Isaac-9 months!

STATS:
16 lb, 12 oz (5%)
29 inches (75%)
Head: 17 1/2 inches (25%)

As you can see, he is long and lean. I didn't realize how lean. I'm really trying not to stress on his weight, because the pediatrician isn't concerned. I am a little worried though if I'm going to be honest. I wonder if my milk supply is insufficient, if he's just not getting enough, if my milk is not fatty enough, etc. The thing is, he always acts like he's hungry when we take food away, but he's been doing this since he was a newborn. I will give him more from a bottle, and then he will throw up. So, right now I'm in the phase of trialing different things. The pedi says he's just finding his new growth curve and he will go up again. He said if he was losing weight--that's a concern. He's just not really gaining. So, I'm going to try to nurse him 2-3x/day and give him a bottle the other 2-3x/day so that I have a little better idea of how much milk he's getting. But, since this is the 9 month post, this is what he's been doing....

EAT:
Nurses or takes a 6-7 oz bottle 5x/day (6:30, 1130, 2:30, 5:30, bedtime). Eats mostly stage 2 baby foods 2-3x/day (4 ounces + baby oatmeal). He LOVES the fruits. He's okay with the meats. He is starting to hate his veggies. When I give him something he doesn't like he just closes his eyes. It's hilarious. He does cheerios and puffs as a distraction. He is hit or miss on table foods--some days will eat toast, banana, carrot chunks, sweet potato chunks just fine--others he will gag as if he hasn't had anything but smooth purees. I've tried to do full meals of mashed table foods but he's just not there yet, so we will continue with the stage 2s and some 3s. Right now I'm just not pushing him to eat foods he doesn't like because I want the kid to get calories in!

PLAY:
Crawling everywhere. Pulling up on everything. Favorite toys are the diaper caddy, water bottle, iron pumpkins, magnets off dishwasher, nightlight in Carter's room, door knobs on dressers, and baby monitor. Doing more babbling, mostly /d/, /n/, some /m/. Lots of vocalizations. Loves to be held by Mommy, getting into a mommy phase--when Mimi comes over will cling to Mommy and cry because that typically means Mommy is leaving. However, he is fine to go exploring on his own and does not mind leaving me to go to another room....he just doesn't want me to leave him!

SLEEP:
This boy is not a napper. He will take a morning nap ~50% of time from 8-8:30. Otherwise, he is awake at 6:30 and takes an 12-2:30 nap and that's it. Very occasionally (maybe once every 10 days?) he will take a power nap at 4:30-5 but that's rare. Thankfully, he is a great night sleeper and sleeps from 6:30-6:30.

Dear Sweet Isaac,
Your smile is so big and continues to bring such joy to our home. You are my little explorer and can easily find the one thing in the room that is a choking hazard and you willl put in your mouth. You keep me on my toes! You adore your brother and want to follow him wherever he is. If you wake up from your nap before him, you strain your head to look in his room, wondering why he isn't with us. However, when we get downstairs we get some good Mommy and Isaac time of singing songs, reading stories, and playing. You love to eat and still cry when your bottle or nursing is finished. I know you're sleepy when you start burrowing your head into my chest or pulling your shirt up to your mouth. To fall asleep, you put your sleepsack in your mouth and burrow your little head into your covers. You do not like to be rocked, you like to be put in your bed with your white noise and you fall asleep very quickly. You are growing so fast and becoming such a sweet spirited little baby. Love you so much, my sugar booger.

First broken bone

The pics below chronicle the journey from ER to hard cast (6 days). Carter twisted and broke his elbow (on carpet!) while we were in Austin visiting Grandpa and GrandmaJo. Thankfully, Nana works for Dell Children's Hospital and we got VIP treatment :). 

The soft or hard cast does not slow this boy down. He is just as active as ever and has not complained once. He was very brave for his doctors in Dallas and would grimace his face when they moved his arm but never cried. He is enjoying the special attention and getting to go to "ms Kathy's office" instead of playground time at school.

I love his bravery and innocence of this first broken bone experience. Of course I hope there are no more broken bones, but I think I know better with this crazy active little boy!

ER in Austin

Dr. Gottschallk and Saturday setting the soft cast

An hour after getting home and he was playing 1handed as if nothing happened!

We have to wrap it up for bath

And we're supposed to keep him off his feet?!?! One handed basketball on top of a bucket:

He loves our visits to the nursing home and participated in 1 handed stretches/exercises

Even helped me vacuum and mop

A little break with helmet for protection of course 

Dallas children's with soft cast off awaiting Dr Ho to look at X-rays

After a confirmation that its broken we head to the casting room. Carter got to pick his own cast....he chose red to match his shirt

There you have it. The cutest little cast I've ever seen. He won't let anyone sign it bc he wants it to stay red. My little fashionisto.

