Friday's sleep update

So last night I couldn't do it - I just think that Ian needs that 1 or 2 am feeding. One of the other mom's from the mom's group came over yesterday with her boy and he's 8 months and although he's 24 pounds he's still up about the same time as Ian every night. In fact he goes to bed almost at the same time. But he does sleep until 7 or so in the morning. I think Ian would sleep that long too because this morning after the 1 AM feeding he slept until 5 (Nice anniversary present to Mummy and Daddy Ian...) - when he was up and demanding food. So he ate. Then we came downstairs to play (see picture below for his new play style - he likes to sit at the basket and take everything out and inspect it with his mouth) - but by 6:30 he was tired. He's asleep now in the crib - hardly a fight when I put him in it at 6:35. So - we are back to "normal" around here. For those of you that care to know - I've kept track of Ian's eating and waking since Jan in a little notebook that stays in the kitchen . At first Steven thought it was a little strange - but he's a convert to the notebook. The notebook is like the bible of Ian. When we pass him off to each other on Tuesdays and don't tell each other what he did for the day - the notebook fills in the blanks. Looking back in it Ian's typical wake up is 4 am without that early morning feeding. So - I'll stick with the early morning feeding rather than be up before the birds! Although 5 AM is really early as well but at least its more normal. Grampy is up that early - maybe Ian should call him when he wakes up to say hi?

PS- its our four year anniversary today... how are we celebrating... by taking a nap this afternoon... how exciting!

The Eating, Pooping and Sleeping update

So the doctor told Steven at the nine month appointment that Ian biologically doesn't need to wake up in the middle of the night for a feeding. I hadn't tried skipping that feeding since the appointment last week. So because I am home on Thursday with him I figured we would try last night. The whole night got off to a rough start because Mr. Stinky is in a phase where he'd rather feed himself and so dinner didn't go over well, then he nursed, but he gets less milk at night since my supply is lower than early morning and mid morning. Then it wsa into the crib. That was a fiasco. He was screaming and moaning and so upset. He was hungry. so at 7:15 we fed him his favorite thing - yogurt. He ate about half of it. Then some puffs. He likes using his teeth. Back into the crib by 8 and asleep a little after that. Great - I think he'll sleep right on through - nope. 1:30 AM rustle rustle - its Ian. I let him rustle, then it turns to whimpering, then full out crying. Steven is awake by this point too and with me in tears and Ian screaming I gave up at 2:10 and went in to feed him. There he was all red in the face - at the side of the crib chewing on the bumpers. I fed him and we were all back to sleep by 2:30. So you would think he'd be awake later this morning - nope - 5:30 comes and we hear rustle rustle. I let him roll around until 6 when I went in. He then took another nap at 7:50 to 8:40 and then we went grocery shopping - on the way back Mr. stinky fell asleep in the car seat at 10:30 and that is where he's been ever since - here is a picture - he is sleeping with his little eyes part way open. He only slept a half an hour yesterday at daycare - I really think that is the problem. When he's with Steven or I for a few days straight - like this past weekend - he's great and sleeps well. But throw in a daycare day and its all off. Well - that will change soon enough. Oh and as for the pooping - I am calling him Mr. Stinky for a reason if you know what I mean... lets just say we have none of our earlier problems with pooping.

Nine months old is going to be interesting...

Ian likes to try to feed himself. He realizes that the food comes from the bowl but isn't quite sure how to get it out. I thought this was a pretty good attempt.

Ian's also finding his way around the living room. He's gotten bolder and puts together a few rolls and scoots to get where he want to go. This morning it was the toy basket. He was so excited to get there and start to take everything out of it.

