Week 30: Baby's First Swim Lesson

Being a former competitive swimmer, there was a certain anticipation of this moment on my part. I just hoped that he would love the pool as much as I did, and he did! At first he was a little surprised that the big dark hole in his backyard was actually an oversized bathtub, but he was immediately impressed by the whole ordeal. He was just grinning from ear to ear! I think he was fascinated about his relative weightlessness and how his body just glided through the water as we spun around and around. What a great moment. Even with some of the precautions we took for the sun I didn't want him to stay outside too long with his fair skin. But we are certainly looking forward to our swimming this summer!

In other developmental news - Marshall has discovered that he can pull himself up on Mommy and Daddy. It was amazing how in just a moment things click in his mind and he just figures things out. Since he learned that he has been testing the pulling up in his crib, so Chris and I had to lower the crib bottom so he won't fall out. It was a sad moment for me - the little man is growing up so fast!

Marshall also had his first all out belly laugh/chuckle. It went on for about 5 minutes, but it was brought on by Mommy pretending to "Woof" like a doggy. He just thought it was so funny. He just laughed and laughed and laughed. And of course Chris and I also just laughed along too. He is always the most silly right before bedtime. He is also the sweetest talkative baby just after he wakes up in the morning. The only other time he babbles is to Tigger in the backseat of the car.

He has also become so sweet too. He has learned to kiss. Of course he does it with his mouth wide open. He will rub his hands over your cheeks and coo at you as if to tell you how much he loves you then swoops in with a wide open mouth and slobbers all over your face. It is just the sweetest moment ever.

Here are some memorable photos from this week:

Week 29: Mr. Roggy Ribbit and Mommy-the-Duck

Oh Marshall has a new favorite toy - Of course he loves Pooh & Tigger and his little baby Chick from Easter that Quacks like a duck (which he thinks is so laugh-out-loud funny, especially when Mommy also Quacks) - his green Frog, Mr. Roggy Ribbit, who also elicits a full out laugh from Marshall. He just loves playing with him and eating his eyeballs. Marshall will also wear his Froggy towel so they can be frogs together.

There have been so many development milestones for this boy I can hardly keep up (although he doesn't say MaMa or DaDa much in the past few weeks). His pain tolerance is definitely higher and he is really so much less frustrated with the whole crawling process. His teachers say that he just was so bound and determined this week to get crawling done right (Type A personality again!) - so much so that his poor knees were just chaffed from all the effort. I had to pull out the Gold Bond lotion to soothe/heal the skin.

Marshall also figured out what waving is - he loves to lift his hand when you say 'Hi' or 'Bye.' What is really amazing is when he is in crawling position and he does this. His balance is getting to be so good! I'm amazed that he doesn't need all four limbs on the ground.

Marshall also LOVES playing with his feet. He will just take the two of them and swing them in and out in unison. It is so funny to watch. I've put some photos below of him playing with his feet.

Oh, not to be forgotten. I've mentioned before how much Marshall loves his doggies. Well now he just thinks they are hilarious. Whenever they walk into the same room as him - he will laugh out loud and do a little jump of excitement. ESPECIALLY when Kohl comes. Kohl and him have a special bond. Kohl will lay next to him and Marshall will tug on his ears and fur. Kohl loves being the center of attention and loves playing with Marshall.

Marshall is starting to become a little more clingy to Mommy, but he still really enjoys his Daddy-time.


Here are some of the photos/videos of the week:

Cute Marshall Videos (Click on the pictures to open the Video):

Happy 1st Mother's Day!

Well what a special day, a first Mother's Day! It is so great being a Mom. Growing up with so many younger siblings, it is great to have those memories of their being born and watching them grow up into adults, but it is quite different to experience these memories as a Mother. This is the sweet child (soon to be children!) that Chris and I brought into this world together and it is so special to get to share these moments with Chris. I can't wait for all of the exciting and hectic years ahead with Marshall and Chloe.

On my first Mother's Day - Marshall made me a card at school. It was so special - I almost starting bawling in front of his teacher when she gave it to me. I tried to keep the emotions in check, because she must think I'm such a weirdo - I cried when she gave me the first Valentine too (Chris still hasn't seen that because I squirrelled it away into my cubicle at work).

