Busy, Busy 7 Month Old!

Our boy is 7 months old today! There were just way too many cute pictures to choose from this month, so I've included a LOT! Jeffrey is noticeably stronger every day and growing in all kinds of ways. We read, sing, play and listen to music when we are at home. We are keeping busy with our play groups and meeting up with friends and family. One of my friends says we really should get paid 500K for this job because it's so hard. I agree, but it is worth every second!

This month we've had some fun weekends with Daddy-Pearl brewery, Market Square and Mi Tierra, child-proofing the house, his 20th high school reunion and other outings! We've had great visits with Aunt Jen, Alice, Sonja, RJ and Jenni. We've gone to a craft fair and hosted a play date. Brant and I have continued our weekly class at church and Gigi babysits every Wednesday night. Leaving Jeffrey is a lot easier now that he will take a few ounces from a bottle. I've been able to get together with friends and go to night time events more. He's loving his Daddy and gets SO excited when he gets home from work. He is ok with other people holding him a lot more too, (whew!)

Jeffrey is full of laughter. He is starting to say consonant sounds and babbles a lot. No tooth yet, but it's under there and it's coming! Drooling like crazy! He is happy sitting and playing with his toys for pretty long periods of time and only wakes to eat once at night now. Our little boy is growing up! Bigger every day!

 

 

Sic 'Em!

 

 

Farmer's Market at Pearl Brewery

 

He found that shadow on the back of his high chair the other day-funny.

First time in the grocery cart, (usually I wear him in the sling)

I THINK Jeffrey said "mamma" when trying to get my attention at the grocery check out! The cashier gave him a sticker, (first of many I am sure!)

Reading with Bo

 

Reading with Lainey

 

 

Getting some Jenni love!

Baby Play Date/Book and Toy Swap

Jeffrey and I hosted our first baby play date today! We had chicken salad, croissants, tea and water and everyone brought something to add to the lunch, fruit, cookies, cupcakes and more. There were 8 moms and 8 babies. Each brought either a toy or a book to swap. It was so much fun! I'm looking forward to doing it again. Jeffrey was wiped out and went straight to sleep after everyone left. It was a great morning with new friends!

 

Helmet Time!

Our Little Linebacker!
 

He was "borderline" for needing a helmet and after months of fighting repositioning, we don't have to worry about it anymore! After getting it, he was asleep, (with it on,) on the car ride home. No big deal! He is such a trooper. In the past few days, we've worked from having it on one hour at a time to 8 and tomorrow to the full 23 hours a day. He will be sporting the helmet for 3-5 months. I think it's taken me longer to get used to seeing him in it that it took for him to get used to wearing it. SIDS has gone down 40% now that babies sleep on their backs, but the flat head syndrome, (plagiocephaly,) has increased so much that they say 1 out of 5 babies has it. Even with his helmet, he's still sleeping with his head to the right...and sleeping with no problem, just a little sweatier than usual. And if he needs braces on his teeth when the time comes, we'll fix that too!

I think these are the fingers he's determined are the best, which are the same that I liked!

Playing in his room

Reading with Gram

Happy Half Birthday!

Jeffrey is 6 months old today! As the country remembers what happened on 9/11 twelve years ago, I am remembering a sweet, tiny baby being born in the early morning hours. He has brought us an incredible amount of joy and taught us lessons about ourselves and each other in that short time. I cannot even fathom the amount we will learn from him and how we will grow individually and as a family in the years to come.

Jeffrey is sitting up by himself now. He loves to listen to stories and will sit and listen to entire books, (not just short board books!) while looking at pictures. When I read books over and over, he anticipates what will happen with a gasp or a giggle. He is eating "solid" foods two times a day. He likes everything but peas, which actually made him gag multiple times as we kept trying. We've learned that prunes truly work! He is still nursing...straight from the tap since 3-11-13! Most of the time Jeffrey goes to bed and down for naps so nicely. For one week now, he's been sleeping TWELVE hours straight at night!!! Before that, he was waking to be fed 2-3 times a night, so this is incredible! I told Mom I don't know what to do with myself in the evening, not having to go to bed so early and she said, "That's where second babies come from!"

 

Jeffrey's always slept on the same spot on the right side of his head. I even asked about it at his two week appointment. We tried repositioning with rolled up blankets, (they don't sell any repositioners at baby stores anymore due to SIDS.) His doctor was concerned at his two month visit, but said we'd keep our eye on it. We saw the doctor at three months to readjust his reflux meds and he referred us to a specialist. Then at his 4 month appointment, the doctor saw so much improvement he said he would not have even referred us!

The scans at the specialist kept showing improvement. He was borderline last month for getting a helmet. This past month, he showed very little improvement, so we decided to go ahead and get the helmet. So, he'll be sporting a helmet for the next 3-5 months, 23 hours a day! They say it's harder on the parents than it is on the kid and that they get used to it so quickly. Like mom said, "What's the difference in doing that and getting braces on your teeth?" I am actually very relieved at this conclusion because I have been fighting with positioning him both during sleep and all day, every day. I won't have to worry about it any more AND when he falls over, he'll have head protection!

 Jeffrey has had a great 6 month birthday so far. I got up and had a cup of coffee before he woke up at 6:15. We walked to the park, around the lake and back to the house for a nap. We went to library time at 10:15 and Aunt Jen came for a visit. Lainey and Bo, (we are calling Graham Bo because Brant's mother is "Gram" and it was getting too confusing,) sent a video message early this morning singing "Happy Half Birthday" which was so cute! Jen told me later that Lainey asked, "Mom, why don't we celebrate half birthdays?"

 Monday we went to our first Stone Oak Moms baby play date. There were 10 babies there, which is a LOT at someone's home. Jeffrey likes parties and people usually, but he has been getting really fussy at events like this. It's either the noise level, teething or anxiety that I am going to leave him or be separated. I hope that goes away quickly, because I had a great time. It seems to be a great group of women that I could see myself becoming great friends with! We just need to get Jeffrey acclimated!

I am remembering being in New York City a month and a half before the towers fell. I am remembering what 9/11 was like for our entire country 12 years ago. I am also celebrating September 11, 2013 and our precious baby boy today!

SMOOOOCH! I love this baby!!!!!

A Boy and His Dog...

Man's Best Friend. We have a good one in Lacey..