Baby Tales // Seven Months

We are now officially in the second half of his first year of life... and it is mind-boggling to me. How did that teeny-tiny, fragile little thing turn into this chubby, roly poly little man?! Ever sturdier, ever bubblier, he is quickly becoming the little ray of sunshine in our home. He really is the jolliest little soul, and I'm so grateful that in the crazy day-to-day of life with four, this last baby of ours has just such an easy-going, sunny nature. He is a joy to have around, and views the world, with three older siblings, as a constant display of entertainment. There is always someone around to jabber away to, or be smothered in love by, or bundled by (name which sibling is responsible for which type of entertainment?!) and he takes it all in his stride.


I was realising the other day, that four children in, this is really the first time I feel I have been able to really completely enjoy this baby season... with Ava there was the constant uncertainty of approaching every milestone for the first time, with Heidi there was the anxiety over her recovery from Kawasaki Disease, Jonas himself faced some health issues when he began weaning and was consequently quite unsettled at this age and stage, and so I'm not taking any of this little period of pure enjoyment for granted. There will be bumps along the road, I am sure of it... but while there aren't I'm enjoying every second.

Elias is thoroughly enjoying solids... I stalled, due to the fact he was premature, and didn't even think about bringing food into the diet until he was over six months... and he has taken to it like a duck to water. Three meals a day, and he devours whatever you put in front of him... from porridge, to toast, to cheese sticks, to vegetable purees. He can't get enough. We had a good old giggle the other night at his first taste of yoghurt - as he gulped down every spoonful eagerly, he gave a little shiver (just out of the fridge! Oops) that made his whole body wiggle. The older children thought it was hilarious, and after a while, he cottoned on, and giggled his way through that shivery yoghurt too.

At seven months, he's not showing any sign of wanting to sit up any time soon. Content with lying on his tummy, and playing with whatever he can get his hands on, I'm not too worried... I'm expecting everything to be a little delayed, and Jonas (who was well over full term!) wasn't sitting til 7 and a half months anyway. I'm learning these boys just aren't in such a rush to do everything as my girls were. On the other hand, once they're up and about, there's no stopping them (Jonas is a whirlwind at the moment!) I think as well, with a big brother around who loves nothing more than to bundle him and clamber over him, sitting isn't such an easy option at the moment. Honestly, I need eyes in the back of my head!

The other day his first little tooth made an appearance. His bottom gum is well and truly swollen, and I can see a dash of white and feel a little point ready to poke through on the other side too, but we're still waiting for the second tooth to make an appearance - cue rosy cheeks, random temperatures and middle of the night wake ups. Teething is something I won't pretend is dreamy and lovely. I won't be sorry to see the back of it!

And then there are the nights, as I wrote the other day, they are still eventful, but they are manageable, and compared to a lot of babies, he's a dream sleeper... he's just been the trickiest of mine, so its all new territory! We have just moved him out of our room and into his own, so we're hoping that will make the nights run a little more smoothly.

So that's our little bundle of seven-month-old joy! I thank the Lord every day for keeping this little soul safe through those scary months. I honestly can't imagine life without him. He is a daily reminder of God's common grace and undeserved mercy to me. How differently everything could have turned out... And as his name reminds me every day...

"The Lord is God"

See you at 8 months!