Isaac's 6 Month Check Up

It's that time again!  Isaac's six month check up went very well.  The doctor commented that Isaac must think he's nine months old already.  He's starting to balance more on his own when he's sitting up, rolling over and getting up on his knee's and rocking.  He babbles in what sounds like full sentences and boy does he get frustrated when things don't go his way.  He's just a little under 18 pounds but he's 28 1/4 " in height which is still in the 97th percentile.  No wonder I can't keep him in clothes.  He's a tall and lean little boy.

His main form of nutrition will continue to be his formula until he's a year old.  We'll continue to introduce new foods and will also start introducing finger foods. The doctor also advised that he might start having more sleep disturbances at night but this was normal and only a temporary phase.  At this age the doctor also advised to get rid of the pacifier.  He stated waiting until he's older can be a real challenge and some children will even look for it or pull it out of the trash.  His guidance, cold turkey, just take it away.  That's going to be a tough one but we'll try.

With the increase in his weight and height it's also time to upgrade the car seat.  This is actually a good thing because attempting to carry him in the current carrier is a bit of a challenge.  For the sake of our backs, we'll gladly upgrade the car seat.

Last but not least was his six month immunizations.  He had four this time and one of them was a flu shot.  Oh how I hate when he cries out in pain.  The nurse was quick and I did my best to hold his hands and provide as much comfort as possible.  He did much better this time afterwards as well but they still wiped him out.  He has to go back in 30 days for a second flu shot and then he won't go back until his nine month check up.

6 Months Old!

Hello world, I'm growing by leaps and bounds!  

This was another month full of new adventures in the world of Isaac.  He likes to be comfortable and laid back and with the winter temperatures, even in Atlanta, Isaac doesn't care too much for layers.  He tries to wiggle his way out of jackets, pulls at his hat and kicks off blankets.  He doesn't shy from expressing his displeasure for the car seat.  While he does tolerate the carrier once he's all buckled in he really doesn't appreciate being confined.  I guess you could say it inhibits his ability to put his feet in his mouth! 

When cruising around in his stroller Isaac became more interested in his surroundings and started pulling himself up so he could get a better view other than looking at the sky or ceilings.  As a result, we've now starting raising the back so he can sit up more.  This was just the beginning of his increased mobility.  He may not be able to crawl yet but that does hinder his ability to maneuver around and get him where he wants to go.  He wiggles, rolls and even started reaching to pull objects off shelves.  He also mastered taking his pacifier out and putting in back it as well as spitting it out to watch it launch on the floor for the wonderful game of having me pick it back up, and then he smiles.  Isaac is still chewing on his hands and fingers deciding which ones taste better.  If I were to place bets I would suspect the thumb is going to be the winner as it's started to be the preferred soother as of late.  

He enjoys being in the high chair and has done a great job with all the new foods.  He did very well with all of the new fruits introduced in the past month.  He was even my little helper in the kitchen during the holidays by supervising the baking festivities.  Isaac was very alert and focused when I was icing sugar cookies this year! Perhaps he'll be interested to be involved next year.  :)

Isaac's expressions truly portray what he's unable to express in words.  From, figuring out new toys, studying figures or textures on his blankets, the unfamiliar texture of new foods, smiles and even frowns when something isn't going his way, he expressing everything.  The main new item this month was his aversion to loud noises.  For months he hasn't had any problems with the noise of the vacuum cleaner but this month was very, very different.  From the instant the vacuum was turned on the poor guy screamed bloody murder and had a look of shear terror on his face. Lesson learned, vacuuming is now only done when Isaac is with Frazer in the other room.  

Isaac continues to grow and at six months he's quickly out growing nine month outfits and two 12 month onesies we bought to have on hand actually fit in length and arms.  He went up another size in diapers as well.  I continue to be amazed by his curiosity and love watching him explore and discover.  He's such a loving little boy and I love that he loves to be cuddled and rocked.  I'm sure it won't last forever so I'm taking advantage of it while it lasts!

I thought I would also share some cute photos to demonstrate the amount of effort it takes to get a great snapshot of Isaac with one of his milestone stickers.  From the time the sticker is placed on his shirt he can't keep his hands off the sticker.  He pulls at his shirt to look at it and then of course he tries to taste it.  He can be a real stinker at times.  :)

Oh Boy...I'm Mobile!

