Bath time fun!

As we all know, bath time has been a favorite of Matthew's from day 1. Now that he's sitting up and wanting to keep busy, we've been trying to figure out the best spot for his baths. He's been enjoying them in the big boy tub, but we were having trouble with it. We found this yesterday and it seems it will do just fine:

Matthew's first Christmas!

Matthew's first Christmas was fun, peaceful, chaotic, exciting, and tiring. I'm sure I could think of a few other words to describe it if I thought about it hard enough. We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner, Matthew, Mike and I. I tried to make it like our old Polish Christmas Eve's from home, but really the only things resembling it were the fish and the pierogi (although frozen, not homemade).

Christmas morning we opened gifts. Matthew actually took pretty much all day to get through his stack. It went something like this: open some presents, play with that toy, eat some wrapping paper, nap, repeat. I think he had fun, although I'm quite sure he had no clue what was going on. He was a little grump for the latter part of the day, maybe because he slept very poorly the night before. I guess he was just too excited about Santa coming. I managed to make my very first turkey, and it was actually quite delicious. Of course, even though I got the smallest one i could find, there were leftovers galore! I have since made a huge pot of turkey soup, a turkey and rice casserole and pureed some up to freeze for Matthew. That sure looked gross! It was much easier making his food with my new food processor (thanks mom and dad!) It's a small, simple one that is perfect for making baby food, among other things.

Yesterday the three of us spent the day shopping the sales. Got a few Christmas things for next year and some things for Matthew. All in all, a good Christmas! Hope everyone had a very happy holiday!

Shout out to my Child Life peeps!

Christmastime at a Children's Hospital. I'm pretty sure most of you out there couldn't even begin to wrap your brain around what this means. At the core of it, are families with their sick children, stuck at the last place on earth they ever imagined they would be. As a new parent, with a completely different perspective than I ever before had, I can not even fathom this. To us child life specialists out there, it is pure, total, complete insanity. So, to all my friends out there in Santa's Workshop right now, I'm thinking of you- with you in spirit, if you will. Keep at it. I know, because I've been there, how crazy tired you are right now. But the week's almost over. And those kids will be so stinking happy on Christmas morning when Santa "finds" them at the hospital and brings their gifts to them. Merry Christmas to all my little elves!

Baby it's cold outside...

If you look closely enough, you'll see among the decorations, our very own Dallas Cowboy's brick! We are just dorky enough that we purchased a family brick to be put at the new Cowboy's stadium. Beyond that, we are even a bit more dorky because decorated it for the holidays.

Can you believe there's only 4 more days until Christmas?!?! We are gearing up for Matthew's very first one. I'm pretty sure he'll be good and spoiled on Christmas morning, judging from the amount of presents both sets of grandparents have sent. I'm also pretty sure he's going to LOVE playing with that wrapping paper. He is already pretty entertained by the presents anytime I put him near the tree.



We have been in a winter wonderland all week. Since last weekend we've gotten a little more than a foot of snow here and we're expecting another 8 inches or so tonight. The worst thing is it's SO cold out! Well, by our standards anyway. Mike and I have both served time living in cold weather states before, but since we're coming here from CA, and TX before that, this single digit weather has a chill to it. Matthew and I pretty much just hang out inside where it's toasty warm.

Matthew "borrowing" Boss's reindeer antlers. (ok, not really borrowing. More like "daddy put these stupid things on my head and now mommy's taking yet another picture".)

We got this adorable little Christmas ornament in the mail yesterday. It is front and center on the tree, and we think it actually looks a bit like our little snow baby. Thank you GREAT grandmom K!!

And now....the Cowboy's game is starting, so obviously I have more important things to get to.

Love the holidays!

Snow dog

Getting ready to go see Santa

He likes to hang out by the tree

Our tree.

His favorite friend.

Not much to say today. Matthew had an appointment yesterday with his pediatrician because his reflux has gotten worse again. He has gained about a pound, so his Zantac was increased. We will see if that helps him and if not, try something different. Yesterday after nap time, I went in his room to see him laying in a little puddle of his spit up. It was pathetic looking, all over his nose and mouth. TMI? Oh well. That's the life with a reflux baby. His weight is up to 13.9, which means he's gained- but he's now barely in the 5th percentile. Pedi didn't seem concerned, but I will ask her about this next time we go. Seems like he keeps falling...25th...then 10th...now 5th...there's not much else to drop to. Makes a mama nervous, you know? Please let this Zantac help him keep more of his feedings down!

I've been busy doing my holiday baking. Well, when Matthew allows me to be in the kitchen. Thus far I've made double chocolate graham drops, no bake cookies (aka Susan's infamous "bumpy" cookies), snickerdoodles, oreo balls (holy YUM!), bourbon balls, and buckeye's (a recipe from Matante that is popular at Christmas!). Oh, and a batch of regular old chocolate chip cookies, but those did not turn out right. I have several more to make and then I will get them all packaged up. Mike will bring a lot to work and some will be gifts for neighbors. I'm keeping everything in the outside fridge so we don't eat them. I love to bake!

Matthew's first visit with Santa

Funny stuff

Don't be fooled. My child really is this entertained by a bottle of vitamins. Who needs toys?

First snow!

It snowed last night! Perfect excuse to take more pictures of Matthew! :-)

Our house at night.

What the heck is all this white stuff?? And why didn't anyone put any mittens on my hands?!?!

(Ooops....I promise you we were outside less than 5 minutes. His hands are fine.)

Me and my mommy (hey, it isn't glamour shots.)

Hanging with Daddy and Boss

Rest in peace sweet man...

