5 Months!

Originally written on 10/25/2012, but being a mom has meant a lot of things don't happen on my planned schedule so I am finally getting it off the scrap piece of paper I wrote it on initially and on here for you.
 

 

Wow! I cannot believe you are five months old already, but, at the same time, it is so easy to see because you are growing so well! Right now you are teething because you drool like mad and act like you are a bit uncomfortable, but nothing too bad. Your teeth have yet to make an appearance, but the crazy way you attack your teethers and chew on cloths makes it quite clear that your gums need some soothing.

 

 

Today (rather 10/25 when I originally wrote this) you are home from daycare because you weren't feeling well yesterday and you are hoarse this morning. It is so sad to have you sound like that and I wish there was more I could do to make you feel better. However, you were very happy when I left for work this morning and I know CeeCee is taking great care of you.

 

 

Your newest interest is blowing raspberries. We have always done this at you to get you to crack a smile or laugh and now you have really picked up on it. You will do it back at us and whenever else you feel like it. It is so cute! You get spit everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Your face will be covered, I'll be covered and any surfaces nearby get a splattering. Yuck (but still sweet)!

 

You are also loving your Jumperoo. I think you would even sleep in it if we let you. :) It is so fun to watch how excited you get and just how much you make that thing bounce. We joke that it looks like you are trying to riverdance because of the way you kick your feet.

I have recently had to start buying clothes for you because you have quickly outgrown the 0-6 month items we were given as gifts for you. A few people gave us things for you in larger sizes, but you only have one thing in 6-12 months that is going to be weather appropriate for the colder months. It's probably a good thing though that people didn't give us much in these sizes since they would have thought you'd be wearing 12 months next spring, not in November. The Christmas jammies I ordered are 12 months and I am hoping they still fit on Christmas day since you will be exactly 7 months old. Who knows though because you are just an adorable little giant!

 

I love you so much and so does your daddy.

Love,

Your Mommy

Baby in a Pumpkin

I saw this idea on Pinterest with this pictures used as example:

     

 

After seeing it I knew I wanted to try this with Declan, but decided it would look cuter if he were outside in the pumpkin (plus, the idea of having my son in a potentially wobbly pumpkin atop a table was slightly terrifying). I began the search for pumpkins, but quickly realized none of the pumpkins I saw were going to be big enough. I mean, seriously, don't Wal-Mart and Aldi realize there are parents out there searching for a pumpkin to plop their 27.5 inch baby/18 pound baby into?

 

Finally, on my third trip to the store, and what I decided would be my final dive into the pumpkin bins, I was able to find not one, but two pumpkins that met my criteria: huge, minimal dirt, no ugly marks, and a flat bottom (no, I'm not picky at all). When I got home I unloaded the two big pumpkins along with the bags of baby pumpkins and squash and washed everything with soap and hot water. It was a safe assumption that Declan would find a way to get everything in his mouth.

First, we wanted to get some pictures of Declan outside of the pumpkin:

 

 

He wasn't very amused with us and needed a diaper change so we took a break and then took these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterward, Jake gave Declan a bottle and let him take a nap while I got to work gutting the pumpkin and setting everything up in a sunny part of the yard. During this time I decided not to cut leg holes because I had also seen a few pictures where the baby was all curled up down in the pumpkin or standing in it so obviously we should try that, too.

 

We went outside and went to work placing Declan in the pumpkin and realized there was absolutely no way he would be fitting down in that pumpkin without leg holes. The boys went back inside while I proceeded to figure out how to cut decent holes without cutting the hand I had down inside the pumpkin. (Did I mention I have never carved a pumpkin before?) Finally, I made it work and we finally got to take some pictures.

 

As you can see, Declan wasn't much for smiling because he was too busy nibbling on the inside of the pumpkin, but we think he looks pretty adorable no matter what. We even got several shots of Fia checking out all of the fun. :)
 

 



After Mommy taking a million pictures in about 10 minutes, Declan was done with being in the pumpkin so we all went inside and turned his little pumpkin into an upside down jack-o-lantern for the front porch. Now, I just have to figure out what in the world to do with him for Thanksgiving. Happy Halloween!

 

20 Weeks...Time is Flying By



Declan, today you are 20 weeks old and I am in awe of how much you have accomplished in just 4 and a half months. When we brought you home from the hospital you were so tiny and now you are an arm full! When we went to the pediatrician on Sept. 25th you weighed 16 lbs 6 oz and were 27 inches and an 1/8 long, thus placing you in the 75th and 95th percentiles respectively. You are growing out of all of your clothes way too fast! Since you are so tall, we already have to dress you in 9 month pajamas so your feet and legs have room, but you can still wear a few 6 month onesies...probably not for much longer though because some are starting to look like v-neck shirts. You are moving into size 3 diapers, but they are a bit too big and the size 2 are a bit too small so we are doing our best to make things work until your weight catches up with your long, little body. I honestly cannot believe how tiny you make other babies look who are the same age or older than you!

Look how much your feet stick out!

 

You have always been a happy baby, but over the past few weeks your personality has really begun to shine through and we love to hear your laughter, and we are glad you do it so often! You laugh and gurgle during your bath, each time we talk to you, while you lay in your crib watching your mobile, and whenever you hear Wade and Fia playing. Luckily, you never really fuss, but you do let us know as soon as you are hungry. Sometimes you will wait 2.5 to 3 hours for a bottle, but then sometimes you throw us off and decide you want a bottle after only 2 hours. Leaving your daddy and me to scramble to get it ready and keep you entertained while it heats up.
 

As far as milestones, you are on track with rolling over and act like you really want to be able to sit up on your own. You are a pro at rolling from your back to stomach and getting up on your side when you want to, but you still don't quite have the hang of going from your stomach to back, which is supposedly easier and what most babies do first. Apparently, you want to tackle the bigger challenges first. :) You have been sleeping through the night with the occasional 4am feeding for well over 2 months now, but we can't get Wade and Fia to stop wanting to go outside at the times you used to wake up. Maybe one day your mommy and daddy will be able to sleep through the night as well.
 

You have recently begun to want to put everything you can get your hands on in your mouth and you drool all over us, which is why Ms. Kia keeps telling us you must be teething, but no teeth have made an appearance yet and I think we have a bit more time. I know they are coming soon though and I am excited because it means you are growing well, but I know I will miss seeing your adorable gummy grin that melts my heart. I am sure your toothy grin will be equally awesome though!
 

Yes, each day you grow and change more and more. Your blue eyes have changed just enough to where they look just like your dad's, your hair is coming in thicker, and your interest in the world around you increases day by day. Your daddy and I are so thankful God gave us such an incredible little boy. We love you so much!

Your Mommy

Finally Getting Started

For a long while now I have wanted to start my own blog. I kept putting it off because I wasn't sure I could make the time to do posts frequently enough or write stuff other people found interesting, but I have decided to go ahead and get started because I want to be able to document the life I live with my incredible family. I may not post every week (or even every month) and others may not find some of my ramblings all that interesting, but these thoughts and memories are mine and I want to share, remember, and cherish each of them... so here goes.