My dad, sister, Chris, Marshall and I all went to McDonald's for my first Mommy's Day Breakfast (hey I'm not a big McDonald's person but its hard to turn down a free breakfast). Daddy gave me free will to do as I please while he watched Marshall and he also gave me a "Photo Sculpture" of the Picture People photo of Marshall at 2 months old laying on the blanket naked as the day he was born. It was a special day and made all the more special by Marshall's special video he made me to commemorate the day. To all the other Mothers out there - I hope that your day was special, too.

P.S.: I hope that I am NEVER like the lady at the table next to us at McDonalds. She was screaming at her husband and kids at how horrible they were making her Mother's Day. First, Chris would never deserve to be treated that way. And second, kids are kids, there is no sense in screaming at them and posting a guilt trip on them. Honestly, the kids were very mild mannered and well behaved I thought. If I ever should have negative thoughts I should come back and read this posting and watch these videos.

Week 28: Growing Like a Weed.

Well this little boy has certainly grown a lot this week. He is starting to become so coordinated with his hands. We have to give him a cracker to entertain him at meal time, which he is very proficient at nibbling on. Otherwise Chris and I won't be able to find time to eat. He just loves eating his baby foods. Any type of baby food you give him he will eat. I haven't seen him turn anything down yet. He especially loves his peas and green beans. He spent a lot of time sleeping and fussing this week. Mostly because his bottom two teeth were finishing coming through all the way and because he went through such a huge growth spurt. His teachers and I also noticed how frustrated he was that he was not able to crawl/walk like the other kids. He was just so frustrated by the lack of forward propulsion. I think also as he develops into a more mobile baby he has had to overcome a lower tolerance of pain; that it hurts to learn to crawl and your arms aren't coordinated enough to move in front of him yet to follow-thought with the crawling motion.

I had to pull out the 6-9 month clothes. Something I enjoyed/loathed doing. It is fun though to get to put him into new outfits. Yet it is so sad to have to put away those nice clothes. In some ways they are more than just outfits but also memories of these past few wonderful months.

These are a few of my favorite fussy faces from this week. The first is what we call the Evil-Fussy-Face. His teachers just Loved when this one emerged. Ms. Tonya of course had ample suggestion on how we should correct this (I'm pleased to say that this look was only a face for this week):

Close up of the Evil-Fussy-Face:

Okay Mom, I'm for real upset now...

Week 27: Highlights

It is just so incredible to me how determined this little baby is to develop. He is more perfectly content standing up with support than he is on his stomach trying to crawl. But he is so bound and determined to be good at crawling - he is already trying to bring his knees up to his chest. He has also really gottent to be so good and steady when he sits up.

I would really be so happy if he would just lay on his back and enjoy this time with his Mommy before his sister comes along. But this one is bound and determined. He has such a Type-A personality. Once he sets his mind to something, there is just no stopping him. I admire his determination and grit - I hope it is a quality that he keeps with him for the rest of his life, he'll need it to get into Harvard. :-)

When he isn't trying to bring his knees up underneath himself, he spends his time watching and taking everything in. When you hold him now he is constantly trying to turn his body around to see what is going on behind him. Generally the dogs capture his attention the most. He just loves to watch and observe them, especially since they are constantly fighting amongst themselves.

Here are some photos and videos from this week. I love how completely fascinated he is with everything. You can tell because he opens his mouth in surprise and awe. Most of the pictures from this week are with his mouth open (his little bottom two teeth are also poking through all the way now!).

Cute Marshall Videos (Click on the picture to open the Video):

6 Month Milestone

Here are Marshall's 6 month photos from the Picture people. The photographer is now very familiar with us and was maybe a little surprised that we didn't bring props to torture him with. :-)

He is really starting to look like Chris more and more each day (especially in his button down shirt and vest)!

Kissing the duck?

Showing off his two bottom teeth.

Showing off his new trick - getting up onto his knees.

