Splish Spash

Well we had a busy day today! We started the morning by checking out the Methodist Church by us. It was a special day there where they were kicking off the new school year so all the groups had displays set up, and there was a New Orleans style jazz band performing music. So, safe to say it was pretty different from how it normally would be! We'll go again next week to see what it's really like. On the plus side, though Alex LOVED the music! He was bouncing on our laps and even joined in the singing a few times. He was all grins! We'll definitely check this place out again, it seems to have a great focus on kids and is a really nice setting.

Then this afternoon we went to the Rec Center and went swimming! They have a great little splash area for the kids. It has a soft floor and lots of spraying, dumping, bubbling water toys. We hung out mostly on the outskirts of the water chaos and left all that fun to the bigger kids, but Alex did love sitting next to one of the little bubbling deals and feeling it on his hands and feet. He also loved just bobbing in the water with Mama and Daddy. I think we'll do this again! Plus he looks DARN CUTE in his little swim trunks, don't you think?

Finally - some new PICTURES!!

I just love my baths.

And I look so cute in my hoodie towel!

I'll chew on anything these days.

Me and Daddy

Sitting by the pool with Mama.

I liked dangling my feet in the water!

Such a precious baby boy.

Is there anything sweeter?

Mmmmm. Oatmeal Baby.

I'm definitely getting the hang of this whole eating thing.

Catching Up

Long time no post! Alex brought home a tummy bug the weekend before last, so all three of us were down for the count with that one. Dan and Alex were hit the hardest poor guys. But everyone started feeling better last Monday thank goodness. We go this Friday for a weight check for little guy so we weren't real happy that the tummy bug probably set him back a bit again, but we'll see. He looks bigger to Mama and Daddy!

Last night Alex ate a ton of oatmeal.... and actually ATE it! A few more weeks and we'll try some veggies... mmmmmm. We'll probably try rice cereal again to see if he likes it better this time around.

The Great Sleep Project continues. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and we're not sure when it will or why. Saturday night he slept from 8 until 4:30 and only stirred a few times, but didn't need anything from us. Then last night he woke up about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours! We're really trying to let him fuss and fall back asleep on his own, but we never know what's going to work. I guess it's just a process. We're doing our best to be consistent in our responses - like not picking him up, giving him a few minutes before we respond, etc. The problem is he's not consistent with what he needs! Friday night I went in to check on him when he was crying and he'd wet through his diaper, so I had to change him (luckily I've been smart and put puddle pads under him when he sleeps so I don't have to change the sheet in the middle of the night!). Then a few hours later when he was fussing I heard him fill his diaper and I can't let that sit, either, so another change of diaper and then rocking to sleep. Dan and I take turns checking on him unless I know it's time for him to eat. I thought that would help with us each taking turns getting some more sleep, but usually once we wake up we stay awake until Alex goes back to sleep regardless of whether we're the one with him or not! So we're ALL anxious for the full night's sleep to come soon.

Still no more progress on the tooth. Bugaboo gets fussy from time to time and attacks anything he can get near his mouth with the ferocity of a puppy! He's got some powerful little jaws, too! I'm guessing it'll take a few more weeks before we see a pearly white.

Little Man is REALLY trying to crawl now. He'll roll onto his tummy and then just start squirming like mad! He also loves turning around, so he'll wiggle himself in circles and arch his back and squirm. It's like a little baby break-dance. He's also almost sitting up on his own. He'll stay for 5-10 seconds if we get him balanced and prop him up on his hands. He loves sitting up and reaching for things, though, so as he reaches he topples over. It's really very funny because he'll topple and roll and then look like "WHOA, what the heck just happened?!?" and then grin. He also loves to stand, and will hold himself in a standing position if you put his hands on something. He looks so proud of himself when he's doing all these things, too, it's really hard not to just eat him up with a spoon he's so darn cute.

We took some more pictures this weekend so I'll post those tonight!

Could it be...?

