HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It seems so hard to believe that one year ago, we put hands on my growing stomach...wondering if a little son or daughter would be joining us, and what he or she would look like...tossing names around in anxious anticipation of our little one.

Now, here he is...crawling around and smiling up at me!

What an amazing year full of blessings! We have a new home (and many new things inside), many new friends, and a wonderful "new" son. All I can say is, I am so thankful for all of the many little (and not-so-little) things that have made 2007 a great journey.

So, here we go, 2008! There are still many things to wonder about...and I look forward to the adventures that every day will bring...

I couldn't end this post without thanking YOU...

I know there is a combination of family and friends reading this (and some friends that are family!), and I want to say I am so thankful for each and every one of you! There have been words of encouragement in times of need, a smile to brighten the day, and many gifts from all. I don't think I could count my blessings...I would never finish! How wonderful God has shown himself through all of you in our life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Come on baby, let's do the twist!

...the Ian twist of course! It's the little "twist" he's added to the crawl!

I could be spared much time and effort by simply posting a video of this crawl...but I don't have the video in the correct resolution (yet), and hope to capture at least some of the hilarity in words for future entertainment! :)

Ian's crawl has developed in a predictable yet altogether unique progression. For example, he has followed the developmental milestones to the letter (being "ahead" on just about all of them)...holds head up so many degrees by such-and-such week...lifts stomach off floor for a few moments...kicks feet behind him, etc...

His first method of propulsion was of course the low-crawl. BUT, he only pushed off with his right foot. Hard to move in a straight line when you're only using force on one side!

Then, he begun pulling both knees underneath himself and holding his weight for a few seconds. Next came the "rocking" - the little bottom bouncing forward and back accompanied by squeals of delight at his new skill. He really enjoyed this movement!

I think it's safe to say that most things we learn as little babies are the direct result of experimentation/accident. Crawling for Ian appeared to fall in this category. He would be laying there kicking his feet, or rocking back and forth...and a look of complete and utter surprise would cross his face when he discovered he had moved forwards!

Of course, the phase of accidental movement quickly turned into more coordinated and purposeful locomotion! As I had mentioned before, this was to be expected, but with a unique Ian twist!

(...and it goes like this...)

From his knees, he will pull one leg forward...then, as he is moving forwards, he kicks the opposite leg straight out behind him and then sets it down again. He repositions his arms, pulls the other foot underneath himself...and suddenly locks both knees with his bottom straight up in the air. He will wobble there a moment, then lower himself...and start back over again.

It is so hilarious to watch his bottom hovering straight up for those seconds in between bursts of forward momentum.

The more he is crawling, the more he actually does so in a "correct" manner. Of course, he can do the twist as long as he wants. It's quite entertaining for mommy!

And, I will try my best to stop laughing and take some video!!! :)

SEVEN MONTHS OLD!

I am again slow, but I'm sure you're used to that by now! I'm trying to keep up with this, as many have suggested, it will do well to copy directly into a baby-book at some point in the future.

Growth is still fast! He has gone from 19 lbs. to 20 lbs. and length is still up in the air...I will definitely need to do that later this week...

-Graduated to size 4 diapers, and is wearing very few clothing items in the 6-9 month range, we've graduated to mostly 12 months, and a few 18 months.
-MASTERED THE CRAWL!!! In a short month, Ian went from push-ups, to scooting, to a crawl!
-Tries to "clap"...which really just looks like hands flapping against eachother!
-Pulls himself up onto objects waist high or lower (his waist level, not ours).
-Favorite toy is daddy's picture! He can be surrounded with a whole pile, and go straight for it!
-Will put a toy inside of a container, then pull/dump it out again. (As long as his focus allows him to complete the task).
-Attempts a pincer grasp for miniscule objects...usually small bits of trash on the floor!
-Much of the time he is constantly seeking movement - he's a boy on the go, go, go!
-Diaper changing time has become baby-wrangling time...as twisting, turning, kicking, and other physical maneuvering now requires much more strength (and patience) to stop!
-Obviously recognizes an object that has been removed from his possession, and will continue pursuing it even when a replacement is presented!
-LOVES to go for a walk in the stroller and take in all the sights. Kicks his legs when we stop to indicate he wants to keep going!
-Starting to show the first signs of separation anxiety from mommy. I'm a preferred person! :)
-The "blow in the face" reflex (there is probably a scientific name for this, if you find, let me know) is fading away.

Ian has had many firsts this month, but for sake of getting this post up before he turns 8 months old, I'll post now without it! I've had this one saved "in progress" long enough! :)

Straight...

You put him on the floor, and it's amazing. He always crawls straight!

Straight towards the fireplace...
Straight towards the Christmas tree...
Straight towards our shoes...
Straight towards that speck on the floor...
Straight towards the outlets...
Straight towards that appealing tangle of electrical wires...
Straight towards TROUBLE!

I am so glad that child-proofing the house is something I won't have to worry about that much when I get home. Thank you, Barb!

I can't wait to see what sort of trouble he'll be getting into at home! Now that he is mobile and figuring things out, he is so much fun!

:)

First Tooth!

So, the long wait is over!

Ian has officially cut his first tooth!

I have noticed over the past few weeks, he has been drooling a lot less, so his swallowing is developing. However, he still would gnaw away happily at times on anything soft he could shove into his mouth.

I have learned to tell the difference between baby exploring the world by putting everything in his mouth...and teething baby in pain, shoving things against his gums for soothing comfort.

Teething has consisted mostly of drooling, gumming, and slight whining sometimes. For the most part, he has been so happy and oblivious to the whole process!

Tonight, he was playing on the floor with Aunt Conni, and he grabbed her hand and shoved it into her mouth. She gasped, "Oh is that a tooth?!" I instantly turned all excited, and sure enough, it was! Ian was completely unappreciative of our, "Let me feel!" attitude about the momentous milestone. He twisted and squirmed and fussed at our creative attempts at glimpsing the tiny white bud. It's sharp though, you can definitely feel it!

So there I was, transformed into a giddy mother excited about the first tooth! If it was earlier in the day, I would be on the phone calling everyone to share in the excitement!

Truly what a blessing it is to be a mother and experience such wonderful moments as these!

SIX MONTHS OLD!

SIX MONTHS

OK, so I am a month slow, but better late than never!!! It's been a hectic and wonderful past few weeks visiting family and friends! We certainly have kept very busy!

Ian has grown from 17.6 lbs. to 19 lbs. and since we were traveling, I did not get a length measurement! But, we know he's growing!

