Steak and Ice Cream: 2011

I can't believe my little Bear is 6months old and well really now 7 no almost 8months old! ;) The delay in the blog post might explain how much busier he has me these days… He has changed, learned a lot since I even first started this blog…I had better post this soon. Oh how much I have learned over these last few months as a mom. I love, loving my new role! Sure I am more tired than I ever thought possible, and amazed I can function on so little sleep, I didn’t think it could be possible. I thought missions was sleep deprived, that ends in just a couple weeks. :) Never in my life has one little person impacted all aspects and never have I been more content and happy.

He has grown so much!! Last appointment a whole 15lbs and then some.

Rocking the shirt on his head!

He is quite mobile, rolling everywhere, now front to back, instead of just back to front. Sometimes though he goes the opposite direction he wants to go, but makes a circle to get back to it. :) Since cousins have been here, he has started scooting on his tummy and making a full circle and at times, pushes off his knees and gets a little further each time…So exciting! I can’t believe how much he changes in a short time.

He has started on baby food, more than just the rice cereal. So far Peas are his least favorite...can't blame him. Loves, sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots, and doesn't seem to mind green beans too much either. His 1^st fruit was mango and he loved it! I think has tried all the others, banana, apple, pear, so on.

He has two bottom teeth now! Those were hard work for both of us.
First Ear infection was tough too, but he smiled through those tears to the Doctor.

He is getting more and more expressive. Which makes approaching Christmas all the more delightful. I love how he jabbers now, fa, fa fa is his favorite saying at this moment, and does so almost under his breath. I’ve thought a couple times he’s said moma, and hi. Not enough consistency to think it was on purpose…although the moma times have been usually when he is upset and wanting attention so maybe so. :)

He loves to shriek and squeal with delight.

Love those little hands

Very proud of himself rolling across the room

He has his favorites, like his blue blanket, he sleeps so much better with it during nap times. We have settled in to a morning and afternoon nap routine, with 8pm bed time these days. He doesn’t do to well if that routine is messed up drastically; it does allow me time to get things done around the house. Now that he isn’t going to bed at 11pm, I get some time with my hubby too.

Peak a boo!

Daddy went on his first business trip away, so we were on our own for about 4 days. It was a good time for all of us, even though we missed each other. I took advantage of the time to catch up with a lot of friends, and spend nap times, cleaning out the garage and organizing it. Little Bear did so well until the last day; he was so very tired of mommy, and ready for daddy. For the next two days he wouldn’t let daddy out of his sight. Even when eating he had to make sure he was in the room too.

Multitasking, playing, sitting, and watching his show!

His is very investigative, loves buttons to push, and very tactile with any material, wants to touch it and figure it out. He loves ribbons, strings, and tags on things.

His giggle is very reserved, at this point in time; but not his smile. He thinks its funny if mommy fake sneezes or hiccups, or when daddy makes spaceship sounds. Sometimes it’s just talking to him a funny voice. And he is so ticklish! Huge smiles when daddy bounces him on the bed before baths, and He will squeal with delight at bath time.

Sittin in a box! a favorite toy

Sittin up! Been sitting for such a while I almost forgot to mention it

Flying sittin in a box with his daddy...perfect!

With bath time we are blessed with him loving his baths, I think it’s the splashing. It’s amazing to me and shows how much he has grown. Where his shoulders are now is where the top of his head use to be on the little tub. We have started him now in the big bath tub this week as he can sit up on his own, and LOVES to splash!

He is an observer, loves to just watch people and take it all in. Sounds like two other people I know…oh yeah his parents! He would be content to sit on Main Street at Disneyland just watching people…at least at this stage. I am so excited for the day when I can take him and ride on Peter Pan and Small World and watch the fireworks! How fun that will be. I guess I should wait though until he can walk….He is trying to crawl, been up on all fours several times, but hasn’t quiet figured out motions yet. That will be a while and I am patient for it. I still am not sure how I am going to baby gate our stairs, the downside to a tri-level house, with more banisters than actual walls.

