Solids Setback

I don't know what the deal is, but Holt is refusing solids. He was really getting the hang of it and not he won't even open his mouth. I know we have only been at it for 2 weeks now, but I thought it would get better, not worse. He used to open his mouth right up when he saw the spoon coming, now he just bites his bottom lip. It's not even in protest, it's just his favorite thing to do. I tried to tell him, "You don't get better than sweet potatoes and bananas dude!" He didn't care so much. Now he's starting to fuss through the whole process, squirm, kick, turn his head. When he does open his mouth, he eats what's on the spoon, he doesn't spit it out. So what gives? He obviously likes what it is, just doesn't feel like opening his mouth. This is getting to be very frustrating to do 3 times a day. I'm trying to be patient, but it's tough.

He should be eating several tablespoons of cereal a day and at least a 1/2 jar of food at each sitting. I'm lucky if he's getting 1/2 tblsp of cereal and a half a jar all day. He's on fruits and veggies, and he does have his favorites. At least he did. I have tried mixing them, nursing before, not nursing before, waiting until he is well rested, waiting until he is hungry. I have done every plane, train, and automobile sound that exists. I have had him watch me eat it. I've made MMM sounds AHHH sounds, pinched his cheeks and shoved it in, made him laugh and sneaked it in. In a matter of days he went from improving to not wanting it at all. It has stayed that way. Luckily, I know this is still somewhat "practice" but I'd really like to see it get better. He will eventually require these foods. Any tips other than "just stick with it?"

Baby's First Snow

Well as most of you are aware, we experienced quite a bit of snow today in DFW. I haven't really felt the need to take "Baby's First Snow Pics" until now. We have had ice for 3 days and a brief snow a few weeks ago, but this is the real deal. Holt had no idea what was going on. He had most of his fun with Daddy holding him chasing a very frisky Bentley around the yard. He already finds Bentley hilarious so throw this on top and he was in laughter heaven. I have video but until I figure out how upload it in less than 2 days on blogger, I'll skip it. Enjoy the pics below of our Baby's First Snow!




Family Footprints in the Snow

Still working on this sitting thing which resulted in a face full of snow

Winter is Here

It seems as though Winter can never enter DFW quietly. It has to bring frigid temps and coat the streets in ice to make it's presence known. Here are some pics of my house. I thought I would mosey on outside so I very carefully started to walk out my front door. I made it about 5 steps and completely busted my butt! Luckily my elbow and hip broke the fall therefore saving my iPhone and camera. Whew! I am just glad I left Holt inside. I was seriously about to carry him with me but I didn't feel like getting him all bundled up. It makes me sick to think what might have happened if I was holding him. UGH. I was being so careful and I still fell. It looks like snow, but is solid ice. Crazy! Check out the pics of my house below.

The door was practically frozen shut!


My street, the ice rink


This looked harmless, but it is where I slipped. OUCH!

Bentley saying, "Yeah, I don't think so Woman. I'm not going out there."

Stay warm, stay bundled, and be safe!

Holt is 6 months!

I love my baby! He makes me so so happy. Everyday just gets better and better. He is becoming quite curious about EVERYTHING. He grabs anything within reach and sticks it in his mouth. I'm suddenly on alert about what is around when I am holding him in the kitchen, bathroom, his room, the car...everywhere! Babyproofing is just around the corner. In the past month I feel like he has grown so much and turned into a different baby. All in a good way of course. He is mobile now. He just rolls and rolls and I find him in funny places, like under the coffee table. His little square blanket in the living room has been replaced with a queen sized comforter since we have all tile. He has also learned his name and is becoming quite the expert at sitting up. He is still a little wobbly, but is quick to correct himself. It is just so amazing to watch this little person take in their surroundings and teach themselves these new things.


When I get him in the mornings, it's the most joyful, happy feeling of my entire day. He gets this big smile and starts kicking his legs around. When I pick him up he wraps his legs around me and grabs onto my arms tightly. It's as if he is letting me know how happy he is too! Lately he has also been concentrating on faces a lot more. He will just look into my eyes and smile or he will touch my face and again smile. It's just so sweet. I want to remember these times forever!

Facts:
-Weighs 15lbs 15oz (25%)
-27inches (50%)
-Size 6-9 month clothes
-Size 2-3 diapers
-Has 7oz bottles at school or nurses 5 times/day if I am home
-Eating cereal for breakfast, a veggie for lunch and dinner. (Fruits are coming this weekend!)
-Sleeps from 8-6:30 on average, eats, then goes back down until about 8:30

Loves:
-Dogs, especially Bentley. He finds him hilarious. He cracks up when dogs bark.
-Sock animals
-Books
-Stuffed baseball
-His toys with lights and sounds
-Teething rings
-When Daddy tosses him up
-Mommy's silly faces
-The camera, he knows when to do his thing, BIG SMILE HOLT!
-His feet
-My iPhone (Shake Farm app)

Dislikes:
-Solid food, especially green beans
-Taking away a toy
-When he is alone in a room
-The Wicked Mommy of the West (this is what I call myself when I have to suction his nose out)
-Getting ready for bed (bath is great, hates the lotion and getting dressed part)

He's really still a very happy baby! We love him to pieces.

