23 weeks

Hope everyone is well.  I feel like Jack has grown so much in the last week.  

He's laughing a lot more, and it's easier to get him to laugh.  He's started getting crazy in his bouncer.  He'll start jumping like crazy and then with all his might pick up his legs and give one big bounce.  He rolled over from front to back.  He's toying with back to front, but I think he's going to make us work for it.  While sitting in the tub the same day he rolled over, he decided he wanted to stand up, so he grabbed the edges of the tub and pulled himself up about 3/4 of the way.  I was so scared he was going to face plant on the edge of the tub, but also so proud and excited for him haha.  Thank goodness Jon is there to balance me out :)  

5 months has been such a cool time to see him soaking in his surroundings and learning new things. I think our play dates are helping us out too.  He's getting used to other people besides just his parents, and I'm getting out of the house.  He's warming up to strangers so much more than before. He's flashing that smile every where we go and just melting all the ladies hearts that come up to him.  We took him to dinner this past weekend to one of our favorite places, Jack Allen's. He did so good.  He just sat and played with his toys the entire time. 

Today we went to a preview of our music class.  We had a great time!  Jack's friends Caroline and Eli went as well.  We danced, sang songs, played with shakers, clapped, and had fun.  Jack seemed to enjoy it.  We will start the fall semester sometime next month.  

Next week we start swim lessons!!!  I am SO excited about this.  I've been taking him to the pool in the afternoon at least 3x a week. He's getting used to the water and has now started splashing.  He splashes in the tub all the time, but just started to do it in the pool now that he's getting used to it. Caroline, Eli and Addie are going to do swim lessons with us.  These 4 will be seeing a lot of each other each week...which is great because I love their moms!  They do 1 lesson each week.  So Jack is becoming quite the social butterfly. Music, swim and play dates.

Well hope everyone has a great week!

Lots of loves,
The Waags

Video of Jack laughing:

YOU'RE FIRED!  Sitting in his big boy chair during dinner.

The usual...Jack trying to eat everything.

Jack playing at dinner.

22 weeks

Happy Tuesday!  

Well, yesterday went back to the GI specialist for his checkup.  He gained almost 2 lbs and grew a little over an inch in the 6 weeks between visits.  He's 15lbs and 24.3 inches.  Dr. Rangwalla said he's doing great and can start solids at the 6 month marker.  He said he's impressed with how well he can sit up on his own and hold his head up.  Another Dr. saying he's a strong one :)  He told me to start introducing soy back into my diet and see how Jack reacts.  If all is well after 2 weeks, I can start to slowly reintroduce dairy!!!  I'm already planning what the first dairy product will be.  MMMMM can't wait!   So excited, and yet terrified. If he doesn't have any reaction with the dairy for a month, then we can start weaning him off of the medicine.  Yay!!  The Dr. said usually around 6 months, babies start to out grow the reflux...though it could take up to a year; we are hopeful.  He seems to be a lot better now that he's sitting up more.

Yesterday, I tried to eat eggs again and that was a mistake.  Jack was not happy about how gassy he was.  Tooty pants and his teeth were bugging him, so he was up a few times last night...but he put himself back to sleep.  He has now started to rub the side of his right head/ear, which the dr. said is another sign of teething.  I'm glad we have all the symptoms, but where the hek are the teeth!? 

I bought Jack a wubanub (pacifier with little toy attached to it for easy grabbing).  He's never been big on the pacifier except when he's hurting, but I thought it would be easy for him to chew on.  He has started sucking on the pacifier!?  The first 2 days he had it, it was in his mouth most of the day.  It's losing it's newness now, but he still likes to suck on the frogs feet and chew on the pacifier.  Maybe it will help us on our next flight in August, so I don't have to nurse the whole time.  

Today we are meeting our friend Katrina and Caroline and going for a swim.  We took him swimming this weekend again and he did really good.  We went to the big pool and Jon dunked him a few times...of course.  He also did the "balance a broomstick" thing where Jack stood on Jon's hands and that's it- he did so good holding himself up.  

Well, hope everyone has a great week!

Lots of love,
The Waags

Standing all by himself

playtime with Daddy

21 Weeks

Happy Friday eve...sorry I'm a bit late on the blog Mama Mac :)

It's been a great week or so since the last entry.  Jack has made new friends, stuck to a schedule, had a cookout, went swimming, and last but not least (and most annoying) found his voice. HAHA.

