Prunes!

James had outgrown the infant tub a while ago but since he still couldn't sit up I hesitated putting him the regular tub- plus it would take a lot of water to fill it up even two inches. So I ordered him a transition blow-up tub and it arrived yesterday. One cool feature is that it has a section in the bottom you can blow up that prevents the baby from sliding down in the tub. This is his first moment in the new tub. (We had been bathing him in the infant tub IN the big tub so he was already used to the environment- I read that some babies freak out the first time you stick them in the big tub so it was recommended to put the infant tub in it.)

Not totally sure what this new experience is.

But I think I like it!

I can see my toes! (And later he proceeded to pull them up and gnaw on them.)

This is great, but I need some toys! They are right there...on the window sill but I can't reach them. Help!

Yay! Toys!

Hmmm, that duck bill looks chewable...

His feet actually got pruned! This was the first bath that included enough play time to do so.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

They're a coming!

On April 12th James had his first visit to the doctor that was not a well visit. He had been pulling at his left ear for two days and I wasn't sure if he had just discovered he had an ear, if he was teething or if he had his first ear infection. Dr. Owen looked in and said it was FULL of wax, so full that it probably was causing him to feel a build-up of pressure. She told me to prick a hole in a gel-caplet of Colace and pour it in his ear to soften the wax and it would just come out. So I did and he stopped- pretty much- messing with his ear.
He has been a happy baby ever since. Doing his normal chomping on anything that come into proximity with his mouth and anybody who is naive enough to get their fingers in his tight little grasp. I should try to get a video of him putting things into his mouth. He sort of shakes his head with effort as he simultaneously dives toward the desired object with his head and pulls his hardest with his hands to get that prize into his mouth as quick as he can with a satisfying chomp. (I imagine this is what Piranhas do too.)
This past Saturday morning I noticed when he was chomping away on my finger that he had developed two bulges in his bottom gum at the front. I suspected teeth were lurking just below the surface.
This morning he was chewing on my knuckle and I felt a little prick- enough that I pulled my finger out of his slobbering mouth. I probed that bottom gum with my finger tip and felt a distinct little sharp bit. His left bottom front tooth is emerging!
I suppose I should let him know that his days of happily being occupying with our fingers and knuckles has come to an end.

Highchair fun

My mom's childhood chair is darling but not very safe by today's standards. It has not safety strap to prevent the child from sliding right out underneath the tray. I found something called "snazzy baby" which is a portable travel chair that can attach to practically any chair and turn it into a safe seat for a baby. We tried it out for the first time yesterday and James really enjoyed his new vantage point.
He also sat in a restaurant highchair for the first time on Sunday when we went out to lunch at Leon's Full Service in downtown Decatur. It was so nice to eat with a baby in arms!

My boys in plaid

They make my heart just melt. I am so in love with both of them!

Hawaiian Baby

Warning: This post has 16 pictures! I couldn't narrow it down further (believe me, there were a lot more I could have added). Photo shoot courtesy of my sister, Chelsea. She did a great job capturing both James' personality and the beauty of the Hawaiian leis. A bit of backstory- the white & orange leis I bought specifically for James for the photos- it even had a short one for his ankle, the pink ones were leftover from the Luau. Unfortunately for James all of the leis had been stored in the fridge to keep them fresh and the photos were taken on Sunday morning before church when the weather was a bit cooler. Cooler weather + fridge cold leis = not so pleased baby.

A couple of post-dated posts...

Time gets away from me often these days- but I finally got to blogging a few posts that have been on my mind for months! Plus- just got done with James' 5 month post.
5 Months Old
One Year Ago Today (Feb. 27)
One Year Ago Today (Valentine's Day)

Yum!

Not only are avocados, sweet potatoes, peas, rice cereal, squash, pears and carrots going in the mouth these days-
but toes and anything else that comes within a foot of James will eventually find its way in.

Is there anything cuter than a baby au naturel?

5 months old

At his 5-month check-up he received two shots- the Hib and Prevnar. He again got the lump from the Hib injection in his thigh but it wasn't as uncomfortable this time around as he was at least able to sleep that night. He weighed 19lbs. 8oz.! It was a short doctors visit- so I did my own head circumference and length measurements- 17.5inches and 27.5 inches respectively. He's wearing 9 months clothes for the most part.
James still has faint stork bite birthmarks between his eyebrows and on his left eyelid- and still has his two mongolian spots on his rear.
He has learned to roll over at will from his back to front, but still hasn't figured out that he can get back onto his back again. This causes him to become one frustrated baby- especially when he is supposed to be going to sleep and has rolled onto his tummy. This inevitably turns into a screaming rage and I have to decide how long I am willing to keep going into his room and flipping him back over.
He has finally consolidated his poopy diapers to a reliable one to three a day- which means when they do occur, especially if it is a one day- they are explosive!
He LOVES standing with loving arms helping him balance.
We are returning the swing and play gym and bouncy seat- he was getting too big for them. He is now trying out the exersaucer and seems to really enjoy it and he continues to enjoy the johnny-jump-up.
We have started solids! Avocado, rice cereal, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, prunes, pear and carrots. Next he'll get apples and bananas. So far he doesn't love eating solids- but his preferences are for the sweet potatoes and squash.
He is sleeping in his crib exclusively- a few long afternoon naps have occurred and I am hoping they will eventually become the norm. His night sleep is hit or miss. Some nights he only wakes up twice and others it can be up to 4. Sigh. Come six months and he is going to be forced to wait to eat until it's been at least 5 hours between night feedings. Surely a baby his size doesn't need to be getting up that often!

James is loving looking in mirrors and will grin at himself- so darling! He can't yet tripod sit yet, but can sort of support himself with his arms in the corner of the couch when he leans forward. On his tummy he can push up with straight arms to the point that only his waist is still on the floor. Then when his chest is on the ground he can get his legs up under him and push forward a tiny bit. Once he can get these two motions coordinated he'll really be able to move around.

And he has fully discovered his feet. I'll need to do a better job going forward cleaning them off every night since he is nibbling on them during the day. Really all I need to do is give him a bath every evening as he has discovered the joy of intense kicking- the bathroom has been really getting wet lately.
He has always been an easy baby and has brought much joy to both Tim and I- and as he gets older and more expressive we are truly enjoying every minute with him. I can't wait to see what he does next.