Seven

Hail State.

look what I can do!

Jones has officially mastered the art of sitting up. He has been wibble-wobble for a couple of weeks now, but really took it to the next level Saturday during his 6 month pictures. But even then Trey and I were right there, ready to catch a falling baby. Today, however, he was solid. Looked at me like it was no big deal; like he'd been doing it his whole life.

voice issues

Remember a few posts back when I announced that I would be uploading video after precious video of our sweet little chunky man?

Well, this was before I watched, or more importantly heard, them all.

I should be banned from speaking in public. Or in private for that matter. Does my voice really sound like that? And why, for crying out loud, must a narrate every move sweet Jones makes? Totally unnecessary speaking on my part. It's nothing but obnoxious.

So I will shoot some silent films and post them shortly.

In the meantime, still shots must do.

butternut squash

This was his reaction to the first taste:

But after a couple of bites, it turned to this:

Jones liked the squash!

I plan on trying the peas again soon since he turned his nose up big time to them the first couple of times. I haven't tried any more food since the last time he turned down my cooking. There was just too much going on with his sickness. I mean, when I am sick, I don't think things taste good either. So now that he is on his way back to 100%, I am trying it again. Success! He ate the entire ice cube of squash!

Hip Hip for butternut squash!

It has been so easy making and re-thawing his food. I love to cook, so this is fun for me. Granted, I have only made peas and butternut squash (and my mom was here with me, which made it more fun) and he has only eaten it a hand full of times, but right now I am enjoying it.

Once cooked and I add breast milk for the right consistency, I freeze the food in covered ice trays. When frozen, I pop them out and put them in freezer bags, label and date them and I am done! They can freeze for up to 3 months. I have a cookbook full of great ideas for baby and toddler.


I just hope he shares my love for vegetables. Trey's favorites are, and I quote, "fried okra and potatoes- cooked anyway". It may be an uphill battle.

update and 6 month pictures

The chest Xrays showed that Jones has viral pneumonia. I totally freaked out, but his sweet, precious, amazing pediatrician assured me that it was not as bad as it sounded. I think it sounds horrible. She has called to check on him (and me) several times. This combined with the fact that she ooos and ahhhs all over Jones everytime makes her the perfect pediatrician. I love her.

He started medicine a few days ago and is already back to himself. The past two nights have been back to normal...praise God! He still has a cough every now and then, but I can tell by looking in his eyes that he finally feels so much better. They seemed to think that all his ear infection last week was connected to this. Bless his heart. And I blamed it on hunger.

I am so thankful to have my happy (and good sleeping) baby back.

On to fun things...

We just got back from Mobile where we stayed with Tricia and Caleb last night. Tricia took his 6 month pictures this morning in Fairhope, AL. It was so much fun. But a smile from little man? Way too much to ask. The best word I can use to describe him is curious. Tricia gets that big camera out and the smile immediately fades and he becomes very, very serious. I think he is trying to figure it all out. The minute we finished the pictures, loaded up the camera, and put Jones in the car he flashed Tricia the biggest grin. I think he knew what he was doing all along.

But she is amazing and I know they are stunning even if, yet again, he refused to smile.

He did, however, smile at the Butts in general. He thought they were hilarious. Tricia and Caleb danced with him and he just laughed and laughed. Too bad we don't have those smiles on camera!

Thanks, Tricia - we had a great time. And maybe by his 9 month pictures he will have the whole camera mystery figured out and will flash you a big one!

Be sure to check out Tricia's photography - I have such talented friends! She took my maternity pictures and Jones' newborn, 3 month and now 6 month pictures. Looking forward to 9 month and 1 year photos!

No fun Wednesday

Well, last night wasn't any better. Worse, maybe. No fever, but couldn't sleep from coughing and sneezing. Well, let me rephrase that, he could sleep, but only when held. I am not good at sleeping with him. It makes me very nervous, so another sleepless night for me and Trey. Poor Trey offered to take the monitor and sleep in the guest bedroom so I could sleep. Which he did, but it didn't help too much. Have you been to our little rental? It's little. You can't escape a crying baby.

