Shout outs

Interesting week here. Rick came to GSO for 3 days. Yay.

First, huge huge THANKS to mom for watching Bobby lots and lots. Not because Rick and I went on dates and movies, but because we were soooo sick. Lots of puking and other stuff, Rick was way worse than me, I'm just tougher actually, but we were just tired and weak and nauseous for a good 2 days. Rick also had a fever - which you don't usually get with a stomach bug. So I was a waste of space, and Mom thankfully stepped in to feed, walk, play with Bobby etc. So his trip was pretty lousy, no dates, no home cooking, no rest, very little playing with Bobby, and then his flight was delayed and we had to get up at 3:30am to catch a 6am plane in RDU. But he's now in St. Louis and doing better - for now. Work situation is still iffy. I think Bobby missed the bug, but actually he did puke a couple times Sunday night, but I just attributed it to his rough cough /post nasal drip and my infection if anything. And he was over whatever he did have right away.

Second big thanks to Elizabeth. Who brought Archer up to NY state for a quick 36 hour visit just to babysit so we could attend Kirins wedding. It was the longest period for me away from him (over 7 hours) but I wasn't really bothered. I knew he was in good hands - even if he was awake too late, I didn't mind b/c I know he hates sleep. I was also happy to hear Wiley survived.

So I am very lucky to have family around and able to help me out in such a big way.

Bobby is crawling decently, not super motivated to get around, but he gets it done. He is super noisy too, just non stop rambling. He seems to want more than anything to stand and walk. He pulls himself up on anything and then will let go of one hand and tries to jump to another object. He climbs up on me all the time. He's gonna be trouble. He still is a very bad sleeper. 2-3 very short naps, I don't know how to consolidate them. Still waking 2-3 times overnight on a good night. Bedtime can be 15 minutes, but it can be an hour long battle too. We've had no schedule/routine so I don't blame him for being messed up, but it's getting a bit old.

Oh, and while all of this is going on, there's also this. When we were in California, Bobby was fussy, so I was trying to help him nurse. Sometimes when he gets overtired he needs a little help starting nursing to settle down. Guess I forced him a little and he wasn't interested so he bit me. Hard. That was Feb. 10. It bled later that day when he did nurse (bloody mouth). And I don't remember what happened between then and now, but sometime last weekend the cut just got infected/bigger/deeper/who knows, but it hurts like hell. So I'm either going to have to find some medical super glue, not use that side or see a doctor soon.

I'm ready for my kid to get to the funny and silly personality blog posts.

mini milestone

this was so good, i had to turn the computer back on. When Bobby woke up at 11:15 tonight, I went him to find him STANDING in his crib! This is a big deal for him since it takes several steps to get there and I've never seen him pull himself up during the day. He's been trying for months but I guess now he can. This could be bad b/c anytime he's on his tummy, he'll want to get into seated position.

of course, he's up again, the first 30' of putting him down didn't take. gotta go!

cALIFORNIA

We are having a nice visit with Rick. The weather is phenomenal. Bobby is being really good although his sleeping is sometimes messed up. He is in the hotel crib which helps us all sleep better. He has had some late bedtimes but weathers them fine. We had a great visit with Judy, spent the afternoon touring and playing, then Rick came up for a home cooked dinner. Uncle Rob had a show in town so it just worked out to see him. Rick made a quick call to go to Islands since it is so convenient and pleases all and is baby friendly. I actually offered Outback.

I leave on Monday then Rick meets me in Saratoga Springs for Kirins wedding. Then he will go from there back to St. Louis for work for 2-3 months. I'll give him a week or two to get the lay of the land and we'll see what is next.

Bobby is still not crawling but can pivot really well. His teeth are very goofy, it will be silly when you see them when he smiles. i also hear him grinding his teeth occasionally. And, he likes to bite. You think he is coming in for a hug but he ends up trying to nibble on my shoulder. I am concerned about his eating. He is really hard to get food into. Not interested in being spoon fed, and likes finger food but will not stay still to eat. Sheesh.

