James Benjamin - Seven Months Old

James Benjamin is SEVEN MONTHS OLD!

This is such a fun age, and it gets better and better!  JB is very playful, smiley, easily entertained, and quick for a laugh.  Honest to goodness, our child adores us.  LOVES us so much.  And he shows it with huge grins and giggles whenever one of us walks into the room.  

He sits up very well, rolls and rolls and rolls, and has become quite clever in grabbing things he's not supposed to (such as the animals off his mobile, whoops!)  He bounces so hard in his Johnny Jump-Up that I'm concerned for our door frames. No signs of crawling yet, but he definitely moves with a series of stretches and rolls.  He has not tried to pull up, although last night he did stand by himself while holding on to the tub.  I made him sit down on the bathroom rug immediately - I'm not ready for my baby to look that big!  

He is very content to play by himself with his toys. But, at baby playgroup this month, there were lots of pouts and a few tears from JB as other babies touched him or (heaven forbid) looked at him.  He preferred to cuddle up in Mama's lap with a toy, rather than sit and play with the others.  When we return to pick him up at the church nursery each Sunday, we always find him clinging to his favorite nursery worker, Miss Joyce.  His friend, Baby Mac, has started to join him and Nanny Y during the week, and he's very skeptical of the whole situation. But it's okay!  We'll just slowly start to introduce him to new friends and situations in the upcoming months.  He's never been a very change agile baby.  :)

I think the biggest update this month is around his diet.  Last month, he would get personally offended if you offered him solids.  Today, he gladly eats them, twice daily.  They have to be super pureed (not a lick of texture), but he's gotten down the whole concept of food from a spoon, "chewing" (gumming) and swallowing.  His favorite foods: sweet potatoes, butternut squash, mangos, banana and cereals.  He's so-so on peas and apples.  He does not like carrots, avocados, or prunes.  He loves to suck fruit out of this  gross, sticky, impossible to clean genius mesh contraption, and also enjoys Mum Mums (although he no longer gets them because he gags himself and projectile vomits.  The gagging doesn't bother him, but the sheer moment of terror while he gags - coupled with the clean up required afterward - means that we are bothered enough to push them to the back of the pantry.) 

I reintroduced dairy into my diet this month (everything except straight up cow's milk, milk shakes, or ice cream), and this has not impacted little JB one bit. Woo hoo!!  He's also down to half a Prevacid, twice a day.  Hoping to wean the little guy off the meds completely in the next month or two.  See ya later milk protein intolerance and acid reflux!  (Related note, JB's blocked tear ducts have finally opened this month.  YEA!!! No more wiping - which he hates - 10 times a day, or having to answer intrusive questions from passersby about the gunk in his pretty brown eyes.) 

"You have 3 seconds to get this picture..."

"…until I'm done." 

"Which is now."

So here we go - his seven month stats!

JB's Measurements:
No wellness visit this month, and our neighbors with the baby scale moved away this weekend!  So, this will have to suffice-

• Weight: heavier than 15.1 pounds
• Height:  longer than 25 3/4 inches

At 7 Months Old, JB...

…Eats 4 - 5 times a day. He's now on a 4-hour nursing/bottle schedule, meaning he eats around 7, 11, 3, and 7.  (If there is a fifth nursing session, it takes place at 3AM. This still happens about 50% of the time - we're working on it!)  He also eats around 2 ounces of solid foods twice a day, around late morning and late afternoon.

…Sleeps better and better!  JB still takes three naps a day: two longer (1 - 2 hour) naps and then one little cat nap in the late afternoon. He goes to bed very easily around 730PM, and sleeps between 10.5 and 11 hours.   His 3AM wake ups are becoming less frequent, and I'm hoping they just go away on their own so I don't have to take measures to stop them.

...Wears mostly 6 month clothes, although a few 6-9 and 9 month outfits fit him, too.  He has a long torso with shorter limbs, which means that we roll up most sleeves and pants.  I've yet to find shorts for this little dude that don't look like capri pants on him! He has moved up to Size 3 diapers.

