Happy Birthday, Daddy!

What an amazing week we had in the W household!
First, Grammie came to visit.  These two are peas in a pod.  I'm always amazed at just how much my son LOVES my mom.  Not amazed in the sense that she's awesome (because she's totally awesome), but amazed that even though he doesn't get to see her very often they totally have this crazy bond.  It's very sweet.

Look, I can suck two thumbs at one time!

These two did everything together and Grammie initiated Matthew's first successful game of Peek-a-Boo!  Before she left town he even began giving those adorably gross open mouth baby kisses.  He's started grabbing our faces with both hands and shoving his sloppy mouth on our cheeks (making an "arrrgaaaaahhh" sound while giggling the entire time).  Grammie was even lucky enough to get one before heading to the airport to go home.  Side note - Since returning home we've discovered that Matthew also likes playing Peek-a-Boo with Grammie while Skyping.  Hilarious to watch!

Second in our weekend of fun, out of town friends came to visit!  Matthew got a play date with beautiful CeCe while mommy got some grown up girl time, and Grammie babysat Smoke Dog so that he would stay out from under foot.  Matthew has recently discovered babies and he was fascinated by CeCe.  He kept reaching out to try to touch her (little stinking Casanova), but CeCe having 2 brothers of her own was unimpressed at his attempts (smart little lady).

Lastly, this was Ryan's birthday weekend!  The Fam came over to help us celebrate and he cooked a Bobby Flay style feast for us all.

Golf lessons, a new razor, and a new toy... the 30's are definitely a change of pace!

I'm Cute

Just WHO peed on their dog today?  Yep, this guy.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Buzz!

Today is Grandpa Buzz's birthday!  Yesterday, Matthew helped him celebrate.  So cute!!!

Smiles

We FINALLY found a place where Matthew likes to have tummy time.

Actually, he's quite happy on his tummy (as long as he's playing with toys).  And, NO, we don't let him play on his changing table.  We never get to see that grin when he's on his tummy, so I insisted that we take a pic.  Daddy was stage right the entire time.

5 Months!

Look who is 5 months old!

Master Matthew, here is what you are up to: You like to roll over onto your tummy to play with your toys, but you haven't quite figured out how to get back to your back which makes you very angry.  You hold your own bottle and you can support your own weight when we practice standing.  You are quite the vocal little boy when we are at home with lots of laughing and screeching, but you are very quiet around strangers.  You can tripod like a champ and you like to use your crib's breathable bumper as a foot rest.  I'm shocked that I put a Carter's size 9 month romper on you today and it fit, so I guess that means you are on the tail end of 3-6 month clothing and starting 6-9 month sizes.

Just for posterity here are the past 5 months...

1 Day Old

1 Month Old

2 Months Old

3 Months Old

4 Months Old

5 Months Old

Matthew's Noises

They say that babies learn through repetition and Matthew is certainly no exception.  This week's lesson according to Matty?  Let's see what can I do with my vocal chords.

In the beginning I had a few days of little screeches and baby screams which I found to be hysterical (a little less funny while we were browsing the aisles at Lowe's while looking at mommy's new project ideas, but luckily he's still cute enough that passersby had looks of amusement on their faces instead of annoyance).

Next came a few days of a guttural noise that Ryan described best as, "He sounds like a 12 year old boy who is pretending to die."

Then came the creepster laugh.  It was a repetitive deep throaty "Heh, heh, heh."  I love everything my child does, but I have to say that I'm super glad this is not his normal laugh.

This brings us to yesterday's new noise.  It's 7 am.  Mommy and baby are playing in bed while daddy gets ready for work.  Everything is fun and happy when all of the sudden baby tries to breathe through his mouth and, instead of silence, a horrendous airless sucking/gasping noise fills the room (accompanied by the child's eyes opening to the size of quarters).  Does daddy witness this?  No, he's still in the shower.  Does mommy panic?  Absolutely!  Especially when it happens a second time.  Does 911 get called?  No.  Why not?  Because then mommy realized that this baby is making this noise INTENTIONALLY!!!  His other breathing was totally normal, he was a normal color, within 5 minutes he wanted breakfast and ate just fine, and most importantly he continued to make this noise on command while giggling.  He was extremely amused with his new accomplishment.  Me, not so much since I continued to freak out all day long.

On other high notes - He's standing and holding his own weight like a champ (while we support him of course).

Did I do that?

tee hee hee

A little funny on a Wednesday morning which I'm sure will be appreciated by any of my Texan friends who might peruse this blog.

I especially love the last line - "I hear Dallas is great!!"  I'm not sure where I can buy this shirt, but I want one!