Milestones this month:
-Still in size 3 diapers, and wears size 9 months clothes and some 12 months!
-Has highly developed coordination to sit for as long as he wants to!
-Entertains himself for up to 30 minutes at a time with toys.
-Flaps his hands in excitement, and just for the sensation of it!
-"Ageee" is a new spontaneous noise he says when he is full!
-Is drooling a lot less! He is learning to swallow some of it back!
-Will transfer toys from one hand to the other.
-Favorite toys are ones that make crackling sounds or that he can shake and will rattle.
-Is now using rolling as a means of movement across the floor!
-Has improved his hand/eye coordination, and will look, then grasp small objects!
-Hair over his ears is now starting to curl up a little bit!
-Gives "hugs" and "kisses" purposefully!
-Will scoot towards an object to grab it.
-Lifts his knees off of the ground in a "pushup" position for a couple of seconds!
-Shows marked preferences for music...and the order in which it is played! He prefers choir music and classical!
-Coughs as a form of attention getting!
-Continues to try bits and pieces of new foods, but is more interested in playing with food than eating it.
-Is simply delighted at Kiki and Sera! He will laugh when he pets them, and at their moving around!

FIRSTS:
*Cold: he got a small case of the sniffles! He was so cute, wanting mommy a lot, but still very cheerful through the length of the bug!
*Trip to D.C.: what a fun visit with Aunt Kathy!

OF MENTION:
~ Ian travelled in the long car ride from Jacksonville to Atlanta admirably! He slept much of the time, only cried when he was hungry, and amused himself with toy after toy that I handed him from the front seat!
~ Say goodbye to the car-seat hooked to the stroller, he prefers to be facing out and about to observe the world around him!

Road trip...

So, I must say I am so thankful! Ian is a great little road trip companion!

This comes after worrying that he set an established pattern of crying constantly in the car...which happened every single trip home from church for a while there. (And one of these days I will truly learn to stop worrying about such trivial things and trust in God to provide, because He always does!)

Of course, it takes a lot longer to get places with little tyke in the car...more frequent stops are necessary...but that is to be expected. It might go even faster with another adult companion in the future. God is good though and gave us good travel weather, phone buddies, and even a spot or two of patience!

Here's how the long road trip goes...he'll play for a long while in his car seat with various toys. Occasionally, I'll hand another toy to him from the "bag of tricks" I keep on the front seat with me. He babbles, shakes the toy, and has a grand old time...until he falls asleep.

Nap time in the car lasts a LONG time. I know the steady hum of the car, and even the gentle bumping of the road lends itself well to soothing him into a deep sleep. (The car stopping alone will often wake him up).

When he wakes up, he'll play for a short time with his toys again...and then starts getting fussy. Usually singing to him and again offering new toys buys a little more driving time.

Then, it's pullover and change, feed, and play for a little while! Ian likes to stand on my lap and grab at the steering wheel...and also lean over and try to grab everything else in the car! He's very curious about things!

So, after this little break in the driving, it's back into the car we go! I'm proud of him for overcoming his distaste of the car seat so quickly. He might fuss a little bit, but does generally reserve crying for the more serious needs (hunger) when they arise! :)

I've noticed when he's fussy and could stand to take another nap, putting on the "Safe Thus Far" CD (a choral practice CD I listened to quite often!) will quiet him down immediately! He definitely has an ear for music...go figure!

Well, there's another road trip coming up next week. Please pray for us as we prepare for the long drive, and then head south!

:)

Miscellaneous fun stuff!

*He is constantly losing his left shoe, or left sock! He rubs his feet together when he's kicking, and off it goes! :)



*The kitty cat puts up with Ian's prodding and pulling - and Ian laughs and giggles away while he tries to pet her, it's adorable! (I am still trying to get these precious moments on film!)

*Bedtime is a complete burst of crazy baby syndrome...babbling, kicking, trying to crawl...wide-eyed and hyper, he burns off that excess energy right before bed! It's SO CUTE!



*New noises have emerged! It almost sounds like a little screech or scream at times...and he is so proud of himself for the newfound ability.

*He is sitting up by himself at bathtime...and LOVES to chase after the toys floating in the water, or splash simply for the sensation of it. One of the most amusing parts of all is his complete lack of interest in mommy at this time...it's all about the water and the toys! :)

The little right hand...

...likes to thump the ground...

Ian has a little habit of sorts...when he's lying on his back, he almost always puts his hands up behind his head at some point, and thumps the ground with the back of his hand over and over. It almost looks like he's patting the ground, trying to feel what's behind him...make sure it's solid.

Babies do the silliest little things...and even those silly little things are just TOO adorably cute! :)

Pictures are worth 1,000 words...

Some suggested captions to include:

"Now how do I turn this thing off again?"

"She'll never know it was me!"

"If I can just hold my hand still long enough to push that shiny blue thing..."

Any more ideas? :)

FIVE MONTHS OLD!

Ian has grown from 16.6* lbs. to 17.6 lbs. and has stayed around 26 inches! *Our scales do not read the same as ones at Dr's office. For consistency's sake, even though our scales are probably off, I am using their reading! :)

Milestones this month:
-Still in size 3 diapers, and some 9 months clothes!
-Can look in all directions, and track objects up and down very well.
-He gets more and more compliments on his good looks every time we go out!
-Can pretty much sit by himself as long as he has the attention span to concentrate!
-Entertains himself for up to 20 minutes at a time with toys.
-Makes sounds with his hands in his mouth...like "strumming" his lips...
-"Mama," "nana," "abblll" are all spontaneous noises!
-Shows definite preferences for specific people...and seems to like women and/or babies better! :)
-Tries to wiggle out of his car seat...and arches his back to get out!
-Fights a nap some days!
-SOAKS through bibs and clothing with drool! EWW!
-Can stick his feet in his mouth...and is constantly pulling his left sock off!
-Will transfer toys from one hand to the other.
-Is improving with his problem-solving/physical coordination...sees what he wants, and purposefully acts to get it!
-QUICKLY grabs anything within reach!
-Favorite toys are ones that make crackling sounds.
-Loves to get any object and shake it up and down/bam it onto a surface repeatedly.
-When sitting propped in the boppy, will purposefully turn and roll out of it!
-Seeks out to explore his world with outstretched hands...he opens and closes his fingers towards many distant (and near) objects.
-Continues to teethe - gnawing on everything with gusto!
-Has enough hair to "style"!
-Will turn and hold arms out when he wants someone to pick him up...and alternately, will pull himself into a person's shoulder if he doesn't want to go!
-Makes humming sounds when he is eating sometimes.
-Can pull/drag an object closer to himself.
-Tolerates "tummy time" for a significant amount of time, and when he's done, rolls over! :)
-Obviously enjoys music...will often become quiet when it's playing, and start fussing when it stops.
-"Comments" at specific activities...attempting to make more meaningful communication with grunts, cries, and other noises.
-Lies awake in bed for his first 30 waking minutes talking to himself and playing with his feet.
-Has everyone around captivated by his smile! :)

FIRSTS:
*Day away from mommy! (I subbed at school...he got lots of compliments from Barb on his good behavior!)
*Crawling attempts! He is successfully low-crawling on the floor...with much effort, but slowly and surely is getting it!
*Solid food adventures! Rice cereal, grits, sweet potatoes in more substantial amounts!
*Shopping cart experience! With the help of a specialized baby gadget, we shopped til he dropped!
*Highchair usage! He's sitting well enough to use the big chair to eat!
*Playing in the kitchen! Pots & pans out in front of him, he really enjoyed banging on them with spoons!

