Dexter Ian is six months old today. Matt and I have been parents for a whole half of a year! The big news is he’s in daycare now, where he’s breaking hearts and you guessed it – refusing naps. The kid is a man of action and just doesn’t like to sleep. At this moment in time, though, nighttime is going pretty well. (Subject to change at whim of tiny human.)

Dexter’s favorite things are sweet potatoes, bouncing in his bouncer, chewing on everything and disarming his parents with the most handsome smile you’ve ever seen. He babbles and seems close to a word, so every time he makes word-like sounds Matt and I swoop in and start saying “Dada! Dada!” and “Mama! Mama!” in an effort to lobby the baby in his choice of first word, because of course, this is a competition. When this happens, Dex usually just smiles knowingly, like he’s thinking, “Damn, do I ever have these two wrapped around my finger.”

He’s right.

Dexter Ian is five months old today. In the past month he’s become more, well, dexterous. Matt and I observe developmental leaps just about daily, visible in the way he handles his toys and interacts with people. He laughs when we play his favorite games: “Oh No Mommy Dropped The Baby” and “Oh No Mommy Turned Into A Zombie And She’s Going To Eat Your Brains.”

Speaking of eating, we are trying out solids and Dexter has enjoyed a gourmet meal of runny oatmeal for two dinners now. Sleep continues to be an issue (I have him wrapped on me and am trying to get him to drop off as I type this) and it is extra challenging since he’s outgrown his bedside rocker and moved onto his crib. Matt and I have teamed up and made a plan and are determined to crack it, right in time for Dexter’s next developmental leap when we’ll have to start all over.

The other day, Dex was practicing barrel rolls on our bed and I turned to Matt and said, “I can’t believe we have this awesome baby. And he LIVES in our HOUSE.” My sister tells me that awed feeling never really goes away. I hope she’s right.

Dexter Ian is four months old today. His favorite things are sticking out his tongue, being the world’s most accomplished baby at resisting naps and waking up in the morning and babbling to himself while Matt and I lie in bed and giggle until one of us gives in and gets him out of his rocker.

This past month has been travel-y. Dexter went to the Keys, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where our 3-year-old nephew, Collin, was way excited to hold his new cousin. Word is Collin is still smitten and whenever anyone asks about Dex, he says, “He is getting SO big!”

Dexter does this thing, you guys, where someone else is holding him and I’ll be talking and not paying attention and then suddenly I’ll notice his face and he is looking at me, grinning with absolute, unabashed delight. It knocks me out every time.

Dexter Ian is three months old today. His favorite things are kicking his legs furiously when he should be sleeping, incessantly babbling to Dad about his day when he should be sleeping, and being totally freaking exhausted but resisting sleep anyway. Dex smiles a lot but hasn’t quite broken out a laugh yet.

Dexter is also the newest member of Team Watermark, and comes to work with Mommy two days a week. He’s not much help with editing but is great for morale.

At least once a day, Matt and I look at him and wonder how the heck we made something so, so beautiful.

Dexter Ian is two months old today. The big news is that he smiles socially, which is like a little piece of magic every day. I couldn’t make it happen for this photo but I’ll link a video of a smile. Dexter’s current favorite things are resisting naps, kicking his chubby legs (hence the blurry photo), growing so fast he only gets to wear adorable outfits one freaking time, and his mommy. I don’t want to brag but this kid is obsessed with me. The fixation is new, in the past couple of days, but Dex cries if I’m out of his sight and yesterday he stared steadily at me through an entire trip through Trader Joe’s like a tiny little creeper. I’m sure it has nothing to do with me being his walking, talking milk machine and is predicated entirely on my bountiful charm.

Oh, I almost forgot a favorite thing – Matt has been back at work for the past month and Dex is a big fan of tickly beard kisses from Daddy when he gets home every night.

Dexter Ian is one month old today. He still hates diaper changes, but has changed his tune and now loves baths. His other favorite things are eating (so much eating), having his little feet tucked in and staring at the map of the world we have on our wall. (Seriously- if he turns out to be weirdly good at geography we’ll know exactly why.)

Dex is a first class Mother’s Day gift, I’ll tell you that for free. Happy day!