Weekend Wrap-up

I'm just coming off the high of having a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Although, as I recap what we did, it sounds just a little busy. Maybe having a baby has mellowed me out.

Yeah, right!

Jason took me and Seth out to dinner to Pittsburgh Blue for dinner on Friday night. Dinner at a sit-down restaurant with an infant can be tricky. Timing is everything -especially when your baby is typically only up for 2-3 hours in between nap times and dinner can take about an hour and a half, plus the 20 minutes to get to the restaurant and home again, which only leaves you a half hour to eat your sit-down dinner. Dining with a baby is different, but I don't want avoid it and I'd rather help Seth get through it because going out to a restaurant every once and a while is something our family does. Maybe I'll change my mind when Seth is 18 months old and wants to tear through the restaurant dining room.

Nonetheless, Seth did great. He sat on my lap, while playing with his various toys and spoons. While we ate (er, while I scarfed my meal down), he sat in his car seat. Seth always gets a lot of attention with his helmet, so of course, we got lots of visitors to our table.

On Saturday morning, I took Seth for a quick jog in the stroller. It was a little cool, but Seth was bundled up so we made it a quick jog. Afternoon naps and resting were had by all.

My friend, Cassie, and her two little sweet children came over in the afternoon for some playtime at the school playground. We cooked dinner afterwards, during which it was confirmed again what a poor cook I am. I mean, really, how can a person botch up a batch of pre-packaged refrigerated French rolls? Digging in to dinner, Cassie's 5-year old said, "Mommy, I can't bite into this bread". A few seconds passed when Jason and I both started to roar with laughter over the deep-seeded truth to that comment. Yes, dear child, you are not the only one.

We went to ABF on Sunday morning and after 20 minutes, we decided to bring Seth to the nursery. I dropped him into the nursery worker's arms, who put Seth on the floor. He started crawling around, looking back at me just to make sure I was still there until I waved good-bye. I came back 45 minutes later to pick Seth back up and the worker said he did great. Crawled around and explored. I think we'll try the nursery again!

Sunday afternoon was our football draft party for our ABF fantasy football league. We had 16 people over and it was a blast! Seth was a little frustrated because he wanted to crawl around the floor, but I wouldn't let him because there were computer cords galore. We sat on the deck and chatted until it got a little dark. I put Seth down for bed around 7pm and then we started a beautiful bonfire and enjoyed the fire until 10pm.

Monday was another great day. I discovered Seth's 3rd tooth! His top left came poking through and if I had to guess, I think it probably popped through a day or two before. I just don't always feel around Seth's mouth for more teeth - he doesn't particularly enjoy my prying.:)

It was a crisp and cool morning. I went for a run and it was perfect. Lots of couples and families out on the trails. After Seth got up and ate, we went to Joyce's home to do a little photo shoot. Seth sat in his grandma's toy rocking chair. I can't believe he sat up in it! I remember when he was just a little peanut, thinking how far into the future it would be until he could sit in it. He loved the chair and started to figure out that it would rock!

Seth took an afternoon nap and by the time he woke up, our friend Joe stopped by to hang out. Seth would not crack a smile for him! Ha! But, he warmed up to Joe after a while.

It was a great weekend and so hard to go back to work! But, these weekends give me perfect memories!

Jammie-jams

The last few days have shaped out to be a precursor to what fall (late-Sept and earl-Oct) is like....cooler temps and the fast-moving clouds. We went from high-80s last weekend and early this week, to a cool 70 degrees and low-50s last night. Which meant...

....back to the zip-up, footed pj's for Seth. Or, as we call them, "jammie-jams". Seth hasn't worn these for over 3 months and about 2 inches ago. When he was smaller and still very much an infant. Give me a moment while I wipe tears cuz my baby is growing up at the speed of lightening. I zipped Seth up and he seemed like such a little boy. He looked at both cuffs on each arm and touched them as if to say, "what is this material on my arms??". Yes, my dear son, it's a little cold so these jammie-jams will keep your bare arms warm.

I love looking at Seth's arm rolls and the little elastic-band fold on his wrist. For that reason, I'm sad that fall and winter are approaching because it means Seth's bare little baby arms will not be quite as available to touch.

Nighty, Night

It's 6:45pm. You rub your eyes furiously. You fidget while I put your night-time diaper on. I give you a toy to distract you for a few seconds and it illicits a short smile. You whimper. You are tired. It's bedtime.