Shop 'til you drop!

Time for a shopping trip before Ladies night out...so of course Ian came along as usual! (Can't leave him at home yet...Sera & Kiki aren't very trustworthy babysitters. They just lie around while he cries!) Anyway, there's a new twist on today's shopping adventure - read on!

I decided to try something different today. Lately, he has been getting very frustrated with his car seat on top of the shopping cart. He can't see very much from that particular angle. He arches his back and grunts, trying to get out of the seat. Although this is quite hilarious for a short amount of time (the noises especially), eventually frustration gets the best of him...and then the crying begins. It's really not that bad, but I don't think any mom likes to hear her baby cry. There's about a 10 minute warning before he gets to that point, but I am not that efficient at shopping yet. Besides, he is doing so well at sitting up on his own, I thought why not try out his shopping cart cover - and sitting in it a little while.

First I maneuvered the pieces of what seemed to be another one of those simple baby gadgets. I am slowly learning there is NO such thing! No matter how easy they say it is, and how hassle-free...they lie! All of this time, I thought I was so clever at figuring how to operate complicated doodads and at putting things together. I was one of those people that could help you figure these things out...then I became (insert ominous music here)...a mother. Now I am transformed into a person who blankly stares at contraptions wondering how on earth I can get them to function. I stare confused at many dangling straps, buckles, and velcro strips...waiting on a small child to come along and explain this to me. Is there a diagram that comes with this thing? Where's the box? (Ian is playing with it, waiting on me to figure the toy out)...

And somehow these things always end up working...eventually. You have to give up first.

Finally the moment of truth! I plopped little man into the cart and held my breath (and his sides)! Ian sat right up, looked around, and there was no turning back from there! He had no problems keeping himself upright! Sights and sounds galore from the new vantage point, those baby blues were wide with excitement! I could tell he was so proud of himself for being big enough to sit up and see everything around.

So, I was able to shop around with a very happy baby! Ian alternated between looking around and playing with the ingeniously placed toys on the shopping cart cover. He really wore himself out.

As they say, shop 'til you drop...

For more pics from today's adventures...follow the link at right (Family Photos) and go to the October Miscellaneous album! :)

Lesson for today? In a new way, Romans 8:28..."And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Even complicated baby gadgets! :)

Checkup time...

Well, sneak peek at Saturday's post!

Went to the doctor today, and Ian weighed 16.8 pounds! (And was 26 inches!). According to their charts, he's in 75 percentile for weight and height! Gooooo Ian! (Or should I say, grow...)

The doctor was impressed that he is starting to scoot already.

At church tonight, we stopped by the pumpkin patch for a little bit. Ian loved playing with the straw. He is very attracted to anything that makes a crackling sound. His hair looks very orange sitting with all those pumpkins! :)

Everyone is so amazed at how every day he is more attuned to things that are going on...and more full of smiles! Pastor Terry says that Ian is going to be a quiet observant type. The older he gets, the more I look forward to seeing that personality develop.

I came across a quote that describes interestingly (and quite well) that whole process...

"The older we get, the more we become like ourselves."

So true! Ian is that same little laid back baby that was in my belly a few short months ago. God made him just the way he is. It's so amazing!

I can't believe it will be 5 months on Saturday. Time sure does fly when you're having fun! :)

Top Ten...

Well, things are going as well as can be expected (if not even a little better)! God provides in so many ways...and there are more blessings than I can count. However, sometimes, things just get away from me (like this blog)...and it seems like the "to do" list is a little longer than usual.

So, I have been doing a lot of thinking about things...and have come up with a list to help me out since Matt isn't here...

Top Ten Ways to Save Time and Minimize Chores

10 - Host a cleaning-themed costume party...each guest must dress up like a cleaning item (washcloth, vacuum cleaner, scrub brush), and then act out their choice accordingly!

9 - Potty train Ian, NOW...Yes, I know it seems early, but he seems like a pretty smart and advanced kid! This will save time (and money) on diaper changes! Frees up more time for chores!

8 - Recruit army of ants to clean the floor...instead of trying to keep them out of the house, I can let them use their skills for good! There goes the need for sweeping!

7 - Teach Kiki to use the toilet...while I am potty training, might as well go all the way. No more litter box! Need I say any more?

6 - Transform rainstorms into car wash...when it starts raining, I'll run outside and pour carwash on top of both cars! Added bonus of being worry-free from watering bans!

5 - Tie a dust rag to Kiki's tail...as she jumps around on furniture around the house, she can be dusting! Works for all but the really high places, and some vertical surfaces. I can live with that!

4 - Move large trash bin inside... instead of taking bags out to the can, then dragging it out to the street...we'll just skip a step! Put trash in can, wheel out to street!

3 - Have Sera wash the dishes...after all, they say dog's mouths are cleaner than humans. When I finish eating, I'll let Sera lick it, and just stick it back up on the shelf!

2 - Bath time = laundry time...while Ian takes his bath, give him some laundry detergent and the dirty clothes. Swinging, splashing, and kicking arms and legs are a satisfactory alternative to the washing machine agitator!

And the number one way to save time and minimize chores while Matt is gone....(drumroll please)...

Replace the lawn with astro turf...it's cheap, it doesn't need to be mowed, and it can even be rolled up in the winter time!

:)

Hugs!

Ian is learning how to give hugs!

Today, while I was holding him, he put one arm around my shoulder, and pulled himself up against me with a squeeze and just rested his head there. It feels so good to get a hug from your little one! :)

Besides, like most of what Ian does, it's SO CUTE!

Crazy hair...

Ok, so I didn't quite meet my Wednesday post goal. At least it's the same week. Progress comes slowly...haha! It has been a busy week!

Ian's hair is growing along with the rest of him! Before long, it will be time for a little haircut. It's been a little hard to tell that his hair is growing because it is so light. Gradually, it is darkening to have a more red appearance instead of blonde. I'm not sure if it could still be considered strawberry blonde. After all, when most people meet him, they ask, "Where did he get that RED hair from?" not anything about it being strawberry. Maybe there's an idea for a new poll!

So, as his hair is starting to go past his ears a little, it is also long enough to be "crazy" at times. Static from his blankies will make it stand up on end...and he has also had bedhed in the morning a little bit. It has been fun to play with! Daddy has suggested some hair gel for a stylish mohawk.

Watch for pictures! LOL.

Ian sits up all by himself!!!

Well, the video speaks for itself!!! :)

I was playing on the floor with Ian while chatting with daddy, and as soon as he was sitting, I reached for the camera. I was able to get a few still shots and this video before he fell over! He's getting so strong! :)

FOUR MONTHS OLD!

Ian has grown from 15.2 lbs. to 16.6* lbs. and from 24.75 inches to 26 inches! *Our scales I am finding are not very accurate, so weight may be off...

