Gabriel,
One and one quarter years old.
Stats
You had a doctor's appointment just last week. You weighed 21.6 pounds and were 30.5" long - the 30th percentile for each. She said your language development is that of an 18-22 month-old. Impressive! Still in 12-18 month clothes plus a new addition to your wardrobe: shoes! :)
Sleeping
You sleep very consistently these days. A nap between 2:00-4:00 pm ranging from thirty mintues to two hours depending on the morning and your waking time.
You go down for bed at night following a bath and book time with Daddy around 9:00 pm. You'll usually sleep until 1:00 am, then wake again at least once more between 1:00 and 7:00 am. You'll wake at 7:00 am and go back down until 9:00 or 10:00. Typically you wake right at 9:00, but some days you'll sleep until 10:00!
Eating
You nurse three times a day: when you wake up (you like a slow start to your day), at nap, and before bed. Then, usually, only once overnight, unless Daddy has as hard time getting you back down from a waking.
You've developed preferences with food. You generally don't like veggies, which stresses this little mama out, and you're picky and inconsistent about fruits. You love grains (rice, bread, cereals, pasta) and dairy (yogurt, milk, ice cream, cheese) and beans. You'll try anything, but if you don't like it, you'll spit it out!
Milestones
Speech
You're an exceptional talker. The number of words you know is too long to count. You'll try to repeat anything and you'll usually succeed pretty clearly. Some things are only obvious in context. Some of your favorite words: Mama, Dada, milk (muk), ice cream (ah-heem), all clean (ah-keen), ball, catch (cech), roll, throw (thow), book, and dog, Rocky, Rock. Also, you love to say walk (wok)! You're favorite speech trick right now is to walk up to people and put your arms up and say, "Up!" I think you're testing them to see if they'll respond to you. You use articles - it's not just "ball," it's "a ball" or "the ball". You've also started using phrases. "Play ball!" (Pay ball!) "Dada throw!" "Mama up!" "Throw the ball!" You*just* started using "sentences". Example: "Deedle deedle dee ball." "Wadow wadow walk." You say these like they're real sentences and look at me like I should be able to actually understand you. Perhaps this is what I sound like to you? You only pick up the words you know? Lastly, you've started naming places - "home" has a distinct name. Church is "Nenenee" which is the name of your church teacher, Stephanie. :)
Walking
Suddenly, you're mobile. You started walking right around your fourteen month birthday and haven't stopped since. You began by doing bear-crawls and it slowly grew to wobbly steps. Now you're super sure on your feet and prefer walking to any other method of locomotion. You began really walking over July 4th weekend at Grandma and Papa Chambers' house.
Teething
You haven't gained any new teeth, but are currently working on one of your molars.
Major Events
Mommy turned 28 and Daddy turned 27 in June. We went to Oklahoma for Father's Day, then again for the 4th of July. Speaking of Independence Day, you loved the fireworks, but insisted on nursing the whole show.
You've been spending time with baby-sitters a lot more and handle it very well. Just this last week you experienced your first vacation Bible school - Colossal Coaster World, where you stayed with Stephanie for two and half hours every evening! It was a long week for everyone.
In the upcoming months, we have to look forward to Mommy and Daddy's fifth anniversary, some vacations and trips to Oklahoma, starting Mother's Day Out school, and starting back to Bible Study Fellowship. I expect to stop going to Gymboree once all that starts again. It's too expensive to go to Gymboree and MDO, and we just don't have enough time in the week to do both. I hope you don't miss Gymboree too much. I'll have to do a whole post about how great that experience has been for both of us.
I love you, Gabriel. You're so smart, strong, silly, and sweet. You're my favorite baby.
Mommy
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
One Year!
Gabriel,
It's so hard to believe that one year ago we were struggling through the first weeks of your life. I do wish I had done some sort of series about the time leading up to and immediately following your birth and I still might do some sort of post reminiscing about such times, but for now this will have to do. You're so hard to keep up with now...hardly any downtime. :)
Stats
Sometime soon you should be seeing Dr. Thomas for your one year checkup. I'll know more about your height and weight following the appointment.
You are on the cusp between 9-12 month clothes and 12-18 month clothes.
Sleep
You are on a very consistent sleep schedule. You wake between 7:30 and 8:30, with a few late mornings thrown in for mercy's sake. Sometimes you'll nap in the morning, but rarely anymore. You always nap between 1:00 and 3:00 until between 2:00 and 4:00. Some days you nap a little later. Your bedtime is always between 7:30 and 8:30 - sometimes later or earlier depending upon the day's activities. You always always wake between 10:30 and 11:30. That's usually right around the time we're laying down to go to bed.
Life got a lot easier when you went to bed earlier and we were able to have some time to ourselves to be adults after you went to bed.
I want to reiterate that we had nothing to do with your current sleep schedule. You fell into this schedule on your own and it just so happens to match up with the "suggested one year old sleep schedule". I do not believe in baby sleep training.
Eating
I'd say, at this point, you eat as much solids as you nurse. You are beginning to express discerning tastes. You hate carrots, raw or cooked. You've decided you love bananas and joyfully say, "Banenonenoneno!"
Milestones
Speech
You talk all the time and are learning new words every day! Your vocabuarly is estimated to be at around 50 words.
Walking
You are not at all interested in walking and it's so funny! We try to finger walk you, and you sit or are dragged. You will stand inadvertently. It's so cute. I'm not ready for you to walk and am glad you're slow to walk.
Teeth
You gained one more tooth! Your upper tooth to the left of your two front teeth is just barely visible.
Major Events
We celebrated your first birthday! We hosted a party for you at Papa and Grandma Chambers' house. It was very fun. You didn't smash your cake - you ate it! We will be having another birthday party for you this weekend here in San Antonio.
I will be writing a reflection post soon reflecting on your birth one year later. :)
I love you, son.
Mommy
It's so hard to believe that one year ago we were struggling through the first weeks of your life. I do wish I had done some sort of series about the time leading up to and immediately following your birth and I still might do some sort of post reminiscing about such times, but for now this will have to do. You're so hard to keep up with now...hardly any downtime. :)
Stats
Sometime soon you should be seeing Dr. Thomas for your one year checkup. I'll know more about your height and weight following the appointment.
You are on the cusp between 9-12 month clothes and 12-18 month clothes.
Sleep
You are on a very consistent sleep schedule. You wake between 7:30 and 8:30, with a few late mornings thrown in for mercy's sake. Sometimes you'll nap in the morning, but rarely anymore. You always nap between 1:00 and 3:00 until between 2:00 and 4:00. Some days you nap a little later. Your bedtime is always between 7:30 and 8:30 - sometimes later or earlier depending upon the day's activities. You always always wake between 10:30 and 11:30. That's usually right around the time we're laying down to go to bed.
Life got a lot easier when you went to bed earlier and we were able to have some time to ourselves to be adults after you went to bed.