…Loves Mama and Daddy; his Jumper; Sofie the Giraffe; when (grown up) people talk to him or pay him attention; the k'tan and bjorn; when you pretend to eat his feet;  crinkling paper; all his furry siblings (especially Lupe!)

…Does not like being in the car for too long; napping anywhere other than his crib; the heat (it's going to be a long summer, buddy…)

...Has mixed emotions about other babies.  Are they friends or foes?  

"JB - is that me?"

Month Seven -  and the fun continues! We can't get enough of this little stinker. 

iPhone Photos

Previous Updates on JB:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months
• Three Months
• Four Months
• Five Months
• Six Months

Festivals Schmetivals

We're in the midst of the unofficial Festival Season here in Atlanta, which we always enjoy.  Lots of time outside to enjoy the spring time weather; good, greasy food and cold beer; FROZEN CHOCOLATE BANANAS; rows and rows of arts and crafts to admire; fun local bands to entertain.  I could go on and on about the reasons we try to take advantage of every single one…

This weekend was one of our favorites: the Inman Park Festival.  James and I were excited to take little JB and introduce him to weekend festival life. He did so well at the Dogwood Festival with Uncle Kelly and Aunt Shawntel, so we figured he'd just naturally love Inman Park, too.

But, he did not.

"I hate festivals, y'all"

No sir-ee, this little guy was not a fan of the festival.  Between the heat, the stroller, the sunscreen (baby sunscreen = white tar), all the people, the noise - JB was miserable.  And wasn't afraid to let us know.

"Who are all these crazies,
and why must we interact with them?"

We even turned his stroller around, thinking he might like a different view.  NOPE, that just made it worse.  Getting a full view of the chaos crowds was a bit overwhelming, I think.

"Unless you're going to give me a fry,
I want to leave"

I tried carrying the little bug in his k'tan, which worked for a while (despite the fact that - good gawd - carrying around another human being in 85 degree weather is hot.)  Once he dozed off in my arms, I (foolishly) tried to put him back in the stroller (MOM FAIL).  After that incident, it was all over.  Tears, tears and more tears.  Screaming, hollering, and drawing lots of "we've been there" sympathy glances from all the other parents.  Ultimately, we made the (wise) decision to leave the Inman Park Festival about an hour after arrival.

As we trekked back to the car from the festival, JB was the happiest he had been all day (cuddled back up in the stinkin' hot k'tan).  Refusing to see the entire trip as a fail, James and I did buy a King of Pop popsicle treat on the way out the gate. Thus, I was a fairly happy camper, too, despite the circumstances.

"Safe in the tired, sticky, sweaty arms of my Mama"

So maybe we didn't birth a festival-ready baby.  This does not mean we're going to give up!  Hopefully the next one on the calendar (Peachtree Hills Art Festival) will prove easier on everyone - it takes place right on our street, which provides a very convenient exit strategy!  :)

TBT and Thirty Weeks Old

I am no longer one of those people who refers to their baby's age in weeks (you're welcome).  Once we got past 12 weeks, it just seemed much easier to talk in terms of months.  However, one of my (many) parenting/baby emails that I get still refers to JB in terms of weeks.  And, for the record, he's 30 weeks old.

When the little guy was 30 weeks gestational age, we had 3-D pictures taken. And then I never did anything with them because 1) that was also the day I was put into the hospital with some wicked contractions, and 2) my CD drive broke on my Mac.  Then came the "restricted activity/modified bed rest", then the baby, then no time to get the computer fixed, blah blah blah, nothing happened with the photos.

Until today!  I have them downloaded, it's Throw Back Thursday, we have this cool "30" connection going on - time to break out these bad boys.  Fortunately everyone has a good sense for what he looks like outside the womb, since I plaster his picture all over this blog (can't help myself, he's too darn cute.)