Isaac got a Disney Cars walker for Christmas and while his feet didn't touch the ground initially after a couple of days he was movin'! The first time he moved backwards he was so startled I thought his eyes were going to pop out he looked so distraught.  He wasn't sure what had just happened.  Needless to say he received lots of praise and encouragement from momma.

Isaac shares his thoughts on this new experience too!

Merry First Christmas Isaac!

Merry Christmas!  Isaac had his very own stocking filled with goodies on Christmas morning.  He sat with grandpa John to explore the large fuzzy sock filled to the brim.  Initially he was more intrigued with the texture of Winnie-the-Pooh on the stocking than the contents.

Although Isaac slept well the night before there was so much going on he was yawning before the morning even began.  As each item was pulled from the stocking he conducted a full investigation.  Tags were always the first item of attraction followed by a thorough taste test.  Once a given item had been tasted it was on to texture.  Was it soft?  Did it makes noises if he scratched it?  Isaac had his own process and it worked for him.

He LOVED all of the wrapping paper and the noisier the better.  Isaac was even pretty good with unwrapping.  He's just started reaching and grasping and at his own pace he investigated each package, inspected the ribbons and once a little piece was torn for him to give him something to grip he didn't hesitate to rip it open.  However, again in his own style, Isaac would open a couple of packages and then he would be so tired from all the excitement he would tucker out.  He had several power naps throughout the day.

Isaac opened a very special package from Grandma and Grandpa Middleton addressed just to him all the way from England.  He inspected the package with the same level of attention and enjoyed the sounds of each tear followed by further crumpling.  Once inside the box he got to examine the colorful gift bag to find his very own puppy.  Frazer even helped Isaac learn how to pet the puppy.  This was a very nice, soft, furry and cuddly pup.  It passed the taste test too so it's a keeper!

He may only be six months old but after watching him experience Christmas for the first time I think he takes after his papa.  He certainly demonstrated patience and stretched the experience all day long.  He opened his last package around 5:00 pm in the evening.  Overall, it was a wonderful day, full of abundance in so many ways.  As we approached the Christmas holiday Isaac only had a couple of items to play with and he really didn't need much.  However, Christmas changed that and he is no longer lacking in items to play with.  From a teddy bear that can be connected to a computer and customized to say his name, sing and play music (From Aunt Michelle) to his lovely plush puppy and all of the noise makers in between it was a day full of blessings and one we'll never forget.  

Christmas Eve with Isaac

The festivities began Christmas Eve by attending the evening Christmas service with my parents at their church in Alabama.  Since we arrived right on time the church was full and of course the last seats available were right up front in the second row.  This actually turned out to be great since Isaac had lots of new things to keep his attention.  He loved looking around at all the bright poinsettias and glowing candles.  While we were singing Christmas carols he decided he would try to assist Papa by helping to grab at the pages of music.   During the actual service Isaac was entertained briefly by the preacher's voice but that quickly wore off as he became a bit restless.  So, what does a cute little boy do in church to keep himself occupied?  But of course, look over momma's shoulder and flirt with the ladies sitting behind us.  He smiled, cooed and then bashfully buried his head against me. Even when the lights were dimmed and everyone's candles were lit he looked around at all the flickering lights and held onto me and Mr. Puppy.  Isaac is usually very laid back with a casual demeanor and this event was no different.  He was a very good boy and seemed to enjoy another first. 

Isaac's First Visit with Santa

I've been wanting to take Isaac to see Santa for awhile now.  The last few times I've been to the mall the lines were ridiculously long.  For the most part Isaac isn't sure what all this Christmas stuff is about yet but he likes all the colorful packages under the tree, the twinkling lights and shiny objects.  So, today was the day to go see Santa.  As soon as Isaac woke up from his afternoon nap we were ready to go.  When we arrived at the mall there was no one in line and only one child in front of us.  Isaac looked around at first and was taking in the scenery and didn't seem bothered by what was going on.  I took him out of his stroller and let him look at Santa first before handing him over.  (I must say this is a strange concept when you think about it...I'm protective of my child as I'm sure many mother's are, but when it comes to the red Santa suit, we just hand them over for a picture.  There's some acquaintances that I wouldn't hand my child to.   Hmmm, strange, very strange). :)

Anyway, Isaac just looked up at Santa with complete curiosity.

