Six months: Stats and pics

The numbers are in! Jameston had an appointment this morning with his pediatrician. His stats are:

Weight-18 1/2 pounds (75th %) and Height- 27 3/4 inches (90th %)

Bring on the convertible car seat!

He was a trooper during his shots (me, on the other hand, not so much :( And throughout the entire appointment he wanted to play! His doctor and nurses commented on how chipper he was despite all they had put him through! Dr. Smart mentioned that he probably won't be as outgoing at the 9-month appointment, because by then he will know what to expect with the shots and be more shy around strangers. Jameston, shy? No way...

We took him in to have his six-month pictures taken last weekend at Portrait Innovations in Plano. Since we have not had professional portraits taken of him before, we were a little anxious about how he would do. Despite a wardrobe malfunction which required a diaper change not even 10 seconds after we put him in one outfit, he did fantastic! For the 30-minute session, he was such a great sport, and we are so pleased with the pictures! The one above is the picture we ordered the most of. And here is my favorite:

Brett's favorite:

Well, it is hard to say that only one is a favorite because they are all good (I know, we are a little biased but proud parents)! Out of the 50+ pictures the photographer took, we had a very hard time narrowing it down to just 9 poses (and I had the unrealistic expectation that we would only purchase about 3 poses...ha! Silly me:) Here are several more:

Some close-ups:

This is what Jameston thought of the entire process:

Guess Who's Six-Months-Old?!

On Saturday Jameston celebrated his HALF-BIRTHDAY! I've said it before, but I'm gonna say it again (and probably every half-birthday [okay, maybe every month] from here on out: it is amazing to us how fast he's growing! We describe him as our little "sponge" these days, because it seems that he's soaking up the world around him at a rapid pace. Speaking of soaking...

Jameston continues to put everything in his mouth these days! His bottom centrals are in (we haven't been able to get a picture yet), and his top gums are still red from the next two teeth inhabitants. We are anticipating he'll have four teeth by the end of the month! For gum relief (we presume) this is a common face we have seen lately:

along with a little slobber!

This last month has been filled with some fun "firsts:"

First ride in his stroller without the carrier---check!

First time eating solids, and in his high-chair---check, check!

We registered for this inexpensive Safety First seat, which came highly recommended to me by my friend Jessica (mother of three). It is great because it can connect to any chair with a back, and also because we can even set it on the floor, which Jameston likes because he can feel the carpet on his feet :)

First time for him to "sleep through the night!"---Check, check, check!

Although he hasn't stuck with it as well as we had hoped, he's getting there!

These days our little man LOVES:

His Baby Einstein Discovery Center,

his Jumperoo,

He was so mesmerized at first with all the toys on top that it took him awhile to figure out he could jump while playing! (This toy is wonderful, and is great for when Mommy needs to be hands-free :)

And FOOD!

Our little boy is getting BIG because of all the solid foods he's eating, and we are anxious to find out what he weighs when we go in on Wednesday!

Over the last three weeks he has tried green beans, peas, squash, carrots, avocado, bananas, pears, and applesauce. What a food connoisseur! His faves: bananas and carrots; least favorite: avocado and squash...

Oh, and he also uses his spoon as another teething toy! And we sometimes forego a bib at his feeding before bedtime since we are about to give him his bath :)

Mommy is making most of his food from home, and she is still nursing/pumping about 6 times a day (which she is hoping to do for at least three more months if she can keep it up). At daycare, Jamston is taking two 7 ounce bottles like a champ, along with two snacks (usually oatmeal and fruit in the morning, and either carrots or applesauce in the afternoon).

These days our-sixth-month-old is up to a lot! No longer are the times when he can lay content just looking at bright objects, playing with his hands/feet, etc. He's an active little fella, and his current antics are:

• Rolls like crazy, and in deliberate directions to get certain things he wants
• Sits up on his own, albeit a little wobbly because his belly gets in the way :)

• Stands on our laps when we're burping him (we are still having to burp him and hoping his spitting up gets better once he's sitting up more)
• "Sings" when music is on, especially in the car. We hope to catch it on the video camera soon without him realizing (as soon as he sees the red light from the camera, he's entranced and stops what he's doing!) He's known as the "opera singer" in his daycare class!

• He wants to hold and touch everything he sees...he's a big fan of his Tigger the Tiger stuffed animal, anything with textures (corduroy, carpet, etc.), and our faces :)
• His vocalizations are becoming more consistent and repetitive babbling, and, oh man, he can squeal, yell, grunt and gurgle with best of them!
• He has been very clingy lately, and we've been told it could be due to his teething pain. When we set him down, it can't be for very long, and when we go to pick him up again, he wraps his arms around our neck. Soooo sweet!
• He knows his name! He will look at you, depending on what he's doing, as soon as he hears us call his name. Love it :)
• One of his favorite items this past month: teething rings! And he also loves chewing on his burp cloths and blankets (and washcloths, when Mommy can remember to chill them :) He is over the pacifier yet again, because all he wants to do with it is chew on it. Oh, and he has found his thumb (picture to come)!

