Happy Seven Month Birthday, Little Graham!

I know I say this every single month... but c'mon, SEVEN months already?! Doesn't it seem like just yesterday you were reading our birth story or even following along with out pregnancy?

He has been doing so great this month. Here is the newest exciting things little g can accomplish:

1. He is CRAWLING everywhere!!! He will even follow us from room to room -- this is the most excitement we've had in a while. We are so proud little g.
2. He can now pull himself up. I had no idea this happened right after crawling, otherwise we would have stalled the crawling. It's scary sometimes but he's tough and doesn't even cry when he falls.
3. Because he can pull himself up… we had to move his crib down to the lowest level (sound of my heart breaking). I can’t believe he is growing up so quick.
4. Sitting up from crawling or tummy time is NO problem now.
5. He had his first bath alone and in a big bath tub… this was at the beginning of this month and he has been doing great all month long.
    
   His first bath!!! 
   
   
   
    
   "Happy As A Clam" - as my Dad "Grandpa" says.
   
   
6. He can squeal louder than ever and does this to get people’s attention
7. Once he has someone’s attention he can now WAVE! It’s a one hand up in the air type of way (more like he’s saying “HOW” like an Indian).
8. He is feeding himself now… he loves the fruit stars and the veggie sticks. We also love to give him long pieces of celery and he chomps forever.
9. His two front teeth are now actually visible when he smiles.
10. We went on his first big trip to California (more on that later). He rode on a airplane for the first time.
    
     
    Helping us pack for our trip...
    
    
11. He is effectively switching things from hand to hand and is a pro about picking things up with one hand.
12. Graham is learning to combine toys to make louder noises. He loves to bang his remote on other toys… he will bang on the piano, then on the pin ball machine, then crawl to the ball and bang it on that… this is so FUN! Sometimes he bangs himself in the head (only about 50% of the time does he cry though!).
13. Graham knows his name now and will answer to it!!  This is especially helpful with crawling while he's getting in to something. 
14. We are just amazed at how he can already communicate with us. He can lean when he wants us to go some where and hold out his hand if he wants to touch something. He body language is coming in loud and clear as well... we love that he's starting to 'talk' to us.
15. And finally, he weighs 20 pounds and is 29 inches long. He's absolutely the size of a one-year-old!

His schedule is a little messed up from California but from what I can remember before we went it was a little something like this:

5:00 or 6:00am - Eat and then back to sleep
7:30 or 8:00am - Wake up, Eat, Play in our big bed
8:30am - Eat in high chair while Mommy eats breakfast
9:00am - Playtime
9:30am - Morning Nap
10:30am - Eat and Play
12:00pm - Eat in high chair while Mommy eats lunch
12:30pm - Early-Afternoon Nap
1:30pm - Eat and Play
4:00pm - Late-Afternoon Nap
5:00pm - Eat and Play
8:00pm - Bedtime Ritual

**Little g still likes taking 3 naps... it has been helpful to keep him awake for a long period in the evening before bed... this helps all of us get some rest!

What does the seventh month have in store for us?!

Dogs "helping" with first bath...

A First: Teeth!

While on the below mentioned vacation... we noticed little g was cutting a tooth! We actually noticed on Wednesday, June 9th while we were at the Mid-America Science Museum. He was playing with some leaves outside and while we were shopping in the gift shop waiting for the rest of our party, big G noticed little g was chewing on something. We thought it was a leaf but upon further research... we noticed he had a big white area on his lower gum. The rest of the days he was a little fussier than usual and the next day, Thursday, it broke through.

The whole time I thought that it felt a little long to be just one tooth and I was right... he was actually cutting TWO front teeth at the same time... what a challenge.

So, fast forward to today and he's doing great. I think they have completely broken through and now they are just pushing the rest of the way up. It's so cute to see little buds of teeth when he smiles.

Stay tuned for our trip to CALIFORNIA in 10 days... little g's first flight and his first time seeing fireworks... we are so excited!

A First: Vacation!

Little Graham had so much fun on his very first vacation! We took a drive up to our summer timeshare in Hot Springs with all of G's family.

We left on Monday, June 7th at 4:15am. Since we are new parents we tried to think of ways that would maximize our time in the car while g slept. He always wakes up to eat at this time anyways, so we loaded up the car and then he woke up right on schedule to eat. Instead of laying him back down in his crib we put him in his carseat and drove off in to the sunrise!

