First Food: Oatmeal

Jack had had oatmeal one other time at Josh and Bonnie's house and really seemed to like it!  This time was a little different.  He went from excited and curious to unhappy and disgusted in a matter of seconds. 

Six Months!

Dear Jack,

You are six months old today!

My my, where have the last six months gone?  I've said this before, and I'll keep saying it, but I wish I could freeze time.  You are just so stinkin' cute!!!  Six months looks good on you, kid ;)  

You are still just as sweet as ever, always smiling and laughing.  You'll smile at just about anything, but there are a few certain things that will make you laugh and giggle.  One, I've noticed, is you laugh when I wipe your hands off . . . not sure, but I guess your hands are ticklish?!?  You'll laugh when Mommy makes a fake sneezing sound - so cute.  You love to be tickled on your belly and also cradled in our arms and kind of brought down towards the ground really quickly upside down . . . sounds too adventurous to be my child!  Must have gotten that from Dad.  The other day you had a giggle fit from Daddy and Uncle Josh hitting each other (and you at times) with a balloon.  It was hilarious and just melted Mommy's heart.

You are still playing on your activity mat pretty well but seem to get bored with it at times.  You still seem interested in your toys, Baby Einstein videos, and books, at times, but Mommy and Daddy are by far your favorite form of entertainment.  One of my favorite things is to watch you while you are watching me do something.  Something as simple as filling a cup with ice and water is mesmerizing to you!  You are like a little sponge, and it is such a joy to watch you take in the world around you.  

You are very good at rolling from your back to your tummy but sometimes have trouble going from your tummy to your back.  On your tummy is pretty much how you prefer to be these days, but then you'll get upset when you can't flip back over.  I've noticed you on the monitor "crawling" (more like sliding/scooting) backwards in your crib.  Possibly the beginning of your crawling phase perhaps? Everything is still going into your mouth, but still no sign of teeth yet.

We don't go back to the doctor until next month, but I just know you're at least 16 lbs.   You are still in size 2 diapers and 9 and 12 month size clothes.  You can still fit into a lot of your 6 month jammies, but they are snug.  Your hair has got to be the funniest thing I've ever seen.  It just continues to get longer and thicker but will not lay down for anything!  Everyone comments on how cute is, and it really is.  You look like you have a little strawberry-blonde baby mohawk!  Daddy says that he's jealous of it - he just wished that his hair was as cool as yours ;)

You are still waking up at least once, sometimes twice in the night. I'll nurse you, and you'll go right back to sleep.  You have started sleeping on your tummy, which I thought might help you to sleep longer, but it didn't.  Now that you are six months old, Mommy is going to start giving you a little solid food during the day.  She thinks that, coupled with a little more milk at bedtime will possibly help you to sleep a little better at night.  She hopes it will anyway!  Since you are teething, or at least exhibiting all the signs, you basically are napping off and on all day, where you were just taking a short nap in the morning and one or two in the afternoon.  You are now going to bed around 7:30 or so.  We sure do miss you when you're not around, but it is nice to have a bit of down time at night.

Well, I can't believe that you're six months old already.  One minute your my sweet, little newborn and the next you're my sweet, bubbly, curious little six month old.  You bring an immeasurable amount of joy to our lives, baby boy, and we love you very much!

Five Months!

Dear Jack,

You were five months old two weeks ago!  Better late than never, I guess.

What a joy this fourth month has been!  Of course, you know they've all been wonderful! You have developed such a cute personality and such a sweet disposition.  I think I say that every month, but you just continue to get cuter and sweeter. When you aren't either tired or hungry, you have got to be the most laid-back baby I've ever seen.  You basically just smile all the time, and when you aren't smiling, you have a very concerned, one eyebrow up look on your face.  It's hilarious, because your dad makes that same face!  You are very content to be by yourself, but when you see Mommy or Daddy you get so excited and start kicking your little legs - it's just precious, and we just eat it up.  

