Babe in the Big D

It is New Year's Eve and the last few days have been so busy and I have so much to post about. Again it is getting late in the evening and I am a little sleepy but I am forcing a last post for 2008. I have to stay up until 10PM because I made yogurt today and it cooks for 10 hours and then I have to refrigerate it.  Oliver is WIDE awake and kickin' at 9:15pm in his jumperoo.  On Sunday he bounced so much in his jumperoo that he got a small blister on his toe :)

First Foods Part Trois:

Since the last post we have moved onto apples as his 3rd food. Avocado was not quite what he wanted so we moved onto applesauce. This is just a little bit more tart and so we got lots of new faces and eye squints. He really loves the spoon and tonight he opened his mouth up extra wide for a big bite. Seb pureed some sweet potatoes and put them in ice cube trays to freeze small portions. We will try sweet potatoes tomorrow. I got the first real "solids" type diaper and it was a shock! I didn't get pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and now I don't care to have any for awhile.

House Update:

We have our house listed for sale and didn't have any showings until this week. We got a one hour notice on Monday for a showingand it was a wreck from the weekend. I went into full panic mode and luckily Seb was home for lunch and helpedtidy things up.Our realtor had a showing last night and the couple is really looking for a rooftop deck / view. Hopefully we will get an offer soon.   I really need to start packing.  I did pack up all of the Chirstmas decorations on Monday.   

Oliver's Sleeping Pattern:

We were so excited and rested as Oliver was sleeping from 7PM - 4AM.  Now that he is teething the last few weeks are a different story.  He is up several times during the night again and sometimes up for an hour or two at a time.   The last few days have been a blur and we are all dragging from lack of sleep.  Even Belle sighs in her bed when Oliver is up at 2AM.  Tonight we looked as his gums with a flashlight and he got a little bit angry at us.   If Oliver cries, Biscuit runs up to see what is wrong and how she can help.  He is starting to really pay more attention to the animals.  He grabs the cats with both hands and twists their fur.  Today he smiled at Belle when she sniffed his hand.

2008 in Review:

2008 has been a very special year for us with all of the excitment and anticipation leading up to,and along withOliver's birth. Each day he grows and changes so much.  We are soaking in all of the moments and can't believe how quickly the last 6 months have flown by. He is starting to get such a goofy personality and his laugh is so cute. We feel so lucky to be raising this little guy.

New Year 2009 Outlook:

I have so many "resolutions," ideas and plans for the new year. Of course every year I try to work on fitness and healthier eating. I did eat 3 Krispy Kreme doughnuts yesterday in preparation for the New Year.  I should be writing them down - which will probably happen tomorrow. Seb has tomorrow off work and we are planning to assemble our dining room table. We sold the other table because it was unsafe for Oliver.

We are looking forward to seeing our families in the month of January.  Oliver starts his first semester of Kindermusik on January 29th- May 7th.  He will continue to do Itsy Bitsy Yoga and and our Monday Mommy and Me group.  We are planning to jog with Gretel and baby Ella twice a week as well.   We are having family pictures taken for his 6th month.  

It feels like there are a million other things to post about but it will have to wait until the New Year.  We are wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2009!!!!!

I don't know if it is the bananas or my consumption of extra cookies, xmas treats and candy,,,,, but Oliver has suddenly blossomed in the last few days.   He is playing little games, like looking over his shoulder waiting for us to look at him and then grinning and turning away, and then looking over the other shoulder and repeating the grin.   He surprised us both with a mmmahmmmah (mama) on Christmas night.  Seb was holding him and he suddenly got hungry and started to cry while stuttering, mmahmmmah.  He had his arm stretched out and was doing the sign for milk (repeatedly) at the same time.  It was a very exciting xmas gift - I am still in shock.

We had bananas day three yesterday and he gulped them up and banged his hand on the high chair rail between bites.   The new food has also changed his diaper action - this morning I woke up from his new grunts in the crib :).

