Zoo Trip

Andrew's first trip to the zoo was a great success! he loves animals and likes to try and touch them and laughs at them even if they aren't nice to him so I was hoping he'd really get into seeing some exotic ones. Though he is only 8 months old, birthday on the day we took the trip June 4th, he still saw most of the animals and was very interested in watching them. The ones that hid or didn't move much of course he missed but we'll catch those next year. We went to the zoo in Gainesville which is only $5 per person and free for babies so at that price and as close as it is we may go back again this summer to feed the giraffes which happens earlier than the time we arrived.

Grandmother, Meema and Grandma (that's Andy's mom and aunt and my mom) all joined us. We met up at our home around 1030 and headed out together. Gainesville is a pretty short car ride from our place.

As soon as we got there I was of course famished as always and insisted we needed to have lunch before I could even THINK about walking around even a small zoo! I had made a few salads and Grandmother brought sandwich fixins so we had a great spread. Couldn't fill up too much since I was slinging the baby though! But I believe we all ate to our hearts' content with some flies and mosquitoes as our guests. Not too many bites I don't think, not me at least, they don't bite me!

After lunch we headed in to the zoo. It is very cute. Small, kind of a perfect size really for us. We could really take our time and see everything. I wore Andrew in the sling and it was pretty hot so I was glad for every break we took, especially the ones in the shade! There was a nice breeze thankfully. I couldn't imagine being there on a hot afternoon in August.

We saw every animal there even if they were hiding from us! Andrew saw most of them. He didn't get his morning nap that day but was very alert and excited anyway. He didn't do much because he was tired but he was so interested in watching! It was adorable.

After the zoo, Grandma and us got some second lunch and came back to our place to hang. Andrew slept on the way home some so he was good to go when we got there for another couple of hours which was nice.

He ate his first peas that day too! Grandma brought some dried peas with no sugar or salt and he loved them! He's also enjoying apples and apricots in small amounts. Mostly he just likes mommy milk!

Andy was quite the photographer at the zoo. Here are all the videos plus a link to the new photo album I started for family trips.

Caterpillar


Feeding the Goats

I am actually trying to hold his arm so I can pull it away if the goat gets rambunctious, not pushing him towards it as it may appear. Andrew loves animals and just wanted to pet the goat, but I was afraid he'd grab a handful of it like he does with our cats! He didn't, he was very well behaved!

Kangaroos with Giraffes


Giraffes
One is eating the fence. The other comes out to join him.



Little Monkeys



Zebras - short clip of the zebras and some birds


Capybara - this guy is kinda cute. Looks like an ugly pig. He's the largest rodent on the planet!


My favorite by far. Put on your speakers! This little guy seemed to have lost his buddies and was hollering for them!


And be sure to check out the photo album! This is the first pic in the group,


We had a great time! Our next trip will hopefully be to the waterpark in Denton. I've been longing to walk Andrew around the lazy river! First I think we need to take him to our pool here at the complex to get him used tot he water and see if he has any reactions. Plus daddy needs to get some sun so we don't have a repeat of last year's sunburn! Now if only they'll get it cleaned after all this rain....

Playing Catch

Not so easy with a camera in your hands! But you can see him "catching" the ball.

Climb up Mommy

I'm really trying got get him to make a sound here he's been doing. It's like a raspberry you blow with your tongue but he does it inside his mouth. Of course he didn't do it but it's too cute how he climbs up my lap. he does this all the time!

Pulling Up High!

Andrew can get his toys darn near wherever they are!!

Eating Apple

Andrew shares an apple with his Mommy. Looks like he likes it!

Daddy's Whiskers

Daddy likes to tickles Andrew with his whiskers. Looks like Andrew likes it too! Sorry it is so dark.

Andrew is his Walker

We call it his race car!!

Playing in the Kitchen

Here Little Mister is playing with his Grandmother's belt int he kitchen. This is a little old. It is before he was pulling up and crawling really well.

Naked Baby Playin in Pool!

Who doesn't love a naked baby? Nobody! :D Here is Andrew doing two of his favorite things, playing outside and playing in the water!

Thank you Grandmother and Meema for the awesome present for Andrew!

Our Big Boy!

Our big boy is growing up a bit too fast but I couldn’t be prouder. I wouldn’t be surprised if he walks before 9 months! But I also wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t. I don’t seem to be too good at predicting…

He is really close to cruising. It seems like he is trying to get the falling down thing first. He has been practicing! He falls and catches himself about 90% of the time with his hands. And even when he doesn’t and he hits his head, if we don’t react too much and he isn’t too tired, he takes it in stride and goes on. He often will go right back to it and try again right after falling. I love his determination!

He seems to be enjoying eating a bit more and his tummy is learning to handle it. I love to feed him but he isn’t so into being spoon fed. He likes to do it himself and will grab the spoon and put it into his mouth. I am going to stop making him purees in the blender. It just isn’t working. I will just cook the veggies and smash them a little and put them straight on his tray. We’re trying to do 2 meals a day. I use the term ‘meals’ loosely. He really just plays but it is teaching him about food. But he always grabs at our plates or bowls so it is better we sit him in his high chair and give him his own food to play with.

I also give him some carrot in the kitchen when I am cooking to “eat” while he plays in there with me. I always peel my carrots so after I peel it I just shave off an extra peeling of the inner part and give him that. He does actually eat some of it, I know because I see it in whole pieces later out the other end.

I gave him some raw red onion the other day to play with and he loved it.

I let him get into the cilantro at the store the other day and he loved it.

He isn’t really eating these things but more of chewing on them. But he definitely gets some of the flavor. I keep expecting him to make a face at such things, but he likes them.

He got some “bites” of mommy’s apple the other day and liked it. Kept asking for more. Well, whining for more.

Speaking of asking, we are still working on the sign language. He is still a bit young to quite repeat it back to us but I think he is learning that when I do X with my hands, X happens. He has got down the picking him up sign and milk sign. Now I am working on diaper, eat, drink and more. He may not be able to do the signs back until he is a year old or so but I wanted to start showing him early so we’d communicate to him how he can communicate back when his fingers are able to make the signs.

I’m reading him Charlotte’s Web. I think Andy and I are having more fun with it than Andrew. Andrew starts out sitting with me then gets bored and starts to go and play, but I still read until a chapter is finished following him around the room. And I am trying to get into the habit of reviewing what we just read about too.

We went to a story time at the Denton library and may go to one in Sanger too. The Denton one is targeted towards babies and starts back up next month. Andrew seems to really enjoy it. I liked learning some new songs for us to sing! The Sanger one is for kids of all ages but I know he’d like that too, he loves to watch kids!

Still sleeping a lot. He’s a growing busy boy for sure! It must be exhausting to pull your whole body weight up! I know I find it exhausting pulling his whole body weight up. ;)

My first Mother’s Day was awesome! Andy took great care of me, cleaning and fixing things and keeping Andrew long enough for me to have an extra long shower. And I got a special card from Andrew that I will keep! I love my family I am so blessed and lucky!

Andrew Laughs at Manfred

Turn up your speakers for this one folks. Andrew is giggling away! He loves cats for sure.

We Have a Crawler and MORE!

