Long Time No Blog...Part 1

Obviously since it's been more than a month since my last blog (slaps hand), it's about time I fill everyone in on what's been going on with Mr. Bobby (and us).

So, the main thing that happened in February and March is Bobby single-handedly decided to pay his doc's salary. 

"Charge it!"

He's been to the doctor's office 5 times since late February.  The first diagnosis was an ear infection.  Then Bob was diagnosed with Fifth disease.  Following that was the diaper yeast infection due to the antibiotics he was put on with the ear infection.  Then he broke out in another head to toe rash and was given some ointment for that, and finally he was brought back for his diaper rash again and tested for strep, which it wasn't.  Would you believe that the diaper rash that sprung up on March 1 was STILL around on April 2?  Needless to say, this totally thwarted my cloth diapering efforts.  Even more irritating, I actually had to go out and buy disposable diapers. 

Fifth disease is also known as "slapped cheek" syndrome....see why?

Bobby's become a champ at "cruising" around the furniture at the house.  He's also reached record speeds when crawling.  I can hardly keep track of him anymore!

I'm pleased to announce that Bobby's babble of choice is no longer "da-da-da".  He's moved onto "ma-ma".  Sometimes he even says "mom".  He gets whatever he wants when he does that. 

He's still not sleeping in his crib.  That's all I really have to say on the matter.  I'm not devastated, neither is Daddy.  Grammy is.  Would I like Bobby to sleep in his crib?  Absolutely.  Am I willing to give up my sleep or listen to my child cry for hours on end to accomplish this goal?  Not yet.

We've also started trying out solid foods.  So far we've tried: carrots, peas, asparagus, sweet potatoes and squash.  We also tried a little bit of roll at the Mount Vernon Inn a few weeks ago.  All attempts have been the same....terrible.  I'm not giving up. 

Our long anticipated family vacation was postponed until May.  We're very excited for Bobby to visit the beach for the first time, and we're so appreciative to our dearest family friends, Bobby's Aunt Carol and Uncle Bob for loaning us their condo so we can escape for a bit.

February Flashback.

There's hasn't been much going on around here lately.  We all spent February sick as dogs.  Daddy was the least affected by the various ailments that made their way into our home, which is hilarious considering I'm fairly certain he's the one who brought them home. 

Apparently this is what Daddy and Bobby do to occupy themselves while Mommy is being seen by the doc.

Bobby developed something called "Fifth disease".  For those who aren't familiar, basically your baby gets sick (cold like symptoms), gets better, then breaks out in a head to toe rash.

"Fifth disease sucks."

"I'm so over it".

We finally emerged from our hibernation the last weekend of February to go to church.  Here's a pic of Bobby post-church.

Playing in his playpen.

Bobby's crawling like a champ now.  We've taken to calling him "Speedy".  One second he's in the family room playing with his toys, the next second he's made it all the way across the way and is charting into "no-no" territory...the laundry room.

"Peek-a-boo".

He learned how to climb stairs a week or so ago.  Due to this development we've installed not one, but 2 baby gates.

Sorry Carol, but this is the only pic I have of him scaling stairs.  You'll forgive me....someday.

I've started planning Bobby's birthday party. I'm getting super excited.  It will be a baseball themed party...at Robert Marshall Recreation Area, the park named after Bobby's Great Gramps who Bobby was named in honor of.  It will be a happy day.  I know I will cry.

The cloth diapering is going well.  I actually rather enjoy it.  I love hanging his diapers outside to dry.

The Girl Scouts emerged from their winter hibernation.  We went overboard.

At the rate we're going, Grammy will turn into a Thin Mint, I will turn into a Chalet Creme and Daddy will have to take care of Bobby.

Daddy was transferred to a new storefront in Greenbelt, Maryland.  We're all upset about it, but we're hoping it's only temporary.  His co-workers gave him a nice send-off.

Bobby loves to dance to the alphabet song.

He still loves to sleep with his Daddy.  Daddy says he's Bobby's personal pillow.  I'm starting to believe it, because every time Daddy puts Bobby on his chest, Bobby snuggles in and is usually asleep within 5 minutes.

He hasn't learned any new words.  All he really says these days is "da-da-da-da".  All. Day. Long.  Oh, he knows "ma-ma-ma".  He just won't say it.  I'm chopped liver.

We're Sick....

So, last Wednesday Bobby developed a runny nose and a little cough. I decided it was just some minor teething...

I kept saying things to Christian last week like "I don't recognize this baby....he's so cranky".  Of course every time I mentioned this, he would be his usual happy self.

Finally Bobby showed Daddy his fussy self and we high-tailed it to the Doc's office.

Bobby was diagnosed with his first ear infection. :(

He seemed to be doing a little better Saturday...

But things took a turn for the worse on Sunday when Bobby got his first fever.  To make matters worse, Mommy is sick too.  So sick that I went to see my primary care physician for the first time since 2005, so you know it's gotta be bad.  Good news is that Bobby is a little less cranky, but he's still spiking a fever.  Off to the doc's tomorrow.....

Happy V-Day!

Quick post about Valentine's Day....
We went out for our Valentine's dinner the Thursday before Valentine's Day.  It was hardly romantic, even though we went to George Washington's estate for dinner.  There was a candlelit dining room and we had a quiet table next to a roaring fire.  There was one other thing we had at dinner.....

Grammy has been sick, which, in case you were wondering makes for a VERY cranky Bobby.  During this time, Bobby has learned how to do "limp baby" and throw temper tantrums. 
Christian was working a close shift Valentine's night, so I decided that I would do it up big at home and make a fondue dinner.  I made meat fondue, cheese fondue and a chocolate fondue. Oh my word, was it delish! 

