News and more news

Well it's been a while since I've posted anything but it's because we have been super busy! Just to catch everyone up on things the 1st thing is that Ethan is definitley crawling now. He started crawling on the day he turned 9 months old. It was so funny watching his little body just move across the floor. Right away he noticed the cable box and dvd player and can't seem to keep his hands off the buttons. No matter how many times we say no, he continues to touch them. I've started to put something in front of the boxes so he wouldn't be tempted to touch the buttons, but if we're watching TV, we can't change the channel b/c we're covering up the sensor.
Another major thing that has happened is that we just moved into our very 1st home on Sept 15! We are so thrilled to finally own our very 1st home. We've only been in here for about a week and half and are still unpacking boxes. It amazes me that we were able to fit all of our stuff in a 2 bedroom apartment for so long. I definitely keep myself busy with trying to organize everything and keeping an eye on Ethan as he explores the house. I can't say I actually get much done during the day but I try not to worry about it. The last major thing that has happened is that I'm pregnant again! I am about 12 weeks along and I am feeling pretty good. I haven't had morning sickness like I did with Ethan which is causing me to just eat whatever. This is not good! I am trying to eat healthy like I did with Ethan but it's been really hard. The due date is April 10 and we're really excited and nervous at the same time.
Well, I'll try and update this blog more often but these days I've had hardly anytime to sit down and think!

The sweetest thing

Now that Ethan is 8 1/2 months old he is exploring more than ever! He hasn't actually started crawling forward yet but he is so close. He can crawl and scoot backwards and likes to scoot around in a circle. You can tell that he gets frustrated that he can't get to where he wants to go. The other day, he managed to scoot himself backwards into the sofa chair. His legs and butt got stuck under the chair and he couldn't get himself out. It was pretty funny b/c I didn't see him do it and just found him that way. Ethan definitley makes me laugh with all the funny things that he does. Recently he started saying Mama but he started rambling nana and then mama got mixed in there. Then about a week later he was having a rough night and wouldn't stay asleep so I just picked him up and held him while rocking side to side. He eventually stopped crying and just got quiet and within a few minutes he said Mama in the sweetest little voice. It was the most precious thing ever. It made me just want to enjoy that moment forever and never let him go.

Ethan's 1st words

Every day when Ish gets home from work he'll grab Ethan and start playing with him. While they are playing Ish is always telling Ethan to say Daddy. I thought this was a good idea because how else is he supposed to learn if we never say it to him. So for the past couple of days I've been trying to get Ethan to say Mama. Well lastnight I had a friend over and we both were trying to get him to say Mama. He would move his mouth but the words just wouldn't come out. As it got later, I put him in his crib for him to go to bed. Ish had to work late that night so he was disappointed when he didn't see Ethan in the living room. He went into Ethan's room to give him a kiss goodnight and saw that he was still awake. As I was watching a movie, out of the corner of my eye I see this michevious look on Ethan's face just peeking around the corner. It was so funny because he knew he was supposed to be in bed but when daddy gets home, he thinks he gets to stay up later. As Ish was holding him, Ethan was wired with energy. Ish said to Ethan, "Say dadda" and Ethan started bouncing in his arms and slapping his hands on Ish's arms and said "dadda, dadda". My heart just melted. It was the sweetest thing. I had to laugh because I had been trying to get Ethan to say Mama all day and as soon as Ish says dadda to him, he repeats him. Amazing. So now, I'm continuing to say Mama until he says it. He gets so close too!

Growing, weaning & eating more

Ethan will be 7 months next week! I just can't get over how time is flying by and how fast he is growing up. The other day I went and visited a friend who just had a baby a couple of weeks ago and it was so hard to believe that Ethan was that tiny not too long ago. I actually couldn't remember how it felt holding him when he was that tiny! It's amazing how the little things just slip by you but when you're in that stage of life all you can think of is how you want them to grow up. I'm trying to cherish the time I have with him now because I'm realizing how fast he is growing. The other day when I was nursing him I just rubbed his little arms and legs and tryed to take in that moment. Right now I'm actually trying to wean him and so I know that I'm not always going to have that special moment with him.
For the past 3 months I've been trying to get Ethan to take formula just so it would make it easier for me when I would leave the house, but he just would not take to it. Well my mom came for a visit and she was determined to get him to take formula. She started off giving him canned milk (which is what I was raised on as a kid) and Ethan hesitated for a while but eventually he took to it. After being persistent, he drank 8oz! That's the most he has ever drank! I was so suprised. So after a few bottles of canned milk we switched it to the ready made formula and he drank it right away. I was so estatic! Well as soon as my mom left that weekend, I fixed him a bottle of formula the next day and he would not drink it. Everyday for a week I would try and I would always get the same reaction from him. Not only was I having to nurse him but he was very moody and fussy. It seemed like he just wasn't happy unless I was holding him. I was having a hard time because he never acts this way. My first reaction was that he was teething and that it would eventually go away. Well my mom decided to come up for again for the weekend to watch Ethan while I went to work. I told her that I needed her to get him used to the formula again. After being very persistent and Ethan crying for about 20 min., he eventually drank it. While I was at work, she fed him the formula and he drank 6-80z and was the happiest baby all day long. So we came to the conclusion that he just wasn't getting full off of my milk so it caused him to be fussy. So now, I'm just trying to get adjusted to this new eating schedule. The hardest thing for me is deciding if it's even worth me nursing him anymore if he's not getting full. You would think he would eat more baby food if he was so hungry but that's not the case. He seems to go through fazes with the baby food. Some days he eats really well and some days he just eats a few bites. I'm assuming that one day he'll just take to it and want to eat more so I'm not trying to worry about it. There's no need to try and force him to eat more food right now b/c he'll eventually get to the point where milk just won't be satisfying to him and he'll want more food. So that's where we are right now...but the boy loves him some bananas. When all else fails, feed him some bananas!