Andrew has been officially crawling for almost a week. Last Wednesday he crawled 5 full crawls in a row and did it a few times a day before falling on his belly to scoot for the rest of the week. As of yesterday, he scoots no more. We may see it occasionally I am sure but I doubt we’ll see it much again. Our Scooter is a Crawler!
And you know Mommy loves that for so many reasons! Sure he’s getting places faster and we have to stop him from trying to get under our desks more, but he is no longer cleaning the floor with his tummy! He’s now topless at home on nice days and how cute is that! A diaper only baby crawling around on the floor is truly a sight to behold.
But that is not all folks…
He is also pulling himself up. He’s been pulling up on low things like 6 inches or lower for a couple of weeks, but he is now pulling up on everything. Yesterday he was getting to his knees and now today he is standing. Still hasn’t mastered it but by the end of the day I bet he will. Next stop cruising and then walking! He could very well be an 8th month walker like his Mommy!
He has always loved standing. We used to stand him up when he was upset to stop him from crying! Now he can do it himself.
Oh sure there will be falls and spills. He has already fallen – in fact right after this video was taken he fell. But he is a tough guy and can handle it well. Usually with a little cuddling from Mommy or Daddy.
We caught on video the second time he ever pulled up all the way on something:



There will be another video to come soon from when we went to Grandma’s house and he was laughing at her cat, Manfred. That one is adorable too, he has the sweetest laugh!

Andrew Reads the Paper

Andrew and Daddy playing with the newspaper! This was only about a week ago.

Andrew Eating Carrots + Bouncy Seat Woes

His second food was carrots. Not a big fan of those either.



Since then he's had banana, brown rice, and pears. He seemed to like the brown rice best I think because he could feed himself. But it didn't like him very much and gave him tummy aches so we're breaking from that for a while. The pears were yesterday and I thought he'd like them more than he did. And then he seemed to have a tummy ache all day from that too, though maybe it was the leaf I found in his diaper this morning...

Next we'll try sweet potatoes. I thought this kid would love food. Seems he only loves mommy milk. Which is all he needs, I am just surprised he isn't liking eating more.

Bouncy Seat Woes
Our "little" man has outgrown his bouncy seat so much, it broke! I was sadder than I thought I'd be. Not just because I could sit here and do things and bounce him and he loved it, but also because that was his favorite place to hang for so long and now it is in the trash. It broke completely in half. Thankfully Andrew was not in it at the time!

He's been weighing it down a lot lately and Daddy would stretch it back up so when Andrew laid in it his bottom wouldn't hit the floor. Well, he stretched it up a bit too much the other day and it broke.

We went to Target to get him a new one and they all said up to 35 pounds, which Andrew almost is. So we got him a rocker that is supposed to be from infant to toddler. He doesn't like it! And neither do we. Waste of $30. At least it gives us a secure place to lay him for naps for right now that is easy to get him in and out of. But we cannot rock him in it. It slides around on our floor and it sits him too far upright for rocking.

We do have some awesome pics of him sleeping in it in its unrocking position. And maybe when he gets older he can use it for another rocking chair of his own like it is intended. And maybe our next child will be able to use it from infancy and like it. But Andrew does not like it, it just isn't enough like his good old bouncy seat.

I still miss it too.

But Andrew is letting me rock him to sleep in my arms with little fights but it still works. And it's what we will do from now on I suppose.

Good-bye bouncy seat. We all loved you and we'll all miss you very much!

Video and Finally New Pics

His easter pictures behind the scenes video. This was a while ago and before he could sit himself up. Such a cutie pie!

And I've had some of these pics for a long time but couldn't get to them on Andy's computer because of OS issues so I put them all up today! And the newest ones are from the jazz festival we went to in Denton last weekend. It was so fun and Andrew had a really good time!

Here he is at the festival in a swing for the first time!


Click the pic to see more!

Aunt Lindsey's Black and Whites

Andy's brother TC's wife Lindsey is quite the artistic photographer. She does beautiful black and whites of scenery that are amazing! Recently she has started to shoot people and asked to do a session with Andrew. Of course I was thrilled! So a week ago she did her first (and probably last! lol) baby photo shoot! We spent over an hour I think and unfortunately most pics did not come out because Little Mister will not hold still anymore now that he is mobile. But the ones that did turn out ear awesome! It was cute and funny watching him crawling around on her black sheets while she tried to get quick pics in the seconds he was still!

Thank you Aunt Lindsey! We can't wait to do it again!!

Daddy's POV

Daddy is holding the camera and coming to 'get' his baby and we get to see what Daddy sees!

Scooter - Literally!

Watch Andrew as he scoots across the floor army man style. he's going to knock down the pile of blocks Daddy stacked up. And might I add I can no longer fold laundry next to him because he now thinks all piles are for knocking down. lol

The Little Eater

I hope you’ve all seen the video of Andrew’s first eating adventure. It was quite hilarious. He was like, “whoa this isn’t my mommy milk!” But we’ve done it almost every day this week and he is getting better and more used to it. He actually picked up some of the squash from his tray this morning and put it into his mouth! I also give him his own spoon to play with. He’ll open his mouth for me for a bite, I put it in with my spoon, and then he puts his spoon into his mouth with it too before he swallows! It’s so neat to watch him learning.
We are doing it in the morning to monitor reactions throughout the day, so I’ll sit with him and eat a bowl of cereal to show him how. He does sit with us at the table when we have dinner too but he’ll only get his frozen breastmilk in the mesh feeder. And he LOVES that! He’ll eat the whole piece and then if I put more in it, he’ll eat that too!
I still have a few more days of squash left, but when that is gone, I am thinking we will try some sweet potatoes. I want to give him spinach so badly but I don’t know how to let him self feed that one just yet.
Another thing I think he’ll really like is noodles. Like spaghetti. For the sake of preventing food allergies, he shouldn’t have pasta until he’s over a year because of wheat and eggs, but I can give him rice noodle. I think we’ll wait until he’s had several more veggies first. But he is always going for strings or cables or belts or cords and he seems very attracted to that type of thing. So I am sure he will love to eat him some noodles!!
And his poops aren’t that bad! I know just what you wanted to hear right! But that was a big issue for me. Breastfed babies have about the easiest going poops as far as smell goes. It may be watery and a lot but it sure don’t stink like formula. But when they start solids, all that changes. I guess he’s not really ingesting enough to make a big difference.
Oh but he sure does seem to enjoy eating. He rubs it all in his eyes and his hair. Of course he doesn’t like the clean up afterwards! But I can’t exactly explain to him that if he didn’t rub it all over I wouldn’t have to clean it all off! He opens his mouth for his next bite. He only takes about 4 good bites and then he’s done. He plays with the food on his tray squishing it though his fingers and examining it.
Still just scooting. Just! LOL! Just scooting any old place he wants to be! He will try to follow Andy and me both into the bathroom. Several times he has come into the kitchen looking for me while I am cooking. He has a foot fetish ;) so he is often stopped on his way to our shoe pile. So far there has been no interest in the cat’s bathroom but I am sure it is to come. We will try putting a gate up and hope the kitties know to jump over it and don’t just poop outside the room.
We were starting to get worried about his bouncy seat addiction. He had been very into it ever since he was days old and would often stop crying in his bouncy more so than someone’s arms. And since he is starting to outgrow it we were wondering what to do. Andrew never was one for rocking to sleep. I remember around his 3 month age he started nursing for about 30-45 minutes and rocking to sleep, and I was thrilled because usually he’d just start going crazy when he was done eating and only fall asleep in his bouncy. I think the thing around 3 months was his starting of teething and it didn’t last for long.
Well, maybe I just wasn’t determined enough. Because now he will let me rock him to sleep! I have to hold him just right and be a bit persistent but it is working. He also isn’t as into the bouncy as he used to be. He has started turning himself over in it and he just doesn’t relax like he used to when he’s in it anymore. Sometimes at night when Daddy is up with him, he will relax in it. But all this week, he has been put to sleep in my arms in the recliner rocking. I am going to get his wooden rocker out of his room and put it in our room to use. I think rocking him in that room where it is dark will help too. Then when he falls asleep he goes right to bed instead of to the bouncy. I am so excited it is working. Personally I am ready to put the bouncy away but I know Daddy still needs it at night and it’ll be a useful tool I think for some time.
We’ve had to put the Bumbo away. Andrew is almost sitting on his own anyway, though we keep the boppy behind him so he won’t fall back onto the floor. But his thighs just won’t go in that Bumbo seat anymore.
He has also started taking a few steps when held up standing. He used to not know how to move one foot and then the other. He’d just stand and kick and if you tried to move him he’d move both feet. Well, all the walking on mommy’s feet seems to be helping him figure it out a little. Now when I push one side forward, he takes a step and then he’ll step the other foot up to it. I think he is a ways away from walking but it is certainly some visible progress.
He isn’t even really crawling yet so I guess we better do that first!
I have more videos to put up from Easter Sunday so I’ll try and get to them in the next couple of days. I just wanted to write a post to let everyone know how he’s doing and how much progress he is making.
Love you all!