I want to reiterate that we had nothing to do with your current sleep schedule. You fell into this schedule on your own and it just so happens to match up with the "suggested one year old sleep schedule". I do not believe in baby sleep training.
Eating
I'd say, at this point, you eat as much solids as you nurse. You are beginning to express discerning tastes. You hate carrots, raw or cooked. You've decided you love bananas and joyfully say, "Banenonenoneno!"
Milestones
Speech
You talk all the time and are learning new words every day! Your vocabuarly is estimated to be at around 50 words.
Walking
You are not at all interested in walking and it's so funny! We try to finger walk you, and you sit or are dragged. You will stand inadvertently. It's so cute. I'm not ready for you to walk and am glad you're slow to walk.
Teeth
You gained one more tooth! Your upper tooth to the left of your two front teeth is just barely visible.
Major Events
We celebrated your first birthday! We hosted a party for you at Papa and Grandma Chambers' house. It was very fun. You didn't smash your cake - you ate it! We will be having another birthday party for you this weekend here in San Antonio.
I will be writing a reflection post soon reflecting on your birth one year later. :)
I love you, son.
Mommy
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Eleven Months
Dear Gabey,
I cannot believe you are eleven months old! My, how the time is just flying by. Of course, since I missed your ten month post, this will be a combined ten and eleven month update. I'm sorry for that.
Stats
You have leveled out in weight gain and I'll know more about your updated weight and height after your one year checkup. You are still wearing 6-9 month clothing, but it is getting a little snug on you around your waist and in length.
Sleep
The past couple of months have been incredible for sleep! Your schedule is very predictable. You go to bed every night between 8:00 and 9:00, usually around 8:30. You'll sleep typically until at least 1:00, but you've gone as long as until 3:00! Then the night gets a little rough. I nurse you down and sometimes you'll stay down for another three hours, but sometimes you'll start waking every hour.
Your naps are much more predictable. You'll sometimes nap in the morning for thirty minutes or an hour, around lunchtime for an hour, and you have a marathon nap in the afternoons around 2:30 which can last anywhere from an hour to two hours.
Eating
Your eating has leveled off a little, too. We're still introducing you to many foods - pretty much anything I eat, you eat - but the amount you eat has lessened a little. You still nurse all the time, though!
Milestones
You finally finally finally said Mama just in the last week or so! Sometimes, it comes out as Baba, but I'll take it! :)
You wave constantly, always waving at the people around you. You even say Bye! You wave in conversation when someone says hi or bye. You also pick up on other favorite words like ball or bunny or dog. You really like balloons - "booln."
That's another new word: bunny. We buy these little cheesey snack crackers that look like bunnies and you'll point to the box and say, "Bulnnie!"
We've also been working on egg, which you say as "gg."
You also said Papa (Grandma Chambers), opa, and nipple. :)
Major Events
We celebrated Easter this month. You took part in your first egg hunt at Daddy's work. We also had a small egg hunt at Papa and Grandma Chambers' house.
You met Uncle Michael's girlfriend, Keeahna. I'm hoping she'll be your aunt one day, but I might also look back on this post in a few years and laugh remembering her.
I suppose since my last post you also celebrated your first Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.
Reflecting
Looking back on the last eleven months, I cannot believe how much you've changed. It's simply incredible. You laugh at jokes, understand when something's silly, are learning boundaries and responding to discipline, and you get excited about things.
But I also have to reflect on how much I've changed. Gabe, you've changed me for the better. I love the person I am when I'm with you. I hope I can always be patient, joyful, and peaceful for you.
I love you,
Mommy
I cannot believe you are eleven months old! My, how the time is just flying by. Of course, since I missed your ten month post, this will be a combined ten and eleven month update. I'm sorry for that.
Stats
You have leveled out in weight gain and I'll know more about your updated weight and height after your one year checkup. You are still wearing 6-9 month clothing, but it is getting a little snug on you around your waist and in length.
Sleep
The past couple of months have been incredible for sleep! Your schedule is very predictable. You go to bed every night between 8:00 and 9:00, usually around 8:30. You'll sleep typically until at least 1:00, but you've gone as long as until 3:00! Then the night gets a little rough. I nurse you down and sometimes you'll stay down for another three hours, but sometimes you'll start waking every hour.
Your naps are much more predictable. You'll sometimes nap in the morning for thirty minutes or an hour, around lunchtime for an hour, and you have a marathon nap in the afternoons around 2:30 which can last anywhere from an hour to two hours.
Eating
Your eating has leveled off a little, too. We're still introducing you to many foods - pretty much anything I eat, you eat - but the amount you eat has lessened a little. You still nurse all the time, though!
Milestones
You finally finally finally said Mama just in the last week or so! Sometimes, it comes out as Baba, but I'll take it! :)
You wave constantly, always waving at the people around you. You even say Bye! You wave in conversation when someone says hi or bye. You also pick up on other favorite words like ball or bunny or dog. You really like balloons - "booln."
That's another new word: bunny. We buy these little cheesey snack crackers that look like bunnies and you'll point to the box and say, "Bulnnie!"
We've also been working on egg, which you say as "gg."
You also said Papa (Grandma Chambers), opa, and nipple. :)
Major Events
We celebrated Easter this month. You took part in your first egg hunt at Daddy's work. We also had a small egg hunt at Papa and Grandma Chambers' house.
You met Uncle Michael's girlfriend, Keeahna. I'm hoping she'll be your aunt one day, but I might also look back on this post in a few years and laugh remembering her.
I suppose since my last post you also celebrated your first Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.
Reflecting
Looking back on the last eleven months, I cannot believe how much you've changed. It's simply incredible. You laugh at jokes, understand when something's silly, are learning boundaries and responding to discipline, and you get excited about things.
But I also have to reflect on how much I've changed. Gabe, you've changed me for the better. I love the person I am when I'm with you. I hope I can always be patient, joyful, and peaceful for you.
I love you,
Mommy
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Nine Months!
Dearest Gabriel,
You are now nine months and four days old! I simply cannot believe how the time has flown by. I remember when you were first born, and I was overwhelmed and my mom kept telling me that it would get better and better as you got older, but six months, nine months, one year seemed like such long times to wait! And now we're here! And you're almost a big boy! It's so so so bittersweet!
Stats
We had your nine month well baby check up yesterday with Dr. Thomas. You weighed 19.2 pounds and were 27.25" long. You gained a little over two pounds since your six month checkup, but only grew about 3/4 of an inch in lenght, which is okay. You're right around the 50th percentile for your age group, which is spot on.
She also let us know that you are perfect, physically and mentally. You're growing up just as you should. In fact, you're a little advanced (see milestones below).
You're still wearing 6-9 and 6-12 months clothes. You've leveled out a bit.
Sleep
Sleep varies with you so much night to night. Some nights you sleep really well, waking only every four hours or so. But then some nights you wake every two hours, or even every hour and half. Those nights are hard and long. Especially when they add up.
