6 months old!!

It's amazing how time flies! I can't believe that I've been someone's mother for 6 months already-- and how big that little someone has gotten! We didn't do anything too special to celebrate the day, but we did give little man a bath sitting up in the kitchen sink, instead of in his baby tub, for the first time. He looked like such a big boy sitting up in there. At first he was a little freaked out, I think, kind of flailing around and turning to look at the sides of the sink, grabbing at everything he could find. Then, he seemed to realize that the water was different from the sides, that it wasn't solid, that it splashed. He started splashing like crazy, with the cutest determined, focused look on his face, working very hard to figure out what was going on with this water stuff. On the down side, he also got some of his danduff shampoo in his eyes (yes, our baby has dandruff already!) which made me feel pretty bad, and also pretty silly for not waiting to wash his hair at the END of his bath. But, how were we to know that he would want to splash for so long? This is the kid who usually seems to just tolerate his bath. We may be in for longer, and more fun, bathtime from now on!

Jack also tried bananas today. He is not seeming to like solids quite as much the past few days. Or it could be that our timing is off. It's hard to schedule solid meals with a baby who nurses on demand. What I need to remember is that, at this point, solids are really just for fun and experimentation. I want him to enjoy and be enthusiastic about eating but if he is not into it right now that's OK...

On another note, the kiddo is pretty darn cute these days. Very appealing little bundle of huggable-ness. It is getting increasingly fun to take him out and about because he just draws people in, big blue eyes and flirty smile. Yesterday, on my second snow day of the winter, we went to Legacy Village and we barely made it through a browsing walk at Restoration Hardware, what with the people stopping us continually to coo over our little babe in arms. It is just like being out with Corydon only I suppose now the pride I feel at their compliments is a bit more justified. After all (despite the fact that he doesn't look like me all that much) I did have a hand in creating this cuteness.

We had a nice weekend. Jack spent Saturday morning with Melinda and Kate as I was at my Math Advantage class. They took him out to the Botanical gardens where he was cooed over and where both Melinda and Kate got to claim him as their own. On Sunday Melinda bought a Wii and we proceeded to spend our Sunday evening doing strange things to computer-animated rabbits. It's a weird world we live in. Melinda has insisted on leaving the Wii here at our place all week. The upshot of this is that we are getting lots of time with Jack's "aunt and uncle". I am so pleased that he is going to grow up with our extended family of friends, that he will see them as family, love and trust them. Still, it is gratifying when Jack shows me that he loves and trusts me most... :) ... last night at Target my rather over-tired son began to scream like a banshee when he realized I had walked off and left him with Melinda and Will. He earned quite a bit for his college fund by settling right down and snuggling in when he got into my arms. Stranger anxiety is setting in, I think, along with the teething. Both will be a bit of a pain in the *** but at least the stranger anxiety will have some rewards for my ego...

Speaking of teething, Jack has another bottom tooth coming in, we think. He's been crabby and is going back to his 11:00 wakings. (though last night after fussing and crying for 40 minutes at 11, he slept again til 6:30 am!) He is also recognizing his name and turning toward us when we say it, and recognizing the word milk (turning toward the boobs when I say that!). And tonight he initiated a game of "peekaboo" while sitting in the kitchen, turning away and giggling when we looked at him and said peek-- then looking back at us to get our attention, and doing it again. He giggled and wiggled on his bottom each time we "noticed" him again. So sweet. At the moment, though, he is working his way up to a scream in his nursery, trying to erase all positive memories of the day. Sigh. I hope these teeth come in fast!

Just a little bit of mommy angst....