Andrew Eats!

I baked him an acorn squash today and we got a couple of videos of him taking his first bites. This is a long one compared to the others I have posted here but a good one because there will never be another first time to eat solids. We have an even longer one of better quality we will show you later too.



I think he likes it!! We'll try again tomorrow as long as he doesn't have any reactions over night. So far so good!

Andrew's Firetruck

Meema gave Andrew a firetruck for Easter. Here he is at home on Easter Sunday being pushed around on it by his Daddy. It looks like they are both having a real good time! Thanks for the great gift Meema!

St Patty's Day

We took Andrew to Chuck E Cheese for St Patty's Day to meet some local parents. He seemed to enjoy watching the other kids more than the rides but we tried to get him to play.

A Whole Half

I guess that’s an oxymoron or misnomer to say, but our little man is now a whole half year old. And we’ve had a wonderful day for his 6 month birthday!
I really thought today would be the day for crawling but no such luck. He gets up on all fours quite a lot though. He may never crawl for real I am afraid. He gets around pretty well and seems satisfied with it for now. He can go fast too! I just don’t like his belly rubbing against the floor all the time. I want him to pick it up! It’s always covered in cat hair (and Mommy hair) no matter how often I sweep the floor!
He may be ready for food soon too. I do think he can handle it, it’s just up to me now to get it, bake it, and blend it! We’ll start with some winter squash, easy to digest, still sweet like mommy milk and a good fun start to food. Though I did let Daddy touch a dried fig to his tongue tonight! Lol. Andrew didn’t seem to mind it. He’s also getting used to the taste of lemons thanks to Mommy’s lemon water I feed him when we go out to eat!
We see the doc on Friday, more shots.  But he’ll get weighed and measured and all that so I am looking forward to it. Plus I after this no more shots until 12 months! Yay! And hopefully Andy won’t get sick at the same time so I have two sick boys to take care of.
We have some video of him crawling and I have some pics I will post soon.
I’ll post again after the appointment to let you know how it goes.

Our Little Scooter!

Barely, but it’s official, we have a Scooter! He has figured out how to get forward by pushing himself with his feet and pulling with his arms. Oh he doesn’t get far and he still gets very frustrated but he can finally get to those toys (and mommy’s slippers) that are just out of reach! He did it for the first time this week when we were over at his Grandma’s house (my mom) and it was too funny. As she watches him thinking it is no big deal, like we are used to it, Andy and I freaked! Both jaws dropped and we looked at each other and got this “Oh no but oh boy” look in our eyes. Here we go!

He is pulling himself up to all fours, knees and hands, but then he pushes up onto his feet. So we aren’t quite crawling, but it will be literally any day now! Like I expect him to up himself into that position and just take off!

It wears him out though big time. He is still napping 3 times a day! Poor thing, he gets so tired after a little while playing on the floor, but he still has that excess energy so he gets to kicking and flapping his arms a lot, especially when he’s trying to fall asleep. But then he’s out like a light for about an hour each time. And still sleeping a good 10 hours a night. He does wake to nurse, some nights every 2 hours some nights only twice, but I don’t count that because neither one of really wakes up too much for it!

The other tooth is also finally through! Just this afternoon after his second nap I felt the sharp little bumps of it. So relieved about it too because I know it had been really bothering him, especially yesterday and this morning. Now it just has to grow in. Which I am sure contributes to the sleepiness and slight crankiness he has.

He really is such a good baby – ask any grandma he has! Yeah, cause they’re really objective! But seriously, he is. He loves to play and explore his toys and any shoes that may be left on the floor. He only really cries when he’s tired or in pain.

Today I was sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor and whatever tool of cleaning I had in my hand was the most fascinating thing to him. He was in his exersaucer in the kitchen with me playing and watching and he’d reach his hands up for the handle of the broom or mop like he thought he could get it even when it was entirely too far away! Too cute as usual! I told Andy he was trying to help me clean. Oh do not worry son, as soon as you are old enough to stand, you’ll be able to help Mommy clean! That’s one thing that will be really important to me from as early an age as possible, teaching him how to pickup and clean up. Never too early to start I say! Of course I also teach him how to cook right now so that’s another skill he’ll have!

One of my favorite recent pics of Andrew!

Andrew with Maria

OK so it took me a little longer than I thought it would to get it all up, but here it is. It's Andrew a bit before he turned 5 months old over at our friends' home playing with Maria. This is his first time on a rocking horse. I think he likes it! And he likes his new little baby friend too! That is Joseph, Maria's baby, he was 3 months old here.

New Favorite Game

Andrew’s got a new game he plays! I’m not sure what to call this one. I put him on our floor, no pants no socks so he gets better traction, and scatter about some smaller toys and his basket, and he tries to get them all. He spins himself around and slides them across the floor or pushes them just out of reach and tries so hard to get to them! He is still just going backwards! He pushes up on his arms and up on his feet though and looks like he’s going to go forward but then just slides back! Oh and he gets so frustrated! But I really think it’s fun. If we pick him up, he stares at the floor and his toys and tries to get back down there out of our arms so we let him get frustrated for a bit. We often give in and push him to his toys or push them back to him after several minutes of frustration. It’s hard for us to hold out but we do try because it is important to give him the motivation he needs to get going!

I swear he’s going to get up and crawl any second.

But I also thought that tooth was popping through in a day or two and it is still just hanging out right below the gums. At least it seems to be bothering him less. Not that we go to bed without a dose of teething tabs – but he does make it through the whole day without any medicating. He’s such a tough little guy! Well, big guy!

Right now he’s on the floor and has pushed all his toys away and is scooting farther and farther back away from them. Why won’t he realize that turning around and scooting back will get him to them? Babies are so funny! I just sit here and watch him play! It’s the cutest when he pushes up on his hands and feet! His arms are getting stronger every day. We are trying to get it on video, but you know how that goes, all action stops when the cam comes out!

