Six Months Old

Time is just flying by. Six short months ago, he looked like this:

a couple minutes old

And now he's a little, itty, bitty dude.

He's eating vegetables now. And wonders upon wonders, I'm actually making his food instead of buying it! (Tam, I know, I know! I totally used to harass you about it and now I'm doing it.) I just couldn't stomach the thought of feeding him all those preservatives and also paying the ridiculously high prices for vegetables that I can steam and puree myself. It's definitely been interesting. I mean, it's all new to us so we're actually not sure how much is too much... I mean, he seems hungry and he's eating so we're feeding him. We see the doctor on Monday for our check up so I'll ask him. Right now, he has 4 Tbsp of cereal in the morning and 2 cubes of Yam at lunch and between 4-6 Tbsp of cereal at night. This is all on top of breastfeeding. I'm even thinking that he could eat more at lunch.

Anyway, he's still almost rolling over again. It's like he's teasing us when he rolls almost all the way and then flips back down. He's done it before but it's not a regular thing for him at all. And he's sitting up with less and less support. Eek!! He still has his adult sounding farts (and smelling)... I can only imagine they will be getting worse as we introduce proteins into his diet. Bleh.

He laughs and laughs, it's one of the best sounds ever. And sticks his tongue out, not sure if he means anything by it, but he does it alot. He loves watching Riley and gets pretty upset if he walks out of the room. He also tries to touch/pet him whenever he gets the chance. Good thing the Rye guy has so much fur because those little hands are grabby and pinchy!!!

We're still having a rough time at bedtime but I keep saying "this is only a phase, it will get better. It won't last forever." Right? RIGHT??? It is better than at the beginning of December. I'm not trying any sort of sleeping plan right now because we're both still a little sick and recovering and we have shots coming up anyway so, really what's the point of trying to start something at night when it's going to be majorly disrupted in a week anyway?

I can't believe the amount of toys that he has. Well, really the amount of stuff in general that he has. It's completely taken over the living room. He has more clothes than both Steven & I combined. And I don't know what or where to store anything anymore. It's really a lost cause.

I keep thinking that he doesn't have alot of hair, but then I see old photos and realize that it is growing. Just the other day I noticed that his hair is growing a bit over his ears... it made me a little sad. We keep feeling his gums. My mom swears that teeth are coming but I don't feel anything yet... well, he does chomp down pretty hard sometimes during nursing... gah, not a pleasant feeling.

Over the past six months, I can't believe how everything has changed. Changed for the better. It's simply amazing. I wouldn't change anything... well, maybe the c-section part but other than that.. nothing. Not even the sleepless nights (past, present and future) because it makes you appreciate when he is sleeping. Or even the feeling of having a sleeping baby on you. The wonderful, lovely, powerful feeling that you were able to comfort this little tiny being. That this little tiny person loves you unconditionally and relies on you completely. You are his world and as draining as it is sometimes, it's the best. I can't begin to describe how I've changed because of him.

And in this corner...

wearing the blue trunks and weighing in at...well, never you mind... is ME! We rented the Wii last week and I kicked ass in boxing. I knocked out both Dawna and Steven. And my arm still hurts. :(

Haven't had too much free time for posting, I'll try and write more later.

John & I are both still sick. I am still wishing for more sleep to feel better. And I am wishing for some way to make my baby feel better. It so hard to hear him all raspy and snotty, poor boy.

Christmas at my parents:

John and my sister, Cindy opening a present.

John and my sister, Cindy.

John, Riley and the "I Spy" quilt

John and my sister, Dawna

looking for Santa with Grandma

Christmas at home:

Ho Ho Ho

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope everyone has a safe, happy and healthy holiday season!

Both JT & I are sick. Cough, blah, yech. It's not a pretty sight. But like everything else, we'll survive and come out stronger (hopefully).

Good Bye Gymbo!

