6 months old

• Sleep is our most difficult item. Bear sleeps in bed with us 100% of the time and will cry very hard if we put him in the pack n play next to our bed. He has never woken up less than 2x between 8pm-7am and over the past several weeks, he has been waking up every 1 to 2 hours. I am pretty tired.
• Naps vary from 2 to 3 naps a day and generally last a little less than an hour.
• Sleeps on his side facing me
• Nurses every 2-3 hours during the day and every time he wakes at night
• Has 2 bottom teeth that have poked through.
• Rolls over from back to tummy and tummy to back
• Loves to be outside in the warm (not so much in the cold but doesn't fuss when in the cold)
• Has eaten steamed sweet potato's, avocado, rice cereal (all mixed with breastmilk)
• Kicks legs when in the swimming pool or bath tub.
• Loves to swim!
• Has gone to Idaho, Washington and flown to Palm Springs, CA - did very well on his flight and slept on both flights to get there and was awake but not crying on the flight back.
• Can sit unassisted but will eventually lean to far in any direction and still isn't aware of the consequences of falling over.
• Smiles and giggles, will giggle uncontrollably when tickled or when Nick nuzzles him
• Cuddles and "hugs" will hold on tight when you skip or jump while holding him
• Will bat his arm at Nick if I am holding him and Nick is goofy with him - super cute!
• Is working on the mechanics for crawling and can get onto his hands and knees for a brief moment but has yet to put together the moving part of crawling.
• "swims" on the floor kicking his legs and arms which I believe is working on crawling muscles without really knowing when needs to be done to actually crawl.
• Still loves to be around people and I am pretty sure he would be happy to be touching a person at all times.
• Loves to play"jazz hands" on our faces, will grab you cheeks, mouth and nose
• When he smiles his whole face lights up
• Says "bababa"
• Jumps in your arms, in the saucer, in the johnny jump up
• Loves people
• Below 50% in height, weight and head

5 Months Old

 One Month

 Two Months

 Three Months

 Four Months

Five Months

At 5 months:

• Waking every 2-4 hours to eat - the 4 hour intervals are few and far between. Mostly, he wakes every 3 or so.
• Sleeps his first stretch of the night in his pack n play next to the bed and the rest of the night in bed with us. 
• Naps approximately 4 times per day. He has no schedule but somewhat keeps his own. He will take a morning nap approx 1 hour after waking up, a mid day nap around 11 or 12, an afternoon snooze around 2 or 3 and a final snooze around 4 or 5. The longest nap is usually the 11/12ish nap which lasts for anywhere from 1-3 hours. 
• Is still a speed nurser and will eat in 5 minutes
• Wearing 3-6 month clothes and 6 month clothes
• Loves to cuddle. 
• Hugs with purpose
• Smiles pretty much all of the time
• Has his pacifier in most of the time and can smile a big smile while keeping it in. Other paci tricks include burping with it in place, spitting up with it in, grabbing it and pulling it out and putting it back in (not always coordinated enough to make this happen), moving it to the side and chewing on it, holding it and chewing on the sides of it. 
• Hates to be alone - will play alone on the floor when he knows you are nearby
• Has "jazz hands" - is always opening and closing his hands, touching your face or clothing, grabbing strings, petting any surface to learn about the texture
• Shakes toys, crinkles them, waves them about
• Passes toys from hand to hand
• Grabs toys with purpose and examines them
• Everything goes directly into his mouth
• Slobbers constantly
• Spits up an absolute ton!
• Knows mom and dad - lights up when he sees us
• Is beginning to discover there is another moving "person" in the house named Trooper. He will grab for Trooper and of course, Troopie like the smart woofie he is will move away. 
• Still 100% breastfed. Has licked 1 banana but has not eaten any solids. He eats every 2-3 hours during the day. 
• Has rolled from tummy to back 2x but while it is obvious that he knows how to do it, he has little interest
• Sits up unassisted for up to a minute (or so) and does especially well when he has a toy to distract him
• Works on tucking his legs up under him and then straightening them (and repeating it over and over) which I believe is the precursor to crawling
• Can stand up holding an object like a table as long as someone is behind him because he is completely unaware of the consequences of letting go
• Loves baths. He is taking baths in the big bathtub and loves it. He plays with his stacking cups and enjoys the water. 
• Loves being naked or mostly naked with just a diaper. Will smile, giggle or squeal when he realizes you are taking his clothes off and is quite smiley and delighted the whole time he is without clothes. I have to wonder if he is going to be one of those kids who takes his clothes off at every chance. I have a feeling he might be. 
• Has been to McCall, ID 2x, Whidbey Island, WA 1x and Eugene several times
• Pays close attention to what we are doing, especially interested in watching us eat!

 Falling over after sitting up like a big boy!

 Bed Head

 Giving Melman the staredown

 "Talking"

 Checking himself out

 Big guy doing a mini pushup

I call this one "the peeper" - He woke up when daddy was taking pics :)

Bear's 4 month Stats

We had Bear's 4 month appointment on 2/2/12, a little later than his real 4 month but we got it done.

