Watching Mommy work...

Jackson used to do this all the time too--when Mommy was working in the office, he'd just hang out and stare at me. Well, this week has been crazy with seniors and babies and albums (oh my!) and Everson got to spend an afternoon just chillin with Momma....again, the smile that lights up my day!

phmmmmmm......

I know that's not a word, but some people call them zurberts, some people call them raspberries, all I know, is that I get spit all over me and they make me laugh! Everson started out just making the sound with his lips and has progressed to sticking his tongue out and spitting! I'll get more video of it, but my flip is full....more to come!!

Starter Sippy Cup

A couple of Sundays ago, we were having family dinner at GG Jane's. GG was holding Everson at the end of the dining room table, and in front of her was Jackson's sippy cup. It had a little bit of Sprite in the bottom. Everson kept throwing his arms and hands at it, reaching for it! My aunt, my cousin, and GG and I just sat there staring at him trying to get this sippy cup! We were a little shocked by it. He wasn't giving up! We inched it closer and he got a hold of it, with two hands, and was trying to hold it. I said, "If you can hold it, you can have it." With that, he got a grip on it, with both hands, and proceeded to hold it up to his mouth. The kid knew EXACTLY what to do with it. The sucker part and all! Mom was on her way into the dining room to see what all the commotion was about, along with Adam, and I asked her to take the cup and rinse it out and put a TINY bit of cold water in the bottom, like DROPS of water (babies shouldn't have water because it screws up their electrolytes. So never give a baby water! Even if it's hot outside! It's a NO NO!). She brought it back in, and sure enough, he did the same thing: gripped it with two hands, aimed it to his mouth, found the "nipple" part and tipped it up. Again, we were all a little dumbfounded by this--how in the WORLD did he know how to do that? AND, on top of that, he HATES bottles.

So, are we going to have a baby that skips the bottle and goes straight for the sippy cup? Very good possibility! One day this week, when Memaw and Jackson were out on a play day, they picked up a sippy cup just for Ev. His very own Starter Sippy Cup by Nuk. It's so cute--has sailboats on it and everything!

And sure enough, he knows what to do with this one too! I put the rest of the milk I had pumped for his rice cereal (about 2 ounces) into the bottom after he ate, and this is what he did with it:

I'm a pretty proud momma right now! And see what I mean about the wrist?! Cracks me up!

Rice Cereal

Everson is Exclusively Breastfed (EBF), and if you remember my post about the vitamin supplements and iron, I wasn't giving him any. And Dr. Perona didn't mention anything about it at his 4 month check-up. Well, that week after his appointment, he was nursing about every 2-3 hours and was waking up in the middle of the night again. Hmmm..I thought maybe the Roto-virus vaccine was getting to him again and upsetting his stomach, but then, why was he nursing so much? Mom suggested I start him on rice cereal. In my mind, I started Jackson on rice cereal about 2 weeks before his 6 month birthday (for the iron), and I wasn't going to start Everson earlier than that. But the more I started thinking about it, the more he showed the SIGNS of being ready for rice (he watches us intently as we eat, he holds his head up, he was nursing more often....)

So I got the book out. My go to. My biggest recommendation for ANY mom: Super Baby Food( http://www.superbabyfood.com/). I followed it to a TEE with Jackson and it was the greatest thing I think I've ever done for him. And then, remembering that every aspect of Jackson's life was blogged and digitized, I searched his blog for rice cereal. Sure enough, 4 months. Exactly 4 months. Yet again, my mother was right.

So I got the Earth's Best Organic rice cereal and pumped some milk. We were having dinner at GG Jane's that night, so I grabbed all the supplies: a bib, his spoon, and the rice and headed over to GG's for vegetable soup and Everson's rice cereal!

I let Memaw video, and Mommy got to be the one to feed him! Daddy got to do all the fun stuff with Jackson b/c Mommy was always taking pictures, but not this go round! He did very well. His mouth motions were spot on--they move their tongue in and out when learning to move food, and he kept most of it in! Not so sure about the taste...but we're working on it! He got about 5 tiny bites in (didn't even dent the bowl) and has been consistently eating that amount for the past week. He's not a huge fan. But a little is better than none, right?

I love my Brother

I was taking pictures of Everson sucking on his wrist, when Jackson walked up to assist. Then, he said "Take our picture Momma." WOO HOO!! Of course I'll take your picture! My two sweet boys, first thing in the morning:

4 month Check-up

On February 9th, Everson turned 4 months old. :( Its going by too fast! Even though I'm savoring it, it's still too quick. God should really slow down the baby phase, and speed up the three year old phase!

