I took my handsome little boy to the doctor today for his six month check-up and immunizations. He's 27 inches and weighs 17 pounds. That's my big boy. I'm so proud of him. Of course he wasn't too brave for his shots. Once the first of three needles hit, the tears and wails started coming. I hate it, because I get all upset too. But I try to put on a big smile and soothe him. I refuse to leave the room. Heck, I was even there through his whole circumscision when he was two weeks old. For that, he was very brave. Well, after the cries it only took a few minutes of Mommy dressing, then holding him, for him to quiet down again. Though he remembered those shots and played it up all day as usual.

The doctor said his development was good, but I already knew that. He was impressed that he's been rolling for about a month now. He isn't a very active roller, he's more into scooting, but he gets around well enough for what he wants. He also sits up pretty well. Now if can only sit up without me getting him started. Soon enough.

Yesterday we started Stage 2 foods. We fought for a bit like we do whenever we try anything new, but eventually he gave up the fight and ate his spinach and lasagna.

I am so proud of our little fellow. We're regularly working on his sitting up and his baby-sitter has commented on it as well. I love placing toys in front of him and watching him constantly grab for a new one. So many choices excite his little mind and it helps him practice leaning over and then steadying himself to sitting again.

That's one thing that kills me. Taking him to the baby-sitter. He only goes for 1-2 four hour days. I don't work much, it's just a little to get out of the house. But I'm already afraid I'll miss something when I'm away. And unlike the full day I work on Saturdays, neither his father or I will see it, a complete stranger will. Our sitter always spooks me when she tells me something he did. I think it's something new the way she words it, then I realize he does it all the time and I calm down.

I went into the main area of town yesterday. I picked up tree branches to make a real wreath. My husband and I are trying to find a tree farm or nursery to buy a real Christmas tree. So far we only seen potted evergreens at the corner home and garden center. If that's the best we find, then we'll just have a little tree and move it into a bigger pot and kep it for the three years we're supposed to be here. The rest of the year we'll keep it on our balcony.

I know it's a lot to go through, but now that we're a real family, I want to have a real Christmas. I want my son to have good family traditions and nice memories right from the start, even if he won't remember a few of them.

I also bought three German children's books in town yesterday. So last night we read "Erdbeeren Sind Rot" or "Strawberries Are Red" We also started one of the two bigger books which was all about a Medieval town. The other one is about castles and dragons. These two had a lot more text, but I actually knew most of the words on the one page we read. Granted he's only six months old, but it's never too late to teach a kid to be bilingual. If I read to him in German and say as much as I know, then he will start to pick it up, a little faster then I will. The whole time we read, I used what I knew and spoke strictly in German to him. Even when I needed something from his father, it was said in German. Of course I had to translate for the man, since he's tough to teach a language to. I keep my dictionary next to me at all times, so when I finished up our German time and fed him carrots, I called them "karotte" in German. I'm getting there in my lessons and he'll easily know a few things by the time we leave, if we do leave in three years.

Well, today I was a good mother. I filled up a small bottle to work with Paul on holding it. I only did that once though. The other time I sat with him, I used the big bottle. Both times though, I opened his hands and pressed them flat against the sides of the bottle. It didn't make a difference which bottle I used, he seems to have his own way of holding it. it's not perfected yet, but he's getting there. So for now I'll just sit with him and assist him. I have to read a book, so I have something to keep me occupied while we work. I also had Paul I help his son when I was at German class tonight. For now, Paul II wraps his hand around to the base of the bottle and holds it from the bottom. It's cute and fairly efficient.

He's also been doing something else lately. He likes to press his forefinger and thumb together on each hand, kind of like he's making a flat OK sign. Then he turns his hand palm up and is fascinated with it. Actually, it reminds me of the stereotype of Italians. I feel like he's getting in my face and saying, "Capice?"

Not much else so far. We went to get his "No-Fee" passport today. I didn't much care for the lady working there. She was rude to me last time and only a little civil today. When she tried to make Paul smile, he just stared at her with a "yeah right" look. What a good boy. :-)

Paul is so cute. It's so funny when I try to feed him his solids. He refuses and remains tight-lipped for a while. Then when he opens his mouth enough to smile or sigh, POP, in goes the spoon. He gets such a pissed off look on his face, but he swallows the food. This continues a few times until he finally remembers he likes what I'm feeding him. Then I can't spoon it in fast enough. I know he doesn't have teeth yet, but he doesn't even gum the food. It just goes in and gets swallowed.

He's also adorable when he plays with his toys. The two little musical toys that have "piano" keys are his enjoyment. But he works so hard at them. He doesn't smile when he plays the music. Instead he has a look of extreme concentration on his face. It's as if he has some hard work he has to focus on. Then I drive him nuts by placing his biggest fabric ring on his head like a little crown. He does "hard work" in his Exersaucer as well.

The best part is his strength. He's up on his hands and knees now, rocking back and forth. I know he's ready to shoot forward and crawl, but he just doesn't have the coordination yet. I can still remember when we used to have "tummy time" so he could practice lifting his head. It used to be so difficult for him, but now he's a pro.

We're also working on his sitting up. I'm very proud when he can keep his balance after I seat him, even more when he begins to lose it and catches himself before he falls. Now if he could just push himself to the sitting position.

The one worry I have, I blame myself for. He doesn't hold his bottle yet. He started to about two months ago, but I think I've made him regress. I've always propped the bottle on his blankie, since he was about two months old. I had to. I'm not the type to be able to sit and patiently wait. I always have about five or six things to do around the house that I don't have time to sit. Even when I breastfed, I had to have one hand free to at least read or write. Now he's so used to the blankie doing the work, he doesn't even bother to try to hold it. I keep thinking I should use the smaller bottles to encourage him, but my husband Paul I keeps saying I should stick to the bigger ones. That way we don't have to work him up to the heavier ones, he'll learn on them. I feel bad, but I know I'll never have the patience to sit and work with him on this one aspect.

I love it when he cries out. Right now he says dadadadada when he's happy and Daddy is holding him. WHen he's upset he usually cries mamamamama and sometimes bababababa. But once I sit next to him, his whole face lights up with joy. Most of the time he's hungry, but the rest of the time, he's just lonely. All it takes is Mommy nearby and everything is better.

It's like my husband and I. We're happy when we're just together. All through college we lived together and except for a few hours a day, we were together, be it classes or home. But even if we weren't interacting or going someplace neat, we were happy just to sit in the same room. I think Paul II will be the same way. Though he'll probably have my wanderlust and need to see new places and learn new things.

I love him so very much.

My son is six months now and I have been very slow to write about him. But now is as good a time as any to start. I don't know where to begin. There are so many things about him I love.

It drives me insane that there are certain aspects of him I won't be able to record. he has long since lost the new baby smell. The room we lived in at my father's used to be filled with his scent. After a month it disappeared. He still does have the baby smell, but it's not as strong. Now he smells like the food he eats. Especially when he gives Daddy a formula burp.

I also wish I could record the feel of his skin. It's so soft and supple. It makes you want to grab him in your arms in a big hug and never let go. Whenever I check on him in his crib, I have to lean over and kiss his soft cheek.

During the day I love to pinch those same cheeks and watch his whole face light up.