November 27 - Six Months Old

I've changed a bit since I was born, besides just the obvious of getting much longer and heavier. (Mama's bad back reminds her about the heavier part every day.)

My eyes are turning hazel. Some days they are mostly a dark greyish blue, some times they are green, and sometimes you can see golden tan highlights around the iris. Quite a lot like Uncle Kevin's eyes, actually.

My hair has gotten lighter in color. It was almost black when I was born, and now it's a light brown like Mama's hair, but with more golden highlights and hardly any red highlights. No one is sure if it will continue to get lighter to where I might be blonde for a while.

I have become a very active roller. I can roll multiple times to get from one side of a room to another. I'm not terribly predictable unless there is something in the room where I can hit my head. I'm good at finding those, Daddy considers me a natural, in fact.

My vocabulary builds steadily and I'm currently working on clicking my tongue. I've also mastered the fine art of screaming very loudly, even when I'm not hurt. I got really good at it last week when I was sick. I think I might have scared Oma. Sorry Oma!

I can sit up for long periods of time without support, although I still sometimes balance with my hands. I can't sit up by myself yet, but I can stay sitting when placed in that position.

I love to "stand" while supported. I'm not happy to sit when I think I should be standing. I've moved my feet like I will when I start walking, and sometimes I have feet that are flat on the floor for this. I don't have a lot of patience when I fall and bonk my head, so the adults are pretty careful to watch and catch me if I look like I'm going to fall over--even when sitting--and they always hang on to me when I'm standing.

I still like to "fly" like "Superbaby", but that tires adult arms out pretty quickly. It still works reasonably well to settle me when I'm fussy and they have ruled out the usual causes. I still like my jumper, but only with an audience. Uncle Kevin and cousin Nicole call me the "Rock Star."

I started supplemental "solid" foods about a month ago, and I'm a good eater. So far I like most of what has been presented to me, although I was really not sure about the bananas at first, and I'm still not crazy about carrots. I like my carrots mixed with something to make them sweeter. I take after Daddy in that I love peas!

Mama is still breast feeding me, although she may only do that for about another month. I'll be on formula with pumped milk for a while, and then just on formula with my "real" food.

I really want to figure out this crawling thing. So far I can get into the hands and knees position with my head up, and sometimes I move a back leg, but I still haven't figured out these hands. Sometimes I have done the five-point scoot, where I put my head down for balance. (This gives me interesting wear patterns on my hair.) But I don't reliably move either direction at a true four-point crawl.

Mama is sure this will change, and not at all sure that she's ready for that day.

November 27 - Thanksgiving at Antema's house

OK, this is supposed to be a big day for eating, and I appear to be READY!!! I've got my shirt with directions, and my mouth wide open. Bring it on.


Hey, I've got instructions for later as well. Thanks for the shirt, Aunt Baggy!


This is only a test of the baby output system. This was only a test.


Aunt Jaki and I hang out for a while


I spent some time in my bouncer in the doorway between the kitchen (upper) and dining room (lower) and was in the way a couple of times when things needed to be carried between the two rooms.


I spent some time hanging out on a blanket on the floor. Earlier I was rolling about, but right now I'm pretty calm.

November 22 - Thanksgiving at Oma's house

On Sunday, November 22, Mama, Uncle Kevin and I went to Oma and Grandpa Ron's house for an early Thanksgiving. Mama decided that the food was good, even the turkey which she traditionally doesn't like.

She told stories about how she pitched a fit the first year that her Grandma Dot tried to put her at a "kids table" at Thanksgiving. Because she was the only grandchild for so long, she had always been seated at the table with the adults. She remembers NOT wanting to go sit with the young kids. She also remembers winning that battle--the legend of her stubbornness begins.

Anyway, I got my first try of mashed potatoes and found out that I liked them. Uma was careful to make sure there weren't chunks in the spoonfuls that I ate.


Now you can see the mashed potatoes on my mouth. I'm still working on this solid food eating thing.


Mama wanted pictures of Oma and I, but it took a few tries. First no one was ready.


Then I took a dramatic pose instead of looking at the camera


Oma closed her eyes.


Success! Oma and I are both smiling at the same time.

Many faces of Russell

These were taken by Uncle Kevin on October 16 or so.

October and November belated pictures

I like my activity center because there are lots of things for me to do while I practice sitting up.



Cousins--Nicole and I


Daddy helped me go from lying down...


To standing!


Got my foot!


With Oma (formerly Grammy Betty)


Silly mama fed me in my bouncer (johnny jump up) and I wore carrots on my nose!

Is it really November already?

Hello from my floor activity center!

Mama is having a hard time believing that we're almost halfway through November. I don't know anything about telling time yet. However, we need to give you some long overdue updates.

I can sit by myself for quite a while now, although I haven't mastered getting into that position by myself. I still love being in my johnny jump up bouncer. I've begun to get a wider variety of foods and I'm a pretty good eater. I really like pears, bananas, peas, sweet potatoes and squash. I'm not so enthusiastic about the turkey stuff yet.

I'm working hard on my crawling, but I tend to do the "five point scoot" instead. I can roll over both ways, scoot around and in lots of other ways get myself around the living room floor.


On my five month birthday I decided to taste Daddy's foot.

More pictures will have to wait.