Today was the last Gymboree class and frankly I'm a little sad. I would have continued taking the next level in the new year if the class was closer. Or at least in the same quadrant of the city. We really enjoyed class and all the different activities. I know I enjoyed it and I'm pretty sure JT liked it. He didn't cry during class.. not once. Today we did a foot stamp for a keepsake. It's the cutest thing ever. But it looks like one foot is smaller than the other. Steven disagreed and said "no, one foot is bigger than the other." Whatever, knob!

I've been on a hunt for swim stuff in anticipation of January swim classes. Rubber pants, check. Swim diapers, check. Baby speedo, check! Mwahaha. I picked up a chessy little speedo-type swimsuit for my little guy. He'll be the hippest one in class. Don't worry, I also picked up a normal suit. (and fyi, the speedo was only 75 cents).

We went to see the lights over the weekend. It's an annual thing that we do with Shawn & Marilyn. It was around this time last year that we started telling people that JT was coming. Back then, he was known as "The Bean".

Dawna arrives on Thursday and unbeknownst to her, I have all this stuff planned. Some of it fun, some not so fun. But she's a good sport and will play along or tell me off. Whichever. I'll just tell her to "suck it up, we're creating memories for Baby JT". Hah! Try and get a comeback for that one. (No, really don't worry about it. You're going to have a good time. I swear!)

Birthday Fun

I love my job. Well, I mean, my old job. Don't get me wrong.. I LOVE my current job (aka "the mommy") but last week Heather msg'd me to ask when I'd be home to accept a delivery. My work had decided that they would send me something FUN for my birthday. I've been racking my brain to imagine what in the world they could send me.

 

Isn't this awesome? Totally brightened my day. And there was a birthday card too. Yipee! FYI: those brown things? Chocolate covered apples... yummy!

10 Days

What is the duration an infant can go without pooping. Actually, it is more like the duration an infant can go without pooping before the parent can freak out. I found this out today when I called the public health nurse phone line. Interesting, no? I mean, what happens? Does it just build and build and then ... well explode? Apparently not. According to the nurse, the baby just uses up all the nutrients from the breastmilk and ultimately there isn't any waste product. And the amount of cereal that he's being fed, isn't a huge amount so it's not really anything. Amazing, isn't it? Ten days. Although, with the amount of farting (and the volume) that was going on (oh, and the smell) I truly thought he'd been pooping his pants.

Anyway, I'm done being worried because about an hour after I got off the phone, JT pooped.

I KNOW, I'm simply fascinating aren't I? I'm sure to be scooped up by some major publication soon and you can all say that you knew me when. (as if!)

Food!

We started rice cereal on Monday. I'm not exactly sure how much he actually ate as opposed to drooled. But he seemed to like it and there hasn't been any sort of physical reaction to it. Thankfully, his pooping has returned (or not so thankfully since Steven had to clean up another poo-nami). I wish we had taken a picture of Riley. He was lurking in the background, sniffing the air and trying to determine what this interloper was eating. And biding his time until he could sneak in closer for a taste.

PoopWatch - Day Four

Phew, mission accomplished. I was getting worried.

Now I can hopefully this horrible, whiny, plugged up, little fart monster will return my happy, giggly, squeaky, talkative smiley baby! Although, I'm pretty sure I'll be on poop patrol this entire evening now that the flood gates are open. Blech. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be this fascinated by another person's bowel movements.

Do You Smell What I Smell?

Steven: I smell burnt toast.

big pause

Steven: You ARE making toast, aren't you?

I'm cold. So very cold. I really wish I had a laptop and could dork around on the Internet from the comfort of my bed.

John went to his first hockey game, compliments of my Boss. We got to enjoy the comfort of a box and it was wonderful. Too bad, it was the coldest day of the year and we missed the Teddy Bear goal. The noise scared John at first, but he took it all in stride and as long as someone warm was holding him, it was all good. He eventually fell asleep during the 3rd period.

Not too much else is happening here. Just trying to survive day by day. And I'm still trying to figure out where to put all my crap. This house is too small and I don't know what to do. I'm going to have to do a gigantic purge and be ruthless with all my stuff. I'm such a packrat, it's horrible.