We're okay with your odd night sleep habits, though. We pray every night that you will learn to sleep longer at night, but more that we can be peaceful, joyful, and patient parents in those wee morning hours.
You nap very regularly (see schedule below).
Eating
You eat so much! I cannot believe how much you eat! Most mornings you eat a breakfast of yogurt, oatmeal, and fruit. For lunch, you eat whatever I'm having or a puree or two. For dinner, you eat whatever we're having and usually lots of it! Today, for example, we had Bible Study Fellowship so you just nursed for breakfast. For lunch we shared Chick-Fil-A: chicken noodle soup, fries, and a yogurt parfait. For dinner we had Freebirds: you almost finished half of your own refried bean and cheese quesadilla and cilantro lime rice. You also tried apple juice for the first time and liked it prettty well!
There's not a food I've had in the last three months that you haven't sampled, both because we want you to and because you want to. You love to eat and will try anything. You've yet to spit anything out at us.
Also, you're still nursing full time! I nurse you at least twice overnight, once at 7ish, 9ish, noonish, 3ish, and at bedtime around 8. I don't know how you can eat so much and not be fatter! Haha!
We hit a rocky patch nursing for about a week. You bit me one Sunday and I exclaimed very loudly. That whole week you kept biting and seemed tentative to nurse. It was very traumatic for both of us. But one day you just picked it right back up like nothing happened. Odd. I think you were trying to learn how to nurse while you had the compulsion to bite because you're teething.
Milestones
You started crawling this month! We waited and waited for weeks for you to crawl, and one day (January 14) on your own time, you woke up and decided to crawl. You took off. No patsying around. You're enjoying it more and more. For a long time you would just complain while you crawled to me and cried for me to pick you up. It was endearing. Now you'll crawl around to explore things, but often look back to me for assurance. I don't mind. :)
You're vocabulary has taken off. Apparently, most babies don't talk until around their first birthday, but you have quite the vocabulary. You say: dog (first word), ball (current obsession), bird, book, Dada (referring to Daddy), and Key (Rocky).
You also started clapping and waving just in the last couple of days. So adorable!
You love to play "ball" where you throw the ball and we roll it back to you. Sometimes you prefer to chase the ball yourself now that you're mobile.
You've just started pulling up. We're waiting on the "creeper" stage.
We thought you'd been teething for a while, but no new teeth that we could see beyond the first that I wrote about last month. You've had a lot of the symptoms, though, and we were confused. Dr. Thomas discovered that you're cutting your molars! A little early! Just another way you're advanced! :)
Events
You had your first New Year and slept through it. It's now 2013.
Recently, we joined Gymboree Play and Music. We're taking you to the music class and play class for your age. They also have an open gym time where we can just go play. You LOVE it!
Other than that, not a lot of major events.
I love you more and more every day. You changed my life so much and for the better. I love love love you!
Always,
Mommy
You are now nine months and four days old! I simply cannot believe how the time has flown by. I remember when you were first born, and I was overwhelmed and my mom kept telling me that it would get better and better as you got older, but six months, nine months, one year seemed like such long times to wait! And now we're here! And you're almost a big boy! It's so so so bittersweet!
Stats
We had your nine month well baby check up yesterday with Dr. Thomas. You weighed 19.2 pounds and were 27.25" long. You gained a little over two pounds since your six month checkup, but only grew about 3/4 of an inch in lenght, which is okay. You're right around the 50th percentile for your age group, which is spot on.
She also let us know that you are perfect, physically and mentally. You're growing up just as you should. In fact, you're a little advanced (see milestones below).
You're still wearing 6-9 and 6-12 months clothes. You've leveled out a bit.
Sleep
Sleep varies with you so much night to night. Some nights you sleep really well, waking only every four hours or so. But then some nights you wake every two hours, or even every hour and half. Those nights are hard and long. Especially when they add up.
We're okay with your odd night sleep habits, though. We pray every night that you will learn to sleep longer at night, but more that we can be peaceful, joyful, and patient parents in those wee morning hours.
You nap very regularly (see schedule below).
Eating
You eat so much! I cannot believe how much you eat! Most mornings you eat a breakfast of yogurt, oatmeal, and fruit. For lunch, you eat whatever I'm having or a puree or two. For dinner, you eat whatever we're having and usually lots of it! Today, for example, we had Bible Study Fellowship so you just nursed for breakfast. For lunch we shared Chick-Fil-A: chicken noodle soup, fries, and a yogurt parfait. For dinner we had Freebirds: you almost finished half of your own refried bean and cheese quesadilla and cilantro lime rice. You also tried apple juice for the first time and liked it prettty well!
There's not a food I've had in the last three months that you haven't sampled, both because we want you to and because you want to. You love to eat and will try anything. You've yet to spit anything out at us.
Also, you're still nursing full time! I nurse you at least twice overnight, once at 7ish, 9ish, noonish, 3ish, and at bedtime around 8. I don't know how you can eat so much and not be fatter! Haha!
We hit a rocky patch nursing for about a week. You bit me one Sunday and I exclaimed very loudly. That whole week you kept biting and seemed tentative to nurse. It was very traumatic for both of us. But one day you just picked it right back up like nothing happened. Odd. I think you were trying to learn how to nurse while you had the compulsion to bite because you're teething.
Milestones
You started crawling this month! We waited and waited for weeks for you to crawl, and one day (January 14) on your own time, you woke up and decided to crawl. You took off. No patsying around. You're enjoying it more and more. For a long time you would just complain while you crawled to me and cried for me to pick you up. It was endearing. Now you'll crawl around to explore things, but often look back to me for assurance. I don't mind. :)
You're vocabulary has taken off. Apparently, most babies don't talk until around their first birthday, but you have quite the vocabulary. You say: dog (first word), ball (current obsession), bird, book, Dada (referring to Daddy), and Key (Rocky).
You also started clapping and waving just in the last couple of days. So adorable!
You love to play "ball" where you throw the ball and we roll it back to you. Sometimes you prefer to chase the ball yourself now that you're mobile.
You've just started pulling up. We're waiting on the "creeper" stage.
We thought you'd been teething for a while, but no new teeth that we could see beyond the first that I wrote about last month. You've had a lot of the symptoms, though, and we were confused. Dr. Thomas discovered that you're cutting your molars! A little early! Just another way you're advanced! :)
Events
You had your first New Year and slept through it. It's now 2013.
Recently, we joined Gymboree Play and Music. We're taking you to the music class and play class for your age. They also have an open gym time where we can just go play. You LOVE it!
Other than that, not a lot of major events.
I love you more and more every day. You changed my life so much and for the better. I love love love you!
Always,
Mommy
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Eight Months
My dear, sweet Angel Baby,
You are changing everyday in a very visible way. Each day you grow more and more awesome. You never cease to amaze me!
Stats
At last weigh in you were at just twenty pounds. That was about a week and a half ago. Not sure how long you are right now. Your 6-9 month clothes are just getting to be a smidge small.
