We got Caleb this used Johnny Jump-Up last weekend to help him utilize his constant kicking into something a little more constructive, and entertaining. His first time in it was just that, and he was so overwhelmed with joy - or some unknown emotion - that instead of laughing, he just took a one wheezy, over-excited breath after another and we wondered how he didn't choke (because Michael and I did every time we tried to imitate him).
I was a little disappointed, but understanding, when I saw that he didn't get the hang of it right away. He kinda just dangled there and spun around on the ball of one foot, occasionally alternating to the other, and stiffening his legs once in a while so he did kind of a half jump, or a lung of sorts. I set him in the device again this afternoon so he could keep himself occupied while I washed the dishes... and then I had the brilliant idea to turn on some tunes for both of us to enjoy. I can't tell you how happy I was to see that music drives him as much as his momma. He even kept to the beat... almost.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
sitting and scooting
Look, he sits.
And look, he scoots. Water bottles are the best to encourage him to move around because has to chase them. He'll be crawling in no time.
playmates
Aunt Jess and cousin Kayleigh came over for a few hours today. The kiddies mostly rolled around together and played with some toys, while the mommies swapped baby gossip and the daddy watched happily from the couch. All was going well...
...until Caleb got a little overexcited and upset himself. Kayleigh didn't seem too concerned, which is funny considering every time she cries, her older cousin feels it his duty to sympathize - so dramatic.
After a while they made up (and held hands).
...until Caleb got a little overexcited and upset himself. Kayleigh didn't seem too concerned, which is funny considering every time she cries, her older cousin feels it his duty to sympathize - so dramatic.
After a while they made up (and held hands).
Then they shared in the entertainment of a few teething rings.
Cute kids.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
updates
1. Caleb actually enjoys his baths now. He splashes way too much for them to last very long, but at least he's not squirming and whining when I try to scrub him down. His favorite part is, of course, getting rinsed off with the sprayer. I love it when he tries to grab the water coming from it - not so much when he kicks the faucet and adjusts the temperature it took me five minutes to perfect.
2. We started giving him apple juice a few weeks ago to help get him a little more regular in the dirty diaper area. One time in three weeks was a little too... infrequent, but he's up to 3 or 4 times a week now. He surprised us by holding his own bottle after only ever drinking out of one a handful of times.
3. Even though he isn't cutting teeth yet, Caleb's showing all the other signs of starting on solid foods. So we bought some rice cereal and mixed it with a little mother's milk... and he gobbled it right up. No spitting it out, and minimal grabbing. I was so proud.
4. I'll admit that a small motivator in starting him on solids was that his belly would be content before bed-time and he might get a full-nights sleep (he only has twice since we moved back to Washington in April). It's been pretty rough on me laying down for 1-1/2 to 3 hours at a time before he's awake again, and takes at least a half hour (sometimes two hours) to go back down. Luckily, right when I thought I would lose my mind if we went another night like that, he slept for about 7 hours last night, and for the first time in three months, I actually feel rested.
2. We started giving him apple juice a few weeks ago to help get him a little more regular in the dirty diaper area. One time in three weeks was a little too... infrequent, but he's up to 3 or 4 times a week now. He surprised us by holding his own bottle after only ever drinking out of one a handful of times.
3. Even though he isn't cutting teeth yet, Caleb's showing all the other signs of starting on solid foods. So we bought some rice cereal and mixed it with a little mother's milk... and he gobbled it right up. No spitting it out, and minimal grabbing. I was so proud.
4. I'll admit that a small motivator in starting him on solids was that his belly would be content before bed-time and he might get a full-nights sleep (he only has twice since we moved back to Washington in April). It's been pretty rough on me laying down for 1-1/2 to 3 hours at a time before he's awake again, and takes at least a half hour (sometimes two hours) to go back down. Luckily, right when I thought I would lose my mind if we went another night like that, he slept for about 7 hours last night, and for the first time in three months, I actually feel rested.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
the aquarium
Michael loves going to aquariums, so that's what I wanted to do as kind of a birthday surprise/family outing. However, since the big day was in the middle of the week, we went to dinner in the night of his 21st and waited 'til the Sunday after to make a day-trip to Pine Knoll Shores on Emerald Isle. Luckily it was a cloudy day, or else it would've been even more crowded than it was (the aquarium and the island).
Afterwards we went to a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant, and Caleb did the funniest thing. I looked over at him sitting there in his carseat holding his hands out in front of him, and I swear it looked just like he was playing air guitar to the festive music coming from the speakers. The right one was bent inward and the left one stuck out to the side and both were tweaking invisible strings. He kept it up for several minutes and it would've been great to have recorded it, but of course I left my camera in the car. You can imagine though, right?
Afterwards we went to a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant, and Caleb did the funniest thing. I looked over at him sitting there in his carseat holding his hands out in front of him, and I swear it looked just like he was playing air guitar to the festive music coming from the speakers. The right one was bent inward and the left one stuck out to the side and both were tweaking invisible strings. He kept it up for several minutes and it would've been great to have recorded it, but of course I left my camera in the car. You can imagine though, right?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Independence Day
Although we knew the fireworks show in Jacksonville probably wouldn't be as fabulous as the one on base, we had a hunch that it would be significantly less crowded. The important thing for us was that we spend some quality time together as a family, and if need be, have an easy escape route if it turned out Caleb didn't like to hear and see loud and colorful explosions overhead. So we walked around the park for a few hours checking out the merchandise booths and food trailers, ended up getting a sno-cone, an elephant ear, some chili-fries... typical fair food, then we copped a squat on a blanket and listened to a middle-aged band that did rock covers ranging from Prince to Green Day to the Eagles. Got some great pictures, as you can see. I'll probably make a collage out of them to frame and add to the wall in our livingroom.
Caleb actually did really well with the fireworks. He was chill as ever and after the initial Ooh-Aah effect wore off, he was more interested in all the people around him. I think by the time the show was over he was ready to get back home and go to bed, which is understandable being that it was nearly ten o'clock. Unfortunately the City of Jacksonville didn't have the best traffic ushers, and although we were the first ones out of our particular lot, it took us about about a half hour to make it onto the main road. Luckily we were able to sleep in the next day :).
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