Five Months Old

John is 5 months old today. He smiles more and laughs more. We have our own little routine most days. He's still not sleeping thru the night (gone are the 11pm - 9am sleeps!); and he's usually waking up multiple times per night. We'll get thru it though, or rather I'll get thru it, bitching and grouching the entire time. His explosive farts still make me laugh and shake my head in amazement that someone so tiny could fart so loud. It's funniest when he's nursing and these tiny little farts will come pffft and lingering and staccato like a machine gun. He'll be crying and wailing and carrying on like there's no tomorrow and then he'll look at you and smile and laugh and your heart will melt. He likes to stand if you support him. He can also sit up if he's supported. He hasn't rolled over again so I'm apt to think that the first one was a fluke and he was probably just off-balance. He likes to watch Riley, so sometimes I'll make Riley sit or lay down near him. He kicks his legs with such power that I'm afraid he'll bruise his poor little feet when he bangs them on the ground. I look at him and every day he just looks more and more like a little person and less like my little baby boy.

He loves his Jolly Jumper. If you ever come over, make sure you see him in action... it's hilarious. But someone has to be watching him or he gets quite upset, I usually make Riley lay near him so John thinks he has a captive audience.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Here and Now

At first, it looks like he's giving you the finger, doesn't it?

I haven't had alot of free time lately, I'm sure you can understand. Right now I'm smack dab in a sleep dilemna. He hasn't slept thru the night in a long time and not only is it getting frustrating but the less sleep I get, the more irritable I get. Trust me, no one wants that. I'm not posting this to solicit advice (read: keep your thoughts to yourself, because I do not want to hear it) I'm posting this to well, post it. I've been trying to get some sort of bedtime routine established but it's pretty hard going. I've also been trying to get him to bed earlier than 11pm, because while it seemed to work for us, upon closer examination it was not. All we were doing was allowing him to sleep on us until 11pm at which time we'd put him to bed. I know, I know, it was wrong but it was easy, it was survival mode at the time and it was absolute heaven to have a sleeping baby on you. So warm. So comforting. So...sigh....perfect. Anyway, then I resorted to nursing him to sleep, and getting him into a deep sleep and putting him to bed. (okay, stop.. STOP... judging me in your minds. Stop clucking and rolling your eyes.) Only to have him either awaken upon realizing that he wasn't sleeping on a warm body or have him awaken 3 hours later. Then I would rush over to him, thinking that it would be better to comfort him before he gets into full blown crying. Alright... NOW, I realize that I should have been letting him cry and self soothe etc... Fine. Lessons learned. Now I need to start putting him to bed while still awake but drowsy. And to let him cry. I tried last night before Steven got home from work and it broke my heart. Also, poor Riley... he'd hear the baby cry and run to get me, nudge me with his nose and look in the direction of the baby and look back at me. He obviously hasn't been reading the same books as me and doesn't understand the "letting him cry theory". And I gave in last night. So I thought I'd give it another go at naptime this morning. He's been pretty good at naps until yesterday and today. Man, it's like he KNEW. So, he cried. And I cried. Then I thought perhaps we'd lay together in the bed... and it was good. He lay beside me, and while not sleeping was still fussy but relatively quiet. Then he farted. A long, drawn out, wet fart that signifies poop. (you haven't lived until you've heard it) I changed his diaper and put him in his crib, covered him up and left the room. He didn't cry. He also didn't fall asleep rather he played with the FP music machine. But after 15-20 minutes, he was asleep. All by himself. I'm feeling kind of successful right now. After about 40 minutes, I thought that perhaps I would have a bath. I haven't had a bath since well before I was pregnant. But the running water must have woken JT up because he started fussing, but I held firm and cowered in the bathroom rushing thru my bath, all the while listening for the wails. My luxurious bath turned into some kind of freakish speed bathing event! But when I checked, he had fallen back asleep. All by himself! I just have to try this at night time now. This is going to be a difficult week.