Sleep
This month has been amazing for sleep! You snooze through the night in your crib, waking every 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Some nights, miraculously, you'll sleep three or even four hours in a row. Like last month, Daddy brings you into our bed at around four am and you finish the night there. Most days your last waking is around seven. I nurse you one last time, and you often sleep until nine. Lately, I've been sneaking out of bed after you fall asleep, and start my day while you finish your night.
You nap in my arms for 1.5 to 2 hours at a time, usually around ten am, two pm, and four pm.
We put you down for the night between 7:30 and 9:00, depending on your behavior and when your last nap was.
Just the past week, you started waking up every hour. It was really hard on us, especially your dad. We would often just bring you to stay in bed with us. This produced the usual discussion about doing something different to "encourage" you to sleep better. This past Saturday, we learned why you were having such a hard time. :)
Eating
The world of food has opened up to you this month. I don't know that I could begin to list all the new foods you've tried. You go crazy for food, when you see people with plates, and when we sit down at the table. You lift your hands up and say, "Mmm...mmm...!" This month you tried baby food for the first time. I had coupons for organic, whole food purees. You like them okay, but often prefer real table food. You do go bonkers for freeze dried yogurt and baby "puffs". You'll sample purees, but the bulk of your food comes from our plates.
You've tried: cinnamon apples, broccoli, ham, cheese, bologna, milk, different pizzas, various soups, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberries, velveeta, diet Dr. Pepper (shame on me), various cookies, chocolate, peppermint sticks, lollipops, cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, and many more.
You still nurse as much as you used to. I joke that you supplement nursing with table food because you're growing so fast! I can't keep up! Your table food is negligible and the bulk of your nourishment still comes from me. And I wouldn't change that for the world.
(see below for drinking and feeding information)
Milestones
At the beginning of this month and for much of last month, you had an adorable fake cough you'd do. You liked to have us mimic you and you'd often try to "converse" with us this way.
I got a smoothie from Panera Bread in hopes of encouraging you to start using a straw with it, and all it did was supply you with a huge straw through which to make music. This was huge deal this month: the development of your love of music. You smile when you hear it, and take pride in making noise and producing music.
You developed your pinscher grasp this month! It's something you're quite proud of and you prefer to use it.You won't be fed, and instead enjoy feeding yourself with your new pinchy fingers. Unfortunately for me, as this skill was developing you practiced it on me while nursing. The under side of my arms had quite a few bruises for a while.
We have our diapers delivered monthly from Amazon and they arrive in an excessively large box. One day, I placed you in the box with some of your toys and you played in there for hours! You enjoy tipping boxes over, emptying boxes, and pulling up on boxes.
Indeed, you've begun pulling up. Mostly on Daddy and me and often as a means to reach something you want to get to. You haven't started pulling up on objects, yet.
No crawling, yet. Sometimes you will get on all fours and rock, but largely tummy time is torture for you because you want to crawl and can't. You get one leg under you to push off it and you end up rolling over onto your back and fussing about it. You can get down on your tummy from the sitting up position - a skill which just developed over the last couple of days.
You enjoy the "B" sound, always have. You say buh, boo, boom, bah. I want your first word to be boobie - that would be awesome. You say dah, muh, and guh. That's about it right now. But you say it a lot!
Like I was saying in the sleep section: for the week of December 16 - 21, you woke up about every hour the whole week. We didn't understand why. You weren't crying more than normal or fussing. You were a little congested all week, but we assumed you had a cold or allergies and were a little uncomfortable. Lo, and behold, Saturday, December 22, you cut your first tooth! We were at Grandma and Grandpa Dennis' house and Daddy felt the tiny little thing poking through. It's the one on your bottom right. So proud of you, son! There was much rejoicing!
You've slept pretty well since then. :)
Events
The biggest event that happened this month was Christmas and all the surrounding new sights and activities.
You weren't too fascinated by the Christmas tree. At first you played with it and shook it a little, but then went on to business as usual.
We went to the annual Children's Holiday Festival at Daddy's work, and it was there you met Santa for the first time. You cried. It was adorable.
You sat through many a Cantata practice.
We went to Six Flags to look at the Christmas lights, and again, you weren't too impressed.
I took you to see Santa at the mall, and you accepted him much better the second time.
For Christmas you received from us your new car seat. This will be the car seat you grow up with. You seem to like it a lot more and fall asleep more easily in it than in your old one.
We came home to Oklahoma, which is where we are now, and stayed with my parents first (21-24) and now we're at Grandparents Chambers' house through New Year's. Wonderfully, your first Christmas was white! About six inches fell on Christmas day. You seemed to like it, but were mostly cold!
Some significant gifts you received: your first ornament from Grandma Lori, your children's Bible and a couple of Bible storybooks, the Brave Little Toaster movie, a few toys from Grandparents Chambers, and some clothes from Grandma Lori.
Tonight, we'll walk over and see the Christmas lights for the first time in Chickasha. I hope it's not too cold!
Gabriel, I love you so very much and I love you more and more every day. You have been a wonderful blessing to us - a challenge and an honor. You are incredible - smart, strong, and so very sweet.
Love,
Mommy
You are changing everyday in a very visible way. Each day you grow more and more awesome. You never cease to amaze me!
Stats
At last weigh in you were at just twenty pounds. That was about a week and a half ago. Not sure how long you are right now. Your 6-9 month clothes are just getting to be a smidge small.
Sleep
This month has been amazing for sleep! You snooze through the night in your crib, waking every 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Some nights, miraculously, you'll sleep three or even four hours in a row. Like last month, Daddy brings you into our bed at around four am and you finish the night there. Most days your last waking is around seven. I nurse you one last time, and you often sleep until nine. Lately, I've been sneaking out of bed after you fall asleep, and start my day while you finish your night.
You nap in my arms for 1.5 to 2 hours at a time, usually around ten am, two pm, and four pm.
We put you down for the night between 7:30 and 9:00, depending on your behavior and when your last nap was.
Just the past week, you started waking up every hour. It was really hard on us, especially your dad. We would often just bring you to stay in bed with us. This produced the usual discussion about doing something different to "encourage" you to sleep better. This past Saturday, we learned why you were having such a hard time. :)
Eating
The world of food has opened up to you this month. I don't know that I could begin to list all the new foods you've tried. You go crazy for food, when you see people with plates, and when we sit down at the table. You lift your hands up and say, "Mmm...mmm...!" This month you tried baby food for the first time. I had coupons for organic, whole food purees. You like them okay, but often prefer real table food. You do go bonkers for freeze dried yogurt and baby "puffs". You'll sample purees, but the bulk of your food comes from our plates.
You've tried: cinnamon apples, broccoli, ham, cheese, bologna, milk, different pizzas, various soups, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberries, velveeta, diet Dr. Pepper (shame on me), various cookies, chocolate, peppermint sticks, lollipops, cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, and many more.
