Gimme Gimme Gimme!!!

Solid Foods Update:

We initially started with rice cereal, but have since switched to oatmeal. The rice was REALLY, REALLY plugging him up, even with his daily prune juice cocktail. That's another story. Anyways, Carson LOVES oatmeal! You can't get it down him fast enough. He's even started holding his hands out and making grasping motions with the air (think..."gimme gimme gimme"). We've also thickened it up. The "Baby's First Cereal" directions are a joke...the milk/cereal ratio is still like water. He prefers it similar to what real oatmeal is like (not the thick, sticky oatmeal...but more like smooth, microwave packets of oatmeal).

We've also tried out a few fruits/veggies. Bananas are hands down his favorite so far. He'll suck a whole container down in no time. Sweet potatoes are growing on him. He wasn't a huge fan at first but now eats them with no problem. We just tried apples last night for the first time, and it seemed to go over just fine. He ate the whole thing. Lastly, green beans. Well, let's just say those might be one of the foods we have to try 15 times for him to finally acquire a taste. He makes a disgusted face when you give it to him. I try to be sneaky and give him several bites of oatmeal and then throw in a bite of green beans. He is not stupid. He looks at me like, okay, I know this is not the same stuff. My best luck with the green beans was when I gave it to him first, when he was really hungry. Mommy's got a whole arsenal of other fruits and veggies to try. I bought one of everything they had. I'm just trying to space it out a little so he isn't overwhelmed with a million different flavors.

Food is also ending up more in his mouth now than on his bib. YAY! He's definitely getting the hang of eating from a spoon. Isn't it just amazing how quickly babies learn?!?! So cool!!! I also can't believe how much he'll eat in one sitting! No wonder he's growing like a weed! :-)

Make Ya Smile Mondays - Smile!!!

Well crap, I've already ordered our Christmas cards (and this wasn't the picture)...

How ridiculously cute is he?!?!?

Jump Around!!! Jump Up, Jump Up & Get Down!!!

Yesterday, Carson discovered that his doorway jumper was something more than just something to hang in. He discovered that HE can make it bounce too, not just Mommy! He's pretty much bounced non-stop ever since. He seriously will stay occupied in that thing for WAY longer than any nap would last, so this definitely makes up for the lack of naps around our house. He bounced for so long yesterday that he eventually just dozed off in the thing. The Hugga Bebe support thing around him made the perfect pillow!




He jumped for over an hour and then slept for about an hour. In case you missed it, that's over TWO hours of hands-free time. What's great about this thing is that I can easily move it to a different room if I have chores in another part of the house.

To say the least, the Graco Bumper Jumper in Little Jungle is my new best friend!

What would a jumping video be without a little House of Pain "Jump Around"...so, here you have it!!! (Each one is only ~30 seconds.)

This is my favorite because of his sweet smile...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPiih0H80V4

This one makes me laugh because he gets a little gangsta rapper with his arms...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcUeShmRsH4

If you prefer to not have old school rap in the background, you can check out this video (it was the very first one I made)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Qcufj8lsE

4 Days and Counting!!!

So either the whole solid foods thing is the cause (well, at least a primary contributor) or it's just a big time coincidence, but ever since we started the rice cereal, Carson has been sleeping through the night. I mean literally, not the book definition of 6+ hours. To me, sleeping through the night is when MOM gets to sleep through the night! :-) He's slept 11-12 hours straight for the last four nights, 7pm to somewhere between 6-7am!!! HALLELUJAH!!! HALLELUJAH!!! HAL-LE-LU-JAH!!!

He doesn't fight going to bed at all... bath then eat and he is out!!! Still not much of a napper, which can make the days tough, but I'll take that any day over having to get up at night. He usually only takes 2 naps of about 30 min to an hour. Some days it's three and some days he might conk out for a little longer, but on average, he just doesn't really want to sleep during the day. He really fights napping in his crib, so lately at least one of those naps has been in the swing. Yesterday, it was in his door bouncer. Yes. He fell asleep in it after jumping for over an hour. At his 4-month check-up, I asked the doc for some tips on napping and was told that some kids just aren't nappers. If he's getting all the required sleep at night, then that's fine. Looks like that's the bucket we fall into! Let's just hope it stays that way!!! :-)

I'm So Excited, I Just Can't Hide It...

