A few weeks ago, we took the boys to a local park and Miller got to swing for the first time! I can't believe it took me 8 months to put the kid in a real swing, but oh, I'm so glad I took a video of it!
Then it was time for the brothers to swing together!
(I know... I've been bad about keeping up with this! It's hard to take 2 kids
to the doctor to get "officially" weighed and measured!)
CLOTHES & DIAPERS
Miller is in mostly 9 month clothes now! And as it's getting a little cooler, he is able to wear more hand-me-downs from his big brother, since Jack was wearing 9 month clothes in Feb/March.
I FINALLY started using cloth diapers again on my boys!! Sheesh. I am such a big proponent of it, and I can't believe it took me this long to get back into it. I'm having a friend re-do the velcro on all my "hook & loop" diapers, so in the next week or so, they should all be working like new!
EATING
Miller has been on Nutramigen formula for about 4 months now, and I'm still not regretting this decision for our family. :)
He's eats about every 4 hours, and takes about 6-7 ounces each time which ends up being somewhere between 24-30 ounces a day.
As of his 6 mo checkup, we have been adding a couple teaspoons of rice cereal to every bottle, and he's gotten pretty used to the consistency.
As for "real food", I am still completely TERRIBLE in this department! I've just been inconsistent with feeding him big boy food. He is really good at being spoon fed, and has started picking up puffs too. He eats anything I feed him, but especially likes bananas and peas.
He's still getting Axid twice a day for reflux.
SLEEPING
(same as 7 mo) Miller typically goes to bed about 7:30/8pm, sleeps for 3-4 hours, wake to eat, and then typically sleep until 7:30am. We are pretty much down to 1 feeding at night, so I can't complain!!
The best thing in the ENTIRE world is this sweet boy's nap schedule. Mornings are kinda all over the place... He'll wake up around 7:30ish and then be ready for a nap around 9:30 or so. If we are home, this one is usually about 1.5 hr. Then BOTH of my boys go down for naps around 1:30/2pm and glory hallelujah - they sleep for 2+ hours!!!
AND...
He has been crawling for several weeks now!! Sometimes I forget that I can't just leave him in one spot and expect him to be there when I get back! Ha!
He's doing a lot better sitting up by himself.
This week he has started getting up on his knees and holding on to the couch or the side of the pack-n-play! Miller is taking his 1st step towards pulling up!
He definitely found his voice this month. SQUEALING monster!!! He seriously screamed and squealed for almost a week, and then he started making more deliberate sounds. Ba, ba, ba, and blah blah blah.
Miller loves to laugh!! He has the sweetest personality and feels like he has been part of our family forever.
Here's a video of Miller for his eight month birthday (it's longer than normal, but watch it because it's so funny. Jack decided to start spinning him around in the chair, and Miller LOVED it!):
And here's a side by side of both my boys at eight months:
Last Monday, October 8th, Miller OFFICIALLY started crawling!!!! He has been getting up on all fours for a few weeks, but finally took the plunge and started crawling. He is SO PROUD of himself and just GRINS when you notice. He is so sweet.
I feel so blessed that he has blossomed into this happy-go-lucky easy-going baby. I am constantly reminded of the peace God gave me after a tough summer (it's hard to even say that it was tough, in light of what some of my friends have dealt with in regards to their precious babies; but it is good for me to recognize that it truly WAS hard on me and on our family, and through Godly discernment, we made choices that have been so positive for our sweet Miller).
Okay, enough talking - let's see this little one in action:
WE LOVE YOU MILLER-MAN!!! You are such a joy!
Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to go baby-proof my house.
Miller is in mostly 9 month clothes now! And as it's getting a little cooler, he is able to wear more hand-me-downs from his big brother, since Jack was wearing 9 month clothes in Feb/March.
Still giving myself grace about not using cloth right now. I think I'm ready to start doing it, and then I... just don't. Lame excuse? Yes. Truth? Yes. (size 2 disposables)
EATING
Miller has been on formula for about 3 months now, and I'm still not regretting this decision for our family. He is still on Nutramigen, but I'm going to ask if we can try another kind and see how he does soon. (The big container of our current formula is $36, and makes around 20 bottles, so if we could switch to a cheaper formula, that would be awesome.)
He's eating about every 3-4 hours, and takes about 5-6 ounces each time which ends up being somewhere between 24-30 ounces a day.
