Varen 6 Months Old (Already??)

Oh my where does the time go. Varen is 6 months old today and I am a little emotional about it. I've always felt like I've had to try my best to ensure that Varen got the same treatment as Vashon. But it's just not possible, knowing what I knew before Varen was even born. I'm less trigger ready to randomly buy something for Varen that he wont care about or play with. Clothes although he does get some new are mostly hand me downs and if I can find it I'm more inclined to purchase all those expensive baby contraptions off of craigslist. On the positive side I take twice as many photos of Varen than I did with Vashon and I've welcomed myself into the world of videos and youtube and my youtube page is filling up with "random things my baby did". I spend less time reading parenting books and magazines that swear they have the sure fire way to get your child to sleep through the night, crawl early or READ.

I don't compete with other mothers and their babies because since Vashon I've realized that every child is different and you CAN drive yourself mad trying to keep up.

I'm happy to announce that I'm still breastfeeding Varen and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

For 6 months I've just enjoyed my baby being a baby, watching him change with everyday. I have my days where being his mom is really hard. Nights where I pace up and down the hall holding him trying to get him to calm down, and sometimes I'll think "maybe this is because I didn't let him CIO, or because he's spoiled, etc", then I remind myself of my beliefs on training babies and that I didn't become a mother thinking it was going to be easy. And while some of my friends may have sweet sleeping non crying babes that doesn't necessarily mean it's because they've done something right and I've done it wrong. It means they just got Lucky.

So to you Varen here is your 6 months update - Happy half a year sweet boy

Varen @ 6 months

Weight - 20 lbs (since 2 months Varen has been gaining 3 lbs a month, at 5 months he weighed 19 lbs so I think his weight is starting to slow down now)


Sleeping Patterns - Still co sleeps/bed shares, occasionally I will put him in the pack n play next to my bed. (we are currently visiting in CA so even if I wanted to he couldn't be in his own room) I will honestly say that bed sharing is for my peace of mind and success in breastfeeding. I don't know how long I plan to do this but I am trying to get him used to sleeping without me.


Eating Habits - Still breastfed, still nursing on demand. I started Varen on solids at 5.5 months I tried to wait until now but he kept grabbing stuff out of my hands.



New foods he likes - Sweet potato's, squash, apple sauce, avocado, bananas, pears, carrots, oatmeal. He hates rice cereal (I wouldn't blame him) now that he's 6 mo old I plan to start some of the techniques of baby led feeding.


New discoveries - He's starting to like toys a lot more and is kind of getting interested in yo gabba gabba

Varen Jacob @ 6 Months

Yep, all those rolls, and I love them. ;)

New Milestones - He sits up unsupported now. YAY!!!!! Varen

Places baby went -He attended his first funeral as his grampie passed away (RIP Grampie)

Anything else - He's starting to teeth and boy is he a beast of a child. Nothing like Vashon. He's pretty much given up the paci we can still use if for a quick soothe but he doesn't NEED it, unlike Vashon. In 6 months Varen has been sick once and he's taken NO medicine. I've pretty much used my breast milk to cure everything. lol

How is older brother - Vashon is good. Loves his brother but doesn't love to share.

My Vashon

Vashon is an amazing kid. He drives me mad at times but amazes me everyday. When they say kids are like sponges they are talking about Vashon. He soaks in everything so much we have to ask "where did he learn that from?" He's 4 yrs old now and everyday I look at him and think he's no longer my baby he's my kid. I have a KID. LOL. He reminds me of Van and myself but is the spitting image of his father.

He starts pre school this September. I'm excited and nervous I'm going to miss him. We are about to walk into a whole new world now is the time where I've become passionate about education because now it effects my children and sadly I'm not to happy with the turn education has taken. Vashon will be attending a private pre k but I don't think we'll be able to financially swing it for both boys in the yrs to come.

I'm trying really hard to pick my battles with him and let him just be a kid, trying not to freak at every scrap and ruined pair of jeans. I wish I could give all my time to him but Varen demands so much of my time. I remind myself that vashon had his time to shine for 3 yrs. I remind myself that I am not Vashon's friend I'm his mother and it's not always my job to just play with him all day or say how high when he says jump.

I have so much planned for him its very exciting so stay tuned.

The Nolan's - The last family photo

I don't know if many of you know but my father passed away late April. You can read vayden's blog for further details. The night we found out that the Dr. was giving dad 6 mo to live I contacted a photographer friend. My brother was in town I was here visiting and with the news it was something I think we needed. Our last family photo aside from in front of a the house was taken over 20 yrs ago. Only by the grace of God did she have a cancellation and was free to come take photos for us. At the time we were grateful but had no idea how important those photos and that experience was going to be. 6 days later my dad passed away. That Saturday was the last day we all sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful day. We laughed and even though my brother and I are adults and married with kids that Saturday we were the Nolan's.
I am forever grateful to my dear friend Taryn.