Sleeping has been a big challenge the last week or so (it is all somewhat of a blur).  Naps are not happening as frequently as they should during the day.  He was doing really well going to bed at 7pm and waking around 4 or 5am.   The last few nights we have had tears, nursing, teething pains, more tears, more nursing, etc.   The past two nights he has gone to bed after 9PM.   From 6-9:30 last night he kicked his legs so fast and flailed his arms we couldn't understand where the energy was coming from.  He has been waking once or twice in the early morning to nurse.   We are hoping that this is just a 6 month growth spurt (at least that is what I keep telling myself in the wee hours of the morning while playing with my Iphone).   We do think he is in the process of a tooth cutting through.

Seb has worked this week except on Christmas day so we have been enjoying the weekend together with Oliver.   Yesterday we had a delicious crab cake lunch with Seb's Aunt Mary, Uncle Jim and Karen.   Oliver kicked around on the floor with his toys while we ate and then was enjoying looking at the new environment and family. 

Today is Avocado day!!!! 

If there was any shred of doubt about Oliver being ready for solids, it dissappeared today.  When I got home from, we got his whole tablepoon full bananas ready.  I was a little unsure if he was going to be receptive, because he was a little whiny.  He reluctantly cooperated while I stuck him in the high chair and got the spoon in mouth. 

His whole face changed as as soon as he got that first taste. 

Before I could get his second bite ready, he craned his neck, opened his mouth super wide, shook his whole body and flapped his arms.  What a nut.

Imagine that, we have a video of it:

 Oh, and this was Seb posting.  I promise to post more when I can keep my eyes open.

We had a really nice first Christmas Eve and first Christmas Day with Oliver.

We had planned on having sushi on Christmas Eve however, we didn't want to leave the house so I ended up making homemade split pea soup.  It turned out really delicious even though I winged it!   I also baked some Chocolate Chip Pecan cookies for Santa.  They were the most perfect looking and tasting chocolate chip cookies I have ever made - lucky for Santa.   Oliver opened one gift on Christmas Eve.  The ripping of the paper startled him a little but he was pretty curious. 

Santa brought Oliver a Sophie la Giraffe, the book "Foodie Babies Wear Bibs", a new bib, a small wooden car (fair trade, of course.  lol),  a small crocheted mouse, and a mooing can.

We had coffee and pecan waffles for Christmas morning breakfast.  Oliver had his first taste of food - BANANA!!!!!!!!!!!! It took us about 45 minutes to set up the video camera on the tripod, the camera placement, the new bib, my flip, mash the banana, one more diaper change, get some breastmilk, etc.  We were so happy that he took to the banana.   He really enjoyed it.  We both thought he was ready for some food since he has been watching us eat and studying our plates.  We are feeding him a small serving of bananas for the next 3-4 days, and then he'll get his next food: avocado.  Breast milk is still his primary source of nutrition for the first full year, and it is reccommended that solids don't replace any meals, only as a supplement to the breast feeding.  If you were to read some of our books, you would know exactly how complicated they make this whole introduction of solids.

 There are more photos of the fun in the December photo album.

Seb and I opened gifts from each other while Oliver took his morning nap.   After he woke up he opened up his gifts and was full of energy.  He had absolutely no interest in looking at his presents, but he was engrossed with the dog for the first time in 6 months.   Belle was only interested in all of his gifts (and extremely jealous of the mooing can).  Eventually he wore himself out playing and is happily slumbering away.

Friday morning we went to Seb's office so that his team could see Oliver, they had a staff meeting.  Each person walked into the meeting and let out the same "oh my" in the high baby voice.  As much as we try to not use the high baby voices ourselves - it just comes out!

On Friday afternoon we went to the original Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas to see Santa.  There was no line and it kept us from going to the mall this holiday season.   Oliver didn't really have much of an expression at first and then he started to cry.  We let a few people get their pictures taken and we went back in for a second shoot.  He grinned for the photographer and then the big pouty lip and tears again.   He looks so big in this picture I just can't believe how much he is growing. 