You still nurse as much as you used to. I joke that you supplement nursing with table food because you're growing so fast! I can't keep up! Your table food is negligible and the bulk of your nourishment still comes from me. And I wouldn't change that for the world.
(see below for drinking and feeding information)
Milestones
At the beginning of this month and for much of last month, you had an adorable fake cough you'd do. You liked to have us mimic you and you'd often try to "converse" with us this way.
I got a smoothie from Panera Bread in hopes of encouraging you to start using a straw with it, and all it did was supply you with a huge straw through which to make music. This was huge deal this month: the development of your love of music. You smile when you hear it, and take pride in making noise and producing music.
You developed your pinscher grasp this month! It's something you're quite proud of and you prefer to use it.You won't be fed, and instead enjoy feeding yourself with your new pinchy fingers. Unfortunately for me, as this skill was developing you practiced it on me while nursing. The under side of my arms had quite a few bruises for a while.
We have our diapers delivered monthly from Amazon and they arrive in an excessively large box. One day, I placed you in the box with some of your toys and you played in there for hours! You enjoy tipping boxes over, emptying boxes, and pulling up on boxes.
Indeed, you've begun pulling up. Mostly on Daddy and me and often as a means to reach something you want to get to. You haven't started pulling up on objects, yet.
No crawling, yet. Sometimes you will get on all fours and rock, but largely tummy time is torture for you because you want to crawl and can't. You get one leg under you to push off it and you end up rolling over onto your back and fussing about it. You can get down on your tummy from the sitting up position - a skill which just developed over the last couple of days.
You enjoy the "B" sound, always have. You say buh, boo, boom, bah. I want your first word to be boobie - that would be awesome. You say dah, muh, and guh. That's about it right now. But you say it a lot!
Like I was saying in the sleep section: for the week of December 16 - 21, you woke up about every hour the whole week. We didn't understand why. You weren't crying more than normal or fussing. You were a little congested all week, but we assumed you had a cold or allergies and were a little uncomfortable. Lo, and behold, Saturday, December 22, you cut your first tooth! We were at Grandma and Grandpa Dennis' house and Daddy felt the tiny little thing poking through. It's the one on your bottom right. So proud of you, son! There was much rejoicing!
You've slept pretty well since then. :)
Events
The biggest event that happened this month was Christmas and all the surrounding new sights and activities.
You weren't too fascinated by the Christmas tree. At first you played with it and shook it a little, but then went on to business as usual.
We went to the annual Children's Holiday Festival at Daddy's work, and it was there you met Santa for the first time. You cried. It was adorable.
You sat through many a Cantata practice.
We went to Six Flags to look at the Christmas lights, and again, you weren't too impressed.
I took you to see Santa at the mall, and you accepted him much better the second time.
For Christmas you received from us your new car seat. This will be the car seat you grow up with. You seem to like it a lot more and fall asleep more easily in it than in your old one.
We came home to Oklahoma, which is where we are now, and stayed with my parents first (21-24) and now we're at Grandparents Chambers' house through New Year's. Wonderfully, your first Christmas was white! About six inches fell on Christmas day. You seemed to like it, but were mostly cold!
Some significant gifts you received: your first ornament from Grandma Lori, your children's Bible and a couple of Bible storybooks, the Brave Little Toaster movie, a few toys from Grandparents Chambers, and some clothes from Grandma Lori.
Tonight, we'll walk over and see the Christmas lights for the first time in Chickasha. I hope it's not too cold!
Gabriel, I love you so very much and I love you more and more every day. You have been a wonderful blessing to us - a challenge and an honor. You are incredible - smart, strong, and so very sweet.
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Seven months
Dear Gabriel,
When you were first born, my mother, Grandma Lori, told me that babies start to get really fun right around six months. This month you have proven her right. You have just come alive and are exploring and charming your way through this world.
Stats
You currently weigh __________ and are __________ inches long. You wear size 6-9 month clothes. They're generally still a little big on you, but that's okay. :)
Sleep
From the moment you were born and getting you to sleep wasn't as easy as we had anticipated, we began co-sleeping and I told myself that I wouldn't push you to sleep on your own until you were six months old. Arbitrary, seemingly, but my gut told me that was right for us. Along the way, I have tried about once a month to get you to sleep in your crib and every attempt failed. We were just more comfortable having you with us - it was where you slept best.
Almost six months to the day, you went down in your crib. We put you on your tummy and you seemed almost grateful. We have a nighttime routine of nursing you down to the tune of your spiffy mobile at around 8 pm and when the song finishes, Daddy puts you down.
You still wake around every two hours on average. Daddy brings you in to me and I nurse you until you fall asleep again, then he takes you back to your room. Around 4 am, Daddy leaves for work, so he brings you in to me and we co-sleep until you wake around 8 am most days. You sleep more lightly during the wee morning hours and I still get to enjoy waking with you, which was always my favorite part of co-sleeping. It has been a great system.
I do miss having you sleep right next to me. That time was so fleeting and I did wish it away. I don't regret having co-slept with you and cherish that time together.
Eating
You've been trucking through the solids this month! You really enjoy eating and have yet to refuse a food. You reach for our plates and cups and we pretty much let you taste anything we're eating.
Foods you've added to your repertoire: applesauce, guacamole, mandarin oranges, black beans, bananas, queso, tortillas, bell peppers, yogurt, tomato, and Thanksgiving fare: olives, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. You loved cranberry sauce.
You've had some milk, water, and smoothies from straws, but you haven't sucked liquids into the straw yourself just yet. You're close, though.
You like to feed yourself with your hands, not be fed. If I try to feed you with a spoon, you grasp the spoon yourself and put it in your mouth.
Milestones
You play on your own, now. You reach for toys you want and enjoy digging in boxes for items. You especially like to play with whatever isn't a toy - straws, keys, bottles, eating utensils, etc.
You sit like a boss these days, and roll over like crazy, too. You are so so so close to crawling. Your dad and I have bets that you will crawl by Christmas.
In the middle of the month, you said, "Da da," for the first time! It was fun. Now you say it a lot. You don't call for Daddy, but I can say, "Where's Da da?" and you look for him. So adorable.
Events
Early in the month, Daddy traveled for the first time on business. Instead of staying home alone, you and I stayed with Grandma Lori and Grandpa Bill. It was my first time to have you overnight without Daddy. It went really well. We stayed in Oklahoma from November 5 - 10. While there we visited with Great Aunt Sharon. We also saw my best friends Lacey Green and Meghan O'Bannon. On our way to Oklahoma, we stopped off at Ikea. It was your first time going. While there we purchased your high chair and crib bumpers.You love your high chair. I'm not really sure why. You like banging on the tray.
We traveled to Oklahoma again for Thanksgiving and stayed from November 21 - 25. We stayed with Grandma and Papa Chambers. Your Great Grandmother Hoppe came all the way to California just to meet you and spend time with you. She really enjoyed watching you play and commented on how smart you are.
