Early to Bed

At the 4 month appointment the doctor suggested we put Jack down earlier at night.  That he needs more sleep and it's good for mom and dad.  So we moved his bed time up 30 minutes last night... Jack moved his bedtime up an hour tonight.  He was tired at 8, so I gave him a quick bath, fed him, and laid him down.  It's now 8:30 and I have no idea what to do with myself.  I mean I could do laundry, or scrub my floors, or vacuum, or just sit in front of the tv.  I think I'll do that, there is a man vs. food episode on from Kansas City.

Here are some random pictures from my phone from the past 2 weeks...

 Jack talking to KJ

 Smiles for mommy in the morning

There is a fish mobile that Grandpa Gesie brought back from Mexico for Jack that hangs behind me in the rocking chair... it's been quite a distraction lately during feedings.  Jack loves to stare at it when it catches his eye

Taking a snooze

One from today

4 Months

Jack is 4 months old, and we had our 4 month appointment... which means we had another round of vaccinations.

Stats:
Height: 27" (95%)
Weight: 15lbs 4.5oz (50%)
Head: 42cm (50%)


It wasn't as bad as last time, maybe because Craig was there for moral support (although I think I needed it more than Jack...I got teary-eyed when he screamed, but I didn't cry).  Jack started crying before the "henchman" (the nurse that gets to do the dirty work) came in.

Jack is great.  He's healthy and developing exactly as he should be.  Big sigh of relief from this mama... I'm crazy.  I know it.  I have decided I think Jack will be left handed, why you ask.  Because I think he does everything with his left hand; chews on it, grabs with it, etc.  I don't have a problem with him being left handed, but I have a problem with what I read.  I know I shouldn't have, but I did... I GOOGLED "when can I tell if my baby will be left or right handed" and you know what the almighty GOOGLE said?!?!  It said that if I can tell a preference in hands before 12-15 months there is a neurological issue!  WHAT!?!?!  Oh hell.  This is why I promised I wouldn't Google things.  The Dr. said that "Google is the best and worst thing that has happened to us."  I couldn't agree more.  She assured me Jack has no neurological issues, everything I said he did with his left hand... he did with his right while we were in the doctor's office.  Yes, Craig was rolling his eyes during all of this.

Have I mentioned we think Jack will walk before he rolls over?  We do.  He isn't rolling over yet.  Which 4 months is the average, and the doctor told us not to be concerned.  While he doesn't roll over, he bears weight (he basically is standing on his own) and lifts himself up on his arms to make up for it.  She told us we can help him "practice".  Jack always seems surprised when he gets a little help rolling over.

I love our pediatrician.  She's funny.  Turns out she is not her kid's pediatrician.  She said she has a hard time being objective when it comes to her own kids.  Her son fell and broke his ankle a few weeks ago.  He went 5 days before she took him to see the doctor!  It reminds me of my childhood (I never broke anything, but with nurse Chris if our arm wasn't severed from our body, we were FINE).  It also made me realize that even a mom/doctor doesn't realize something is wrong immediately, so why should I?

We also discussed starting solids.  Due to his bowel issues, Jack gets to skip rice cereal and start with oatmeal.  And then add green vegetables when we are ready.  She hopes the fiber will help regulate him.  So we are done with the apple juice.  It only worked for a few weeks, and she doesn't like babies on it if it's not doing anything.

I think that is enough rambling... I know you all want the 4 month pictures anyways.  Oh, did I mention Jack has discovered his voice?  He let the doctor know what he thought the whole time we were in there.

Mom 2 : Jack 544

I've decided the cat naps need to stop.  I know I don't get to just decide this, but I think that Jack needs to start napping in his crib, and that it needs to be for longer than 20-30 minutes.  So today I put Jack down in his crib for a nap at 10am, it took 25 minutes of swaddling, putting the pacifier back in, giving him something to occupy his hands so he didn't pull the pacifier out, resting my hand on his tummy, and various other things... but I didn't pick him up and eventually he fell asleep, and SLEPT FOR AN HOUR!

It was glorious.

Then 3pm rolled around, and his eyes got red, and he started rubbing them... So I laid him in his crib.  It was still a battle, but not like the morning.  He slept for 2 HOURS!!!!  I honestly didn't know what to do with myself.  I kept staring at the monitor just waiting for him to wake up.  I didn't even get much accomplished.

So I won the nap battle today... I'm sure it's a fluke.  I wish I could reason with him.  What I wouldn't give to take naps again.

More Pictures

I have several cute pictures from this past week, so here they are:

Being a stud

Grandpa gave the Bjorn a try... yes, yes, Baby Carlos

Jack got some new shades, and doesn't mind having them on

Did I mention he LOVES to bounce

One of the MANY toys

Bath time

Because I'll always need blackmail pictures when he's older :)

A Week at Grandpa & Grandma's

We are spending the week in Iowa at Grandpa and Grandma Gesie's.  Jack is not spoiled at all.  He's so not spoiled we did not go to Wal-Mart at 9pm on Tuesday night because Grandpa decided that Jack needed a walker RIGHT THAT SECOND.  As a result, Jack now has Lightening McQueen walker... he doesn't even know who Lightening McQueen is and he can't even reach the ground in it.  So, he gets put in it and a pillow gets put under it so that he can stand.  He also has a Tow-Mater tow-truck... which secretly cracks me up.

Here are some pictures of Jack and Lightening...

 The first time Jack got in it... his face cracks me up

Just to show you he likes it

 One to show you how he "reaches" the floor

He's going for a cruise... on the kitchen table

Happy Birthday Great Grandma!

Turns out Jack and Great Grandma Holly are exactly XX years and 4 months apart.  I'll leave the years alone...

We went to brunch for Great Grandma's birthday in some small town in Iowa... it started with an "A" I think, but I don't remember the name... it was in a barn :)

Here are some pictures of Jack from Great Grandma's birthday... I did my 4 month photo shoot, don't worry!  I'll just post those pictures with his 4 month stats that we won't have until the 24th.  I know you are all on the edge of your seats.

Jumping Jack Spratt

The kid won't roll over, but he'll jump until your arms and legs can't take it anymore.  So I got out the doorway jumper and put him in it to see what he thought.

THE
KID
LOVED
IT

 Too bad the strap got in the way, he was grinning from ear to ear

 Checking the place out

 Mom, enough with the pictures...

I SAID ENOUGH!

(Don't mind Marley's butt)

3 of a Kind

Grandma and Grandpa Calhoun came to town this weekend while cousin Madcat, Aunt Katy, and Uncle Andrew were in town.  There was some pool frolicking and a trip to downtown St. Louis to try out Sweetie Pies (it has it's own tv show!)

These 3 love having their picture taken...

Introducing TED

Cousin Madelyn and Aunt Katy came to town on the 4th of July, and brought Jack a Teddy Bear... not just any teddy bear, a 4.5 foot teddy bear.  This thing is ridiculous.  Aunt Katy and Uncle Andrew have had some fun with Ted (formerly known as "Bear") we've seen pictures of Ted in bed, Ted at the dinner table, Ted holding hands with Mcat, and Ted riding safely in the car with his seat belt on.  We're thinking the "Adventures of Ted" might become a part of Jack's blog.

 An attempt to get a picture of Jack, Madelyn, & Ted... Ted was hungry, so Mcat gave him some pizza

 Seriously, the paws are bigger then Jack

He's so sweet

Happy 4th of July

Jack's first 4th of July, he was pretty excited....

Jack missed the fireworks on the 4th.  He was in bed early.  He did get to see some fireworks on the 3rd of July, he seemed unimpressed.  Mom and Dad enjoyed them from their deck.