Jack and I went to breastfeeding group tonight. It was nice, just a small group of us, talking pumps and supply and flange guages, all that good stuff! :) I am always a bit torn about attending groups. A part of me loves the chance to see the other babies and talk with the other moms, focusing on that side of myself for a while. But then I start to slip into comparison mode. There was a 4 month old at group tonight who was doing more rolling than Jack, just as much reaching, and already starting to sit up unassisted. I know in my conscious mind that all babies develop at different rates. I also know that really, I am in NO hurry for this little guy to be mobile. We aren't babyproofed in the least. And yet, I continue falling into the trap of comparing him, wanting him to be on the "advanced track" of development, worrying that he is behind and that it could indicate other problems. When I am with just him, of course, he is perfect. He is a happy and beautifiul littly guy with a quiet, observant personality and a bit of a whiny side. He's a champion at sitting up and likes to play with the tags on his toys. He is just starting to approximate sleeping through the night-- last night he slept from 7:30-4:30, woke to eat, and carried on for 3 more hours. Really, he's such a great baby. So why can't I just relax and enjoyhim the way he is, night now?

Big Boy!

What an exciting day for Jack!
1. We are, as I mentioned before, flirting with the idea of switching to cloth diapers. So, today was our "trial day" of using the dipes we already have and seeing how it goes. Turns out, of course, that I don't really love the fitteds we have the most of (the Kushies) as they are AWFULLY bulky and the one cover we have is a bit leaky... but the BumGenius pocket and all-in-one seemed to work well...It is hard to decide what we ought to go with. Too many choices!!!
Jack was kind enough to not poop on any of the dipes we tried today; in fact he has not pooped in about 60 hours now. Poor little guy. I think he weighs about a pound more than he did at his appointment. Seriously. Makes sense as there is no "out" for all the "in" he is doing...
2. Speaking of "in"-- we started solids today!!! We had decided to wait til 6 months... and yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I was just saying how glad I am that he's not 6 months yet... but we figured, hey, he's had his appointment. And this kid is definitely ready, from the way he looks at us when we eat, tries to grab our food, loves trying to drink from our cups. At any rate, he did great! We decided not to buck the system and just started with the recommended rice cereal. He gobbled it down like he's been doing it his whole life. He knew to open his mouth when the spoon approached and hardly let any of that cereal back out of his mouth. I was so proud of him. Sniff! It made me glad that we waitd-- he is so very "ready" now and we never had to "push" him to eat-- but also glad that we didn't wait any longer as he really seems to enjoy it. I am getting impatient now to get through this "first tastes" stage so we can start to give him a little bit of everything! I hope he continues to be a good eater...
3. After he ate his midday cereal he was getting a bit whiny, and we didn't think it was quite naptime. So, we decided to feel around in his little cereal-ey mouth and just check for teeth, on the off chance. And there was a little pointy ridge of tooth! You can't see it yet, as its just the tiniest bit coming out, but its definitely on its way. So Mr whiny-pants has a pass on fussing for the next little bit as HIS FIRST TOOTH! works its way through. I got a little teary eyed and had to give him a big hug. I can't beleive my baby is growing up so fast!

6 month doctor appointment!

Jack's first Valentine's day and what did we get him? His 6 month booster shots...
It's kind of a misnomer to talk about this as a 6 month appointment. He's not really 6 months old yet. Not quite. Thank heavens-- I am just not ready for that milestone to be here so soon! All went well, according to Nat, who was the one to take the Jackster today while I worked. This was a tough day to be a working mom-- I hated to miss the appointment. Jack did fine with his shots, "cried like a baby" as Nat put it but then had an ounce of milk and took a nap. Thatta boy. Everything checked out fine and we are all set to start solids in the next few weeks. Oh, and the much anticipated statistics! Here you go:

Height: 27.5 inches, 90%
Weight: 18lbs 6oz, 89%
Head Circumference: 75%

Still a growing boy, but not quite the giant he once was. Which is a good thing, really!

The other momentous news is that (drum roll....) we have re-introduced dairy this week! So far, no negative consequences that we are aware of. Kiddo does have his fussy moments but really only when he's tired and really they aren't that bad. No screaming, no apparent gas pain. Knock on wood that we've seen the end of dairy-free Amanda! Tonight for our Valentine's dinner we had pizza! It was fabulous.

