then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is six months old

Dear Littlest Russell,

At Six Months Old You:

• Love to jump and dance in your exersaucer, actually you love to jump anywhere and everywhere. 

• Have gone swimming a couple of times and had a blast!

• Love it when I clap my hands. 

• Are eating solids about once a day. You love prunes, apple sauce, spinach, bananas, and pickles. You are not a fan of Peas, Carrots (cooked but love to chew on sticks), Sweet potato, or Yams. We haven't given up on those foods yet though. 

• Drink water from a sippy cup

• We have started a new program called Mother Goose. It's like baby story time at the library but it's longer and a couple of our friends are there too which is super fun. 

• Are sitting unsupported. You like to play with your toys like a big boy now. 

• Have found your toes but you get frustrated because they don't reach your mouth. 

• Still won't take a pacifier. You love to suck on your thumbs and fingers. Particularly your middle finger and ring finger at the same time (just like your daddy did when he was little). 

• Are quite the drummer. Always banging your hands on the desk when we listen to music on the computer. 

• Flap your arms up and down really fast when you get happy or excited! 

• Wear size 12-18 month clothes, 12 months pants and are in size 5 diapers. 

• Weigh 18 pounds.

Love & Hugs,
Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then first Easter

Dear littlest Russell,

This weekend we celebrated your first Easter. We had a jam packed day where we went to Grandma's work, then to GG's house, and finally to Auntie Julie's house for dinner. There the Easter bunny left you a very cute soft bunny which you just adore (everyone else got chocolate). 

At home the next day the Easter bunny left you a basket with some jammies, some muppet band aids, and an Easter book. 

You couldn't be happier. As the day went on I saw what my friends kids received and let me just say holy crap moly. Since when did Easter explode into a second Christmas? Gone are the days of a simple egg hunt and a basket. Now children are getting games, toys, bubbles, trampolines and enough crap to overstimulate a donkey thrown down beside their heaping baskets. THEY DONT EVEN HAVE TO LOOK FOR THIS STUFF. It's just out there in the open for them to *find*. I hope throughout the years you remember what Easter (and all the other holidays) are really about. 

Hugs and kisses to you and your bunny sweet boy,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then best friends

Dear littlest Russell,

It is so wonderful to see your relationship with Charlie blossom. You two really love each other. Here is some proof:

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then it's Spring Break

Dear littlest Russell,

I'm a bit behind on writing to you, sorry, but better late than never right? Last week was Spring Break which wouldn't have meant much to us per se as we are able to go on adventures whenever we please but to your older cousin it meant two weeks off from school and one of those weeks she spent it at Grandma's house. Since Grandma lives so close to us we thought of some fun things to do all together. There were a lot of firsts for you. 

One activity I've been dying to do with you is to take you swimming. I was really nervous to go by myself for the first time since I didn't know how I was going to get both of us ready and more importantly how I was going to get both of us out without any help. Now I know to bring in your stroller for future swimming adventures. You loved swimming and didn't even cry when it was time to go. One of the lifeguards told me that you looked so cute and after I told her it was your first time she said that you were doing really well. We lasted two hours before I felt like I had had enough which is a really really long time for a baby. 

We also took you to the aquarium. I think for our next visit we will wait until you are a bit older. You liked it...except for the jellyfish haha. 

All in all we had a lot of adventures for you and it's so fun to see you experience all these things for the first time. 

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is five months old

Dear littlest Russell,

At five months old you:

•Put everything in your mouth-books, toys, fingers, other people's faces and hair

•Have eaten pears, spinach, apple sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and prunes

•Can roll both ways; from front to back and back to front

•Are getting better at sitting by yourself

•Actually jump in your jolly jumper instead of just hanging there

•Giggle-but mainly for the puppy

•Are the biggest flirt. You smile at anyone and everyone all the time.

•We have started sign language with you. We practice book, ball, eat, milk, mother, father. I cannot wait for you to start signing back. 

•Had fun swinging in the swings at the park

•Went to Vancouver for the first time

•Wear size 12-18 month clothes, size 12 month pants and size 5 diapers

•Weigh 18 pounds

Love & Hugs,

Mom