Just now I stopped to nurse him because he was acting hungry and as soon as he was done he sat up (assisted) and started looking to the floor and reaching down! So I have to put him down there with his toys. I swear he likes it better than his exersaucer (nicknamed the Pooper-saucer because it seems to have that affect on him)!

His favorite toy right now is still his bowls. But he also really likes theses little duckies my mom gave him for the most recent holidays. They are supposed to be for the bath but he likes to chew on them so we have them for him everywhere. One game we play is I take all the duckies in the living room and put them in his bowl and then he bats at it and they go flying out! Fun times!

Andrew’s latest sound is a squeal! It is so cute and so much fun to know he’s happy by this loud high pitched squeal, but Daddy and I have a little bit to get over when it comes to doing it in public. We don’t like to attract too much attention to ourselves and Andrew likes to see to it that we do! Not just with his noisemaking but he’s so gosh darn cute that people stop and comment on him. It is forcing Andy and I over a bit of our shyness!

I have another video I’ll be putting up today or tomorrow so keep a lookout!

Andrew's 5 month old Birthday

Andrew's Meema took us out to lunch on his 5 month old birthday. Here he is being a big boy sitting at the table with us in his Bumbo!

All Over the Place!

I don’t know that he’s completely figured out that he is rolling and getting somewhere but just this morning he started to roll over and over to get to what he wanted. He used to just roll from front to back. Then he learned to roll back to front, so I put him down on his back more often to practice. Then he seemed to stop rolling back to his back again. I actually worried for about a second! I know I know, can’t help it. But today he rolled all the way over, got across his blanket and to the toy he was eyeballing. Oh no – can’t turn our backs anymore I guess! Next stop, crawling!
He can almost sit on his own, too! We practice everyday for a little while and last night he was really sitting on the bed well without being held up. If his back is even just slightly supported he can sit without falling for a long time.
He even sat in a high chair for the first time yesterday! We went to Chuck E Cheese to meet some other parents from the area and forgot his Bumbo, so we decided it must be time to try the high chair and see how he did. Well, he did awesome!

As you can see. So today I am setting up his little high chair at our table. He used to sit in his Bumbo there but now it will stay in the bathroom.
Still not time for solids yet but he can play with bowls and eat frozen breast milk at the table with us during dinner time!
I am really hoping to get a sewing machine soon. I have so many projects and things I’d like to try for Andrew. I can make him clothes with some super easy patterns and cloth diapers and covers and all kinds of things. If anyone knows anything about sewing machines and what is good to look for when getting one let me know please!
His second tooth has yet to break through but I swear today I see a white space where it looks like it is right there! So close. It’s been bulging for a while now and he’s been a little extra cranky today. Nothing bad of course, he’s so good, just seeming uncomfortable. We gave him an afternoon dose of Hylands to help ease his discomfort and he fell asleep! He still sleeps so much! Takes 2-3 naps a day. Andy and I were both not good nappers as kids according to our parents so it’ll be interesting to see if he grows out of this or if he is just a good sleeper!
We are still adjusting to our loss. It has been a rough 2 weeks for sure. Tyler was a huge part of our family and a big part of our day every day! It still feels like something is missing. I know it just takes time, days put together with him not in them to make them seem like normal days again, but it is still hard. Andy and I talk about him every day. Something we miss that he used to do or just general missing him.
Andrew and our favorite thing to do right now is play outside! The weather has been nice more often than not so we’ve been going out on our front ‘lawn’ area with just a blanket and hanging out! It’s so fun to watch him pull the blanket up to get at the grass underneath. No need for toys out there – nature makes the best toys! I take him for walks on nice days too. Carrying him in the sling facing outwards so he can see, we’ll go and look and touch things like trees and bushes and watch the birds flying around. I love these days of nice weather we get here in Texas before the onslaught of the 100 degrees! I want to take full advantage of every single one.
I am planning to delay Andrew starting solids a little longer. I know he will be ready when he is 6 months old but a part of me still feels like it is too soon. Like once you start that you can’t go back. Of course once he starts it doesn’t mean he has to do it every day! He still has the tongue thrust reflex big time so I know he isn’t physically ready but he has such a healthy curiosity I know he’ll have fun with it. Reducing the risks of food allergies is the concern. There’s no food allergies in our families but you can never be too careful. I know part of me just doesn’t want my baby to grow up just yet. But I also know the longer I delay him starting the ultimately better it is for him. I am sure sometime in his 7th month when he is 6 months old, he will get his first table food. But I am not rushing to start it on his 6 month birthday or anything!
Speaking of table foods, the new question is what is allowed during the first year of food experimenting and what should we start with! So many foods are still dangerous during the first year, even eggs they now say to wait until 2 years! For the rest of his first year I am sticking to a very strict diet consisting only of select fruits and vegetables and chicken and beans. During his second year before he turns 2 years old, we will still be pretty strict in what is allowed. It is so important now that we have the knowledge of how the digestive system develops to introduce foods slowly to the new system and allow it time to fully develop before introducing certain things to really fully prevent allergies and tummy aches!
I am already thinking about his first birthday party! Can’t help it. I know I want to keep it simple and have people bring only small gifts like books and maybe even book donations for our library. Not sure yet. If anyone has any suggestions please email me.
I think we want to stay here in this apartment for one more year if they’ll have us! It is too much for us to move all of this junk only one short year after already moving it! Plus it’s about doubled. No matter how much we get rid of we always have more! No rush to leave for us. This place is nice, cheap, comfortable and we are happy here. It’d be nice to rent a house but we need to wait until we are making a little more money first.
Andrew is about the best sweetest baby any 2 people could ask for. I wonder every day what I did so good in my life to deserve such a wonderful family. I am truly blessed and very grateful for what I have!

Picnic pics!

I have so much to tell you and not enough time tonight but there will be an update about the lives in the Goin household soon!
In the meantime, here's a link to the latest pics added to the webalbum. We love to take Andrew out on the grass in front of our apartment every single day that is nice enough!

What a Lucky Day!

Cosmically speaking that is. This whole year being 07 is luck but to have a day with 03 as the month and 07 as the day is extra lucky! Hope everyone has a wonderful day.
We have a little scooter around here. Backwards! His arms aren’t quite strong enough to hold him up but he can push himself backwards and boy does he! I put him on the floor and put some toys just out of reach and watch him figure it out. We are so proud of him! He tries so hard!
He can spin himself around on his belly and roll from back to front now as well as front to back. Though I haven’t seen him do a complete roll yet and I don’t think he quite realizes that this mean he can get somewhere! I know he’ll figure it out soon.
It is so cute to watching him get frustrated trying to get the toy in front of him and not being able to work that out. I have no doubt all this practice and exercise will have him crawling in no time and I will be scrambling!
We still miss our big fat cat around here. It has been a rough week for sure. We are so incredibly grateful to have Andrew as a source of happiness and distraction.
The tooth is almost completely in I think and I can’t tell if more are on the way. I thought for sure last weekend they were. He seemed in pain and upset so we got him some teething tablets that are a natural pain reliever. But the last day or two it hasn’t seemed to bother him so maybe we are done for a while. We shall see I suppose. Everyday is different!
Well, he’s on the floor right now trying to get to his elephant and scooting farther and farther a way from it and getting frustrated so I am going to see if I can show him how to get over there!

