My Little Sweet Potato

With the turn of Jameson's four month birthday we have started adding in one spoon feeding to his daily routine if he's interested. Last week he stuck with rice and though he ate it, I don't think he particularly enjoyed it. This made me wonder if he was really hungry enough for the added meal or if I was experimenting with it for my own entertainment. This weekend I decided to whip up some sweet potaters for Jameson and re-evaluate the situation. He slurped those taters down no problem. I am glad to know he likes his veggies and I hope that continues. I think next we will move on to naners (read: bananas). Our pedi said not to worry about an introduction schedule anything and everything should be tried adding in something new every few days and avoiding the high allergy foods. Again, I continue to kind of let Jameson set the tone, but I think right now he is telling me that life is pretty sweet :)

On the topic, we had our 4 month pediatrician appointment today. Jameson's official weight is 17 pounds 3 ounces, 26.5 inches long and his percentile stats are the same (95% and 90%). The doc is happy with his development and asked me if he is always this happy and goofy as Jameson was cracking smiles at all the things Dr. Boyce said. My reply was YES! Doc was also happy with his head shape and his skin.

4 Months

You are getting this blog post a day early, otherwise it would most likely be a week late! Tomorrow our sweet little nugget will be four months old and it has really been a fun month (although I can't think of one that hasn't been). He is weighing in around 17 pounds, wears size 6 month clothes and even some 9 month pajamas to allow for optimal toe wiggling. He also wears a size 3 diaper and loves to giggle. He is most amused when Jake or I wiggle him around, or plop him back on to a pile of pillows, or swing him up above our heads. Anything baby adventurous I guess! 

He still loves to wiggle around under his gym, has pretty much given up his swing because he wiggles too much and doesn't want to be strapped in. He now prefers to hang in his bumbo with some toys or in his exersaucer. He likes it when we get to go outside and play in the yard, which means I walk him around and he looks at stuff or we swing. He is very interested in his feet and is starting to bring them up to his hands, and if you lean him back he tries to sit up. 

Jameson continues to eat 4 times a day between 8 and 8, although lately he has been ready for his last feeding around 7 and ready for bed at 7:30 or 8. When I am working and he takes a bottle he usually eats about 8 ounces. He still takes 3 naps a day but we have been fighting to hang on to his evening nap. I don't know if it's because we are frequently busy and on the run then or if he just decided he doesn't need it, but time will tell. Our house is usually louder in the evenings with Jake home, the tv on and we're usually cooking dinner so that could be it too. 

From the last post you can see that I've tried a few feedings with rice cereal. The first attempt was hardly even an attempt because he just wasn't having it, and I probably could have timed it better. Since then we have the hang of things and he has had a couple of successful feedings. He must have enjoyed his "wheaties" because that same day he decided after weeks of rolling up on his side he was ready to go all the way over. 

Yesterday we had some errands to run, our last stop of the morning was to Whole Foods. At this time Jameson had spent about an hour and a half or two hours in his carseat alternating between napping and being awake. By the time we made it to the grocery he was fully awake, and was starting to get all wiggly and giving me the "please let me out" face. I was just planning on loosening up his straps when I reach into the carseat and I realize it is very warm. Warmer than usual and what was that smell? Oh no. 

So Jameson's wish came true and out of the carseat he went so I could change his diaper, and what do I notice in the mirror as we head to the changing table? He has a very sizable wet spot on his back. Great. I soon discover Jameson is a hot green mess under his clothes, and he has obliterated the entire outfit minus his socks. I would say 97% of the time there is a spare outfit in the diaper bag. Did I have one in there today? Of course not! So I had a decision to make, which was worse? Putting him back in the once blue, now green onesie or stroll out of there, and quickly get his naked butt back in the car seat and cover him up before too many people will notice. Not seeing a better option I went with option number two (it seemed fitting) and as I walk out of the bathroom with a diaper only-clad infant I see at least four people look directly at me and my naked baby. Oh Lord. There was no hiding it. I sighed and strapped him back in and head to the register avoiding eye contact. Why does the restroom have to be next to the deli counter? And of course, the two people working the register are trying to peek in and see the cute baby and I am silently praying that they don't notice he is essentially naked in there. We couldn't get out of there fast enough and Jameson had a smile on his face all the way home, because there is one thing he loves above all else and that is to be naked :)

Snoozing on my shoulder

smooches

Happy Nakey baby face

Rice cereal

more please!

all done!

that was fun! now can I have a slice of pizza?