He woke up about 7am, as normal, and wanted to get out and play. We stopped for a little while at a rest stop and let him stretch and move around. We loaded back in the car 30 minutes later and g took another nap until we found a Cracker Barrel in Texarkana. Little g enjoyed a little of our buttered biscuit and blueberry pancakes! 



After having an awesome breakfast we hit the road again and made it to Hot Springs by noon. We were exhausted but so happy to be on vacation. Little g did great on the way there...

The rest of the week was full of lots of sun... little g doesn't like his life jacket. We took him out on the tube for the first time and I was a little apprehensive about it. Graham told me that it would be ok and we wouldn't fall off because Pop's would go so slow. We fell off... UGH... little g was a trooper though and was only shocked at the instant water but was fine!


 First time on the boat!






We also spent some time in the pool and took a break from the sun by touring downtown Hot Springs, visiting an aquarium, and taking a short trip to the Mid-America Science Museum. The aquarium was a waste... we would have been the same off if we would have went to a pet store and looked at the fish. But, they did have an awesome large, friendly turtle and little g loved looking at the bubbles in the fish tanks. They also had a 'Dori' fish that was shy and a baby alligator! The Science Museum was SO fun... little g loved to touch and explore everything. He really loved the hot air balloon since that's what his mobile is at home! We had a great time and will do the science museum every year.

We decided to stay an extra day and we left on Friday night after bath time. Instead of laying him down for the night we packed everything up and he fell asleep in his car seat about 8:30pm. We arrived home about 2am (he slept the entire way) and tried to quietly transfer little g from his car seat to nursing to crib but he was AMAZED that our house was still here... I guess he thought that it had disappeared or something. He was so excited to be home and wanted to touch and explore everything. Luckily this only lasted for about 30 minutes and we were all able to get some needed rest.

We had such a great trip and we already are looking forward to how different things will be next year.

Happy Half Birthday Little Graham!

Wow... about sums it up this month. I can't believe how much little g has accomplished and done this month. It's tough being a baby when you're five months... here are little g's latest achievements!

1. He's learned to LICK... everything, you, me, the carpet, the dogs (ugh), everything!
2. He can hold his sippy cup and bottle.
3. He can bounce and this gives mommy some great summer arms!
4. He can gesture towards us when he wants to be picked up and he leans up when we're picking him up from laying down.
5. He throws a fit if you take something away from him
6. He can slap both of his knees now when he's excited or laughing
7. He loves to blow raspberries on us, mainly our face but also our shoulders. 
8. He still loves tummy time and rolls around to get places (as well as still pivoting)
9. Little g loves to do 'plank' and can get up on his hands and knees but isn't quite moving his hands yet. The knees want to go but the hands don't quite get it yet. He rocks when he's on all fours and face-plants in the carpet.
10. He can lean in and kiss his wide-open mouth kiss! He's such a lover... he even kissed his girl friend Lailynn on Memorial Day!
11. He went on his first jet-skiing ride a few days before Memorial Day. We didn't go far we just wanted to test out his life jacket (which he hated).
12. We've been swimming a lot this month. He loves, loves, loves the water and even does great when we count to three and plop him under water. He hasn't ever cried when going under water. He loves swimming with his Tia and Uncle Matt!
13. He leans over and points with his head when he wants to go somewhere. He is quite convincing and almost leaps out of our arms. 
14. He doesn't mind the dogs playing but I think he is going to be very bossy (a.k.a "affirmative")... he yells 'eh' when the dogs play... like hes saying BE NICE!
15. He can now sit up on his own. He still struggles with flinging himself back sometimes but overall he is much more controlled than ever.
16. He loves to rock when we sing to him (side-to-side).
17. He also gets excited about food and we're now on "2nd" Gerber foods.
18. He twists around to see himself
19. The mirrors are his favorite and he's very animated! 
20. And finally... he WEIGHS 19 pounds (76th percentile), his LENGTH is 29 inches (98th percentile... WOWOW... our pedi thinks he's going to be very tall) and his head circumference is 17 1/2 inches. He's the size of a 1 year old now and the tallest 6 month old our pediatrician has ever seen! We don't know any difference, since this is our first, but he said that he is going to be a big grown up. 