SO you've probably figured it out now, but I am in California. Literally bought my ticket about 4pm on Saturday, then at 4am left for Raleigh airport for a 6:30am flight Sunday. Called Rick at 6am his time from Cincinnati and he came and got me at 11am. We got a car, some lunch and settled in to watch the Superbowl in his hotel room in Oceanside - which is right outside the base gate. Bobby did really well on the flights again, took some short naps and wasn't fussy or even that bothered by the cramped quarters for 4+ hours. I think he went to bed at 5/6pm and slept rather well but got up at 5am! I thought he had adjusted today, he took his 3 naps at usual times, but was not able to go down while we went out to dinner. He is actually now in that hotel crib (see flickr) but the mattress is so hard, I doubt he goes back in there after he awakens and I don't blame him. I get the idea of co-sleeping. It's so easy for the mom and quite comfortable/comforting for the baby. I just don't want to make it a long term thing. He is going to be all sorts of messed up sleep wise but it's worth it.

Today we drove around, went to Kohls, ate lunch with Rick, got some groceries, then went for a walk around the marina for about an hour. It was so warm and sunny and just lovely out. Rick worked until about 6, which is silly b/c no one else has anything to do but a couple of guys and him. Boo. Then Dinner at Islands!!! Rick is good though. Bobby is taking some time to warm up to him, but it's probably less him and more "not mom" so that sucks b/c I had visions of going running and stuff like that without the dear child, maybe later on.

8 Months

It's very hard to put a baby to sleep when it won't stop clapping. I think there was a little interpretative dance in there as well.

He is getting better at feeding himself, often having to put several fingers in his mouth in order to release the food though. He seems to be not interested in the food if it's on a spoon and just wants finger foods, even if the delivery is difficult.

Not surprising, but I am putting away a lot of 6 month clothes since he is getting too long for them. Still room in other directions.

Still only crawling backwards. but he does get up on hands and toes now.

Snow

at least 6 inches, now it's freezing rain/sleeting and packing it down some. just yucky out.

bobby finally rolled over from his front to his back. and he seemed really proud of himself. he did it repeatedly on my bed, but since he leads with his head, he seems not wanting to repeat it on the floor.

he slept well enough last night. doc said antibiotics would take 3 days to work but we definitely got some peace, slept 7p-2a straight, then i couldn't put him in his crib so we slept in my bed 3-7 with some wakeups, but so much better than the last 2 weeks for sure. he skipped his morning nap and is down now, i want to go shovel but might give him 10 minutes to make sure he's under.

local paper came, but NYT and WSJ did not... (i actually thought the same guy delivered them all)

sophie attacked the diaper pail yesterday. carried it into bobby's room, several feet and chewed the handle, but thank god, was unable to penetrate to get to the poop!

Wah

I feel like I've been giving Bobby a lot of Tylenol lately, so I decided to not give it to him last night since he had a fine day. I don't know if it was coincidence or what, but Bobby has an ear infection. I wonder if the Tylenol had been suppressing his fever and it just came out last night or what. Probably not, but I hope he hasn't been sick for long and I ignored it. But I guess if you have a cold for a month, it's going to turn into something like this. He wasn't draining liquid from his ear or pulling at it so the 101.0 fever this morning told me to go to the doctor. He had a very sleepless and irritable night but has gotten 2 good naps in today and when he wakes up, I'll start him on the amoxicillian. He was 19,5 pounds at 7 and 3/4 months - still a lean little thing.

The cold has come in. It is suddenly very bitter out and I guess the snow is coming. If they say 6-12", it'll be about 3-5 I'm guessing. Enough to make us stay home of course. I wanted to have a big errand day and hit the gym before it came, but the boy needs sleep and cuddle time, so that's the new plan. Also, wanted to see the Wilson's this weekend, but that might have to wait.

Jan. wrap up

nothing special going on, except our chronic nonsleeping, so I haven't written much lately. napping is a bit of an issue now, he's just not interested in staying down (or can't make himself) and likes being awake in general. sometimes takes 2 naps, then gets cranky at night.

i screwed him up majorly at bedtime. i can get him to fall asleep fine, even without the swaddle, but now i can't get him into the crib, out of my arms, without waking him up. it usually takes 3 tries even when i was sure he was asleep.

we almost have all 4 top teeth fully through. he likes to try to bite us with them.

still working this cold, no fever, just snot and an occasional cough

he's still pretty happy if not just a bit short tempered.

rick is getting out of iraq next week.

my new month resolution is a spending freeze. airplane tickets, shower gifts, wedding gifts, new dresses, new makeups, trainer sessions, new car tires, little gym. i am stopping as soon as i find shoes for the wedding.