I took Jackson to school, and then went straight to Dr. Perona's for Everson's 10:15 appointment. We got right in. We didn't wait at all (shock!) We had a brand new nurse (who was not the brightest young girl....and apparently she had a 4 month old, too...and I'll get to "how I knew this" in about 4 sentences) who weighed and measured him. I stripped him to his diaper and laid him on the scale. "WOW!! 15.5 lbs! He's a BIG baby!" Thank you. Thank you very much. "WOW!! 25 in long! He really IS a BIG baby!" Seriously? You want me to punch you?

She takes us to his room and says, "I bet he's off the charts. I have a 4 month old and she's only 11 lbs. She's a LOT smaller than he is!" Thank you again, for that. "Well, I'd like to know what percentile he's in, so can you go get that chart for me so I can see?" She bounces away and I re-assure Everson that he is perfectly in proportion and not to worry, Mommy could kick her ass easily. That's the good thing about being bigger than someone! She comes back and tells me "He's in the 29th% BMI." I say, "Huh? What the hell is that? I have no idea what you mean by that." Because BMI is not a PERCENTILE genius, and you don't figure BMI for babies, that's for older children. I want to know his weight percentile and height percentile.

Finally, Dr. Perona walks in at that moment, and Captain Space Cadet nurse walks out, still confused by what I'm asking her, also not understanding how offensive she is. I'll be honest, Everson has BEEN that fat baby--when he had no neck! He had a chubby face and chubby legs, but he wasn't HUGE or a MONSTER. He's always been in proportion. And right now, he's not at all a FAT baby.

THEN, Dr. Perona walks in. "My GOSH!! Look at how fat his legs are! They are so big!" ...and then she pokes his thighs..."Your legs are so FAT!" Okay, at this point, I'm not happy anymore. He's not fat. So again, I ask her, "I want to know his percentiles." So she goes and gets the chart. 15.5lbs is 66%ile (not off the charts, just above average) and 25" long is 55th%ile (slightly above avg) and his head circumference is 25%tile (he's got a small head, but so does his Momma!)

After looking him over, we walk over to get our vaccines. He did very well the last round, and these are just a continuation of the first round, so I didn't protest anything. Poor baby did fine with the first shot, but the second shot apparently stung a little longer, and he was hysterical. I nursed him the second we were done! The only one in that office that I like anymore is Nurse Roni. She gives the shots. She gave Jackson his season flu shot and Everson's 4 month shots, and she's the sweet nurse you talk to on the phone and calms you down during high fever strikes. All I can say is I miss Dr. Wardell. I might just have to hunt her down in Palestine, TX and make my appointments up there, because I truly miss her. She was a great doctor.

So take note: if someone has a baby that is slightly larger, don't say anything. Of course, you can talk about them all you want to once they leave the room and make all kinds of faces, and point and say "OH MY GOD! DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT BABY?! WHAT DO THEY FEED HIM?!" But don't say it to the Momma. I can't help what comes out of these breasts. Apparently, it's some good quality calories. But call my baby fat again, and I'll come after you and knock you to the ground with a left, then a right, breast.

"So, do you think I'm fat? How do you stay so trim and fit?"

To see Jackson's 4 month Check-up, click here

Fat Wrists

Everson is a funny, happy baby. The funniest thing right now? He sucks on the fat part of his wrist! Who needs a bink when you got chubby little wrists to suck on! HA! So much so, that he will give himself a hickey! Its hysterical! I gave him a bath the other night, and when I went to put lotion on him, his wrist was chapped! Aquaphor overnight solved the problem.....I tried to get a shot of him in action....having his sleeve in way didn't stop him, but it sure pissed him off!!

Everson Loves Jackson

These are the best baby kisses you will ever get...and the minute Jackson sticks his cheek out, Everson gets him every time!

Nakey Baby

My mom got this same shot of me as a baby...I'll scan those tonight. I just love those squishy hiney!!

More Tummy Time...without the tears!

Just Hanging Out....

Last night, we just hung out. In our comfy clothes. Watching TV and movies. In our big old comfy chair. Very blah...including our brown outfit....but that smile is the best accessory for brightening up his attire!!

Not again!

I am beginning to think that Everson just REALLY likes to sleep in the Jumperoo. It could be the floating feeling that lulls him to slumber...I'm not sure! Tonight, I put him in the Jumperoo so that I could get dinner ready: take the chicken out of the fridge, cut up the squash and zuccini, put the rice in the water to boil...all in about 10 minutes. He didn't fuss this time, just slowly nodded off...like an old man in a lay-z-boy!