Milestones this month:
-In size 3 diapers, and some 9 months clothes!
-Is only wobbly sometimes when holding his head up.
-Everyone comments at his wide range of expressions!
-Still works hard on sitting up by himself!
-Will play with the toys in the exersaucer!
-Tries to imitate the facial expressions of adults that talk to him!
-Sounds like he says, "mom" and "blue"!
-Smiles more often at pleasurable activities, people, and familiar places.
-Cries when he sees the car seat if he's been having a really good time somewhere!
-Still takes a long nap in the afternoon most days!
-Strongly prefers people to toys, and always wants to be part of the action!
-Fills bibs with drool!
-Has started playing with his feet!
-Can play with two hands now, instead of just grabbing with one!
-Continues to become more physically coordinated every day! (Increasingly smoother, less jerky movements).
-Grabs at everything mommy is doing!
-Sits in the stroller like a big boy, no more car seat!
-Will hold himself up in standing position on coffee table, etc.
-Favorite place to nap...his swing.
-Is teething his front teeth (you can see them under the gums!), and gnawing on everything with gusto!

FIRSTS:
*Temper tantrum! Around nap time, he started fussing and crying a lot, and threw his whole body backwards and fussing, just like a bigger kid throwing himself around!
*Johhny Jump-up experience!!! He is figuring out how to use those legs!
*Trip to the beach! Kids blue sunblock in his hair makes it look green!!!
*Lemon! What a sour face, but he liked it!
*Head injury....although just a little red bump...he kicked himself back into the coffee table while he was on my lap. Strong little guy, hardly cried!

How we're holding up...

...great! God really is there for us, and it's a peace of mind that's beyond explanation...

...and more literally, Ian really IS holding himself up! He loves to be held in the standing position, and earlier yesterday, grabbed on to his exersaucer and was holding himself up for almost a minute! That kung fu grip allowed him to stand without mommy's help! He knew he was doing it too...great big smile!

Ian is smiling and laughing more every day. Last night I was tickling him and playing with him for about 10 minutes, and he was loving it! Expressions are just a daily development!

Also, Ian has taken to pushing his bottom up a bit with his feet. Those leg muscles are getting really strong! They are also helping him stabalize a touch better when propped up and sitting. It won't be long!

Oh, and the "standing" observation is that Ian is going to walk before he crawls, since he likes standing up so much...

How I know Ian is Matt's son...

...tonight I was sitting on the couch with Ian on my lap. The TV was on as background while Erin and I were talking. I was bouncing Ian around occassionally, and playing and talking with him every once in a while. Erin got up and left the room, and I turned the TV off. Ian SCREAMED bloody murder - his hurt cry - and I freaked out bc I didn't see anything wrong with him. Erin came back in and immediately sized up the situation in a humorous way, "Aww, he's upset the TV is off." Just for fun, I turned it back on...IMMEDIATELY stopped crying. Little turd. Daddy's boy for sure. I think he misses sitting on the couch with him and watching sports while daddy narrates! (He doesn't watch TV with mommy!)

So, yeah, that's how I know Ian is Matt's. :)

Learning discoveries on accident!

Wow! Lots of posts today! :)

Ian was a busy guy...caught him figuring his toys out this morning!

And yes, I do realize he's not looking directly at it...but you don't have to be looking at something to know what's going on...he still is only able to focus on things directly ahead of him or to the sides. Developmentally tracking vertically comes later. So, I do believe he thought the swinging bugs were making the noise, but that's OK! :)

Missing Daddy...part 2!

I showed Ian a video of daddy playing with him...he absolutely lit up, and laughed (before his attention span was up!). I caught part of it on tape, missed most of the smiling and laughing...hard to film with a baby in one hand and camera in the other...


Tonight, I put Ian down to bed next to daddy's shirt. Usually, he sleeps with both hands up and over his head. Look what he did....



It just warms my heart to know that these special little things are keeping the connection going. He really does love and miss his daddy, even if he can't express it in words! :)

Missing Daddy!

Yesterday morning, Ian was extremely fussy for no reason I could figure other than the change of routine, and picking up on emotions of this time. The only thing I knew to do was pace around and bounce him while trying to comfort him. In my pacing, I passed by a picture on the wall that he tracked as I walked by. I went back...and when it came into focus, he instantaneously stopped fussing and smiled. It was Matt. He just wanted to see a picture of his daddy!

I'm so thankful that we are facing this deployment at a time when we have pictures and so much modern technology. By God's grace and granted strength we will get through this and be stronger for it. And what a blessing that Ian can still see his daddy!

For example, this morning, I showed him some more pictures of daddy, which he looked at with interest. You'll ask, how do I know? Because, I show him pictures all the time in books and things, but they only get passing glances. He was staring at these! Then, I played a video of Matt playing with him. He stared and stared, and at certain points was smiling. If nothing else, he recognizes the voice and the face, and it makes him happy...which makes me happy!

3 MONTHS!

SORRY FOR THE DELAY!!! Was really busy the past week or so before Matt left! Slow, but sure, and will be back to regular updates again! :) I'm going to try and make Wednesday the scheduled day to post up a new blog entry and new photos...so will have new info at least once a week!

Ian has grown from 13.75 lbs. to 15.2 lbs. and from 24.25 inches to 24.75 inches! Looking back at pictures, it's already hard to believe he was so little such a short time ago!

Milestones this month:
-Still wearing 3-6 month size clothing, some 6 months size; size 2 diapers just starting to get snug!
-Has almost mastered holding his head up...can turn his head while upright to look around with much improved control and purpose.
-Demonstrating a new emotion...boredom!
-Can sit up all by himself for a couple of seconds...or longer with minimal propping...when he's concentrating, that is!
-Can stand in the exersaucer for as long as he's interested in being there!
-"Talks" all the time to us! Engages in verbal volleys of "conversation"!
-Will blow raspberries, coo, and gurgle.
-Laughs often at tickles and games he likes!
-Smiles in recognition of people he knows well...especially daddy!
-Takes one long nap a day if we stay home, and is alert in the morning and evenings. Snoozes multiple times when in the car if we're out and about.
-His favorite pasttime is looking around at the world!
-Kicks with a lot more oomph!
-Drools a TON when he's awake.
-One of his favorite things is grabbing his own hands and staring at them intently.
-Will track and grab toys put directly in front of him.
-Becomes more physically coordinated every day! (Increasingly smoother, less jerky movements).
-Stares with concentration at your face when talking to him!
-Gets cranky around nap time!
-Is becoming more relaxed in the tub...and kicks around with obvious enjoyment!
-Will put everything he gets in his hands into his mouth! (This might be on the list a while!)

FIRSTS:
*Professional family portraits...didn't smile for them, but has been smiling ever since! lol
*Foods...tasted gravy, bananas, strawberries, chocolate (nice one, dad!), pudding, grits (his favorite!), and just about everything else I eat.
*Friend...interacts with little baby Hannah in the nursery by "talking" and trying his hardest to imitate her!
*Favorite toy...his little lion. If we weren't sure before, it's obvious now!
*Deployment away from daddy.

Talking to daddy!