Can you see the resemblance?

I have not spent much time looking at these since we had them done, and it's crazy to see some of his teeny tiny features appearing on these pictures en utero - 2 months before we ever saw him in person.  The whole 3-D picture process was definitely fun and worth it (although it took us two tries, since the first day JB rolled himself into a ball for a full 20 minutes.).  However, at the time, we looked at these pictures and thought, "wow…he looks like…an alien…"  :)  

Now looking back, I see my little guy!  Very cool.

Easter Bunny and Earth Day Pictures

James Benjamin did visit the Easter Bunny this weekend, but I didn't want to include it in Sunday's post, scattered somewhere within my favorite Easter hymn.  I felt like keeping the risen Lord and the Easter Bunny a little bit separate (although we certainly do participate in - and enjoy - all the secular Easter traditions, like bunnies, egg hunting, and Peeps. Especially the Peeps.)

Here are some of my favorite Easter Bunny pics.  Fortunately, we did not have a scary looking Bunny at Phipps (some are straight out of a horror film), and JB did not mind sitting in a furry creature's lap at all.  In fact, he seemed rather unimpressed by the entire thing…

What is with this little grin?  It's the new face I get from him when we try to take pictures. I think it reads something like "I know I'm adorable and you want me to smile, but I'm not gonna…"  He's such a stinker.

Speaking of grins (and pictures), JB also did not miss the opportunity to celebrate EARTH DAY today!  Did you think that his liberal, green Mama would forget a day like today?  (Actually, I would have, except for the fact that his baby book has a page and picture spot for Earth Day.)

His onesie was made by yours truly.  Crafting with felt - it's really a lost art.  Whoever said felt was not fun was lying.  I love it.  

These pictures also mark the first occasion I've let JB sit in the grass.  (And this happened to be in our front yard, where we have faux grass.)  It took a while for the little guy to get used to it.

On this Earth Day, JB has a message: 

"If you mess with Mother Earth, I'll mess with YOU".  

He's going to be a tree hugger, I can feel it...

Happy Easter!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia 

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia 

We had a wonderful Easter today, celebrating the risen Lord and enjoying a very lovely time with our family.  And of course it was JB's first Easter - makes things extra special.  He was very happy that his Gia, Uncle Chris and Miss Nicole could join us for all the festivities. 

Despite the fact that we hustled to church a good 30 minutes before the service, people were already queuing outside and, after a quick stop in the nursery, we missed our opportunity to sit in the main sanctuary.  And then we rushed to the balacony to find it full, too.  Fortunately, the chapel was set up with speakers and projectors, and since it looks just like the sanctuary (only smaller) we felt like we were right there.  We worshipped with all the others who had not planned for the large crowd!  

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia

Death in vain, forbids Him rise, Alleluia

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia

After the service, we all headed for lunch at our favorite little Italian chain (Brio).  When James suggested that we go out to eat this year, it about broke my heart (especially since Ms. Leron and Aunt Wyllene recently gave me the final two plates to complete my china set!)   But the food was delicious, and it was nice not to have to cook it myself.

Three Generations

Love those three big smiles!

JB joined us at the table in a high chair for the first time.  He enjoyed the new view and the fact that he was a part of the group.  Mama did not enjoy that he looked like such a big boy.

After lunch, it was back to our house for some Spring cupcakes that I made.  James lovingly referred to them as my "Pinterest Fail", but, hey, they tasted wonderful (even if they didn't look quite like Martha Stewart's)

(Those are supposed to be bird nests on top of green icing.  If you ignore the aesthetics, I promise they were delicious.  Chocolate covered chow mien noodles, who cares what it looks like, right!?)

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to celebrate such a special occasion.  Blue skies, not a cloud, moderate temps.  Just a perfect day.

