7 Months!

Happy 7 month Birthday Alex!

Sleep:

• You've been going to bed around 7:30 - 8:00.  Some mornings you sleep in and I have to wake you up at 7:45/8:00 so I can feed you and get to work!
• You've been sleeping in on the weekends, until 8:30, and sometimes 9:00.
• Your naps at home have been going really well.  We're still working on daycare, but when you take one there sometimes it's for 3hrs!

Feeding:

• You are eating every 3hrs (5x/day).  You take 6.5oz bottles at daycare.
• You're eating solids once a day.  You've tried lots of different things.  I'm pretty sure your favorite is prunes!  

Weight:

• We went in to get your eye looked at and you weighed 18lbs 7oz fully clothed, so I'm guessing around 18lbs 4oz.

Length:

•  No measurement this month.
  

Diapers:

• We're still doing cloth diapers.  We use the BumGenius Elemental Organic All-In-One One-Size.  You're on the second setting.
• When we travel or are out much we do disposables.  We also do them at night.  Wearing size 3's.  I like the Huggies Little Movers the best.
• Cloth diapering with solids is (still) proving to be interesting!

Clothes:

• You are wearing 6-9/9mo/6-12mo clothes.  You have a huge wardrobe now that Christmas is over.  Hopefully you stay in this size for a while and get some good wear out of all of them!

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• You celebrated your first Christmas, here in NC.  Grandma and Grandpa Bouchard came down to celebrate with us.
• You got lots of fun new toys and are learning to play with them all.
• The day after Christmas we noticed your first tooth popped up.  You weren't acting too fussy, so we were really surprised.  2 days later, #2 made an appearance.
• Lately solids have been hit or miss.  You definitely do not like veggies!
• You sleep face down in your crib, butt in the air, rather cute!
• We got to go to playgroup twice this month and it was fun to see everyone again.
• You LOVE your jumperoo!  Auntie Sarah got you a new Step-n-play music toy that you stand in too and you're getting used to that.
• We went up to Baltimore and cousin Shannon watched you while mommy and daddy went to the Redskins/Patriots game.  She was sad because you slept most of the time, but loved playing with her when you finally woke up!
• You hate being on your belly, you want to either sit or stand.  We've put you on your belly a few times and you've gotten up on all fours, head down, but no movement.  It's ok, no need to crawl too soon.  :-)
• You have become pretty loud and like to make lots of noise!  You've started chanting da-da-da-da constantly.  I've tried to get you to say ma-ma-ma-ma but no luck!
• You started clapping on New Year's Eve day.
• You LOVE bathtime!  You cry when we take you out!

What we've been up to:

• Week 27
• Week 28
• Merry Christmas 
• Week 29
• Week 30

6 Months!

Happy 6 month Birthday Alex! (Posting a little late)

Sleep:

• You've been going to bed around 7:30 - 8:00.  Some mornings you sleep in and I have to wake you up at 7:45/8:00 so I can feed you and get to work!
• You've been sleeping in on the weekends, until 8:30, and sometimes 9:00.
• At home you seem to be doing pretty good.  You do not like taking naps at daycare yet so we'll see how that goes!  Most days you are so tired from not sleeping at daycare that you come home and pass out!

Feeding:

• You are eating every 3hs (5x/day).  You take 6.5oz bottles at daycare.
• We started solids just before Thanksgiving.  So far, you've had cereal, pears, apples and sweet potatoes.  You love them!  Just once a day for now.

Weight:

• You weighed in at 17lbs 4oz - 46%

Length:

•  You measured 26 1/8in - 38%
  

Diapers:

• We're still doing cloth diapers.  We use the BumGenius Elemental Organic All-In-One One-Size.  You're on the second setting.
• When we travel or are out much we do disposables.  We also do them at night.  We just moved to the size 3's.
• Cloth diapering with solids is proving to be interesting!

Clothes:

• For most of the month you wore 3-6mo clothes.  The last week or so we broke out the 6-9mo clothes and packed away the 3-6mo ones.  Waiting for after Christmas sales to stock up a bit!

And let's be honest this is what you were doing most of the time in the crib for those pictures (we don't have the bumpers in while sleeping, just for pictures)

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• You absolutely love sitting up.  That is all that you want to do, you've pretty much mastered it.
• You sleep on your belly, face down.
• When we gave you solids, we couldn't get them in fast enough.
• You are quite the giggler now.  Especially when playing peek-a-boo!
• We traveled to NY/VT for Thanksgiving.  You did well on the plane again.  You charmed/flirted with lots of passengers.
• Spent time with both set of grandparents, and got to meet lots of new people on daddy's side of the family.
• Starting to jump in the jumperoo.
• We had our family pictures taken this month, but you weren't a big fan that day, kinda grumpy.
• You did not do as well after your 6mo shots. 

