Colin is 7 months old!

7 Months Old!

Our sweet baby boy is 7 months old! That means he is closer to being a 1 one year old than a newborn.  That makes Mommy very sad but also excited for all the changes to come. 

Colin spent the morning of his 7 month birthday doing a photo shoot by an extremely talented Air Force spouse, Carlin Fisher.  She began the shoot by dressing Colin up as a little owl in his very own nest made by another very talented AF spouse, Ginny Foss.  He absolutely loved it and was all smiles. 

Unfortunately, it started going down hill after the he got out of the owl get-up.  My sweet boy decided to show his serious side and pretty much refused to turn his frown upside down. We tried everything to get a smirk! Its ok though because he looks absolutely adorable even when he's not smiling. Thankfully, Carlin has incredible patience and did a great job with him during the remainder of the shoot and got some really great photos.

This has been a really fun month with Colin. We've gotten into a great groove both during the day and the night.  He is consistently taking at least one and often two really good naps a day and is waking twice or, on a really good night, once to eat.  Since he now takes a bottle we'll give him one in the middle of the night.  This is great of two reasons, one it's a lot faster and two, even better, Daddy can give it to him on the weekends!  Having some routine and consistency in our lives has been great for both of us. Colin is happier and able to play a lot more when he's awake now.  Happy baby = happy mommy.

The introduction of a variety of foods this month has also made Colin more content.  He is one hungry dude!  He is eating three solid meals a day and sometimes a snack plus nursing 5 times (excluding his two night-time feedings!) Sometimes it feels like we can't get enough food in him.  He loves everything we've given him except avocado. However, he did not like green beans at first and now scarfs them down so we think there is hope for avocado!  He seems to have a little reaction to bananas and carrots so we give them sparingly.  As soon has he gets in the high chair he is immediately ready to eat.  He grunts and kicks his legs through his entire meal. When he stops kicking we know he's done.

Colin's biggest physical development this month has been sitting up all by himself.

"Look, I can even put my arms up!"

Colin has shown some interest in crawling but still doesn't care to roll over.  Still his favorite thing to do is lay on his back and kick his legs while making lots of noises.

Lastly, still lots of teething and thus lots of droll.....

 except still no teeth.  Maybe next month?

Happy Birthday Gee Gee

Happy Birthday Gee Gee.  We love you!

A Basket Full of Fun

So I was about to work on putting together some wire cubbies (the black eyesore in the background) when I decided to seize the moment and really watch what Colin does when he is left to himself.  As I've said before, Colin's favorite place to be is on the changing table.  Turns out, the changing table is starting to become a challenge (and a safety hazard!) since Colin wants to sit up and reach at whatever he can get his hands on in the basket I keep on the dresser.  After I few days of this, I finally got the idea that I should give Colin the basket I keep his toys in and just let him have at it.  Usually, I only give him one or two toys so he doesn't get overwhelmed (that is what the books say to do after all :P).  

The following ensued.  (Note: I did not say one word nor touch anything during the shooting of these photos.)

"Yippee! A whole basket full of toys! I better tip it over so I can see what's inside..."

Basket Full of Fun

"Oh, Gee Gee bear, my favorite!"

"Let me just try to play with the basket instead."

"What's that? My Sophie teether? I'll take that!"

"I'll just throw Gee Gee bear to the side right now while I dig in deeper inside this basket."

"Mmm, this is tasty."

"Alright, I just need to dump this whole thing out."

"Yep, still tasty..."

"Now that I've dumped everything out, I won't need that silly basket anymore."

"I really do love my Sophie."

"Grrrr"

"I know I can get it if I try hard enough!"

"Success!"

"I'm thinking about trying out a different toy."

"Nah, I'll stick with this one, at least for a few more seconds."

"Oh, something new...."

"You see, it's very important for me to open my mouth even when the object is still about a foot away from my mouth."

"Ohhh, orange, fuzzy, and Lilly's toy! I want it!"

"Gah, can't get it, let me try this strange looking toy instead."

"Almost have it."

"Ah, right where I want it...."

"Maybe I can get this really big toy.....oh I really want it but I sure am getting tired!"

"I should just make a pile of all the toys in my lap so they can all be close to me."

"I really do like my Sophie best."

"Oh man! I'm getting overwhelmed...that's a lot of toys! And I still can't get that big one."

"One last chew..."

"Or two"

"And I'm done!"

"Wow I really made a mess!"

To think, minus Lilly's two toys, all of that started in one basket...

Valentine Birthday Party

We spent Valentine's weekend celebrating another one of Colin's little girl friend's one year old birthday.  Although sunny, it was a bit on the chilly side and very windy!  Colin was nice and warm bundled in his adorable monster outfit from the Liss family.  Before cake we ate lunch...Colin partook with some sweet potatoes.

Cake-time!!

The little Valentine, Evie, was all smiles for her very own smash cake! She wasn't sure what to do with it at first but ended up going to town and enjoying her cake for a good part of an hour.

Meanwhile, our lil monster played in the grass,

rolled down the hill with Daddy,

and practiced his "sitting-up skills."

It was a great party and we were glad we could spend some time with Evie and her wonderful family before they move to Japan!  I am hopeful our paths will cross again soon.

We had a quiet Valentine's Day at home.  It was the first one Tim and I have ever spent together. While he was at work, he sent a beautiful rose bouquet to the house and when he got home he brought some yummy Whole Foods take out and a chocolate cake in the shape of a heart!

Our prince charming was showered with love from his grandparents and got a special Elmo book from Mommy and Daddy.

First time in the Shopping Cart

Now that Colin can sit up, he got to go in the front of the shopping cart like a big boy.  I'm not kidding, its like he knew this was a big deal.  He was so excited about his new view.

I could not get him to look at me once...he was totally enthralled with the people and things surrounding him.

However, it wasn't long before he was up to no good...

Grocery shopping with never be the same again.

Bottles & Beautiful Weather

We've had a wonderfully warm winter in Charleston and have been able to spend lots of time outside.  Colin loves the outdoors and on a few occasions I've taken his bumbo seat outside so he can get some fresh air.  As you can see he's as happy as a clam when he's outside:

Another great part about this winter has been the fact that Daddy has been home every weekend!  We have gotten to spend a bunch of quality time together.  One weekend while out shopping we happened upon an interesting bottle which is supposed to help breastfed babies. We decided it would be the very last bottle we'd try. Turns out, it really works!!! Colin was finally able to take a bottle!  Daddy gave it to him while I hid out in our bedroom, however it didn't seem to matter.  He guzzled it down and Daddy had him come join me as he finished the very last bit.

He was pretty pleased with his ability to hold it all by himself and hasn't looked back since, literally.  The times I've given him a bottle since, he doesn't even look at me! 

The following weekend was absolutely gorgeous and after returning home from church we stripped off our sweaters and went out back to roll around in the grass.  Well no, actually, we don't have grass so we had to settle for our picnic blanket instead.

Daddy and Colin had so much fun being silly.

Love those giggles.

Our beautiful little man

With Daddy...

...and Mommy

Colin was having some serious teething action going on so we spent some time cuddling together while he gnawed on his Sophie.

Ahhh, Sophie always does the trick!

We've been so blessed to have such amazing weather, time spent together, and now a baby who takes a bottle!  Life is good.