8 months

Actually had a sick visit appt yesterday, and he's 16 lbs 12 oz. Size 3 diapers, 9 mos clothes. 

EAT-

Loves baby food now! Woo hoo! Eats 1 4 oz jar + oatmeal 2-3x/day. I will now just nurse him at night vs give him bottle which drops a pumping session. Eats a 6.5 oz bottle or nurses 5x/day. LOVES puffs and will instant calm him! 

PLAY-

This post is late, but officially started crawling oct 9, so 8 mos 3 days. most of the month he would get on all 4s and rock, but he now takes off across the room. The days of getting into Carter's stuff have officially begun :). He loves plastic bottles, phones, cords, and the baby monitor. He loves bring outside and watching his brother. Will babble with /d/ occasionally but mostly squeals more than babbling. Doing great at mdo, although he's a bottle bully...tries to take away other kids bottles :).

SLEEP-

Trying to drop the 430 nap, so bedtime is anywhere between 6 and 730 and he sleeps until 630ish. Typically naps 8-930 and 12-230. Had a 10 day stage this month where he would sit up in bed but not know how to lay back down....thankfully that phase is over!

Loves his sleep sack, it is becoming his chincha ;)

HEALTH:

Had a little cold that warranted a day off mdo and drs visit, but seems to be fine now. I learned when he doesn't feel well he is definitely going to let me know...super fussy which is so unlike his normal happy self. Still with 2 bottom teeth.

8 mos photos---lunger baby!

August fun...

Tot rider 2 cruising (or a place to sit while mama folds laundry!)

Brothers in the truck bed 

Discovered the "kid iPads" in the apple store...now his new favorite store at Northpark!

  Very serious about his sticks. He's always been into music but I think this month instruments and "playing band" became....obsessive? Lets just say that's now a reward---"if you make a good choice and x, we can play band when we get home!". Band= singing in his room with maracas, a microphone, the rock band guitar, and the truck bed becomes the "drums". And we all participate...Isaac even has a shaker!

  

Lots o time at the kc pool!

Love them and matching them ;)

Loves to "play dames on daddy's phone". Mommy does not have fun games in her phone....on purpose!

 We love when Mimi comes over to play! Isaac loves to stand.

Meeting Mr.Nelson, the trash truck driver, was a monumental experience. Carter knows Mondays are trash days and looks forward to seeing them every week. When they are off schedule...oh, that's not good for any of us!! ( "no go to gym! Trash trucks still coming!"..) 

 First time in a big swing! He loved it!

  

Loves the mum mums. Carrots? Not so much!

 

Love that they can bathe together now! They love it!

First (of many!) flowbee haircuts!

Went to Perot museum a few times....keeping us cool in the heat although apparently I just took pics the 3 mins we were outside!

Little longhorn ready for his first gameday!

7 months!

EAT:

Little man loves his milk but is not into baby food. I think he's going to be mr. independent. He loves to feed himself, but doesn't quite have the skills. If mum mums had any nutritional value, we would be golden. However, he wants nothing from a spoon. I've therapized him with nuk brushes and behavioral reinforcements, even had a few "fun" days with "eating utensil play" and oh he will play, but as soon as I try to put that spoon near his mouth he closes those lips so tight and just grunts at me. He will put a spoon in his own mouth but wants nothing on it--not even breastmilk, which the boy never refuses! I will mash up bananas and put them on his tray and he will get smearings in his mouth. Today he tried to eat a banana whole, so I scraped some off and he will eat from my fingers but not a spoon. Grrr. I have to remember he's only 7 months and really shouldn't be getting much baby food anyway, but I'm playing the "movies" considering this is my occupation. He WILL be eating by 12 months and not nursing forever, right?! Speaking of nursing (and for my own personal account of when this happened), my supply did have some issues this month so I took him in for weight checks. He wasn't gaining but wasn't losing, but also had a little cold thrown in there. I'm not too worried, as my supply seems to be back up (and I'm on pump #2!), but I did go through a lot of my frozen stash. I'm not at all against giving him formula, but do have a 'lil mama guilt as Carter was breastfed (got breastmilk, did not nurse past 9 mos) until a year and Isaac has a helmet which is a whole other mama guilt story...

As far as milk, eats 5-6x/day, 6 oz bottles with the 8 oz prize egg at night.

SLEEP:

Pretty consistently wakes up at 6 to eat, goes back to sleep until 7:30. Naps 8:30-9:30, 12-3, 4:30-5:30.  This is his preference. He does get toted around to playdates and appointments (and school!), so still gets quite a few car naps. Will not nap in his carseat anymore :(. Still wears the sleep sack. Helmet goes off in 1-2 weeks, will see if that changes sleeping habits at all.