Lives again, our glorious king, Alleluia

Where, O death, is now thy sting, Alleluia

Once He died, our souls to save, Alleluia

Where's thy victory, boasting grave, Alleluia

The Masters with Neighbors

Throughout our busy weekend with the Texas fam, every day included a little bit of the Masters.  My brother and James are golfers/golf fans, plus - come on - it's the Masters!  I think golf on TV is particularly dull, but I even follow the Masters tournament each Spring.

Sunday night, our neighbors had a little get together to watch the final round.  These were all the same people that had just come to our house on Saturday night to meet my family and enjoy some of James' smoked pork.  Our get togethers are fun (and obviously frequent).  I try not to take for granted how lucky we are to have so many great families on our end of the street.  Having grown up in the country, I never realized how fun it is to actually walk over to a neighbors' house for dinner.  

The little guy was looking especially dapper in his argyle sweater suit, argyle shoes, and golf hat. (No, they didn't really all match, but I just threw on anything and everything that was relatively "Masters-ish" for the party. He can get away with this at 6 months old.)    

JB has two new friends on the street: Baby Clementine and Baby Mac.  Mac will be joining JB and Nanny Y for a few days each week, and I look forward to watching these boys play!  Well, once Mac grows a bit - he's just a 5 week old little guy right now, and can't defend himself well against JB's smacks friendly pats.

It wasn't just the adult and baby neighbors that had fun - the dogs got in some playtime, too!  Enda had a great time chasing her labradoodle friends, Tina Turner and Peter Frampton, plus her pal Clyde, who's part of her 'pack' at Doggie Daycare.  

Poor Banks did not enjoy all the action, but was always up for a good head scratch from one of the humans.  

In the spirit of the Master tournament, we had pimento cheese sandwiches, a low country boil, and a pound cake.  Very Southern, and very delicious.  

It was great to see another good Southerner - Bubba Watson - win his second Masters.  He's had my loyalty since winning in 2012 and blubbering on the course about his new baby son that joined their family via adoption the week before.  It was enough to choke up just about anyone who's struggled to expand their family - well, or just anyone who has a soul.   So touching, and I'm tearing up here just thinking about it...

You really can't ask for a better way to round out an already fabulous weekend.  Life is good, my friends.  :)

Texas Visitors, Y'all!

It's no secret that I love my Kerr family in Texas.  I don't even have to caveat that statement with "most of them", because it's really all of them!  They don't make it out this way too much, so when they do I'm super excited.

This weekend, my brother, Kelly, and his girlfriend, Shawntel, came to visit us.  We had a great time.  The weather decided it was finally Spring and was absolute perfection. The dogwoods, cherry trees, and azaleas were in full bloom.   It's finally PATIO WEATHER (which we took advantage of on the rooftop deck of Six Feet Under)

Texas Visitors

Loving the patio weather

Grateful for a night out (thank you, Gia!)  

We're in festival season, and it happened to be the weekend of the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park.  It's always one of my favorites, and we spent a solid few hours touring all the booths and looking at the art.  And eating things like kettle corn and turkey legs and crab cake sandwiches.  Festival-living at it's best.  

Even a turkey leg couldn't rouse this guy...

And, of course, there was lots of play time with this little booger.  

JB had such a fun time with his Uncle Kelly and Auntie Shawntel.  (And I think we can safely assume they had a better experience with him this weekend than they did at Christmas, when he screamed like a wild banshee the whole time and wouldn't let anyone hold him except me or Tori Claire.)

Uncle Kelly promised to teach him all the things he'll need to know as a little boy, including how to pee outside.  (The fact that we live smack dab in the middle of the city is no excuse, so I've been told…)  

Aunt Shawntel got in lots of good snuggles, too, and even successfully fed JB some cereal and sweet potatoes.  Not an easy feat, but she handled it like the pro auntie that she is.  

There was a lot of time spent hanging out and catching up.  And eating, of course, lots and lots of eating.  Maybe a little beer drinkin', too - I mean, these are my Texas relatives!  :)  

Such a wonderful weekend - thanks for coming to visit us, guys!