In His own Room

I'm a little sad right now. Last Friday, at exactly 16 weeks, Everson spent his first night in his own room. The entire night. *sigh* With Jackson, he was in our room, next to our bed, in the pack n play, til 4 weeks. At one month, he was in his own room, and we were fine with that! I was proud! But, he was my FIRST baby. Everson is my LAST baby. I think I just wanted to hold on to that baby phase and savor every moment that I could. With Jackson, he was on Adam's side of the bed. With Everson, he was on my side. Some nights, I would just lay awake staring at him next to me. He is the most peaceful sleeper. I did the same with Jackson--I love the way a baby glows to the light of the tv! And, I loved having Everson next to me, because, basically, I'm very paranoid with this one. As first time parents, everything was easy--getting pregnant was easy, nursing was easy, c-section was easy...we were invincible. Then we lost a baby. And after that, I realized that I was not invincible. And something bad could happen at any time, to any one. So, I'm a very paranoid Mom now.

For Christmas, my mom and dad got me a BebeSounds Color Monitor. It's fabulous! Even though Ev is a hallway away, I can see him. Clearly! I have gone in to check that he was still breathing a couple of times (again, he sleeps SOOOO soundly!) but I love being able to roll over and still see my little man!

And although he's been napping in his crib for a couple of months now, I'm not sure he was used to his room at night! But, he did great, and has done well, all this week. The first night, he went down around 9:30pm, nursed at midnight, fussed around 5am, and then nursed at about 7am. At 5am, I just get up and put his pacifier back in his mouth, or just cup his cheek, and that helps him fall back to sleep. He usually eats at 7am, and then sleeps til 9:00ish.

This is the look of a VERY proud 16 week old!!

That Silly old Finger

Everson is on the verge of teething. I'm not quite sure that he's in full on teething-mode, but his hands/fingers/fist/wrist are ALWAYS in his mouth! He wants to "chew" on his bink, and will let out the worst cries for no reason at all. I laid him on his changing table and leaned over to get a diaper from the stacker, and look what I found! Fortunately, the camera was right there in his room! And the lighting? Well, it wasn't too bad either!

Hi momma! yeah, you caught me!

GG Jane

On Saturday, Daddy-O and Jackson headed in to Houston to Grandma Vera's house to help paint and move some stuff. They are getting ready to put her house on the market, and everyone was pitching in. Me, I had to work. I was finally going to have the house to myself for the ENTIRE day so that I could finish weddings/dvds/books, etc. Just me and Ev....and Ev wanted to be held! His mouth is really hurting him--poor baby is just about to cut teeth, I think. He had a fever on Thursday night (mild 100.1*). I headed up to Kroger at 11:30 for Tylenol and Teething Tablets. The tablets helped. He's been chomping on EVERYTHING and drooling like crazy. Jackson got BOTH of his bottom front teeth at 6 months, but Mom said I got my first two teeth at 4 months, so we'll see!

GG Jane came over to play with Everson, and Mommy got a bunch of stuff done! Tablets and teething rings helped entertain baby Ev....he's such a good boy! Even through the pain, he's still a sweetheart.

Just cuteness

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pictures of my little man. I have similar pictures of Jackson at this SAME age, and they will all be hanging in my home, side by side, for years to come!

Soooooo tired....

Last Thursday, I was running around, getting errands done (laundry, vacuuming, bathrooms, cabinets, etc) and Everson just wanted to be held. It happens most days. He loves to be held and ran around the house. I fed him, checked my emails, burped him, and then put him in the Jumperoo while I finished my emails (about 3 more minutes) and then ran upstairs to switch out the laundry. As I was running up the stairs, he started to fuss. He ONLY fusses when he's hungry or when he's tired (just about to fall asleep), but for some reason, I thought it was just because I was leaving the room! I told him "just a second! I'll be right back!" and I talked to him the entire time I was upstairs--about 2.5 minutes total! When I ran back down the stairs, I found my poor baby boy sound asleep! His little head resting on the front of the Jumperoo!!

Tummy Time

Everson HATES tummy time. Seriously. But, he has to do it! Everyday! I tell Adam all the time that this kid will be sitting up and crawling before he's rolling over. Goodness.....

I think he just likes to lay on the floor, staring up at the most beautiful girl in the world, smiling...then I remember that I haven't put on any makeup or taken a shower! Nevermind....

Jumperoo!

Everson has great head control. He has for over a month now. But I knew it was time to bust out the Jumperoo when I was sitting in my office, with him on my lap, and all he wanted to do was stand and "jumpy"!

15 weeks old