My dziadzieu. (for those not remembering: dziadzieu is Polish for Grandfather). Dziadzieu is hands down the sweetest man I've known. I have so many memories of him from when I was a kid and many as an adult. One Christmas Eve, dziadzieu, sweet old man that he was, gives me a hug and says "may you be happy. and may you finally meet a man and get married." All I could do was laugh, because coming from him at least, it was cute. Fast forward a few years later. My fiance comes home to CT with me for our engagement party. We go to the nursing home where dziadzieu has lived for the last 6 years (since his strokes). Dziadzieu, who cannot speak, used all the expressions in the world to let me know he approved of this man. He smiled more huge than I've ever seen him do and just continuously shook his hand; nodding and smiling and shaking his hand. And I knew. I knew what he meant, and was so proud to have that moment of happiness with him. Fast forward to last month. Dziadzieu was put on hospice and I just knew in my heart I had to get Matthew there for dziadzieu to meet him. It was another sweet moment for me, despite having to see him so frail and sick. Here he was- my last living grandparent, and he was able to meet my son. I will cherish that visit ALWAYS. He lived 96 years. 96. And when he died, this afternoon, it was time. My mom and dad were with him, and he died peacefully in his sleep, without pain. I know he is in a happy place right now. I know he is looking down on me and my boys and smiling. I will forever miss him.

Matthew's first visit with dziadzieu
Dziadzieu and I circa 2004

Checking out my son.

Laughing at his dog

A few nights ago Mike and Matthew were playing catch with Boss. Matthew thought it was absolutely hysterical when Boss would chase after her duck and bring it back to Mike. We didn't get it all on video, but he did some pretty good laughing for us. Having a baby is just endless amusement!

(p.s. don't mind the dorky mommy in the video- I was trying to video and laughing because it was funny. Plus I always tend to make dumb comments when the camera's rolling!)

Pics of the week

All bundled up for a walk outside. I think he was practicing for catching snowflakes when the time comes.

Hmmm...pretty sure daddy's hat is a little bit too big.
Mommy's wondering how much longer the bouncy seat will be any good- he sits up and even managed to get one of his legs out of the straps.

Ah. He found his thumb and his lovey. (note the "sheet saver"...useful for a reflux kid who spits up all the time...not as useful now that he's usually all over the crib at night.)

Pretty sure he's just fine in his big boy crib.

Happy Holidays!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A moment of your time...

To brag on the fabulousness that is OxiClean. My sweet boy just had a massive butt explosion. Like the kind that requires immediate bathing and hazmat team, if one is available. Now I won't go into detail, but if you breast feed you know what I'm talking about when I say yellow mustard seed. (ok, that was detail, but I digress). In the most unfortunate turn of events, Matthew was wearing a WHITE footie pajama outfit. I seriously considered throwing it away- I mean it's a 3 month outfit, so how much longer is it really going to fit him anyway?

Bound and determined, I threw it into the sink after a quick rinse, with a little scoop of the magic. I mean OxiClean. When I went back 15 minutes later- gone. Nothing on the outfit. For reals.

Run, don't walk. You too can be amazed at the stain fighting power.



....and now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Blackmail

Pretty sure I have my blackmail photo for when Matthew is an unruly teenager:

Matthew at 5 months

Just a few tidbits about Matthew these days. Patterns and routines sort of went out the window since he's a world traveller these days, but we're getting him back on track.

-he had some sleep "set backs" the past month, most likely due to travelling. He seems to be back to his old self- for the time being anyway.

-The great un-swaddling took place over Thanksgiving weekend. To our surprise, he must have been ready this time, because he's doing awesome. The first night I put a "lovey" by him and wouldn't you know- when he woke up he knew exactly what to do with it! He holds it close to his face and sucks his thumb to go back to sleep. So cute.

-On that note, he found his thumb. In a big way. He loves it. And while I know this can be a very bad habit for little ones to get used to, it works to soothe him. Plus, check out the evidence of how darn cute it it:
-He officially rolls over. And over. And over. We need to get to baby proofing, because I can now put him down to play on his quilt or gym. Turn my back for 2 minutes, and he's rolling around the living room. It's crazy. And the black dog hair that sticks to our carpet, also sticks to him. We'll have to figure that one out.

-All of a sudden, he likes to be on his tummy. Different perspective of the room I suppose.

-He's eating solid foods. A little bit at least. The pediatrician recommended we start trying them, and although I was *going* to wait until 6 months, we decided to give it a whirl. HOLY MOLY. My boy LOVES to eat. From the first moment the spoon went to his mouth, he knew exactly what to do with it. He reaches out both hands for the spoon in hopes that he can shove it in his mouth faster. I am only giving him about 1-2 T. of food at the moment, mostly because I do not want the food to replace any breast feedings just yet, so it's a bit of a "supplement". I don't know how long that will last since he loves it so much. So far he's had brown rice cereal, "oatmeal" cereal, banana, sweet potato and avocado. This weekend I cooked, pureed and froze up batches of sweet potato, butternut squash, green beans, pears and apples. So those will be his next foods. And yes, I am making all his baby food myself. It's fun for me (I love to cook) and it's definitely cheaper than the jars.

-Here's his face during his snack:

-Here's his face when he realizes the food is "all gone":

-As far as his size, he's growing. Still a little guy though for sure. He is now mostly in size 3-6 months, although still wearing some 0-3's. He graduated to size 2 pamper swaddlers, but the size 1's actually still fit him just fine. When people ask "aww, how old is your baby?" and I reply "5 months", the #1 response is always "Wow. He's a little guy." Yup. And I love me some little guy!

Matthew is such a little sweetie. I mean, sure I'm biased, but he's just that awesome. He smiles and laughs and squeals like a madman. Mike and I are enjoying every moment of him!

You know you have too much time on your hands when....

You spend your morning doing this:

Happy 5 months my sweet boy!