So we were at the doctor's office before the doors opened this morning. They did a flu and RSV test, which both came back negative. Then they sent us to the hospital for chest X-ray and blood work. I still haven't heard back from the chest X-ray, but the blood work came back fine except that it does show that he was anemic. Apparently this is pretty common, so that is not what is making him sick.

So as of now, he is sleeping. We raised one side of his mattress up, as the nurse on call last night at 2 am recommended. This means no motion monitor. I am a psycho about the motion/breathing monitor. I have a feeling I may be sleeping on the floor next to him.

As I said in a previous post, I am crazy. I confirm this suspicion daily.

Feel better, my main man. And fast!

Peas?

Ummm...Not so much.

My mom and I made batches of peas and butternut squash this weekend for Jones. I was so excited for him to try it. The ped recommended we do cereal mid-morning and a vegetable mid-afternoon. We tried peas last night for the first time and again tonight.

Disaster.

Hated it.

Tonight was even worse. He made horrible gagging sounds. I couldn't force them down! Maybe we will have better luck with the squash.

We will try the peas again tomorrow. I was told give it 3-5 days with each new food for him to become used to the texture and flavor.

But, in his defense, he is also not 100%. Poor thing did not take well to his vaccinations and flu shots. He was up all night last night (and thus, so were we!) with 102 degree fever. He is also suffering from a pretty bad cough. The nurse on call last night had me give him Tylenol every 4 hours through the night. He broke the fever around 4 this morning and has not had any today. But he is still not himself and not napping at all. If tonight is not better, we are heading back to the doctor in the morning.

Bless his heart...I am ready for him to be back to his happy self!

1/2 a year

6 months. Wow. Somehow 6 months used to take longer than this.

At any rate, Jones is 6 months now. We had his 6 month check up today. Lots of shots. But he did great. Big boy.

No, literally. Big Boy:

Weight: 20 lbs - 90%

Length: 27 1/2 - 90%

Head: 17 3/4 - 90%

We are nothing if not consistent.

He is perfect. And completely healthy. Praise God.

And good news - no more ear infections! Also, we get to come down on the dosage for his acid reflux.

All in all a fabulous report. I love my chunky man.

As always, naked and clothed monthly pictures. This task is harder than ever.

All over the place.

Seriously? HILARIOUS.

So serious...

Until Grandaddy came and started a pillow fight!

I wish you could hear this laugh!

6 month Jones:

* Has crazy hair that strangers want to rub. I can't say that I blame them.
* Loves to cuddle and give kisses, although his kisses can often turn into violent bites.
* Started eating food. My mom and I made butternut squash and peas this weekend. He had peas for the first time tonight. More on that to come.
* Can army crawl and pretty much get to whatever he wants. Including Sophie. She doesn't always appreciate this.
* Can briefly sit up, but after a few seconds gravity takes over and he falls. I mean, have you seen the stomach? That is bound to happen.
* Loves to be outside. At all times. And thankfully loves to stroll. We have started jogging in the jogging stroller which he seems to really love. It must be because I am so fast. hmmmm... on the next one.
* Has the greatest laugh in the world.
* Sleeping great, but still eats once a night. But at 12 hours of sleep a night, I am manage. He sleeps from about 7:30 - 7:30.
* Loves making new sounds with his mouth, which cracks me up everytime.

He is my little chunky love!

videos

I just figured out how to get videos on here.
Get ready.

laughter is the best medicine

Jones cracks up everytime I put his ear drops in his ears. I finally got Trey to get it on camera.
This was right before bedtime, so he was a bit fussy in the beginning, but watch the whole thing...as soon as he figures out what I am doing, he dies out laughing! Now I just need to get him on video taking his medicine for his ear infection - he thinks it tastes like pink heaven.



Excuse my look. I had just gotten out of the shower. In PJs with wet hair in a bun. Can't get more real life than that.

Hooray!

We are starting to feel better around here!

And you thought you had cankles...

Daddy's more fun

What?! I get to eat again? Bring it.

Daddy takes me outside to eat. In the hammock. What could be more fun than eating rice cereal in a hammock?




On to bigger things:
These thighs fit in the Bumbo two days ago...

well, I was wrong.