Our lives have been abundantly blessed more than we could have ever imagined, and it is hard to think that it has already been six months since we became parents to our precious little boy.

My heart fills with joy and my eyes tear up as I sit here and type this and think about how much we love our little boy! Can't wait to see what the next half-year has in store for us and everyone who loves you, Jameston!

Laughing out loud: Take 2

Since my last attempt to chronicle Jameston's laughing did not turn out as I had hoped (i.e., worst video camera job ever!), we decided to give it another go this past weekend. Although our little guy was feeling under the weather (runny nose and fever thanks to teething :( he let us know another activity that he thinks is just SO funny: getting his nose cleaned out with the bulb syringe! Who would've thunk it?! He has cracked up with it before, mainly when Daddy does it, but this was the first time we caught it on video. Hope you enjoy!

Laughing out loud: Take 1

One thing is for sure, Jameston loves to laugh! And it is the CA-UTEST thing to hear him do so. Okay, so I may be a little biased, but I have been hoping to get it captured on video! Just in the past few weeks, he has started to interact more with the dogs. One example is that when the dogs lick up the water on the ledge of the bathtub from his splashes, Jameston seems to want to kick and splash even more!

He also tolerates it when Marlie licks him; and for those of you who have met Marlie, you know she's a licker! I see this being long-standing amusement for both of them...and I just had to get a video clip of it for memory's sake (although it was hard to film while holding JW and keeping the dogs at a safe distance...it is filmed Blair Witch Project style :) So the visual is shaky, but it's all about the audio!

P.S., We just dread the sound/volume of our voices. Hope it doesn't annoy you as much as it does us!

Public vs. Private

No, not schools...although we will probably be contemplating that question in a couple of years when Jameston starts school. Oh goodness, I am tearing up just thinking about that day!

Anywho, there have been some recent events and discussions regarding the blogosphere that has made us contemplate both the relevance and audience of our blog. Most people who know me know that I am like an open book, which can be a huge fault when just about anyone can get online and view this website. And after much thought, we are making our blog private so that only the people we know, our family and close friends (and friends of friends, too :) can read about our lives. I know several of you who read have done the same with your blogs, and we really appreciate your insight on this subject!

So, if you are an avid reader, please please leave me a comment with your email address, shoot me an email or find me on Facebook so that I can get your email address (if you don't feel comfortable leaving your email address :) And, over the course of the next week, I will send you an email for the private blog. Thanks, foremost for reading and secondly for understanding!

We now have a...

SITTER,

{better} SLEEPER,

and SOLID FOOD EATER!

Over the last week we have tried several solid foods...

Green beans were a hit

(and he wanted to feed himself...Recently, he

has started using the spoon as a teething toy)!

Avocado not so much...

We redeemed ourselves on Wednesday with oatmeal and bananas...

and we tried peas today,

which were also a success!

What a week it's been at the Winters' household! Our little boy has been tackling some major milestones lately. On Thursday he sat up independently for the first time!!

And, after what seems like two months of congestion-ridden restless nights, Jameston is sleeping about 11-12 hours at night. He still doesn't "sleep through the night," but we are hoping, with the introduction of solids, that major milestone is around the corner. Come on, son, we know you can do it!

We are having a blast watching him grow and learn the world around him. Keep 'em coming sweet baby Jameston!

FOUR budding teeth, 3 a.m. wake-up cries, TWO...

ear infections,

but a tough, little boy!

As I mentioned in his five-month-old post, our little boy has been somewhat fussy lately...well, no wonder! He's cutting not two but four teeth right now. We saw his bottom, middle ones start to bud late last week, and now it looks like his top, central incisors are not far behind. AND, on top of that, we found out on Wednesday that he has a double ear infection after taking him in for a cough/runny nose combination...

We understand, Jameston...we'd be cranky, too!

No, really...we are amazed (and so were his doctor and daycare peeps) that he's not fussier. Poor little fella! Bring on the washcloths! I've learned to place warm compresses around his ears for the ear pain, and I have heard to try chilled ones for him to chew on for the teething pain. Nothing like home remedies...let's hope he likes them and feels better soon! Happy baby = happy home :)

Great-Grandma Love, Times Four!

As of this past weekend, Jameston has met all four of his great-grandmothers! Due to the snow over Christmas, we were not able to travel as much as we had hoped. So when we drove to Vernon last Sunday, he met my dad's mom, Memaw Paddy Stewart, for the first time...When I started back to work in November, we were fortunate enough to have Brett's mom and her mom, Gigi Augusta Turnbough, here to visit and look after our little guy. And he was able to see her again at Christmas in Brady!

Jameston also met and visited with Memaw Patty Winters at Thanksgiving in San Angelo, and then again when we traveled to Plainview in December...

