ben: 7 months

I'm having a hard time reconciling my feeling of time passing with what the calendar is telling me. It really is hard for me to believe that Ben is already into the second half of his first year. I'm constantly reminding myself to enjoy the moment, the here-and-now of the everyday, because I've learned in the last two years of parenting that those here-and-now moments change all too quickly. I may bemoan the fact that Ben won't nap for more than an hour most of the time right now, but I know that all I have to do is blink and those times will be behind me forever, and I'll be wishing them back again if only for a few more cuddles and kisses in the rocking chair. So here's what we've been noticing and loving and enjoying about our "lit'l, lit'l guy" (as his daddy likes to call him) in the last month. This is our Ben at 7 months:

• almost crawling (gets on hands and knees and rocks back and forth)
• gets around by rolling, reaching, scooting and squirming--the kid moves all the time!
• pulling up onto his knees using furniture and people for support
• two bottom teeth!
• almost always has his tongue sticking out (we're still not sure why)
• likes to make people laugh by shaking his head back and forth
• lunges from person to person to go "visiting"
• wearing 12 month clothes
• likes everybody, but loves his mommy
• finally likes riding in the car (This has actually been the case for a few months now, but I've been especially thankful for it this month, for some reason. We can now drive everywhere in peace!)
• now gets a "big boy" bath with no bath pad to lay or sit on
• likes playing with his brother