You loved Thanksgiving. We had a Mexican themed Thanksgiving meal and you sampled just about everything that wasn't too spicy. My parents came over for that meal. The next day we had a more traditional Thanksgiving meal and you had a little bit of everything from that meal as well.
I have enjoyed this month with you so much, Son. You have just lit up our world. Some days, I cannot believe I have a baby! And other days, I just cannot remember life without you. It seems you've always been here.
Love always,
Mommy
When you were first born, my mother, Grandma Lori, told me that babies start to get really fun right around six months. This month you have proven her right. You have just come alive and are exploring and charming your way through this world.
Stats
You currently weigh __________ and are __________ inches long. You wear size 6-9 month clothes. They're generally still a little big on you, but that's okay. :)
Sleep
From the moment you were born and getting you to sleep wasn't as easy as we had anticipated, we began co-sleeping and I told myself that I wouldn't push you to sleep on your own until you were six months old. Arbitrary, seemingly, but my gut told me that was right for us. Along the way, I have tried about once a month to get you to sleep in your crib and every attempt failed. We were just more comfortable having you with us - it was where you slept best.
Almost six months to the day, you went down in your crib. We put you on your tummy and you seemed almost grateful. We have a nighttime routine of nursing you down to the tune of your spiffy mobile at around 8 pm and when the song finishes, Daddy puts you down.
You still wake around every two hours on average. Daddy brings you in to me and I nurse you until you fall asleep again, then he takes you back to your room. Around 4 am, Daddy leaves for work, so he brings you in to me and we co-sleep until you wake around 8 am most days. You sleep more lightly during the wee morning hours and I still get to enjoy waking with you, which was always my favorite part of co-sleeping. It has been a great system.
I do miss having you sleep right next to me. That time was so fleeting and I did wish it away. I don't regret having co-slept with you and cherish that time together.
Eating
You've been trucking through the solids this month! You really enjoy eating and have yet to refuse a food. You reach for our plates and cups and we pretty much let you taste anything we're eating.
Foods you've added to your repertoire: applesauce, guacamole, mandarin oranges, black beans, bananas, queso, tortillas, bell peppers, yogurt, tomato, and Thanksgiving fare: olives, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. You loved cranberry sauce.
You've had some milk, water, and smoothies from straws, but you haven't sucked liquids into the straw yourself just yet. You're close, though.
You like to feed yourself with your hands, not be fed. If I try to feed you with a spoon, you grasp the spoon yourself and put it in your mouth.
Milestones
You play on your own, now. You reach for toys you want and enjoy digging in boxes for items. You especially like to play with whatever isn't a toy - straws, keys, bottles, eating utensils, etc.
You sit like a boss these days, and roll over like crazy, too. You are so so so close to crawling. Your dad and I have bets that you will crawl by Christmas.
In the middle of the month, you said, "Da da," for the first time! It was fun. Now you say it a lot. You don't call for Daddy, but I can say, "Where's Da da?" and you look for him. So adorable.
Events
Early in the month, Daddy traveled for the first time on business. Instead of staying home alone, you and I stayed with Grandma Lori and Grandpa Bill. It was my first time to have you overnight without Daddy. It went really well. We stayed in Oklahoma from November 5 - 10. While there we visited with Great Aunt Sharon. We also saw my best friends Lacey Green and Meghan O'Bannon. On our way to Oklahoma, we stopped off at Ikea. It was your first time going. While there we purchased your high chair and crib bumpers.You love your high chair. I'm not really sure why. You like banging on the tray.
We traveled to Oklahoma again for Thanksgiving and stayed from November 21 - 25. We stayed with Grandma and Papa Chambers. Your Great Grandmother Hoppe came all the way to California just to meet you and spend time with you. She really enjoyed watching you play and commented on how smart you are.
You loved Thanksgiving. We had a Mexican themed Thanksgiving meal and you sampled just about everything that wasn't too spicy. My parents came over for that meal. The next day we had a more traditional Thanksgiving meal and you had a little bit of everything from that meal as well.
I have enjoyed this month with you so much, Son. You have just lit up our world. Some days, I cannot believe I have a baby! And other days, I just cannot remember life without you. It seems you've always been here.
Love always,
Mommy
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Six Months
Dear Gabriel,
I'm so sorry I missed our five month letter to you. Life got really busy suddenly and before I knew it, two months had passed.
So much has happened in those two months. You have grown exponentially and have become such a joy.
Stats
I don't know exactly what you weigh or how long you are right now, but your six month appointment with Dr. Thomas is Monday. I will edit this portion after the appointment to include your current stats.
You wear exactly the size you should wear: 3-6 months. You're almost too big for this size. I've been taking daily pictures of your outfits as much as I can so I can document the cuteness of them. It's sad that you have too many outfits to wear them more than once! The outfits in the larger sizes are fewer so you stand a better chance of wearing them twice. Someday I will post your daily pictures. :)
Nicknames
We've always called you by nicknames, but I think now is a good time to list the things we've called you throughout your life: Gabe, Gabey, Gabey Baby, Baby Love, Baby Lovin, Bugs, Bugaloo, Bugaboo, Bugalug, Chunk, Chunkalunkin, Chunkalunk, Chunkalunka, Lovey, Lovey Bear, Boogs, Booger, and Mister. My mom, Grandma Lori, calls you Junior Samples, which I think is pretty funny.
Sleep
Of course, over the past months, I have struggled with our sleep situation. You seem to sleep best with me, but I felt such pressure from the world (society, our culture) to have you sleep in your own bed in your own room. I even had this picture of you in the nursery and me going in in the morning to say good morning and get you up in your lovely room.
But I have realized that I actually like co-sleeping. I like going to sleep with you snuggled close, listening to the sound of your even, warm, sweet breath. I like knowing you're alive all night because you're close and I can reach over and feel your tummy rising and falling. And my favorite moments with you are watching you wake - being with you as you open your eyes and greet the day - and watching your sweet face as you sleep. I love being the first and last thing you see each day. I love knowing that my voice is the first and last thing you hear, not your own cry as you call for me. I love knowing that you feel safe and warm and loved rather than scared and cold and alone.
I know these days are fleeting and I have fought with myself and with the world around me. I have rushed you and I have let the word rush me. You will grow up. You will grow to a place where you no longer nap in my arms, at me breast. Where I can no longer watch you sleep. Where I can no longer snuggle you close. Those days will come too soon. I have learned and loved to relish these moments and be okay with being still and napping with you.
You still do not sleep through the night - you still wake every two to three hours and want to nurse for comfort, usually. But I've learned to be okay with that.
This is the mommy I want to be. Peaceful, cozy, warm, trustful, and content with allowing you to grow at your own pace.
Eating
Oh, this has been fun. In the last month or so we've been introducing you to solid foods. You've been super interested in eating and so we've followed your lead and our instincts.
You're still exclusively nursing. When I say "introduced" I mean, tidbits here and there and allowing you to play with your food.
