Dear William,

I can hardly believe that you’re seven months old today, let alone all changes you’ve made in the just the last week and certainly the past month!You are more social than ever and I just want to squeeze and bite you (in a good way) every time I lay eyes on you. You’ve been up to a lot lately:

Friends, Family, & People

• You notice when your dad and brother are not around and it’s evident you’re looking for them! I’ve even caught you uttering, “ge-ge” at Nathan before. Coincidence? Who knows.
• You love friends and are going to be a social creature I am sure. Whenever your pal John Paul is around you two will sit opposite each other and immediately you reach for him. So far your touches are gentle but I know you just want to pull and tug on his head/hair. It’s really sweet how you want to touch other babies and kids.
• You love your mama. When you’ve suddenly realized that I am not right where you left me, you’ll let out a big cry.
• Stranger anxiety has set in. If I’ve got you facing outward and all you see are others, it terrifies you to death and I have to lovingly reassure you that I am still here only you can’t see me.
• You respond to those recognized voices on the phone like Grammy & Grandpa. When you’re not trying to eat the phone you are usually listenting intently and responding with either talking or smiles.

Learning

• Not only have you started to babble tremendously, you sometimes actually make sense! You uttered your first word on October 22nd, “clap, clap” while clapping your hands together – open handed! Clapping is one of your favorite things to do.
• You’ve learned how to reach and grasp for things you really want to get your hands on. Lucky us.
• You’ve learned your name – both versions – Will and William. You’ll respond and turn your head to either.
• You’re eating like a champ. You’re really digging oatmeal and pears at the moment, as well as squash, sweet potatoes, sweet peas, bananas and applesauce. You’ve also had some beef on occassion and you seem to be okay with that too. There’s not a whole lot that we try that you don’t really like. Teething biscuits are another fave.
• You’ve learned how to entertain yourself quite well. In fact, you will be fine entertaining yourself when you wake up in the mornings and are in bed with us.
• Speaking of beds, you are fabulous in yours! You love to get into your crib when you’re all pooped and fussy. Then I just turn on your music on your little airplane mobile and you drift off to sleep ON YOUR OWN! I am so proud of you!

Physical

• The BIG news…..you’ve started your own version of crawling – the army scoot (Nov. 12, 2006). It definitely gets you places.
• You still love the standing position. We’ve put your learning table on it’s four legs so that you can stand all around it. You’ve started to show signs of pulling yourself up from a sitting position on the floor.
• I had to give you another haircut this month since you and your brother took pictures. That hair of yours is one of your strongest assets!
• We’re going to have to lower your crib really soon as you’ve started to prop yourself up leaning on the rails and biting on the top rail. Yeah, I’m not used to that.
• You love to move and dance and have things startle you, like stomping real hard. You enjoy Kindermusik quite a bit and are really getting more involved each class period!
• You’ve gotten sick for the first time this past month and you’re fighting it like a champ with antibiotics. It’s not too bad, just a lot of chest and nasal congestion. You also got your first flu shot which you were totally fine with! (it was big brother who wailed!)

Favorites
Foods:

• Still mama’s magic.
• Oatmeal, bananas, squash.

Places to Go:

• Kindermusik
• Not many other places…..you’re a bit of a homebody.

Things to Play [with]:

• CARS!! You are trying to play like a big boy with big boy toys!
• The fake fruits and veggies in the food basket that we always have out.
• With the old cordless phone mama gave you!
• The contents of the Tupperware cabinet.
• Lately, our Advent tree:

  

Happy 7 months my little Will-Pill!

Love,
Mama