Puffs

So they make these things called puffs.  They're basically crunchy finger foods that dissolve in babies' mouths so babies without teeth can eat finger foods.  I let Jayden try some today and he definitely wasn't sure about them at first.  He liked playing with them, but amazingly, he did not immediately try to get them into his mouth.  I fed him a couple so he understood that they were safe for his mouth. 

Here's part of his experience:

Happy Birthday Carmen (sort of)

This past week was a busy one for us.  It was the NFL Draft in New York City, it was my 10-year college reunion and it was Carmen's birthday! 
The NFL Draft went well for Carmen and his clients.  All of his rookies are with a team, which is the most important.  Least important, but maybe most fun for us, is that Carmen got some good TV time! 

On Saturday Jayden and I went out to Claremont for my 10-year reunion.  There were events all weekend - Thursday through Sunday, but we chose to only go on Saturday because it was just too tough with work and Jayden.  Carmen drove out to have dinner with us on Saturday too.  They had child care for Jayden, so Carmen and I got to have a couple of hours without having to worry about Jayden. 

Here are some pictures from the day:

A seriously good nap on Marston Quad (while Mommy was probably eating the fateful lunch that ruined the evening/next day)

On Coach's floor, playing with a "BIGBALL."  Jayden thought it was hilarious when it bounced.

Tamara, Coach, me and Jayden.  Tamara has a great picture of Jayden reaching for Coach and Coach reacting.  Hopefully T shares it with me so I can share it with you guys.

In the grass at the Wash party - SO not like old times! 

The fun part happened when I was driving home.  I started to feel sick, but attributed it to just eating too much and being out and about all day.  Well, turns out it was something a whole lot worse - I spent most of my night running back and forth to the bathroom.  Finally, around 4:30 am, I passed out (probably from dehydration).  I thought I yelled for Carmen pretty loudly, but he says what woke him up was a thud - probably from me collapsing on the floor.  By the time he got downstairs I was conscious again, but couldn't see anything, which was really scary.  He said "we're going to the hospital" and I actually agreed with him.  I regained my sight and was able to move around.  So while Carmen was packing Jayden into the car, I packed a bag for Jayden, even bringing formula and a bottle with us in case I couldn't nurse him for some reason, took Jasmine out to pee.  We got to the hospital around 5:00 am.  Basically they figured it was food poisoning, which is what I had guessed also, and that I was just dehydrated.  I got two liters of fluids through an IV and then they discharged me.  I felt horrible the rest of the day Sunday, which was unfortunately Carmen's birthday. 

Carmen did some stuff for the house and I stayed in the house and hung out with Jayden.  Carmen's "special" birthday dinner consisted of canned soup and crackers.  Mmm mmm good.  I promised Carmen I would make it up to him - because it is so not like me to not celebrate a birthday.  I've already apologized a million times, but I'll apologize once more - sorry Carmen - I will not eat from food trucks the day before your birthday ever again. 

Formula for success (hopefully)

Since we get up so early now (5:45 am this morning), I have more time in the mornings.  So.  Good morning everyone!

Today, at almost exactly 7-1/2 months, Jayden will have to be supplemented with formula.  I wanted so badly to make it to one year exclusively breastfeeding, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.  What's hard for me, and this is probably a dilemma faced by many moms that work outside the home, is that if I didn't work, I probably wouldn't have to supplement.  I know Jayden will be fine and he's already received so many benefits from the 7-1/2 months of exclusive breastmilk (except for those 3 days at the beginning), but it's hard on me.  There's guilt for choosing to go back to work, there are feelings of failure for not being able to produce enough breastmilk and just general frustration with the situation.  And it doesn't help that work has not been wonderful over the past couple of weeks.  It constantly makes me wonder if working is the right thing, if this job is the right thing, if I picked the right daycare - so much self-doubt!

But, off we go to daycare and work.  Luckily Jayden will be happy no matter what, because that's just who he is.  Now if only he'd sleep!

(this was written at about 7:45 am - but it wouldn't post on my phone so I had to wait until I got to work to publish it)

Block Party

For those of you without Facebook . . . this was after dinner last night.  We take our block playing (and banging together and such) very seriously.

