Eight Months Old

Posted on October 14th, 2008 by Jill

I suppose I can’t start every post with the phrase, “I can’t believe Mac is already…” but if I could I would!  He has now been out in the world almost as long as we had to wait after finding out he was coming (about 7 days shy).

Mac has made some huge developmental changes this month.  The biggest is he is finally CRAWLING for real, on his hands and knees!  He started to do that consistently just last week.  He continues to be able to pull himself up to standing with less and less support, on just about anything he can reach.  This is causing a few bumps and bruises since he doesn’t always know what can and can not hold him!

As you can see on the video, which we haphazardly caught yesterday during play time, he is also developing some communication skills - namely, letting us know when he wants something he can’t have… I hesitated leaving it in, but it’s so darn cute, I just had to share it.  He really wanted to climb up the tripod and play with the camera when I was recording the first part.  I kept telling him “no” and moving him away, then I ended up lying down in front of it to block him.  You can also see him crawling and a little bit of pulling himself up.

Video length = 8:38

He’s added some consonants to his speech “vocabulary” which is right on track with where he should be developmentally, according to the 8-month check from the Hennepin County Follow Along Program for which we signed up when he was born.  They send a question/activity sheet that we fill out, and they let us know how he’s doing according to “normal” development.  It’s a way to catch signs of developmental delays early.

His second tooth has poked through on the bottom, so both are through with very little complaining from him.  You can almost see it on the still image for the video - I’ll have to see if I can get a better one.  The little guy’s a real trooper!  We think the top ones aren’t too far behind and are hoping he continues to go through teething as well as he has so far.

He’s fascinated with faces right now.  He’ll grab at our faces when we’re holding him, and he grabs at my mouth when I’m singing to him.

He is able to anticipate some things too.  My mom noticed that when I went to close the microwave door, he blinked as if to anticipate the sound.  I saw him do the same thing as I was closing the car door the other day.

After a full month in daycare, it would seem Mac is adjusting quite well.  And his mom and dad seem to be surviving too.  Jeremy says Mac is “very excited” when going into Jane’s, convinced he knows that’s where he gets to play.  He naps well and eats well for the most part - two things that would be signs of him not adjusting to a new situation.  Henry (4 years old) loves to play with Mac.  Jane said when Mac wakes up from his nap, Henry asks if he can “go get him.”  Jane said he goes up and plays hide-and-seek with him, hiding and popping out from under the crib, and she hears belly-aching laughter coming from both of them!  She said Henry is also sad to see Mac is gone when he comes back from preschool on the days Mac gets picked up early by my friend Lisa.  How blessed we are… I am reminded frequently and count my blessings daily.

Mac is still very good about being taken everywhere we go (usually).  He has been able to go with us when we go out to dinner, to his cousins’ sporting events, and even to work or volleyball games with me.  Although he can get fussy and tired of being stuck in his seat, he does very well overall.  Last week I took him to Timmy’s soccer game that started at 7:00 p.m.

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Filed under: Mac, baby development, family, video

Pulling Up to Stand

Posted on September 25th, 2008 by Jill

Here’s the video I caught yesterday of Mac’s latest trick - pulling himself up to standing in his crib.  He’s doing it more places now too… on the walker, furniture, bins at daycare…

Video length = 4:31

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Tooofers!

Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Jill

Yes, as we were all enjoying a meal together tonight, a rarity in itself these days, I noticed Mac’s first tooth coming in.  He was giving me a big smile, mouth gaping as always, and I noticed a much whiter spot than usual so went in for another look.  Sure enough, Jeremy saw it too - teething has begun.

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First Sleepover

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by Jill

Mac had his first sleepover this past weekend. He stayed at Grandma’s while we were at a friend’s wedding, and we decided it would be best for him to stay overnight since it would be late when we got home. Since he’s not nursing anymore (has been fully weaned for over a month now), we don’t have to worry about that part, and he seems to be pretty flexible as far as where he sleeps.

He did very well. The report was that he had a bath and went to bed around 7:30, woke at 6-something, then went back to sleep until Grandma woke him around 8:30. She couldn’t believe how long he could sleep! He didn’t seem at all scarred by us leaving him - I guess that is good and bad. Part of me wishes he’d miss us (maybe he did) and the other is very glad he can be away from us and still keep to his routine and be comfortable. I suppose it is partly because we’ve already asked so much of him and forced him to be flexible in various situations. Hopefully that continues and he doesn’t suffer from too much separation anxiety. I’m sure right now it’s harder on us! It was strange to be in the house without him overnight. Jeremy and I both thought it was weird walking past his bedroom because the door was wide open, which it usually isn’t when he’s in there sleeping. But we slept fine and didn’t worry about him one bit. We are reminded again how lucky we are to have family members close-by who love him so much and take such good care of him. Even though kids were welcome at this wedding (take a look at the pictures - there were lots there who were up late!), I know he had much more fun with Grandma, and we were able to relax and have fun too!
104_0109 104_0131