First and foremost, he is healthy. 

His spitting up? Not an issue unless he wasn't gaining or was losing weight. 

His sleeping only 2 to 3 hours at a time at night? Annoying but not an issue. 

No interest in rolling over? Also not an issue. 

The Doc complemented him on having such a sunny disposition - yep, Bear has transitioned into being a little ray of sunshine. He is super smiley, giggles a lot and is generally a happy guy. When he wakes up, he is all smiles. 

Bear at 4 months

Weight: 15lb 2 oz (48%)

Height: 25 Inches (45%)

Head: 42cm (36%)

Bear at 2 months

Weight: 12lb 3oz (58%)

Height: 23.5 Inches (67%)

Head: 40cm (46%)

Bear at 2 weeks

Weight: 9lb 9oz (74%)

Height: 22 Inches (90%)

Head: 37.4cm (56%)

He is my little Shrinky Dink. But the Doc said he is growing well and that the fact that he is falling on the curve is nothing to worry about. Besides, the curve is a little skewed because there are both formula and breastfed babies on it and most (not all) breastfed only babies grow slower than formula fed babies. 

So today, on this beautiful sunny day, I am thankful for:

My healthy baby

His sunny disposition

His melt your heart smiles

Sunshine outside

An awesome run with Trooper and the stroller

4 months old

Two weeks

1 month

2 Months

3 Months

Four months

• Majorly sucking at this whole sleep thing. Usually goes to sleep around 7:30pm - 11pm, 11pm-2 or 3am, 3am - 5am or so and awake at 6am. He varies between 1.5 and 4.5 hours between feedings and generally wakes to eat and goes right back to sleep. Longer than 5 hours of sleep at a time would sure be nice!!
• Naps vary from practically sleeping all day to taking only 2 short naps. No consistency. 
• Sleeps in the pack n play next to the bed swaddled or in bed with us. Prefers to be with us
• wears carters 3 month clothes that are either terry towel material or fuzzy, 6 month carters cotton clothes, some 3 month onsies and some 6 month
• Exact weight to come in 2 weeks but weighs around 15lbs
• Eats every 2 to 2.5 hours during the day and mostly every 2 at night still exclusively breastfed
• Still loves his pacifier
• Holds toys, rattles, clothing, ect and can pass them from one hand to the other
• Loves to be held and be around people, cries when alone
• Loves to be read to
• Smiles when sung to
• Giggles when tickled
• Rumparoo diapers are snapped with 4 snaps left in middle and bumgenius with 3
• Can sit up holding your fingers
• Can do full cobra on tummy
• Stands holding one or two fingers of ours
• Chews on toys
• Drools like crazy
• Spits up a TON
• Jabbers, talks and coos
• Still has blue eyes
• Is losing his baby hair in patches and his dark baby hair is being replaced by blond hair underneath
• Still has some cradle cap
• Has not rolled over either way and shows little interest - is more interested in sitting or standing. 
• Either has his pacifier in or is stuffing his hands in his mouth. This kid really loves to have something to suck on. 
• Officially has some "stranger danger" and cries hysterically when held by someone he doesn't know. It's kind of funny (don't turn me in to the authorities!). Maybe I should just say, he is a bit of a mama's boy...ok, a lot a mama's boy. 
• Has started to "cuddle" and will hide his face in my chest
• Smiles big smiles when "baby bench pressed"
• Doesn't seem to like "new" men, even if they are men that he has been around a lot, if they haven't held him much, chances are if they try, he will MELT DOWN. 

Whats up with me:

It has been a while since I wrote about post baby life and I kind of regret not writing more, especially if we ever go on to have another baby, I certainly would like to have something to look back on to compare to. 

• I weigh anywhere from 143 - 147. 145 was my pre-pregnancy weight (yeay!) but I would ultimately like to end up around 135 or so. I am not sure if I have to wait until I am done breastfeeding before this will be a reality?
• I fit in all my jeans but not all of my suit pants. My butt and thighs seem to be smaller than they were before becoming pregnant, but my tummy is definitely bigger and needs some serious work. I have been doing ab exercises but what I think it really needs is some serious running. Good thing I am doing the 1/2 marathon in Sunriver in June...now if only it would stop raining so I could train. 
• I am sleep deprived and getting used to it. If you know me, you know I am not a good non sleeper. I am a need 8 hours a night kind of gal. I am a grouch with a capital G if I don't get enough sleep. Apparently, becoming a parent makes this a little better - I said a little. I can still get grouchy. 

