Miles: 6 Months

The first 6 months of Miles' life have not been easy. I haven't kept up with these monthly updates like I did with the older boys because I just couldn't. I've referenced these monthly blog updates for Peter and Luke SO many times, so I'm going to catch up on the past 6 months for Miles now. I know I won't remember most of this if I don't document it somewhere. 

Weight: 13 lbs. 6.5 oz (1%)

Length: 25.25" (10%)

Head Circumference: 17" (71%)

Some of Miles' current favorites: 

*Peek-a-boo

*Being tossed up into the air

*Chewing on his hands

*Watching his big brothers ride bikes

*Bubbles and Balloons

Miles is still a good sleeper. He takes 3 naps a day if we are at home and usually takes 2 if we're out and about. Most nights, he'll sleep 11-12 hours without waking up. He did have a rough week this month where he was up every couple hours, but thankfully he figured out how to roll over onto his belly at the end of that week and now he's back to sleeping all night. 

He doesn't have any teeth, but he is drooling and chewing on everything and sure seems like he could be getting teeth soon. Peter and Luke already had teeth by this point, so it appears Miles is doing everything a little bit later and I am more than ok with that. 

This next picture is a perfect description of him these days. He's discovered his feet and has his hands in his mouth alllll day long. 

Significant Moments in Miles' 6th Month:

*First time swimming 

*Visited the County Fair

*Grandma came to visit

*Rolled back to belly for the 1st time

*Transitioned out of the swaddle

 Right after we got back from my brother's wedding in Salt Lake City, we met a lactation consultant, Dorena, who comes to our house to help Miles each week. She is wonderful and has helped us so much. In addition to helping us with feeding, she's performing cranial sacral therapy, weighing/measuring him (and submitting it to the Dr. so we don't have to keep going back for weight checks), and working on his oral development. 

After several very difficult months, we've seen major progress in Miles this month: in feeding, weight gain, tongue flexibility, and physical development. Dorena referred us to early intervention and we'll meet with them in a couple weeks to determine if Miles needs any further therapy.

Miles still refuses to nurse so he's bottle-fed with pumped milk, donor milk, and formula. It's not how I pictured feeding him, but things are SO much better than they were a few months ago where every single feeding was miserable. He gets incredibly excited when he sees a bottle and starts kicking his legs and waving his arms and squealing/screaming. One of my specific prayers has been that he would enjoy drinking milk and that it would be a comfort to him, so it's awesome to see that prayer has been answered. 

I remember thinking the first 6 months went by crazy fast with Luke and I assumed that would be the case with Miles. It hasn't been. These past 6 months have felt like a couple years, honestly. It's been HARD. I've probably cried more tears in the past few months than I have in the past five years combined. 

Things have significantly improved in the last couple weeks and I feel like I am coming up for air again. I have the energy and capacity to type these updates. I'm excited for the next 6 months rather than wishing them away. I still mourn for the babyhood I wanted for Miles, but I'm working now to just enjoy the time I have with him and trust that God is working good out of all that we endured.