Brit has now been passed up by his friends in size and weight. Well, Mav was always bigger, but he had a slight edge over Hudson for a while, but that’s gone now too. All three of them were standing yesterday and Brit is definitely the smallest.

This was also confirmed today at his 6 month doctor’s appointment. Here’s the stats:

Height: 26.75 inches (59%) from 88% at 4 months

Weight: 16 lbs (21%) from 34% at 4 months

Head: 16.75 inches (17%) from 23% at 4 months.

He does have his highest BMI ever though, so I guess that’s good.

Yeah, the percentages are going down. He’s not growing as fast as he did at first. And that head! It’s so small! But, quite cute and adorable, so I won’t worry too much.

The nurse giving him his shots today said she felt so bad doing it because he was so happy and sweet. She said she always feels bad, but this one especially.

He a curious little dude. Always trying to see everything in any new situation. He gets better at army crawling every day, and goes wherever he wants–even under the coffee table and futon, where he can bump his head. Now he sits on his own for a long time–like 20 minutes if he wants to.

He likes his sweet potato puffs, and tries to pick them up by himself, but can’t quite get them in his mouth. The only thing I’ve fed him that he actually spits out is the avocado. But, it wasn’t very smooth, so I don’t know if that was the problem. I may try it again. He loves drinking from a cup, and is getting better at it.

Brit loves listening to people talk to him on the phone. He may not talk back, but he likes to listen and try to figure out where the noise is coming from. So, anyone who wants to talk to him, feel free to give him a call.

Here are some pictures from a little photo shoot. Neither Mark nor I were in front of him, so he wasn’t making his normal cute camera faces, but they show his cute little expressions.

This is something I never thought that I would have a problem with, let alone become addicted to. It all started with peer pressure. I thought I was old enought for it not to have an effect on me, but it was just everywhere. I couldn’t seem to escape hearing about it and how I should try it.

So, with great reluctance I started reading….and before I knew it I was hooked. Twilight has taken its hold and I can’t get enough.

On our trip, I read the first book in a couple of days, then I read New Moon (borrowed from my mother-in-law) and since I didn’t have Eclipse, I reread the best parts again on our drive to the airport for Miami. Then came the need to read all the outtakes, and the partial draft of Midnight Sun on Stephenie’s website. I knew that if I got Eclipse I would be useless on our trip, so I resisted. But, after a few days I bargained with Mark that he could get the video game he wanted if I could get the book. So, I did and read as much as I could–at night, when the baby was asleep….yeah. There was no real child neglect going on. I promise. Though, it was helpful that there were two of us. On the plane ride home my angel child slept for a few hours so I could nearly finish.

We got home Friday, and I had Breaking Dawn by noon on Saturday and finished it late Sunday night.

Mark kind of thought I was a freak. And, really, so did I.  It’s not something I can explain. I don’t think the writing is exceptionally good. I’ve read too many classics in my day to think that, but it’s something about them that make the characters seem real. And I really care about them. And, I just can’t get it out of my head. That’s never happened before. Like I said, I’m a reader. I read all sorts of things. But, this is the first book, or series, that has actually made me think about it for days, going over the plot points and lines and everything. By now, I’ve read them twice (not word for word, but most of it).

So, now I look forward to MTV’s Twilight Tuesdays. And can hardly wait for November 21. But, I have realized that I’m not nearly as far gone as some Twilight fans….you won’t be catching me creating a fansite, or wearing the clothes or following movie cast members around either.

I would like to apologize to for my previously skeptical attitude. I know I made some sarcastic comments and wasn’t very nice, but all I can say is: I didn’t know. I didn’t understand. Now I do.

Whew, I feel better now that it’s out in the open.

I was sitting in a hospital bed waiting for the cutest baby ever to arrive… And arrive he did! Our lives haven’t been the same since, and it just keeps getting better.

Happy 1/2 birthday Brit! He’s been a great baby all day…eating a good breakfast, taking his naps, playing with toys, feeling the flowers on our walk. He also tried more juice from the big cup– (He doesn’t like the sippy) no spills as long as we’re holding it too.

Here’s how he’s changed over the months…

Birthday! Sooooo tired!

A few days old…ooooh, this is interesting

1 month old… I already like to stand

2 months…sup? I’m a big boy

3 months…Look at me! Leaning up is fun

4 months…yeah, that’s right, I sit up

5 months…huh, this scooting thing is fun

6 months…I’m 6 months old today?

Yay for me and mommy!

We love you big-eyed baby boy! We look forward to the next 6 months and all the changes they will bring!

Love Mommy and Daddy

We have a frog. It started as an inch worm, but evolved. Now there is a little hop. Brit can actually move across the floor. His first real attempt was on Thursday–the 4th. He’s gotten more experienced as the week has progressed. He actually puts his legs under him, and pushes up and frog jumps forward. He does not like to stay in the same place and it always on the move these days. He thinks he’s such a big boy. (*update as of Sept 15, He rocks on his knees and thinks of crawling, but hasn’t gotten the movement down yet. He also leans forward from a sitting position to his tummy now. I’m really disturbed that he’s growing up so fast!)

Obviously, you can’t see the movement, but this is what he does. All the time. We ended up getting a pack and play from the resort so we could keep him in one place….he kept trying to hit his head on the furniture.

Brit isn’t into animals yet. He’s more into the plants. We think he may be a botanist. On Saturday we went to Miami Metro Zoo…and it was hot! We’re not used to the humidity and it was hard to breathe. But, we managed. Brit had no interest in the animals. It was hard to get him to actually look at them. He liked looking at the plants and hedges around their enclosures instead.