Mr Man was pretty fussy yesterday, and we think that Grandpa Wheeler spotted why... there's a TOOTH trying to come in. Yup, a nice little white nub pushing up through his bottom gum. We're pretty sure that's the culprit, Mama and Daddy and Grandma all saw it. No fever or runny nose, but lots of fussing and some major crying at 2:30 this morning. We hope it breaks through quickly, poor little guy does not look happy. :(

We'll keep you posted, and hopefully soon will post a picture of the TOOTH!

Bouncy Bouncy

We got Bugaboo an "activity bouncer" this weekend... he LOVES to bounce and just chatters up a storm while he's playing!

Taking after Mama and Daddy already...

So our little Mr Man is eating cereal now! Rice cereal wasn't a favorite so we've switched to oatmeal and that seems to be going down much better. I still can't say he's actually eaten a lot, but we try twice a day and I'm pretty confident that he gets at least one solid spoonful swallowed. We've also begun to use the highchair and oh boy do we have a big proud boy sitting up so straight and strong! He likes his new vantage point and thinks that the tray is just SO interesting. I had to give him his own spoon to hold while I feed him because he keeps trying to grab the one with the food on it. Since he loves to wiggle so much we've already had flying food as he's knocked my hand, but he doesn't seem to mind, even when a giant glob landed on his eye. True to Bugaboo temperament his eyes got HUGE and then he just grinned! So we're pretty sure that Alex is going to take to this eating thing just fine. The boy already loves his food, just like his parents!

And also just like his parents Alex loves to read! Or at least it

looks to us like he does :)

Roll-ey Poll-ey

First, and update on the Great Sleep Project...

Night #3... dinner at the Grandparents Wheeler, or as Uncle Steve W proclaimed it, "The Last Supper on Danube". Morbid, huh? Bugaboo bounced his way happily through dinner and like a champ stayed awake and entertained us all (more on this later) as we hung out awaiting the arrival of the Lees from Utah. Unfortunately 8PM rolled in before the Lees did, and little man just couldn't fight the sleep monster any longer, so away we went for the 2 minute drive home. Two nights in a row of being out past bedtime also meant skipping the bath again because he was SO tired. (Yes, we have an UNCLEAN child... fear not, we'll soap him up extra good tonight). Fed, bundled and snuggled, down he went. And cried. But only for 5 minutes! I braved it out (forced myself into the kitchen to wash and prep bottles for today so I wouldn't be tempted to cave) and just as I was heading up to comfort him he faded off. I did pat him a bit as he sort of whimpered, but he was mostly asleep so does that really count? It was more for my comfort than his, really. We all know who the bigger baby in this duo is. :) He did wake up at 9:30, but all I had to do was pat him a bit and roll him back onto his side again and he was out like a light. Until 2:30, when he ate and then... cried. But only until we re-burritoed him and then he conked out and I had to wake him at 6:30. I can deal with the 2:30 waking for now. It's easier to get some good sleep after that one. The 4:30 waking came too close to my 5:15 alarm clock to really warrant going back to sleep. Of course the goal is NO waking until 6:30, but it's only day 3. We can do this! :)

Rice cereal is going, well, everywhere. He did swallow a few good spoonfuls last night. The majority of our efforts ended up on him, though. But he smelled yummy!

So Daddy was changing him out of the rice cereal soaked onesie and of course, being naked AND on his back Alex was in 7th heaven. He was talking and wiggling and... rolling! Now, he has rolled from his back to his front consistently, flopping over like a fish the instant you put him down, for some time now. His very first rolling performance was from front to back, but he only did that for a week before he decided the other direction was more fun. So, he'd flop onto his belly and... stay there. He'd get stuck. Well, sort of. Now he'll pull his little knees up under him and stick his tush in the air and propel himself forward (yes ALMOST crawling... more just scooting - which is still way too early in my opinion, but that's what happens when you're parent to Super Baby). However, last night, before our very eyes (and there were lots of eyes!) Mr. Man did back to front to back to front (yes, 3 rolls!!) in a split second. Yup, before we really knew what happened he had rolled himself right off the blanket! Yea Bugaboo!!! He was SO proud of himself and we all erupted in applause and laughter and it was wonderful :)

Uh-oh. He's mobile.