Sleep chronicles

After hearing what some other mom's (Melissa!) and some of the women in the mom's group here in CT have to say about their babies sleep habits I have to admit we have it pretty good. But - I'm still not satisfied. Naps are all over the place and the only pretty consistent thing is that by 6 PM we have to start Mr. Stinky's bedtime routine. He's been asleep by 6:30 or 7 for months now. Even if he just woke up from a short nap at 5 he is asleep by 7. Well - he still wakes at least once at night to eat (which is better than one mom that emailed yesterday saying she was up 4-6 times a night!). Last night it was at 2:30, night before it was 3:15, when I was pregnant he'd have me up around then too kicking and I'd have to go to the bathroom. So this kid likes to be up early morning. I'd let him fuss it out but the fussing starts quiet and only gets stronger if I don't go to him. And who can blame him - his last meal was at 6:30 PM and its been about 7 or 8 hours and he is hungry. I go in and find him in his crib frantically opening his mouth and shaking his head at me (hard to describe but I can do a pretty close imitation of it if you see me). The only other consistent thing is that within two hours of waking up he needs a nap. But - he could have woken up at 5 AM and rolled around pretty quiet in his crib before demanding food at 5:45. I think he woke at 5:45 but really it was 5 and so he's ready for a nap at 7 and not 7:45. Big difference there and Mr. Ian will let you know LOUDLY that he wants to go to his crib. That is what happened this morning. I would LOVE to go back to bed now at 7:30 but there really is no point. I'm up. But I long for the good old days when I'd be waking up around now after going to bed at 11 pm. Ah... I miss it. This nap will probably only last 45 minutes. Then he might take another couple 45 minute naps throughout the day. I wish he'd let me know when so I can plan to do some things.

Nine month appointment

Daddy took Ian to his nine month appointment today. There was only one shot and that was a good things since he was a fussy guy with his sixth tooth coming in. I know you are all anxious to see how much he's grown like I was... well he hasn't grown that much! He's 14 pounds 1 and a half ounces and 25 and 1/4 inches long. That is up from his six month stats of 12 pounds 10 ounces and 24 inches long. I knew he had gotten taller - but really I thought he'd put on some weight. Nope... he just moves way too much and burns it all off. Back at the beginning of April (so about a month and a half ago) he was 13 pounds 9 1/2 ounces. So he's gained - and is on his own little growth curve - but he's not going to win any wrestling matches anytime soon (unless its with Mr. Monkey!).

Recent Pictures

We all know Ian likes his bath - he's now found a friend to take a bath with - thanks Uncle Kenny for giving Ian a rubber ducky!

On Friday night there was a green bean incident during dinner. Ian likes to try to feed himself - but he is not successful in getting the spoon to his mouth - usually it ends up around his ear or on his head. Although tonight he managed to get he cereal in his mouth on the first try - totally lucky I think.

Daddy can now give Ian piggy back rides. The little guy enjoys it.

Finally - today Ian's sixth tooth is coming in so he gave in and took an almost three hour nap. He really must want to crawl since he's got himself in position for it while sleeping. We went on a walk later this afternoon with Ian in the Bjorn - Daddy wore it - Ian LOVED it - he said "huh huh huh" almost the whole way and laughed outloud at Mommy and other people.

Watch out - Ian's on the move

Yup- we have to now watch where the little guy goes. He's figured out how to get to his toys on the playmat somehow - its a cross between a swimming move and a few rolls strung together to get to what he wants. And he's determined. This morning after he threw up on his play gym matt and I moved it to the doorway to the dining room he got himself off the foam mat and was almost to the play gym and on the hard floor before I found him and I was only in the bathroom with the door open and could hear everything. There weren't many sounds of stuggle so I thought he was fine - which he was - but he's still unsteady and I am afraid of the banging head on the hard wood floors. He can also scoot himself backwards using his hands. Its only a matter of time before he figures out forward. I think he will get it too because he's so light that there isn't much weight to carry around. He's always on the move. And laughing - when he is tired he is still laughing - I can tell he is getting silly sometimes by his laugh.

Big Boy Bath

Sunday with Daddy and Mommy

(There are actually three posts today - scroll down to see them all...)
In honor of Mother's Day (on top of the photos) Daddy made breakfast with Ian. Well ok - Mommy started breakfast yesterday and Daddy finished it while Ian worked hard on his play mat. We found another keeper for a breakfast recipe when we have our bed and breakfast. Blueberry Pecan French Toast. Let's just say the bread soaks overnight in an egg, milk, nutmeg and brown suger mixture. Yum! Ian then napped - notice a trend people? This kid likes to sleep. When he woke we had lunch and then he took Mommy for an ice cream on Grammy's orders. We went to the cow place but there were no cows out. Ian tried some soft serve off Mommy's finger (I had to get around the chocolate jimmies) and we think he liked it - but it was too cold so he wasn't sure. After falling asleep on the way home (third nap of the day) Daddy had one last surprise for Mommy. Our neighbor Debi came walking in the back door and told me to change for dinner. Apparently Daddy set this whole thing up and we were going out to a nice dinner and Debi and Peter were watching Ian. Of course dinner was at 4 PM so we could be home for bedtime but it was still very nice. Ian was very good for Peter and Debi and was glad to see us when we got home.

