Being selfish with my 7 month old

7 months old has proven to be a very colorful time for the baby. He had to have a minor surgery about a week ago and is almost completely recovered. Though, I'm not sure I am emotionally recovered yet. :)

With his surgery has come some separation anxiety. I know this is completely normal for babies his age. It can be exhausting sometimes when I can't even leave his sight without him getting fussy but deep down, I'm kind of...glad. He is not always going to want me by his side. And I know I am being selfish when I say this, but I kind of like that I am the one he wants most of the time. The feeling is mutual. So for now, I am going to enjoy this selfish time with baby because I know it won't keep.

In Half a Year

Yesterday Briggs turned 6 months old. He is a half year old. From an outsider's perspective this does not seem like much for anyone. However, once you bear the name "mom" it changes your whole outlook on life.

In half a year, I have learned what it means for your heart to belong with someone else at all times. I have gotten to know a beautiful, joyful and spirited little boy. He has fulfilled Ryan in so many ways that I never thought possible. He has helped me become a more cautious driver, a better cook, a more efficient house cleaner, a songwriter, a better wife to Ryan, a proud doggy mom to his protector, Lola, even more appreciative of my parents and a more nurturing and forgiving soul. How can someone so little have such an impact in every aspect of my life? I'm not sure, but I know it happened. And I thank God over and over again every day for blessing my life with Briggs Beto.

Now in my family, it is tradition to sing a little song and perhaps receive half a twinkie on your half birthday. So since it was Briggs's very first one, I decided to have a little family get together for him. It turned into a very large celebration (why am I not surprised?) to celebrate this little bug with our friends and family who wanted to show him love too.

Earlier yesterday morning, I was singing a happy 6 months song to him. He was loving it! So I had to record his reactions....please excuse my singing voice :) Now he LOVES to watch this video of himself. Sometimes its the only thing that will console him when he is extra grumpy. He just smiles and cracks up at himself. It never fails.

Also, here are his 6 month growth pictures:

4th of July

Before having my own baby, I wasn't very aware of a child's development. The only children I really understood were those ranging from 14-18 years old thanks to my few years in high school eduction. So if you were to ask me when I was pregnant, what will your child be doing a year from now? I probably would have told you crying, sleeping and pooping. At 5 1/2 months old, while he certainly does do those things, he is capable of SO much more.

I love that he is beginning to take in the world around him. He is starting to recognize faces and voices and is more comfortable with certain people he is familiar with. Although, he can't crawl yet, he is still very mobile. Currently, his mode of transportation is rolling. He thinks its hilarious too. One moment he is lounging in the boppy on the floor, the next moment I look up at him and he is belly down playing with his toys a few feet away from where he started. When I laugh at him and ask him what he's doing, he just cracks up.

So on 4th of July, we took him to the Matthews' family lake house. He loved lounging in their hammock with me. He even watched and followed some of the boats going by. But the biggest surprise for me that night, was how amazed he was by the firework display on the lake. It is a memory I will cherish. He was taking in every moment while being so aware of the lights and colors. He would get so excited that he would start flapping his arms. He never ceases to amaze me. So at 5 months old, my son loves fireworks. And I am in awe of my 5 month old.

Briggs is loving the fireworks

Strolling Through the Park

My baby is 5 MONTHS OLD! To celebrate the special occasion, Briggsy's mommy and daddy both played hooky from work to take him to the park for the very first time. He mostly wanted to watch the big kids go down the big slides...we aren't there quite yet as you can see in the pictures.

We also gave him solid food (rice cereal) for the first time. He wasn't sure at first, but once he got the hang of it, he was eating like a little bird!

Happy 5 months, our little happy boy! We will always take time to have "days off" together!

Our Sperry Blonde Boy

I wanted to post a few pictures of our little Sperry boy. We received these precious size 2 Sperry Topsiders as a gift and he has been wearing them around. He loves to show them off to people. When people come say hi to him at the grocery store, he sticks his foot out to show them. Here he is modeling for us:

I also wanted to mention, that he is beginning to turn BLONDE! My son...blonde! I know his daddy is blonde, but I honestly thought the Mexican genes would sort of dominate. Haha. Say hi to my blonde boy!

Here's to you, Mrs. Matthews

They did it! Kara and Ryan are offish!

While they are off on their honeymoon, we have been able to skype. Here is one of the pictures Kara emailed me during one of her skype sessions with dad and Briggs.

The kids is becoming quite the character. Especially during the week of the wedding. And I have to brag on our little ring bearer. He was such a trooper during this crazy week. He got off schedule, he worked hard at practicing his ring bearing duties, and he slept during the reception in his Aunt Maria's and Aunt Mary Lou's arms so that mom and dad could have fun. I was asking a lot out of our almost 5 month old and I couldn't be prouder.

Briggsy so happy to practice the week of the wedding

Rehearsal time

He could get use to this

The real deal-our handsome little man

Briggs's (3rd) Trip to Fla

So if you search back to my very first entry, a little over a year ago, you will see that it all started in Florida at Siesta Key Beach. Our home away from home.

Siesta- home away from home

This is where I went to be with family during a trying, yet most wonderful time in my life. It was here, that my sister got engaged and where I told my family for the first time that I was pregnant. I was only about 5 weeks along then, but it was still Briggs's first time there.

Then we came back in October at 26 weeks pregnant...Briggs's second trip to Florida. (The kid is a traveler)

And finally, his first time on the other side, he arrives at 4 months old. It was hot, sticky and hot again. People probably thought we were crazy having a little baby out in the Florida sun. Well, I have two things to say to that:

1. Briggs is part Mexican- we are use to "South of the Border" type of heat.

2. Do you honestly think Ryan and I would leave our little baby in the blazing hot heat at any point in time? He was ALWAYS in the shade or in the water. Always wearing a hat and full body bathing suit...and despite our hispanic genes, just to take an extra precaution- he wore SPF 50.

Truly though, I (and Ryan) have never spent more time indoors while vacationing at the beach. But you won't hear any complaining here- it was such a breath of fresh air to get to be together as a family without worrying about the various distractions of life.

In addition to his first time at the beach, Grandma Kay Kay bought the whole family tickets to a Ray's game at Tropicana Field because the White Sox were in town. So our little Briggy Boy even got to experience his very first MLB game. (I even successfully nursed him at the top row under some bleachers without getting caught...call me 007- by the way, we have a very unsupportive society for nursing mothers)

Briggs received an A+ from the whole family for his first trip. That's a good thing because now we can take him again on the next one. :)