Solid Foods

We started Holt on his journey to solid foods on Saturday January 22, 2011. After 6 months of only breastmilk, he was not quite the eager beaver we had hoped for. That is to be expected. I started him off with peas for lunch on Saturday and again for dinner. He had about a half a jar at each sitting. At dinner he was all about the peas, he couldn't get enough. I was so surprised. I was thinking that was pretty easy. That night brought a whole other problem! A bellyache from all the new foods. He was up at 9,10,11,12, my mom rocked him until 1. He was up again at 2:30 and 3:45. He slept until about 8:30 after that. Luckily he just needed some comforting and went back to sleep within minutes of waking up all those times. I just rocked him in the glider. Below are his first pictures of eating peas.




After that awful night, we decided to try something else on Sunday to see if it was better for his belly. I know you are supposed to stick with the same veggie for 3-4 days, but I couldn't take another night like that. So green beans it was. Needless to say he likes peas better. I was going to post a video below but for some reason it was taking hours to upload. I'll put it on facebook instead. Here is a picture of the green beans.

Dear Breastfeeding...

Dear Breastfeeding,
Today is our six month Anniversary. We have had our ups and downs. To be honest, I thought I was going to dump you after about 3 weeks. Then I thought I would keep giving you chance after chance to prove yourself. I didn't see our relationship going past 6 months and here is why. You have made my life convenient and so inconvenient at the same time. You force me to wear maxi like pads inside my really ugly nursing bra everyday. When Holt leaves us, you sting me like needles if it would be time for him to eat. In order to stop that, you force me to hook up a machine to my boobs that makes me feel like Bessie the cow. SLURP SLURP SLURP. When I wake up in the morning I look like Pamela Anderson only to be disappointed after Holt's first feeding when I go back to looking like deflated water balloons. When I am done with you for good, I think I will get some new ones that permanently make me look like I do in the mornings. It will be the only way to get these puppies perky again. I have been a slave to a 3-4 hour time frame for 6 months now. A SLAVE I TELL YOU. When I'm out in public, you force me to feed in my car, closest dressing room, or rush home. I can get one errand done at a time. On road trips, I have had to pump in the front seat to prepare a bottle for Holt. This always brings on strange looks from the truckers in the next lane. At work I have to take 2 15 minute, awkward, pump breaks and conceal my baggie full of milk on the way to the freezer. I'm certain everyone knows what my oh so discreet black bag is for by now.

On the plus side, you help me calm down Holt in the middle of the night while he is growing or sick. Instead of having to spend 10 minutes warming a bottle in the middle of the night when Holt was a newborn, you were always ready to go. You have made him very healthy and strong. Holt has never even had a drop of formula and he is growing because of you. I know you have been good to us. This weekend I introduce a new friend, solid foods. I think I might keep you around a little while longer. But when Holt gets his first tooth, our relationship is officially over. Once I got the hang of you, you weren't so bad. Overall, I feel like Forrest Gump. "I figured since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn back, keep right on going."

Sincerely,
Mommy, Mama, Shea

SICK

I have been slacking on my blog. Basically the story around here is SICKness. Holt was diagnosed with RSV a week ago and we have been dealing with that ever since. I was home from work with him except for Wednesday when Kyle took his turn. Luckily he never spiked the fever and his oxygen levels were great. I was trying not to be the paranoid Mom by taking him to the doctor, but there was something not quite right about his cough. He had even been sleeping really well at night still. I knew when he took a 3 hour nap last Sunday, that he was not quite himself. He is known for not napping. I took him to the doctor and sure enough he had RSV. A little boy in his class was also diagnosed with RSV and they sent a letter home a few days before. I was looking for all the scary symptoms like: fever, rapid breathing, wheezing. He never had any of those, thank goodness! For the most part he has been his normal happy, smiley self. Somedays are better than others. Like today, his cough is subsiding a bit, but he will not play and wants to be held ALL the time. This nasty virus can last up to 21 days! The worst part is that there is really nothing you can do for them except WATCH. This is exhausting for a Mommy. I must be up every hour at night listening to him breath or putting my hand on his chest to see how fast it is going. I check him daily for a fever, unless I really can tell he doesn't have one. He has been getting up anywhere from 0-3 times a night coughing. If he wakes himself up too much, he cannot put himself back down. That requires some rocking or a feeding here and there. The doctor says you have to give into the feedings in the middle of the night and more frequently during the day because that is how they stay hydrated. Also exhausting for a Mommy. We've spent so much time cuddled up together this past week that he has now passed his germs along to me. I'm battling a terrible cold. The kind where when you wake up in the morning you feel like you cannot physically lift your head off the pillow because it is so heavy. The kind with a pounding in your skull and a faucet for a nose. So far it has not moved into my chest, but I wouldn't be surprised. Also, while breastfeeding, you are very limited on what you can take to make yourself feel better. Much like being pregnant again. I have only taken the plain ol' Sudafed. I don't notice much of a change.

On the bright side, Holt turns 6 months this week and we will begin solids. My mom is also going to be in town for a few days. We've both been aching to spend some time together lately so I am happy she is finally coming. If I'm not well, maybe she can take care of me. :)