Saturday with Mommy

Daddy had to work all day Saturday so it was Ian and Mommy day. Boy did he have fun. He was ready for his first nap by 7:30 AM and slept until 9 and when he woke up I had plans for him. We went to Agway to try out shopping with the Baby Bjorn before I attempted grocery shopping with him in it. He's always liked it for short spurts around the house but now that he is bigger I am always afraid he won't want to sit still. Boy was I wrong! He loved it! He talked to everyone while we walked around. The only hitch was that the motion made him throw up but he had just eaten. We went to the grocery store and it was a riot. He helped push the cart - he was just the right height in the Bjorn. We went to get bubbles at CVS since we were spending the afternoon in the yard blowing bubbles. He took ANOTHER nap - played a bit under his play gym (yes as you can see below he fits under the gym while sitting) and then we were out in the yard for a while. He sort of understands the concept of the bubbles and watched them float away and pop. After ANOTHER nap from 3:30 to 5 - he woke to do his nighttime routine and was asleep by 7.

Mother's Day Photo Shoot

Daddy took Ian to Sears on Friday afternoon for my Mother's Day present. He was very good all through the photo shoot and Daddy ordered a framed set of the pictures that Ian provided. He loves the camera. Here are some of the pictures that I just right clicked on off the Sears website since I don't think the share photos option was working since Grammy and Grampy didn't get the email link yet. Steven thinks he looks like a Hobbit in the fourth picture. The last one is my favorite.

Gas prices

I'd like to revisit gas prices - back in April 2006 I posted here about how crazy it was that it was almost $3 a gallon. Ah- the good old days when you could fill up for less than $75. Or even better - the days back in high school when it only took $10 to fill up the Cutlass Cruiser wagon... some of you might remember that one... my wheels my senior year and into college. Seriously I wouldn't have probably gone to school 4 hours away from home with gas like it is. Luckily I don't drive much these days.

Ian and the no nap day

Yesterday Ian decided not to nap at daycare. He slept in the car on the ride over for a little bit and stayed asleep for the first 20 minutes there, then he only slept a half an hour total the rest of the day. Let me tell you it was rough last night. Well - maybe not that bad - but he fell asleep in the car as soon as his little butt hit the seat at 5:20 and didn't wake up until 6 PM at home and then he was so out of it he forgot how to eat - at least I was able to sneak some pureed chicken into his cereal and sweet potatoes (I've learned that if you want to give him something new mix it with something orange that he already likes) - I think he either A) figured out it was in there or B) was too exhausted to eat anymore because he started to stuff his fingers up his nose. I really think he was going for his mouth but he forgot where it was. We briefly said hello to Daddy before he cut the lawn. We were upstairs by 6:30 and changing into pjs when the whining started. It reached a crescendo just about when I washed his face and he squirmed away screaming at the top of his lungs to outdo the lawnmower. By 6:35 he was in his favorite position - nursing - and there were no leg kicks or face grabs or any movement of any kind but frantic nursing. By 6:45 his little eyes started rolling back and closing - and by 7 PM he was in his crib on his side asleep holding Mr. Blankey (the silky one since Mr. Taggy was in the wash from when he threw up on him early on in the day). We didn't hear a peep from him all night - he didn't move from that position before I went to bed at 10. He stirred at 1 AM for a little snack and then he wasn't heard from again until 6 the morning when he woke up in a GREAT mood like last night never happened.

Cutest Baby EVER!

Ian - fresh from a bath tonight...

Cool Dude about Town

How I nap

Ode to the Bouncy Seat

We realized today that the bouncy seat needs to be retired - you realize that when you find your son sitting up on his own reaching over the side only being held on by the strap. So today we will try to find something chairlike to try to take the place of the seat. Here are some shots of Ian in the seat over the past few months... wow he's grown! The last picture was taken this morning before the chair incident. Thanks Auntie Margie for the bouncy seat - Ian has taken a lot of great naps in it!

Thursday update

Ian's already taken a 45 minute nap this morning and is playing hard on his mat - examining the mirror up and down while listening to Baby Einstein. Here is a picture of little Mr. Stinky at work this morning.