Nine Months

Alex's trademark right now is definitely his hair!  He reminds me a little of Albert Einstein because it sticks straight up.  On one of our days in Costa Rica, I looked at him and realized that his hair was NOT sticking up like usual-it lay perfectly flat on his head.  It didn't even look like him and made me a little sad to think that maybe that phase was over.  It is usually the first thing people comment on about him.  Luckily, it must have been the humidity because the crazy hair has returned!

Alex is in the 'mommy phase' right now.  I get big smiles and lots of cuddles, but if I set him down or leave him with someone else, it isn't long before the tears start.  He has even said 'ma ma.'  I know that it's just the sound and it happens to sound like he's saying my name, but I'll take it.

He is so close to crawling!  I go back and forth between encouraging him to enter that phase and being content with the fact that I can set him down and know that he isn't going too far.  He gets up on his knees, rocks, pulls himself a little but then flops on his belly and gets upset.  It's only a matter of time.

We've introduced a few solids to Alex (like chicken) but he's still mostly eating baby food.  Even that is hit and miss.  If he hasn't been nursed and you put him in the high chair, he will frequently get angry and start crying.  Once that starts, there's no way he's eating anything until he's nursed and calmed down.  Sometimes he just isn't interested in his food.  I'm not sure how many times a day he should be getting his veggies/fruits-some days he is interested at every meal and others not at all.

Alex seems to take everything in and knows what we are asking him to do-he just chooses not to do it.  I think he knows how to patty cake, he knows what the signs are for 'more, milk, eat' because he grins from ear to ear when I ask, but good luck trying to get him to do it.

Who knew the tongue could be so fascinating?  Alex loves to stick his tongue out and will often keep it out for minutes at a time.

Eight Months

This little guy brings such joy to our lives.  And that's as far as I got with this entry (and now of course I can't find my notes on all the fun things Alex was up to during this time). Stay tuned...

Seven Months

Seven month news:

Alex really likes the texture of things. He will scratch his fingers on anything he can get his hands on.

He sits up very well now on his own.

We started him on solids but he isn't eating them on a consistent basis.  He doesn't appear to be a big fan of fruits.

His first teeth are finally coming in.  He's been drooling so much for months that we expected them a long time ago. 

No long naps-30 minute cat naps if we are lucky.  He still goes right to sleep at night, hands up at his face.

Soph and Andrew

The baby of the family has been the star of many posts lately so its only fair that Sophia and Andrew get the limelight for a bit.

Andrew-
Has taken an interest in Legos.  He has started collecting some of the Star Wars sets and also likes building on his own.  Just tonight he made an elaborate boat.  When you lifted off the top, several figures were inside wearing life jackets.  I was pretty impressed.  He also likes going to the Lego store and stocking up on pieces.

Enjoys Nerf gun fights with his dad (I just try to stay clear of them).

Is becoming a great reader!  A few weeks ago he read The Runaway Bunny to Alex and hardly needed help!  He is always so proud to tell me when he's moved up a level and he's already surpassed where he should be by the end of the year.

Decided he wanted to be on a sticker chart  in school (even though I tried to convince him they are only for the naughty kids).  It seems that my dear, sweet little boy can be loud, talkative and tries to manage others instead of just taking care of himself. Of course nothing is ever his fault.  If he doesn't get all his stars, he's ready with a reason-Mrs. Plager made a mistake, they made me talk, I didn't do it.  One day the sheet said he was distracting others and giving thumbs up.  At first he denied it and said he just smiled at the student but then we role played it and wouldn't you know, he gave me thumbs up!

Has now lost two teeth!

Would play on his Kindle all day if he could.

Sophia-
Took 3 skiing lessons and loved it!  She was going down the big hills (as her nervous mom watched) by the second lesson.

Sings in the children's choir at church.  She also writes her own songs and performs them.  Tonight's selection had a part about turning someone on.  She has no idea what it means (and hopefully won't for many years to come).

Likes to leave me random notes on my pillow, although she hasn't lately.  Sometimes they are confessions about insignificant things and she will end them with, 'please don't talk to me about it.'

Was very sad that she didn't get to go to Washington, DC with me.  I had told her she would be bored because we'd just be hanging out at Jason's house.  So, when she caught us out one day, her comment (in a very sarcastic tone) was, "It sure sounds like you're having fun. I wish I was there."

Entered a writing contest all on her own.  After many ideas, she settled on a fiction story about helping an injured seal.  That's the animal she did her research on at school so she included some facts in it too.  We find out in a week if she won.  My fingers are crossed for her because she found the contest on her own, worked so hard on the story and she really is a very talented writer.