But, he looked cute in his little hat anyway.

Mark got some great pics of the animals…this is just a couple. The rest are at kirstenandmark.smugmug.com

Finally we found a ward that wasn’t having Stake Conference on our visit! We went to church near our resort and it was a very nice ward. There were several people who introduced themselves and talked to us. I guess the chapel isn’t as big as ours, and they probably don’t get a lot of visitors, so it’s easy to see when people are new. It was really nice though. I’ve decided to try to be more outgoing and talk to the people at church that I don’t know. I don’t do very well at that right now.

Monday we visited Vizcaya. It’s a huge estate that was built in in 1914-1916 to resemble an Italian Villa that was built in the 1600s. So, walking through it you feel like you’re in Europe looking though an ancient castle or something. Everything is old. Like, old things brought from Europe and put in the house. It’s amazing. The gardens are beautiful too. It’s right on the water, so it has its own breakwater, and dock and everything.

This is the ceiling in a little grotto with a fountain–all shells

The detail of the walkway to the East entrance of the house, with the Venetian-style poles and the stone barge that acts as the breakwater.

Different view with the lattice-domed tea room

The house from the East Entrance. No pictures allowed in the house..bummer!

It was cloudy from Hurricane Ike for a couple of days, so we didn’t really do much. It was nice to just relax though. Mark loved just hanging out and not having to go to work. It was a very different vacation for me too. The first one where I wasn’t visiting family that wasn’t action packed. But, it was still nice.

We did take Brit swimming in the pools. It was cloudy, but warm and we were the only ones there. But, of course I forgot my camera. So, this is after we got back. He looked so cute in his little board shorts!

This one doesn’t show his suit, but I love just love this little guy–and his expressions!

Thursday we went to the Everglades National Park. It was sooooooooooooo hot and humid! Oh my goodness. When we got there, as soon as we stepped out we were swarmed by mosquitos. Luckily there was some bug spray at the little gift shop, and the sweet worker gave us her jacket that had a net on the hood that we hooked over the back of Brit’s seat that came down and covered the top part of his body.

The River of grass. Here, you can actually see the water, but mostly you can’t and it’s hard to believe that underneath all the grass is water. It goes for miles!

Mark and Britton in the Mangroves. All underneath us is water too.

Brit examining the wooden rail

Alligator….

Brit and me with the grass

Cute little face…

After the Everglades we drove down to Key Largo. It’s the first one. We stopped at John Pennecamp State Park. It has coral reefs and boat tours etc. But, it was pretty dead. Hardly anyone around. The visitor center had an aquarium and Brit loved it! He really liked the fish and coral and everything. We’ll have to take him to the Aquarium in Long Beach!

Friday we had time before our flight, so we went to Ft. Lauderdale to the science center. They had some fun little exhibits, and even a children’s area. This is Brit on the tractor. He liked driving for a minute…

We had a great time on our trip. But, in the future we agree we’ll stay away from Miami/the south at this time of year. Way too hot and humid!

So, this is the first post of a couple because we missed posting last week, and there has been a lot going on in our vacation.

First, our plane was delayed 3 hours! At first it was just 1 1/2, but then it kept getting later. Apparently the plane we were supposed to use decided not to come in from Dallas, so we had to wait for another one. We were already on the way to the airport–Thanks Ash–when we heard about the first delay, so we went. Thankfully, Brit is a great baby and behaved just like we were at home. He even slept most of the way on the plane. Yay! Oh, and the girl sitting next to us just finished dental school at USC and knows some of our friends too….small world!

Friday we mostly relaxed and hung out, and then went out late to the album launch party for Mark’s friend Jesse at a club in DC. It was pretty fun. The album is club music and is called “Twelve Steps.” Anyway, Grandma Karen was thrilled that we were out so she could watch the baby. He was pretty good for her too.

There were a few mishaps with the reception. It seemed that things just kept going wrong left and right–from a last minute cancelation by their photographer, to a delay in the flowers–but, in the end everything turned out beautifully.

Sara and Andrew eating cake….and their pretty cake, before it was cut.

The newlyweds with all the kids…They’re trying it out.

Mark, Doug, Sara, Paul and Lori….all together at last. It’s been a while.

Britton with Grandpa Dennis. He really loved the flowers. Thanks Hudson for the outfit!

We’re not sure of this expression…we’re sure he likes you Andrew, really!

After the wedding we went and visited my uncle and his family. They’re so cute and fun. All the girls had to show us their new school bags and supplies. Brit played with his cousin Lizzie, and the girls learned how to take pictures too.

The next day we were off to Williamsburg. It was a nice drive, and Brit slept most of the way. He does that in the car….yes!

Monday we went to Colonial Williamsburg. I’d only been there once before, in the winter, so it was much nicer in the summer. Mark and his brothers as quite alike, all with a love for photography. There were lots of cool, artistic pics taken. They’re on our smugmug photo page. Here are a few.

Brit liked looking all around….

It was fun spending time with family and seeing how alike and different Mark is from his siblings. They’re lots of fun, and seem to like Brit a lot, so that’s a plus too =) They took a lot more pictures of him than we did, apparently, so I’ll have to get some and post them later. He was a really good boy and liked looking at everything.

Tuesday we went to Virginia Beach. I’d never been there before. Brit had his first experience with the ocean. Well, touching it anyway. He really liked it. He just wanted to walk around on it, and get hit by the waves.