As of his 6 mo checkup, we have been adding a couple teaspoons of rice cereal to every bottle. I don't know if it has helped with him "chunkin' up" but he's gotten pretty used to the consistency.
As for "real food", I am TERRIBLE in this department! I couldn't wait to feed Jack real food, and I have just been very inconsistent with Miller. Now that he's 7.5 months, he is a champ at being spoon fed, and has started picking up puffs too. (They rarely make it into his mouth, but...) He eats anything I feed him, but especially likes bananas and peas.
He's still getting Axid twice a day for reflux. I should probably test and determine if he still needs to be on it, but I'm kinda of the camp that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
SLEEPING
Miller typically goes to bed about 7:30/8pm, sleeps for 3-4 hours, wake to eat, and then typically sleep until 7:30am. We are pretty much down to 1 feeding at night, so I can't complain!!
The best thing in the ENTIRE world is this sweet boy's nap schedule. Mornings are kinda all over the place... He'll wake up around 7:30ish and then be ready for a nap around 9:30 or so. If we are home, this one is usually about 1.5 hr. Then BOTH of my boys go down for naps around 1:30/2pm and glory hallelujah - they sleep for 2+ hours!!!
AND...
He started officially crawling this month! As of Monday, October 8th, he used hands and knees to move around the living room rug.
He's doing a lot better sitting up by himself, but still isn't ready to be 100% "unassisted" yet.
Miller loves to laugh!! He is a very sweet, happy natured baby.
Jack has been better about actually playing with him. He talks to him a lot "Yook at dis, brudder!" or notices things that Miller is doing "He's playing the music!" (on the exersaucer). I love watching them interact, because every time Jack notices him, Miller lights up. :)
Here's a video of Miller for his seven month mirthday:
And here's a side-by-side of my boys at seven months:
Miller is in 6 months or 6-9 month clothes now. Sometimes even 9 month onesies too!
Yeah... little miss cloth diapers over here is having a hard time sticking with it right now... :) Giving myself some grace and maybe we'll be full-timing again soon! (size 2 disposables)
EATING
Miller has been on formula for a little over a month. And can I just say that life is so good? I have not regretted this decision at all. God truly guided me with making the choice and has given me nothing but peace about it. Miller is happy and so we are all happy.
He's still eating about every 2-3 hours, and takes about 4.5-5 ounces each time which ends up being somewhere between 24-30 ounces a day. (Nutramigen formula, in case you were wondering.)
He's still getting Axid twice a day for reflux. We tried about 5 days without it, and I just feel like he still needs it. He was spitting up A LOT and seemed to fuss in the evenings more than normal.
SLEEPING
Oh, this last month was ROUGH in the sleeping department. I was just looking at last month's and thinking HA! Yeah, I WISH he was sleeping that well now! :) More often than not, he will go to bed about 7:30/8pm, sleep for 3-4 hours, wake to eat, sleep 3-4 more hours, wake to eat, then sleep until 7:30/8am. 2 feedings a night isn't terrible, but it's still really exhausting to get such broken sleep.
The big change this last month is that we moved him to his crib completely - naps and nighttime. I also have been trying to have him go to sleep at night without his pacifier. Yiiiikes. It's tough, but if he can learn to fall asleep without it, I think he will be a much better sleeper. And so I'LL be a much better sleeper.
Oh, and we're not swaddling anymore. This kid has had some big changes lately. :)
AND...
He's rolling over (front to back and back to front) all over our new living room rug (hence, why we got the rug - hardwood ain't good for babies).
He's doing a lot better sitting up by himself, but isn't ready to be 100% "unassisted" yet.
He LOVES to stand up! I feel like I could almost let him stand by himself easier than sit by himself! (Don't worry, I won't.)
His laugh is getting more adorable! Once he gets going though, he always starts squealing like a crazy person.
He has really been noticing his hands and feet, and his coordination with his hands is getting better. He loooves to put everything in his mouth, and he's drooling a lot, but still no teeth (Jack's 1st tooth was at 7.5 months).
Also he has been taking your face into both of his hands. It. Is. Precious.
Here's a video of Miller for his six month mirthday:
It’s the question everyone
is asking! Okay, I’m flattering myself a bit, but I have heard it a lot over
the past month or so. “Where in the world have you been?” And it’s hard for me
to say, because there’s the easy answer – “We’ve been busy this summer and out
of town some.”
