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I can’t believe it’s already been a month since I published my 5 Memories since “Going Dad” post!

But here we are in the middle of May and Avery will be 6 months tomorrow, the 15th. What sounds longer; 6 months or half a year? I know they’re the same, but seriously, time flies!!

I’m sure all of you parents with toddlers, teens, and older are just laughing thinking how it only gets faster; am I right? Ugh, all the more reason to try and make the most of each moment! I really need to remind myself of this.

So, keeping consistent with my new monthly memories posts, I’ll get to it. Avery, it saddens and excites me at the same time when I think that one day we will go back and read these posts together. Your mom and I love you so much and we are happy with our little family!

Edit: Ha, I just looked at mu first memories post and pretty much said the same thing before starting the list. I could delete instead of writing this, but I think it further drives into the ground how much we love our little girl!

1. You’re getting better control of your arms and legs now, and although you still kick and flail your limbs like crazy, you’re definitely making contact with things. Sometimes, they are things that hurt mommy and me, but we know you don’t intend to hurt us, right?

You also reach for and grab things pretty well, but you’re still learning how to maintain your grasp for longer than a few seconds. Unless, of course, it’s mommy’s hair, you like to hold on to that and pull.

2. Now that you are more active, we’ve been playing before your bedtime on a blanket in the living room or the kitchen floor.

Depending on how tired you are from the day, we might get anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes of quality play.

Some of the things you enjoy most (we think) are being tickled all over in the form of “tickle bird” attacks, standing up as we hold you by your hands, and hanging upside down. We are getting close to wrestling, and I can’t wait for a little rough housing!

3. You have figured out and mastered how to blow raspberries. I remember Jonathan from Dad’s The Way I Like It mentioning how his son was doing this and I couldn’t wait to get youdoing the same. After many “teaching by example” sessions from Mommy and me, you finally started blowing your own raspberries and haven’t stopped!

4. Lately, trying to get you to take your first and usually only nap of the day, I’ll feed you a bottle and while burping you, you just look me straight in the face a flash a big smile. I can’t help but laugh and smile back, but I’m really thinking “Crap, she’s never going to sleep!”

That’s when I give up and tell you that I love you, kiss your head, and lay you in your crib just hoping for the best. Surprisingly, you have a short fussy session and you’re out! I’m not sure how long this will last, but I’ll enjoy it while it does!

5. You’ve already had your jumper for a couple months, but now you’re finally starting to jump in it. Out of no where, you’ll just bounce up and down and look at us with a big smile. Mommy and I applaud you and love seeing our happy baby so excited to jump!

Now when I bring you to the garage for my workouts, I bring your jumper out too. You’ll start jumping as I do burpees or jump rope to exercise with me and I can tell it makes you happy. I foresee you being the youngest baby who can do burpees one day!

6. Mommy and I had been working with you on sitting up by yourself but you usually would tumble to the side.

Then, just a few days ago, Mommy watched you sit up on your own while laying on the blanket! I missed that time, but have seen you sit up as we play at night and even during the day. I went to wash my hands after changing you, and when I came back, I found you sitting up and obviously very proud!

I have a feeling one of my memories at the 7 month mark might be crawling, or close to it! Kelley and I are so proud and in love with our growing daughter, and it makes me happy to be able to share our journey with all who care to follow!

As a parent, there are countless memories we want to love and cherish forever. Sometimes we forget all of the memories as they happen so fast or we get caught up in the next big “first” for baby.

Another Dad Blogger, Jonathan from Dad’s the way I like it, has been making monthly posts to capture a number of thoughts depending on his son’s current age in months. I enjoy reading all of his posts, and here is his current post on 12 thoughts from my 12th month as a parent.

Inspired by this, I am going to start writing a list of memories as if talking to Avery every month. Like Jonathan, the number of memories will be driven by my daughter’s current age in months.

Today, Avery is 5 months old, and although my list of memories could already span across the U.S., I will limit it to 5.

So, Avery, it’s exciting and scary to think of reading these with you years down the road, but here are 5 of my memories since becoming your father.

1. I remember mommy and me sitting in our living room with the lights off while you slept in your swing every night for about the first 2 months. We usually had the swing turned on and it made the most nerve-wracking “click-click-click” that drove us insane.

Mommy would nurse you to sleep and gently lay you in your swing with a tenderness only she can give. This is when I would be eating dinner and I made sure to tip toe every trip to the kitchen and my heart would stop a second if I made even the tiniest of noises.

2. I remember laying mommy’s breast milk soaked shirt in your crib to get you to sleep there at first. I would tightly wrap your arms in a swaddle in order to keep your arms from thrashing all over which kept you from sleeping.

Mommy and I eventually had to upgrade to the Woombie and keep your arms down by wrapping a long strip of t-shirt that I cut around you. We did this every night after bath time and most of your daily naps just before you were 4 months.

3. I remember sleeping in with you in the recliner on several occasions during the day and when you woke at night. Mom would usually be the first to try and calm you, but if you were still restless, I would take you to the front room and eventually get you to fall asleep with me in the recliner.

There was one time during a harsh winter storm in February where I had to wrap you in my jacket to keep you warm when our heater went out. But, we still made the most of it and went for a very cold, white walk in the snow.

4. I remember the first time I brought you in the garage to workout with me; you were just over a month. I was scared and worried you would start screaming when I was in the middle of lifting something heavy, but you were great!

I used to depend on your morning naps to get a workout in, but now you come to the garage with me every day and do fine watching me…..usually.

Sleeping while daddy works out in the garage

5. I remember mommy and I cheering you on as you rolled over for the first time. Our excitement was even captured on video to show just how proud we were! Even you were excited!

Well Avery, like I said, I could keep going forever, but it has to stop at 5 for this post. No worries though, you’ll be 6 months before any of us know it!

Going Mom and I love you so much, may you have another wonderful month of learning and growing!