MLK Day

A sleeping blog- what a surprise. Either out of sheer exhaustion or some tylenol, Bobby slept from 7pm to 3am last night, then ate and slept again until 5:30am. And he was even going down again, but I think he had swallowed so so much snot all night, he vomited up everything in his tummy. It was so sad seeing it go everywhere. He got in a quick rest from 6-7am.

I think he feels absolutely lousy, but only acts like it when tired. So the Martins are watching him currently since he only managed a 40 minute nap and cried literally as soon as I turned on the computer and settled down with a diet coke.

These teeth are probably the beginning of a rough period for the little guy while more teeth come in! I had said recently, teething only causing teeth, but I amend that. No diaper rash or fever for us, but mucous for sure. He had a snotty cold for several weeks that just dried up and this different than that.

Sunday 1/17

Having a great time visiting with the Martins. Lunch out yesterday, then Cash's birthday celebration. Baptism today. We had a super rough night, two actually, but last night he was up probably 8 times in the (only) eight hours he was in bed. We figured it must be teething, He's been mouthing everything. I hadn't checked in a while, so I went in, and sure enough - teeth!

Top four teeth. The middle two seem to be right under the surface, one for sure you can see, but what's sort of goofy is that the two outside front teeth have come through. Very vampire-esque.

1/16/09

Bobby can clap! He's been banging things he holds together for a while now and would hit things in his hand with his other hand, but Grandma Vegas taught him how to clap with flat palms tonight. Yay.

Off to the new City Center tomorrow and having a little birthday celebration for Cash.

Las Vegas

Back on the road again. 7 months old is very different than 7 weeks or 4 months - the last times we flew. Bobby was still really good, very charming, and quiet. Luckily I was literally the only one in security line in Greensboro. Followed no one, no one else came up. Good thing b/c I took my time. Baby/carrier/stroller/purse/shoes/belt/diaperbag (with laptop and kindle in it!). I think I took 10 minutes, but the TSA folks did come and help load me up, maybe I looked that pathetic.

Short flight to Charlotte felt longer, was cramped, but I dealt and we were able to just play a bit since the flight was 4-4:40 ish. Was able to stop in the USO when changing terminals since I didn't leave until 6pm. Changed diaper, tried to nurse, had a little snack, went to gate, boarded close to last - to see where the empty seats were and to shorten the amount of time we were cramped in there.

Luckily I had an aisle seat and no one was in the middle. This was huge b/c I could nurse him and use the seat for his junk. There was a 6 year old girl across the aisle who loved him and Bobby just liked watching her - and everyone and anyone else on the plane. I guess he fell asleep around 7 (i'm guessing) for maybe an hour and a half, I guess I should wear a watch, but he was definitely up at 9pm and then stayed up. Sleepy but unaffected and definitely not interested in going back to sleep. luckily we got in about 40 minutes early. Got our bags, met Carolyn and then he finally lost it in the carseat - just sobbing.

So quickly to bed (now on to pacific time, 8:30pm). I thought he was just adjusting to the time change wisely, but at 3am he seemed to forget he wasn't on Eastern time. He woke up 11pm, 3 am - wouldn't go back down until 4:30 and then was up at 6:30 but very chipper. He wouldn't nap this morning until after 10am but he's a trooper and enjoying Cash and Allison and Slider, and of course Carolyn and Chandler.

We're babysitting Cooper currently and it's quiet time for a little bit longer I hope. It's crazy how quickly I forgot how 'new' babies are. Just awkward, noisy little things. But sweet too.

Last Night

Bobby slept from 6:40 (-7:20) - 3:40.
Chugged a bunch of milk, projectile spit up a ton, then slept again, 5-5:40-7:30.
That shouldn't be impressive for a 7 month old, but for him 8+ hours is really unusual, after several nights of midnight/2am/4am/5:30am wakeups. I actually got up at 2am to check on him. He had rolled onto his tummy and that is probably why is slept for so long. Naps are still generally 40 minutes but the second one has been 2 hours a few times, but that also means he's awake from 2 or 3pm on and gets cranky way before what I would like bedtime to be.

7 Months Old

Thought I'd just put some notes up. Bobby is still a good bit snotty, going on 3 weeks now, but no other symptoms and seems to act just fine. It seems to be manageable and we suction out a lot in the mornings, b/c I worry about that all draining when he's nursing, but it doesn't bother him.