And poor Riley, not only will he have to live thru the crying but I think his hips/back legs are getting bad. The other day I was here in the family room and he followed me, then he went downstairs to the basement. I called him to come up and nothing. I called again... nothing. Very un-Rileyish. So I looked and he was sitting at the bottom of the basement stairs looking up. I called him and he put a paw on one step and started, then stopped and sat down. He did this a couple of times. So I went down to look at him and coax him up the stairs. He came but very slowly. Same thing at the bottom of the stairs in the family room. I got worried but he seemed fine on flat surfaces and also going up the stairs didn't seem to pose any kind of problem. And last night when the baby was crying, he had no problem running up the stairs to the baby's room. So I'm just not sure anymore. Steven says "he's just getting old." My baby is getting old. :(

What a Difference A Year Makes

This is me a year ago. Man, what a change. Although, I am still scared out of my wits from time to time; I wouldn't change anything. Everything that has happened has shaped me, it has created our baby... sure who wouldn't want a perfect outcome but to what result? Would it change who JT is? I re-read my paper journal all the time and instantly I am transported right back to that time, sometimes even that mindset I had when I wrote the words. And it's amazing how everything has changed and at the same time how little has changed.

I was going to take a picture of "and this is me now". But as always (at this time of day) I am unshowered and a bit fuzzy around the edges still. And thank the Lord, you can't smell me because I.AM.RIPE. I don't deny it, I'm not proud of it but really, what are ya gonna do?

Lest We Forget

No matter what our personal beliefs may be, please don't ever forget our brave soldiers who are willing to lay down their lives for us.

Write to the Troops, let them know that you care.

You can also snail mail or send a Christmas card.

Busy Bee

It's been a busy week. On Sunday I woke up in plenty of time for Church. Thank Daylight Saving Time for that one. Steven was even awake. He decided that if he was coming with us then we would go to Murdo's Church, not mine. As soon as we walked in, he spotted us and introduced us around and then I could see Marie across the room the minute that she spotted us, she kept an eye on JT. She made a beeline for us. It was great seeing them. I wish I would have gotten a good picture of Murdo and the baby, I mean really it's a direct line to GOD but we didn't. Maybe next time. Then we went to visit Deb & family for the rest of the afternoon.

On Monday we had our monthly playdate with the online mommy's group. There were alot of people this time, still apprehensive but everyone is super nice and all the babies are lovely. JT got to try the Jolly Jumper and at first he was afraid, (he was petrified, thinking how he could never live without you by his side...) (alright, if you didn't get that then you don't know your song lyrics at all) anyway, he just stood there, well actually he just hung there suspended in mid air. His little feet not touching the ground at all. And then we adjusted the chain and his tiny feet touched ground. He stood. And then he stood some more. Then slowly his right leg would move. And then his right leg kicked out and he spun around and bounced. It was the cutest thing ever. I wish that I had taken my camera. (note to self: start packing the camera in the diaper bag. Must document babyhood)

Tuesday was our regular Gymboree day. Same old stuff except that afterwards I stopped by so Linda could meet JT. She has christened him "peapod". I think she has names for all the nieces and nephews.

And then Wednesday was vaccination day. He got the same 3 as last time and I'm not exactly sure how it happened but I also got a vaccination. The TD one. Sucks. So the health nurse was definitely old fashioned. First off, I felt like completely inadequate when she lectured us on putting the baby to sleep. We were doing it all wrong. And it wasn't about survival but we needed to establish the bedtime routine now if we didn't want to screw it up. She also extolled the virtue of home cooking. Of roasting chicken and beef. Now granted I WAS staring at her blankly so I guess she took that to mean I didn't know how to cook and she expanded her lecture. Instead, the blank look was supposed to convey that I didn't care what she was saying. She was enthralled about telling me how to roast a chicken and pour off the juice, throw that in the fridge and cool off the layer of fat. And then, AND THEN take the chicken carcass and simmer it to ... wait for it... make soup. Now cut the vegetables... blah, blah, blah. Seriously I wanted to cut her. Oh, and of course when she makes potatoes she also saves that water in the fridge and uses that. Really, I wanted to slap her. I guess she took my silence as ignorance. But the absolute best part? Was when she started in on Steven about eating breakfast.