We recently had your four month check-up, and you weighed 15 lbs. 7 oz., were 27" long, and had a head circumference of 17"!  That puts you in the 75th percentile for weight, 97th for height, and 90th for head.  Mom cleaned out your closet yesterday and officially put away all of your newborn and 0-3 month size clothes, because they definitely don't fit anymore.  You are wearing 6 month size jammies but a lot of 9 and 12 month size clothes.  Mom was so excited to put you in your new little smocked summer outfits, which are mostly 9 and 12 months, that she decided to go ahead put 'em in the rotation!  You are so long they all pretty much fit already.  Yay!  And you're still wearing size 2 diapers :)

Our days together are pretty predictable, which Mommy appreciates, although you do throw her a curve ball every now again.  You are still loving your activity mat, baby einstein videos and basically anything that can go in your mouth.  EVERYTHING goes in your mouth - your shirt, my shirt, toys, whatever.  You have starting to drool a good bit, so I'm thinking that you may be teething.  I haven't seen an actual tooth yet, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

As far as sleep goes, you went through a brief phase that lasted about two weeks where you did not - I REPEAT - DID NOT want to go to sleep or stay asleep.  You would cry when got put down and wake up about every hour and a half - insert minor freak out - Mommy did a bit of Googling and found out that this was somewhat of a common thing among four month olds . . . geeze.  The Four Month Sleep Regression, as they call it, ain't no joke.  Needless to say, we were glad that phase came to an end.  You still only take little cat-naps throughout the day, one in the morning and a couple in the afternoon.  I have noticed that you are wanting to be put to bed for the night a little earlier these days.  It was around 9, now it's around 8:30 or so.

You are still on a milk only diet, nursing every three hours, although soon we'll start you on some solid foods.  You did have oatmeal one time at Uncle Josh and Aunt Bonnie's (pics to come), but haven't had any since.  You seemed to like it a lot, so I'm thinking and hoping it goes well.  Mommy did go back to feeding you once in the night . . . She was just so excited that you were actually sleeping for longer than your recent hour-and-a-half stretches, that she didn't mind AT ALL getting up for a feeding!

Well, I guess that's it!  I really can't describe how wonderful it is being your Mommy.  And I know Daddy feels the same way.  To be able to see you grow and learn and take in all the new things around you truly is a joy.  Everyday, it just gets better and better.  And while it can be challenging at times, it doesn't come close to the joy that you bring to our lives.  We love you, Little Man!

*On a side note, I recently spilled water on Jonathan's computer, so we had to send it to the Apple store to get fixed.  Oh, that was a bad day.  I am now using my trusty, old HP and for some reason am having trouble uploading pics to the blog.  SO, anything I post for a while will be pictureless - I'll have to add them later. Just so ya know!*

I'm So Excited . . .

. . . and I just can't hide it!

Cheesy? Yes.  Did everyone just think of Jessie Spano? Hehe ;)

But, I am!  I am so excited about my most recent purchases for Jack!

I will begin by saying that I am not one of those people that clips coupons and scours around for the best deals before making a purchase ( I think I've said that before ).  Although I wish I was, and I admire those who have the patience and determination to do so.  I should aspire to be more like you.   

HOWEVER, I recently entered the exciting world of children's consignment sales and O. M. G.  I'm hooked.  Bonnie and I went to Kids Market last fall but waited until the last day, the 50% off day.  There were a few good things left but not many.  Last week I went to the Growing Kids consignment sale in Trussville and was able to shop early, because I'm a new mom.  Sweet!  I wasn't quite sure what to expect since I'm new to these things, but when I got there, there was a line waiting out the door just to get in!  I brought my clothes basket with a scarf tied to it (as recommended) just in case I found anything worth buying . . .

Fast forward about an hour and a half.

I'm still shopping.  My clothes basket is so full, I can no longer pull it with the dinky little scarf I have tied to the handle.  I'm having to carry it.  I've estimated that I probably have about $300 worth of consigned clothing in my basket, and Jonathan will kill me if I actually come home with it all.  I am elated that from what I can tell, the majority of the moms around me in the baby boys section do not believe that a smocked bubble or jon-jon belongs on a boy.  What???  Fine with me!  GIVE IT HERE!  At least that's the only thing I could conclude, because they were just passing them over right and left!

