Tuesday, May 7, 2013

8 months old and counting......

To Braxton: You are getting sooo big! We are amazed daily by your achievements and your sweet personality. I know I say it every month but you are so much fun at this age. I love watching you play and explore. Once again I really wish we could freeze time and enjoy you at this age. I am pretty sure that this will be our last month having a stationary baby. You are about to be on the move and this momma is not ready and neither is our house. Ha
The facts: You now weigh a whooping 15 lbs. 11 oz. (April 26)  but don't get to excited....this still puts you below the 5 percentile for his age. No worries though, you are growing at a steady pace so we are not worried.
We are up to 3 ear infections now since March 8. Our pediatrician uses 4 in 6 months as criteria for an ENT referral so we are preparing ourselves for what we feel like is inevitable.....TUBES. We know that the procedure is super short and easy but there is always stress when you are talking about anesthesia. 
On your 7 month birthday, April 5 you got your first 2 teeth. Both bottom teeth broke through the gums! YAY!
Towards the end of this month, you have really started to change up your routine. You are sleeping later in the morning and sometimes I am even having to wake you up for school. You are getting up now anytime between 6-7AM. What is even more disruptive to our routine is the fact that you are not waking up starving which means that we no longer have time to nurse in the morning. I am a little sad about that but you had really started this bad habit of biting since you discovered your teeth which makes the transition a little easier. I am going to continue to pump for as long as possible so you are still getting breast milk daily.
Your new routine: up between 6-7AM. Bottle at 6:45AM. Leave for school with dad at 7:15. 3 bottles during the school day. Pick up at 5:45 by mommy. Solids, bath, and bedtime between 7-8PM with a bottle rocking in your nursery. We have finally transitioned away from the fleece sleep sacks now that its warming up. You are sleeping in your crib, on your tummy, with just fleece pajamas.
You continue to struggle with naps. You just don't really take them. You take little short cat naps but we can't really complain too much because you aren't fussy.
Your bottles are still 6oz. each and you are eating 4, 1oz cubes of solid food 2x daily. We also started trying finger foods this month to practice your pincer grip and chewing. So far you have had puffs, yogurt melts, carrots, green beans, bananas, apples, and sweet potatoes. You love it all and are starting to attempt self feeding. Its definitely a coincidence if you make it in your mouth right now though because you aren't a great aim.
You are wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 2 Huggie diapers





What you are doing: Your skill level has really exploded this month. This month you have really mastered sitting but you still occasionally lose your balance. When you do lose your balance you don't catch yourself but you do tuck and roll..hehe. You started side sitting and transitioning onto hands and knees alot and when you get there you rock like nobodies business. You have also discovered that you can sit yourself up from hands and knees which is so cute to watch! I got a tip to add some apple juice to your sippy cup to get you interested and sure enough you figured it out on the first try. YAY!
Other skills:
  • Turning circles on your tummy
  • Transferring toys between your hands
  • Dancing to music
  • Trying to clap
  • Banging toys
  • Reaching for mommy and daddy
First Bubble Bath
Eating with daddy is always messy!
Loving finger foods!
Bath time with Jagger!!
 Things you like: FOOD, splashing in the tub, watching big boys play, banging toys together, and hiding under blankets

Things you dislike: the nose sucker (apparently you think we are trying to suck out your brain), being held on your back like during a diaper change or dressing

Big events: First trip to the zoo and the park
Go long DAD!




Sunday, May 5, 2013

Lions, Tigers, and Bears.....Oh my!!!!

When Luke asked me what I wanted to do to celebrate Mother's Day I decided it was the perfect occasion to take Braxton for his first trip to the Tulsa zoo. Of course I understood that the trip was mostly for me and that he probably wouldn't even notice the animals but nonetheless off we went!!!
Braxton did fantastic on the way to Tulsa...he napped the whole way and was happy and ready to go when we made it to the zoo!!
We started off the afternoon with lunch and then Braxton got into his beloved backpack and off we went to explore. I was very excited when Braxton actually SAW some of the animals!! He enjoyed the flamingos, the monkeys, and the giraffes. In my book I call that success since he is only 7-months-old!
Picnic Lunch
Ready to explore!
Loved the Mingos!!
A playful monkey kept coming up to the window but we couldn't catch him on camera!
Checking out the giraffes!
This boy is pooped!
Had to throw in a picture of cute baby toes:)
After the zoo, we grabbed a bite to eat to try to make it work out for Brax to take an afternoon nap on the car ride home but it didn't work out so smoothly. He was pretty fussy on the way home but overall we had an excellent day!!

Spring is here!!

Finally, its getting warmer outside which means its time to get out and get active!!! On Braxton's 7-month birthday we took him for his first trip to the park!! It was a beautiful, sunny day and Brax loved to watch the older kids playing on the playground equipment. There isn't alot that B can do at his age but he loved playing on his blanket in the sunshine....as long as the sun wasn't in his face....we still have an "diva" on our hands when it comes to the elements!! Braxton did try out some swinging while we were there, which he loved!! We can't wait to take him back to the park but snow in May has kinda pushed our plans back:(
Just a Swingin!