Steven: I don't have time for breakfast
Crazy Health Nurse: of course there's time.
(Then she shoots me a look)
CHN: don't you wake up with him?
Me: What, are you nuts?
CHN: What time does baby wake up?
Me: On a good day, 9am.
CHN: Oh, when my husband was working (I think with horses), he'd get up at 4am. I'd get up to eat breakfast with him and then go back to bed.

Then she started in on the virtue of oatmeal, and not the instant kind. She told us how to make it and of course to add milk and brown sugar. I should have told her to fuck off instead of listening politely and the appointment would have gone alot quicker. Don't you think she should be a bit more concerned about the welfare of baby and mother than the fact that I choose to SLEEP instead of waking up at 5am to make my husband breakfast? Don't you think I have alot of other fucking stuff to worry about? Like making sure I get breakfast or have time for making and/or eating lunch? No, she worries about the fact that Steven's not getting breakfast. What, is he crippled? Can he not do it himself? I should have bitch slapped her. But, no I'm definitely not bitter about her.

Like last time, he fell asleep in the truck and was fairly good until we got home and then he cried and cried. And screamed and screamed. And then he fell asleep and he'd have this little pitiful cries during sleep. Poor boy. It's heartbreaking to hear him cry like that. The next day started well, he seemed to be in good spirits but as the day wore on he was less and less happy. We went to visit Linda and Dawn in the afternoon and he was not a happy camper. I think Linda has a complex now. He screamed and cried and whimpered. On the way home, we stopped at the 2nd hand store and bought some clothes and a Jolly Jumper. Last night, he was still pretty fussy and cranky. He perked up a bit when I stripped off his clothes and he cuddled in his blanket in just his diaper. But then he was awake crying from 230am - 4am this morning. And then awake for the day at 745am. I'm pretty tired right now. He's down for his nap, which has become sort of routine.

That's How We Roll Around Here...

Yesterday JT and I were hanging around laying on the living room floor and he rolled. HE ROLLED! Yipee! A true rollover. Not like last time when he tipped off the pillow and rolled off. He rolled from front to back. We've been practising. I was hoping to get a repeat and capture it on camera but he just laid there and then eventually started being sad about laying there. Maybe next time.

Hmm, I was just noticing the word "roll". If you stare at it long enough it looks like it's spelled incorrectly. Roll. Rolled. Rolling. Well, NOW it doesn't even look like a word to me. Roll.

Rolling, rolling, rolling... though the streams are swollen Keep them doggies rolling... RAWHIDE

All The Ladies Love Me

JT's first trip to the legion with dad, Uncle Shawn and mom. All the ladies loved him, JT not Steven, and everyone talked to us. Having a baby sure makes you seem approachable!

And a trip to the legion is not complete unless you get the Nevada pull tickets.

White Men Can't Jump

JT had his 4mth doctor's appointment yesterday. He is 15lbs, 6oz and 25" long. He is in the 55 percentile for weight and the 50 percentile for height. Dr. B is amazed at his growth since at his last appt, he was in the 25 percentile for height. Steven joked that "finally, the white gene is kicking in." He was disappointed that Dr. B didn't laugh. We got some cream for his eczema. That's why the baby lotion was only doing so much for his cheeks. So far, it's only been 3 applications and it's much better already.

Steven also had an appointment and received this prescription nasal spray. In the dr's words.. "when you spray it, smell the roses don't snort the coke." Oddly enough, it got the point across.

I am waiting for my aunt Linda to come and visit me. I dressed up. Look, I'm even wearing shoes.

YAR... Happy Hallowe'en...

Happy Hallowe'en!

