5 months!

Here we are at 5 months today.....almost 1/2 a year! It's amazing when I think about it in that way. All is going well in Eli land (and it is Eli land, for sure....he rules!!). He continues to be his cute self and growing bigger and bigger....in fact....we have reached 20 lbs!!! I never would have thought I'd have a 20 lbs. 5 month old! I'm so happy he is such a healthy baby but there are some draw backs to having a bigger baby:

1) Grows out of his clothes SO fast....just can't keep up or plan ahead very well! Currently he wears 12-18 month old clothes comfortably with a few 9 month clothes still hanging around!
2) Grows out of his car seat before it seems he is ready to. We will buy his convertible car seat within the next couple of weeks. I wanted to try to hold out until the weather was warmer, but I don't think we can! Gone will be the days when we can carry him in his car seat (but I must say, I won't miss lifting the car seat up into the SUV which KILLS my back) and we'll have to use our stroller, Baby Bjorn, or just carry him until he can sit up by himself in a cart.
3) Grows out of almost all of his activities: swing, jumperoo, baby bjorn, bumbo (actually 22 lbs), have a max of 25 lbs! Although it should take him another couple of months to reach this weight, it's still sad that he won't be able to use them anymore!
4) Kills mommy's back to get him in and out of his crib, pick up from floor gym, pull out of jumperoo, and even just carry around the house too long....need to go to a chiropractor for sure!

Regardless, he is such a cutie pie with his fat rolls that all the above doesn't even matter :)

Eli's sleeping continues to be a little crazy. It's so random that I just have no idea what to expect anymore. It's not as though he used to be predictable, but I at least knew he would initially sleep 5-7 hours, nurse, and then have another 2 periods of 2-3 hours of sleep. Now I don't know if he'll wake up after 2 hours, 4 hours, or 7 hours!! I know it's just developmental because I've tried to make sure everything is right in his room: temp, noise, light, etc. and it doesn't seem to make any difference. But, last night he slept 7 hours, then 2 hours, then 1 1/2 hours and we were out of bed by around 8:30am, which is what he used to do. So, who knows, but I ask Eli daily to try to get this all worked out by the time I find a job!!! I will say that the video monitor has been great and I just love being able to roll over and look at him and then go back to sleep....very good investment for my peace of mind.

Not sure when we'll start solids. I was thinking around 5 months but continue to read (this site, recommended by the lactation consultants and LLL for info about breastfeeding babies, recommends delaying solids) about how waiting until 6 months is best (allergies, allowing their digestive system to mature, etc.). He still shows interest, but hasn't had a fit yet about wanting food. He continues to gain very well with just breast milk, so he's doing fine without solids. I think I'll just continue to just see how he does and try to hold out until 6 months....that's only a month away! I've also been reading about how some doctors, groups, etc. suggest starting with food and not rice cereal. I don't know enough about this yet to make a decision, but I may go with the pediatrician on this one and start with rice cereal mixed with breast milk. Once again, I'll research it a little more before deciding for sure.

I'm happy to report that Eli does so much better in his car seat. He only seems to cry in it now if he's been in it for a long time (mommy sometimes pushes him to his limit if we are out shopping....I know, bad mommy ;) or if he is hungry or tired and can't fall asleep (but he usually can). This is so wonderful and I pray it continues when we transfer him to his convertible car seat in about a month (or sooner if he reaches the limit before then!!) Yay Eli!!

Eli still has some fussy times during the day that mommy can't quite figure out what it is. Teething? Reflux? Boredom of being with mommy all day? It was even suggested to me that maybe because he is so active (in his jumperoo, on his play mat) that his growing and active muscles may hurt sometimes! Who knows. In reality, it's probably a combination of all of these. Babies are people too, just little people, and they have aches and pains along with occasional grumpy days. Thankfully he's not like this all day, though. He does well when we leave the house so that's why I threw in boredom. Gotta have a little variety to spice things up when you are 5 months!

Well, enjoy this weeks pics and videos!

My many faces in my high chair:

Content yet questioning

Really??

What are you talking about, dad!!??

Oh....I see....

Yummy....something else to put in my mouth!

Daddy & I watching "Deal or No Deal"....Deal! Deal!!

Happy Days!

Working out under my play gym....aren't I buff?

Sitting up with help from mommy's boppy....but....

....somehow I always end up like this after about 20 seconds

Bumbo teaches me to sit.....

.....and allows me to watch t.v. and laugh!

My 5 month pictures....see my crazy socks that I pull off at least 5x a day?

Now my socks are fixed...thanks mom!!

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Daddy always is able to make me laugh!!

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This video is REALLY long but mommy is trying SO hard to get me to copy her and make different vowels sounds....I really know how to make them I just like to make her say them over and over....

