet" him. We had to remind Ryan to be gentle with little Colby! Ryan even started perfecting sitting up while on our trip! Can't believe how grown up he is getting!

Then it was time to head home on Tuesday (Ryan's 6 month birthday!). He pretty much slept the whole way through Montana which allowed me to drive to Missoula and then sit in the front with Ralph until the Idaho/Washington border. But, then it was back into the back seat with Ryan for the rest of the trip. He just needed some entertainment which mommy gave him by singing silly songs!

We loved spending time with our friends and was so wonderfully getting to meet Colby!