Our current schedule is:
5:00am - Nursing
8:00am - Wake up, Nurse, Playtime in bed
9:00am - Have breakfast together (little g eats baby food) then play time
11:00am - 1:00pm - Nurse then Nap time
1:00-3:30 or 4:00pm - Play time (2:00pm Nurse)
3:30-5:00pm - Nap
5:00-8:00pm - Nurse then Play time
8:00pm - Start bed time ritual (play in bed, bath, good night around the house)
8:30pm - Nurse
8:45pm - Asleep in crib

This has been the first month that we have little g on two long naps a day and it's really be working well! He seems happier and it's nice having a set schedule.

Until next month! We can't wait to see what the sixth month has in store for us.

Happy Five Month Birthday Little Graham!

This month has been SO fun! We actually love our five month old MORE than our newborn baby that we brought home from the birthing center (even though we couldn't imagine ever loving him more that that moment).

Little g is growing so much... I swear he's a big as a toddler. On Thursday, we have another doctor's appointment for shots only... so they'll update us on length and weight.

We've also created some pretty bad habits with our little one and luckily realized it. One bad habit was that he was napping when and where he wanted... mainly the bouncy chair and the swing OR by some family members holding him. BAD HABIT... he needed to be able to lay down at certain intervals during the day in a bed or crib. Right now he is sleeping peacefully in a bed next to me and I actually think he likes it more than sleeping sitting up.

We have started more of an earlier routine with him at night. Starting everything around 7:45-8pm... this get's him in bed by 9pm and gives us some much needed alone time.

For more updates, as well as our schedule, see below:

• Little g has been quite sick this month with a horrible cough and ear infection... after waiting 10 days we went back to the pedi to get on antibiotics... so sad. I hated them BUT no more cough and he is back to his old self.
• He found his feet about 5 days ago and it's adorable. It's one of those moments that reminds me how little he actually is.

• Graham loves tummy time and can actually spin around on his tummy. He can do a complete 360 and move to better see things... it's really neat.
• He's grabbing everything he can find and he can also bend over to pick up items that are on the ground, if he's standing with us holding his arms. 
• He can roll from his front to back and from his back to his front.
• We've tried various foods this month including squash (loved), peas (didn't love), apples and carrots; oh, and rice cereal, of course. 
• We also switched to.... dum-da-dum-dum DISPOSABLE DIAPERS... ahhhh. They are the Earth's Best brand and they don't have as many chemicals. It was a tough decision but its much better.
• For more horrible news, Graham had his first bottle of formula. We ran out of breast milk and I had to go to work. We are not switching him over yet but will have to in a few short months because I am going on a girls retreat.
• He sounds like a little-girl sometimes when he gets excited and lets out a squeal. 

 Our Schedule:
7:00-8:00am - Wake-up - get Graham from crib
8:00-8:20am - Eat in our bed
8:20-9:30am - Play-time in bed
9:30-11:00am - Nap time
11:00-11:20am - Eat
11:20-2:00pm - Get ready for the day and play around the house - Try some baby food
2:00-2:20pm - Eat
2:20-4:30pm - Nap time
4:30-5:00pm - Play-time
5:00-5:20pm - Eat
5:20-8:00pm - Playtime, maybe a small nap in between - if needed
8:00pm - Rice Cereal then Nurse (Eat) before bath
8:15-8:40pm - Bath time
8:40-9:00pm - Eat again
9:00-1:30am - Sleep
1:30-1:45am - EAT... ugh...
1:45-4:00am - Sleep
4:00 - 4:15am - Eat (Daddy has started helping with this one and I am so thankful)
4:15-8:00am - Sleep

We've been told time and time again that as soon as we get used to a schedule, it'll change. WE KNOW, WE KNOW... haha... so, that is why we are documenting this for our little guy and to remember forever!

Last thought: It's amazing that every love song applies to our love for our son!

Update on 4th Month

This month has already been a little rough on us... little g was sick for the first time! Graham and I decided to go out for sushi for my birthday with a few friends, while we were getting ready little graham became cranky but nothing out of the ordinary. We also took a hike this day, so we assumed that he was exhausted and needed to sleep. We brought him over to his Uncle Matt & Aunt Cheri's house and went on our way. When we returned to pick him up they told us about a cough and that he hadn't slept much... thinking it was no big deal we headed home. I nursed as soon as we got home and we swaddled our little guy... while he was eating he stopped and coughed this horrible sounding cough and SCREAMED! It was horrible... this went on throughout the entire feeding so we gave him our doctor recommended dosage of Maloxx and baby Benedryl. Eventually he finally stopped coughing and fell asleep. He woke up every 3 hours that night and I realized he had a slight fever. We called his doctor in the morning and they requested we come in for a sick-visit. The doctor saw him and heard some wheezing in his lungs and said that we would try a round of breathing treatment in his office to see if that would fix the sound. After 10 minutes of the nebulizer, the doc came back in a said that helped tremendously. I was happy... the doctor was concerned. He said that he would send us home with a breathing machine and we would have to do it 3 times a day for four days. He said that this is important because babies can actually die from suffocation from their airways being inflamed.