I have been bad about blogging recently...trying to maximize time spent with Ian and Matt (before he deploys!). Today, Ian and Matt truly had a special bonding experience...They were talking to eachother! :) I caught some of it on tape, but the exchange lasted much longer, and with many variations on what you see below. It's one thing to share a special moment with your son...and another wonderful thing to see your spouse and little boy sharing a special moment! What a warm gushy feeling! :)

Grabbing stuff...

...besides mommy's hair! Ian is now more interested in his toys, and I caught him playing!

Little laughs!

Ian has started laughing a little bit! If you catch him in a good mood when he's paying attention, that is! :)

His ticklish spot is right between his neck and shoulder...and there comes the beginnings of a little belly laugh! It's unlike all the other noises he makes, and it's so stinkin' cute! :) I wish I could catch it on camera, but it's hard when I am so utterly captivated by that little laugh.

It's so neat to see this little baby that mostly just laid there and stared blankly into outer space start responding to faces, talking, tickling, and silly little games with obvious pleasure. What a blessing from God to watch this little person grow up! :)

Mommy's new cut!

It's what new moms do...they get their hair cut...and they get it cut SHORT. Why? Because with a new little person to take care of, you don't want the hair to fool with! Yes, I'm following a pattern, however, this has been in the works for over a year.

I have wanted to donate my hair to Locks of Love for a while...but I have ended up either not having enough hair to do so, or have been too scared to do it. Several things prompted me to finally chop it!

1) IT'S HOT! With temps getting over 100 with heat index, all of my hair has been toooooo hot.
2) Ian...he has started pulling it...OUCH!
3) Haircut is FREE (and I did need one!)
4) Matt is going...I didn't want to freak him out by sending pics of me with the new cut he hadn't seen in person, so just decided (with his OK) to do it now! :)
5) IT'S HOT! Did I mention it's hot?

Notice none of the reasons were that I don't have enough time to do my hair now. I almost always had it in a ponytail anyway, so Ian wasn't really a factor in that way. Besides, he is such a good baby, I have plenty of me time! :)

So this afternoon, while Matt went to the gym...SNIP, SNIP, SNIP...Now, I am about 1 1/2 pounds lighter...seriously!

Of course, I had Ian with me, and he was fussy in the carrier on the floor (I had hoped that he would nap!). So, I picked him up, and sat him on my lap! From wash to final flip...45 minutes...he sat happily on my lap chewing on his hands, and looking around at everyone. He is such a good baby! :)

Ian doesn't seem to even notice the new cut! Let me know what YOU think! :) Check out the web album for befores and afters...

Locks of Love

Mommy surprise!

Lunchtime...My phone was dead and charging in the wall. I was tutoring Owen, the little boy across the street, and Matt comes barging through the door! He started to say something, and said he would wait for me to finish with Owen. He took Ian into the other room, and I could hear them playing. After I send Owen home, I find out that Matt was worried because he couldn't reach me, so he came home to investigate! Then, a few minutes later, the doorbell rings, and I am surprised with.....

The card said, "Just because..." What a nice present for mommy at home! I would say it was almost to pretty to eat...but I don't think chocolate could ever be too pretty to eat! :) Much better than flowers, if I do say so myself! I have such a wonderful husband!

Matt had to return to work, but he stayed to snack on the bouquet with Ian and I. Yes, we even let Ian try some strawberry and a teeeensy bit of chocolate. I don't even think he actually ate any. When he tries things, he just pushes his tongue out over and over again. It's truly more of tasting than eating! His face scrunched up in concentration...not a smile, not a cry...really thinking about it! But, how cute is this face?!!! First chocolate!

I don't think kids need chocolate at all, but a taste won't hurt. The more things he tastes, the better his appetite will be! (Or so the theory goes!)

First Family Portraits!

Today, we got portraits made at Sears. Shameless plug...I am VERY impressed with their service, price, and quality! :) Ian was well-mannered as always! Even though he wasn't very smiley (taking in his surroundings), he wasn't crying either!

However, the rest of the day...he smiled more than every other day combined! GO FIGURE! That's ok, candid shots at home really do tell the story best, and are my favorites.

Drop me a line if you want pics! :)

Sitting with help!

I leaned Ian up against my leg at an angle, and he pulled himself up for a few seconds to be sitting on his own! It's amazing to me how motivated he is physically to try all of these new things! Even more amazing how quickly he is growing! As you can see by this photo, he needs a little help to stay sitting up (I'm holding the arm off camera), but he is doing so well!

Can you keep a straight face?

Ian really likes the lion toy on his bouncy seat. He makes literally hundreds of different expressions while staring at it...and staring...and staring. (Until he goes cross-eyed from staring, as this picture illustrates). Who thought looking at a singular toy would provide so many minutes of endless amusement for him! I'll try to get a sequence made up (or a video)...it's really hysterical to watch!

Nicknames...

Ian is one of those names listed in the baby names book as "Nickname Proof." Now the name Ian might be nickname proof, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have any nicknames. The older he gets, the more he accumulates (and some he will outgrow!). Here's an amusing list of current nicknames, and their origin:

-Squirtle (don't use it so much any more...what we called him in-utero)
-Dodo littles (It's my silly way of saying "so so little")
-Littles (shortened form of above)
-Stinkerpants (His lovable name at the church nursery!)
*WeeBee (My favorite! It's short for Wee Baby.)
-Little Squirt (Does this really need an explanation?)
-Sluggo (Matt has to beef up the nickname pool!)
-Punkin (he does have orange-ish hair!)
-Big guy (Any male figure...Women focus on the smallness of a baby, and men work on building their self-esteem!)

And of course your dime-a-dozen...cutie pie, sweetie pie, cuteness, stinker, etc.

I guess that's enough for now! Any more suggestions? LOL.

NOTE: I might have forgotten to mention it in his 2 month post...he has been in size 2 diapers for a little over a week now! I have learned the immense value of buying in bulk. Ian eats a lot, and...welllll...does the other activity that corresponds with it! :) That's ok, grow big and strong!

Poll results!

Thanks to those who voted! No thanks for not voting for me! LOL. Just kidding.

Final online tally was:
5 votes for Matt
1 vote for Julie (and that was mine, LOL)
1 vote for combination

Community tally is:
1 million votes for Matt
1 vote for Julie...thank you Michelle!!!! :)
4 votes for both

I will accept defeat! The influence of Mat's genetic coding is more obvious...for now. Several years from now when Ian is towering over his father, I will smile to myself in quiet victory!

P.S. I have changed the settings on the blog to allow anonymous posting. Now, you don't have to procure a Blogger account to comment. Sorry about that, I am still learning all the bells and whistles! So, in summary...I would love to hear from you lurkers! :)

Up close and personal...

There's no such thing as a "quiet day at home" anymore. See above! Just playing with Ian, and just about every time he will do something new and exciting!

As we all know, Ian is NOT a fan of tummy time...but we make him do it anyway. For the most part, he rolls around on his hands and sucks on them. This time was different! I was encouraging him with a little fluffy toy, and he actually pushed himself up for a little while to look at it! Very cute! Kiki was even impressed...she meandered over and checked him out for a minute. :)

(And yes, I do have the camera with me almost constantly! Otherwise, how could I capture great moments like these?!)

