Teeth

Connor has 3 teeth now. Two bottom and one top tooth that just came through yesterday! You can see the bottom two really well in this picture. 

Pulling Up

It is always crazy how all the sudden one day Connor starts doing something he has never done before!! He has been trying to pull up on lots of low to the ground things but all the sudden today he can now get up on much higher things.

He was trying so hard to pull up on the couch and getting really frustrated. Without touching him I lifted the couch cushion a little so he could see the frame the cushions sit on and patted it with my hand and told him to use that. It was like a light bulb went off in his head. He giggled put his hands there and used it to pull up high enough so he could then reach the top and muscle the rest of the way up. As a mother I was so amazed how he just needed a little help and was able to succeed! I was also quite shocked that he obviously got exactly what I was telling him!

 But he didn't stop there!! Then later he used the baskets to get to the second shelf with his books (more than once).

 And the shelf to get up on the diaper trash can.

 And then as I was taking my contacts out I found he had pulled up my bed!! Wow Buddy! So much progress in one day!

It was so cool today to see that learning moment and how Connor was able to use that knowledge to work in lots of other places! 

Random Pics

If Connor can reach the top of anything, he will try and stand now. He still hasn't learned how to go from crawl to sit but once he does I'm sure he will be pulling up on taller things like the couch and more. Every morning when I put him down in the living room he usually ends up in the corner standing with the basket. It only becomes a problem when he falls and his head get stuck between the scratchy basket and the TV stand. That may have happened. Hence the pillow and blankets there now.

Connor has finally made it to the hard floors! He doesn't go on it much but is being a little more adventurous. 

Sometimes he is so good and plays around me while I work. 

Other times, not so much! (clinging and crying at my leg)

This kid cracks me up! He makes the funniest faces!

He got smart and learned that if he put his head down he could crawl under the crib. Before now he would just repeatedly hit his head as he tried to reach a few things I have under it. lol

Best bib ever! I love how it covers everything!

He has started falling asleep in his car seat with his head up. I think it is so cute!

That is one way to drink a bottle. Doesn't look comfy to me though. 

Sorry, bud, I don't think you are going to fit. 

First time in the shopping cart!! I have a cool cover but the buckle on the cart is in the wrong place so instead of going through the cover it has to go around and doesn't lay as nicely (Connor pulling it up doesn't help either). I still like it and it works great for high chairs too. 

Impromptu Photo Shoot

Connor is feeling much better today! We went to the clinic to pick up his Zantac (reflux meds) refill and I saw a perfect little spot that looked like it would be great for pictures! So we took a few.  The best part was that the wind was making Connor's hair stick straight up! See! He has hair! 

8 months

Wha-oa! I have an 8 month old!! Here are some funny pictures and interesting facts from the last month!

Probably the best improvement this month is that Connor is starting to fall asleep on his own and sleep through the night. I really tried hard to teach him the more gentle ways (stay in the room, make sure he is really drowsy before putting him down...) but we finally had to let him cry it out. It was sad and hard but now he just fusses for a minute if that, lays down and falls asleep!  It is a miracle! It's also great having the evenings baby free!

Connor now weighs about 17 pounds and is 27 1/4 inches tall! I would say 3/4 of an inch growth in just a month is huge! He is already growing out of his 9 month clothes because they are not long enough. I never thought I would have a relatively tall child.

Trying to eat clover flowers and yes, that is a handful of my hair. Ow!

As you can see avocado is a tricky food. haha. Connor still loves food. As you all know this last month he was diagnosed with Wheat, Rye and Egg allergies. He is also sensitive to dairy, tree nuts (almonds), peanuts, shell fish, oats, bananas, and cinnamon. The last three were not ones tested for but he throws them up every time he or I eats them. On top of that, we also have to avoid foods high in acidity like mangos, pineapple, and tomatoes because they make his reflux worse. This poor kid better out grow most of these!!! It is just too hard to keep up with that kind of diet so I am unfortunately having to put him on formula. Amazingly after months of not taking a bottle he happily ate the whole thing when I gave it to him last week. Tender mercies!

Connor loves it when you blow on his belly. He is so ticklish and I love it! Bed times are better now. He doesn't get so cranky and now that we are letting him "cry it out" Logan and I get some time for ourselves in the evenings. I've been using it to catch up on neglected house work and blog :) After bath and everything we sit down and read some books with him on our lap. The last one is The Going to Bed Book and thats when Connor knows it is time to sleep. 

A new funny face. He started doing this a little after his two first bottom teeth came in. 

Connor loves this jacket! He loves the zipper and when I pick him up, he loves to grab the tassels and eat them. 

So this was an interesting achievement at 7 1/2 months old. Connor finally decided to take a pacifier. Any kind. That kid! Usually mom's are starting to take them away around now. Poor Connor has a mean mom though because even though I think he would love to have it all day long, he only gets it at nap time in his bedroom - not even at night because I don't even want to start the pattern of having to go into his room all night every time he looses it. 

It is amazing for his naps! I give it to him as I read one short story, we rock for about 2 minutes and then I lay him down and he finishes putting himself to sleep with no complaint or tears! About 10 minutes later I go back in to take the pacifier out of his mouth or where it fell in the crib. He knows I take it now so he doesn't wake up looking for it. So far this has worked well. Where has this been the last 7 months!? As you can tell we have made HUGE improvements in the sleep front. I finally feel like a normal person and Connor is much happier too! 

This last month we had to say goodbye to our good friends Baby J and Annie. J is about 2 months older than Connor and his birth weight was almost 2 times Connor's. But a few short baby months later, you can see now they are almost the same size! In fact they are almost the exact height, J just weighs a little more. 

Below was our photo reenactment of their first and last meetings. 

We also had another couple over and got a pic of all the kids.

Connor loves being outside! Unfortunately he learned that he can take his hats and sunglasses off so about two milliseconds after taking this pic they were down. 

 Shoulder rides are the best! Connor loves grabbing hair! You can see how much Logan is enjoying it!

   Getting ready for a bath! I just love this little man's baby body! I think it is so adorable! I made that!

Parenting is all about taking lots and lots of naked pictures of your kids so you can embarrass them in when they are older! Connor loves his big boy baths and after I got a slip mat he can sit without any support. My floors are wet every night and I love it!

 

 "Where is my green ring?...FOUND IT!" haha! This is his toy basket. I pull it out and he loves to pull toys out 

 Sweet morning smiles! 

 Getting so curious! I put him down on the floor and then the next second he is off exploring! Still hasn't adventured onto the linoleum without any encouragement but it must taste great because he taste tests it all the time.

He likes to stick his bum in the air with his legs straight out. It is so funny. 

And this is new as of today. I got a box in the mail with diapers and he successfully pulled himself up on it all by himself.  This is a first and now he wants to stand up on everything but because he can't go from a crawl to sit position they have to be low enough so he can reach it. 

A few other random things. He doesn't cry/get scared going down the stairs, at moderately loud noises and children! He is a chatter box again. He babbles in the mornings before I come get him - it is so cute! He wakes up much happier now. He loves the sliding door blinds and window blinds. He is a great car rider - he loves to look out the window! Bouncing is his favorite! He could probably walk better when I hold his hands but he wants to jump instead. We are successfully transitioned out of the swaddle and he likes to sleep on his tummy and side.