7 months old!

So technically, Avery is now 7 months and 12 days old, but I'm a bit behind in my postings!

On December 17, our sweet baby boy was 7 months old!  I can't believe how big he is getting so quickly. Time is certainly flying by.  Here is the photo I took of him that day.  I don't think he's changed too much since last month, although his hair is getting longer.  Some people comment that he's starting to look a lot like a toddler, and less like an infant.  I guess that's true.  I can really see the difference when I look back to his really early baby photos, but they also upset me because he was so skinny because we were struggling with breastfeeding.  : (

Avery had his "6 month" check-up and vaccines on December 5th - at 6 1/2 months (due to appointment cancellations).  He was 28" tall and weighed 18 pounds and 12 ounces.  His head circumference was 18.1 inches.  Apparently that puts him in the 90th percentile for height, the 50-75th percentile for weight, and between 90-95th percentile for head circumference.  Big head!  I think he gets that from my brother, Scott.  He had a huge head as a child! Although, overall, Avery is probably slightly lower than these percentiles because he was 6 1/2 months when measured.
His vaccines went really well.  Noel went with us this time and entertained Avery.  Avery was so happy to have his Daddy there that he barely cried when he got the needle.  This was much better than last time!
So overall they are happy with Avery's progress and say that he seems like a healthy, happy little boy!

One of Avery's big milestones this month has been getting his first two teeth!  I can't remember the exact date, but they probably broke through some time in early December.  Here is a photo.  He's pretty good about not biting hard with them, except when he wants to chew on my fingers because he is teething with his next set of teeth!  He seems to be drooling again and is sometimes fussy and wants to gnaw on things, so I think his top two teeth might be moving down.  Stay tuned!

Other recent milestones include:

• enjoys playing peekaboo
• recognizes when different tones and inflections in voices and doesn't like it when I speak harshly (never to him though - usually to my mom's dogs when they are barking)
• getting better at eating.  So far he has had: Banana, avocado (his favourite), rice cereal (yuck), oat cereal (better), carrots, sweet potato, bread, perogy filling, chicken, turkey (he loves this too).  
• likes to drink from a cup, but definitely hasn't mastered this yet! 
• He loves the telephone.  If I am talking on the phone and I don't put it on speakerphone and give it to him, he cries. 
• Understanding the mirror.  He doesn't think we are "in" the mirror anymore - he will turn around and look for us in real space. 
• Getting much better at sitting, although I still surround him with soft things because he is still likely to do a face-plant. 
• Object permanence/separation anxiety.   These things seem to go hand-in-hand.  Avery now knows that even when he can't see us, we are still around.  He knows I can walk away from him whenever I want.  And he doesn't like it!  The worst part of this has been a sleep regression.  I've written about it on facebook and don't really feel like reliving it all again here, but basically there were a few nights in a row where he would not sleep in his crib - he wanted me to hold him in my arms or sleep with him in the big bed.  It was really rough for a while but it's better now. 
• imitation/empathy - Avery cries when he hears another baby crying.  It's sweet, but sad!
• fine motor skills - Avery is awesome at doing things with his hands!  He can pass things from hand to hand, and string something (like his soother chain) between both hands and put in behind his head and then over and in front of him again.  His pincer grasp is pretty good too, but he can't release the food into his mouth. 
• "talks" a lot more.  One day he sat beside Noel on the couch and "told' him all about his day.  It is SO cute!  
• Taking all his toys out of his toy basket.  Then leaving them on the floor.  I guess putting them back in has yet to develop! 

He is constantly developing new skills.  Come visit any time and you will see a huge change in him!