So far you've had breads of various kinds (sourdoughs, honey wheats, plain sliced bread, banana bread), pizza crust, French fries, graham crackers, Nilla wafers, bell peppers, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, grapes, apples, yogurt, cheese, steak, chicken, and lemon. I think that's all. Oh, and ice cream (fro-yo, frozen custard, gelato), and you are crazy for it. Especially chocolate ice cream. I think your favorite food, other than ice cream, has been sweet potato.
Now I know what people (and you!) may be thinking: "Oh, dear God! This baby doesn't have teeth, can't chew, and she's giving him _____!?" Well, indeed. You've largely just been sucking on these items. A few, like the sweet potato, ice cream, French fries, you've been actually swallowing, but most things you're just chewing, sampling the flavor, sucking the juices. It's been a really fun way to introduce solids to you and I much prefer it to commercial baby foods or even purees. I just give you bits of what I'm eating.
I plan on maintaining this method for a while. I hope to nurse you well into your toddler years, so I don't believe you will be nutritionally lacking, and as your teeth come in and you naturally wean, you will be more adept at actually consuming the food. Like everything else, I'm in no hurry for you to start eating solids as your only form of sustenance. This has helped maintain my sanity. I have watched a few moms stress because their baby, who is only eating solids, won't eat or won't eat enough. I like that I don't have to worry about such things.
Potty
Don't worry, this isn't about some weird potty training method! Again, I'm in no hurry! But along with solids come new waste elimination experiences. We've had to adjust to new pooping habits! For most of your life, you pooped daily. If you didn't poop one day, we could rely on you to poop the next. But once we introduced solids, and you started to get a little older, your poops stopped coming. Initially we thought you were constipated, but now we're coming to realize two things: a) we introduced solids, so your poops are more formed and harder to push out and b) you're processing breastmilk much more efficiently before and using more of it so there's less to poop out.
Now your poops come about once a week and boy, howdy, they are epic!
Daily Schedule
You are super regimented and all on your own! I didn't have to train you to develop this schedule, you did it all on your own!
8:00 am wake up
9:00 am nurse and nap
10:00 am awake and ready to play
12:00 pm nurse and nap
1:00 pm awake and ready to play
3:00 pm nurse and nap
5:00 pm awake and ready to play
7:30 pm nurse and sleep
It's so nice that you are wonderfully predictable. If you're fussing, I can look at the clock and know exactly what to do to meet your need. Sometimes you do sleep longer or at different times of the day, but generally, this is how we do.
Milestones
You're still smiling a lot and laughing often. You will smile when not prompted. You always smile at me. :) Your laughs are fewer, but still so joyful. You like being tickled (ribs and thighs, especially), but sometimes you'll laugh at things that are silly like your daddy and Rocky.
Tummy time has been so exciting lately! You are kind of creeping around - you try to crawl toward something but you always end up pushing yourself backward. But boy can you roll! You roll all over the place! I don't have to baby proof because of crawling but because you can get to something by rolling to it! Sometimes you get stuck in corners or up against a piece of furniture and you'll fuss until someone rescues you. You cannot wait to crawl and get so frustrated when you can't.
The big new thing is that you are now sitting! It took you about a week to learn how (October 5-13, 2012) but now it's one of your favorite things. If I lay out on your back you point your toes and lift your head and grunt until I let you use my fingers to pull yourself up to a sitting position. I say, "Sit up!" and you know what to do. You love to look around the room, watch Rocky, watch the TV, and play with your toys. Sometimes, you'll bend waaaaaay over to reach a toy and fall over onto your tummy. This usually upsets you and I have to rescue you. You really enjoy sitting outside in the grass. You dig holes with your heels.
Along with sitting up has come reaching up for me. I love it. I will walk by you and you seem to remember that I exist and you want me to hold you. It's wonderful.
You can't seem to wait to stand. You like for us to hold you up and you sort of bounce/jump. It's so cute!
Favorites
You're aware enough of your surroundings and have object permanence now to have favorite items. You love a really cheap giraffe rattle. She doesn't have a name. We just call her "Your Giraffe". You're really good at manipulating her so you can chew on her face or the rattle's handle. You also really like a robot toy we've named Domo. You talk to him when you're disgruntled in the car. It's really funny. You enjoy your play gym.
Events
Early in the month I ran my first 5k and you came along for the ride. It was at SeaWorld, so we ran first then went to all the shows. It was your first time at SeaWorld. I went once when I was eight months pregnant, but that was it. You slept through most of the run, but loved the shows! Well, the first show we went to, the walrus and sea lion show, was too loud and made you cry. The second show, the Azul show with the beluga whales and dolphins, you really liked but the soothing music soon put you back to sleep. You were asleep for the Shamu show. So that was your first trip to SeaWorld!
Grandma Lori and Great Great Aunt Sharon came to visit for a week. We went to the zoo and the Drafthouse with them. They also baby sat you one night while they were here.
You stayed with a baby sitter that wasn't family for the first time. The Allardyces were very nice to watch you while we went out to eat.
Because it's October and fall, we went to the South Texas Corn Maize. While there, we did the maze, went on a hay ride, and visited a pumpkin patch were we picked up pumpkins to carve for Halloween. Halloween is technically in your next month so you will get to hear all about it then.
Establishing and maintaining traditions is very important to me and this is my favorite time of year (October - February), so hopefully you'll get to hear about all the wonderful things we've been doing over the holidays.
So there you have it! Your sixth month in review. I suppose it's your fifth month in review, technically. :)
We love you, Kidlet.
Mommy and Daddy
I'm so sorry I missed our five month letter to you. Life got really busy suddenly and before I knew it, two months had passed.
So much has happened in those two months. You have grown exponentially and have become such a joy.
Stats
I don't know exactly what you weigh or how long you are right now, but your six month appointment with Dr. Thomas is Monday. I will edit this portion after the appointment to include your current stats.
You wear exactly the size you should wear: 3-6 months. You're almost too big for this size. I've been taking daily pictures of your outfits as much as I can so I can document the cuteness of them. It's sad that you have too many outfits to wear them more than once! The outfits in the larger sizes are fewer so you stand a better chance of wearing them twice. Someday I will post your daily pictures. :)
Nicknames
We've always called you by nicknames, but I think now is a good time to list the things we've called you throughout your life: Gabe, Gabey, Gabey Baby, Baby Love, Baby Lovin, Bugs, Bugaloo, Bugaboo, Bugalug, Chunk, Chunkalunkin, Chunkalunk, Chunkalunka, Lovey, Lovey Bear, Boogs, Booger, and Mister. My mom, Grandma Lori, calls you Junior Samples, which I think is pretty funny.
Sleep
Of course, over the past months, I have struggled with our sleep situation. You seem to sleep best with me, but I felt such pressure from the world (society, our culture) to have you sleep in your own bed in your own room. I even had this picture of you in the nursery and me going in in the morning to say good morning and get you up in your lovely room.
