It's hard to even type that...how has 1/2 a year passed already since we welcomed our precious little boy?!? It's also hard to believe that I managed to not post a 4 and 5 month update. I've got stuff on the baby calendar, so maybe one day I'll type it up and insert accordingly. My friend Greta published her blog from Scotland... which, I didn't even know you could do that...and I'd love to do that for Carson's first year.
The monthly monkey pic (That monkey's looking pretty small these days!)
Anyways, so here's what the little dude is up to...(Thanks Sarah. I'm copying your format!)
How much does he weigh/How long is he? Even though I joke that he's our little chunk, he really isn't chunky. He is as solid as they come...long and strong! At his 4-month appointment, he was 18 pounds (92nd %) and just under 27" (94th %). We don't have his 6-month appointment until February 2nd, but I'm thinking he's ~20 pounds and 28". We'll see how close I am next week! One thing I do know, he's outgrown his Bumbo seat and pretty much in all 12 month clothes. A few of the 9 month stuff still fits, but not for long! All his bouncing has created some linemen thighs. A couple of the little rompers fit great but wouldn't button around his legs. They are fun to squeeze on though!
He does have some pretty precious chipmunk cheeks that I love to kiss on!
How and what's he eating? This little man LOVES to eat. We started solid foods at about 4.5 months, and it's been a lot of fun. He didn't initially seem to like everything, but now he eats it all. At first, green beans and squash got spit out immediately, but now he eats them like a champ. Surprisingly, he likes peas (even though they aren't allowed at Wannie's house!). It's hard to say what his favorite are because he really does eat them all without a hitch. He still loves a bottle or to nurse though. I made the mistake of Googling what was typical for a 6-month old to eat. I started laughing. Carson would shrivel up and die if that was all he ate. That, or he'd just be crying all the time! I forget that he's the size of many 12 month olds, so he probably needs more than the average 6-month old. Additionally, he always lets me know when he's done. If he's not hungry or he's full, he won't eat. Most days, I nurse him a little after he wakes up (7ish). He usually just wants one side though, he's not interested in eating that early. He's ready to go play! A little later (8:30/9ish) he's ready for breakfast. He usually has a container of prunes or pears (gotta keep him regular!) and 3-4 tbsp of oatmeal. Before his late morning nap (or lack thereof), he takes a small bottle or nurses. Lately, he hasn't really been wanting much solid food for lunch. This has just been in the last week or so. He used to eat 3 tbsp oatmeal and a fruit or veggie. Lately, he's just wanted a big bottle. He usually has a small bottle or nurses before his early afternoon nap (or lack thereof). Between 4-5, he usually needs a small bottle to hold him over until dinner. Around 6:00 on the dot (or at least no later than 6:15pm), we have our dinner of 3-4 tbsp of oatmeal and 1-2 veggies. He usually scarfs dinner down! Lately, he's really been a grabber/swatter. We've nearly had spoonfuls of various vegetables catapulted across the kitchen. After dinner is bath time, then he nurses or takes a small bottle and is asleep by 7:00-7:15.
How's he sleeping? At night...like a CHAMP. Most days he's on a 7pm-7am schedule. There were a few nights where he woke up screaming and was really congested. I sucked out the snot with my trusty Nosefrieda and he was good to go. Last weekend at my parents' house, he woke up every night at midnight wanting to nurse. Come to find out, he was cutting his first tooth, so it all made sense. He's sleeping like normal again now. I have noticed that he's been waking up 4/4:30ish, but he's fine. He just plays with his little Wubbanub pacifier/stuffed animal thing for a little bit then falls back asleep on his own. I don't even go in the room. I feel so BLESSED to have a good night sleeper! On the few occasions he has woken up upset and my sleep has been compromised, I realize just how great it's been to have actually been getting sleep again! Daytime sleep is a whole other story. Plain and simple, we just don't have a napper. I usually get him down for 2-3 naps a day, each one isn't usually more than 30 minutes though. Every now and then he'll surprise me and sleep and hour. I wish that would happen more often! I've just started adding back the 3rd, or at least attempting one. A little quiet time is better than nothing. He will act SO tired... whiny, eye-rubbing, yawning, etc., but he will just fight it like you wouldn't believe. He usually falls asleep during his pre-nap bottle but wakes back up when he's moved to his crib. If I let him stay asleep in my arms, the nap may last longer, but that just isn't going to happen. Considering he's sleeping 12 hours at night, I guess I shouldn't be too concerned.