Then he looked back at me and then back at Santa....

I can only imagine what was going on in Isaac's mind....
Isaac:
  Ooh, bright color.  I wonder what color this is.  I hear people say red, wonder what that means?
  This is soft...
  How can I get one of these?  This would be nice as a blanket.  Then I could lay on it

Isaac loved the fluffiness of the white trim and he just kept rubbing his little hands against the texture of the Santa suit.  Then he looked towards me and just grinned from ear to ear.  It was a great picture.  Overall I'd say he had a great visit with Santa!

New Clothes from Auntie

"Auntie", aka Jennifer, absolutely could not wait until Christmas to give Isaac his Christmas gift.  We met for lunch and she was full of excitement with Isaac's package.  I must say Isaac really enjoyed the tissue paper!  

Thank you Auntie for my new clothes!

He's not even six months old yet and this little outfit is nine months in size and it fits!  He's such a little cutie.  

My Auntie is Awesome!  He absolutely loves the colors on this shirt and kept pulling up so he could look at it.  Of course he also chewed on it a bit to check out the flavor.  It passed the Isaac test.  ;)

Wonder What I Can Get Into??

I believe my days of placing Isaac on the floor to play and expecting him to be in the same spot when I turn around are numbered.  Isaac was hanging out with a few toys in his room while I changed the sheets, started his laundry and got his bath ready.  When I came back in the room he had rolled over to the bookshelf.  Apparently, the white fluffy flowers caught his attention so he figured why not just pull them down?  Sounded like a good plan to him.  He was having a great time and must have had a ball pulling the majority of the leaves down.  I think it's about time to start paying attention to what's on shelves at his height......

Moma's little stinker!  

Shopping With Papa

This was a day of divide and conquer.  Papa took Isaac to run his errands while I tackled the grocery store!  I had a massive list of ingredients to get as I armed myself in preparation for holiday baking.  While I was out I Frazer sent me the cutest text of little man.

I'm sitting up moma. 

More and more Isaac is pulling himself forward and doesn't want to lay back unless he's sleepy.  He was to see the action and observe everything going on around him.  He's a little sponge and takes everything in!

Seriously papa, I wanna see too!

Oh Boy...A New Book!

Isaac has been growing restless the last few days with his toy mats that most require him to lay on his back with toys over head.  Even though Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, in my head it's simple justification, to provide educational toys for my son...now.  :)  Off to Toys-R-Us we go.  We had fun looking at toys and watching Isaac's reaction.  He's such an awesome little boy so how could I not get him a new book.  Not just any book.  An interactive book.  He loves it!

Crafty Hand Print Redo!

At the end of July Frazer and I had a failed attempt at creating a hand print mold for Isaac.  Over the weekend, we were running errands and popped into Hallmark and when I saw a hand print / ornament kit I had to get one.  It was a re-do that I was determined to accomplish!  This kit was actually much better.  It was much easier to mix and it didn't set as quick as the last one which is a great thing when trying to get a five month old to cooperate.  Papa held Isaac while I held the container and attempted to get Isaac to open his hand flat to press his hand into the tray.  Let's just say this took several attempts and by the time we had a great hand impression, all three of us were covered in plaster dust.  But.....mission accomplished.  The directions indicated to let the ornament set for one week.  After a week I checked the impression and it was perfect with Isaac's hand print on one side and a snowman on the other.  I love this ornament!

Another Boo Boo

Isaac and I had an outing planned to meet Ms. Jennifer for a late lunch.  I needed to brush my teeth real quick so I laid Isaac down on the bed since he had been playing on the floor for a little while.  I thought I would be a nice mommy and let him relax on a nice soft surface for a few minutes.  Well, I certainly underestimated Isaac's mobility.  By the time I had toothpaste on my toothbrush and one swipe on my teeth, I heard "thud".  I threw the toothbrush down and ran out of the bathroom.  Isaac was laying on the floor!  It was a delayed reaction and he did cry but I think he started crying when he saw me.  Fortunately he didn't hit anything on the way down and from the indentations on the bedspread, he slid down more than fall flat.  I picked him up and he only cried for a minute, then he looked at me and smiled.  I really thing I'm at the beginning of having a dare devil on my hands!  

