6 months old!

Hi, my name is Jack and I am 6 months old today.  It is a BIG birthday for me because I am half a year old!  My mama says the time has flown and a little boy has taken over her baby :)  Here are some facts about  my life:

• I weigh about 16 pounds (we will know for sure on Monday at my checkup) and Mama says I carry my weight in my legs and Daddy calls me Thunder Thighs.
• I am wearing 9 month clothes and a size 2 or 3 diaper...both fit right now.
• My Mama nurses me in the morning and at night and I get an 8oz bottle of stored breast milk and another 8 ounce bottle of formula during the day.
• I eat about 2 jars of baby food a day, plus 1/2 a banana, oatmeal, yogurt, and any mushed up veggies that Mama cooks for supper.
• I love my sippy cup and drink a little apple juice with water every afternoon.
• I like puffs, but still have a hard time getting them in my mouth.
• I get up on my hands and knees and rock, but can't figure out how to get anywhere.
• I am a pro at sitting up and can reach for toys without falling over.
• I have just started going from the sitting position to all fours, then back to sitting, but it takes me awhile to do this :)
• I wave my arms up and down really fast when I get excited about something.
• I just started squealing and I love to babble using m, b, & p and blow raspberries.
• I discovered my tongue last week and love to play copy cat with Daddy.  He sticks out his tongue, then I stick out mine.  I LOVE to blow raspberries with my tongue out, especially when I have a mouth full of food!

• I still don't have any teeth, but I chew and slobber on EVERYTHING!
• I LOVE to give kisses and will kiss whoever is holding me.  I like to give long, wet, slobbery kisses on the cheek and I even have sound effects!
• I like my paci, but am not attached to it. I only take it when I am sleepy.  Lately I have started putting my thumb in my mouth.  My mama says it is cute, but then she says "Get that thumb out of your mouth!"
• Mama said she is going to make Daddy lower my bed this weekend because I tried to pull up on the side of the bathtub earlier this week so she decided it was time for the bed to go down.
• I sleep from 7:30 pm to 7:00 am.  I take a 2 hour nap in the morning, a 2 hour nap in the afternoon, and a 30-45 minute catnap in the late afternoon.  Sometimes I wake up at 5:00 in the morning and Mama lets me get in the bed with her and Daddy...I LOVE to get in the big bed!!!
• Mama or Daddy rock me to sleep at night, but during the day Mama rocks me for just a minute then puts me in my bed awake.  She tells me I need to go to sleep on my own.  I like to talk to my bunny for a few minutes, then most of the time I fall asleep with no or just a few tears.
• I LOVE to be outside and play in the grass.  It feels so funny on my toes and Mama lets me sit and rub my hands over the grass.  I can't wait to be old enough to play in the dirt!
• I also love my stroller and we try to stroll every morning and every night.  I especially love it when Cuba gets to sit on the front of my stroller!
• I don't mind my carseat these days and like to look out the window and play with my toes when I am riding in the car.
• I sit like a big boy in the buggy at the grocery store and Mama says it is so much easier taking me shopping.   Daddy even let me go with him to Home Depot earlier this week.  I sat in the buggy and Daddy taught me all about tools and boy stuff.  Mama said she had fun being at home alone while we were on our "boy trip".
• Cuba is still my best buddy!  I like to pull his hair and have even pulled out a few chunks, but Cuba doesn't seem to mind.  He likes to lick me and eat my puffs that I throw on the floor.
 

• I love toys, but I love books even more!  Mama says I am going to be such a smart boy because I love to read so much, but really I just like the pictures and like to chew on the cardboard...sssshhhh, don't tell Mama that!
• Daddy has been practicing calling ducks with my help. He quacks and I squeal and laugh.  Daddy says he is training me so I can call the ducks for him in a few years!
• Mama is going back to work next week (just 2 half days), but I know I'm going to be OK!  My CC is going to come play with me 1 day a week and I get to have a babysitter the other day!  Somebody needs to tell my Mama that she is going to be OK too!
• Mama and Daddy tell me that they can't remember what they did before I was here.  I bet they never laughed because whenever they are laughing it is at or with me!  Mama says this is a really fun age and that she loves to watch me learn new things everyday. 