No, this is not what I'm talking about...

(All those out there about my age probably immediately think of that episode of Saved By the Bell..."I'm So Excited... I'm So... Scared"...sorry, quick flashback down memory lane.)

Anyways, Carson is really the one who is SO excited. He LOVES feeding time. When he's in his bouncer on the table, bib on, and see's mommy or daddy with the little bowl and spoon, he know's he's in for some fun. Eating time has gotten much more productive since Day 1. I think he's actually getting some down now. We thickened it up quite a bit so it actually has some texture to it.

He sits in that bouncer and just starts kicking, kicking, kicking those legs. It's hilarious. He's also discovered that he is able to squeal. He loves exercising those vocal chords. It's so funny! I didn't get it on this video, so I'll have to make another post about that one.

Here's the YouTube link... it's only a minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5bMpcP2ShA

Rockin' & Rollin'

Carson first rolled over from tummy to back around Week 11. He did that before he even was rolling from back to side. Of course, he didn't do it again for like six more weeks. When he did it the next couple of times, it was only when he was really, really mad. He's not a big fan of tummy time. It's getting better though.

Two days ago, I had him in his crib with the mobile really low so he could see it while he was on his tummy. He just whipped right over. He did it several times. He did it several more times yesterday, even without the mobile. I keep practicing with him in hopes he'll roll from back to tummy. With my help, his body does it easily, but like I said, he's not a big fan of being on his tummy. That said, I don't think he's in a big hurry to do that. Mommy is going to keep working on it though. I'm excited though that the tummy to back rolling is coming much easier for him now.

Here's a short video of him rolling over...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSf_4ruJQz4

Carnage in the Backyard

We have 1 1/2 hunting dogs at our house. Shooter is a legit hunting dog. Lucy, not so much. She loves to fetch, but doesn't quite understand how the whole hunting thing works. She'll fetch a bird if she sees it fall, but mostly just wants to beat Shooter to it or try to steal it from him. She isn't alert in the blind. She just lays her head on your lap. Anyways, I'm getting off topic.

For as long as I can remember, Shooter always tried to "get the squirrels" in the backyard. At our old house, we actually had squirrels. We have no trees here, so it is only on a rare occasion that we see a squirrel. If we do, it's usually just hauling it across the fence. Shooter doesn't limit the term "squirrel" to just squirrels. Anything that he can chase can be considered a squirrel. At our house, doves are the most common "squirrel."

So yesterday, I hear the thud at the back door. I often hear pawing or when Shooter turns and sits with his back to the door. This was different though. It even kind of scared me. I open the door to find Shooter with a semi-alive dove in his mouth, feathers everywhere, and Lucy just as excited about the action as Shooter.


When I came outside, you could tell he didn't know if he was in trouble or not. He put the bird down and looked at me. He wanted to eat it, no doubt. He was pretty proud of himself.


Then, he laid down next to it, as if that was going to change my mind about him eating it. If he wasn't a hunting dog, I'd say go for it. You deserved it. But, as I predicted, Dad said "NO." All that would do would be to suggest that eating the birds he retrieves is okay.

This was the first kill at our house. We had one close call before when we were trapping and banding doves in the backyard. It had been raining and so the bird's feathers were wet. When we released it, it couldn't really fly to well and flew straight into the side of the house. When it fell to the ground, Shooter just about had it. Luckily though, the bird got up and flew away just in time.

It probably doesn't look too good for the wildlife biologist to have dove murder scenes in the backyard. Whoops. Hopefully it doesn't happen again. Or, if it does, be sure there are enough to make doves wraps. Yum!

Make Ya Smile Mondays

First of all, yay for actually making this post on a Monday. Go Mom!

Little Yoda...



Resemblance?

"Solid" Foods, Take 1

At Carson's 4-month appointment, we got the go ahead to start "solid" foods. I put solid in quotes because the rice cereal mixture is far from solid. The 1 tbsp cereal to 4 tbsp milk ratio on the box was SO watery. Andrew had been out of town, so I definitely wanted to wait until he got home for this experiment. So, after the Christmas lights were put up and he woke up from his last nap, we were READY!!!

Mom setting the stage for the big moment



First Bite!


Take 2 in the bouncy seat








He opened his mouth great and sure looked liked he knew what to do...


