Pre-Nap "Chill" time...

SO...while at Best Buy, I picked up a new Baby Einstein video for Nathan since he only has one. I try to limit his TV watching time, as I would rather him not get too attached to the TV to use as a time waster. Plus, the TV is on a lot anyways (for noise most of the time), so he inadvertantly sees a lot as it is.

Back to Baby Einstein...so I bought him a new one (the one about different movements) thinking that we could make it a special event a couple of times a week...to change things up and maybe to calm him down for nap time, aka Pre-Nap Chill Time. When we got home from Best Buy, he was pretty hyped up and just did not have his afternoon "nap" in mind. So I pulled out his blanket, and draped it over the Boppy, layed Nathan in it, and turned on the new video...it worked.! He totally just chilled for a bit. Played with his toes....took off his socks...talked to the kids on the TV....sat up...played with his toes some more. Then got bored...but it did calm him down! :) Yeah Baby Einstein and the Pre-Nap Chill Time!!!

(Side note: to other mothers out there - I saw a commercial for a new Baby Einstein they are releasing on sign language. I think it is coming out on Tuesday, March 13 or something. Anyways, it looks pretty good, as I would like to teach Nathan a little sign language, if only to help him communicate better while he is learning to talk. SO...the question of the week - What Baby Einstein video is your child's favorite? There are so many, so its hard to know which ones are really worth the money...or the illegal download as it may be ;))

Best Buyin' It...

I had to run to Best Buy today, and I decided to take Nathan out of his carrier and just carry him in the store (he is just too heavy to carry him AND the carrier everywhere!)...man-oh-man do we have a "Little Jon Ice" on our hands! he LOVED LOVED LOVED Best Buy. He was looking all around, smiling from ear to ear. You could just see the wheels turning in his head thinking "man, I could get into some trouble in this place!". As, I am sure he will one day....;)

Public display...of eating

So, Jonathon and I decided to take Nathan to to the mall last Saturday. It was a really cold and snowy day, but we didnt want to stay couped up in the house all day. We BOTH know that by the end of the day Naters would be irritated and bored and ancy and just itching for something different to look at...so why not the mall? Anyway, we ate lunch at this place at Oxmoor Mall called "Yankee Noodle". I had never been there, and as it turns out, it is really quick and tastey!! Nathan's lunch time was going to fall right during our visit there, so I brought along his food. This is the first time that I have fed him, and he has eatin' anywhere than a highchair at Nan's house or at home. I figured it would be interesting to see if he was distracted and would eat. He did SO well!! He ate up those carrots like a pro! He sat in the little restaurant highchair and looked around and ate like a big boy! So cute...and SO grown up :)

(Sorry this picture is a little blurry. We took it with our phone.)

He's Baaack!

Little Naters is back!!!! The sweet little boy that I know and love has resurfaced and is jumping all over the place :)

I think you are right, Jen, he is beginning the whole separation anxiety phase (which, honestly is SOO sweet :)). I think his teeth were hurting him, and maybe the shots did last a day or so longer than normal. Regardless, he is ALL spirits today! He even stayed awake while at the gym so he could take his scheduled 10am nap! :)

Note: I write this very cautuously, because whenever I write about Nathan's behavior, he somehow knows and behaves the complete opposite (ie night sleeping).

Gettin' Real

So...I dont know what that Doctor put in those shots that she gave Nathan last week, but man do I have a different child ever since then! Nathan has been VERY.....I dont even know how to describe it. I could say "whiney", but that makes him sound weak and like a "baby". He has been very "fussy" I guess, and very "clingy". On Thursday, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he really was emotionally affected by the shots, you could tell that by the way he cried and cried after it was over. Thursday night, he woke up every 2hours, again, I chalked that up to him being sore and not feeling well from the shots. Friday night, however, he again woke up every 2 hours (towards the morning it was every hour)...again, maybe it was because he was still sore and not feeling well from the shots. Yesterday, during the day, he was just "off". Cranky at times...and then he would shoot right into a death scream, or wake up from his naps screaming as if he was in severe pain. My current diagnosis is that his teeth are bothering him. Now both bottom teeth are in and I dont see any signs of the top teeth...but it isnt impossible that they arent coming in, since we didnt really see or feel the bottom teeth until they had arrived.

