Happy Half Birthday!

It's hard to believe, but our sweet Ollie has been with us for half a year already!  I know you can't help but think this about your own children, but he is just the cutest thing and brings us so much joy.  Carter loves having a baby brother and is such a big helper with Oliver, bringing him toys and singing to him when he's upset, giving him hugs and kisses before bed, and including him in his nighttime prayers.
Oliver has the most precious grin that takes up his whole face and a super soft head of blonde fuzz.  It appears his hair is getting a little thicker, but he's definitely going to be another 'loiro' (blondie).  There's still no teeth as of date, but you can see several just underneath his gums and if his drooling and chomping on things are any sign, they'll be here soon!  He's learned to put his toes in his mouth and those serve as a good distraction sometimes ;)
We introduced solid foods and though we were starting slow, after his 6-month checkup where the doctor was concerned about his low weight (he didn't even show up on the growth chart and had hardly gained since his 3 month checkup), she told us to up his intake.  So now, he is nursing 6-7 times a day and eating a full meal of homemade baby food and rice cereal 3 times a day.  So far he's had carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, and avacado.  He hasn't turned his nose up at anything (except a little at the avacado) and is always begging for more at the end of the meal.  It's surprising he's not a little chunker!  We'll have to do a blood test soon to make sure there's no serious underlying problems, but we took him in for another weigh-in yesterday and he had gained 7 ounces!
This month has gotten much better in the sleeping department!  We've gone from 6-10 nighttime wakings (yes, that was happening) to 2 on most nights, and this mama is very happy for that!  I tried to give myself all kinds of reasons as to why it was happening - teething pain, the 4 month sleep regression, developmental changes, sleeping in his own room, etc. - but at the end of the day, all I care about is this phase coming to an end! haha.  Carter started sleeping through the night at 8 months, so if he's anything like his brother, the end is in sight.
Oliver is definitely a mama's boy.  And while it should make me feel good that he feels so safe and happy with me, it certainly makes it hard to get anything accomplished.  He wants to stay with me at all times these days and my baby who was so happily passed around before has vanished...But the other night as I was rocking him in the middle of the night, I was thinking about these difficult times and how I don't want to wish them away.  The truth of the matter is, my baby boy still needs me and wants me when he's upset or scared.  I'm so grateful to be his mommy and to know that I can give him the comfort he is looking for.
We love you Ollie and happy half birthday!