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.