Sleep issues are still the same. In bed about 11.5-12 hours at night, maybe just under, but still waking up 3-5 times. Up around 6:30am usually. Naps are where I would like to improve if I could. He usually takes three 40 minute naps. You can set your watch by it. So there isn't a lot of time to get a ton done, usually a shower and he's up e.g. Sometimes it's less, but it's often all he needs and it takes the edge off and we go back to playing.

He is ridiculously energetic and curious. Grabbing for everything and anything. Likes to bang things together.

He is about the same verbally. Occaisonal da/ga/ma/la sounds, but more often just grunts and giggles and squeals.

His favorite method of communication is spitting though. It's like a raspberry on steriods. I don't think I taught him this, I don't know what triggers it, he just does it, and follows it with a cheeky smile. Even if you don't react shocked or at all, he still will do it a couple times, including during a meal. I have tried to get it on video but not successfully yet.

Some Firsts

Bobby took his first nap in his real crib today. He had previously been sleeping in a portacrib (about 25 x 37) but he'd been scooching up against the sides and sticking limbs through and sometimes even turning perpendicular in it, so it was time to get the man some more real estate. So we brought Grammys crib down from the third floor and it is now in Bobbys room. Cousin Archer is actually using it tonight, but we'll get in there soon.

Also, we took a bath in the real tub tonight! We are not done with the blow up duck bath yet, but he sure does look comfortable in there. He actually started out with Wiley and Archer for about 30 seconds but was soon all alone and seemed to enjoy it. He sat very well and didn't slip around at all. It was even fairly deep.

Duh

Forgot to mention, best Christmas present ever, Rick's unit is leaving Iraq in January!!!

They are the last Marines in Iraq, and they're getting out. Assuming he's on the last plane out, I tell myself February. Also, a lot could change between now and then. What we really don't know is, if he 1. is cut loose altogether, 2. still has to work in California, 3. still has to work in St. Louis, where the unit is from, or 4. has to go to Afghanistan. Some men are going to Afg. but he isn't one of them as far as he knows. Better ramp up the job search. Don't want to be one of the statistics and make him move in with his in laws for too long.

Best present would be him actually coming home, but this is great news compared to May.

More

Continued.... Doctors appt went well, talked about eating and development and such, all seems to be going well. He thought Bobby sat up very well, which he really does, He has excellent body control, he's just a bit lazy and doesn't roll over. I forgot to ask about sleep. It doesn't concern me, but I think it should and I think we can be doing better and I don't want to ingrain habits that will bite me later, but it is what it is.

He said we are okay to eat 3 times a day, eat meat, even more finger foods etc.

We also went to open play time at the little gym with the 11-19 month olds. Bobby had fun, mostly watching but also holding on (in lieu of climbing) and assisted jumping.

Oh yah, he has a really nasty cold. Super serious snot. Very congested and not even a runny nose, it's just all up in his head - if only the poor thing could blow his nose, he'd feel a thousand times better. I just keep hoping for big sneezes. I measured a little fever with it, but at the doctors they said only 98.3. He is a bit irritable but otherwise still happy. We can play normally, but he'll cry a little when I lay him down to change his diaper. Just seems to have a short temper. It sounds so slurpy when he's nursing and he won't let me suction it out, and it doesn't work well enough anyway. And, he really won't even let me wipe the 2 green streams that come from his nostrils. Very irritated when i wipe, same with food after dinner. So we'll see how the night goes, he's down already at 6:30, but I'm sure he'll be up in about 30 minutes. Might bust out the tylenol to give him some relief.

Six Months (and 17 days)

17 pounds, 15 ounces. (50th percentile)

27.75 inches (75%)

44.5" head circumfrence (50%)

4 needles, including H1N1

SNOW

Snow, and sleep. I've pretty much decided not to let him cry it out, It probably does work, but still can't do it. I think every 3 hours is unnecessary, but there's not much I can do about it. Maybe things will change when we get down to 2 naps, but with upcoming travel disruptions, it's not the time now (and he's still young).

It snowed a good bit today, started at 1pm and hasn't stopped, just lightened off and on. It's really wet snow, but has a good accumulation. It's actually really pretty and peaceful. We'll venture out if the sun comes out. Don't know if I'll drive to the gym yet. no rush to get out there with the southern folk.