What we've been up to:

• Week 23
• Week 24
• Week 25
• Happy Thanksgiving! 
• Week 26

And because I think it's fun to compare (though I wish I could work Picasa better!)!

5 Months!

Happy 5 month Birthday Alex! (Posting a little late)

Sleep:

• You've been going to bed around 7:30 - 8:00.  Some mornings you sleep in and I have to wake you up at 7:45/8:00 so I can feed you and get to work!
• There was about a week or so where you were up every night several times.  Luckily we nipped that quickly and we're back to normal.
• At home you seem to be doing ok with some naps, but it's generally hit or miss.  You do not like taking naps at daycare yet so we'll see how that goes!  Most days you are so tired from not sleeping at daycare that you come home and pass out!

Feeding:

• You are eating every 3hs (5x/day).  You take 6oz bottles at daycare.
• Still no solids yet though you definitely seem interested!

Weight:

• No appointment but we're thinking about 17lbs.
• Everyone says you're a big boy!
  

Length:

•  Not sure, no appointment this month.
  

Diapers:

• We're still doing primarily cloth diapers.  We use the BumGenius Elemental Organic All-In-One One-Size.  You're on the second setting.
• When we travel or are out much we do disposables.  We also do them at night.  You are wearing the last of the few size 2's that we have.

Clothes:

• Wearing all 3-6 month/6month still.  Still in the same for PJ's.
• One piece clothes are out of the picture.

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• You are still trying really hard to sit up on your own.  You're getting much better at it!
• Your baptism was this month and you loved getting dunked into the water.
• Uncle Keith and Grandma and Grandpa came to visit for your baptism.
• We visited the NC State Fair this month.
• You love hanging out on your floormat. 
• You started rolling over this month.  I watched you do it on the camera at daycare (October 19th), but it was several weeks before you would do it at home for us.  Now you roll back and forth without too much trouble.  You sleep on your tummy now.
• You love it when someone claps your hands together or the bottoms of your feet.  A sure-fire way to get you to laugh.
• Everyone says lately that you are a mix of both mom and dad.
• We finally got to meet up with everyone from playgroup and went to the pumpkin patch.  It was so great to see everyone and your 'girlfriend' Kate was there!
• It was your first Halloween.  We went to 2 parties on Saturday and dressed you up like a football and mom and dad were football players.
• For Halloween night and at daycare you were a monkey and loved every minute of it!
• You are completely fascinated by Maya lately.  You love when she comes by you and in the morning we usually get a big smile when you 'pet' her (aka she licks you) for the first time.  You like to sit next to her and pet her (aka tug on her ears).  She's pretty tolerable so far but you're always on our laps.  We/she better watch out when you're mobile!

What we've been up to:

• Week 18
• Week 19
• Week 20
• Baptism
• Week 21
• Week 22 (Since only 1 day of this falls in the next month)

4 Months!

Time to play catch-up!  I'm feeling much better!

Happy 4 month Birthday Alex! (Posting a little late)

Sleep:

• You generally go to bed around 8:00 and are up somewhere between 7:00 and 7:30.
• For about a week or so you would wake up and squeal with delight for 10-15 minutes (somewhere between 5:15 and 6:30) and then go back to bed!
• At home you seem to be doing ok with some naps, but it's generally hit or miss.  You do not like taking naps at daycare yet so we'll see how that goes!

Feeding:

• For most of the month you were eating every 2.5hrs (6x/day) - 7:30, 10:00, 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 7:00, about 4-5oz bottles when you took a bottle.  
• Towards the end of the month you got sick and stretched yourself to ever 3hrs.  (5x/day) - 7:30, 10:30, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, about 5-6oz when taking a bottle (sometimes wanting more)
• Still holding out on solids for another month or 2 hopefully though your interest in food is starting to show. 

Weight:

• 15lbs 11oz (60%)
• Everyone says you're a big boy!

Length:

•  24.5in (30%)

Diapers:

• Wearing a size 2 in disposables (I like the Huggies Little Snugglers the best, thought the Huggies Snug & Dry work well too), though once we run out we'll probably just go to size 3's when we need disposables rather than buy too many size 2s.
• Cloth diapers are working out pretty well still. 
• Still using disposables at night and sometimes when we go out.

