8 Months

James,

 Today is Charlie's Birthday! Happy 5th Birthday, Charlie. Thanks for putting up with your little bro. He adores you!

Another month has flown by and now you are 8 months! This feels a lot older then 7  for some reason. I guess because there are so many things that you can do now that you are more a "big boy" than "baby boy".  You are mobile now...that is for sure.  Still not a true crawler (although you are so close) but you are army crawling with the best of them.  You are also pulling yourself up on legs, the toy boxes, etc. You still are not up on your knees, so for now, the furniture is safe ;) You do love to walk though. I'm thinking you may even skip the whole crawling thing all together and go right to a run. You love to hold our hands and parade around the house.

 You are eating great, so many new foods added to your menu; lentils, sweet potatoes, apricots, and yes...a few french fries while out to dinner. You are starting to get the hang of fingers foods and you are definitely a fan.  That will be what we experiment with this month.  You are still taking a bottle, however, you have cut way back on your amount.  You take 4 bottles now (approx. 5-6 oz) and are eating 3 meals a day (approx. 6 containers/day). I know I will have no trouble weening you from a bottle, you could take it or leave it.

Sleep has been pretty consistent; 7pm to 6:30am, except when sick.  We did get the ear tubes this past week and are hoping that will keep us out of the doctor's office a bit more than before.  However, as I write this you are battling a fever. Ears? Teeth? Virus? Ugghhh...this part of being a mommy is tough. I hate seeing you sick and unfortunately, it happens quite often.

No teeth yet! You droll and chew..but nothing.  Mommy and Daddy were both late bloomers in this area so I'm not too surprised.

I'm guessing close to 18lbs now, size 3 diapers, and 9 months clothes. We'll head to the Dr. next month for the full work up. You are getting so big! I'm excited for all this change but at the same time...I wish it could slow down a little. 8 months...how did that happen?

I love you big boy! What a joy this month has been. xoxo

Boys and Their Bodily Noise!

 James learned a new trick and loves to practice it whenever he finds some bare skin :)

A Shiney New Pair of Tubes

Yesterday was a day full of mixed emotion for me.  We decided last week after a long battle with double ear infections, an ear rupture and a really unhappy baby...that we would consult an ENT specialist about the prospect for tubes.  Upon seeing Dr. Menendale, he quickly agreed that tubes would be the best answer.  Despite the healing of the rupture and cured infection, there was still a lot of thick mucus behind James' ear drum.  Dr. Mehendale explained that this would cause James' hearing to sound as if we were all talking to him with our hands covering our mouths.  This could delay his speech as well as cause a lot of discomfort...we scheduled the surgery for Friday, yesterday.

James, you did so good buddy. The mean doctors wouldn't let you eat for 6 hours prior to surgery and after a bit of protesting you decided to forget about your milk and settle for your paci. You graciously allowed the nurses to examine you and you were so patient while we waiting the hour and 20mins for the procedure.  When the nurses took you from my arms, that was the hardest part... for both of us I think.  However, just a quick 10 mins later the doctor came to get us from the waiting room and told us you did great, but you were "REALLY mad". I know you were confused and scared when you woke up in some strange place with a woman you didn't know holding you. Your ears were hurting and you were starving. It took mommy a while to calm you down. You cried the whole way home despite my best effort to comfort you.  Thankfully, once we got you home and you felt safe, you calmed right down. You took a nice 1.5hr nap and woke up a new boy. Since the surgery, you haven't stopped smiling and talking. I know you feel better having that pressure in your ears relieved. I know you are hearing things you have never heard before, and that makes momma's heart soar! You are eating better and faster! You are sleeping more peacefully and waking with a smile on your face.  You didn't have one fussy spell yesterday or this morning...this, my dear boy, is very rare for you.  I've prayed for more smiles, more peace and comfort for you for 7 long months. I finally feel like those prayers have been answered. I know there will still be colds, flu, teeth, who knows what else...but for now, we have calm in our home, and a little boy who is happy!

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend full of friends and food...just the way it should be.  We kicked off our weekend with the neighborhood Easter Egg hunt. Peter and I could barely wait as we watched last year from our porch, knowing that the following year we would get to join in the fun! Well...we did, kind of. Of course James is not quite ready to launch a full egg search party just yet, but he did enjoy putting some of the eggs in his mouth before the hunt began ;)

 Ready, Set, HUNT!

That afternoon, we had our friends Antje, Matt & Hailey over for a play date. Hailey and James are a mere 6 or so hours apart. Antje and I work together at Bayer and we delivered the same day, at the same hospital! These two have become fast friends and it's exciting to see them together.

Easter Sunday we hosted our now, 2nd Annual Easter Brunch, with our fellow Texas Orphan (those of us who don't have family in town). We had a great time, ate great food & enjoyed great fellowship.

