...and we're laughing

J will be 4 mo on thurs, and one of the "tricks" that he does that i think is the most precious is laughing. he's still working his way up to full-fledged laughter, but it's still pretty cute. we took this video of him this weekend.

PotD: It's Monday & 16 wk status!

the last week has been a bit busy for us. last week Ms. C went out of town for a wedding, so i took of a couple of days to stay with J, and then D took fri. we had a ton of fun hanging out and spending time with each other. i was sad that i had to get up this morning to go to work, and drop him off again.

so here's what has been going on with J:

• he's over 17lbs now and is in 6-9 mo clothes! yikes!
• he had his 1st fever on sept 10-11. we took him to the doc for some shots, and he got the fever in reaction to that. it was so sad to watch him - he was pitiful/miserable. and it was very scary for both D and myself, even though it is a common reaction. we just weren't mentally prepared to deal with it. but we definitely are now!
• J is a pro at rolling over, and now prefers to spend most of his time on his tummy looking at the world right side up.
• talk about chatter-box! he is so chatty these days. it's like he's telling us stories. and he's also learned to yell/screech, which is terrible for my eardrums when i'm holding him.
• he *still* will not drink from a bottle! :) and i now have a standing lunch date with him every week day. he's also reversed his cycles so that he nurses every 1.5-2 hrs at night and not so much during the day. lovely!
• he is trying *so* hard to crawl. when he is on his tummy, he will push himself up high with his hands, and try to get his feet under him. he's so determined, but he hasn't quite figured it out yet.
• J is getting so much better at laughing. he doesn't do it consistently, but it's definitely a more frequent occurance.

PotD and 11 wk status

well it's getting harder and harder to keep J still long enough to take a pic these days. he just keeps moving and squirming all over the place. it's hilarious, but i wish he would stay still long enough for me to get a really cute pic of him. and since we've been waking up at the crack of dawn these days, there's not much light in the room or outside and the pics look really dark (which also detract from his cuteness levels).

so what can J do now??

• he reaches out for things. for example, we have a little toy frog that dangles down on the handle of his car seat so that he can look up at it when he's in it. and he's started reaching out to touch it.
• he now makes a little sucking/clicking noise with his tongue/mouth to signal that he's hungry. it's so cute, that i usually just watch him do it, so eventually he does start crying because i'm not feeding him fast enough.
• he tries to eat his hands/suck his thumb to soothe himself when he is hungry/tired.
• it seems like he is trying really hard to roll over. if laid on his back he will turn the top of his body to the side and wiggle himself to try and get his body over.
• he still will not take a bottle. last week was his 1st week of daycare at my friend C's house, and the transition didn't go as smoothly as i hoped. he is not interested in a bottle at all. we've tried so many different bottles/nipples, sippy cups (thx for the suggestion, mackey!) and nothing. thurs he finally drank the contents of 1 whole bottle, but did not want to repeat the performance. C has had to syringe feed him, and even bring him by my job so that i could feed him. i'm not sure how we can get him to eat consistently throughout the day from the same source. :(
• he does amazingly well at social events. we had 2 weddings to go to within 2 weeks, and a birthday party. and at each event he behaved so well. he slept most of the time, but the time that he was up, he just looked around and observed things. and he loves to be held - no matter who it is (he especially loves when beautiful ladies hold him!).

PotD: Back on the Grind!

well today is my 1st full week back at work, and J's 1st full week of daycare. it's so sad that i won't be there for all of his baby moments. but i know that will make the time we do spend together much more special. and i know that he is safe and in good hands, so that gives me some comfort.

so at 10 wks (and a day), here are some of the things that J can do:

• as of 8/3 he was 14lbs 12oz (with a diaper on, so skim a little off of that).
• he has become *very* talkative, and will just coo and blabber away like he's having a conversation with you.
• he LOVES to smile (except when you put a camera in his face of course), and he will now smile at you in response to you talking to him.
• i know he is *trying* to laugh. he opens his mouth really wide and sometimes makes a little noise, but nothing really comes out.
• he does very well at social functions and outtings. he's been to his baptism, several lunches, and a wedding, and has not had 1 meltdown.
• he can follow people things really well with his eyes.
• i think he recognizes D and i.
• he does really well when being held by people that he doesn't know
• he loves to look around and stare at things. it's like he's soaking everything in - he's so observant.
• and...he will NOT take a bottle! ;) yea all that work that i did to make sure that we well established BF-ing worked a little too well. so now we're trying to work on getting him to take a bottle (and i've bought almost every possible bottle/nipple i could) so that he will eat during the day when i'm away from him and he's at daycare.

weeks 6 and 7

at almost 2 months old, here's what's been happening with us:

• J is now weighing in at over 12 lbs - he was 12 lbs 2.5 oz when we weighed him few days ago
• and because he's growing so rapidly, he is outgrowing some of his clothes. i had to get out the 3-6 mo clothes, and even put away some things that he can no longer fit into. i can't believe my little boy is growing up!
  
• he now smiles on purpose and in response to us talking to him. it's the cutest thing ever, and warms my heart every time i see it.
• we took him to his 1st movie in theaters (the last airbender), which he completely slept through.
• we've been out of the house every day this past week, and never had a public meltdown.
• he constantly gets mistaken for a girl! my theory is that it's because he has so much hair. i don't know what it is though.
• he is becoming much more talkative. he has these moments when he just coos, babbles, and smiles at us like he's having a conversation with us.

5 wk status and other happenings...

well my little guy is 5.5 wks old. i seriously can't believe that it's been that long - amazing! i was telling D the other day that now that we have J here, it feels like he's always been here. no awkward "wow, there is a baby in the house" feeling. he just fits!


we've been really busy lately entertaining guests. last week D's mom and sis came to visit J for a couple of days...

then my parents/sis came (and are currently still here) to visit their adorable grandson/nephew...


here are some cool things that have been happening with us:

• J is now ~11 lbs 5 oz (with no clothes on) when i weighed him a couple of days ago, so he's still gaining weight pretty regularly
• he is now sleeping a *little* longer through the nights. the last few nights he's had about 3.5-4 hr sleep cycles, which i greatly appreciate!
• he does GREAT with "strangers". as long as he's fed, he does awesome being passed around from person to person. no meltdowns at all!
• he likes to start his day off with a BIG bowel movement. i get woken up around 630-7 am to the sound of grunting, and eventually he does his business. but he seems to be making a habit out of starting his day out with an empty intestine!
• he can now follow things with his eyes/head. and it seems like he can pick out my voice and tell who i am (or at least that i'm the one with the food)!
• i'm back to teaching my zumba classes after 4 wks off! it's good to be back teaching especially since i really enjoy the people and the class! and i've been feeling great!
• i can finally wear my pre-pregnancy clothes! after ~7 months with a limited wardrobe i now feel as though my wardrobe has more than doubled. it feels great to have options again!
• breastfeeding is going MUCH better!
• J has much longer awake cycles. but again, as long as he's fed, he does fine just sitting and checking things out for a while until he wants to be held.
• he LOVES the new mei tai carrier we got from heavenly hold! he is out like a light once he's in it. and its allowed us to get out more since i'm not worried about him being fussy. we also just got a mesh ring sling with the hopes that this will make bath/shower time easier/shorter for both of us.

and finally, i tried to get a pic comparison of J then and now. here he is at 1 wk old...

compared to him at 5.5 wks old...

he's filled out a bit, eh? :)