Food, yummy food

Ok, well rice cereal isn't very good to adult taste buds, but so far Nate finds it interesting! We started him on solids (rice cereal mixed with breastmilk) on Tuesday. After 3 attempts he is starting to really get it. He opens his mouth for the spoon already and is losing the tongue thrust reaction. He definitely enjoys it more than Jack did at this point. He ate the entire (tiny) bowl I made him yesterday and today.

Here are some pictures from Tuesday.

Maine

On Sunday we drove to Maine for Katie's (our sister-in-law) baby shower. It was a lovely event and Nate had his first (and second) experience with a restaurant high chair. Jack helped a little bit with Katie's presents too. He was quite well-behaved given the circumstances!

Merry Christmas! (a little late)

The boys had an amazing Christmas. Not shockingly, they each got a fantastic array of presents from Santa, us, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, neighbors etc. Highlights for Jack include a firehouse from Santa for Jack, a "new trash truck" from us, an ice cream play kit (grandpa Bill/nonnie), a duplo fire station (grandma Linda/papa Rick), duplo train set (grandpa Anne/grandpa Pete) and a "new scoop truck" from aunt Katie/uncle Andy. I am certainly leaving something else off, but these are the things he seems to be playing the most with so far! Somewhat embarrassingly he opened the last of the presents yesterday (after our return from an overnight in ME).

Nate has a slightly more low-key time;) He was just happy to have arms holding him nearly 24/7 this week (sadly, I mean almost 24/7 - his sleeping is abysmal of late). However, he got a bunch of new toys as well that he is enjoying shaking and sucking on:)

We hosted our first big holiday and made all the fixins' for 8 adults plus Jack. It went well as Anne/Peter were here on Christmas Eve so Steve and I had plenty of prep time.

The next morning...

Snowy Weekend

Like most of the east coast, we had quite a bit of snow this weekend - probably about 10" which is more than enough for Jack to enjoy going out and helping daddy shovel.



He was out there awhile, earning those rosy cheeks some hot chocolate.


Being cooped up also led to some, questionable, activities.

Half-Birthday! 2.5

Jack is 2 1/2 today! It has been a super long time since I did an update on "development" stuff, so here it goes:

Sleeping: Jack actually sleeps from about 10-8 - we are out of his room by 9:15 but he stays awake talking and playing for awhile. He naps approximately from 3:15-5:45. He is very consistent on this very very rarely walking up at night.

Motor skills: Jack can throw very very well - he throws across a room any sort of ball and often has very good accuracy and speed. He also can kick balls and runs (a true run). He has become quite a climber and brings around his little stools all over the place to reach things. He can hold a crayon properly, but usually does a combination between a real grip and a baby grip. He can walk up and down the stairs without holding on, though he almost always does hold on.

Talking: Jack has progressed amazingly well in the last 4 months or so. He now uses 5+ words in combination, and his grammar is coming along - using plurals, some prepositions, "ing" words etc. He continually surprises us with new words. Often it is still hard for others to understand him, we act as a translator, but he is becoming more and more clear.

Interests: He still loves trucks - "hook and ladder trucks" "trash trucks" and "dig trucks" are his favorite. He also thoroughly enjoys trains. He hoards toys in his crib at night, it is quite amusing seeing him fit in between a bunch of books and large trucks. He enjoys books too. His current favorites: Cars and Trucks and Things that Go - he loves fining hidden goldbug on each page, Green Eggs and Ham, Merry Christmas Curious George, The Fire Engine Book, and Alfie Gets in First (thanks Debbie!). He also likes "fixing" things with toy tools.

He loves loves preschool and doesn't mind being left with our babysitter either. He has virtually no separation issues when he is feeling well. He does have strong feelings on whether mommy or daddy does something for him. Usually he makes a stink if daddy does something he thinks mommy should do.

His favorite color is red.

He can play imaginatively on his own for quite some time, 20 minutes, I would say. He is very creative in his use of toys/objects. I am continually amazed how he sees similarities in things that I would never think of.

He is about 31lbs and I am guessing 37-38" tall. He is wearing 2T clothes, with some 3T shirts.

5 months old!

Nate can now:
roll over (tummy to back)
Sit up for 10-15 seconds or so, alone
swing in a baby swing
spend some time in the exersaucer and jumperoo

He is in his 6-12 month clothes, and a few of his onesies are even 12-18 months. He is just about out of his 9 month clothes. I am guessing he is about 28" and maybe about 18+ lbs. His next doc appointment isn't until just after 6 months, so we won't have anything confirmed until then.

We just ordered replacements for his infant car seat, as he will be out of it (by height) soon.

We will be starting him on rice cereal in a couple of weeks.

Sadly his sleeping has taken a turn for the worse. He isn't sleeping all night anymore, though we are putting him down earlier, at a more normal time (about 8) so the long stretch isn't always that different than it was. He was getting up a few times a night a few weeks ago and we determined he was too cold (his room is pretty drafty). But even with a space heater, he is only going from about 8-5, demanding food, then back until 7:15 or so. Sometimes there is another pacifier replacement awakening too.

He also doesn't want to nap, generally, unless in the ergo, on my lap or in the car. I sometimes can transfer him from my lap/ergo to a crib or Pack N Play, but sometimes he wakes up and won't go back.