Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Apple Of My Eye is 6 Months Old!!


Umm yes, I do think I could just eat him right up!
No way, 6 months, really?? The more kids you have the faster it goes by I think!

Well Bennett is just under 16 pounds now and I'm thinking 26-27 inches (I have a scale but I don't measure his length-lol). That puts him in the 75% for the Down syndrome charts for both height and weight and in the 25% for weight for the typical charts and 50% for height.
He is currently getting occupational therapy twice a week and the request for physical therapy was made so hopefully soon he will be getting OT once a week and PT once a week. To my surprise he will also be receiving speech therapy!! When I called and asked for a PT, I also mentioned that I would like him evaluated for speech, knowing I would get some resistance, which I did: "We don't usually offer speech at this young age", well I got a little feisty (in a nice way) with the woman and next thing I knew a speech therapist was calling me! She also has a degree in teaching and is trained in developmental therapy as well so we will be working on things that Bennett should be doing cognitively as well as socially for a 6 month old and so on as he grows. Once she meets Bennett we'll determine how often she'll come out to work on prespeech, eating and developmental therapies.

I ordered Baby Signing Times for Bennett and I'm excited to start sign language with him! I think the girls will really like it as well. We've been working on "How big is Bennett?" and I swear he lifts his little arms sometimes when I don't do it for him- so cute! He also enjoys doing patty-cake and wheels on the bus, really he's just a joy to be around.

So at 6 months Bennett can/is:


  • roll both ways and is starting to continue to roll to move across the room
  • starting to push up on his arms to get his tummy off the floor
  • shake toys and rattles rather ferociously-quite funny to watch him shake his little car seat toy-he makes this serious face and really gets into it
  • working on sitting independently- this could take some time though
  • hold a crawling position with knees on floor, tummy off the floor and arms straight momentarily-this is just so cute!
  • working on putting weight on his legs-he loves doing this and just giggles when he's bounced up and down
  • working on eating solids-he seems to like it for the most part
  • working on holding his bottle

Bennett will be getting a hearing test this month (recommended for babies with DS at 6 months and 1 year) as well as an eye exam. Both the eyes and ears can be issues with kids that have DS so we need to stay on top of it. He will also be getting his thyroid tested-again another issue that can arise... I know, it's a lot but you know, it's not that bad and I'll do anything for this little boy. I was prepared for some of the extra things that come along with having a child with Down syndrome so I'll just go with the flow. I just can't believe he had open heart surgery over 3 months ago! Oh I'm just so thankful he's doing so well right now.

Bennett you are our little cuddly bub and we love you soooo much and yes, you are the apple of mommy's eye!

Happy 6 months!!!

18 comments:

  1. He's so cute! No wonder you want to just eat him up. He looks GREAT in each picture. Isn't it amazing how much better kiddo's look after having heart surgery? Nice and pink and healthy. Nothing better!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SO adorable! I love those pictures! Him doing the crawling position is so impressive - that's so hard to do! SO big!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Man, time flies. Seems like just yesterday that I was just talking to you about your prenatal diagnosis. Bennett is a doll ... happy 6 months!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I could eat him up too! just want to snuggle him!! you will love speech, it is my favorite part of therapy. the OT seems too intuitive to me, in speech I feel like I am "helping" with all the cheek stretches and such. glad you fought for it, more Moms need too at an early age. I need to get on the signing...just thinking about that yesterday. Have some basic signs the speech path gave me, now to decifer the pictures, LOL!! 16 lbs, go Bennett!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Adrienne, he is too precious. Yes I think time goes faster when you have more kids too.

    We use signing time too and love it. I think teaching W sign lang. was the best thing we have done, plus the girls love it too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yay! Happy 6 months Bennett! You do so many great things! Keep up the great work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So cute and great that you are ontop of the Down syndrome "to do" list. Great job Mommy!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy half year birthday Bennett! You're doing so well!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love checking your blog and seeing new pictures of Bennett. He is adorable and those cheeks are so kissable. His list of accomplishments is quite impressive. I have a 2 year old (that doesn't have DS) that didn't do many of those things at 6 months. Keep up the good work. He is so lucky to have you as a mom.

    Michelle (BBC mom)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow - I can't believe he is 6 months old already!! He is such a sweet little boy and he is doing GREAT!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy 6 months, Bennett!! He is doing SO well and is just too darn CUTE!!! : )

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, Adrienne. He gets cuter by the second! His smile is so contagious! I'm SO glad he is doing so well. He is lucky to have you as his Mommy! You are so on top of it all! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Signing Times is great. Rachel is six years old and still enjoys watching them. We all learned most of the signs we know from those videos. We only got the first three, but they covered lots of signs that we needed.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bennett, you are too cute for your own good! Oh I just really can't believe that it has been 6 months, those just flew by. He is doing so amazing, he has such a great mom and family to cheer him on all the way!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bennett looks amazing. Wow how time flies it just feels like he had surgery. That is so great that he is doing so well and getting all of his services especially speech. I was just thinking about the Signing times too. You will have to let me know how it goes.

    ReplyDelete
  16. how is it possible that he is 6 months old already??!!! he is looking very cute in all of the pictures and is doing SO WELL!!! so happy for you guys! also - that is awesome that he is going to be starting speech in addition to pt and ot!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ummmm...how can this be??? 6 months, really?? I could eat his cheeks right up, he is such a little love!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Bennett is looking as loveable as always! He is growing so well and developing right on target! We have watched the Signing Times 1 and 2 videos, and you will love them. Your daughters will really enjoy them too. Sophie knows all the signs and loves to try them with Sylas. Can't believe our little guys are already 6 and 7 mths, time needs to SLOW DOWN!

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your thoughts so go ahead and leave a comment!