But then there’s the real
truth – July was the most
challenging month of my parenting life.
I shared a little bit with you in my post about mommy guilt. I told you how we
found out Miller wasn’t gaining weight well while I was nursing, so I started
nursing him more frequently, which actually made him throw-up 11 times over a 5
day period. Then I told you in his 5 month update that I made the decision to switch him to
formula. A tough decision, but one that has slowly pulled me out of the funk I
was in, towards a better attitude about my new mom-of-2 job.
When people asked about Miller, I’ve felt compelled to tell
them that so far, he has been harder than Jack was… He has reflux, colic, and dairy
sensitivities. He cries a lot. He’s either happy or he’s not. Why did I feel
like my acquaintances needed to know this? Wasn’t “Yes, he’s a very sweet baby”
enough to answer the question?
Since Miller has been on formula, he is happier. I am
happier. The whole family is happier. I don’t feel the need to explain Miller’s
life story to people anymore, because that’s who he was, not who he is today. And I feel like I’m different too. We are
learning about each other, and I wouldn’t trade this sweet, 6 month old,
cuddly, raspberry blowing, squeals-while-he’s-laughing baby boy for
anything.
So, I may not try to catch up on what I haven’t written
about this summer, but I am going to try to post a couple times a week going
forward. Here’s what you can expect from me coming up soon:
Project Life –
documenting the everyday moments Getting Up Earlier
– morning time alone, #SheReadsTruth, #HelloMornings Tot School –
intentional teaching through playtime Life SKiLs – a
myriad of topics by some of my favorite people Links I Love –
letting you know some of my favorite go-to blogs
What are some things you'd like to read about?
Have you missed me? (Thanks for raising your hand, Mom! :) )
He's in some 3-6mo clothes but mostly 6 months now.
We took disposables again to the beach, and so he's about 50/50 right now. Okay, 75/25. :) (size 2 disposables)
EATING
Okay I feel like this all deserves it's own post, but for now, I will just say it here. Miller is 100% on formula now. After a loooong and exhausting 2 weeks of finding out Miller was underweight and then him throwing up a bunch, we made the executive decision to put him exclusively on Nutramigen (dairy and soy free formula).
He's been doing really well on it, eating about every 2 hours - doctor's orders. He takes about 4 ounces every two hours, which ends up being somewhere between 24-30 ounces a day.
He's still getting Axid twice a day for reflux.
So the fun part of this 100% formula news is that I get to eat whatever I want!! I was dairy free for almost 3 months, and it really wasn't TERRIBLE, just something I had to think about a lot. Well, when we took Miller to the doctor before we started formula, the doctor we went to (and then our doctor too) said that they wanted me to eliminate soy too... This was like 2 days before we went to Destin and it's hard enough to eat allergy free at chain restaurants where their menus are posted online, but to go to non-chain restaurants and try to eat dairy and soy free? I would have been a stress ball. And guess what? I was already losing my mind... so we switched to formula.
I think I'll write one more bullet point about all of this. It was such an incredibly hard decision for me to make. I cried a LOT about it. I stressed a LOT about it. I had an actual anxiety attack in the midst of it all. Since I started bottle feeding him (I am 99% sure it was an overactive supply issue that was causing him to throw up, not what he was being fed; since I had started feeding him on demand, I think it threw my supply out of whack); anyway, since I started bottle feeding him, I have been so much less stressed. I know he's eating, I know how much he's eating, and I'm able to eat without thinking about it. It has been nice. But still bittersweet. I love nursing. I never anticipated to be done at 5 months. But this is what's best for us, and I'm glad God gave me the strength to make this decision.
SLEEPING
Miller has been doing pretty good at night! On our vacation, he usually only woke up once around 2am or so, but then the little stinker would be awake for the day at like 6am. Since we've been home, he's slept about 5-6 hour stretches at the beginning of the night and then 3-4hrs after that. Can't complain! (even though I totally do...)
He still sleeps in the Nap Nanny (swaddled) at night, and either sleeps in the carseat (on the go) or in his crib (at home) for naps. I think keeping him unswaddled during the day and then swaddling him at night, helps him recognize more that it's nighttime.
AND...