Last night, Jon got home from his work trip and Jack was kicking about on his play mat.  All of sudden we hear this scream/groan/screech...not sure what to call it exactly.  It sounds like a big bird LOL.  He seemed surprise by his new noise as well.  Curiosity is a blessing and trouble all at the same time.  He went through high pitches, to low pitches, to what sounded like confused pitches.  We have a very open floor plan with high ceilings, so all these pitches are bouncing around the house like one of the balls you get out of the kiddie machines.  I keep telling myself it's a good thing, hopefully "mama" will come next.  Until then, we might just listen to the radio a bit more inside. :)

Jack and I have been going to several playdates.  We've met some really neat ladies and sweet babies.  We've had a meet up every day this week, just about and same with last week. I think we will continue to go to them at last 3 days a week. Last week, Miss Caroline came over for a swim.  They both did great.  Then, we had some friends over for a cookout on Sat.  We had a house full of kiddos.  My, how things have changed!  We had breastfeeding going on in various rooms, diaper changes going on in the living room, Gracie (almost 2) running around showing Jon and I just how NON child proof our house is...it was a great time!  

We are looking into swimming lessons now.  At 6 months Jack can start swim lessons.  Jon and I can't wait!  We've looked into a few places.  There is one that is a private lesson where they come to you which would be great, because all of the others are about 30 min away.  We will see though.  Then, our friend found a music class that starts in the fall.  Jack, Caroline & I think Brady, will attend that 1x a week together.  

I can't believe he is 5 months tomorrow.  He is growing so much and actually has more hair.  We put him on the scale with me last night and he is around 15lbs.  He's probably grown at least a 1/2 in since his last appointment.  He's sitting up great on his own, taking a few steps while we hold him, FINALLY embracing tummy time, rarely misses when he tries to grab things (of course they go straight in his mouth). He LOVES his bouncer. He's learned he can stand in the bouncer too.  He greets us with a smile every morning and after each nap (if he got enough sleep).  He's learned to put himself to sleep.  He has started to put up less of a fight at night and at nap time.  Last night, he went down at 7:30 and woke up whining for only 6 min (we didn't go get him) and was back down until 6 this morning. I hate to jinx it all, I'm sure now he won't sleep all weekend, but we are making progress :)

Next Monday we go back to the GI specialist for a checkup.  Hopefully it's a good one.  We will see if he thinks it's time to start solids.  Jack is SO curious about food.  Everything we eat, he's trying to grab it.  I'm excited for him to eat new foods, but not excited about the diapers.  It's been great to not have the smelly diapers so far. 

Tonight and tomorrow we interview baby sitters...hopefully it's a success.

Have a great weekend!  

Lots of love,
The Waags

Just standing playing with his toys

Tummy time isn't so bad now!

"screaming" at his toys

Trying to pick up the baseball

Utter happiness!

I love his little smile!

Chewing on a carrot.  Still no teeth

20 weeks

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  

We had such a great time at my sister and Dwight's place at the beach.  We always have a wonderful time there and get some good relaxation; I feel it's the only place away from home I truly get rejuvenated.  It's so peaceful, it's impossible to stress out about anything there.  This year was even more exciting with the little guy there.  He seemed to really love it.  It is really windy of course, and it was so funny to see him taking it all in- the smells, the sounds, the wind, ocean.  Seeing him go through these "firsts" are so cool.  We spent lots of time on the deck and in the hammocks and just relaxing.  He slept pretty well there and even took long naps.  We even caught him just "playing" and talking in the room when he would wake up.  His cousins entertained him most of the time- I would have loved to bring them home with me :)  Jacob seems to really love his little cousin, Jack.  Each morning, he would come and see "baby Jack" and play with him.  It was really nice to catch up with the family.  I'm so thankful Jon and my family are so close. 

We took Jack to the beach on Friday and it went well.  He didn't really fuss at all about it and just kept staring at the ocean trying to figure out what this big bathtub was.  I'm looking forward to many more visits there with him.  One day his cousin can teach him to surf too.  

Before we left, Jon and I vowed that "sleep bootcamp" would start when we got home.  The rock n play sleeper was going to be put away and so were the swaddle blankets.  I was a nervous wreck on Sat night thinking about how little sleep I would be getting over the next few nights.  To our surprise, Jack did just fine.  He did wake up a few times and had to do a little crying, but we all survived and he seems to like his big boy bed.  He HAS to be more comfortable not being swaddled now.  His reflexes still wake him up a bit, but he has learned to put himself back to sleep...such an wonderful milestone!!!  