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Filed under: friends, fun

Sitting Up

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by Jill

I finally caught Mac’s (former) latest trick on tape, and of course by the time I have it all edited and ready to post, he has a NEW trick!  He can now, as of early last week, pull himself to standing in his crib.  We knew it wouldn’t be long.  He can’t quite get the hang of letting himself down gently either, so he’ll actually get pulled up and then cry because he’s stuck.  Little bugger.  For now, enjoy the video…

Video length = 6:46

I’ll work on getting the next one out for you as soon as I can catch him in the act.  I have some pictures of it that will be posted on Flickr soon.

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7 Months Old

Posted on September 14th, 2008 by Jill

IMG_0116 Mac has really changed quite a bit this month.  He continues to surprise us by being such a good baby, and he keeps growing and getting better at moving around, sitting up, eating, and all the other stuff he’s supposed to be doing at his age.

He is still eating mostly baby food in addition to four or five bottles each day, which is normal.  We try to give him a taste of whatever we’re having, but with our crazy schedules right now, we figured we’d better at least make sure he gets baby food and cereal, since our meals are pretty inconsistent.  He works on his fine motor skills by eating Kix or something similar off his tray and continues to improve each time at getting the food into his mouth and keeping it there!

He is scooting quite a bit now, most often if we put some electronic device in front of him - phone, remote, etc.  He moves forward well, either on his belly using his knees or feet to propel him, or sometimes even up on his knees and hands, but he usually collapses after moving one of those forward.  He seems to have skipped the phase where most kids scoot backwards first, but at least he’s making some progress!  I have seen him sit up himself a few times now, but I haven’t been able to capture it on video.  Hopefully I will catch some this week, which looks to be slightly more relaxed than last.

Mac adjusted quickly to his new (hand-me-down) crib from Julie that we finally got set up last Wednesday.  He seems to like the space.  He must be able to sleep well and/or keep himself occupied, because when Jeremy and I got up at 10:00 (yes, 10:00 A.M.) this morning, he was awake, still happily just looking around.  I heard him around 8:00 when I got up, but I went back to lie down until he started fussing… which never happened… so I fell back to sleep!  It was a glorious morning - I can’t remember the last time I got that much sleep!  Good way to start another long week.

He seems to have adjusted well to his new schedule.  He wakes in the morning sometimes when I’m getting up at 6:30.  Sometimes he is awake for good, and other times he’ll go back to sleep.  He naps pretty well at Jane’s, and when I’ve gotten him around 2:00, he naps again later in the afternoon at home.  He has been going to bed between 7 and 8 at night, which gives me some time to get things done before I have to get to bed.  Our arrangement of Jeremy getting him to Jane’s in the morning seems to be working and allows me to walk to work!  I mentioned in my last post how blessed we are with help from family and friends.  A mom from school who is also a volleyball coach (and mother of five, including a new four-month-old little girl who will eventually be Mac’s classmate!), and lives in Eden Prairie where Jane is, has graciously offered to pick up Mac for me on days I have volleyball practice after school.  I actually asked her if she’d be willing to do that so I don’t have to deal with rush hour traffic, and she said that she would love to - and would do it other days as well!  She has to come in to pick up her kids at school anyway, and I’d do the same for her if the roles were reversed.  She picked him up last week and watched him for me during my practice then brought him to me two other days last week.  Hopefully that continues to work out, because it is wonderful to be able to see him right after work AND not have to deal with traffic!  I have offered to help her out as well, either taking her kids while she has practice or letting them come to my house when she is going to be late or something.  Hopefully the situation will be beneficial to both of us!

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Brief Update

Posted on September 10th, 2008 by Jill

Just wanted to share a big accomplishment by our little guy - he sat up by himself yesterday afternoon!  He was on his tummy and we were playing in his room.  All of a sudden I noticed he was pushing himself up onto his bottom!  It was pretty amazing to watch.  I’ve got the video camera charging in case he wants to show everyone else his new trick!

Things are still busy, and I’m hoping to post a big update this weekend as we round Mac’s 7 month birthday, but right now it’s too late and I’m too wiped out.  I do want to mention, though, how blessed we are to have so many people around us who love Mac and are willing to help us out, both family and friends.  I count my blessings every day and thank God for all the wonderful people in my life.  I don’t know what we ever did to get so lucky.