Moma told me to stay put but I didn't listen.  I'm okay now :)

Needless to stay, he now stays on the floor while I'm getting ready and where I can see him!

Mommy's little stinker!  

Entertain Me Please

When I'm in the office trying to get a few things accomplished Isaac usually keeps himself occupied on his kick-n-play mat.  Today however.....was a different story.  This little boy was frustrated and fed up with being limited to laying on his back.  He was tired of rolling around from side-to-side or even laying on his belly and he didn't want to be held either.  No, he wanted to sit up on his own and play.  So, I got his little seat out and put him in so he could be propped up and play with his toys.  This was the ticket!  He had a blast and loved examining the toys up close.

Family Photos

Talk about being bamboozled?!  This was our first experience with family photos and something I've wanted to do since Isaac was born.  I don't remember if I received something in the mail or found something online for a family photo package for $14.99.  I made an appointment which I thought would be quicker than going as a walk-in, especially with Isaac to make sure he was well rested. Well, we arrived early for our appointment time and the place was packed.  We waited...Isaac napped which was good, for over 30 minutes.

Our name was called, it was our turn, yeah!  The photographer placed us in a variety of different poses and we moved through them quickly.  In a manner of 10 minutes or what seemed like it, we were finished.  Then we had to wait...and wait...and wait some more to review the photos and pick our poses.  While we waited, we observed the most indecisive individual.  The poor sales associate was in pure agony. Seriously, this guy took over an hour to select a picture to put on a mug.  It was actually entertaining to watch.  Anyway...it was our turn again.  When we first started, the computer screen was pulled up and then the sales associate stepped away, when he did, Frazer decided to expedite the process and fill in our contact details.  After watching and hearing the sales pitch several times we immediately cut to the chase and eliminated the need for a detailed review of products we were not interested in.  However, what must have been part of the fine print was the number of prints that needed to be selected in order to receive the high resolution digital images on a disc.  That's really all we wanted along with a couple of prints.

Let's just call this one a learning experience! I've never seen so many 8 x 10's printed!  Well....we have LOTS, and LOTS of prints.  :)  We certainly spent more than I anticipated and we now have more prints of family photos than we know what to do with.  I'm happy with how they turned out and will always cherish our first family photos!

A Letter to Isaac: 5 Months Old

My sweet Isaac,

In so many ways it's been an absolute blessing that I'm not working.  My love for you truly grows every day and I love spending every day with you and experiencing the world through your eyes.  You've grown so much and went up another size in clothes.  At five months old, you're now in 6-9 month clothing.  I also started the paperwork to get you a passport and believe it or not that prompted a great deal of discussion around your eye color.  There are days when your eyes are blue as the ocean and other days where they're brown but almost hazel like a tootsie pop.  As much as I would love for your eyes to remain blue like mine, I suspect they'll turn over the next several months to a wonderful hazel/brown like Papa.  Your hair is also starting to grow and it appears to have a very fine texture.  The color also changes depending on the lighting.  When the sun catches your face the strands of hair catch the light and shine a vibrant strawberry blonde and in the glow of the evening light it appears to have more of an auburn hue.  Papa and I both love watching you change and grow.

You experienced many new milestones this month beginning with the introduction of solid foods.  The first baby food on the list was squash.  Initially you didn't care too much for this but as a few days passed you started catching on to the concept.  I have to be honest the baby squash didn't look that appealing.  However you did like the sweet potatoes! Unfortunately, after three days they did cause you to have an unpleasant diaper rash.  No worries though.  We took a break from the potatoes and moved on to carrots with no problems.

Isaac, it is so entertaining to interact with you and help you discover the world around you.  It's an automatic response for you to put new things in your mouth!  It doesn't matter what it is, a new book, a plush toy, a blanket, your hands, and even your toes.  This month you discovered your feet and boy have you exerted a great deal of effort to reach your feet and wiggle around until your sweet little toes were in your mouth.  If you're sitting up, you bend over nose to toes and topple over.  If you're laying down and catch a glimpse of your feet, in the blink of an eye, you've pulled them into your mouth.  I've probably encouraged this with bright colored socks and pajamas that have bears, puppies or stripes on the toes. You absolutely love them!