I only make a mistake once a year or so (no need for a comment, Trey), and this time I made a big one.

It wasn't hunger that was keeping my babe awake.

The first night eating the cereal worked beautifully. Slept from 7 - 4, ate, and then slept until 7. The next night, not as great. Then last night. Oh last night. We were up every hour! He never ran fever, wasn't obviously teething, wasn't hungry, he just wanted to be held and cuddled. I knew something was up.

So as soon as the doctor's office was open this morning, I called to make an apt. We went in at 9 and they confirmed it: an ear infection in both ears. I die. He still wasn't running a fever and was happy and smiling the whole time we were there. I thought for sure they would tell me to give him food and let him cry it out. Was not expecting to hear ear infections. I feel horrible about the whole thing. Bless his heart.

She did suggest starting him on cereal 2 times a day for 2 weeks and then moving on to vegetables. He did weigh 20 pounds today, after all. She told me I was going to wear myself out. Yes. I confirm.

So today we cuddled a lot, read lots of books and took small naps on mommy's chest, since I was told that it feels worse when he is laying flat in his bed. I think that made both of us feel better.

We start medicine tonight. Hope it works...and fast.

We did have one fun thing happen today: my cousin came to visit! She teaches in Collinsville and is on fall break. She came to the coast to visit a friend and dropped in to get some lovin' from Jones.

I took this opportunity with Adelia to introduce Jones to Baby. Don't know Baby? Let's just say she has been with me since my birth (including, but not limited to: surgeries, college, vacations, night before my wedding and my child's birth). Trey won't let me sleep with her anymore (would that be creepy?) but she lives in my bedside table and comes out when Trey is out of town.

I figured if anything could make Jones feel better, it was Baby.

Baby, meet Jones. Jones, meet Baby.

Thanks for coming, Adelia. You made the day brighter!

mmmmm....

For the past week or so, Jones has been waking up every three hours during the night. So unlike him. Checked for teething, check for earaches, let him try to cry it out, everything. But I knew what it was: big boy was hungry. He was acting like he was starving when I would finally go in there to check on him. I would end up nursing and he would go back to sleep immediately.

I talked to his doc and she said he is probably ready for more than just breast milk. I mean, he is a 20 pounder. Big boy gotta eat. I was trying to wait until 6 months to talk to her in person about feeding him. I am really nervous about it. (note: I am crazy) Guess I will be making baby food this week!

I mean, nursing is simple. He stops when he is full. I don't have to prepare anything or mess anything up. Fool proof. And I love it.

Anyway, I had several people (including my mom, who is all-knowing) suggest I put a little rice cereal in his last bottle of the day. So I have been doing that the past two nights.

Can I just throw in right here that I hate pumping? Is this too personal for a blog? Oh well. I hate it. Hate it.

But I have been doing it for the sake of a good night's rest. And it has worked beautifully.

Tonight, however, I messed it up. The cereal came out entirely too fast, resulting in cereal with milk, not the other way around. The bottle was a no-go. And I refused to pump again. So I feed him with a spoon.

I know you can't tell from this picture, but he L-O-V-Ed it. He looked at me as if I had been holding out on him for 6 months.

After he went to sleep, I went for a jog. During said jog I thought about the fact that I used a spoon and bowl to feed my baby. And I cried. (See note above.)

How can he already be this old?

Stop flying, time.

Today

This was the sky above our backyard:

So we did a lot of this:

And a little of this:

With this little doggie, Jones' favorite toy:

Happy Friday indeed!

can I just say

how grateful I am that I have a husband who is more interested in doing all he can so I can stay home with Jones than he is in buying things for himself? He is never one for new clothes, toys or electronics. His fleeces from the 90's and Razr phone will do just fine for this guy. All he asks is for some time in the woods.

I can comply.

Thanks, Trey.

I am having the best time.

I love our life.

with open arms...

I welcome you, autumn.

Fall has officially hit the deep south. Oh the glorious 70 degree days. I love you. Never leave me. My air is off and windows are open. I even placed whole cloves in a bunch of oranges and put them in a bowl on my kitchen table. You know, just for the smell of autumn.

Enter my favorite three months of the year. Happiness ensues.