  I made out like a bandit.  Everything I found either had the tags still on it or was very gently worn.  I didn't spend over $15 on any one item, even the brand new smocked ones!  My cheapest item was a pair of precious little plaid overall shorts with a choo-choo on the front for $2!  Those shorts were $3 and the cute little outfit with the crab on it still had the tags on it, and it was $4!  You just can't beat that.  

I learned from a fellow mommy in line that all the good consignment sales happen between the last week in February and the first week in March, so you know where to find me this time next year!  I think next year I'm going to volunteer to work one, so I can shop even earlier!!  I think they've created a monster!!!   

              

Four Months!

Dear Jack,

You are four months old today!

Not possible!  Not at all possible!  I recently met a friend of mine's new little girl, and you looked HUGE next to her!  Where has the time gone, and when did you get so big?!?  You are still a "newborn" in my mind!  Guess I should get with the program.

Anywho.  I have been told before that each little phase in your life will bring with it new and exciting moments and milestones, making it a little easier to let go of the previous phase.  What a blessing this is, because as a very sentimental person, I can tell you it is hard to accept the fact that you are growing up and will continue to do so!

This last month brought with it a few exciting "firsts", including sleeping in your crib for the first time and rolling over for the first time!  Yes, you sleep in your crib now.  In your room.  Without me.  I fought it!  I fought it for a while!  However, when I looked over and saw that your feet were butting up against the end of the bassinet and you couldn't really stretch your legs out straight, I knew it was time.   

We are currently working on getting you to sleep through the night.  I believe that I, your mother, have been a bit of a hinderance in this area as I will rush into your room to comfort you at the slightest sound of distress or discomfort.  Whoops.  Dr. Levin gave me some advice.  He said to let you fuss . . . hmm . . . He makes it sounds so simple!  And I guess it is.  Must work on this.  I think I'm getting better though.  I'll actually stare at the monitor and let you fuss for a whole minute and a half as opposed to the ten seconds I was giving it - that's what I call progress!  In all seriousness though, we have skipped a feeding at night.  You now go down for bed around 9:30 and will sleep until around 4:30 or 5.  That's good, right?!  I'll get up to feed you, put you back down, and you'll usually sleep until around 8 or 8:30!  

You have THE CUTEST personality, I am convinced.   You are so pleasant, so laid back, and just smile all the time.  You still love your activity mat, your baby einstein videos, and anything that lights up and makes noise.  You have gotten really good at holding onto things and will grab at anything within your reach.  Dad and I try to read to you everyday, and you really enjoy it.  I've found that you really like to look at us while we're reading, so you can see our faces.  You absolutely love your hands.  I believe this is one of your favorite past-times, to put your hands in your mouth.  They are literally in there all the time!

You LOVE to either sit up or stand up.  Anytime we have you laid back, you strain your neck to sit up and see what's going on.  It is so sweet to see your face when we stand you up - you look so excited and so proud of yourself, like you know you're getting to be a big boy.  And you are!  You are making lots of cute and funny noises these days, ranging from a "goo" to a prolonged "ccckkkkk" sound from the back of your throat.  So funny. 

You are currently wearing size 2 diapers and size 6 month clothing.  You still want to eat every three hours and are taking around three naps a day.  The first one comes about 2 to 3 hours after you wake up, and the next one is between two and four o'clock.  The last one is around 6 or 6:30, although I'm not quite sure yet if this is just you telling us that you're ready for bed.  Could be.  It can be a bit of a challenge to get you to go to sleep these days - it seems that you don't like the feeling of getting sleepy.  You don't fuss too long though and usually respond well to a little rocking and singing.

Well, another wonderful month is in the books, Jack, and you just continue to be our most favorite little person ever.  We love you so much, stinker!   

*Please excuse the photography.  While my subject is darling, my photography skills are lacking.*