He is really getting to be a big boy. I really wish that he wouldn't try so hard to advance at everything so fast. I would really like to enjoy this time with him but he has just changed so much in this past month. He has learned and grown in so many ways. Here are a few things that I can think of that I don't want to forget:

• Understands the word "doggies." When you ask where his doggies are, he will look to the floor in search of them.
• When he tries to get the doggies attention he will make an "Ughhhmm" sound at them.
• He loves being outside. If he is in a crying fit, he will immediatly be soothed and interested in what is going on outside. I think he also appreciates the marvelous garden his Daddy has made.
• His favorite toy is Tigger. He just loves to play with his Tigger toys and slippers (which are not used for his feet but to distract him while he is getting his diaper changed).
• Right before he falls asleep he makes the cutest "cooing" conversation. It is the sweetest babbling I have ever heard, like saying a prayer before bedtime. Then when he is done talking to himself, he sticks his binky into his mouth and goes to sleep.
• Speaking of binky. He is very proficient with it. He will pick it up if it drops in his reach; will put it in and out of his mouth for amusement; will turn it around when it is facing the wrong way; will stick his thumb into the hole on the back side for more easy manuevering in and out of his mouth; and for fun he will put it in his mouth, bite down hard and make a popping noise as he pulls it out of his mouth.
• He understands the words "go poop-poo potty." It is really a command for the dogs. I will take Marshall outside with me so I can monitor and remind Boris and Molly to do their business. The first time he made the connection was after watching Boris do his stuff. He looked at me with this look of understanding, then you could feel him trying to imitate. I told Chris (and MiMi) about it later and when I did the command his face would turn a little red as he tried to comply.
• Occasionally says "MaMa" when he is upset, and "DaDa" when he is having fun with Daddy.
• His favorite word is "Ba," which he will just babble for the heck of it.
• When he wants his binky, sometimes he will open and close his mouth without making any sound. If we don't get a hint, then he'll make a high pitch "Ahhhhhh."
• When he is very angry, all you have to do is put him on his feet and he'll stop. He loves being on his feet. He even started to "Moonwalk" backwards.
• He loves it when you make noises with your mouth. He thinks it is funny.
• He also loves to be scared. A "boo" out of Mommy or Daddy will get a full out chuckle out of him. If you do it over and over again. He will just squeal in delight.
• He has been working very hard at crawling. He will get up onto his knees (which he seemed to pick up in one day at school), but can only seem to scoot backwards. It won't be long before he figures things out.
• He loves going to school and playing with the other kids in his class; a lot of the children are within a month or two of his age and they all seem to be pushing each other to develop faster. We were told several times in the past few weeks that Marshall was the "Star Pupil" because he was just so content and happy.
• Despite being a horrible breast AND bottle feeder (because he has a tendency to "snack" instead of gulping his food down) - he is a VERY good solid food eater. He will eat anything we give him from a spoon. I have never seen a kid eat green beans so fast. I really think he likes to mimic what Mommy and Daddy do at the dinner table.
• He also still enjoys drinking from a cup, but we have since switched him to a sippy cup since he becomes so excited about trying to serve himself that water/juice will slosh all over the place if it isn't in the sippy.
• He also really enjoys crackers. For the most part he will nibble on it, but will spit out the big pieces.
• His hair is still very white-blond and is about a inch long. But he has 3 "comb over" hairs that have been with him since his birth. Those are about 3 1/2 - 4 inches.
• His front two teeth finally broke through last week much to mine and Chris' relief.
• He is very curious about everything. When you hold him he is constantly twisting his body to see what is going on behind him.

New York Times Article/Making your own books

For those who are interested. This is an article that shows how the days of scrapbooking have changed and how you can easily make books from websites and all of those digital pictures laying around on your harddrives!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/technology/personaltech/17basics.html?pagewanted=print

Chris and I have made books in the past from our wedding photos and our trip to Vegas. It is a lot of fun. When we first started making our books two years ago, we used to use http://www.shutterfly.com/, but now I see from this article that there are a couple of other sites that have greater capabilities and detailing: http://www.blurb.com/ and http://picaboo.com/.

I always wanted to gather up all of the recipes I scratch onto notebook paper and make it into something nice; maybe I'll try this blurb.com.