Weight Update

Because I know you have all been dying to know . . . I weighed Jayden again this morning, using my highly scientific method of weighing myself and then weighing myself again while holding Jayden.  He was fully clothed this morning and had finished nursing not too long ago, but he weighed in at a whopping 17.5 pounds!  I figure we take off some ounces for clothing, etc., but even if he's somewhere around 17 pounds, that's great.  It means he's gained a pound or more over the past five weeks, which is a wonderful thing. 

No pictures this morning, I'll try to get one tonight or tomorrow, so at least the pictures come more frequently, even if the posts do not.  Happy Tuesday everyone!

Another Monday

I really do love my Mondays.  They aren't always easy, especially on days like today when the only way Jayden will nap is in my arms (don't tell Julia - it makes her life a whole lot harder).  But they are wonderful.  I get to spend all day with Jayden.  Today I didn't even have to get in the car.  We hung out upstairs for a while, and then we came downstairs and we've been playing on his play mat, with his blocks, with Sophie, of course (for those of you who don't know who Sophie is, check out the pictures below).
OH!  And we had Jayden's first earthquake.  Apparently it was a 3.9 or so.  I had left Jayden on our bed (since he's not moving much yet it's still safe) to run to the bathroom.  Everything started shaking.  I yelped and ran back into the room - not that anything would have happened to Jayden, but still.  Jasmine jumped up from her nap and was nervous.  We felt it pretty strongly.  No aftershocks or anything and no damage.  But a little excitement. 

Jayden is still sleeping great; usually 8 pm until about 6:15 am.  We'd love him to sleep until 7 am, and I think he could stand to sleep the extra 45 minutes or so, but he wakes up and sings to himself at 6:15 am, so we're just still working on it.  Today he was really tired.  It's only 4 pm and he's had about 2-1/2 hours of naps already.  He's about to go down for another one right now.  I swear I can feel teeth again, but who knows.  I've had so many false alarms I don't even believe myself anymore.  But he has these ridges in between where his two front teeth would go, on top and on bottom.  And I swear I felt teeth today.  But, yeah, I know.  I'll just tell you when it actually happens and stop guessing so much!

Carmen leaves tomorrow for New York City for the NFL draft.  It'll be four days of just me, Jayden and Jasmine.  I think we'll be okay, I just have to make sure I go to bed early and not schedule too many things at work. 

Yesterday Carmen and I moved some stuff to the new house - we're trying to move as much as we can prior to the big move, so that we start packing and also so that the big move isn't quite so big.  Right now it's looking like we'll move next Sunday/Monday or sometime that week.  I'm not excited about moving on a weekday, but if that's how it has to be then we'll figure it out. 

I don't have a ton of pictures, but here are a few from yesterday and today:

It was a little chilly in the morning (and we'd heard it might rain), so we had to make sure Jayden was bundled up!

A little blurry, but I caught a small smile.

We take our walks with Jasmine very seriously.  It's actually funny, he's just a serious kid.  He doesn't get scared or flustered, usually, he just takes it all in. 
Oh, and the giraffe is Sophie.  Whoever invented it is the smartest person ever.  It's this squeaky teething toy that every single baby ever loves.  I don't know why, but it's amazing.

My view from above.  I love his eyelashes.  They're so thick and perfectly spaced. 

Swinging.  Still serious.  And holding on tight with that front hand.

Since he wouldn't look at me, I had to move to the other side to try to catch his face.  He's got the back arm up like he's relaxing, but the front hand is still clamped tightly to the swing.

Monday Monday

We've been busy, as always.  Jayden is getting better and better about sitting up - although he does eventually get tired and tip over.  We have to always be next to him or stack pillows around him so that when he falls he doesn't end up with a concussion.  He's still talking a lot - but no real words yet no matter how much I say "mama" and "daddy" to him. 