He's constantly smiling and laughing now! Daddy loves to kiss on his neck and make him laugh like crazy!
He's been rolling over from his belly to his back, and loving tummy time! He's always moved around somewhere else if I leave the room and come back.
Here's a video of Miller for his five month mirthday:
Last week we went on vacation with the Guin clan to Destin! Jason, me, and the boys drove halfway down a night early to Montgomery so we wouldn't have to make the whole trek in one day. Jason said we HAD to stop at the Peach Park on our way!
Mmmmm... fried peach pie.
A little roughhousing before bed.
Country Folks restaurant where we stopped after driving for over an hour with NO FOOD CHOICES in sight. I was like YES PLEASE, ANYWHERE! Let's eat!!
We watched Monsters, Toy Story 2, Nemo, and Winnie the Pooh over the course of our car riding time (there and back)
We decided to stay in on our first night and just order pizza and relax. Which was good because I was POOPED! Then Miller Man decided it would be fun to get up at 6:30am on Sunday morning so we made the best of it and went out on the balcony to hang out.
That night we went to AJ's with all the Guins.
Sam & V, Nick, Mom & Dad (Mimi & Poppy, that is), Jason, Jack and Miller. This was my attempt to get the whole table, which didn't end up including Vanessa. So I tried to do a panoramic shot, and...
...Panoramics aren't great for people's faces - check out Nick!!! Ahh!!
We got a fun family picture and I didn't even realize Jason was holding Miller over one of the holes until afterwards! Too funny!!
feeding the fish
Jason's expert parking skills
It was SUPPOSED to rain all week, but thank goodness we had really good weather!
Hanging out on the beach!
My Miller Man!!
Sweet Jack giving Mommy an "mmm-mah"
Our little set up.
Right before the trip, we were having all kinds of issues with Miller's tummy (I'll explain more in his 5 month post), so we decided to put him on formula for the whole vacation. Luckily he takes a bottle well and this night at dinner, he decided he was a big boy and would hold it himself!! :)
Speaking of that night (Monday)... we're happily eating our dinner at Dewey Destin, minding our own business, when it starts thundering off in the distance. It gets closer, closer, closer and then we're like "Oh my word - it's gonna open UP on us!" We were sitting on the patio, pretty much in the direct path of the brewing storm, but luckily they got us an inside table and we were able to RUN inside (literally) with all our food before we got drenched. Whew. That was cah-razy.
Tuesday we went outlet shopping while the boys played golf.
We love Buh-nessa!!
That night we went to Captain Daves for dinner and Nick tried crab legs for the first time. Jason is quite the crab legs expert so Nick got to learn from the master.
Sweet Aunt & Uncle
Wednesday morning, Jason, Nick, and the boys and I went to the Donut Hole for breakfast. This spread doesn't even include Jason's food, because he inhales his meals. It was REALLY yummy!!
Another day at the beach, despite his face - he enjoyed it!
Beach family!!
Sitting in the inflatable Jake pool!
Wednesday night we went over to the Baytowne Wharf to walk around and eat dinner at the Acme Oyster House. Dude - BEST meal we had! It was sooooo good!!
Nick did a chipping contest to win a boat, and came REALLY close! We were proud of him.
It was also Mom and Dad's anniversary!! 31 years!
On the balcony Thursday morning before we left our condo.
overlooking the pool
panoramic (which I'm still no good at)
The Guin's left on Thursday to head home and we decided to stay another night in Destin. We went back down to the area near AJ's and walked around. Jack was desperate to go on the choo-choo train and who are we to deny him such a treat?!
That face. I die.
Here's a video of the train:
Then we went on a dolphin cruise! It was fun and we saw lots of dolphins, but oh my goodness... we would not go on this boat again. It was completely open, as in NO SHADE. So we slathered the boys in sunscreen, and I did my best to shield my sleeping Miller.
...and I got burned. Ugh.
Here's a video of the cruise:
Thursday night we went back to the Baytowne Wharf and walked on the pier that we didn't know you could get to the first night!
...and we ate at the Acme Oyster House again! Yum!! (And we were served by a Taylor Swift lookalike! No joke!!)
silly boy sitting in the window at our hotel
being a helpful big brother on the way home - "I wanna hold it!"
"Brother - be quiet and quit kicking my chair. I'm trying to sleep."
Another fabulous vacation for the summer of 2013!!