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Fun in the high chair....can't wait for food when I can fling it all over!!

Trip down memory lane....... (and 21 weeks)

Okay, so I'm feeling reflective today....probably due to talking to Sue today about my delivery experience. Last night I looked at old pics/videos, some I forgot we had, and decided to post a few. It's so amazing to think that almost 5 months ago he was still in my belly like this:

Taken 8/22/07, 3 days before he was born

Then the next picture shows how I felt on the evening of 8/24/07....I was in just a little bit of pain!!!!

In triage room waiting to hear the decision as to whether or not I was in labor....I had no doubt I was!!!

Ahhhh.....the epidural is awesome!! Except when it stops working on one side and then you end up feeling everything on one side and then during delivery....EVERYTHING!!!!

But, here is my reward at the end.....can you tell I'm tired and hadn't slept for about 24 hours or ate in about 16 hours????

Tiny, peely feet....

Tiny hand holding daddy's finger (sniff, sniff)

Aren't I big???

After delivery and in post partum room....I think I was about to eat some much needed food!!


Going home!! Exciting yet VERY scary!!

At home with daddy when he's about 6 days old

Just got done eating....he's so tiny!

Anyway, it is fun to remember the time when we were preparing for his arrival, the day the contractions started, delivery, and going home. Such an emotional time and I remember feeling all the possible emotions at once. For my first time expecting friends....enjoy your pregnancy as it will be the only time you can truly relish in it! When you have your subsequent babies, you'll be too focused on your toddler to do so! Being pregnant with your first and experiencing all the "firsts" is an amazingly scary and overwhelming happy time. Best wishes to all my first time mommy-to-be friends!!!

Okay, now on to the current day.....

Eli saw the chiro this week and he is doing awesome! He only has to go back on an as-needed basis. So glad we decided to take him....she has worked miracles!

Took Eli to the doc on Friday to see if he maybe had an ear infection or something of the sort. The last 2 weeks he's been fussy while eating about half of the time, waking more at night (NOOOO!!!! ;), his weight gain has slowed down a little (1/2 oz. a day compared to about 1 oz. a day....nothing major and I know weight gain slows down around this age) and I had to give him tylenol twice this week to help calm him down. I know he is probably teething, but it just seemed as though he wasn't feeling well and I wanted to make sure it wasn't something more. He checked out fine but she said he may have some reflux going on which would explain the night waking, fussiness while eating, arching of his back (although I thought it was just him wanting to practice standing like he does.....who knows, though!) and the spitting up and burping/gas he's had. Most babies have some form of reflux, but some more than others. She said we could put him on meds if we wanted, but it was up to us. We are going to see how he does this weekend and then decide, but we probably won't. We just need to do better about keeping him elevated after feedings, burping often, and possibly feeding him in football hold like we did for the his first couple of months. He doesn't seem to be too bad, but if we can't help him feel better by doing these things, I would consider medicine, just to see if it helps or not. We'll see!!

NEWS FLASH: ELI SLEPT IN HIS CRIB FOR THE FIRST NIGHT LAST NIGHT AND SLEPT 7 HOURS WITHOUT WAKING!!!!! This makes me so happy and I just hope it continues. I broke down and bought a video monitor to help me be able to just lay in bed and look at him in the monitor instead of getting up to check on him. This helped a lot last night and I feel very rested today. Maybe the crib is part of the key to him not waking as he was affected by our noises while we sleep. Who knows, but all I know is I feel a big sigh of relief as I was concerned he would hate it and wake up screaming due to being in a big bed by himself. Pray that he continues to do well!!!

Next weekend Eric & I will have a date brunch and movie while Grandma & Grandpa Clarkson watch Eli. We need to do these more often to help him adjust to alternate caregivers (although he does just fine with other people, which I am thankful for) and to the bottle. I am still job searching and haven't had any leads yet, but have about 6 resumes out. I look online daily and send out resumes each weekend. I'm hoping to find something by March, but we'll see. I'm being picky so it may take longer but it will be worth it to find that family friendly job!!

Nothing majorly new this week as far as development. Eli is still playing with his feet, rolling to his side, practicing sitting up (but always tumbling over ;) and doing some raspberries. Although, I have noticed he gets more upset now if I am not in his sight. Separation anxiety can happen at anytime now, so hopefully it won't get any worse. I think he just doesn't like to feel like he is alone. He does fine with other people, it's just when we are home alone and I walk to the kitchen (we have a cut out in the wall so I can still see him, but sometimes he can't see me). Then I return to the room or peek through the cut out and he smiles again.

Enjoy this weeks pics/video:

Daddy's way of taking care of me in the evenings

Love my toys and bumbo chair!

Is there a bug on my bib??

Yes, I am a pooper!