The Bottle

Yesterday we introduced Jack to "the bottle" (of formula, that is).  I am proud that I have made it 6 months without supplementing, but was really hoping I could nurse for an entire year then go straight to cows milk.  I was lying to you and myself last week when I said our new schedule had "greatly increased" my milk supply.  After trying everything to get things to improve, I realized I have been stressing out over it and we just need to go with the flow :)  I have enough breast milk stored up for him to have a bottle a day for about 2 weeks and am going to try to continue nursing in the morning and at bedtime, but Jack will get 1-2 bottles of formula during the day.  Jack has done great with the 2 bottles he has had so far, but it is so funny to watch him take that first drink.....he definitely knows it is not Mama's milk and it takes him a minute to decide it is okay to drink.  Allen decided to "document" the first formula feeding. 

He already has learned that he can get his milk faster from a bottle and this morning he let me know he would rather have a bottle than nurse....hurt my feelings a little. As bummed out as I am about this, Allen is pretty excited....He is already planning a weekend get away for us now that I don't have to have Jack in tow :)

A weekend full of family!

Jack and I had a long weekend in Grenada while Allen cheered for the Bulldogs in Starkville.  We headed to Grenada to keep my mom, aka Nana, company since she is recovering from surgery.  Sorry I don't have a pic of you and Jack, Mom....but you probably would have killed me for posting one if I did have one :)  Jack loves going to Nana's house and playing with her toys!  She has a few new ones, but his favorites are Uncle Cade's old toys.  Saturday afternoon Aunt Mea Mea was home too and she took Jack outside to play with the dogs, Mallie and Doc.  She let him get up close and personal with Doc! 

Mea Mea taught Jack how to throw the ball for the dogs (left-handed for his CC).  

Playing with the dogs wore Jack out, so Pops took over and let Jack take a little snooze.

Friday night was Kirk's Homecoming and Cade had his own little fan club up in the stands. I think the only ones not in the picture, but who were there to cheer Kirk to victory were Meagan, Grandaddy, and Allen. 

Those pictured are Pops (my dad in the navy polo), Betsy, John Thomas, Aunt Mar, Chris, Me, AnnMama with Jack, Ayden, & Uncle Dent. (oh, and my friend Natalie's head in the bottom left...haha).

Late Friday night, Jack's cousin, Caroline Staley, arrived in Grenada from Conway, Arkansas.  We spent the rest of the weekend trying to get a good picture of an almost 6 month old and a 5 week old together....not possible! 

 Isn't she precious!  I had already forgotten how tiny and cuddly little newborns are.  All the playtime wore these little munchkins out!

We had a great weekend and Jack had so much fun meeting cousins Caroline Staley and Chris Moody, and meeting Uncle Dent!

Back on a Schedule!

I don't think of myself as a "hyperscheduling" person, yet I LOVE when Jack is on a schedule!  I didn't put Jack on a schedule until he was about 11 weeks old and he began sleeping through the night.  Before then, I was an on demand nurser and he napped between feedings.  Once we got into a routine and had scheduled feedings, our days became SO much easier! A month ago we abandoned that wonderful schedule because of a low milk supply and It was back to demand feedings all day long.  Thankfully after help from my lactation consultant, lots of nursing, and LOTS of water, things have greatly improved and we are BACK on schedule!!!....a different schedule that it.  I am nursing Jack more frequently than before, but that is fine with me and Jack doesn't mind ONE BIT!  Now that we are back on schedule, Jack is taking 3 GREAT naps a day...Oh how I LOVE naptime :)

One of the "extra feedings" in our new schedule is a late night feeding right before Allen and I go to sleep.  Jack is always sound asleep when I get him out of his bed and into ours for that feeding.  He wakes up enough to realize where he is and he gets so tickled to be in bed between Mama and Daddy (he has never slept with us, so this is something very new to him).  He will lay his little head down and be almost asleep, then realize Daddy is right beside him, so up pops that little head and a huge smile on his face.  When he finally falls asleep I move him back to his room.  It is probably my favorite part of the day!