He is definitely getting more clingy, particularly to me.  In the mornings, Carmen will get up with him and hang out with him while I shower and get ready for the day.  He'll be playing and happy and having a good time.  And then I walk in the door and there's nothing but tears.  It's a little hard for me, but I have to just take it as a stage and a function of what I am to him (food, comfort, etc.) 

Today I had to go to court in the morning, but I was home by 9:30 am so Carmen could go to work.  For the next few hours, Jayden was either asleep or in my arms.  Anytime I sat him down by himself, he screamed.  So we made soup with him in the baby bjorn, I carried him to make his own meals and I held him to fall asleep, of course.  It was exhausting.  In the afternoon, Jayden and I went to this place called Pretend City.  Pretend City (as my friend said) is basically Disneyland for kids.  It's meant for older kids - they have a grocery store, a theater, a sushi restaurant, a farm, a house for rent (that even has some construction) and about a billion other things.  On the third Monday of the month they open it up to infants only, so my friend and I took our babies today.  Jayden and Shreya (my friend's daughter) still aren't very mobile, so we found a soft area and hung out there the whole time.  Once the kids are roaming around, though, this is going to be awesome.  So many things to see and explore! 

Here are some pictures - from when Grandma Barb was here, and from this past week. 

Umm, ADORABLE (if I may say so myself).  Taking after Grandpa Allan with his love of hats.  We even bought one for Jayden for when he's a little older and it actually fits his head (thanks Grandma Barb).

At Pretend City.  Jayden is always so serious when he gets to new places.  He takes it all in and observes.  And of course plays with the red string that he finds on the ground.

Mmm, yummy.  Nothing better than a pre-chewed toy...

Jayden and Shreya.  Shreya is two weeks younger, but WAY more mobile.  She is almost crawling.  Meanwhile Jayden just sat in one place and reached for things.  Oh well...

Towards the end.  Starting to get tired, so reaching for mama, of course.

They're making progress at the house - we hope to move there in about two weeks.  Later than I wanted, but we're getting some amazing work done.  Including painting.  They finished Jayden's room today - here's what it looks like!  I can't wait to move him in there, I think it will look wonderful.  AND I'm so glad we had our contractor paint; Carmen and I would definitely have ended up with paint all over the chair rail. 

Jayden's room at the new house - it got painted today!

Just a few more

I decided to stay up late to leave you all with a few more photos - of the family!  Thanks Mom for taking these pictures of us.  :)

In the backyard at the new house.

The front door of the new house

Bath night!

Happy Tuesday! Time to go to work/daycare.

too. many. pictures.

I guess that's what happens when you take ten days off of blogging.  I don't know what happened, but suddenly ten days have passed and I haven't posted anything.  We have been busy - and we had a grandma visit, which is always exciting.  

The weekdays are always a blur; I dread Tuesdays, and then I look up and it's Friday morning.  I guess that's a good thing - hopefully Jayden feels the same way! 

Jayden is growing up and getting stronger every day.  He sits up pretty well on his own now; we can't leave him unattended yet, but we don't have to hold him up either.  He still won't crawl or even spend more than maybe a minute or two on his stomach (and only if I lay next to him preventing him from rolling over and distract him), but he can maneuver himself closer to toys and other things he wants to grab.  And oh lord can he grab.  Anything that's within reach of him is his: pens, clean bottles, spoons, cell phones, water bottles, literally anything he can see, he wants to touch.  It's kind of amazing, but also kind of scary.  The other day we were getting Jasmine's food and I was holding him and I let the bowl of food get a little too close to his hand.  He immediately grabbed a handful of dog food.  Luckily I caught him before any of it made it to his mouth!  (although I've heard from friends that later in life kids and dogs sometimes share food back and forth . . . I guess it's not the worst thing he could try to eat)

Today he is SEVEN months which is awesome.  Over the last couple of weeks it has just been so fun to hang out with him.  He laighs regularly (sometimes even when I don't do anything, which makes me feel a little self-conscious; apparently me looking at him - or him looking at me - is enough to crack him up).  He explores everything and he LOVES his doggy. 