P.S. I still haven't forgotten about the other parts to our 4th of July vacation...I'll end up post-dating them, so check back in the July archives in a few days.

Fun Slide Show...

You may recognize some of the photos...but I hope you enjoy! :)

One dimple...

Since he is starting to smile more and more...I have had the chance to see his adorable little dimple! No, that's not a misprint...he only has one! Even when he's not smiling, I think he's the cutest baby ever, but that dimple is simply adorable! I wonder if he will "grow" another one? LOL!

As a side note, this is one of my favorite pictures of him to date! He is almost always in a good mood right after he wakes up, and this just captures it! No, it's not gas! :)

TWO MONTHS OLD!

Now, according to his actual birthday, it wll have been 9 sundays since Ian was born...therefore, in my mind, he is 9 weeks old. However, according to the calendar (and the Dr.), he was 2 months old yesterday. (May 20th to July 20th). So, for a while, he has two ages! For simplicity's sake, I'll go with the calendar date...

The most rapid period of growth is the first year...and now I am experiencing this with my own eyes! It is so amazing!

Ian has grown from 10 lbs. to 13.75 lbs. and from 23.75 inches to 24.25 inches! According to the growth charts, this puts him between the 75th-90th percentile. I will say this much, he feels a lot heavier, and it seems that he has grown a lot more...I think a lot of those inches were in the torso!

Milestones this month:
-Wearing 3-6 month size clothing, some 6 months size.
-Can hold his head up for very long periods of time...although it's still a little shaky
-Still gets mad when he has hiccups!
-Can sit unassisted in the Boppy!
-Can stand in the exersaucer for 1-2 minutes without help
-Sometimes makes cooing sounds and looks mommy's direction when she comes back into the room
-Will do a sort of laugh on more occassions when you gently tickle him or play simple games
-Holds his head up in the car seat when he's not sleeping (and for a little while when he is)
-Sits in the maya wrap and enthusiastically takes in all of his surroundings!
-Turns his head from side to side while he is holding it up to look around
-Holds himself up for a minute at a time when put on his belly
-Wants to be held up to "stand" and check things out
-Is awake for 7-10 hours a day!
-Has started drooling....ew!
-Is taking interest in his developmental toys that hang above his head
-Shows an obvious preference for mommy!
-Purposefully brings his hands to his mouth to suck on them
-Will "find" his thumb and suck on it if he's really hungry and half-asleep!
-Movements are significantly less jerky!
-Displays more expressions...concentrating, pouting, sad, angry, happy, amused, relaxed!

FIRSTS!:
-Social smile...smiling back when he is smiled at!
-Shoes!
-Airplane trip!
-Train ride! (MARTA)
-Road trip!
-Shower...he LOVES them!
-Braves game...if only for a couple of innings.
-Road race: watching daddy start off the Peachtree 2007!

Again, I'm sure I could add even more to this list, but we'll go with it for now! Upcoming events are going to include professional family photos and an outing to the park (I hope!).

Mommy questions...

Sitting here thinking about some decisions ahead, and I realize again that being a mom is scary and hard sometimes, and joyful and easy at others. For the benefit of those who are interested, there are a LOT of thoughts that run through your head in a day. And, there are all sorts of serious and/or difficult decisions and questions that NO ONE CAN ANSWER...except maybe you, time or God...

And there are even ridiculous questions, that really don't matter in the end. An adventure in the mind of mommy's questions...

-Is that bug bite from a poisonous bug or a harmless one?
-Was that mosquito carrying malaria?
-WHAT WILL THESE VACCINES DO TO MY CHILD?
-Is it time for a nap?
-Do I pick you up or let you cry?
-DO I LISTEN TO THE DR's ADVICE?
-What cute outfit do you wear today?
-You are sleeping so soundly...are you still breathing?
-Are you getting enough to eat?
-Are you eating too much?
-If something really traumatic were to happen, would I be able to save both of us?
-What would I do if I lost you?
-How can I make you happy?
-Did that silly face truly scare you?
-When do I know you're ready for the next stage of your life...(solid food, girlfriends...)?
-IS THAT NORMAL?
-Who can I trust to babysit you when friends and family aren't around?
-Will you develop autism?
-Should I let that person hold you, or is it still mommy time?
-Was that gas, or a real smile?
-What will your voice sound like when you can talk?
-Do you understand what I'm saying to you?
-Is there going to be enough money in savings to help you if we need to?
-What are you going to be when you grow up?
-WHAT IS NORMAL?
-Are we giving you a good enough understanding of your God?
-Who invents all these crazy baby gadgets?
-Who has money to buy all these crazy baby gadgets?
-WHAT IS THAT CRAZY BABY GADGET?
-Will you understand that daddy isn't leaving you, he's just doing his job?
-Can I teach you to love him, even when he isn't here?
-Are you going to accept Jesus or reject him?
-When are you going to go back to sleep?
-Does that hurt?
-Will you play music?
-How many times will you make mommy cry?
-What color will your hair be when you get older?
-Will you like your brothers and/or sisters if we have more children?
-Can you be any cuter? :)


-Am I a good mother?


Do I think these all the time? No! Is this an exhaustive list? No! :)

Being a mom is such an adventure...with so many questions, answered and unanswered. I am truly enjoying EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of being a mom, even the dirty diaper ones. Yes, even the dirty diaper ones! And, I look forward to all of the questions ahead. They aren't always easy, or even pleasant to think about, but it's all part of being a mom!

Besides, the questions already answered make me so much more excited...

-Will the love I have for you get me through the day and the difficult times?

Yes. God is good.

Proud baby!

 

Daddy has been exercising with Ian, doing the baby versions of squats and push ups. :) Now that Ian has developed a great deal of muscle strength in his neck and back...we decided to try something new! Yesterday, Ian got into his exersaucer for the first time! You can see how proud and happy he is!

He alternated between concentrating really hard on muscle control, and HUGE smiles of pride at being able to stand up and look around on his own! (At least I imagine that's how he sees it!). How exciting to watch Ian develop his own sense of accomplishment! He is truly growing up so fast!

Crazy daddy and "Bug" Songs...Part 1

Ian is starting to take more expressive interest in toys and games we play with him. (I say expressive, since I know he was interested before, but you can't always tell!). Matt is highly entertaining...maybe still more so to mommy than Ian! Enjoy! :)



P.S. Isn't google COOL!?!?!?!? I can't believe how easy it is to work with Picasa, Blogger, and Google Video! :)

Lazy Summer Days (and Nights)

To check-in with current events, we are enjoying the summer!

Last night, Ian got strapped in to his carrier, and we all went for a walk. I remember the first time he was in the carrier...you couldn't even see the baby inside, except for his feet dangling out at the bottom! Now, he is tall enough to be able to look out and around!

Ian is still sleeping 7-8 hours through the night! He takes several naps throughout the day, giving mommy plenty of time to do things around the house (or take a nap too!).

During waking hours, he is really taking interest in the mobile above his swing, following the fish arc above him. Ian also stares at his reflection in the mirror hanging on his "tummy time" mat. It's really neat to see him engaging with his surroundings more purposefully!