On Friday morning he signed for milk.  We have been doing the sign for milk for a couple of months and sometimes he flexes his hand.   However on Friday morning he started to cry and cranked out the sign for milk with his left hand several times in a row.   We are pretty sure he is the smartest baby ever - LOL.  

This weekend he has been a daddy's boy, glued to Seb and laughing and smiling a ton.

We went to our friend Brian's graduation party today! Oliver was a bit overwhelmed by all of the people.  Beth's mom scooped him up and we enjoyed some food with both hands.

Nothing feels more like the holidays than the rude people in parking lots, at the post office and in the grocery store. 

Today I took Oliver to yoga he made it through Itsy Bitsy but wanted no part of being set down for me to do the core workout and post natal yoga.  We made it to the post office to mail letters, ship some documents and a bunch of packages - I feel like I shoule win an award for that trip.  I did drop a box right inside the door and just as I was doing a weird squat in my yoga pants (Oliver was in the sling) some alarm went off on the post office.

We went to Central Market - to return a couple items and I did a sample tour and picked up a few groceries.  Oliver rode in the Baby Bjorn and kicked his legs the entire time - causing me to pick up his socks off the floor of the grocery store several times - again - weird squat in the yoga pants.

I am attaching a few videos from the last couple of weeks.  The beginning of the one video is his fake cry - which then turns into more of the real cry.   The other video is just him being super crazy standing up and squealing.  The one video starts out in the dark because I was trying to capture him talking in his crib at night before he falls asleep.   I noticed while video taping that his legs were moving straight up in the air but in a different area. 

Enjoy!!!!!  I am signing off to have a piece of chocolate cake that I made for Seb last night. 

It is still only 26 degrees outside. I had BIG plans for shipping and mailing today but I don't want to take Oliver out in this weather. It snowed for a little while today but it melted quickly. Oliver watched the snow through the window (see picture above). He has a new "mad cry" that he has been testing out for the last couple of days. I can't quite figure out if it means he is really hungry or if he is just enjoying his new louder sounds. I put him in his crib for his nap today, I am trying to do a consistent 1:30 nap time each day. He chews on his rabbit, kicks his legs and talks a little then falls asleep. I walked by to check on him and he gave me a big smile around 1:40 and then fell fast asleep.

Hopefully I can get some serious wrapping done tonight and I can make just ONE trip to the post office this week. I am enjoying some hot tea while Oliver sleeps and really it isn't so bad to be stuck inside today.

Only 10 days left on the chocolate advent calendar!

Today Oliver and I went to mommy and me for a gift exchange and little holiday party. I took some oatmeal, toffee and coconut cookies that I made and popped in the freezer last week. It was sooooooo cold out 30ish and I put aquaphor on Olivers precious little cheeks, chin and nose. We parked at the meter so we had to brave the cold wind across the street and through a parking lot. Olivers eyes get really big in the cold weather. I wore him in the Maya to keep him close and warm. We also went on a tour of the new maternity suites at Baylor.

I dropped Seb off at work and met the girls at Matt's in Lakewood for lunch (luckily they all love mexican food too). Oliver was hungry and I flashed the restaurant a couple of times with my pale skin because I didn't have my nursing cover and I was borrowing a smaller one. Hee hee.

I am working on our Christmas cards tonight. We ordered pizza and have the heater cranked up tonight. It is getting into the 20's and the roads are expected to be icy in the morning.

We are going to a Kindermusik class tomorrow night.  I am planning a trip to the arboretum this week if the weather permits.