Daddy's Boy

Jack might be a little attached to his Mama, but if his daddy is in the room he only has eyes for him!




"I want to be just like my Daddy when I grow up!"

 


"Cuba and I love to watch Daddy working in the yard.  I can't wait to be big enough to help Daddy."




"Daddy makes me laugh ALL THE TIME"



 "Mama told me that tonight is Boys Night...I can't wait!  She is playing Bunco tonight and while she is gone, Daddy is in charge......YIPPEE!!!!!!"





Crawling?????

Hey Mom, you want me to crawl for you?



Just kidding!  I don't know how to crawl yet :)

When I looked over and saw Jack on all 4's the other day, I nearly had a stroke :)  He has just started to get up, but he normally keeps his head (face down) on the floor then scoots forward....this is why my child has a carpet burn on his nose :)  I'm hoping we have a few more weeks before the crawling begins.  I need to hang pictures on the walls and unpack the last few boxes before I can even think about baby proofing the house!

Beep Beep

Jack's new favorite words to hear...Beep Beep.

Jack's CC gave him this little car and it is his new favorite thing.  Jack and his daddy have played cars every night his week.  I love to sit back and watch them play with "boy toys" :)

Puppies and Puffs

Jack has a best friend. His name is Cuba.  Cuba has done so well with Jack since the day we brought him home from the hosptial.  Cuba loves to kiss Jack, but knows that one lick is enough UNLESS Jack is eating yogurt.  Jack just started eating yogurt and he loves it and loves to share it.  This is the only food that he makes a mess with.  He puts his fingers in his mouth and gets yogurt everywhere, then wants to share with Cuba.  When Jack is finished he sticks his hands out for Cuba and we tell Cuba to "Clean him up!".

This is how Jack and Cuba roll!  Jack shares the stroller too!  Cuba is a spoiled little pup and would rather ride than walk. 

Cuba also has helped Jack learn how to sit up.  I think we can officially say Jack is a sitter! If I put Jack down with Cuba in front of him, he will just sit there and look at him (and try to reach and pull his hair).

If you don't know what Puffs are, they look like a big cheerio and they dissolve in a baby's mouth, which makes it a perfect "practice" finger food.  Jack isn't really ready for them yet, but I bought a box anyway so he could practice on his fine motor skills (the therapist coming out in me). He gets so excited when I put one in front of him and works so hard to pick them up, but doesn't yet have the skills to get those little things to his mouth.

He needed a little help from Mama.

Jack is doing great in his highchair and I FINALLY found and ordered a new kitchen table yesterday and it will be here soon, so we can sit down and have dinner together as a family (something that hasn't happened since we have been in the new house).

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

Mississippi Football

Little Jack might grow up a confused little boy.  He lives where all the Rebels live, but his Daddy takes him to see the Bulldogs on the weekends :)  Jack went to the MSU ballgame tailgate last weekend.  We decided it might be a little loud for him in the stadium, so he played at the tailgate then got to go home and go to bed early.  We had such a good time seeing Allen's college buddies and lots of Grenada folks. 

Daddy's little Bulldog

Worn out!   CC letting me rest on her shoulder.

After watching Uncle Cade WIN Friday night, Jack watched the Ole Miss game with his best buddy, Wyatt, on Saturday night.  These little boys have been best buds since Jack was born and it is so fun to watch them "play" with each other now. 

Daddy telling Jack that he still loves him even though he is wearing his Ole Miss shirt.

Jack meets Silas & Avery

My mom and I took Jack downto Jackson last week to meet the Warf twins.  Jack ackowledged both babies then was happy to be put on the floor to play.  While Jack played, I got to love on these sweet babies!  They are both SO adorable and we can't wait to see then again!

I am holding little Avery, big boy Jack, and Mama Meredith has sweet Silas

Who's Who?

I have been told that my son looks like me.  I didn't really believe it (well, maybe a little bit) until I ran across this baby picture of mine.  What do you think?

The smile

The hair

The eyes

Like Mama, Like Son

Sorry Daddy....maybe the next one will look like you :)