I just dont know. Last night he did sleep better, until 4am. Though he woke up at midnight crying and was somewhat hard to calm down. I dont like to fuss with him too much when he does that because a lot of times he is still sleeping, and if I fuss with him it wakes him, and the goal is for him to sleep. However, today...he is completely "off" again. Just not quite as easy going and happy as he was a few days ago. He cries when Jonathon or I leave the room, and he cries when we put him down for a nap, or in his jumper, or on his playmat, or in the highchair to eat. This is not like Our Nathan. He has been VERY good about playing in his jumper or on his play mat, while we do stuff in the kitchen. And he has ALWAYS been excellent about going down for naps. He has never really had an issue with self soothing as they call it, until now.

So...experts out there...is Nathan just getting to the age where he is testing his limitations and his "control"? Or in other words...does the REAL PARENTING begin now? Discipline? Is he just teething and needing a little comfort because his mouth hurts? Did the Doctor really give him some personality changing shots in the viles she stuck him with last week? Am I just crazy and in dire need of a massage (hehehe)? All if the above?

He IS such a good little boy and his crying and fussiness just breaks my heart because I KNOW something just isnt right, or is hurting him. I just can't quite figure what it is...except teeth...and there isnt much you can do for that.

OUCH!

So...an update, FINALLY :)

Nathan had a Doctors appointment today, his 6 month well check. I know, I know, he was 6 months a couple of weeks ago, but we couldnt get him in until today...SO let's call it his 6 month and 2 week check up :)

Here are his current stats:
Height: 28 1/2 inches (90%)
Weight: 20lbs 13.5 oz (90%)

The Doctor commented that he is a big boy, BUT is proportional so we had nothing to worry about. PLUS, as I have mentioned many times before, the child is not the Micheline Man by any means, he is a SOLID 21lbs. His weight is a little less that what I had reported a week or so ago, but that is expected since he was in full diaper/clothes and on our home scale.

He has grown in length though! Quite a bit since his last appointment, when I think he was just 24 inches. 4 1/2 inches! Thats a ton...no wonder the kid cant fit into his 6-12 month clothes anymore!!!

Developmentally he is right on target. Nathan is really starting to sit up on his own, though I dont dare leave him while he attepts this. Someone still needs to sit real close to him at all times and watch him, but with more and more practice he will start being a little sitter in no time. He is just so top heavy with that large brain (hehe) that finding enough strenghth and balance takes him a little longer. He IS a smart one :)

OOOh, and he officially has his 2nd tooth! Yes, he grew another one if you can believe it! It is just now starting to surface, so he has been a Slobbering Fool the last couple of days. It is so cute though! He even reaches in his mouth with his fingers and feels his teeth. Oh and he also rubs his tongue on his teeth also, its just a little bit adorable :)

He rolls and rolls now, and is actually quite mobile for not being able to crawl or walk. He could move himself quite a few feet if he sees something he wants. I still have yet to figure out how he actually does this, but he sure does! He is enjoying tummy time a lot more now that he has figured out that he might be able to go somewhere while down there :) He has rediscovered his little play gym now that he can see the mat and all the crazy characters on it :)

Nathan LOVES to laugh. We are talking belly laughs. He is still all boy, and laughs at anything that sounds like a fart or a burp. Someone should video Jonathon and I communicating these days. We both walk around the house making farting noises just to make Nathan laugh. It has gotten to the point where we have both found ourselves, without Nathan, walking around making farting noises. Quite entertaining I am sure (either that or people think we are sick individuals).

I have found that both Nathan and my day go much smoother and we both are much happier if we get out and do a special activity at least once a day. This does not include going to the gym, as that is our normal routine. SO, this week I have really tried to do something new with him...even if it is as simple as taking him out of his carrier and going into Target without the carrier. At least he is seeing a different point of view, so its kind of an adventure. We have also gone swimming, for a couple of walks and out to Nan's. He is MUCH happier when he isnt couped up in the house, and especially in our tv room. I can not wait for better weather when we can start walking with Jeanne and Audrey, or going to swimming lessons and visiting the park playground :)

Nathan HATES HATES HATES peas and beans. HATES them. Its actually very funny watching his face and then seeing him BLOW them out of his mouth. I keep trying to get him to eat a couple of bites so he learns to at least tolerate them...I am not having much luck though, which the Doctor assured me was okay. He does LOVE peaches (homemade are his favorite...Thanks LIZ!), applesauce and just got his first taste of bananas today. He was a little shivery at the first bite but he warmed up to then very quickly! He has become such a good eater, as I think the reason for using a spoon has registered in his brain. I honestly think we could discontinue the bottle at any time, and he wouldnt miss it...except for when he goes to bed at night. Though, I am not sure he really NEEDS the bottle to go to sleep, just the "food" that is in it.