Don't Worry Be Happy

I grew up dancing to the Beach Boys. "Don't Worry Be Happy" was the anthem of my cousins and I as we danced around the living room and jumping off the fireplace. Life seemed so simple back then. We were also most likely listening to that song over and over again on cassette. Remember those? I was also probably sporting a side pony and acid wash jeans.

I would consider our family to be pretty techy and Jake does a good job of keeping us up to date or even ahead of the curve. He is constantly telling me about something new or what is just around the technology corner. We marvel at the fact that Jameson will most likely head to school with an iPad (or something like it) instead of a backpack full of books. To me this is exciting, but also strange. We live in such a different world than the one I grew up in not long ago. Will Jameson appreciate the smell of a brand new book? Will he ever even own a cd? Technology provides so many wonderful things, but how much of a good thing is too much?

I've noticed that I rarely see kids riding their bikes around my neighborhood unaccompanied by an adult. Yes, my parents took us on many family bike rides, but I was also given the freedom to ride my bike around our neighborhood on my own. Has the world changed that much in 15 years that kids can't play and explore without constantly having a parent guiding them? As I drove through the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, I saw a 11 or 12 year old girl going door-to-door most likely doing some sort of fundraising. Oh, I could remember the days vividly of trying to sell wrapping paper for school. Then I saw a car trailing her. Her mom was following her along keeping a close eye on her. This struck me as funny. I know my parents didn't do that. Don't kids learn things quicker by doing things on their own and making a few mistakes? Maybe I have a lot to learn about parenting in the 21st century, but I hope I can raise Jameson in a world that he feels safe in, but also a world in which he can freely explore the backyard on his own. Is this an impossible expectation? 

Now I am not naive enough to believe that dangers don't exist, but I have no doubt that the same dangers children face today are similar dangers they faced 10, 20, 30 years ago. Unfortunately we cannot protect our little ones from everything, and I wouldn't want Jameson to grow up a "bubble boy" either because each bump and bruise is a lesson. I just look forward to letting him experience the world, even if it is a different world than the one we grew up in. 

You only get to have the innocence of childhood once and it is over before you know it. The last time my cousins and I were all together we definitely didn't get up and shake our booties to "Kokomo". But why not? I think next time I see them it will be a requirement.

Lila demonstrating a wet-willy

These days Jameson is weighing in close to 17 pounds according to our home scale. He will have a pediatrician appointment about a week after he hits the 4 month mark. His favorite toy these days is Lila. She feels the need to watch over him anytime he is laying on the floor. This makes her a very easy target for this little grabber. Luckily, she gamely sits there patiently as Jameson's chubby little fingers do a death grip on her shaggy ears. She also gives him the occasional wet-willy as retaliation and moves on to his face which makes him squeal with joy as I have to remind her to please not make mouth-to-mouth contact. Therefore, Jameson is frequently getting a hands and face spit bath. 

Ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I woke up on Sunday morning and the first thing I did after letting the dogs out was spill my freshly filled large glass of ice water all across the kitchen floor. Ugh. I literally had one ice cube left in the bottom of my cup. What a terrible way to start the day. Of course, I decided to become mad at the world, like someone is to blame other than my seemingly genetic predisposition to constantly spill things (ask Jake about the time I spilled orange juice all over the stove/oven). Needless to say it was not how I wanted to start my day.

Before I was a mother I would say I devoted 50% of my day to contributing my time to something other than myself, either cleaning, planning meals or taking care of the dogs, working, etc. I don't know if this seems like a little or a lot to some of you, but what it comes down to is it didn't take much of a conscious effort to do something for myself everyday. Now I find I have to remind myself to devote at least a few minutes to myself, somedays it is more and somedays it feels like less. How can I not just be completely wrapped up in spending time with Jameson & Jake? But I know that it is in their best interest and mine to continue to invest in myself. Whether it be a quick ten minute yoga session or going out for a mani/pedi (thanks mom!) I know it is important to recharge and refuel even before I start feeling empty. And I don't think this is exclusive to me or to parenthood, but something we all can benefit from.

Anyway, I hope you are all finding time to take care of yourselves so you can better mothers, fathers, spouses, and friends. There's nothing wrong with a little indulgence! And today, I hope to indulge in a little nap!

Our afternoon

FINALLY!