You've also become a big helper too helping Mommy out during diaper changes. :)  As a result, you now have a special toy just for diaper change time.  Mr. Moon is your new friend and he keeps your hands busy and out of poopy messes so Mommy has less mess to clean up!

Isaac, you are a very sweet little boy and I'm proud to be your mother.  You're easily entertained with tummy time and getting stronger each day pushing yourself up and learning to sit up.  I love your cuddles, giggles and sweet little smiles.  You light up my life and melt my heart.  I can't wait to see what you discover in the next month.

Love you!

Isaac's First Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with my parents in Alabama.  We left at noon and the ride over seemed to take forever.  Traffic is always heavy on holidays and by the time we made it to the other side of the city we were all hungry.  So, after being on the road for only an hour we stopped for lunch, which took another hour.  We stopped again after another hour and a half for potty breaks and caffeine refills.  It's a ritual at this point to stop in Anniston, AL for Starbucks.  Then, back on the road again to finish the drive.  I began to wonder if we would ever get there.  With about an hour left before arriving at our final destination Isaac started getting restless, and who could blame him.  At that point, I did what any good mother would do; climb in the backseat and provide a beverage service and entertainment.  :)

After Isaac was no longer distracted by an empty tummy he figured out how to reach his toes while he was still strapped into his car seat.  He was tickled by his accomplishment as he should be.  There is a lot of coordination required to play with toes!

During the weekend Isaac started helping out with his bottle even held the bottle himself for short periods of time.  

This was also the first Thanksgiving that I got out of potato duty for the first time!  Isaac was very clingy to me during the weekend.  He would go to grandma for a few minutes then cry.  Grandpa held him for a few minutes then he cried and looked for me.  There were even moments within the first 24 hours that he wouldn't even let Papa hold him.  Isaac simply wanted the comforts of momma and that was fine with me except when it came time for food or bio breaks.  By the afternoon of the second day he had adjusted and was much more comfortable.  He even joined us for Thanksgiving dinner from the comforts of his portable play pen.

I must say it was a weekend for a lot of reflection and there was a lot to be thankful for.  It's a simple reminder how life can change for the better in ways I could have never imagined six years ago.  The direction of my life took a pivotal change in 2005.  It was the first time I had ever spent Christmas with Dad, ever.  In a span of 5 years I experienced tremendous personal growth, grew closer to my family, traveled internationally, and made a very important decision to quit my job.  If I had not have changed jobs I wouldn't have met Frazer.   Last year was Frazer's first Thanksgiving with my family and I was thankful then.  This year, with Isaac is just icing on the cake.  So thankful to have a new family of my own.  So blessed to have such a wonderful husband who showcased his mashed potatoes last year and got me out of potato duty this year!  Who knows where we'll be in 5 years.  Where ever it is, I know it will be awesome!

Nap Time
Grandpa John and Isaac

Isaac's First Play Date

A friend of mine, Kali, is a full time nanny and she was able to help out in a pinch one afternoon when I had to go to the dentist to get a filling fixed.  Novocaine, dentistry drills and a dentist with hands in your mouth isn't the kind of situation I wanted to be in with an infant in tow.  So, Kali came to my rescue on short notice and we made a play date out of it!

Now, if you can believe, Parker is only two weeks older than Isaac and in this picture he makes Isaac look tiny.  When Isaac met Parker his face light up and he couldn't stop smiling.  It was super cute.  Isaac and I have spent a lot of time in front of the mirror and he loves to look at his reflection and touch the mirror.  In this case, it was a REAL baby that he could touch and from his reaction he thought that was super cool.    They had a good time hanging out with each other.  We'll definitely have to do it again!

Pumpkin Flavored Fingers

Thanks momma for making me fresh pumpkin yummies to eat.  The pumpkin sure does make my fingers taste better!

I'm covered in pumpkin papa! I'm saving some for later. ;)

Mr. Not So Happy Pants

For a day and a half Isaac had really not been feeling well and was super fussy, irritable, and restless. Nothing was providing comfort.  His temp was a little elevated and he was chewing on anything he could put in his mouth.  After trying several things I gave in, packed him up and headed to the pharmacy for some Children's / Infant Tylenol.

