Seven Months

Daniel Thomas is seven months old. He has the best comb over I've ever seen. He loves to be held on Mama's hip. He still thinks his big brother is the funniest person on the planet. He buries his face in your neck when he first wakes up or when he's tired. He likes to eat bone broth. That is all he likes to eat. He brings much joy wherever he goes.

JH holding Daniel's hand on a walk

Another month gone by. I know I will never remember the day to day details of Daniel's life years from now. That's why I keep this blog. And I'm content that this blog only contains details about my children's lives. Maybe one day I will have time to pour my heart out again. Maybe soon I can write about things other than babies. Maybe writing will become therapeutic for me again. But today is not that day. Seasons come and go.  And this season is pretty much filled to the brim with babies.  And I'm content with that :)

Daniel is pretty much sitting up on his own now. I usually place the boppy pillow around him just in case he tumbles (which he does quite often), but he can usually sit there for at least a few minutes at a time. He is rolling rolling rolling everywhere! We are having to be really careful about John Hudson leaving small toys on the floor because now Daniel can roll right over to them and put them directly in his mouth. This scares me to death.

Daniel has started eating food! We started him with beef bone broth, which he seems to like pretty well. He's also had egg yolk, avocado, beef and chicken liver, and banana. All of which (except banana) make him gag and sputter as if something is terribly awful. So, we're sticking to the broth for now and trying other things every few days or so. I made a lot of broth a few weeks ago and froze it into ice cube trays. Viola! Dinner.  Mommy milk is still his favorite food and he drinks a lot of it.

First reaction to bone broth

Sleep has been steady over the last month. Praise the Lord! He goes to bed around 8pm, wakes at 12:30ish, wakes at 6ish and is up for the day at 7:30ish. I am learning that Daniel needs to go to bed early. He could probably even go to bed earlier than 8, but that's just hard to do with our schedule and evening walks and outings. It seems like our nights are better when he goes to bed earlier. Naps have gotten more consistent as well. He usually takes a morning nap around 9:30 (1-2 hours), afternoon nap around 1 (1-2 hours), and evening nap around 5 (1ish hour).

Daniel definitely recognizes people he loves. He saw John Hudson on facetime last week (JH was visiting my parents) and immediately started squealing and smiling. He also gets excited when Michael comes home from work or when he sees me if I've been away. Those home comings are the best!

Daniel loves to babble. Ba-ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma-ma. He also started mimicking sounds he hears. One day, I noticed that every time I would clear my throat or cough, he would copy me. At first, I thought it was just coincidence, but soon realized that it was purposeful. I was able to get it on video! Hilarious!

Teeth! This month has presented itself with two new pearly whites for our Daniel boy. They're about halfway through now and have seemed to cause a little fussiness, but nothing too bad.

* JH is actually smiling in this pic...

God has reminded me a few times this month of the "scare" we had towards the end of my pregnancy with Daniel. One day around 6pm, I noticed I had not felt him move in quite a while. I couldn't tell if I actually hadn't felt him move or if I just couldn't remember when. We were out on a walk at the time so I immediately came home and drank a sugary drink and laid on the couch. Still nothing. I jiggled and jostled my belly. Nothing. I texted my midwife and she called immediately. Now I was beginning to get concerned. She gave me some tips of things to do. Nothing. Concern turned to panic. Trying to stay calm, but not doing a very good job, I agreed to have Debbie come over and check his heartbeat (one of the many perks of home births and midwifes...). Those were the longest 30 minutes of my life as we waited for her arrival. We were praying and begging God to have mercy on our sweet boy, but also realizing that this could be the story God was writing for us. We could be the ones to lose a child before he ever took a breath on earth. Our hearts were already breaking as we anticipated the worst, but desperately hoped for the best.

Debbie arrived. I met her with swollen eyes and shaky hands. We made awkward small talk as we walked to our bedroom. The silence was piercing. Except for the sound of my pounding heart, that is. I had no idea what I would hear when she put that doppler to my belly. Would I hear the precious, most lovely sound of a beating heart, or would I hear nothing. Deathly silence.

We all burst into tears when we heard that swish swish swish come through that doppler speaker. My body went limp as utter relief soared through my veins. God had been gracious. He had spared our precious son. We felt as if Daniel had been raised from the dead. Because in our hearts that's what we were preparing ourselves for--a tiny casket and a funeral. Oh praise the One who gives life!

It is good for me to reflect on this story--to remember that God has been so gracious in giving us Daniel Thomas. He is a gift and God has plans for him to fulfill. Yahweh did not have to bless us with this sweet little boy. He could have taken Daniel--and even then He would have still been good. Yet He chose to entrust Daniel into our care. We pray to be faithful stewards of this most precious gift.