What an amazing experience it is to watch your child grow from morning to night! Looking back at pregnancy pictures, it is amazing to see how much he has already grown in the past year! (And, amazing to fathom that it was Ian who was the bump in my tummy!). God's design truly is incredible!

Check out the new pictures and be sure to vote on the right! :)

4th of July Vacation - Part One: Plane

So, how exactly did the trip go?

We had to head down to Georgia first, as our flight to Las Vegas was out of Atlanta. I have to tell you, I will surely be appreciative of the minivan when Matt gets back! It was a tight squeeze to get the baby, cat, and dog into the car (never mind us AND our stuff!). I am very thankful for such wonderful travel companions. It could be much worse! As we are very familiar with, the cat and dog travel very quietly, Ian was our unknown factor. It turns out, we had nothing to worry about. Ian slept just about the entire way! The worst part was at feeding time when there wasn't an exit for about 15 minutes. Ian got mad and was screaming, but that's understandable!

Fast forward to the departure from Atlanta...Matt has a travel tip for all of you frequent flyers. Invest in a stroller and cabbage patch kid. Strollers get to bypass the long security lines! :) We checked the stroller at the gate when boarding, and the attendants assured us we would be ready to go when the plane landed. Not much of a story to tell at this point. Ian nursed on take-off (recommended to prevent painful pressure changes in the ear canal), and slept for the remainder of the flight. I woke him up to nurse again on landing, and that was it! Several people commented, "Wow! There was a baby on board?!" Just what you want to hear! :)

Vegas was a wonderful family adventure. We spent most of the time with Scott, Conni, David, and Dale. We also visited with Great-grandma Dunham and Uncle Paul. Ian loved staring at everyone, and taking in all of the new sights, sounds, and smells.

Ian seemed a bit thirsty (but aren't we all in the dry desert heat?). He enjoyed watching us cook in the kitchen in his bouncy seat (thanks Scott and Conni!). I learned the old-fashioned term for the contraption is a "Punkin Seat." That's definitely much cuter! Conni demonstrated the expert burping technique, and Scott was a big comfy napping Uncle! :) Dale was absolutely ADORABLE with Ian! He kept calling him, "my baby" and requesting to hold him quite frequently during the day. He even had Ian "dance" with him while sitting on the couch, watching David play Guitar Hero (for those who don't know, as the name suggests, you pretend to play guitar to popular rock songs). David declined to hold Ian, but got a smile when talking to him!

The flight back to Atlanta was as uneventful as the first! Getting through airport security was again a breeze! (Stroller and cabbage patch kid! No joke!). Ian slept the majority of the flight, only waking up to eat.

We are so blessed to have such a good little traveler!

Stay tuned for Part Two: Automobile! (Yes, we're going a little out of order!)

We're baaaaaaaaack!

Wow! What a fun trip! It was so nice to see our family and friends!

Ian was fantastic on the trip...for such a little guy to do so much hopping around. Plane, train, and automobile, we did it all! The bags are still half-packed, and we're still pulling things out of the clown car of stuff...but I wanted to be sure to post right away.

There's lots of details to follow, but check out the pictures! (Picasa site, link on right).

The trip was fun, but it's nice to be HOME SWEET HOME! :)

(I was checking the growth charts online earlier since so many people were asking, and Ian's 1 month measurements put him in the 50th percentile for weight and the 95th percentile for height! We knew he was a long baby! Keep growin' Ian!)

Traveling with baby!

We are leaving tonight for Georgia...and from there will be hopping over to Vegas to visit family. Today, I am gathering up all the things we will need.

What a different experience it is to travel with a baby! Firstly, for planning purposes, you have to account for extra time spent changing the diaper, feeding, and possibly even dealing with a cranky baby. This means, we can't predict an exact timetable. (Can anyone say "flexibility"?). Secondly, the packing itself. My goodness, Ian requires more stuff than us! Let's hope I don't forget anything important, like diapers! (Or at least bring enough of them!) Then there is always thinking about where he is going to sleep, and change his diaper, and....on and on! Finally, traveling with Ian means that we get to create fun family memories. That's the best part! :)

So, the photos/blog sites will be quiet for a few days. Expect some interesting stories and lots of pictures when we get back July 5th!

Eye boogers...

Ian has developed a case of eye boogie-itis! We had noticed on Sunday that the discharge which was an occasional thing was more abundant. It seemed that every time we looked at him, more white or yellow discharge was building up in his eye. I wasn't too concerned until it started getting crusty, and even more copious.

I did a lot of research online, and determined it was either blocked tear ducts or conjunctivitis (GASP!!!). I immediately washed my hands and face with hot water. My eyes were itching! I was already telling Matt that I needed to find my glasses, since you can't wear contacts when you have pinkeye.

(Insert screeching brakes sound here.)

As Matt put it, "Oorah nurse's hotline!" The description of his symptoms was as follows:
-No fever
-Lots of white discharge in his left eye only, appears yellowish when it builds-up or is wiped away
-Whites of his eyes are NOT red or bloodshot in any way
-Area around eye is slightly puffy
-Sometimes he sounds slightly congested
-When discharge is not present, his eye is still extremely watery
-Doesn't seem to bother him!

The nurse said that babies this young don't get pinkeye! Hallelujah! She informed me that it was a blocked tear duct, quite a common ailment among infants. Instructions are to keep wiping the discharge away with a warm wascloth, and massage the corner of his eye to help unblock the duct. Additionally, if his nose is stuffy, we need to loosen the congestion with saline and a bulb syringe. The condition is nothing to worry about, and should resolve itself completely within his first year of life.

The short and sweet version of the condition...either Ian has a narrow tear duct that easily becomes blocked with "stuff" (and as he grows, this will self-resolve), OR there is a membrane that did not fully dissolve partially covering the duct (sometimes this requires "probing" to open the duct).

Already, with the prescribed home treatment, the eye boogers have greatly diminished! Ian is so good for the "treatment" too. Such a good baby!

Oh, and oddly enough, my eye isn't itching anymore. :)

ONE MONTH OLD!

Ian is now one month old! It's totally amazing to think that it's only been that long, already it feels like forever!

Ian has grown from 7lbs 9 oz. to 10 lbs. and from 20.5 inches to 23.75 inches!

Other milestones...
-Stares at your face directly for 2-3 minute stretches
-Recognizes mommy and daddy, often with a smile!
-Tracks hands to his face (and go cross-eyed)
-Sleeps 4-6 hour stretches at night!
-Has outgrown most 0-3 month sizes because he's so long!
-Grabs objects put into his hand...including mommy's hair!
-Turns his head to look towards voices - in all directions!
-Tracks objects in an arc with his eyes for approximately 90 degrees
-Accidentally kicks himself along the ground for a few inches when on his stomach (feet more kicking into the air than pressing onto the ground!)
-Rolls from back to sides purposefully
-Holds head up for 1-2 minutes at a time!
-Coos, gurgles, and "talks" at random times
-Sometimes smiles when you gently tickle his chin

Amusing things Ian does...
-Tries to suck on his arms and knuckles when he is hungry
-Pulls at his own ears!
-Almost always sleeps with at least one hand near his head
-Recognizes different textures with his feet...pulls his feet up when he feels concrete!
-Becomes amazingly quiet and still at bath time, he's fascinated by the process!
-Enjoys to be held up in a sitting position, so he can look around at everything

The list probably could go on and on, but these are the things at the front of my mind.

