Happy 7 months Bud!

My Bud is 7 months old today! This was the first month that I wasn't really happy with the pictures though, oh well! He is definitely in 12 month clothes now. Still long and skinny. He is almost always happy, especially if he's with his mama! His smile lights up the room :) He puts his whole body into it! And he's so cuddly - I love that.

He is getting up on his hands and knees and moving all over the place! I am sure by this time next month he will be crawling. His newest trick is getting from his belly to a sitting position. He just backs up with his hands until he's sitting straight up. He's pretty sturdy and likes to sit up and play with toys.
He's really enjoying eating solid food, except broccoli and cauliflower. He cries when I put that in his mouth :) He loves carrots, apples, pears, bananas, sweet potatoes, frozen mango, and he loves to chew on carrot sticks, celery and cucumber.
The child is driving me crazy with his sleep habits. He wakes up randomly through the night. Sometimes several times per night. Killing me. I am exhausted, but I still treasure those times holding him and cuddling with him at night. (Usually :) His favorite things to play with are spoons, measuring cups, paper, cups, baby tylenol bottle, flashcards, pretty much anything that's not a toy! I do not know what to get him for Christmas - a box with some wrapping paper? He'd love that!
He still loves to be in the sling - he is always happy in it. Sometimes I cook dinner with him in it. I think he likes to be up, close to mommy, and be able to see everything. I think I've heard that children get a little more clingy before they go through a major milestone. I have a feeling he's about to be mobile.

I admit, I was a little nervous about having a little boy when we first found out about it. I didn't know what it would be like, and I was scared about how he would turn out as an adult - is that weird? But now I LOVE having a boy - this particular boy - and I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. I wouldn't mind having several more boys actually :) Girls too, of course!

Speaking of girls, Madeleine still absolutely loves her brother. We are so blessed. She hugs and kisses him all the time. She brings him toys, talks to him and plays with him. She even watches to make sure he doesn't get anything he's not supposed to have. In church last week he was sitting on my lap and she said, "Thank you for being so patient, John Paul!"

I love this kid!

And don't worry, the top 10 list part 2 is coming up tomorrow!