04 Feb 6 Months with Maverik

Happy half birthday to my not-so-little boy!
Time feels like it’s flying even faster than the first time around. I’m honestly in disbelief that he’s already 6 months old. When I say I feel blessed, I truly mean it. Every day, I get to see his big gummy smile and enjoy the sweetest cuddle sessions. He’s growing so well and staying healthy—I really couldn’t ask for more.

Speaking of turning 6 months, we introduced his very first baby food: mango. We picked mango simply because… we love mango, and tropical fruits can’t be a bad choice, right? His reaction to the first bite was priceless—total confusion. I think he was trying to figure out how to swallow from a spoon while also processing this brand-new taste and texture that wasn’t his good old mommy milk. He kept sucking on the spoon, moving his head everywhere, and it turned into a full-on mess. I forgot how messy feeding a baby is—it’s been a while. He probably took about 20 tiny bites, but most of it ended up on his face, body, and the table. Oh well—this is just the beginning of his food journey, and I’m so excited to see what he loves (and what he rejects).

Feeding him solids felt a little bittersweet because it marked the end of him being exclusively on my milk. Even though it can be a lot of pressure to be his sole food source, I found so much fulfillment in breastfeeding him. I wasn’t able to do it this long with Katerina, so I feel really proud—and honestly grateful to my body—that I could do it this time. I mean, how crazy is it that Maverik has all these adorable fat rolls?! That’s all from my breast milk, and I’m beyond proud. I had to take pictures of his rolls before starting solids. so, satisfying.

He’s such a good eater, but one of our biggest pain points right now is sleep. He is honestly the worst sleeper. Sometimes he can’t go more than 2 hours straight, and other times he wakes up every 30 minutes. We’ve tried so many things, but he’s constantly fussy, and we are losing sleep every night. I love my sleep (like, 12 hours on weekends kind of love), so this phase has been rough. He goes from 0 to 100 so quickly—giggling one second and screaming the next. Some days I lose patience and feel like I’m barely holding it together. But even on the hard days, it never takes away from the joy of being his mom and seeing that sweet giggle. If he could just tone down the fussiness a little… I’d be golden.  Hoping that day comes soon.

For his 6-month milestone, I got him a special outfit.  His nursery theme was supposed to be Americana/baseball, so this outfit felt perfect. I mean… can it get any cuter?! It’s from Etsy and can be personalized—I love the number on the back, and the backwards hat just makes him look like the cutest little rookie. I also got a half-birthday hat and a “half time” high chair banner from Etsy, and I’m so happy with everything!

His 6-month checkup went smoothly, and here are his stats:
• Weight: 18 lb 0.2 oz (57th percentile)
• Height: 25.98 inches (18th percentile)
• BMI: 18.76 (83rd percentile)

So basically… short, chunky king lol
He got his vaccinations (lots of tears), but bounced back quickly after some milk. The doctor said he’s hitting all the milestones and growing well. I did vent a little about his fussiness and sleep struggles, but overall, it was a great visit. It’s always reassuring to talk to professional who understands and can remind me I’m not going crazy.

This month, he checked off a few milestones per the CDC milestone app:

• Knows familiar people
• Reaches to grab a toy he wants
• Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
• Sits without support
• Moves things from one hand to his other hand

He used to be so wobbly when sitting, but now he can sit confidently for a long time. I’m so proud of him! Now I can take all the cute sitting photos—with his little belly spilling out. I love my chunky monkey. Can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next!

To Maverik,

Fatima