The last week has been a really fun one with watching him learn new skills.  Jon and I swear he has a new skill every day and more hair each time he has a good long sleep.  He's started to get on his knees a bit more when he's on his tummy.  He's SUCH a wiggle worm these days too.  He's not too interested in just being held- he wants to move!  I am savoring the time I still have before his is mobile haha!  He is starting to take steps when we hold his hands, but we are still a long ways from walking...I hope, anyway!  He has figured out his bouncer too!  Last night I put him in there because he was over just sitting in his seat.  I was making dinner and he just sat there bouncing for about 45 min. I finally had to take him out because it was bathtime.  He still isn't tall enough to touch the ground, so we have to have a box under it.  It's absolutely hilarious to watch him.  His little face was lighting up last night when he figured out how to jump.  Before he would sort of just move his feet, but now he actually bends his knees and jumps a bit- as well as his little gallop.  

Jack and I went to another play date yesterday.  I randomly ran into my childhood friend Kristal.  Kristal was the first girl I met in our neighborhood when I was about 5.  We have remained in contact through Facebook, but haven't really seen eachother in about 8 years or so.  I saw this little girl that looked like her and thought she looked familiar since I've seen her daughter's pictures on Facebook.  I looked around and then spotted Kristal.  She wasn't a member of the group, but was with a friend that was.  Such a small world!  I'm looking forward to reconnecting and having some playdates with our kids now.  

The garden is doing great!  We have a weird variety of cucumbers that the average length is 15 inches!!  It looks a bit scary to be honest haha!  We decided to put turf topper on the yard which has been an exhausting process.  I'm definitely getting my arm and back workout this week!  We have 4 cubic yards to spread and I think we're only about 1/2 way through the huge pile.  We are having a cookout this weekend with some of our friends that have kids so everyone can meet, since they are all from different circles; hopefully we can get the dirt spread before then...I might just not be able to stand up straight!

Well that's all for now.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week.  

Lots of love!
The Waags 

The link below is of Jack bouncing in the bouncer.  
http://youtu.be/WJk7yxfz918 

Just kickin it like everyone else.

The Drool master

Morning playtime with his cousin Jacob

Our little family <3

Love his little face

soaking it all in...

It's just a big bathtub

Daddy & Jack

Jack's cousins being so supportive :)

Love these 3 SO much!

Jack got to ride in the cart finally!  He just chewed on everything...shocker.

19 Weeks

Hi everyone!

I apologize in advance for the multiple typos you're going to come across; I'm attempting to type this on our trek down to the beach with the blogging app. 
Jack has started to laugh a lot more this week.  We've gotten a few good belly laughs out off him.  Last weekend he got to video chat with all of his grandparents which was so awesome.  It's crazy how far technology had come...even crazier to think where it will be in 10 years.  he showed off his new toys and how he can sit up. 

He has gotten stronger in the last week.  He can hold on to Jon's fingers now when Jon pulls him up and is sitting up for long periods of time.  He has been sleeping much better, and has been putting himself back to sleep which is HUGE!  We are into a pretty good bedtime routine and finally getting our evenings back.

Jack is really loving his bouncer chair we got from the Pittsburgh party.  He sits on it while I make our meals throughout the day and just laughs and talks to me.  It's funny how I used to feel silly talking to him since he couldn't communicate back to me...it was a new experience.  Now, he hears about everything we are doing, everywhere we are going and gets to see my not-so-awesome, but entertaining singing and dancing skills.  I'll do anything to get a little giggle out of him.

We went to our first mommy meet up play date yesterday.  I was so nervous to meet new people of course, but it was a great time!  I'm glad I finally made myself go.  It was so refreshing to talk to some adults and hear that other moms are going through the exact same problems with naps, bedtime, bottle strikes, etc.  Made me realize maybe I AM doing an okay job LOL. Jack did really well. He had tummy time with a sweet little girl and sized up just sit everyone with his super serious stare. It's crazy how serious he can be and then once he's warmed up to you, he gives you that awesome little smile. 

I went to my old office yesterday before my thyroid appointment.  It was so great to see everyone.  I miss the people I worked with, but I have no regrets staying home with my little guy.  I can't even imagine having to be away from him each day. We shall see what the thyroid doc congress back with. Last time it was pretty out off whack, but they said that's pretty standard after having a baby.

Well, that's about all that is going on with us.  I can't wait to see how Jack likes the beach.  We are so looking forward to catching up with my Sis, Dwight and the kiddos.  I'm sure I will have a million pictures next week :-)

We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful July 4th. 

Lots of love,
The Waags