Three Months Old

• Sleeping in his pack n play next to our bed, swaddled for most of the night and sleeps in bed with us for the rest of the night. 
• Sleeps 4-5 hours wakes to eat, sleeps 2-3 hours wakes to eat, sleeps 2 hours wakes
• Wears size 3 month carters, some are getting small. Fits in one 6 month Jammie but it is still long. 
• Wearing size 2 in seventh generation disposable diapers or his bumgenius cloth diapers on the medium setting
• Was watched by my sister Ali for 5 hours while we went to the Civil War Duck game, our first "date" since having Bear
• Was watched by Joni for 2 hours for our anniversary dinner on December 15
• Seems to prefer mom at night and dad in the morning
• Clasps hands together when sleeping
• Loves his pacifier
• Giggled for the first time on December 1
• Loves to stand. 
• Can sit holding your hands with no support
• Bats at toys
• Crinkles his busy bee on his car seat
• Loves to be touched - does not like to be independent or alone
• Smiles like crazy
• Coos, talks, jabbers
• Cries when tired and before falling asleep
• Rubs his eyes when tired
• Mostly naps being held (people say this is bad but he is only this small for so long - I want to enjoy every minute of him like this - besides, most of the rest of the world doesn't seem as concerned as Americans about kids being independent from a young age - I don't understand our obsession with making our kids grow up so fast)
• When "standing" marches his feet up and down
• Grasps and holds burp rags, pacifier cord, toys - but it is un-coordinated
• Looks around, follows your voice, stares into your eyes
• Still has some cradle cap
• Still startles
• Sleeps best when he has his sleep sheep (white noise machine)
• Enjoys looking at lights, the TV and anything that has lots of contrast
• Rubs his fuzzy blanket on his face
• Loves baths, smiles when soaking in the water - doesn't mind getting out
• When laying on his back, kicks legs, waves arms, bats at toys
• When laying on tummy, does mini pushup, turns head from side to side, kicks feet (swims)

Two Month Stats

Here are the stats from Bear's 2 month appointment:

Height: 23.5 inches 67 percentile
Weight: 12 lbs 3 oz 57 percentile
Head: 47 percentile

A look back at his 2 week stats

Height: 22 inches 90 percentile
Weight: 9 lbs 9 oz 74 percentile
Head: 56 percentile

Looks like he went from being on the tall and bigger end of the baby spectrum to being pretty much average. The good news is, the little guy is growing and developing more and more every day.

2 Months Old!

2 weeks

2 months

2 months

2 months

2 months

Guess who wouldn't smile...I picked a new location for the monthly pictures because the other chair didn't have good lighting. 

At 2 Months-

• Weighs approximately 12 lbs
• Sleeps anywhere from 2 to 5 hours at night - in general, he will sleep for 4 hours, wake up and eat, sleep for another 4 hours, eat and then put in one more 2 hour stretch before waking up for a little while
• Sleeping in bed with us. I took apart the co-sleeper because it was in the way and he never slept in it. 
• Sleeps well when swaddled
• Loves baths. Smiles and looks so relaxed
• My breastfeeding no foods are growing. Dairy of any kind, broccoli, cauliflour, hummus, beans of any sort. Pretty soon, I won't be able to eat anything! I feel strongly that breastfeeding is so worth the hassle and loss of foods that I would like to eat so I do it gladly (sort of)
• Spits up a lot and I think is dealing with some re-flux. He will cry like he is in pain sometimes after feeding but feels better when held upright which I think helps with the gas and reflux
• Still unlatches when eating - I am pretty sure I will never have a super amazing breastfeeder. The only thing we do super well with is speed - he eats in 5 minutes, sometimes maxes out at 10. 
• Wearing size 3 month clothes
• Smiling! He smiles in response to things now which is super fun!
• Loves to lie on his back and kick his legs, flap his arms, jabber and smile
• Jabbering and cooing like crazy!
• Can "stand" when you hold him up
• Opens and closes his hands, he does this a lot while breastfeeding
• Will hold onto things like a blanket, the burp cloth, your shirt but does it more by accident than on purpose. It is super cute though
• Responds to hokey pokey Elmo - will stop crying when he hears Elmo talk
• Likes to be held rather than put in the swing, crib or other apparatus but is happy (most of the time) on a blanket on the floor
• Has a "witching hour" which is basically anytime from 5 to 7 when he will just cry for no apparent reason. 
• Doesn't mind being licked by his doggy - I hate that Trooper licks him, not because I think it is dirty, but because I don't like being licked so I don't want Trooper to have bad habits.  
• Furrows his brow in deep thought, like me
• Loves to be held
• I left him for the first time for 2 hours with Nick's mom (grammy) while I went to a baby shower and did great. It was hard on me though. (8 weeks 2 days)
• Likes music and seems to bob to it
• Wearing his diapers on the smallest setting
• Rides well in the car
• Is using the 2+ month mam pacifier

2 weeks

3 weeks

4 weeks

1 month

2 months

Luke (6 days older than Bear, Maddie (11 days old) and Bear (8 weeks 4 days)

Blue Bear decided to ride Bear

So Bear used him as a pillow

And was surprised at how comfy he was

But then Blue Bear escaped