Remember to check the photo album! The new month is up!

Sad News

Those of you who follow our blog here will remember that before the baby came along we had another baby. Well, four kind of, but the real baby in our lives was our fat cat Tyler. Yes, I said was. Yesterday at around 1pm, Tyler passed from this life. We were with him during his passing and it seemed painless, for him at least, though for us the pain still runs deep.

He was much more than just a pet to us. He was a dear friend to Andy and a baby to me.

He lived to be 14 years old and for a cat that is quite a long time. Especially with his weight and breathing problems. We believe his poor old tired body finally gave out.

We are so heartbroken here.

Andrew was so good yesterday while Mommy and Daddy cried over Tyler. He sat with us and watched.

We buried Tyler ourselves with help of Meema in a special place, (Thanks Grandmother,) so we always know where he is.

Some of you may remember the video we made of him last summer. I am so glad we did! It highlights some of his favorite things and catches him doing some of the things he did most.

He also slept with us every night. Before the baby he slept between us and after he slept either on the other side of Andy or between Andy’s legs. Until in the morning when Andrew and I would get up, then Tyler after having some breakfast would always go back to bed and cuddle right up next to Andy.

Andy had him for a very long time, some of that time was just the 2 of them. They were very close and this will be a hard time for Andy especially. Please keep him and our whole family in your thoughts and prayers. We have lost a member of our family.






















































To loosely quote a good friend of ours, Tyler's awesomeness will be greatly missed. We love you Tyler, you live in our hearts forever!

We Have a...

TOOTH! OMG. I so did not expect this to happen so early. Things grow and change so fast in the first year for sure.

It’s not like he’s ready to bite or chew on food just yet, but for the last week I’ve been swearing to Andy that I can see a white mound around his bottom front tooth. Like something is trying to push through, though I was not exactly sure what it would look like and what to look for! Then yesterday, 4 days before Andrew turns 5 months old, Andy yelled to me while I was in the kitchen that he felt something in there. So I came and had Andrew chew my finger too and low and behold, it hurt! He can bite hard anyway but this was like a needle poking me. I gave him some frozen things to chew on and he gnawed away at those. Then later on in his tub I checked it out. The tub is the best place because he can be distracted enough to let me hold his bottom lip down while looking in there from the top as he lays on my lap and he won’t try and cover it with his tongue. It still takes several tries but both Andy and I got to see it. It’s like a little clear piece of plastic pushing between his gum tissue. Oh and we got so excited!!

Sure part of me is sad that my baby is growing up so fast but the biggest part of me is thrilled! Think of how cute his smiling baby pictures will be with that little tooth! And who knows maybe he’ll get the one next to it next and then he’ll have a little cabbage patch smile.

His dexterity is also improving greatly. He reaches with his hands and grabs things so much better. He still likes his Kick and Play in his bouncy and his play gym and what he does now is hold his hand out to the toys and seem to examine his hand along with them, kind of spinning it and looking at it while it is touching the toys. I have also caught him using his pincers a couple of times! This is huge to show readiness for food. I have a feeling that he will surely be ready by six months.

He is already trying to sit up. I have him exercising his torso muscles regularly. When he tries to pull himself up to sitting like when he is done nursing, I don’t just immediately sit him up, I let him work at it for a bit. Then, I just kind of help his to sit himself up. He can also sit on his own for several moments now. But he doesn’t seem to understand that that is what he is doing. Like he just falls forward to reach for something! Too cute of course!

To prepare him for meal times, we are trying to get him used to sitting with us at the table for dinner. He does it in restaurants fairly well if our timing is right and he isn’t too tired. But now at home we have his bumbo in a chair at our dining room table and we will all be eating our dinner there together. I think I have finally worked out the best time to cook supper around here to get it before he starts getting too sleepy and needs his bath and bed time.

His toes are finally making it into his mouth! Not always, he is still turning his hand on those and putting his fingers in his mouth first, though he doesn’t do that with familiar toys only new things. So it is just a matter of time before his toes will be a constant in his mouth like his fingers I am sure! He started by grabbing his socks and pulling those nearly off to get them to his mouth, and now he does it barefoot too.

Speaking of baby feet… I still call him monkey feet. From the moment he was born he was gripping with his toes and now instead of decreasing that behavior, he has gotten better at it! He grabs at toys with his feet and holds them between his feet with a grip so tight, I can lift him up and carry him to another room and set him down without him dropping said toy. His hands still get flailed around some and he likes to bang things with them so toys are more often dropped.

Still rolling from tummy to back only though I put him on his back a lot more now too to try and encourager the other. And he is reaching around and getting to his side and very close to that roll. I am not looking forward to him rolling around here on the floor here. With four cats it is impossible to keep the cat hair off the floor and I do not want him to help me clean it up by rolling it onto all of his clothes. I do however accept this as an inevitability and know there is not much I can do except to try and clean the floor more often! Which I am sure seeing him roll on it will motivate me to do every single day!

Speaking of cats, he loves them! They do not quite know what to think of him still. My old cat Raven is about to get kicked out the house for being loud and obnoxious but that’s nothing new, and he is the one who likes to rub up on everybody for petting, baby included! He’ll take his rubbing anywhere he can get it. Andrew hasn’t quite mastered petting yet though and does a lot of banging and grabbing handfuls of fur and just cat back. It is so funny! We’ve gotten some of these encounters on video so we will post them someday. I have a couple of small videos I’d like to get up soon also. We’re working on it.

I love all the new things Andrew does but of course I have a few favorites. Mostly, he has recently started cuddling with me at night. When he’s on his back, he’ll pull his feet up and let them fall over onto me and leave them there. He also scoots his head over to be next to me, right up against or using me almost as a pillow. If he’s on his tummy, he likes to lift his head up and put it over onto me or up next to me. It is so awesome to wake in the morning to a couple of baby feet on your belly! What a great way to start a day let me tell you!

Picture!

From Baby 5th Month

This pic was taken the night we saw him do this. I am so glad we got his picture since I can never catch pictures of him getting his feet!! Oh and I try let me tell you! Click the pic to see some more new ones.

More New Things!!

As I have said so many times it seems one or more of these new things pops up everyday. I guess it is not quite EVERY day but the new things he starts he gets better and better at every day for sure.

In the last post I forgot to mention that he’s been touching faces. Not just mine and Daddy’s but he is starting to touch other people’s faces too. He really likes my mom’s face I think because she wears glasses and they are pretty. She’s already training him to not grab the glasses but to look!

He stomps his feet when standing, especially his right foot. I think he just gets excited and it’s like when he kicks while laying down on his back!

He’s grabbing his feet when he is on his back now too. Just started this a couple of days ago and now that he’s found them he doesn’t want to let go, even when mommy is trying to change a diaper! They aren’t going into his mouth just yet but I am quite sure they will, everything else does!

He is practicing sitting on his own! I stick him in front of his boppy pillow and he can actually balance himself for quite a while unless he sees something to reach for! Most often he rolls on to his back to grab his toes! It really is nice that he can entertain himself for some time with no toys whatsoever!

His humming has decreased, sadly and with no mention of “mama,” but he’s picking up new noises still. And they seem to vary day to day. He still does his “Gggggg” some and is still humming a small bit, I think he does it when he is hungry, maybe he’s trying to say “milk!” But he is also doing some good A sounds, “Ahhhh,” “Aaaaaa,” and “Ah-aa-ah-aa-aa-aa.” Still doing his high pitched squeal when very excited and that one is usually reserved for when he is standing and especially when he is looking at his daddy!

