4 Month Checkup

So we took Cole in for his 4-Month Checkup today. He officially is a tall, skinny boy. If you look at his weight for his height he is below even the lowest percentile shown on the charts. The doctor isn't worried because he was a tiny baby and his growth pattern looks good. He's is in the 10th percentile for his weight at his age and 75th percentile for height. (He's 12lb 12oz, 25 3/4 inches with 41cm head circumference.)

Looks like Cole will be like his momma and have early food allergies. We supplemented a couple of weeks ago with a little formula and my baby boy broke out in hives and his ears got puffy and red. I told the doctor that and today he also had little red dots on his tummy. She said the babies she sees with those dots develop early food allergies. So due to those two items we are keeping him off cereals until at least 6 months old even though he could use a little more poundage. He does eat well so that's good. We already kind of guessed he had sensitivities to certain foods since he doesn't do well when I drink milk. I made wheat bread yesterday so perhaps that's why he got the little red dots today. My poor boy! Allergies are the worst!

I don't know if it's this way everywhere but there's a big controversy for Austin mothers about vaccines. I'm convinced there isn't evidence to support the theory that vaccines cause autism. I will say that if there is a history of autism in the family, perhaps the strain on a baby's developing immune system could cause additional and maybe unnecessary risk to the child. I wasn't sure what to think about the amount of vaccines given at once. There is so much said either way. I asked the doctor (whom I LOVE and totally respect her opinion). She said that since vaccines are so much more precise in their amounts and doses that babies are actually getting injected with less today than they were 10 years ago. In either case, I wanted my babies vaccinated but this put my mind to rest that I didn't need to put Cole on an alternative vaccine schedule.

He handled the shots really well only crying for a few seconds. Obviously, he's not feeling too well today but overall he's in pretty good spirits!

Daddy's Home!

Rick had a business trip last week. He left Wednesday and returned Saturday morning. Cole was so excited to see Dad. He wanted to play all day. It was so cute.

(Youtube Video)

Cole is starting to smile a lot more, he talks all the time and even "sings", and his laugh is more like grunting or gasping at this point but it is adorable none the less! Usually when we pull the camera out this is the face we get from Cole.

However we did get a few little grins in our shots on Saturday.

A Few of My Favorite Things - Part I

Current Favorite Things about Cole! (In no particular order)

1. He prefers to only smile on the right side of his mouth.

2. How he loves his Heffalump toy. Strolling in the mall last week he fell asleep with it under his arm. I wish I had my camera at the time!

3. Who cares about thumbs? He prefers his entire hand! This video was the start of his hand fixation. It's only a lollipop here, but now it's entirely in his mouth! (Video from January 9th)


4. His favorite complaint is "Nae-Nae" said softly with a slight grimace.

5. He tries his best not to spit-up, even if it means choking or losing his breath. (Poor guy! And let me just say thank heavens for Prilosec for babies!)

6. He prefers to stand (HIM, not us - even though that is a close second).

7. He loves to read books. His favorite right now is "Olivia". He's fascinated by that little piggy!
8. He is so good at entertaining himself - just so long as Mom is in the room.


9. He loves his baths when he used to hate them so much!

10. He thinks morning lotion-time is great fun - especially on his legs!

11. He now naps in his crib!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12. He loves mommy's singing. (At least someone does!) His favorite aren't even real songs, they're just "la-la-la's" going up the scale. Silly boy.

13. His FEET!

Dud Tag!

Kylene tagged me on her blog!
I have to:
1. Go to my documents/pictures.

2. Go to my 6th file folder.

3. Go to my 6th picture.

4. Blog about it.

5. Tag 6 people to do the same.

Well, it was my Microsoft Clip Organizer Folder! Not much to blog about there!!!!

Funny Faces

Jeremiah Teancum (my nephew) ALWAYS makes the funniest faces. Jade is right up there with him too. We were all gathered a few Sunday's ago and 'T' started sharing his newest trick - he can raise one eyebrow. I was dying (yes, that's me cackling in the video). The video doesn't quite capture the essense but thought I'd share anyway. The first attempt he couldn't stop smiling either which makes it impossible for him to do the trick. But he finally got it.

The video still makes me laugh!

Lounging

We got Cole a Bumbo chair this week. He's still a little unsure if he likes it or not. He has to be in a good mood to sit in it. Otherwise he stretches his legs out and pushes really hard, making it impossible to "bend and sit". I love to see him in it though. He looks totally laid back and chill. It's the cutest! His favorite seat is still the bouncy chair. It probably always will be.