Sunday Funday!

We LOVE our Sundays.  We have so much fun being a family, and yesterday our little man kept going and going like the energizer bunny.

Working on the tripod.

Rolling over back to front.

I really hope he figures out the front to back part soon!

Holding his own bottle.

Meal times are starting to get long and messy, but its so darn cute to watch him try to feed himself a bottle.

He loves to play with that little boy in the mirror.

Rocking with daddy... and trying to avoid a nap.

We can't forget our fur baby.  He likes our Sundays, too.

Whoa! Tell us all about it, Buddy.

Stats

Happy Birthday - October 12, 2011
Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz
Height: 18 1/2"

5 Day Check-Up
Weight: 6 lbs 13 oz (15th percentile)
Height: 19 1/2 " (31st percentile)
Head: 34.5 cm (19th percentile)

What you are up to?  Rolling over on your side and freaking out your new mommy and daddy!  We're convinced that you're going to flip onto your tummy when we're not paying attention (aka sleeping). You are a great eater and you only want to eat every 3-4 hours.  How thoughtful of you to let mommy get some rest.


2 Week Check-Up
Weight: 7 lbs 13 oz (23rd percentile)
Height: 20 1/4" (36th percentile)
Head: 35.5 cm (21st percentile)

What are you up to?  Still rolling onto your side and freaking out your mommy and daddy.  You're still doing a great job eating and sleeping.


1 Month Well Baby Visit
Weight: 9 lbs 2 oz (34th percentile)
Height: 21" (35th percentile)
Head: 36.4 cm (17th percentile)

What are you up to?  You are the most laid back baby I've ever seen.  You absolutely LOVE your baths.  Bath time is where we see your first real smile and your first belly laugh (at 2 months).  You have no trouble taking your milk from any resource.  You hardly ever cry unless you're very tired or hungry.  You very rarely cry in public.  You typically just take in your surroundings and then cry for mom and dad once you get home.  You like us to hold you while you tell us all about it.  This all continues for many months! 


2 Month Well Baby Visit
Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz (54th percentile)
Height: 22 3/4" (42nd percentile)
Head: 38.4 cm (17th percentile)

What are you up to? I'm really amazed at how well you track people and objects. We watch you study the world around you and even strangers comment on what an observant little boy you are. I feel like we've battled diaper rash since you were born, which we actually have been doing, and it breaks my heart. You, however, are a trooper and never complain.  You like to lay on your playmat and look up at all of your toys.  Sometimes I catch you being very serious with them as you frown and babble to them about topics that you must find very important.


3 Months

What are you up to?  You sleep from 8-9 pm until 3-4 am when you wake up for an early breakfast.  Then you go back to sleep until about 8 am when daddy leaves for work.  Your diaper rash is finally gone!  You now laugh at yourself in the mirror (and it is stinking adorable).  You love to reach up and bat at your toys on your playmat.  It's also very obvious that your stranger anxiety phase has kicked in really early.  According to Grammie your mother was the same way.  Dr. Frye noticed it right away at your 4 month appointment before we brought it up and she said we need to introduce you to new people and crowds very slowly.  So far it's been working.  You've been doing a great job!


4 Month Well Baby Visit
Weight: 15 lbs 12 oz (65th percentile)
Height: 24 3/4 (42nd percentile)
Head: 40.8 cm (15th percentile)

What are you up to?  You sleep through the night from 8-9 pm until 6-7 am.  You are still an easy eater and you suck in your bottom lip and watch mommy eat during the day, so Dr. Frye says you are probably ready to try some stage one foods.  You sit up so well in your Bumbo seat and you LOVE to reach up and pull on your toys.  You smile when mommy holds you while you practice standing. You seem to be discovering some cause and effect with the toys which makes it fun to watch you try to figure things out!

Peas!

Yep. He loved 'em. Why is there no picture of a funny face... because he gobbled them up too fast. This kiddo is taking after his mother in the pea department as I can also eat them cold straight from a can. I've never tried pureed though!

Ok, I kinda lied.  There are pictures (mostly of my hand), but not of funny faces.

Success in 7 Days

Our venture into solid foods officially began this week and it has been so much fun (or at least a new source of entertainment for mommy). I've been so amused that I made Grammie Skype through an entire meal so I could show off how awesome Matthew is at eating from a spoon. Day one was not too shabby, but by the end of the week this little boy had eating rice cereal down pat.  In fact, I had to chuckle to myself today because he fussed and cried between spoonfuls since I was not spooning it up fast enough. What a funny little man! Next up... peas!