Sweet Dreams

What does one do when they spy a spider in their room and are then too scared to sleep in there?

Sleep with your younger brother, of course!

6 Months

How can it be that it's already been six months since we were blessed with Alex?  I find myself wishing away the days in some respects (how many more days until summer break?) while wanting to hit the pause button on other things, like the rate at which my kids grow.  I'm still looking for that magic wand that will make time stand still so they can stay little for just awhile longer!
Alex has big, beautiful blue eyes and very light blonde hair.  It will be interesting to see whether that changes because Andrew used to have very light hair too for the first several years.  There is definitely no denying that Andrew and Alex are related!

He's discovered his feet now and has even tried stuffing them in his mouth.  Still no teeth.

Here's a funny story.  Alex and Andrew were at my parents a few weeks ago (February 27-better write that so I get the right date in the baby book).  When I came back to pick them up, my mom asked if Alex had rolled over yet.  I said no and she then said, "Well, he has now!"  Alex decided to debut his rolling technique not only at my parents (like Sophia) but when my parents were out of the room (also like Sophia) so only Andrew witnessed it.  Has he done it since then?  Of course not!

We've tried rice cereal a little bit with him.  He seems to like it, as long as he's had his milk first.  Last night we tried bananas for the first time.  We gave him some more tonight and he ate them all again, complete with a few funny faces.  We've been using the silver baby spoon my dad gave Sophia when she was born and Alex grabs for it to help.  I'm trying to introduce some signing to him during mealtime-more and all done.

Alex loves his sister and brother and they get him to smile without fail.  Sophia just has to look at him and he lights up.  She's also able to get lots of giggles out of him-something he doesn't do for me.

He's a very laid-back little guy-very happy most of the time.  If he's not happy, it's either because: he's hungry, being stuffed into his snowsuit and car seat or wants to be held.  He's happy with anything he can put in his mouth and still likes playing with all the things on his exersaucer.  I also brought up the LeapFrog table and he's able to move some of the things to make music. 

Sleeping?  Yes.  Through the night?  No.  Alex and I are still hanging out at 2 AM, 4 AM, sometimes earlier, rarely later.  I shouldn't complain-he goes right back to sleep afterward and I know I'll miss that time when he no longer needs me for a snack at night (or maybe I'll just enjoy a good night's sleep).  

Alex went on his first plane ride a week ago when he and I joined by sisters for a long weekend in DC to meet his new baby cousin.  He did great on the plane, sleeping for an hour or more each way.  He only melted down as the plane was landing in Minneapolis and got several compliments for how well he did. 

Love you lots, Alex! 

 

5 Months

Valentine's Day had extra special meaning this year.  It was on that date a year ago that we shared the exciting news with Sophia and Andrew that they are going to have a new sister or brother!  I'll never forget how excited they were!  Valentine's Day was also the day Alex turned 5 months old.  Here's what new in my sweet baby's world.
Alex still likes looking at lights and also enjoys watching TV.  He is a squirmy little guy and has imitated me when I shimmy my shoulders back and forth.  He still hasn't rolled over but is so close! Tummy time still isn't his favorite although he'll tolerate it for awhile.  He likes to stand and can now play with the things on his exersaucer.  Lately he has become more interested in his hands and will examine them as if they are quite fascinating.  He also sucks on them so much that they get dry.  He will also suck on your arms and even your nose.  Alex still doesn't have any teeth, despite the last month of drooling so much that a bib is a necessity some days to keep his neck from getting red.  On his last visit, the doctor did say his gums looked a little swollen.  I'm ok if that first tooth doesn't make an appearance for awhile yet.  One, it won't make feeding as pleasant and two, babies just seem to look so much older once they get that first tooth.  He's still not sleeping through the night on a regular basis but I do get a full night's sleep every once and awhile.  He slept through the night two nights in a row but was up again the next night. I have to admit I like that time with him (but I like my sleep too).  After three nights of conferences, Alex did let me sleep all night last night.  Usually I lay him down and he looks right up at his mobile.  I wind up his lamb, turn on his turtle constellation light and he's out in no time with his little arms up, hands next to his face.

He's had a cold and just wasn't himself this past weekend.  I took him into the doctor to make sure he didn't have an ear infection because we learned with Sophia that colds= ear infections and sure enough, he had one.  Hopefully the medicine is doing the trick and he's on the mend.  His dry skin has been much better, with the exception of his neck ( all that drooling).  I'm not sure whether that's due to the lotion we switched to, my not drinking milk or something else.