He's doing so much better at tummy time. In general he is spitting up less and has improved DRAMATICALLY this week as far as napping. As I type he is asleep in the crib and has been for 2 1/2 hours. I mean seriously, the CRIB!! during the day! This is so exciting! Previously, he would only last at most a 1/2 hour in the crib. He started falling asleep on his own in the car seat which is still his preferred napping place. In addition, we had one night this week where Cole slept 9 hours STRAIGHT! Boy, do we want that to happen again! It's so nice to see our little boy maturing. :-) We want him to stay small, but let us SLEEP for goodness sake.


Last Sunday he and Daddy were playing on the floor. It was the cutest ever. Cole was chatting it up with him and just so cuddly. Cole really enjoys telling us exactly what he's thinking - good or bad!


Oh ... and I reorganized the blogpage so we can post bigger pictures - for the grandparents, ya know?

Just Chillin'

Just because he's so cute...
And he has wonky eyebrows - just like Mom.

Sad Baby...

This is the face you get when Mom gets too excited and gets a little loud for baby. Sorry Honey! Too bad the camera can't capture the lip quiver too!

And this is a face you get randomly - we have no idea why he decided to frown here! haha... (Notice we take a lot of bathtime pictures because that's usually when Dad gets home and we have another hand to take pictures and hold baby.)

Five Minutes of Bathtime with Daddy

Que Chulo Bebito!

I was going through my pictures on my phone again and realized that I had pictures from the hospital of Cole! He was such a little tyke. This was on our way home. And yes, we took the hospital blanket - but we got permission. It was so cold outside - whereas it was warm when we went into the hospital.

Grandma Solotes got him this cute, cute coat. We haven't had a lot of opportunities to wear it but this was in December when we had more cold days. He barely fits in it now. :-( We keep telling him to stop growing, that we're totally fine with him being this little forever, but he just doesn't listen to us.


And here he is chatting it up with Grandpa Rees.

Cole is really starting to grow up. He has always been a strong baby and could stand with a little help on the balancing part. Even though he hates being on his stomach, (Who could blame him since he throws up every time?) he has always had a strong neck and controlled his head very well. He does better laying on the boppy pillow for tummy time but he VERY quickly falls off since he loves to kick those legs. He is starting to sit up for a few seconds on his own. We're totally ready to get him a bumpo seat so he can sit up all the time since he loves it so much.

Everyone is always commenting on how alert he is and aware of everything around him. Yes, yes. We have the numero uno curioso bebe! In church he will watch people walk up to the pulpit, look at everyone in the pews, etc. Grandma and Grandpa Rees let him watch television last night because he was GLUED to it. They said when they would get him to turn away he would cry. Oh great!

He loves to be sung to and is SO close to belting out a laugh. For now he just kind of squeaks and opens his mouth really wide. He does it especially when you pull his arms up and then he'll push up into a stand. He thinks it's hillarious. He also loves it when we have him clap. Also, he still loves to reach for mom's face and touch it. He just thinks it's great! Music really has quite an effect on him. He falls asleep much faster if we have Pachabel's Canon or other soft music playing. His favorite songs right now are "Rocking in the TreeTops", "Wheels on the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" - in that order too!

He is doing pretty well at night though the past few nights he's been up every 3 hours instead of making it 5 or 6. However, the only way he will nap during the day is if Mom lays down with him. Sometimes I'm able to sneak away (like now) but usually he will wake up about 10-20 minutes after I leave. He absolutely WILL NOT sleep in the crib during the day. I try every day and every day I get a screaming baby. He still doesn't really know how to fall asleep without nursing or being rocked, but at least he likes the soft rocking now instead of all the shenanigans we used to have to do. He is even starting to fall asleep in the car! Of course, I'm loving these leaps forward for him.
I mostly love how is little personality is really starting to show. Even though he has had "extreme fussiness" as the books call it, he really has always been a happy baby. I know that sounds like an oximoron but it's true. When he wakes up from a good rest and after he smacks his lips and stretches and stretches and STRETCHES, he looks at you and gives the biggest GRIN ever. It totally melts my heart. He's starting to stop while he's nursing, turn his head, look at me - smile and then go back to eating. It's SO cute. How can you not love that?!