How could I not share this one! ;)

I love this sleeping face

…..

Ok so I put this away…saved ready to post when I could get pictures to add, and so much has changed with him, just his verbal skills, and motor skills. Daily there is something new. Tries out all the sounds, and even sings along with us, reads back to me in his words and says his version of hi. He has almost gotten waving down too. He holds his hand out…but doesn’t move his fingers yet. Haha! Oh and it appears he might be left handed, right now that is dominate in what he uses to reach for something…which would be neat, for he is named after my Grandpa L, and he was left handed too! :)

I just love this look! :)

He is trying different consonants sounds with vowels each day, usually just one at a time, so B was his letter yesterday. :) L is his letter today. He loves to jabber to me in the car rides especially. I think for Christmas he just might get his two front teeth! ;)

He has been crawling now and is getting faster and faster every day. His crawl has started more army crawl but is slowly working to getting up on all fours. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would.

His favorite movie right now is God gave us Christmas, baby praise and when Jodie Benson comes on at the beginning he gets the silliest grin! I think its his first crush. I am so excited for Christmas! He’s had two gifts already and LOVES the wrapping paper and ribbons. Going to be so much fun! I have LOVED shopping for all the little things, found some great deals and I can’t wait for him to totally be more interested in the paper, then the actual present. ;)

I cherish the wake up smiles, the midnight feedings are getting rarer and rarer, and those special smiles he gives me as he goes back to sleep I treasure those…for those to soon will be gone. He is growing so fast, so quickly, I know everyone stays how quickly it flies, and I would vouch for that. I want to remember this season, all its wonderful moments, even amid the dozens diapers, drool, sleeplessness, tears, teething, and so on…the smiles, giggles, loves, hugs, growth and daily learning and changing…I want to capture those memories before they flyway with childhood.

World Series! Going to enjoy baseball like his momma!

My Mickey Mouse!

I had Dad write something for the blog....

Dad’s view: Dawson is getting big so fast. Growing up all you hear is parents say how fast it goes, but until you are a parent you have no idea. One day they don’t even fit in a premie outfit, the next day they’re literally 3 times bigger than when they were born, they’re rolling around, and they are developing a personality. It’s simply amazing. I cant wait to get to wrestle with him. It was fun watching Spencer and Myles wrestle this weekend and just see the fun they both had. I hope he keeps his fun loving attitude. His smile just brightens the room and he isn’t afraid to share it with anyone. He’s very empathetic, if he sees someone crying, he will start crying too. I think it’s a gift from God and I hope it never changes. I pray that I’m a good father and set a godly example for him. Nothing would please me more for him to grow up knowing God, not just knowing about him. But to know He is real and to know His ways truly are good.

His Onesie says it all! :)

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Here are a couple pictures I took of Little Bear before his MRI

there is something about seeing your son in a hospital gown that just tears at the heart in a way that nothing really can.

Oh my smiley toothless little boy! :)

Little Bear had his appointment today about the MRI results! No surgery required! Huge, huge praise in that! They did say his cord at the end is thicker, I guess its suppose to be smaller, and that there was a piece of fat after all, but it is not tethered.
They will keep an eye on him for the next few years, to make sure that there isn't any pain or cause for discomfort. It is a normal abnormality as they called it...I've heard a lot of those comments from the doctors in my own medical life, specially during my pregnancy.
I'm just so very relieved that my son is healthy and well, and we aren't facing surgery. Maybe my insomnia will dissipate now, but it sure did secure my daily...nightly... prayers for my son. :)
I truly believe that he was healed! Thank you for those prayers. The doctor looked at Bears little bum, and said that it is no longer veering off to the left as it had been...the start of all this, and that it looks normal! I do enjoy that word so much today. Normal. So now we are off to celebrate our new normal.