Ian is such a joy, I am so glad that we are blessed to have him! He is the best and cutest baby ever! :)

Ian's new toys...

Ian really likes his swing, and promptly falls asleep when he goes in it...however, when he is wide awake, he doesn't want to be very far from the action. He will start his angry crying and swinging his arms around, grunting, and very much looking like he is trying to get out! So, I decided to get him a little bouncy seat. (The seat is also a lot more portable than the swing!)

The picture above was taken the first time I put Ian in the seat yesterday. No joke, he stared INTENTLY at that little lion in the middle for about 5 minutes straight...with the most serious look on his face! He really loves it! For about 45 minutes while I was cooking his dinner, he stared at the little toys, and bounced around. He seemed highly amused at the fact that when he moved his arms, the seat moves too. It is too cute the way he waves his arms around clumsily, and I find myself just waiting for him to start giggling with glee. He may not always use his face to express emotion, but body language definitely tells a story! In this case, I just managed to catch the hints of a smile he was making on camera...I know it wasn't gas, the smiles happened too predictably with his activity!
He is finally getting old enough to really start taking interest in some of the "tummy time" toys. You can tell he still prefers to look at people's faces, however. "Tummy time" is recommended for infants to start gaining muscle control needed for crawling. They can build strength in their arms from pushing up, legs from kicking, and neck from holding it up. We are still working on this activity. He doesn't like to be on his stomach very much, and will start fussing almost immediately. I'll get down at his level and talk or sing to him, which increases the amount of time he will tolerate tummy time. Earlier today when he was on one of the mats, he actually seemed to take more interest in looking at the designs and toys! Hooray!

The other toy of mention is the "Exer-saucer" from Grandma Gayler. It is SO cool! Eventually, when he gains enough neck control, he will be able to sit in it, and spin himself around to check out all the toys on the edges. It can also be converted to an activity table when he is too big to sit in the center anymore. As cool as this toy is, I can see how kids end up playing with the boxes instead of the toy. It took mommy a good little amount of time to get it put together! I can only imagine what will happen when he starts crawling around, and impatience takes effect. Here's mommy, studiously trying to assemble the gadgets, and little Ian crawling around in the box behind her, LOL! I can't wait!

Moving around!

Motor control is definitely developing. It is so amazing to watch him physically grow stronger every day. Ian is now regularly rolling from back to tummy...and then back again! :) He can also hold his head up for longer and longer periods. I counted the longest as almost 20 seconds! Go Ian!

His vision and focus is also improving. Ian is tracking his hand to his mouth at times, which means he ends up cross-eyed. It's very entertaining to mommy and daddy! Yesterday was the first time he noticed (at least apparent that he had noticed) the mobile moving around above the swing. The ability is only there to follow it for a couple of inches, and then he starts looking off at other things!

He is definitely finding his voice...cooing, grunting, and making all sorts of cute (and funny!) little noises. Mommy is learning to tell the difference between commentary, angry, and hurt cries. Who would have guessed a cry is not just a cry!

Alert and awake time is increasing steadily...last night it was almost 3 hours! Blessedly, he is also gradually sleeping more of the night it seems. Five or six hour stretches are not uncommon. He's such a good baby!

Last order of business...Ian has officially outgrown the newborn size! He's not necessarily too chubby for them, rather too long. I'm going to weigh and measure him on Sunday...

Growing up...

Ian is definitely growing up! Even though I see him all day, every day, and the changes are gradual...some things make that fact apparent. For example, how the clothing is fitting him...

Newborn sizes aren't going to last too much longer. He wore his last newborn diaper yesterday. He's now in size 1's! Newborn socks are too small and the hat he wore home from the hospital is a little snug on his noggin. He is also starting to fill out his onesies in the middle. Getting a little chubby-kins, just like a baby should!

It's amazing to think that by the end of this week, he'll be a month old! Just yesterday, he was in my belly! I remember Matt holding up a paper clip and saying, "Our little baby is this big!"

WOW! Our little Ian is growing up! :)

Visiting daddy at work!

This picture is simply classic!!! :) Notice the, "What on earth is that?!" look on Ian's face!

From the picture, you can see that Ian visited daddy at work today. He was awake the whole time too! The vote is still leaning almost completely towards the, "He looks EXACTLY like his daddy," side. We did get the response, "No, I can see both of you in him!" I think that makes the vote 1 million to 2, LOL.

One other note of interest for the day...when getting Ian ready to go, I laid him up on the changing table to change his clothes. Ian reached up and grabbed a chunk of my hair! I might have thought this was an accident, but when I pried his hand off, he swung his arm around, and then grabbed my shirt!

Bath time...and rollover!

Last night, daddy gave Ian his first bath!

Ian is already quite used to running water, and fluids in general. After all, he did swim around in it for almost 10 months! There is more to it than that, however. He develops diaper rash after using wipes on him, so we have been rinsing his bottom at the sink. This definitely saves on the cost of wipes!

We decided to use the bathtub for his first bath, and set his giant sponge down for cushioning! When Matt lowered Ian into the water, Ian's eyes popped open VERY wide! He made some cute baby noises, and wiggled around a little bit when water was splashed over him. Overall, I think he liked it! It was obvious he was taking the whole experience in and trying to figure it out. His eyes were busy trying to track the washcloth and hands over him.

That's about it! We had a clean baby for about 15 minutes! :)

Later last night, we set him down for night-night...and he rolled onto his side first, and looked around surprised! After a few minutes, he then rolled over right onto his tummy! Now we really have to keep an eye on him! :)

First smiles...

We have discovered a little "game" that gets Ian grinning. He is highly amused when you blow his hair!

Just a light little blow across the top of his head, and he will give a definite open mouthed grin!

He is also beginning to respond more to daddy's pestering and noises. When Matt makes growling noises (or other nonsense) behind Ian's head, he will actually turn his head back to see what is going on!

He still hasn't figured out what quite to make of raspberries yet. Matt says he is trying to imitate us, but I think he's just making his hungry face.

Speaking of hungry, he also grins a little when he finds his hand and starts sucking on it! Funny little guy! :)

When is a newborn no longer a "newborn"?

I'm curious what you think! Who decides when a newborn is no longer a newborn? How long are you an infant? A baby? I guess when people stop calling Ian a newborn, I'll know!

His umbilical cord fell off today! (This is what started that whole line of questioning if you were wondering).

So, this means that a bath is forthcoming! We have to wait 24 hours after the cord stump has fallen off before the area can be immersed in water. Research says this is so the area can scab over to further ward off infection. Expect pictures soon! :)