Half Birthday!

Lucas is SIX months young!

Yes, I'm THAT mom that gets him a little cake for his half birthday.  And in fact, I actually tried to find one of those half cakes that the grocery store's sell.  Except all they had were the fancy ones and I just wanted a simple white/vanilla cake or something.  So unfortunately this geeky mom didn't get to give him a half cake for his half birthday.  :(

Today, Lucas went in for his six month checkup and had to get shots!  He was so great and barely cried.  I think Hubby would have cried more.  Here are the results from his six month checkup:

Weight: 16lb 9.5oz (25%) - 1.75lb increase from 5 months!

Length: 26-1/2in (75%) - only 1/2in increase from 5 months

Head: 43-1/2cm (50%) - 1.5cm increase from 5 months

** The Doctor thinks he didn't grow in length as much probably because he hasn't hit his growth spurt yet.  No worries!

Now, a few words from Lucas himself...

My Milestones!

I am an Eating Machine!  Just three weeks ago I was eating a half tub of baby food twice a day at school.  Now I'm eating a full tub each feeding!  And now that I'm six months old and have gone through all of Gerber's 1st Foods I just now started their 2nd Foods.  Mama and Nana just went on a shopping spree and got me a bunch to try.  I think we're stocked for the next month!

Since the last check-in I've also tried:

• Green beans
• Pears **
• Carrots
• Peaches
• Peas - second attempt!  Which was a flop
• Prunes **
• Garden Vegetables - first of the Gerber's 2nd Foods

** Hehe, I've had two diaper explosions after eating prunes.  Mama made the mistake of giving me a full tub instead of just a half tub.  I think she's learned her lesson.  But I do have to say this much...  Prunes may have the messiest diapers (nothing else has compared) BUT Pears has them beat for smelliest diapers (gas mask please!).

And because I'm getting so much bigger I just went up to Size 3 Huggies.  I have a package of 2's left over but they were getting snug.  And Mama is getting my new 6-9 month clothes ready for me to wear.  A whole new wardrobe, cool!

I'm really chatty even though I don't have any real words to say yet. Although Mama seems to understand me well enough. I do say "Hi" and "Hey" a lot - that's how Mama interprets it anyway! And she thinks that some of my jumbled words are "I luv you" and I just let her think that so I can hear her say "I love you too!"

I've graduated from a Supported Sitter to a Sitter!  I've been sitting up really well on my own recently.  The length of time that I stay sitting before I fall is increasing too (because I'm bound to fall, right?).  But really, I haven't been falling much.  I'm just not able to actually get up on my own to sit.

Sitting in my toy basket

I forgot to mention that last month we celebrated St. Patrick's Day but I didn't really get to do much.  For some reason it was more of a Big Person holiday and they went and crawled without me since apparently I can't crawl yet.  But I got to spend a whole night with Nana and Grandpa!   

So this month we celebrated my first Easter and I got to visit my Great-Great-Grandmother in West Virginia.  I got a few Easter baskets with a LOT of cool stuff, and I also got two chocolate bunnies, but I didn't get to eat them yet.  Again, I'm not big enough I guess.

Lucas with Grandma Ada

I've also grown out of my Hammock this month.  I had some good times with Hammy but now I get more space in my Prison...er, I mean, Pack 'n Play.  I'm getting used to it though.  I get lots of room to play with my toys or circle around on my tummy.

We also had our first professional family photos taken!  I got to meet a 'sister' of Mama's and she was PRETTY! Her and her hubby are a photo duo team and we got to spend some time outside on a pretty day.  I got to sit and lay around while they just took my photo.  How easy of a job is that?

Isn't it funny how I've gotten TOO BIG for some things and yet I'm not BIG ENOUGH for others?  This being a kid thing can get frustrating.  But I've been told that I shouldn't grow up too fast.  This being a kid thing can also have its benefits!

And lastly, Still no teeth!

The Diaper Bag

What's in my diaper bag?

Well, we rarely use it so I'll have to go through it to remember...

I usually just pack a small bag with Lucas' baby food and bottles of formula during the week for school so I never grab the diaper bag.  And we avoid going anywhere in the evenings so we don't have to drag all that stuff.  So it's usually just on the weekends whenever we trek to the grandparents' or happen to actually go out somewhere (which is rare).

So, when we actually use it, here's what it typically contains.



I keep the shot record handy for doctor check-ups so I can make sure they are updated.