I think he tries to wake Daddy up already. We’ve talked about how someday when Daddy lays on the couch to “think” that Andrew will come running and jump on him. Well, fortunately Andy can sleep through baby noises most times because right now Andrew will sit or stand on my lap and look over at his sleeping Daddy and just squeal and holler, and I swear he’s trying to get his attention. The other night Andy half woke up, he doesn’t even remember this, and he looked at Andrew and smiled. Well, that just fueled the fire and Andrew was squealing and calling for him even more!

Still growing! Thankfully his Aunt Sandi gave us his cousin’s old clothes that are size 12 month mostly because that seems to be what fits him best, especially when he is in cloth diapers. Today he is wearing a 6 month size and it actually fits, snuggly, most of his 6 months things are ready to be put away, but he is wearing a plastic diaper because all his covers are in the washer.

He started crying at his Grandpa, Andy’s dad! I think it may have just been circumstantial, but it was funny, cute and sad all at the same time. He used to laugh at Grandpa but Grandpa has always come here. The last two days we were at a funeral for Andrew’s Great-Grandmother Binford and there were a lot of people there and he isn’t around big crowds like that often, Wal-Mart doesn’t count, and whenever his Grandpa tried to talk to him, he would break out in screaming cries! Poor Grandpa was a bit heartbroken. Hopefully he’ll try to visit us here before he has to go back out to work so he can see Andrew smile in his own home! Grandpa wasn’t the only person he cried at but he was the only person he cried at every time!

2 days ago Andy and I were getting dressed in the bedroom and I'd put Andrew on the floor on his tummy to play. When I looked down at him I noticed he had pushed up on his hands and straightened out his arms! I've never seen him do that before but ever since then he's done it every time he is on his tummy! He's so strong! Getting ready to crawl maybe?

He’s started giving me hugs and kisses. This is of course my favorite new thing! I will hold him up to me and hug him and tell him I am hugging him and sometimes he will wrap his arms around my neck and squeeze back. I always thank him for my hugs and I usually can get one or more a day! He also will plant big old slobbery open mouth tongue kisses all over my face. Daddy doesn’t get them as often as Mommy just yet but I am sure the time will come when everyone will get their fill of Andrew kisses! Except Mommy, who could never get enough! :D

Another new thing is he is rubbing his eyes when sleepy. He’s been doing this for a little while now but it is becoming my biggest clue that it is time to start settling him down. We still put him to sleep in his bouncy seat more often than not. I am sure he has outgrown the weight limit on it since his butt hits the ground now! But he still loves it so what are we to do. Just because he is the size and weight of some one year olds, he is still only 4 and a half months old and needs to be treated like a baby!

New Things

It has officially been over one full year that this blog has been in action. Thank you to all of you who stop here to check in on us, it means so much to me to feel so loved!

I wanted to tell you all a few of the new things Andrew is doing lately.

His vocal repertoire has grown quite a bit in the last weeks. He recently added a hard G sound, “g-g-g-g-g,” and I have been singing to him songs using the words Goo-goo and Gaa-gaa since it almost sounds like what he says! Yesterday he added even one more sound, he started humming. “Mmmmmm.” I am convinced it is because he is about to say Mama! He hummed all day yesterday! He’d go up and down, “MMMMmmmm. mmmmMMMM.” And when he does it he pulls his lower lip in slightly and pooches out his upper lip a little. Mmmmmmmm

He’s also been quite the drooler. I am sure he is starting the teething process but not sure how far we are from any teeth. He hasn’t seemed bothered with discomfort but that may mean it won’t bother him! Some kids just aren’t bothered by teeth. I know babies don’t know how to swallow their spit and he’s been drooling for a while now but it seems to have increased a lot as of late, and he can soak through 2-3 bibs a day.

He is getting quite good at grabbing. He gets lots of practice! Though it often takes him a few tries to get what he’s reaching for. He is getting better and sometimes he can catch it on the first grab! And objects have become more likely to make it into his mouth. For a while there he would turn his hand when he brought it to his mouth so that it was his own hand and not the object he’d bite, but now he actually bites the object more often than his hand. Especially it seems if it is a toy he is familiar with.

His exersaucer toys stand no chance! He bends and pulls on them as best he can! I swear there are two that will break any day now! I doubt it seriously, I am sure it is built to withstand such abuse but it sure does get pulled to its limits!

He is also into banging his toys. This is very recent. He will just whack them on whatever surface is closest, usually his exersaucer, but sometimes the floor or even last night at a dinner table!

Still quite the kicker, which I love. His little chubby legs get going to town! On his tummy or his back he will kick like crazy.

Not too interested in rolling over though. I keep trying to tell him if he rolls he can get somewhere but he’d usually rather cry. I know I am supposed to let him get frustrated but I am not sure how frustrated. I can’t take it for very long! And our floors are cold so I don’t like to leave him down there too long anyway! At least I have seen him roll over several times so I know he can do it.

When we were out last night, it was a fundraising event in our town by the local Mason group, he was sitting at the table in his Bumbo and people were all commenting on how well he held his head up! I am surprised by that. He’s been holding his head up for a long time, and I did too when I was a baby. I just assumed most babies do that well by 4 months, but I guess not. Which makes me feel much better about the whole rolling over thing! He must be not only on target but maybe even ahead!

Still sleeping really well through the night, 10-12 hours waking only a few times to eat and not even really waking for that! It took us a little over a week to completely recover from the shots and get back on this schedule and mommy was getting pretty tired but now that my sleeping baby is back I am back too! I try to get up about an hour before he does so I have some time to get all the way woken up. It’s been nice having some time to myself too. But I tell you what, I sure am ready for him to get up by the time he does! I miss him!

Make sure you check out the webalbum in the Holiday folder. We took some pictures on Valentine's Day!

From Baby Holidays

4 month check-up

Andrew is such a big boy! Like we didn’t already know that but the doc confirmed it for us. He weighed in at a whopping 19 lbs and 8 oz, and measured 26 ¾ inches long. I knew he was big for his age because he no longer fits comfortably in 3 -6 month outfits. He can wear some 12 months though they are long on his legs but fit his waist.

Some may say it’s the breastfeeding. Like breastfed babies are just somehow bigger. Not completely true. Healthier yes, but bigger? Not always. I am a member of a breastfeeding mommies message board and there are some mommies that exclusively breastfeed as well and have 9 month olds that are much smaller than Andrew! I think it’s in his genes. His Daddy was a hefty sized baby. Andy and I are both pretty tall humans though I think we are more on the new average. Andrew is just going to be a big human. So good! I will just never buy him clothes brand new because he’ll outgrow them before he can wear them more than twice!

I had about a billion and one questions for the doctor. The last visit I had no questions but he’s gone through so many changes since then. I just wanted all his baby parts generally checked and okayed. He gets congested and has a lot of earwax so I wanted her to check all of that, and he is, of course, fine. He might have had a touch of eczema on his arm but it has cleared up with a little cortisone that she recommended so I am going to keep an eye out for another occurrence. And I am still hoping that isn’t what it was. Eczema often means there is a food allergy and those are a bummer to deal with. It is unlikely Andrew has any since Andy and I both have none though so that’s encouraging.