Mommy loves this little outfit as I look like a big boy!

I love to hear stories!

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20 weeks- 4 1/2 months

20 weeks today....5 months on the 25th! This week we just continued our advancements from last week...not a whole lot new to report. We did stop using the papasan chair due to Eli starting to sit himself up and brought out the high chair. It's funny because he looks so small in it! This allows him to eat dinner with us and to get used to it for when we start food in a few weeks. After talking to our lactation consultants, we decided to start rice cereal when he is 5 months. This way when I return to work, hopefully around March, there will be "other options" for him. I am concerned about him taking the bottle okay or even the cup and would feel better if he would have the option of cereal if he has picky days. We'll see how he does and if he likes it, great, if he doesn't, we can always wait longer. But, he seems to be ready to at least try since he loves to watch us eat!

This week we had a couple of play dates. On Monday we met for lunch with a friend from grad school and her 8 month old little girl. Eli was a little crabby that day so she didn't get to see his "best", but she understands. On Wednesday our friends Da, Lucy, Emily & Mallory came over. Lucy & Mallory definitely remind us that we'll have to baby proof much better once Eli can crawl & walk. Anything at their level is fair game...no matter what it is!! I told Da & Emily that once we are ready to baby proof we'll just have Lucy & Mallory over to show us what we need to put away!

At breastfeeding group Eli weighed in at 19 lbs. on Monday and just 19 lbs. 1 oz. on Friday. This could either mean he is slowing down a little in his weight gain or that because he had just emptied his bladder & bowels that he just didn't show his true weight. Either way, is still a big boy! We will need to get his convertible car seat before he turns 22 lbs. or 30 in. and he is now 27 in. So, not too far away!!

This week we go to the chiropractor and I think she may tell us we don't have to come back for awhile. We'll see!

Enjoy the pics/videos:

First time in high chair....I'm a big boy!!

Rolling over to visit my friends Mallory the Monkey & Lion

I'm trying SO hard to sit up on my own, but some how I just keep toppling over!!

I really seem to love my jumperoo & jump almost non-stop while in it....it's so fun & I am strengthening my legs!

The hunting camo outfit my Uncle Blake & Cousin Sammie bought me...almost too small already!!

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19 weeks (& many accomplishments!)

It seems as though Eli has chosen this week to do several new things which has been quite fun. Here are this week's accomplishments:

1) Eli has now learned to grab his feet and play with them. He just one day while on the changing table decided to grab them and now he does it at every changing, while in his crib watching his mobile, and on his play mat. He also likes to pull off his socks!






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2) Eli is also starting to spit, blow bubbles and do raspberries. He hasn't done a full blown raspberry, but pretty close.


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3) Eli now insists on sitting up when he is held and can sit by himself for a few seconds before falling foward or to his side. Soon he'll be sitting all by himself!




4) Our cats stay pretty clear of Eli and occasionally come over and sniff his head while we are holding him. Our girl kitty has been the most brave and sometimes tries to sit near him. Well, she did this this morning and Eli reached over and started patting her and then pulling her fur! I got this on video on my phone as it was the only thing close by and don't know how to download to my computer. This is the first time he has acknowledged their existence! She did really well and just sniffed his hand as he did it. They will have to be good sports once he can crawl, walk, and then chase after them!!

In addition, Eli continues to talk, talk, talk!! He actually sounds like he is trying so hard to have a conversation. He looks me in the eye and makes sounds with infliction and a serious look on his face. I have yet to get this on film but I do have a talking session where he was having with himself.


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The trip to DM went well. He slept most of the way there and only complained a few times. I stopped to feed him once and he made it the rest of the way. We brought our pack-n-play bassinet for him to sleep in (which he sleeps in at home still) and he did okay. He work up more often than if he was at home, but I guess that's to be expected. The way home was harder. We didn't get on the road until around 5:30/6pm and he just was not tired or happy. He cried and whined for quite awhile and then fell asleep for about 45 minutes, and then woke up again. We now know to travel during the day vs. at night as it goes much more smoothly. Oh well, live & learn!! Our 3rd Christmas went well and we received a Costco membership and gift card (much needed!), a Roomba (robot vacuum cleaner!) and a nice sum of money to start a college fund for Eli from my dad. We just have to pick out what kind of fund we want and he'll contribute the money. What a fabulous idea!! Thanks Grandpa Bidney!!

Just some other fun pictures:

Me & Grandma Bidney when she was here the week of Christmas

Tummy time

More tummy time!

Me & Pari on New Year's Eve....we couldn't quite stay up until midnight....neither could mommy!

Awww...almost holding hands....

You're cute, Pari, can I hold your hand??

No!!! Stay away, daddy said I'm not old enough to hold hands!

Just smilin' for mommy!

Reading is fun!