Clothes:

• Wearing all 3-6 month.
• One piece clothes feel like they're getting too short. 

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• Auntie Marcy came to visit this month and you were a big flirt!  She baby sat for a night while mom and dad went to a wedding and you did great.
• Auntie Sarah also baby sat on your 4mo. birthday and mom and dad went out to dinner.
• Still, likes to watch T.V. so we have found the Disney channel and put on some Mickey Mouse occassionally.
• Got you a jumperoo and you are a big fan!
• The floor mat is starting to become a favorite of yours.
• You giggled for the first time on Friday, October 16th!
• Love it when someone claps your hands together or the bottoms of your feet.  A sure-fire way to get you to laugh.
• You are working hard at sitting up on your own as evidence in the pictures we tried to take this month!

• Grandma worked hard at teaching you to blow bubbles and you are all about the bubbles/raspberries!

• The girls at daycare love you and say that you are a sweetheart and so easy going.

What we've been up to:

• Week 14
• Week 15
• Week 16
• Week 17

And for comparison:

n

3 months!

Happy 3 month Birthday Alex!

Sleep:

• We figured out that you need your last bottle by 7:30 and then to bed after that.  Goal is before 8:00.  You generally sleep straight through to 6:00 or later.  
• Naptime is still pretty crappy.  Catnaps is where it's at with you.  I'm really working hard on this and taking your cues as to when you're tired and putting you down as soon as possible.
• Finally sleeping in your crib.  First night August 19th and there was no trouble switching.

Feeding:

• About 6x per day.  Have a pretty decent schedule of 6:30, 9:00, 11:45, 2:30, 5:15 and 7:30.  They're not all even intervals but that seems to be about when you get hungry, give or take 15 minutes.
• Still nursing, but you do pretty good with a bottle.  When you take one, it is 4oz, and sometimes you want more!
  

Weight:

• Not too sure as our scale seems to be way off.  I think somewhere in the upper 14lb range (or maybe 15lbs).
• Everyone says you're a big boy!
  

Length:

•  Not sure this month, we'll have to wait for the 4 month appointment.

Diapers:

• Wearing a size 2 in disposables (I like the Huggies Little Snugglers the best, thought the Huggies Snug & Dry work well too)
• Cloth diapers are working out pretty well still.  For some reason whenever dad puts them on is when we have a wet leak!
• Still using disposables at night and sometimes when we go out.

Clothes:

• Wearing mostly 0-3 months and I've pulled out a few 3-6 month.
• Had to break out the 3-6 and 6mo sleepers just after 2 months.  Why are they so short!
• One piece 0-3's have mostly been put away, they're too short!
  

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• This month was your first plane ride and you did awesome!
• Likes to watch T.V. so we have found the Disney channel and put on some Mickey Mouse occassionally.
• Starting to hold onto things if they are given to you.
• Sometimes I think you're trying to put your pacifier back in your mouth.
• Like to lay on the floor and hold arms/fists in the air.
• Like to lay on the mats at Moms-in-Motion and one week it was like you were talking to Kate.  Many times at class you guys will turn and look at one another and sometimes smile.
• Love to sit up or stand up.
• Grandma taught you to stick out your tongue and you're getting the hang of blowing raspberries and bubbles.
• Thanks to the slope in the mattress your rolled over from your back to your belly, but quickly wanted to return to your back.
• Tummy time is getting much better.

What we've been up to:

• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13

2 months!

Happy 2 month Birthday Alex!

Sleep:

• Much better in this department.  You generally give us a 12-hr stretch with 1 feeding, usually after about 7.5hrs.  This has been for about 2 weeks now.
  
• So far the earliest bedtime is 9:30.  We try for earlier but you aren't a fan.  We're going to wake you up earlier (usually you get up at about 9:30 in the morning) and see if that helps you go to bed a little earlier.
• Naps are still so-so.  We shoot for the philosophy that you shouldn't be awake for more than 2hrs at a time and then a nap.  It typically amounts to 2 - 45-minute naps in the morning, 1 - 1.5-2hr nap in the afternoon and 2 - 30 minute naps in the evening.  Hoping with a bed-time shift this will get better.
  

Feeding:

• About 7x.  1 at night and 6x during the day.  Usually in the morning you go longer between feedings and then at night 2hrs on the dot (must be building up for overnight!).
• Still nursing, but you do pretty good with a bottle.  When you take one, it is 4oz, and sometimes you want more!!
  

