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!

:)