...But it pretty much ended up like this every time



As Andrew said, "He looks like a drunk on a stool trying to eat." That pretty much summed it up!

If you want to see all the action, each of these is only like a minute or two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etISCDfw3cU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKX-BDTZVck

I know we've got to give the rice a few days first or whatever before we can venture on to more interesting things. While at HEB, I also grabbed the baby oatmeal (which the doctor said would be great because of all the fiber... help Carson's slight "irregularity" issue), and one of every fruit and vegetable in the Stage 1 foods. I know he'll probably like the sweet potatoes for sure. Green beans and peas...hmm, we'll see!

Just a note, an hour later after his bath, he totally still ate 6 oz. That makes me think that not too much of the rice actually got in his tummy. Practice. Practice. Practice.

Quick Comparison...

2 Month Check Up:


4 Month Check Up:


Wow! What a difference two months makes?!? He looks like such a big boy now!...and he is!!! 18 pounds (92nd percentile) and 26 3/4" (94th percentile)!

Thanksgiving with the Morgan's

The weekend before the real Thanksgiving, my family came down to Nederland to celebrate. My parents, my brother, his girlfriend Erin, and our little family of three were all in attendance. Everyone got in Friday night and were treated to Andrew's famous gumbo.

Carson was happy to see his Uncle Dave


Our Little Turkey...







Saturday morning Andrew and my brother went duck hunting and had little luck. (Thankfully, Sunday was much better.) I cooked a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns. You can't go wrong with that. After breakfast, Mom and I got to cooking (see previous post, "We Did It!!!"). After a 3:00ish meal, Mom and I went to the mall so she could pick out some boots for her birthday. The A&M-Nebraska game was on the menu for Saturday night. In case you missed it, we BTHO Nebraska!!! Amazing game!!! The fans stormed the field, which is usually a big no-no, but after the Ags long dry spell, it was well deserved!!! I had goosebumps!!!

Some Saturday pics...

My Blue-eyed Baby!










Turkey Butt!




BTHO Nebraska!!!






For some stupid reason, we decided to not have the family photo session on Saturday. Andrew had to work Sunday morning and it turned out that two groups got stuck out in the marsh because they ignored the signs warning not to enter a certain area. Therefore, he didn't get home until late afternoon and my family had to get on the road before that. BOO!










We had a great time!!! I love my family!!!

We Did It!!!...

...cook a whole Thanksgiving meal by ourselves, that is! It is no secret that I am not a chef. Growing up, my mom wasn't the really a chef either (sorry Mom). We ate lots of spaghetti, mac & cheese, and Hamburger Helper. I guess you make what your kids will eat! Now that she's not chasing two kids around, she has started experimenting and enjoying the art of cooking. We didn't get creative for Thanksgiving (you have to stick to the classics), but we did do it all ourselves. Usually, we have either my grandmothers or aunts to help, but this year we were at my house, and therefore, on our own. Yes Meme, you would be proud! :-)

The Proof...












The final menu included:
-Turkey breast (we did opt to skip the big bird since there were only 6.5 of us)
-Venison ham
-Broccoli cheese casserole
-Cornbread dressing
-Green bean casserole
-Candied sweet potato casserole
-Mashed potatoes & gravy
-Rolls

Carson totally loved the mashed potatoes. Yes, I gave him "solids" already... it was Thanksgiving. :-) He opened his mouth right up when my mom held up the spoon. We have our 4 month appointment tomorrow, so I'm waiting to see what the doctor says about starting all that. He liked the sweet potatoes too! :-)



More Thanksgiving with the Morgan's in the next post...

Make Ya Smile Mondays...Tuesday Style (again)

I should probably just switch my posts to Tuesday since I usually don't get them up until then anyways. I just don't have a cute name for Tuesdays, and since Mondays usually aren't that great, I really wanted to do the post then. I just need to get my act together. :-)

Check out this ridiculously cute cowboy outfit we got for Carson in La Grange over Thanksgiving. I couldn't resist, Carson needed his first pearl snap shirt. The girls' version included "Yellow Rose of Texas" jeans. Since Emily Morgan was the Yellow Rose of Texas, you better believe I would have bought them if we had a little girl! They did have some precious jeans with fringe, but since I just bought jeans for him at Marshalls, I passed.