I got some goodies from my boys.

I'm told Bobby gave me a yellow rose because I sing him "You Are My Sunshine".

Daddy recreated my wedding bouquet.  So romantic!

I also got chocolates. Christian, my mouth thanks you but my waistline does not.

9 Months (not the Hugh Grant movie)

Love letter to my son....

Dearest Bobby,

On Wednesday January 26 you turned 9 months old.  Nine months.  The same amount of time you were in Mommy's tummy you've been out exploring the world.  I miss having you in my tummy sometimes.  You seem so big to me now.  It's like your Grammy said the other day, you're not a baby anymore, you're a toddler.  You toddle (whatever that means).  I look at pictures of you as a "baby baby" and I cry....hard.  It's partly because I miss the "newness" of you.  It's a little because I can see how far we've come.  Mainly it's because I haven't figured out a way to slow time down.  Despite my very best efforts I feel like I've missed stuff.  How have we gone from rocking you to sleep in a bassinet to putting a foam bumper around the coffee table in the family room?  It's only been a second since you were in newborn Pampers!  I love watching you develop your personality.  You are SO loving and happy.  I love your smile when you and I lock eyes first thing in the morning.  I love the way you grab my finger and hold on tightly as you're nursing.  I love that the only thing that calms you down when you're fussy is Mommy singing "You Are My Sunshine".  You are my miracle baby.  This world is a better place for having you in it.  I see the impact you're already having on the world little lamb.  Your Daddy looks at me differently now.  Not that he didn't look at me adoringly pre-you, but now there's so much more behind his loving gazes.  Your Grammy is happier than I've ever seen her.  And, even though Grammy and I both hung our heads when we found out I was having a boy, you have more than proven that boys can be just a fun and rewarding as girls.  You were just what I needed in my life.

I love you SO much, little lamb,

Mommy

My perfect baby.

At least that's what the doc tells me I have.

"Baby perfectus, 9 months"

Bobby went for his 9 month well baby checkup.  Doc Sullivan had another intern shadowing him this go around.  Our boy is TALL.  Like, 95th percentile tall.  He's just shy of 30 inches tall and weighs in at 21 lbs.  They asked us a bunch of questions about his development and Bobby is right on track with his development.  Doc Sullivan kept commenting on how very happy Bobby was.  He had already told us at our last visit that Bobby was the happiest baby he'd ever seen, but he reaffirmed it at this visit.  He said in all his years of pediatric medicine (43 years!) he has never see such a happy child. (Way to make this Momma feel like a million bucks!)  We filled out a survey, and if I had been prepared, I would've taken a picture of this survey.  It had a lot of normal questions, but some pretty random ones too.  For instance:  "When you put a Cheerio in a plastic soda bottle, does your child try to fish it out?"  Really?  Who can honestly put a checkmark in the "Yes" column on that one?  Bobby was exempt from a few of the questions, since he's still exclusively breastfed.  I wanted to underline "NO" on the following question:  "Are you concerned that your child is not vocal enough?"  As the doc was leaving the room, he turned to the intern and said "that is the perfect 9 month old, take note". 

Also, we discovered at this appointment that Bobby has a new tooth, and 2 more on the way!

He didn't even flinch when the nurse came in to prick his toe for the anemia check.  BTW, Bobby's iron levels are A-ok.  Kinda hilarious considering I'm anemic, and I'm his only source of iron.  Maybe that's why I'm so tired...

Both ends of the spectrum...

The post is titled as such because we had a very quiet beginning of the week, hibernating, if you will.  The latter part of the week we were out & about.  Here's our week in review....


Sunday night when we were changing Bobby into jammies, we noticed this:

Needless to say, we were a tad concerned.  Of course, this kinda stuff ONLY happens when the pediatrician's office is closed.  It finally went away a week later.  We think it was rug burn since Bobby's been trying to get the hang of crawling.  That didn't stop me from freaking out, going on WebMD, and proclaiming to Christian that our son had either ringworm or Kawasaki disease.  Nope, I never jump to conclusions....

New discovery:  Bobby likes to put himself in "jail":

Also, try explaining to a 9 month old that, while I understand that you might be happier naked, it's frickin' January:



We'll revisit the issue in June..





On Tuesday Daddy got a little "label happy"....

Yes, the label says "Bobby".  Yes, I laughed out loud every time I looked at him.  No, I am not letting my Hubby within striking distance of the label maker...ever....again.

On Wednesday my boy paid me a compliment in the form of a onesie:

The shirt says "My Mom is a Fox".  Super cute!



Highlight of the week:  I made my Gram's hot cocoa (from scratch, not the packaged stuff).  The same one she used to make me every Thursday night after she got home from choir practice.  Did it taste as good as I remember?  You betcha.  I can't wait until Bobby's old enough to share this special tradition with me.

On Friday Bobby visited with his other grandmother and his cousin Savannah.  He and Savy got along famously.  It amazed me how patient she was with his incessant hair pulling. 

 It was also super sweet to see Christian interact with our niece.

Friday night we went to dinner with C's cousin Ben and his girlfriend.  We always seem to get a hankering for Red Lobster on Friday nights, along with the rest of America.  Kinda like I crave Chick-Fil-A on Sundays, the ONE FREAKING DAY OF THE WEEK THEY'RE CLOSED!  (End rant).  We had a lovely time, and we took a couple pictures after arriving home.  This was the best one, if I do say so myself: