Happy New Year 2015!

So much has happened in the past few months that my mommy has been bad about documenting!! For starters, I'm a world traveler! I took my first international trip with my family and Grammie, Papa, and Aunt Lara to Germany and Austria during Thanksgiving. It was an amazing trip filled with adventure mixed with some stress for my Mommy and Daddy, as traveling with an infant should be. But we had a wonderful time and so many fun memories were made! Mommy documented every day and the adventures and trials of baby traveling in a dairy-styled email to family. Maybe she will share those at some point! 

Then, I had my first Christmas!! I love Christmas trees and all the pretty decorations. Nothing makes me happier than when my parents take me over to our Christmas tree to admire the cute ornaments and pretty lights. I loved seeing all of the pretty lights in Germany and Austria also, as everything was decked out for the holidays!

I've been babbling a storm...got some new words in my vocabulary these days...bye bye with an adorable hand wave is my specialty right now! 

I'm eating big people food also and I LOVE it (no more gagging - yay!) and get so excited when Mommy is getting it ready. I usually squeal in anticipation and excitement...she can't feed me fast enough. I get angry and grunt at her if she makes me wait too long! Here are a few photos of me eating baked potatoes, garlic bread, chicken pot pie, banana bread, eggs, steak, tacos, etc! One food that was NOT a success was spaghetti...that stuff is just weird!

Gag Reflexes

Just like my Dada did as a little boy, I have a high gag reflex. Real food (not puréed baby food) feels weird in my mouth and every time EVERY TIME my Mommy gives me pieces of food to eat, I gag on the texture and puke everything up. All over the place. Mom said enough is enough(!) and stopped trying to give me real food. So much for baby led weaning. The doctor recommended we introduce interesting textures to my mouth to get me to adjust...a bristled finger brush or tooth brush, textured chew toys, etc. Mom is also starting me on puffs and Cheerios. She thought if I like chewing on the Baby MunMuns (Rice wafers), I would like these. Guess what?! ((GAG!!!!!))

Hi!

I just looked at my Dada and said, "Hi!" It was so cute.

I did it!

I did it! I crawled today!! Watch out world!

I Pulled Myself Up!

Thursday when Daddy came to pick me up from the children's development center, the ladies told my Daddy about my BIG accomplishment...I pulled myself up for the first time by myself! And I just stood there holding on all by myself! I was very proud of my accomplishment and so were my parents! AND I just did it again this morning...yay me!

Scooting & My new "Hat"

Last week, I started attempting to crawl. I can't quite master the art of crawling just yet...I haven't been able to push up all the way on my knees...but I am able to scoot along on the floor. The only downside is, I can't move forward. I scoot backwards and it makes me very angry! What all of this backwards mobility means is that crawling is just around the corner. The ladies at childcare said this is the step right before crawling. Every object on the floor has to be out of the way now, so I don't put it in my mouth...Heston's typical mess: toys, bottle caps, foam bullets to his Nerf gun, etc. has to be picked up! Mom and Dad are constantly checking the floor area for all of these things. It isn't easy!

On a slightly less exciting update, I got my plagiocephaly helmet last week. It's not exactly something to be happy about, but it will make my adorable head a little more symmetrical, since I favor one side when I sleep, so Mommy is relieved to finally have it. My head shape has been worrying her for 8 months! The hassle of wearing this the next few months will all be worth it, when I finally have a perfectly round head...Mommy says I may want to shave my head for the "bald is beautiful," look and my head will be ready for it when the time comes. 

I still look cute, see!

First Words!!

This weekend, Daddy went on a boys trip with Papa and Uncle Brent and I was home with my Mommy and big brother Heston. On Friday after my Daddy left in the morning, I woke up and cried, ready for my Mommy to get me. She came into my room and took me to my changing table to put on a fresh diaper. Well, I was hungry and ready to eat...Instead of my normal boisterous babble (I babble A LOT when I wake up!) I looked her right in the eye and said one word, "Buub." One might be confused as to the meaning of this word, but my Mommy new clearly what I meant. (Switch out the two vowels with another vowel and think milk!) Mom found this to be hilarious! My brother didn't know this word until he was five, but I'm a quick learner. On the same day, while my Mommy put me down to do something in the kitchen, I wanted her attention. I yelled, "Mama! MA-MA!" She couldn't believe her ears!! I got a lot of praise for that...so I've been saying it all day. When Oma came over that evening to help out, she said the word Mama and I turned and looked right at her! So there is no question about my understanding of the word. Daddy came home Sunday afternoon and the day was filled with a bunch of activities...most revolving around my big brother's social life: Baseball games and Halloween parties...Grammie, Papa, & Oma attending the game, and then Daddy taking me home while Mommy took Heston to his party. I got to spend some time with my Daddy. He fed me, gave me a bath, and I took a nice long nap. When Mama and Heston came home, I was sitting on my Mama's lap and I looked right at my Dad and said loud and clear, "Dada!" So in 2 days, I spoke 3 new words! My parents are delighted to see some new developments.

Sitting Up Without the Boppy!

How cute am I sitting all by myself without the boppy to support me?! This was a first today!!

2 Teef!

Breaking News: The second toof is breaking through! I can't chomp down on stuff enough...like my Mommy's hand!

Hand-Eye Coordination

This week, there has been a dramatic change in my hand-eye coordination. I'm getting much better at being able to grasp things, hold onto them to study and play with, direct them to my mouth, etc. It keeps me much more content because I can entertain myself! See, here I am able to hold toys and chew on them: 

Sitting up!

Guess who has mastered the art of sitting up?! This guy! Mom came to pick me up from childcare on Thursday and I was sitting up in the play ring all by myself with a toy. She showered me with praise and I was very proud and had a beaming smile on my face. Dad marveled later at how quick I'm picking up on new things...mom worries the crawling stage will be here very soon and the floors will have to be free and clear of Heston's superheroes and figures. Baby-proofing will be a difficult task! Get ready Mommy, it's almost here!!

More Flipping

This flipping onto my tummy is a piece of cake now...I can do it effortlessly and I'm able to roll of my play mat onto the rug...I did that this morning and Mom was shocked! I always have a huge smile on my face because I'm so proud of myself. Mom says it's time for my big brother to keep his small toys off the floor, because I can possibly reach them to put them into my mouth! The baby proofing is about to start because I'm about to be mobile!

It is HERE!!

My tooth has broken through!! I haven't let my parents sleep for two days straight and I refuse to take a decent nap, so I've been fussy with a capital F. It has been a long 48 hours for all of us!! But this morning, I grabbed my mommy's finger and chomped down...then immediately cried because that made my tooth break through. Mom felt it! Everybody is hoping that will make things a little less miserable for me, now that it has broken through. A little Motrin will help with that too! I'm sure if one is here, another will follow soon, so this all-night waking may not go away for a while. Daddy is miserable without his beauty sleep, so he hopes the others come fast so we can move on!! 

Flipping

I've got it DOWN now...I can flip on both sides!! I first flipped onto my back about 2 months ago before the 4th of July. Well this morning I flipped onto my Tummy and everyone saw it, as Mommy was on the couch and Daddy and Heston were about to walk out the door for school and work. I couldn't let them miss the excitement! Everyone was proud and I got kisses of praise from my big brother!

No Sign of Teeth

Still no sign of teeth and I'm 6 months...Mom says enough already, let's see them! I'm teething constantly and nobody is getting any sleep around here. Have I mentioned I'm sharing a room with my big brother? So Mom and Dad don't make me cry it out and swoop in the minute I make a peep in my bed. But I'm as cute as a button (X10) and Mommy doesn't mind these middle of the night snuggles...until morning when she is dead tired and has to go to work. Teeth, it's time...no more delay!

Saturday, I had my first real food. Mom was waiting to get a picture of me making a funny face when I first tasted it, but it never came. I loved my food! I had peas and sweet potatoes...then I had bananas on Sunday. MUCH better than that rice cereal they've been feeding me the past few months!

Flipping!

Over the Fourth of July, we went to the beach for BB's family reunion. It was my first beach experience and so much fun!! While I was there, I flipped over for the first time in my pack 'n play. I had a big smile on my face when my daddy found me, I was very proud of myself for such a big accomplishment!

An another milestone note, my Mommy laced my bottle of breast milk this evening with rice cereal. I was NOT into it and repeatedly swatted the bottle away. But Mom says it's time for solids because she needs to sleep at night. I'm up a few times a night these days due to teething and being hungry, so anything to keep me full and asleep for a long time, she's willing to try! (She has been run down these days, after fighting sickness for a month plus). Maybe I'll try it again tomorrow...it might be an aquired taste!

Teef!

Guess who has a tooth coming in?! Me!! I've been drooling a lot the past few weeks and trying to gnaw on my hand or my mommy's hand (I can't quite hold anything to chew on just yet), so my parents knew it was only a matter of time before a tooth arrived. I've been a little fussy too, much to mommy's frustration, because there is little she can do to help since I can't hold a teething ring. Just a little numbing gel on my gums to ease the discomfort. But it looks like I'm following in my big brother's footsteps and getting teeth early. Bring on the steaks!

I'm Still A Shrimp!

This says it all:

But I'm filling out, getting chubby, and looking completely adorable! I'll catch up eventually!

Developments

This week, I've discovered my tongue. It's so cool, I can stick my tongue out, chew on it, etc! I've been practicing non-stop and my Mommy got a picture of it so you can see. 

I've also made a significant change in my sleeping habits. Two days before my mommy had to go back to work, I decided to start sleeping through the night...and did it 6 nights in a row so far! Mom and Dad are THRILLED! 

About 2 weeks ago, I started blowing spit bubbles. Not sure why I love to do this so much, but I do it all the time! And a week or so before that, I started talking back when I'm spoken to, I make cooing noises and also little squeals. Basically from month 2 and on, there have been small little developments that I have made that my parents find adorable!

Back To Work: A Note From Mom

I'm very sad that my maternity leave has come to an end, but what a wonderful 3 months it has been! I loved having Leif all to myself for so long and I wouldn't trade that time for anything! The one-on-one time we had, when Daddy and big brother were out of the house at work and school, is priceless bonding time and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to establish that mother-son connection. He has grown so much from when we first brought him home when he was only a tiny 5 pounds. Tom and I feel that we were blessed with extra time with him because he was born so early and even though it was scary for us at the time, (he was so small!) we got our tiny little peanut early and all my worries of a busy schedule, work stress, and our house situation just melted away and the focus could be on happiness with my little one!

I've loved watching him change and grow...developing new abilities, discovering new things (this week, he has discovered his tongue!) and getting cuter and cuter by the minute. 

It will be tough being away from him 3 days a week, but I'm thankful to have a job that allows me to work part time and be home with him the other 4 days! I look forward to the time he can have on Mondays with his Grammie just like Heston did.