I asked her if we could take him swimming in a pool since he seems to enjoy swimming in the tub so much. Her only things were to make sure the pool was heated and that he didn’t drink the water! So we will start looking in to that soon. It has been awfully cold here lately and I am not interested in swimming.

I also discussed with her my plans to delay solids. Some pediatricians tell moms to go ahead and start giving rice cereal at about 4 months old. Well, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) actually recommends waiting a full six months before starting any solids to help prevent food allergies from forming. And especially breastfed babies to give them even more of the breastmilk benefits for longer. Babies will often nurse less when they start solids. And it is a myth that cereal helps them sleep through the night. More often then not it upsets their tummies and makes it harder to sleep. Anyway, enough preaching, sorry. She was totally on board with me delaying as long as I wanted. I said six months she said sounds good, I said maybe later even she said sounds good! I am glad I didn’t have to butt heads with her over it. But I think there is zero concern about Andrew’s weight gain! I just want to make sure he can sit upright on his own without propping to be completely safe.

I also talked with her about skipping rice cereal all together. By the time he does get solids it shouldn’t be necessary to start him on cereal because his intestines will be more ready and she said great! I want to start him on spinach mixed with breastmilk since it is high in iron and will help any iron stores he is depleting by then. I do read mixed results about iron stores in babies. Some say they get plenty from breastmilk and it is more absorbable than any other form and some say they can deplete. Who knows. I am well above the norm in my iron levels so I am not worried about my breastfed baby!

The sad part was the shots of course! We hate it. And the nurse that took care of him seemed very inexperienced and may not have even been a nurse but a medical assistant. And Andrew is big and squirms so it was hard for her to get him still and she took a lot longer than the last lady to get all four shots in. Then he was just yucky for about 2 days. No fever, no real symptoms, just sad and crying and needing to be held. So he got held! He also got his first doses of Tylenol. They really seemed to help him feel better but it was still a full two days before he was back to his normal happy smilie self.

I was so grateful to have him back yesterday too because Andy was sick! He was actually sick the day before too so I had a sick Daddy and a sick baby! But at least Andrew got better and then I just had a sick Daddy. Andy spent most of the day in bed and is feeling all better today. I said I need a normal week next week, no one is allowed to be sick! I was so tired from Andrew not sleeping well but I am recovered also.

So we are all back to normal today and planning to have a much needed fun family day together!

4 Months Old Today

And one year ago today I took the test that told us we'd be having our Little Andrew. Such a great day to celebrate!

The last entry of 4th month pics have been added to the photo album!

From Baby 4th Month

Don't miss them!

I will start a new album for his fifth month tomorrow and it will start with the pics we take today on his 4 month birthday!

Just So Busy!

This one will be brief because my time to sit still for extended periods seems to be slowly coming to an end. Our Little Mister, not so little anymore btw, is becoming quite the busy bee! He has rolled over a few times but not into just rolling around yet or anything. But he does not like to sit still! He used to just sit on my lap while I played online or worked and would be content just to be close to mommy and look about a little bit. Not anymore! Even from the moment we first get up in the morning, and believe me I am in no shape for playing first thing in the morning, he is raring to go! I can’t just set him in his bouncy anymore and talk to him or read to him from the internet. He is always looking over my shoulder when I hold him now for something to do, looking at his toys or at the cats. He doesn’t like to be on the floor on his tummy for long, but I feel like even when he starts to get frustrated, I should leave him so he can learn to go, you know, be motivated to move. Not that I want him to hurry!

I feel like my baby is growing up now that he doesn’t want to be babied so much anymore. He spends most of his time in his exersaucer playing or playing with one of us on the floor. He always wants his toys or just any old thing I give him that’s new (box of Jello perhaps?) or he loves some peek-a-boo and getting tickled with “goochie goochies.” Oh we are having a ton of fun! He giggles and talks so much now! He has all kinds of things to say.

I am actually excited for his to become mobile now though I am not in any rush just because I know how much he is going to love exploring! I’ve been thinking of cleaning out drawers in the living room and filling them with things he can get into and explore. I already moved everything around in the kitchen so he can get into all the lower cabinets with no dangers and can pull everything out and inspect it all.

Well, he just pooped so I must go!

Something New Everday

Wow, what an amazing trip this has been so far and we are just getting started! It already feels like the days just fly by. I cannot get enough of my son! I want to hold him and play with him pretty much all the time. I have to make an effort to put him down to let him do some alone time playing and get his naps!

It feels like everyday he starts a new thing. His newest thing which he has been doing for a while now but he’s really picking up at it is standing. He LOVES it! And now when he stands he makes more noise than in any other position. He high pitched squeals and coos and laughs and just jabbers on while I hold his hands and he stands.

He is also pulling his feet up more when lying on his back. He grabbed one with his hand the other day but hasn’t since. I know he will soon figure out how to get those precious toes of his into his mouth!

He’s rolled over twice in the last week. Not that I’ve actually seen him do it! He isn’t much of a show off yet, but don’t worry I’ll be teaching him to be!

The first time he rolled over, I set him on the floor in the living room on his tummy with a toy to look at and grab at. I went to the kitchen to get something and I heard him start a little bit of fussing. Nothing major so I let him fuss while I finished what I was doing. He sounded frustrated. Then his fussing turned into all out screaming and I came back to check. He was no longer on his tummy but on his back! He didn’t seem too happy about it at the moment though. We do have hardwood floors so he might have hit his head a little when he rolled. He is of course fine.

The second time I put him on the floor in his room on his tummy after a diaper change in the morning, this was yesterday. I went to his cabinet to get him an outfit and when I came back he was on his back smiling up at me! I had turned for not more than a minute! When I tried to put him on his tummy to get him to do it again while I was looking, he would have no part of it. But at least this time he seemed happier with the results.

I am glad I put him on the floor! Though I have read they learn to roll in one direction only first and it can take a while before they learn to go the other way and do a full roll. Still I will not be walking away from him on his changing table.

The other night I put him on his back on the floor in the living room on his super soft Pooh blanket from his Aunt Clair and put his play gym over his head. Andy and I were watching a show on his computer and I looked down to check on Little Mister and he was on his side twisted all up in the gym and trying to get his toes!

I swear the time is drawing near where we will not be able to take an eye off of him for a moment!

He still loves playing in his exersaucer and has gotten good at spinning himself around to look at whatever side he wants. Since he likes standing so much this is one of his favorite spots. He also likes sitting in his Bumbo especially barefooted and staring at his toes. Did I mention how cute his toes are?

He in his bouncy seat right now next to me and just woke from a very brief nap. And he is now kicking my foot that is bouncing him and cooing and squealing trying to get my attention. If I look over at him and say hi he tenses with excitement and smiles and throaty laughs. Such a sweetie.

I have started actively signing to him when we do things to help him learn to communicate to us sooner. The only one he has really picked up on so far is the one I made up. I take both hands a make a come here type movement with all my fingers at once and ask if he wants me to get him before I pick him up. I do it a couple of times then I pick him up. He has just started lifting his arms for me when I do this so I think it is working and he understands. Soon he’ll be making the hand signal to me when he wants to be picked up!

We see the doc on the 7^th so we’ll get an official weight then and I want to ask her about taking him swimming. There is an indoor pool in Denton and I’d love to get him in it!

Only For This Day

At this age in a baby’s life they change so much so fast. He really seems bigger everyday when we wake up. He seems to learn some new thing everyday. He has a new noise everyday.