PLAY:

Sits unassisted independently for 45+ mins at a time. Loves his johnny jumper in the doorway. Loves to hold onto your hands and stand. Still very smiley and happy but does not like to be left alone. Carter is good at playing with him so I can go to the bathroom or unload groceries without tears. Started school this past week on Tuesdays, he did great and napped 2 hours! No separation anxiety yet which is nice--at church I can nurse him in between services and take him right back in...that likely won't last much longer but it's nice for now! Sits in his bath chair and loves bathtime with brother--will grab at toys, put them in his mouth and watch Carter's antics. He really does love Carter and I must admit, Carter is very entertaining to watch :). He LOVES to be outside and I can't wait for the weather to cool off + helmet removed!

HEALTH: 

Bottom 2 teeth are in, seems to get fussy on the day teeth break through but otherwise teething isn't that big of a deal. Did get a little cold and lingering cough about a week ago....the cough is still here, makes me wonder if he's going to have asthma issues?

Dear Sweet Isaac,

Your smile will light up the room. We go visit Grandma Sue at the nursing home and you will smile at EVERYONE that gives you a glance and it absolutely makes their day. You are true baby therapy. You can be fussy sometimes at night but when Daddy walks in the door you give him the biggest grin and get so happy. Daddy calls you his "prince" with your helmet as your crown. You are starting to become Mr. Independent already--not wanting to be snuggled or held, you want to be put on the floor so you can play. However, you don't want to be put in the jumperoo because you know that means I'm leaving you to go do something and you do not like to be my yourself! You still cry when your milk is taken away, but want nothing to do with solid foods. I love your sweet little spirit and pray the joy that you have right now continues throughout your little life. You bring so much joy and light to our home. Love you sweet boy, Mama

Happy half birthday Isaac!

6 month stats:

Weight: 16 lb, 5 oz (30%)

Length: 28 inches (94%)

Head Circ: 17 inches (30%)

Our sweet littlest guy is half a year old. Man, how time flies! In true fashion....

EAT:

Typically eats 5x/day, making himself a variable schedule of roughly 6, 9,12, 3:30, 6:30-7. Pretty much nurses most of the time, but does get a 5.5 ounce bottle for daytime feeds when I'm away or we're out and always gets a 7-7.5 oz bottle at night. Still FREAKS out when food is taken away from him. I mean, all out MAD CRY with turning red and holding his breath. This typically lasts about 1-2 minutes and then he realizes he's full and is back to his happy self!

PLAY:

Loves his jumperoo and tot rider 2. Loves to watch Carter's crazy antics. He is putting EVERYTHING in his mouth. Really likes to be eye level--gets mad if you lay him on the ground, and will immediately roll to belly to try to get more eye level. Is still such a happy baby, smiling ear to ear when anybody looks at him. I think we may have another social little guy on our hands :). He also loves music and if I hold his hands, he will bounce his little legs and squeal. No babbling yet, but lots of coos. I love that he wakes up cooing after naps. He hates being put in his carseat, getting food taken away, or being sleepy and not in his bed. He's definitely more active now--always kicking his legs, jumping, wanting to "stand"--does not just snuggle or sit in the lap. This is why I think we went from 75% to 30% in weight--the boy burns his calories (kinda like the other boys in our family!). 

SLEEP:

Got attached to his sleepsack while we were in Austin. He doesn't even have to wear it, but uses it as his "chincha"--likes to hold it up to his mouth, smell it, and roll to his side to fall asleep. Still likes white noise. Pretty much takes 3 naps/day but many days will car nap in the morning while we are out and about then take a longer nap when we get home. Ideally, he will wake up to eat at 6, go back to sleep until 7. Then nap 8-845, 12-230, 430-530, and go to bed for night at 730. Again, it's hit or miss because he's outgrowing the nap in the carseat phase, but Carter likes to get out--so, we usually do our outings in the morning which helps them coordinate afternoon naps. The boy loves his sleep and does get fussy when he's sleepy--kinda like his Mama :).

HEALTH:

First tooth (bottom left) broke through right at 5 months! Doing awesome with his helmet and love that his little head is getting rounder in the back and thinner in the front. His last appt told us 4-5 more weeks. 

Dear Sweet Isaac Boy,

Oh, how you give me the biggest grin when I come to get you in the mornings. You love attention and love for anyone to look at you. We can be at the grocery store and anytime anyone looks at you, you just give them the biggest smile! You are doing awesome with your helmet, it doesn't seem to phase you at all. I know sometimes you must be so HOT, but as long as you are rested and happy, you don't let the heat phase you at all. You are such a trooper going to all kinds of activities with your big brother--you love to watch the big kids play and it won't be long until you are right there with them! You bring our family so much joy and your smile permeates our home. I pray your joyful spirit stays strong! Love you my sweet sweet baby doll!

Love,

Mama