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!