Weight:

• Went for your check-up today.  13lbs 3oz (83%)
  

Length:

•  Went for your check-up today.  23-5/8" (60%)  

Diapers:

• Wearing a size 1 in disposables (I like the Huggies Little Snugglers the best)
• We bought way more disposables then we needed for our trip, so we've been trying to use them up before you grow out of them.  
• We had a few weeks where stuck with the cloth diapers (except for night-time and leaving the house) and they worked pretty well, though a few minor leaks.

Clothes:

• Wearing 0-3 months.
• Sleepers are too short, cannot straighten out your legs.  Circo brand sleepers are a bit longer so we bought a few of those.  We also have a few without feet that work.  There are some 3-6 month sleepers in the washer right now, but I'm sad to put away the 0-3's already!.
• Some one piece outfits are a little too short in the body, I can still snap them but they're a little tight.  Though, onsies and pants still fit without a problem.
  

 Letters for your room came finally!

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• Today you had your 2month shots.  Rather fussy in the afternoon and wouldn't nurse, but after we tried a full bottle, it was like a totally different kid, much happier.
  
• In the middle of the night, sometimes, we look at the pack-n-play and there are just feet flying in the air while you're sleeping.
• Still grunting quite a bit.
• Much louder now!  When you wake up in the morning for good, most of the time you will just lay there and talk to yourself for a while.
• You like to smile, but sometimes make us work to get one out of you.
• New favorite thing is sticking your fist in your mouth.
• Rather than lay down, you prefer to be sitting as upright as possible or 'standing' on someone's lap.
  
• Tummy time is ok, but you don't like it unless you're elevated a little bit. 
• Mesmerized by ceiling fans and lately the T.V.  (better be careful about this one!).
• This month we traveled (via car) to PA then to NY and back home.  Did pretty ok with this, though after about 11hrs, you had enough of the car and were ready to get out.
• Mommy and Daddy went out to the movies while in NY and left you home with Grandma.  You didn't care and just laid around with cousin Avery the whole time.  :-)

What we've been up to:

• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
  

1 Month!

Happy 1 month Birthday Alex!

(the decals haven't arrived yet, they should have been here by now. Maybe next month!)

Sleep:

• Not too much of a routine yet. We are starting to get a little bit of a feel for your sleep patterns.
• During the night there is at least on long stretch, generally 5-7hrs (yes we had 1 - 7hr night and it was wonderful).
• You generally sleep better during the day for dad than me.
• You sometimes fight sleep and need to be swaddled and walked for a few minutes. Do not like your arms swaddled but after a few minutes give up the fight.
• If you sleep more during the day we generally have a better night.

Feeding:

• Nursing every 2-3 hours during the day.
• During the night you will give us one long stretch, though we've had a few times where you'll give us a 5hr+ and 4hr stretch afterwards.
• Started taking 1 bottle a day for the most part.
• Nursing is going well and working on building up a stash already.

Weight:

• We don't have a 1 month check-up so we you weighed at home and it looks like you are about: 10lbs 9oz

Length:

• At 2-week check-up you were 20", sounds like you shrunk from birth but most likely they just measured quickly, plus, had kind of a cone head from delivery. We'll see at 2 mo. check-up.

Diapers:

• Wearing a size 1 in disposables (I like the Huggies Little Snugglers the best)
• Decided for now, wearing disposables at night and when we go out somewhere, not ready to venture into handling cloth yet.
• Started wearing cloth diapers for the last few days and so far ok, one minor leak today.

Clothes:

• Wearing 0-3 months.
• The newborn clothes only fit for a few days.
• There is 1 brand of 3-6 I found in the closet that seem to fit already (BabyWorks). Not sure where they are from but we just have a few onsies. They seem to be shorter, glad I noticed them now and not when we started moving to the next size and realizing they were too small before you even had a chance to wear them.
• With the NC heat, spending lots of time in just onsies or just a diaper and anything one piece is better.

Personality/Likes:

• You are a grunter. Sometimes in the middle of feedings and afterwards. Sometimes in the middle of sleep. It's funny.
• Making lots more noises now.
• Generally pretty happy. Seems like you're starting to smile a little bit too (at someone, not just randomly).
• A poopy diaper generally starts with a pretty loud fart so we can tell.
• Started to like the bouncy seat and the swing a little bit.

What we've been up to:

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Newborn photos