This was my first time buying medication over the counter for Isaac and of course the closest store was WalMart.  That was a fiasco. After standing in line forever to clarify something with the Pharmacist, the Pharmacist indicated I needed a different brand a asked a store clerk to grab  the correct item.  Apparently, it was the store clerks first day and was absolutely lost. So, we left and went to Walgreen's Pharmacy.  Success! After a small dose, a full tummy and a long nap, he was finally feeling much better.

Sweet Dreams

I absolutely struggle to contain myself from taking pictures of Isaac when he's sleeping.  It's the most precious of all moments to me and there is nothing better than when he snuggles up close and drifts off to dream land.

Frazer had to go out of town overnight so I didn't want him to miss out on being able to tuck little man in for the night or miss out on on being able to see Isaac sleeping.  Gotta love being able to send pictures via text messages.

He doesn't always like to go to sleep.  He's so afraid he might miss something and struggles to keep his eyes open but sleep eventually wins out.  This is how he fell asleep for his morning nap.  Not the most comfortable position for nap time but it seems to work for him......

My absolute favorite since holding him in my arms for the first time is having him sleep on my chest.  Isaac had a few meltdowns in the afternoon and he finally gave up the ghost during cuddle time and feel asleep on my chest.  He slept so long I was able to take a quick nap myself!  How can you not love that face! :)

Sitting Up is Hard Work

After Isaac's morning yummies he spent some time in his little seat that is designed to help him learn to sit up.  Isaac was very vocal about his experience and it was something I just had to capture.   

Who is that Baby in the Mirror?

Video: 

Should I Eat Baby Food or My Foot??

It's an amazing process to experience the simplest things in life through the eyes of a baby and there are no dull moments.  To such a small person with only four plus months of experience in life everything is new, fascinating and mesmerizing.

Thoughts from Isaac:
  Mommy, where are you taking me?
  What is this seat contraption you're putting me in?
  Hmm, I'm sitting up on my own and I can see all kinds of things.
  I don't know what they are but I see them.
  What is this thing you put around my neck and why is it there?
  Ooh, it's a bright color, I wonder what it tastes like??
  More of this slimy stuff, is this really food?
  These are kind of sweet, I guess it's not that bad but the texture sure is strange.
  Wonder if it tastes better if I put my fingers in my mouth.
  Oh wait, that thing at the bottom of my leg is moving, I wonder what that is?

  Sorry, momma, the food stuff will have to wait, I have to check out this thing that's wiggling.
  It seems to be attached to me.
  Oooooh, stripes.

  Hmmm, how I can get my hand, my foot and that food stuff in my mouth at the same time??

Clearly I couldn't help but take pictures to capture this moment of genuine curiosity.  So many things to explore and of course they must all be explored at the same time.  The contrasting stripes on his pajamas certainly provided a great deal of entertainment for him and why not combine entertainment with food? What ever works, right?  :)

Oh Boy....Baby Food...Yuk!

October 31, 2011 marked the first day of introducing solid foods to Isaac.  The pediatrician provided a list of foods and a rotation schedule to follow to start the introduction of foods and flavors.  We are to start with about a tablespoon of selected food after his morning bottle and stay the course until he likes it.  Once he likes it, then move to the next item on the list.  The first item becomes lunch and the second item becomes the new breakfast food.  Well, easier said than done!

First item on the list, Squash.  Now I have to be honest, this is the first time I've ever bought baby food and I know it's simply pureed but the squash looks gross.  I even had a small sample and it's nothing I would eat either, at least not without plenty of seasoning.  

Okay momma, what is this strange stuff you're putting in my mouth??  Num, num, num, num.

I'm not sure I like this stuff momma....

Feeding food to Isaac is pure entertainment.  With each bite he would scrunch his face and crinkle his nose.  He moved his tongue around trying to taste but had more fun pushing the food back out.  He's also very expressive and animated with his hands right now so in between bites his fingers go right in his mouth or he would grab the bib and put it in his mouth.  In a matter of seconds Isaac was quickly covered in squash and momma too.