Another fabulous thing: Jack gave me a Valentine present (in addition to the adorable cards he and his Daddy made!). He slept from 7pm to 5am! Unbelievable. I could really get used to sleep like that... but I know better than to expect it again. :)

Some recent noticings:
*Jack is continuing the habit he's had for a month or so: He refuses to pay much attention to the person who is holding him. He'll smile at anyone else who talks to him, but he wants to face out all the time. Then, when you hand him over to a new "holder", he'll look back at you with a smile as if to say "Oh! Have you been here this whole time??"
*Today he got excited about peekaboo.
*He LOVES going outside in his Kelty carrier. I think he enjoys the view from way up on Daddy's back. And he certainly doesn't mind the cold. We all had a nice winter walk this afternoon, a chilly sunny evening... It is nice that the sun is still out when I get home from work, a reassurance that spring and summer are, in fact, on their way...
*I am once again entertaining the option of switching to cloth diapers. I was inspired by some other moms at breastfeeding group , who insist it's not that hard... So I've spent my spare moments this week researching the insane number of different brands and options. I may never actually make the switch, simply because I can't decide which kind to go with.

Sweet potato..

Little man was just too sweet for words at bedtime tonight... As he nursed I sang a bit of "Tender Shepherd" for him and he kept pulling off to look up at me and smile. When we did our "dancing cheek to cheek" before I laid him down he just pressed his little face against mine. And when I laid him down in his crib he smiled up at me and snuggled right in as I swaddled him. I think it is so cute that he knows it's bedtime-- and is so happy to go to bed, too!

In other news, we did the "baby switch" at Starbucks today. It's so fun to hang out with Jack there. He loves it, just watching the lights and the people. And we get to talk to all sorts of admirers. Everyone exclaims over his big blue eyes. It's pretty fun to have a gorgeous baby. ;) Jack also enjoyed having more water from a cup... he kept going after our coffee cups with an open mouth so we got him his own cup with a bit of water and he loved drinking from it! Actually I ought to put "drinking" in quotes: I believe a more accurate description of what went on might be "soaking his bib by dribbling water out of his mouth"...

And, finally, a completely unrelated picture from late last week, which I really enjoy... (Week 24 pics to come soon... egad! When did my baby get to be 24 weeks old!!!)

Busy weekend for a baby...

Little man Jack has just gotten himself to sleep after about 45 minutes of fussiness. Overtired baby, for sure. He's had a nice, busy weekend. Yesterday he and I went out to Lakewood to spend time with Grandma, and shopped at Trader Joe's (I felt pretty cool, wearing him around the store in the Moby, using a basket-- hardcore AP momma!), and got home just in time to get out the Valentine-makins for our annual Valentine's Day Extravaganza. Actually it was pretty low-key for an extravaganza, but still a fun time. The Jack-man was in a great mood, laying on the floor giggling to himself as I got ready. He can really be a doll!



Today we slept in til 9! I am not sure if Jack actually slept that long but he certainly didn't wake us up! It was like a little Sunday gift from the baby. That, plus the great sleep he had Friday night (only woke ONCE, at 4:30am!) has made for a pretty well-rested mommy today. Which is a good thing as we had a trip to Dave and Buster's to contend with. Tons of fun but so incredibly overstimulating... Jack, as it turns out, really likes overstimulation. He was as calm as can be as we walked around, just taking in all the lights and clanging, the neon cacophony that is the arcade. He was delightful the whole time. At lunch, we had him sitting up on the table as we waited for our meal. He was absolutely fascinated with our glasses of Coke and water, and kept reaching out for them with two hands. So, we gave him my glass of water and helped him hold it to his mouth. It was hilarious to watch him try to put the whole glass in his mouth. He had his mouth open as far as possible, and was licking and drooling down the outside of the glass. The couple of times he actually got some water in his mouth, he scrinched his face up like it was horrible-- then reached for the glass again. :) We were all very amused.