He has become a pretty good sleeper...as I jinx myself saying this...he sleeps from 8pm to 4 or 5am. On the rare, rare occiasion he will sleep all the way until 7am. Though there is also the rare occasion that he wakes up at midnight, 2am, 4am, 6am, and 7am. He still takes 2-3 naps a day, but I really think he is getting to the point of just needing 2. His 3rd nap, IF he takes it, seems to be getting later and later in the day and I try real hard not to let him sleep past 5 at the latest. Its just a matter of getting our mornings together, since they always seem to differ with us hitting the gym.

He definately lets you know when he is tired, hungry, or just sick of being held or in his jumper. He isnt a man of many words, but when he does "speak" he lets ya know exactly what he thinks ;) He DOES try and have conversations with you, especially while you are talking to someone else...he just chimes in as if he knows exactly what is being said. He has said "mmmmuummmm" and "nnnngggg" and "oooh". They say he should be saying "dadada" by now, but whatever, he will say it in his own time I am sure.

He does growl and can roll his "g's" if that makes sense. He sounds like Chubaca sometimes.

What else. Oh the child LOVES LOVES LOVES his dad. He just lights up. I know I have mentioned that, but I do think Jonathon is Nathan's favorite person to play with. He loves just sitting with Jonathon at the computer and listening to music or just hanging with Jonathon on the couch watching basketball.

Nathan LOVES books :) Yeah! he loves just sitting on your lap and looking at the pictures. He doesnt quite understand the whole "reaing" part of book time, but he does get the concept of turning pages. Oh and he likes to make sure the books TASTE good as well :)

Today he has been a little Mama's Boy (not that I mind THAT much ;)) because of the shots he got at the Doctor. Poor little guy just cried and cried for about 5 minutes and then wimpered when we got home and finally let himself go to sleep. He is a little fussy now, and doesnt want me to leave his sight today. It is very sweet, and I am sure I would be yearning for my Mom if I had to get shots in the legs. :(

Thats the update that I can think of right now. I am SURE there is more, but I can never think of it all ....

Sneak peak...

Happy 6 Month Birthday Silly!

So, Saturday was Nathan's 6 month birthday...or half birthday rather, and I fully meant to post a little something, but time just got away from me. So I do plan on posting a long update about what he is doing and his little personality...probably tomorrow when I might have a few more minutes to really think about it :)

Regardless, here is a tid bit....I weighed Nathan last Friday...and he came in at a whopping 22lbs! Now, he was fully clothed, had just ate, and had a wet diaper on...so we are calling it 21lbs. BUT...21LBS!!!!!!!! Thats a SOLID 21LBS! No wonder my back has started to hurt! Not an ounce of fat on this child, okay well maybe on his cute little chin and ankles and wrists...but thats it! His Doctor appointment isnt for a couple of weeks, so his height and "official" weight won't be posted until then, but still...21lbs is heavy! We are gonna have to start thinking about car seat options :(

He is growing faster than I had ever imagined :(

I want to help!

Lately, Nathan has decided that he would like to try to feed himself, or at least help me feed him. So he grabs onto the spoon as I am putting the food in his mouth. Once I get the spoon out of his little fingers, he then shoves his entire hand into his mouth. With food, then all over his hands he likes to rub his eyes or touch his ears...basically just make a mess. This was what he looked like after he had finished all his carrots at lunch today...

Oh yes, and between bites, he likes to lean down and suck on the high chair.

What a clean boy ;)

Almost...

SOMEONE is trying to crawl...or walk...or both. If he could just get up on his hands....

Soon enough.

Don't worry, I'm a professional.

"Mo"...