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I Guess I Have My Answer

Posted on September 4th, 2008 by Jill

He either really is getting a cold or this week has really worn him out.  I’m pretty sure he’s out for the night.  It’s already been three hours…  Guess next time I should put his PJs on before I put him down in the evening!

IMG_0098

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First Week

Posted on September 4th, 2008 by Jill

We’ve accomplished another few firsts this week…  My first week back as a working mom (gosh that sounds wierd), and Mac’s first week of daycare, to name a couple.

It’s been an absolutely crazy week at work for me, as is to be expected the first week or two back to school.  I have a ton of data to sort out for various applications, and we have lots of changes that come in at the last minute, including families who are still registering!  It has been stressful, but the good part is that I have been so busy that it makes the days go much faster.  I miss Mac terribly and think about him constantly, but I know he’s so happy and having fun with his Aunt Jane and Henry!  Things should calm down after next week as far as work is concerned, although volleyball started today and lasts through October.  We had our first practice - this year I’m coaching 7th graders, and I usually have 8th, but I can tell this will be a great group.  They are very coach-able!

It’s been hard on me to have to leave before Mac is even up, and even harder on mornings when he’s starting to stir when I want to give him a big hug and kiss goodbye.  Out of respect for Jeremy, though, if he’s stirring I just blow a kiss from the doorway.  There’s no need for Jeremy to get up at 7:00 if Mac will sleep longer.  Jeremy has taken him to Jane’s in the morning, as will be our routine for the majority of the time.  Tuesday, Jeremy was also able to pick him up, which allowed me to get my necessary work done before leaving school.  All three of us played together, then Mac had his dinner and started to act tired, so I put him down for what I thought would be a nap at 6:00.  He slept through the night!  Yesterday Jeremy kept him at home with him since he had a rare day off, and bedtime was a little later, around 7.  This morning Jeremy took him again, and I picked him up after volleyball practice.  He’s been sneezing today, Jane said, so he might be getting a cold - maybe it’s true what they say about daycare?  That’s where the germs come from!  It doesn’t bother me though, I’d rather he get through colds and such now so he builds up immunities for school.  Speaking of which, there’s not much I wouldn’t be bringing home with me from school anyway!  Anyway, he’s in bed right now.  He was whiny while I was trying to give him dinner, and he whined through his bottle right after, so I laid him down.  He fell asleep around 6:30 and it’s 7:20 right now… he may or may not be down for the night!

Another first this week - Mac can now pick up his Kix and put them in his mouth himself!  Last night when I was feeding him, he got at least five in by himself.  And later when he was sitting with Jeremy and me as we were eating, he ate even more!  Today he got lots too.  It’s so amazing how one day they can’t do something, and the next it’s like they’re a pro!  I’ll have to try to catch it on video for those of you who aren’t around here.

Mac is just starting to scoot around on his belly too.  It depends on how badly he wants whatever is in front of him, what kind of mood he’s in, what position he’s in and what kind of floor he’s on.  So like I said, JUST starting.  He still seems to prefer his back and rolling over and over to move around, although I’m still not convinced he does it on purpose.

Mac has done very well at daycare.  I kind of expected he’d be just fine.  I guess he gets to play with Henry while the toddlers play behind “the gate” in the big room.  Henry is very excited to have Mac sit next to him in the car.  Ever since Mac was there that one day at the end of last school year, Henry has been asking when he’ll be back!  Henry starts preschool this year and loves to make Mac smile, which is perfect entertainment for both of them right now.  I hope it all continues!

Well, here’s to our first week almost complete.  Looking forward to Friday!

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Filed under: Mac, baby development, family, work

My Garden

Posted on September 1st, 2008 by Jill

The previous resident of our house (her name is Ann - I’m tired of writing that whole phrase!) came over again tonight after Mac was in bed to show me more about how she used to trim the border of the gardens and went over again what everything was (this time I wrote it down) and how to care for it. Our neighbor was over also and offered up any tools we might need to borrow to get things going and also offered help. Ann’s kids came over too and I offered to walk them through the house. She thought that was gracious of me, but really, I’d want someone to offer that to me, so why not? She also asked if she might be able to take some of the plants that had reseeded themselves out of place in the gardens to take home with her. I told her I won’t miss them and take whatever she wants! She again thought that was very generous. Add that to offering her back the window treatments that she had made for the house, and she was very grateful for everything. So was I - she was such a huge help and a motivator for me to get out there and get working! We exchanged email addresses, and she said she will send me the original plan as well as photos of how the garden used to look. She also said I could contact the original landscape guy (who, coincidentally is working on our neighbor’s landscaping too) for other questions about how to care for the garden in its current state. Yesterday she also gave me some helpful information about when different things were done and even some names of people who have worked on plumbing, etc., in the house. How lucky!

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Filed under: garden

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