This past weekend my mom (Grandma Barb) was visiting.  It was the end of her spring break and she squeezed us in at the end of her trip to Albuquerque.  It was great to see her, and she even let Carmen and me have a mini date night! 

I don't have pictures from every one of the last ten days, but I do have a TON of pictures.  So, without further adieu, enjoy the sampling of Jayden photos:

Sitting up wearing his polos.  :)

Mmmm dinner.  Thanks Grandma!

The sunglasses were not exactly a hit.  He had his eyes closed most of the time they were on his face, kind of ruining the point of sunglasses.

My view from behind the stroller. Such cute Jayden toes!

Drinking water from a transition bottle/sippy cup.  Not a huge hit at first, but he's getting used to it.  We'll get to graduate to one with handles very soon.

Hi Mama!

Ooh paper to play with.  And by the way, I'm seven months old today.  Woo hooo!

But really, all I want to do is play with the paper and eat things I'm not supposed to.

Ooh, and let's play with the camera too.  That looks like fun!

I have a bunch more pictures that I'm going to post, but it'll be the weekend before I get them up.  Hopefully these will hold you over until then.

Scooting?

Jayden still hates being on his stomach. He can last a few seconds, if I lay down next to him so that he cannot flip over to his back.  But every day (that I can) I still try to see if he'll figure out that being on his stomach is kind of cool and can one day lead to crawling.  I'm not too hopeful at this point, but he is starting to figure out how to move a little.  Today we were on the floor playing on his play mat and I purposefully put one of his toys slightly out of his reach.  This is how he got there:

I also want to point out that this household contains no fair weather fans - we are fans of our teams through and through.  Even though Duke got knocked out in the first round (even Carmen didn't predict that) and even though today is the national championship game between Kansas and Kentucky, Jayden was still sporting his Duke gear today. 

General update: Jayden had a fever Friday night and into Saturday.  Of course it happens on Friday, after everything is closed.  Carmen and I agonized over whether to take him to Urgent Care or the pediatric ER (by our calculations, the fever was close to 102 degrees).  Finally, I texted Maya who called me immediately (I love her for many reasons, but one of them now is that she is so responsive to my baby health questions) while she was at a party in NYC with her brother and her best friend.  Maya talked me through all the symptoms and concluded Jayden probably just had a virus and there was no need to go to the doctor.  She gave us the signs to look for that would indicate that he should go to the doctor, which also made us feel better.  He did not sleep well that night, but his fever had dropped significantly by morning (only 99 or 100).  And by Saturday afternoon he was back to normal.  Saturday night he decided he didn't want to sleep, so he didn't go to bed until 11:15 pm or so.  It was pretty awesome.  And then last night I got him to bed around 8:30 pm.  And he slept until about 7:30 this morning.  That actually was pretty awesome. 

He's also had a terrible time going down for naps; he screams and cries and won't be soothed unless Carmen or I pick him up and rock him.  He has also been congested and coughing for the past few days; because of that, the pacifier is not as effective, since he can't breathe well when it's in his mouth.  We're going to have to break him of this habit somehow, since Julia can't rock him to sleep every time he needs a nap - and really we can't either!

One last picture, for those of you who don't have facebook (mostly the grandmas and grandpas).  We had six month photos taken a week ago - here's a sneak peek of one of them:

Sock obsession

We were out running around yesterday, toting Jayden along with us. Unfortunately for him this means lots of sitting in the car seat and not as much playing. However, our son is super creative and has decided that his socks are pretty freaking interesting! He must have pulled his sock off three or four times yesterday.
During this particular instance, he pulled off his right sock, was playing with it and chewing on it and then got tired. So he passed out with the sock clutched in his hand. Clearly I had to take a picture.

Babies seriously don't need toys. Jayden's favorite things to play with are remote  controls, my water bottle, Carmen's necklace, and now apparently socks! I love the simplicity; I sometimes wish grownups could be as easily entertained; instead of needing to have our phones always at our fingertips, the television on, etc. I wish the simpler things would entertain us - I think we might be more inclined to think, have conversations, imagine, read. But maybe this is mostly my house - and a function of having a six and a half month old with two working parents.