A tooth! A tooth! I see at tooth!!

Nathan has been somewhat "strange" the last couple of days...okay for about a week now, he just has been real clingy a lot of times and just fussing for no particular reason. This is a little out of sorts for him, as he never fusses unless he is hungry or tired. So I KNEW something was going on and figured it was his teeth growing in. However, I had not been able to see nor feel anything like a tooth coming in....lo and behold his Nan felt a tooth yesterday! By goodness...he DOES have a tooth!!! I can't quite tell if it has broken through the skin yet or not, if it hasnt it is definately on the verge! Today you can see the top of the little tooth just barely. So cute...and SO bittersweet at the same time. My little boy is growing up! He is going to be going to the Prom before I know it!

:)

Picture of the day!

T-shirt says it all :) ("Ladies Man")

The future of DMB...

Nathan's friend, Melia in Seattle, sent him this cute little sweatshirt...

Behold the future of Dave Matthews Band!

This is my friend Keaton!

Our once a week swim time has also been a playdate with Keatin Foster Walker, who is two weeks older than Nathan. Keaton's mom, Liz, and I used to work at Stageone together (4 years ago!!!) and have just kept in touch ever since. :) Here is Keaton swimming as well...Keaton LOVES the water and could probably swim a few laps on his own!! :)

Hopefully next week Audrey Audrey will come swimming with us :)

A swimming we will go...a swimming we will go...

I have started taking Nathan to the swimming pool at the YMCA. I figure it is something fun for us to do together, and it gets him used to being in the pool. I am going to sign him up for swimming classes in March (he must be 6 months and of course I will be taking him and in the class as well), so I figured why not start a weekly swimming lesson on our own? Being comfortable in the pool and in water is very important, in my opinion, especially with Grandparents that have pools (in Arizona). Enjoy the pictures...:) One cute thing to note is that Nathan seems to be in a "sitting" position at all times ever since he found his feet. He LOVES his feet! So even when lying him on his back, his feet automatically go up...even in the pool (see picture 4)!

Mmmmm Sweet Potatoes!

Nathan has started eating veggies at lunch. I am actually not sure if he was "ready" for veggies, as I can't really find a definate answer on the "right" age or "right" time to start solid foods. I assume at this point, however, getting a child to eat solid foods doesnt have much to do with them sleeping through the night. At least that is the case with Nathan. I tried feeding him cereal, then seeing if he slept at night, which he didnt. I tried NOT feeding him cereal to see if he would sleep...and it was the same as feeding him cereal. SO at this point, I assume he will eventually sleep when he wants to regardless of what he is eating (and for the record, he sleeps 9 hours MOST nights). So I got anxious and started with carrots at lunch. Now, his first taste of carrots was probably not a good one, since I didnt quite make the carrot puree smooth enough. He ate those for three days, then I moved him to sweet potatoes...which he LOVES! I will make some more carrots today and try those again tomorrow. Hopefully they will turn out better this time :)

They recommend starting with the orange/yellow veggies first, then moving to the green veggies. THEN fruit. However, Nathan is back to hating cereal. Its a fight everytime he sits down to eat breakfast and dinner. I am not sure if I am letting him get too hungry that spoon feeding just isnt fast enough, or if he just gets frustrated with the spoon regardless of his hunger level. I just dont know. He is really good at eating with the spoon, and can totally do it...but I think he just PREFERS the bottle and may be testing whether he really HAS to eat with a spoon. I dont know. I also think that feeding him cereal in a bottle at the beginning may have something to do with it (I may be wrong). Maybe he knows he can eat/drink the cereal because he has before? I just dont know...I am contemplating getting some of the cereal with banana in it (it is agains my better judgement for many reasons) just to see if he likes it better and eats it without a huge fight. Anyways...I am going to try to hold off until his 6 month Doctor appt. :)

Brief sidenotes...

-If you notice in the picture a couple of posts below, Nathan wearing sunglasses, he is pointing at the camera...kinda cute ;)

-As mentioned below, Nathan found his feet...well, today he finally got them into his mouth...AND HE GIGGLED!!! He kept doing it, and kept giggling everytime he tasted his foot. Not sure if it was giggling because it tickled, or because he FINALLY acomplished his goal...

When can I drink outta that?!?