So, for the past four days we've been on the treatment and using the cough concoction at night. He's JUST starting to feel better... the mucus is loosening and he can cough it up now... it's still horrible though. At least he's getting back to his old self again.

At the same time little g was sick, Big G got sick too... and stayed home one day. No fun at the Quattlebaum house!

Before both of my guys were sick, we went to the pedi on the 8th for his four-month checkup. He received two more vaccines... the Rotavirus and DTAP. Not too bad again since he was able to drink one. His NEW statistics are:

Weight: 16 lbs.
Height: 26 1/2in... WOWOW
Head Circumference: 42.5cm

He's actually in the 90th percentile now for his weight and height and his head is still perfectly the 50% percentile. He really looks longer than ever and we can't believe how big he's gotten.

Oh, and I forgot to post a new schedule. This is what our day's look like now:

7:15am - Eat
7:30am - Play
8:30am - Morning Nap
9:30am - Eat
9:45am - Play -- 2 hours
11:30am - Nap
12:30pm - Eat
12:45pm - Play -- 2-3 hours
2:45pm - Nap
3:30pm - Eat
3:45pm - Daddy Comes Home & Little g eats vegetables (we're working on squash)!
4:00pm -Nap
5:00pm - Play
6:30pm - Eat & Play
8:00pm - Rice Cereal Time, Bath, Massage, Eat
9:00pm - Bed
3:00am - Eat & Back to Bed (YES, YES... little g wakes up once a night now!)

Happy Four Month Birthday Little Graham (and Mommy)!

The third month of little graham's life has come and gone... a little too quickly. Our little guy is now making some major changes and is becoming mobile... wow! For more updates on little g keep reading....

1. At night, he can turn around from back to front in his crib... but we haven't seen him do this during the day... it's so weird. Not so good for us because now we worry even more about him.
2. Little g is babbling and goo'ing more than ever. He actually waits for us to finish our statement before he starts his again. 
3. He is awake for an hour and half at a time now. 
4. He's starting to scoot on his back by pushing his hips up in the air.
5. One of the most awesome notes about this month is that he is sitting up with a little assistance! He can do a 'sit-up' when lounging on our bent legs.
6. He caught a yucky virus this month. It made his cheeks rosy but gave him a horrible sore throat and cough. We had to give him a mixture of mallox and benedryl... so sad! We were suppose to give it to him for 3 days but we could only do 1 full day of it. It took the pep right out of our little guy and made him drowsy.
7. On a more positive note... WE GAVE HIM RICE CEREAL... yay! Easter was his 4 month birthday and the Easter bunny brought him a basket full of rice cereal, bowls, spoons, puppets and a book. He actually really enjoyed the cereal... we're going to ask his pedi on Thursday when we can start more interesting foods that aren't so bland. More shots on Thursday too... booooooo
8. Speaking of Easter... we took some pictures with a few bunnies this month. The first one was with the suited Easter Bunny in the mall... kinda fun, kinda creepy. The second set was taken at Studio One in Grapevine Mills Mall because they had real Easter Bunnies! But, we DO NOT recommend them... we had a 50% off coupon and for SIX sheets it was over $250.00 ... yuck. Plus, they couldn't get little g to smile and we were hurried along because another family was waiting. They charged us $60.00 for photo correction... hello, it's baby-skin, what type of correction does he need, REALLY?! Plus they pressured us in to buying some photos by showing us them on this tiny computer in the back... not the huge screen in the front. Do not waste your time... photos were cute but I could have done what they did by going to my local PetCo and purchased some damn bunnies... (little g don't say that bad word)... everytime I look at them I have a bad taste in my mouth because it was so expensive... I fully recommend Natali Young (our family photographer)!
9. This Easter was super-duper special because 1. Little g turned 4 months 2. It was my birthday AND 3. It was Easter... so fun!

Great month... a little busy but wouldn't do anything differently!