It was a busy halloween. We got 167 kids (and before you think that I'm anal or anything because we keep track, we give away cans of soda so it's pretty easy to determine the count!) between 430pm and 900pm. First off, 430pm... c'mon parents show a little discretion and curb your kids. That's absolutely ridiculous. Poor Riley had a heart attack because he was barking at the door, at the window, running around the living room and trying not to step on JT (who was laying on the floor while I was trying to get ready). My big plan was to put JT in his swing, turn on the heater to keep the room warmer, barricade Rye in the kitchen and deal with the trick or treaters. Wrong. JT started crying, Rye started crying and it was too warm by the heater but freezing by the door (and our living room isn't THAT big). GAH. So I ended up putting a jacket on JT and carrying him to the door with me. Awkward, especially when the bratty kids grabbed the door so they could all push into the doorway, big irritation because I was leaning on the door. I almost took a header down the steps a couple of times. AND it wasn't just the kids, some of those moms, holy smokes... please don't let me be like them. Wow, were they ever bitches. Anyway, I ended up putting JT in his sling and covering him with a blanket and my jacket. He fell asleep within minutes of being in the sling. He slept only if I was standing. So I basically stood from about 5pm until Steven came home at 745pm. I also had to call Steven on his way home from work to stop and buy more soda because we were running out. Unbelievable. Steven took JT out to some friend's to trick or treat while I stayed home.

We also went to Marilyn's Halloween party last Saturday afternoon. The last time we went up to visit both Shawn and Marilyn looked past us to see where the baby was (he was home with my mom). They stated that the next time we came up that if we didn't have JT with us, we shouldn't bother stopping. I think they were only half joking. Anyway, when I parked in front of the house, Marilyn burst (seriously, she BURST) out of the door like she was waiting for me. She came out to help me because I was alone, Steven was working, and immediately took the car seat. I probably could have turned around and gotten in my truck and driven away and she wouldn't have cared! I'm thinking next time I just might go see a movie or have lunch or something. JT was a pirate and he was the hit of the party. Even the kids wanted to see him.

"Yar, you'll walk the plank!"

"Arg, shiver me timbers"

Cindy bought the costume in the states. Isn't he adorable. Too bad I couldn't have drawn a beard on him or given him an eyepatch or something.

Four Months Old

Here's the obligatory phrase... "I can't believe how fast the days are slipping by..." My baby is four months old. He's much more of a little person. He laughs more. He talks more. When he cries it's usually not random but a demand for something specific.. fresh diaper, the oncoming farts, milk, his mommy. He's still drooling alot but lately he's been doing the "raspberry". Y'know how you roll or ruffle your lips together? Yeh, except add about a cup of saliva and you'll get the idea. And he's sucking on his hand, he sticks his tongue out and in goes his fist. He'll be a friggin hit at parties when he's older. (Hey, guys... I bet you I can stick my entire fist in my mouth). His flat head is slightly better. His rash-type condition on his scalp is 100 times better but he still gets the redness and flakiness on his cheeks. It seems to be caused by his spit and his tears. Lovely, I know. But we have our 4mth check up on Friday so I'll ask Dr. B about it. His hair is not growing in that fast, but he does still have hair. And the forehead hair? Yeh, that's disappearing thank goodness. He still doesn't really like going to bed earlier than 11pm but we keep trying to put him down. The past couple days he's been napping for about an hour, in addition to falling asleep in the truck or on our walks. I'm trying to establish some sort of routine but it's been difficult. We'll get through it and get something that works for us. JT is amazing. He's wonderful. He's adorable. And he's my baby boy.

It's The Great Pumpkin!

Steven & I carve pumpkins every year. And every year we try something more difficult. It's sad really, to buy these perfectly good pumpkins, carve them and then throw them out a couple days later.

This is one of mine. I did two this year.

Steven's is the far left. His degree of difficulty is much higher. He initially tried to use the rotozip but ended up spraying tiny pieces of pumpkin guts everywhere. (and being the meticulous housekeeper that I am, you know it will still be there next Halloween)


I guess, this is also one of my creations! Adorable, isn't he?