I've got lots of sample size items - easy for travel.

Bottle, formula and food get added last minute, of course.

Lessons I've Learned, Chapter Three

[ Chapter One  Chapter Two ]

Okay, so this one is really about poking fun at Hubby.  I don't remember if I've mentioned this before, at least maybe not PUBLICLY, as I'm a bit embarrassed on his behalf.  Needless to say, he OPTED OUT of going to the Baby Care Class with me.  But really...common sense??

So, the lesson is: USE A WIPE WHEN CHANGING ALL DIAPERS.

To clarify, upon actually observing Hubby's diaper changing technique it came to my realization that he neglected to use wipes unless the diaper was dirty.  Thus, if it's just wet then slap on a new diaper and he's ready to go!  His reasoning: "Urine is sterile!"  My response: "If his family jewels develop gangrene and fall off then we know who's to blame."

I don't know if his reasoning has any merit.  Us girls, we wipe everything because we sit down.  You guys just shake it off, right?  But you can't just shake it off!  And I'd rather know he's clean.  Lucas has been pretty fortunate not to have any diaper rash incidents to date so so far so good.  But really?  I bought a big case of wipes from Costco for a reason.  How about we use 'em?

So now whenever I happen to observe his diaper changing techniques he does use a wipe.  But who's to say he's just doing it for my benefit?  Maybe when I'm not around he's stubbornly boycotting the wipes?  If only Lucas could tattle tale!  :)

Lessons I've Learned, Chapter One

In these first few months of being a new mom there are definitely things that you may have not been informed of in advance.  I mean the Baby Classes do teach you the basics.  And they try hard to reach other topics and answer other questions that you can possibly think of.  But there are just a few common sense things that don't really click until you've made the mistakes a few times over.

For instance, they teach you how to diaper a baby.  Well, most of you probably had experience diapering babies before, with your younger siblings or cousins or just from babysitting jobs.  Me on the other hand, not so much.  I never had much experience with babies.  I was the youngest growing up.  All my cousins lived several states away.  And my only attempt at babysitting was in college with some mischievous grade school kids.  (Pre-baby Me was NOT a Kid-person.)  

So needless to say I had never changed a diaper.  In the more recent years I did have more opportunities to get some practice but at that point I had set my mind to avoid doing so.  I decided my first diaper would be on my own baby.

So like I said, they teach you the basics of changing a diaper.  They even make sure to mention that if you have a boy to make sure you cover up the family jewels because he will be sure to spray you in the face if he can (or even his own face I might add - yeah, that's happened!).  And of course, even with that preparation it STILL HAPPENS.  Some times the little "teepee" just shoots off from the force - when he's gotta go, he's gotta go.

Here's a "common sense" tidbit that I've learned.  And if we went over it in my Baby Care Class I didn't retain it.  UNFOLD THE DIAPER IN ADVANCE.  Yeah.  Don't get the dirty diaper off and get him all cleaned up before having that new diaper ready and easily accessible.  I've caught my mom not being prepared because she's too busy making goo-goo sounds at Lucas.  (I love you Mom but it's your couch!)  Of course, the same applies when you've bathed him and need to get a new diaper on him.  We make sure we have one out and ready to go before we give him his bath.

And I'm ALL EARS if anyone else has some knowledge to pass on.  Especially those of you who have infants that are just a little bit older than my Lucas.  Because I'm definitely paying attention and learning from your mistakes.  :)  Pass on the wealth of information please!

Upsized

Well, we've finally got a few leaks in our Size 1 diapers to warrant moving on up to Size 2.  Lucas, you are getting so big!

Unfortunately, we had just purchased a case of the Size 1 diapers the other week thinking he would at least get to the end of the month with them.  So now I'm left with 120 diapers left over.  But I am able to gift them to a recent new mom who will definitely put them to some good use!

Fortunately, I was given a small pack of Size 2 diapers so I've got a good start to change him over. Those things are so much bigger than the Size 1's though.  We're going to have to fold them over at the top I bet.

Newborn - Size 1 - Size 2

(Huggies Little Snugglers)



One other good thing is that now we can get our diapers by the case at Costco and save a few more bucks.  The smallest they sell are the Size 2, exception being a bundle pack of Newborns, Size 1 and wipes that they sell every so often.

Let's see how long he'll stay in the 2's.  They really do grow up so fast!