We have come to the realization that Jack is, without fail, always a perfect angel when we take him out and about. He's a pretty good kid...



Touching bonding moment of the day: After having his "second supper" at about 6 tonight, Jack was happily snuggling in my arms. I touched his nose with my finger a few times and he seemed to enjoy that. Then he started smiling and giggling when I pulled my hand away and opened my fingers after I touched his nose. I went through that cycle a few times, enjoying the chuckles each time-- and then he started to pull my hand back down to his nose again! Very neat.

23 weeks...

Jack is 23 weeks old! We were amazed to think that at one point, he was a 5-week-old and we thought we'd been at this parenting thing for a while already...
Things I want to remember about my 5 month old:
* We seem to be (knock on wood) past the 11:30 waking stage. For about a week now Jack has woken only 2-3 times per night and eaten on ly 1-2 and I can handle that. Somehow the fact that he is getting at least one longer stretch in (6 or more hours counts for me!) makes us feel like we are successful...Oh, that and the fact that he slept for 9 hours straight last Wednesday. If it happened once it might happen again someday!
*He is just starting to "hold on" to us when we are holding him, when we lean over or start to put him down. He wraps his little arm around our arm and keeps himself upright. He is getting so much easier to hold, even as he is getting heavier. It is like he "keeps his frame," like a good dancer. He is so much more in control of his body.
* This evening he grabbed a hold of Corydon's snoot and gave it a big "hug" with both arms. While he was trying to lick her. Very cute.
* I think he is going through a growth spurt. Not only did he have a ounce bottle the other day from Nat (!), I swear I can see him getting longer by the day. All of a sudden, in the last few days even, his 6 month carter's PJ's are starting to get a bit tight; when he stretches out in soldier pose," the little footies are stretched tight against his toes. It's a bit sad, like the end of an era. It also means I get to start collecting new, 9 month size clothes soon. hee hee.
*Overall, Jack is one damn cute kid these days. Pleasant little round arms and legs, pink cheeks, giant blue eyes (yes, they're still blue-- I am beginning to think they will stay that way...).
*He has the greatest giggle that comes out when we are extraordinarily silly. He likes when I turn and "notice" him with a big gasp and smile and exclamation of "Peek!" in a high pitched voice.
*He has also developed the cutest little conspiratorial smile, where he turns to me and scrinches up his nose, bunny style, a smile that seems to say "did you see that?! Can you BELIEVE it???" Frickin' adorable.

Realization

So I had this sudden realization as I drove to work this past week: I have now been a "working mother" for longer than I was off on my maternity leave. Crazy. This time has gone so much faster than those first 9 weeks! Those endless, hazy days, marking each moment with Jack, each mini-milestone, each breath; living hour to hour, nap to nap. Nights that were no more than a series of naps themselves, days defined by whether it was a Breastfeeding Support Group day or not. It was really quite surreal. And we were so acutely aware of the passage of time that I think it all slowed down a bit...
Since I've been back to work the time is marked in a different way. Rather than hour to hour I am existing week to week. Or, weekend to weekend, really. The weeks are blurring past. I turn around and it is Tuesday again and we are taking another "weekly update" picture of Jack and I can't even keep up with reporting his milestones in his journal. Much less with all the pictures we are accumulating, or all the housework....I see Jack in 2 hour chunks when he is sleepy and he is growing so fast and I feel like I am not soaking it all in... At the same time I let the time slip by because I want the weekends to come, and the breaks. We are at the end of second quarter and I think to myself, "halfway til summer break!" with excitement. But then I realize that it means I am also halfway til Jack is 9 months old and I am not ready for him to grow up that fast! Not while I am not noticing. He is so sweet right now. Really a very good baby. Who knows what the next developmental stage will bring? Teething, mobility, hitting, potty training, tantrums, teenage years... Then again-- perhaps the next stage will bring sleeping through the night!