What are his new skills and developments? Wow...it is just amazing to me how much he's changed in the last couple months. Well, Carson finally has his first tooth!!! I was SO excited to finally see a real tooth! He's had all the classic teething signs for what seemed like forever, but they really seemed to pick up in the last few weeks. The first one is his bottom right tooth, and I think either the bottom left or the one on the other side will be next! Poor little guy, he just hasn't been himself the last week. I can tell he's in pain. Teething gel, Tylenol, Sophie, the teething things you put in the fridge, and nursing seem to be what makes him feel better.
Another big development is that he is getting so close to sitting independently. He can sit by himself but you just have to be right there just in case. Sometimes when he gets off balance, he can correct himself, but other times he topples over. He's getting close though to not needing me to be right at his side. I can tell he likes this new perspective. We're trying it in the bathtub too. He finally can play with the rubber duckies and such.
(Mommy knows it's winter...she just wanted me to try on one of the several jon jon's she bought off eBay!)
I hope he learns to crawl some day. I don't know how he's ever going to though. He HATES being on his tummy. There is no tummy time at our house because the second you put him on his tummy, he flips himself over. I'll try to block him in so he can't roll over and he gets mad! He hasn't done the back to tummy roll, but why would he? He doesn't want to be on his stomach. The loves to stand and jump though. I think his legs have gotten really strong from the door jumper. He's always loved to stand in our laps or on the floor holding our hands. I've tried letting him stand and hold onto the couch, and he does pretty good. Some of my friends have very "roly poly" babies that roll all over the place and are always on the go... yeah, Carson's not like that at all. He's very content most of the time. The door jumper and Exersaucer are really the only places he really gets going. He likes to lay on his back and carefully examine whatever toy he has. He also likes to lay on your knees and let his head fall back. Apparently looking at stuff upside down is fun.
I'm still waiting for those consonant sounds. We haven't heard any "ma ma", "da da" or "ba ba" around here yet. Lord knows I say them all the time trying to get him to mimic me. Wanda said she saw him start to make the "mmm" sound though, so hopefully it won't be much longer. He "talks" all the time though. He also squeals and blow bubbles. I wasn't sure how to describe his favorite sound though, but Sarah nailed it...the "phhhhht" sound. His lips quiver and he usually makes a good spit mess along with it too. He LOVES to make that sound and it is hilarious! He also thinks it's hilarious when we do it back to him.
He's a pro with his hands. He moves toys back and forth with ease. He's also accurate in grabbing for things. He still loves his feet. His favorite "toy" is still his door jumper. He LOVES that thing! He really gets going and just smiles away! He also loves his Exersaucer. He doesn't get it that it's not the jumper. That thing really isn't designed for jumping. He usually stays entertained for a while. Each day or time I put him in it, he's interested in something different. One day its trying to pry the iguana off, another it's the monkeys, another it's the blocks on the alligator. His Sophie giraffe teething toy has been great! He's really been going to town on it lately. He also really likes this German, little wooden ring thing that Grady gave him for Christmas. He likes to read books and help turn the pages. Andrew just started singing Old MacDonald and he doesn't like the cow. Weird. He loves turkeys, dogs, and roosters though. He loves to watch Andrew play guitar. Andrew hasn't played much since college but has gotten a lot of good practice lately. He is still is anti-pacifier.
He LOVES Lucy and Lucy loves him!!! He knows the word "Lucy" without a doubt, probably because the way I say it. She is wherever he is. She follows whoever has him wherever they go. She likes to give him kisses and he just laughs. Except, I did look over at him while I went to go get a wet paper towel to clean his face off after dinner and Lucy was doing it for me. I think she was a little too in his face, literally. He was just kind of frozen. I don't normally encourage the whole dog licking the baby in the face thing, but this one slipped past me. He loves to watch both dogs play fetch in the backyard. Easy entertainment and happy dogs. It's a win-win situation.
Carson is still blonde haired and blue-eyed...who'd a thunk?!?! :-) His hair actually has a little strawberry in it too. I still think it will eventually go back dark like it was when he was born. It reminds me a lot of my brother. He was born with a full head of dark hair, it all fell out and came in very light brown, and now it's dark again. We'll see. I'm pretty sure the blue eyes are here to stay though. He can thank his Wannie and my dad (still grandparent nameless) for that! He still has his sweet little dimples, his right more prominent than his left. I'm so glad we get to see them so often now!
Big Blues...
Daddy is way funnier than Mommy most of the time. But, Mommy gets the sweet kisses! Yes, Carson has started kissing me back...SO, SO sweet!!!
Well, I think that about wraps it up. I'm sure I'll think of more later, but I'll just save that stuff for another post. So, Happy 1/2 Birthday Carson!!! You are the light of our lives!!! We love you!!!
For old times sake, here's his 1 month picture!