And he was introduced to my mom's mother, Grandma Margie Jackson, when he was two-months-old. We stopped by her new home, an assisted living community in Wichita Falls, one day when we were there visiting in November.

We are so blessed by our families, especially our grandmothers, and we feel so very fortunate that Jameston has them in his life!

Happy Birthday, Memaw!

Last Sunday we headed to Vernon for my Memaw's 75th birthday. All four of her kids, eight of her grandkids, two of her great-grandchildren, and her sister were there to celebrate her!

Uncle Jeff, Aunt Stacey, Dad, Memaw, and Uncle Jimmy; Memaw showing off her cake which displayed only some of her many skills (she's a singer, artist, and author...Oh, and she was a cheerleader!)

Above: the Stewart siblings (Lynnlee with Aspen, Maggie, and Scott, far right), Dad and Jameston, me, and Memaw

Below: Sisters and babies (note Jameston putting Aspen's hand in his mouth!)

Since our hubbies were working, Lynnlee and I carpooled with our little ones. Needless to say, with a two-month-old and a five-month-old, we were a little anxious about being in the car for 6+ hours. But, Aspen and Jameston were troopers, and Lynnlee was a big help with her driving, feeding, and multi-tasking assistance! What a blessing it is to be going through this new mommies journey together :)

Above: Lynnlee checking in on her little girl during nap time

Below: Sleeping babies, tuckered out from the long drive

And here they are sleeping again during a pit-stop on our way home...

thanks A & J for going easy on your Mommas!

Even though it was a quick trip, we had a great time! Memaw, we love you and hope that you had a WONDERFUL birthday :)

Five-months-old and practicing our S's

No, of course he's not talking yet, but someone was very excited to turn 5-months-old on Saturday!

Jameston, your Mommy is a little late on this post, but since we've been so busy playing and enjoying you at this fun age, I hope you can forgive me :)

Above: The requisite monthly Mr. Bear pic

Below: Sporting his signature drool and spit-up, not even five minutes after I changed him into this outfit...that's why he looks mischievous :) At least I got one picture of him without the messy clothes...

And just what are our S's? Well, Jameston has been pretty fluent lately in the following departments: slobber, solids, and sleep training. With all the new adventures, this is such a fun age!

Proudly displaying his slobber skills

We have figured out that Jameston is teething, not only because of the abundance of slobber but also due to the fact that he has been pretty fussy lately. And another indication is that he is mouthing everything! Yes, just about anything he can get his hands on! Case in point...

And just when we were getting the hang of sleeping better at night, he's been up more the last couple of nights due to a cold and two possible bottom teeth. Other than that, mom and dad are trying to help Jameston stick to a better sleep schedule...but baby development (and thus, crankiness) may prevail.

Also, since Jameston has seemed to master rice cereal these days, we are going to start some vegetables this week. More to come on this front very soon!

5 Month Milestones:

• Rolls over from stomach to back, and back to stomach (by twisting his feet)

  

Rarin' and ready to roll!

• Sits on his own for a short bit, but then leans WAY forward...
• Grabs for everything: his spoon, anything in our hands, our faces (ouch!), you name it!

He's got a good grip on Daddy's cheek in this pic

• Stands on his legs really well when supported
• Opens mouth when we feed him...so cute!
  

  You looking at me?

• Laughs and chuckles a lot lately, and even more when we laugh with him

At this age, Jameston LOVES:

• Bath time, still. No doubt about it, our boy is a water baby! He gets upset when we get him out of the tub :(
• His Jumperoo! Now that he can hold his head up steadily, we put it together just last week. And with it he has found other things he can put in his mouth!
  
• Looking out the car window and back at me through the mirror above his car seat
• Hands! He could stare and grab at his or anyone else's all day long
• His pacifier, again. He forgot about it there for awhile, when he discovered and moved on to his fingers. But, alas, he is back to liking the paci, we think because daycare gives it to him a lot and also possibly because of the teething?
• To hold his own bottle, at daycare and when Daddy feeds him

Another "S" could stand for Jameston's signals. We have learned which cries stand for which emotions (hungry, tired, fussy, etc.). But lately our little fella has displayed a couple of signs to help us get know him better. These days he

• Rubs his eyes when tired
• Talks A LOT right before falling asleep, in his delirious state
• Arches his back (in car seat, Bumbo) when he wants out

  Lately, it seems that Jameston is very much a Momma's boy...of course he has lots of fun with Daddy, but he definitely knows and calms down when his Mommy holds him! I know it may not last forever or may come in go in phases, so I am soaking it in while I can :)

As I stated in the 4-month post, Jameston is laughing a lot these days. We try to get him to do so on a regular basis, and we LOVE hearing him giggle! Below is a video of Brett getting Jameston's attention with some"drumming." It's funny how many times you can do something, and it never seems to grow old to them!

Can't wait to see what the next month has in store, especially with baby food :)