Today we went on a walk and cheered on the Dallas White Rock Marathon runners.  There were several bands and cheering groups along the course.   One of the runners stopped at mile 23 to come up and give Belle a little pet.  He said he had two Bostons at home.   We were stopped and were doing a self portrait along the course and one of the runners stopped and took our picture - we were like you don't have to do that - but I think he wanted and excuse to stop and take a breath.  The picture he took is in this post below.   Speaking of stopping to take a breath, Belle decided to lay down during our walk in a nice patch of soft grass. 

Last night our neighbors were having some sort of after party at 3AM on their roof top deck and at some point were on our deck.  They had a big party late Friday night as well.  Where do they get their energy? They woke Oliver up last night - we should have busted up their party but we were too tired to do anything about it. 

We are thinking alot about the New Year approaching.  We are hopeful that we will sell our house.  My goal is to blog more frequently and get some pictures printed of our baby.  We are doing a 6 month photo session in January.   I have been working on addressing our Christmas cards today, so I can get them out this week.   Hope everyone had a nice weekend!   I have to log off as we are about to fire up the stir crazy!!!!!!!

December marks Oliver's 5th month!  He has already developed some new tricks.  Below are some highlights of the month so far:

1) He has figured out how to grab his toes

2) We gave him his first cup today and he gripped it with both hands and drank breastmilk out of it - he really enjoyed it and cried when the milk was finished

3) Tonight in the bathtub he figured out cause and effect with double hand splashing - over and over and over again

4) He is also starting to sit up more and holding himself up with his paws on the floor

5) Each day he laughs several times, sometimes it is about a toy, other times it is from a silly face we make or a song

6) Diaper changes continue to be long chatter sessions and are filled with his new tricks.   He has taken a liking to scratching his fingernails on the painted wall which makes a nice screetching sound.  He also likes to grab his toes and his silicone bracelet.   The silicone bracelet serves as a deterrent for his hands that I try to prevent from grabbing himself until I can at least get him cleaned.  There is also a new kicking and twisting motion that makes fastening his diapers more challenging.   All through these new activities he coo's, ooohs, mmm's and ahhhhh's with joy.

7) Listening to him test out his vocal chords is so funny.   Each day he comes up with some new ooooohaahhhh drawn out cry or joyful shout.  He has a new fake cry that it is similiar to his fake sneeze.  

8) He is becoming quite particular and vocal when things are not how he likes them.  In the car when the sun is in his eyes he bursts out until we are in the shade.

9) With the exception of a few nights in the last two weeks, he has been sleeping from about 7:30PM to 5:00AM.  This new sleep pattern has changed our life.  The first day he slept through the night he woke up at 4:30AM and we were so excited we got up and made coffee and started our day.  It was the longest stretch of sleep in 5 months! 

10) Oliver really enjoys his Itsy Bitsy Yoga.  I took him to the other studio last week (because I missed our group on Wednesday) and we ran into one of the girls we did our natural childbirth classes with.  I didn't recognize her (since she wasn't pregnant). It was neat to see her little girl and catch up.  The core workout and yoga class after Oliver's class kicked my butt and and two days later I am still hurting.

11) We set Oliver in his high chair for the first time on Seb's birthday.  He sat up so tall in it with his little feet perched on the shelf and was excited (no food yet).

12) Madison who is 3 1/2 years old was at the cookie exchange last weekend.  She told her mom "don't let him (Oliver) touch me with those wet hands" - - hee hee.   Unfortunately, Oliver spends a good part of the day with one or both hands shoved in his mouth with a continuous drip of drool that puddles around his chin and soaks through the top part of his shirts.  He is definitely starting to teethe.

13) We were reading in our baby book about development and activities to do with your 5 month old.  The book talked about all of the important things that babies learn from simple wooden blocks.   We bought him the basic primary colored blocks today and are doing the exercises to help him develop.  Whew - it is a good thing we read that chapter.

Tomorrow is the Dallas White Rock Marathon.  We are going to cheer the runners on and we are excited to be part of the race next year.  Seb is going to push the stroller.

Hope you enjoy the December pictures!  Don't be afraid to leave a comment :)

December pictures