But I have realized that I actually like co-sleeping. I like going to sleep with you snuggled close, listening to the sound of your even, warm, sweet breath. I like knowing you're alive all night because you're close and I can reach over and feel your tummy rising and falling. And my favorite moments with you are watching you wake - being with you as you open your eyes and greet the day - and watching your sweet face as you sleep. I love being the first and last thing you see each day. I love knowing that my voice is the first and last thing you hear, not your own cry as you call for me. I love knowing that you feel safe and warm and loved rather than scared and cold and alone.
I know these days are fleeting and I have fought with myself and with the world around me. I have rushed you and I have let the word rush me. You will grow up. You will grow to a place where you no longer nap in my arms, at me breast. Where I can no longer watch you sleep. Where I can no longer snuggle you close. Those days will come too soon. I have learned and loved to relish these moments and be okay with being still and napping with you.
You still do not sleep through the night - you still wake every two to three hours and want to nurse for comfort, usually. But I've learned to be okay with that.
This is the mommy I want to be. Peaceful, cozy, warm, trustful, and content with allowing you to grow at your own pace.
Eating
Oh, this has been fun. In the last month or so we've been introducing you to solid foods. You've been super interested in eating and so we've followed your lead and our instincts.
You're still exclusively nursing. When I say "introduced" I mean, tidbits here and there and allowing you to play with your food.
So far you've had breads of various kinds (sourdoughs, honey wheats, plain sliced bread, banana bread), pizza crust, French fries, graham crackers, Nilla wafers, bell peppers, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, grapes, apples, yogurt, cheese, steak, chicken, and lemon. I think that's all. Oh, and ice cream (fro-yo, frozen custard, gelato), and you are crazy for it. Especially chocolate ice cream. I think your favorite food, other than ice cream, has been sweet potato.
Now I know what people (and you!) may be thinking: "Oh, dear God! This baby doesn't have teeth, can't chew, and she's giving him _____!?" Well, indeed. You've largely just been sucking on these items. A few, like the sweet potato, ice cream, French fries, you've been actually swallowing, but most things you're just chewing, sampling the flavor, sucking the juices. It's been a really fun way to introduce solids to you and I much prefer it to commercial baby foods or even purees. I just give you bits of what I'm eating.
I plan on maintaining this method for a while. I hope to nurse you well into your toddler years, so I don't believe you will be nutritionally lacking, and as your teeth come in and you naturally wean, you will be more adept at actually consuming the food. Like everything else, I'm in no hurry for you to start eating solids as your only form of sustenance. This has helped maintain my sanity. I have watched a few moms stress because their baby, who is only eating solids, won't eat or won't eat enough. I like that I don't have to worry about such things.
Potty
Don't worry, this isn't about some weird potty training method! Again, I'm in no hurry! But along with solids come new waste elimination experiences. We've had to adjust to new pooping habits! For most of your life, you pooped daily. If you didn't poop one day, we could rely on you to poop the next. But once we introduced solids, and you started to get a little older, your poops stopped coming. Initially we thought you were constipated, but now we're coming to realize two things: a) we introduced solids, so your poops are more formed and harder to push out and b) you're processing breastmilk much more efficiently before and using more of it so there's less to poop out.
Now your poops come about once a week and boy, howdy, they are epic!
Daily Schedule
You are super regimented and all on your own! I didn't have to train you to develop this schedule, you did it all on your own!
8:00 am wake up
9:00 am nurse and nap
10:00 am awake and ready to play
12:00 pm nurse and nap
1:00 pm awake and ready to play
3:00 pm nurse and nap
5:00 pm awake and ready to play
7:30 pm nurse and sleep
It's so nice that you are wonderfully predictable. If you're fussing, I can look at the clock and know exactly what to do to meet your need. Sometimes you do sleep longer or at different times of the day, but generally, this is how we do.
Milestones
You're still smiling a lot and laughing often. You will smile when not prompted. You always smile at me. :) Your laughs are fewer, but still so joyful. You like being tickled (ribs and thighs, especially), but sometimes you'll laugh at things that are silly like your daddy and Rocky.
Tummy time has been so exciting lately! You are kind of creeping around - you try to crawl toward something but you always end up pushing yourself backward. But boy can you roll! You roll all over the place! I don't have to baby proof because of crawling but because you can get to something by rolling to it! Sometimes you get stuck in corners or up against a piece of furniture and you'll fuss until someone rescues you. You cannot wait to crawl and get so frustrated when you can't.
The big new thing is that you are now sitting! It took you about a week to learn how (October 5-13, 2012) but now it's one of your favorite things. If I lay out on your back you point your toes and lift your head and grunt until I let you use my fingers to pull yourself up to a sitting position. I say, "Sit up!" and you know what to do. You love to look around the room, watch Rocky, watch the TV, and play with your toys. Sometimes, you'll bend waaaaaay over to reach a toy and fall over onto your tummy. This usually upsets you and I have to rescue you. You really enjoy sitting outside in the grass. You dig holes with your heels.
Along with sitting up has come reaching up for me. I love it. I will walk by you and you seem to remember that I exist and you want me to hold you. It's wonderful.
You can't seem to wait to stand. You like for us to hold you up and you sort of bounce/jump. It's so cute!
Favorites
You're aware enough of your surroundings and have object permanence now to have favorite items. You love a really cheap giraffe rattle. She doesn't have a name. We just call her "Your Giraffe". You're really good at manipulating her so you can chew on her face or the rattle's handle. You also really like a robot toy we've named Domo. You talk to him when you're disgruntled in the car. It's really funny. You enjoy your play gym.
Events
Early in the month I ran my first 5k and you came along for the ride. It was at SeaWorld, so we ran first then went to all the shows. It was your first time at SeaWorld. I went once when I was eight months pregnant, but that was it. You slept through most of the run, but loved the shows! Well, the first show we went to, the walrus and sea lion show, was too loud and made you cry. The second show, the Azul show with the beluga whales and dolphins, you really liked but the soothing music soon put you back to sleep. You were asleep for the Shamu show. So that was your first trip to SeaWorld!
Grandma Lori and Great Great Aunt Sharon came to visit for a week. We went to the zoo and the Drafthouse with them. They also baby sat you one night while they were here.
You stayed with a baby sitter that wasn't family for the first time. The Allardyces were very nice to watch you while we went out to eat.
Because it's October and fall, we went to the South Texas Corn Maize. While there, we did the maze, went on a hay ride, and visited a pumpkin patch were we picked up pumpkins to carve for Halloween. Halloween is technically in your next month so you will get to hear all about it then.
Establishing and maintaining traditions is very important to me and this is my favorite time of year (October - February), so hopefully you'll get to hear about all the wonderful things we've been doing over the holidays.
So there you have it! Your sixth month in review. I suppose it's your fifth month in review, technically. :)
We love you, Kidlet.
Mommy and Daddy
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