We have hit quite a few miliestones since my last post! We started weaning Grady off the breast milk in January - the plan was to do it slowly and be finished about the time he hit 6 months old. We started very slowly, just one meal per day for the first couple of weeks and then increased to 2 meals per day, etc. When we got to just nursing last thing before bed and first meal in the morning, he decided he was a bottle man! Just decided he didn't want to nurse anymore. So, we have been on all formula for about a month now.
We have also started giving him some "solid foods" - mainly rice cereal mixed with formula, and also carrots, sweet potatoes and bananas. He eats the rice cereal the best, and makes funny faces when we give him a new food. We are trying peas and avocado this week! Also, an amazing thing happened the first day he had no breast milk - - - slept ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT! He does it pretty consistently now. Does wake up for a meal sometimes around 4 or 5 am, but always goes right back to sleep.
Grady always sleeps on his belly now. We still put him in his crib on his back, but he immediately rolls to his belly, pulls his legs underneath him and sticks his bottom on the air and falls fast asleep. It is so cute! Sometimes he stretches his body out again so he looks like an inchworm. I often find him up in the corner of his bed, so I scoot him back down to the middle. One unfortunate side effect of him sleeping all night on his belly is that the diapers cannot hold all the pee. When he does wake up, his whole front is soaking wet so we end up changing his outfit and sheets about every day. But it's worth it to get a full night's sleep! Now we just have to re-train ourselves to sleep through the night...
My work situation has changed, so Grady has been staying with Molly through the week. It's worked out pretty well so far, however the first week we didn't have much advance notice so Grandma Loftis came to help out for a couple days. It was a huge help! They seemed to have a really great time. She discovered that Grady LOVES to sit in front of the mirror and watch himself. He smiles a lot and bumps his head against the mirror. So fun!
Molly and Kevin have 2 kids - their daughter Elliot is 2 and a half, and son Kamden is 18 months. They really enjoy having Grady around. They share their toys, help change his diaper, and keep him entertained. Molly is really comfortable with the 3 kids. She takes them to play dates, the park, library... she says people look at her like she's crazy with 3 kids under the age of 3, but she handles it really well!
Another milestone we've had is Grady sitting up on his own. He had been able to sit up with support for a while, and for a couple weeks I'd sit behind to "spot" him because he would fall to the side or back sometimes. But now he is much sturdier and only topples over once in a while. He has gotten a couple of bumps on his head, but he doesn't seem to be too bothered when he falls!
The Wee Trade was today - I got a hiking backpack carrier for us to use since Grady has just about outgrown the front packs! Also got a new bathtub that fits into the big tub, a toy to help him learn to stand and some books and clothes. Then I picked up Justin and Grady and we had brunch with a couple of people from his office that I went to the Wee Trade with (Amy Fox who is pregnant, and Leslie Jarrel). Then we came home and have been cleaning up the house and the basement. The weather has been really warm for February - 65 degrees today!
Other stats - Grady had his 6 month doctor's appointment last week. He is 17lb 8oz, which is in the 50th percentile. He's a normal growing boy! I also had to fill out a developmental questionnaire which asked milestones he's reached, like picking up a toy with one hand, following you with his eyes, recognizing his name, etc. He is excelling in every one! At the doctor's office they have a mirror on the wall underneath the table you lay the child on. After the nurse got his weight and we were waiting for the doctor, I sat Grady in front of the mirror so he could play. He loved it! So much so that he kept banging his head against the mirror and laughing. He started to get a red spot, so I blocked him with my hand. Didn't want the doctor to see him with a big bruise on his head!
Grandma and Grandpa (no longer Pop Pop - he prefers Grandpa so we are going to try it out) Hunter came down for a visit this weekend. It was great to see them - we hadn't gotten together since Thanksgiving! We will see them in Buckhannon for Road Bowling in a couple of weeks but it was nice to have a more relaxed visit. Sarah entered a chili cookoff in Weaverville and won! We went to LAB and the Chocolate Lounge for dinner on Saturday. Lucille and Grady had a really great time together. Aunt Laura came up also, so it was a great Hunter visit. 