Ethan's 1st beach trip

Ethan went to Myrtle beach for the 1st time and loved it! He didn't really have a reaction at first and just kindof sat there and took it all in. After awhile he started to put his hands in the sand and would try and catch the waves as they came up on shore. It was soo cute. Ishmael had a great time interacting with him at the beach. Ish would lay Ethan on his boogie board and pull him around on the water. Every now and then it made me nervous thinking he was going to roll off the board when a big wave came. Thankfully Ish caught him in time! So I would say that Ethan enjoyed his time at the beach. He did get exhausted and had a hard time napping on the beach but he managed to get a cat nap in every now and then.
Ethan has started to eat really well and so far likes anything I give him. I thought he was going to be a picky eater like his daddy but I kept introducing it over and over and eventually he grew to like all the vegetables. Now I'm starting to give him fruits and I know he won't have a problem with those since they are much sweeter. As far as the sleeping goes... well, he got really spoiled on this beach trip because I didn't want to keep our friends up all night with him crying. But as soon as we got home I have been trying really hard to stick with his routine and to not nurse him when he wakes up in the middle of the night. Most of the time he's not hungry and just wants me to nurse him back to sleep. Last night he only woke up twice crying but he eventually fell back to sleep. So we are making progress! Hopefully this time he'll stick with it and not go back to his old ways! The boy is 6 months old and growing fast. I cannot believe he has hit the 6 month mark. It feels like just yesterday that he was a newborn and I was wishing he was 6 months old and now it's here!

Why me...

I want to say this past month has been quite interesting. Ish and I decided to go out of town to Hilton head for the weekend and left Ethan with my parents. Over that weekend Ethan developed a terrible cold and so he just wasn't himself at all. All the hardwork it took to get him sleeping through the night slowly went out the window. He woke up in the middle of the night crying and my parents just couldn't get him to calm down. Poor thing was just miserable. The only thing that calmed him of course was eating. So needless to say by the time I got him on Sunday he was still sick and needed comfort throughout the night. Well ever since that week I have not been able to get him back on his good sleeping schedule. Ethan is almost 6 months now and he's still not sleeping through the night! I am trying so hard to get him back where he was but when he wakes up he just cries and cries and no matter what I do, the only thing that calms him down is to be fed. I didn't mind doing it for a while because I knew he was going through a growth spurt, but seriously it's been like 4 weeks now!
On a good note, I have been feeding Ethan oatmeal 3 times a day for about a week and I think he's finally getting used to it where he'll open his mouth and eat it. It has definitely taken him a while but he's getting there. Pretty soon we'll start some veggies!
It's so hard to believe that Ethan will be 6 months next week. It's amazing how fast he has grown! The neat thing is that he's getting more exciting everyday. I love how he can sit up and play with his toys now. He is constantly reaching for things in front of him. He's a curious little booger. It's so cute how the littliest thing can be so exciting!

5 months and sleeping good!

Hallelujah! Ethan has been sleeping through the night now for a couple of days now. I think I have finally trained him to not want to eat every 3 hrs in the middle of the night. It definitley took a lot of patience and prayer. When he would wake up I would just give him his paci and just pray that he would go back to sleep. So now, if he wakes up he can pretty much fall back asleep on his own. So proud of my little boy! And the best thing is that it's soley on breastmilk. So now I know that breastfed babies can sleep through the night, it just takes a little extra work getting them on a good sleeping schedule. Now our next milestone will be getting him to eat cereal or oatmeal. He hasn't perfected it yet and still is not interested so I'm hoping that he'll eventually enjoy it.
One more thing, Ethan is sitting up pretty good now on his own. He still tumbles over every once in a while but he loves to sit up and play with his toys. Can't believe he is 5 months old! Time is flying by so fast!!