Patsy read the Easter story

 Alexandra

 Then the Easter Egg Hunt

Addie & Alex

 Miss Kailee

 Alexandra

 Zachary

Baby James slept through the fun ;)

Unfortunately, the weekend ended on a sour note. James has been fighting a cold for the past 2 weeks and the fluid from the cold settled in his ear. Sunday night the ear drum ruptured causing him a lot of pain.  Luckily, we got him right in to the doctor on Monday morning for some antibiotics. He is doing much better, thankfully. We will be heading to the ENT next week to discuss the possibility of tubes. Poor little guy has suffered a lot already; 4 ear infections in 4 months is not easy.  

 Poor little Charlie is also struggling with an infection. He has a bacterial infection on his back paw and he is also on antibiotic and has to wear his head cone until it heals. 

Please pray for my little guys.  Hoping health is restored soon to our home.

Mommy's Angels

I'm not quite sure how it happened...but when I gave birth to James, I lost sleep, water weight...and brain cells; lots and lots of brain cells.  I used to pride myself on my multitasking abilities.  I never wrote anything down, I never forgot birthdays, appointments, where I left my sunglasses! These days, that is not the case. I forget everything from my meeting appointments to placement of my cell phone (yes, I actually found it in the refrigerator one day).  I'm blaming it on the fact that I have more important things to think about now like...my child's life! ;) However, I have started to realize that I must have some pretty incredible angels watching over me to help me get through the tasks of my day.  For example...earlier this week...I went to the gym in our office at lunch for a quick workout. I went to stretch, post run, and took off my ipod. Afterwards, I jumped in the shower, got ready, and ran back to the office- sans Ipod.  Luckily, someone was nice enough to grab it and upon further inspection, found a business card of mine shoved in the holder.  He nicely found out where Bayer's office was in the building and kindly returned it to me. I really don't remember putting that card there...it must have been at least a year ago when I first started with Bayer...CRAZY! Later that same week, I was in charge of scheduling a grooming appointment for Charlie. I did, and scheduled it for Wednesday...forgetting that I needed to schedule it for Thursday since I didn't want him in the house with the cleaning ladies (Pete reminded me of this little error!).  Of course, through the course of the day...I complete forgot to call and reschedule. On my way out of the office that day, the phone rings and it's the groomer, calling to apologize that she could not see Charlie Wednesday and needed to move it to Thursday.  I accepted her apology and smiled. Thanks Angels!

Texas Bluebonnets

The one tradition that all Texans take part in, is getting pictures in the wild bluebonnets that cover the pastures this time of year. We headed out this past weekend to join in the fun. We met up with our friends, The Seemans, and thank goodness we did...because I left my memory card at home :( Luckily, Annie snapped a few shots for us. James is infatuated with Finley and we got this precious moment on camera. These too could not be sweeter.

 (James 7mon-Finley 10mon)

 Of course James could not resists her cuteness and pinched her...she will soon learn that means, "I like you" :)

 My Prince!

 It's official...we are Texans!

7 Months

James,

This picture says it all! You are such a crazy little man, full of energy, mischief and silliness.  These pictures of you and Charlie are quite a comedy show. Mostly you...squealing with delight, while you pull Charlie's hair and he looks at us with utter horror. "How can you let this happen to me!" I'm not sure if the next 5 months will include poor Charlie or not. We'll see ;)

It's been a big month for you! You started scooting on your belly (army style)...and you are FAST! You can get a across the room in seconds flat. You are sitting up much sturdier now. You talk all the time (mostly Da, Da, Ya, Ya) and I swear you are trying to say "Charlie" it sounds like "RRRR_EEEE", so cute. You are also a screamer. You pretty much are vocalizing at the top of your lungs during all waking hours. It's enough to wear a momma out :) You love; taking walks in the carrier, swinging at the park, rough-housing, reading books, climbing all over mom and dad. You are really loving music and you sing every day on the way home from day care to whatever is playing on the radio. You also love eating food. Anytime we eat, you want to eat. You are enjoying now, oatmeal, prunes, pear, peaches, squash, carrots & peas. You are not such a big fan of green beans. Right now you are still taking about 24-26oz of formula (every 3-4 hours) and are eating solids 2-3 times a day (about 5, 2.5oz containers/day). You are still sleeping great. Wake up at 6-6:30am, 1-2 hr naps at 8:30 and 1:00, bed time at 7.

No check up this month. You are about 17lbs and probably 27 inches (your next appt is at 9mon.). You are wearing all 6-9months clothes and still in size 3 diapers. You have stretched out this month and are losing a bit of your cute baby fat. You are really starting to look like a little boy! My baby is growing so fast. It's been such an exciting month so far. I know next month my post will say "he's crawling!".

Love you so much little man. You make my life so full of joy.