You're awake when you begin nursing. Sometimes you play with my hair or slap your legs with your hands. Or you show how you can multi-task by nursing and kicking your legs. Five minutes later, you slow down. Your eyes shut. Your arms, hands and legs get relaxed. I rub your arms, legs and back. You are comfortable, relaxed and drifting off. You are so sweet.

You finish nursing one side, so I sit you up to burp you. You whimper because you'd rather be laying on your back, sleeping. You barely have enough strength to hold your head, so it rolls to the side. You're so tired that I need to hold you up so you don't fall over. A burp escapes, so I lower you to the other side to nurse. You eagerly start to nurse again as if to say, "Can I finish nursing so I can go to sleep?"

Eight minutes later and you've stopped nursing. You've fallen asleep, but you're still latched on. I look at you for a few minutes. You're cuddled up against me and you're softly breathing into dreamland. So sweet, so gentle and so completely trusting. Can we sit like this for a few more hours?

While you're still sleeping, I pull you to my shoulder to get a burp out from you. You stir, a little out of sorts because you've been sleeping. Your head drops to nestle your cheek on my shoulder. I pat your back till you give up a burp. You've drifted off to sleep again. Your arms and legs are completely relaxed and limp. Your breathing is soft and sleepy, right in my ear. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. I rock you back and forth as I stand in your nursery. I look in the mirror. Do I really have this sweet, adorable baby in my arms with his cheek on my shoulder and soft, sleepy breathing in my ear?

Can we stand like this for a few more hours?

8 months

Seth, you are 8 months old!

You are such a joy to me and your daddy! Your seventh month has been very busy for you. You've had some big firsts:

- first long road trip to Lake Geneva, WI, for Seth's first Counihan family reunion
- first time to get up on all fours
- first army crawl
- sitting up by yourself without mommy or daddy hovering behind you

Your stats:
Height: Over 27.5 inches (which was your stat at your 6 month apt)
Weight: 18lbs 6oz

You have a very nice routine for your day. You wake up at 7am and nurse. You have oatmeal mixed with fruit before you play. After playtime, you take a nap at 9am and sleep about 1.5-2 hours. At 11am, you either nurse or have a bottle, then some yummy fruits and vegetables. You play or run errands with mommy or daddy before you take another nap at 1pm. You typically nap for another 1.5-2 hours. After you wake up, you nurse and then eat fruits, vegetables and rice cereal. You play or go for a walk. Sometimes if you woke up early from your naps, you get a little tired so you take a catnap around 5pm - right when I get home from work and just want to play with you!

We take your helmet off around 5:45pm after your nap. We play or you sit in your high chair at the table while we eat dinner. Because you're so easy going, you play with a toy and watch us eat. After that, I always wash your head - your head smells soooo good and your hair is so silky! Your blond hair is really starting to grow finally!

Your bedtime routine consists of washing your head, a quick change into your jammies (a onesie) and then you nurse. Most times you are so tired by the time you're done. I always pray for you before you go down. You lay your head on my shoulder and suck your thumb. I lay you down in your crib and zip you up in your sleep sack. It's like you know it's bedtime. You are so content when I lay you down. Sometimes you are wide awake and you chat for a few minutes until your room is quiet. I think you fall asleep pretty quickly.

Knock on wood - you sleep until 6:30-7am. I don't know what I'd do if you woke up in the middle of the night! Most days I hear you chatting to yourself around 6:45am. You call out for me if I haven't come into your room by 7am. You nurse and then have breakfast.

Lately, you are almost too "busy" to nurse or take a bottle. You'd rather kick your legs around, play with my hair, touch my nose, play with my necklace or coo. I have to work hard to keep you focused on eating, so I always keep your room quiet while you nurse.

You love to eat! How do we know this? You always say, "Mmmmm!!" after each bite....of the foods that you like to eat, that is! You love oatmeal mixed with apples or the fruit du jour. You like all fruits - pears, peaches, apples and bananas. You like peas and sweet potatoes. You used to like carrots, but now you just make a funny, disgusted face and let the carrots run out of your mouth. You tried avocados the other day. I don't know - the gagging sound you made after you squished it around your mouth probably indicated that you and avocados don't jive right now. It's okay, Scooter. I feel the same way about french green bean casserole.

At playtime, you've nearly abandoned your tried and true toys for the new world: the living room floor and everything in its path! You army crawl your way under the piano, under the dining room chairs, and under your bouncer. What is so fascinating about a piano's underbelly, I'll never know.

You also really like your stuffed animals in your room. I think you like them for their quishiness.

Here are some of your eight month pictures:

Cheeks

Photoshop.com Album: Seth - July 2010 week 31

Photoshop.com Album: Seth - July 2010 week 29