Now I don’t want to slow his process or development or anything but I am afraid that despite his great new standing skill, he may be a little slow to walk or crawl. Why you ask. Well, because I don’t want to put him down! I do put him down a lot through the day but he spends the most time I think just in my arms chilling. We chill at the computer reading, or in the recliner watching TV or Daddy’s computer or Daddy playing a video game. But I just like snuggling and holding him close.

I know too may parents and they all say the same thing, “They grow up so fast,” “they don’t stay little long,” or “enjoy him while you can!” I have listened!

Oh sure we’ll have another kiddo someday, hopefully a few more! But none will ever be the first. And all will be special and individual and none will be this one. And I want to enjoy this one, just as I hope to enjoy each of them, while they are little and will let me hold them while chilling out.

Yeah, the laundry basket is full and there are dishes in the sink. They can wait! This little baby is going to grow again by tomorrow and I need to enjoy him today!

He’ll only be 3 months and 4 days old for one day you know! I don’t want to miss it!

I’ve also been doing some thinking about him being the first and the troubles that brings.

I know babies. I’ve worked in infant care plenty. I also read from the experts as well as from other moms. But I still get lost tons of times. All kids, just like all of us big people, are different. And what happened with and what works for one may not be the same for the next.

Now because of this a lot of times Andy and I feel like we are fumbling through the dark trying to take care of this baby. I already find myself thinking, “On the next one I’ll be sure to do X like this or that.” And just the things I have learned that will carry me through to the next child we have.

But there are many advantages to being the first. One, he is probably going to be the only one of our children with a normal name! This one was for you grandparents so get ready for us to get crazy on the rest of them! Also, since we don’t have a ton of money (and people with multiple kids seldom do or can), we will have to do the old hand me down business. Which means Andrew may be the only one who gets new things a lot of the time and then he’ll give his old books and toys and clothes to his younger siblings! He’s also the only one who gets this alone time with mommy and daddy. Though he may not realize it terribly or remember it later, he will be the only one that didn’t have to go through his infant months with some other child around.

Speaking of other children:

The cutest thing happened today. Andrew has been around other kids so rarely. I think Christmas was his first real awake experience with other kids. The times before he was under 2 months and not totally aware. Today we went to a pal’s home quite a distance from ours so that when we go there we stay the whole day. This pal’s younger sister had come to the house for a visit as well and brought her son. We’ve all been friends quite some time but the last time I saw her and her son I was pregnant so I was really looking forward to catching up. The boy’s name is Riley. He’s a cute kid! But he is startled easily, a little sensitive I guess. Andy even startled him once several months ago when I was hardly pregnant.

Well, today Andrew was hanging out with us and checking out the place. He’d been there before but it’s still all new to him and there were many more people this time than last. He was introduced to Riley and Riley to him. Riley seemed to really like the baby! Then our friend, Riley’s uncle decided to play a little chase with Riley through the halls and ended up scaring him pretty badly. It was cute though. Until Riley started crying. And then Andrew hearing Riley crying got upset and he started crying! It was too cute! Andy and I took Andrew into another room and we’d get him calmed and then he’d hear Riley crying from the other room and he’d start again. Or they’d get Riley calmed and he’d start up again when he’d hear Andrew! It was so funny I couldn’t stop laughing which of course makes me feel bad. But how cute is it that the babies kept crying for each other!

Andrew was also very tired, and in a new place and excited, he didn’t want to go to sleep. It ended up taking quite a long time to get him clamed down and to sleep but once he was there he was good to go. And Riley kept wanting to go to the other room to see the baby! He’d ask, “Can I go see the baby?”

I am enjoying our son as a baby and every day that we have him but I also look forward to the days when I can teach him and talk with him and play with him. Andy looks forward to all of this as well, but mostly he can’t wait to wrestle!!

Check the photo album, 4^th month added!

18 Pounder

No I’m not talking about some giant fish we caught on an outing in a boat. I am talking about my favorite baby, Little Andrew! Well, Little? No not really!

We went to my mom’s home last night for dinner and a computer check up and while we were there I was anxious to get Andrew on her scale. Andy did the weighing this time and with two steps on the scale, one was 19 pounds and one was 18. Yes, he is barely 3 months old, I swear!

He is fitting comfortably in most 6-9 month clothing however.

I fear this may cause him some struggles as he grows because many people will think he is older than he is. They will then expect him to be at a certain maturity and ability level which he is not. These are challenges we will all face together!

He is however not just big, tall and mildly chunky, but also quite strong! He can stand on his feet, sometimes his toes, sometimes his toe knuckles (as Daddy calls them!) with only holding on to my fingers. His little fat knees support him for quite some time before collapsing. And he really seems to enjoy it. He’ll stand on your lap, on the floor, anywhere someone will hold him up for it.

It will be very hard for me to not start giving him solids before 6months, which is my goal! He seems so interested in watching us eat. I do try and encourage that behavior by eating right in front of him and dramatically chewing and taking bites and things.

Though I am sure I do not have to worry about his eating! I have a feeling as soon as he gets his hands on some finger foods, he’ll know exactly what to do with them!

I’m still not sure what his first food will be. It will not be cereal as some recommend. Upon further research I have found that baby cereal contains little health benefits and nutrition. The iron in it is not as absorbable as the iron in meats, it is no gentler on the tummy that vegetables, and it contains less fat and calories than breastmilk so he should really get more of that than cereal. Foods in the first year are more about play and experimentation than nutrition anyway, he gets plenty of nutrition from his mommy milk, obviously!

But as for the first food he does get, I have always thought spinach. It is one of my favorite vegetables and I will mix in breastmilk so it has a sweetness and familiarity to it. I plan to make all our own baby food. Most of it will just be what we’re eating smashed up eventually anyway. And I have heard those jar foods just don’t taste good and are poor representations of the real thing! Besides, I have the same blender my mother used to make my baby food, so it is meant to be!

Aside from his new standing trick he is also a great kicker! He likes to kick his bouncy seat Kick and Play even when there are no toys on it. Just when he is being talked to! And oh yes, he talks back. You can certainly tell his Mommy and Daddy talk to him. He is trying very hard to speak. And he kicks in the tub on his tummy and on his back. We are trying to get him to splash the water with his hands and his feet. Something we may just regret someday!

But as usual poor Andrew, he is the first. We will make many “mistakes” and mishaps with him as we figure this whole parenting, baby taking care of thing out.

He has also found out that his fingers taste good. He isn’t a thumb sucker, but a finger sucker. Usually the first one and sometimes two. He’ll even turn his hand when he grabs things to put in his mouth so it is his own hand going in to his mouth instead f the toy he’s grabbing!

I am so proud of him for grabbing and putting things to his mouth though. It is a big milestone and it will be very important for his development and understanding of the world around him.

His hair has yet to fall out but I am still waiting. I love his hair. We wash it every day even when he isn’t getting soap because he gets so sweaty and it gets greasy. But it is so super soft and fun to pet and he seems to enjoy it when people gently stroke his hair.

He is such a beautiful baby if you ask me! I may be a bit biased, I don’t know, hard to say for sure, but I think he is precious and handsome!

I have put more pictures on our album and have a few more to add to his 3^rd month but we should be starting his 4^th month very soon. I have pictures from his 3 month old birthday that we’ll start that one with.