Colton Edward: 9 month update

I can't believe you are 9 months!! Where has the time gone. The monthly chalkboard sign doesn't last long during these pictures anymore. This summer has been the best and I think I will have a tougher time going back to work then when I went back after maternity leave.  Your little personality is so much fun! I am lucky to have a job where I get to have these large chunks of time off with you.  This month you got to meet your Uncle Matt and Aunt Amy for the first time.  You learned to sit up in your crib so we had to move the mattress down.  Daddy and I took our first trip away for the weekend without you this month.  I was a mess leaving you but you didn't even seem to notice.  You had a great time with Grandma and PaPa Lucht.  You slept great for them and were such a good boy.  Only a couple more weeks left of summer and I am going to soak up every bit of it.
9 month update

Size:

Weight: 22 lbs 11 oz (98th percentile)

Height:  30 1/2 inches (98th percentile)

Food: You LOVE to eat.  Summer has allowed us to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner together.  Which I love.  Breakfast consists of oatmeal cereal mixed with a fruit puree and some sort of fruit.  Bananas are your favorite.  For lunch you have a puree and puffs and anything I am eating that you can eat.  Dinner you pretty much have whatever we are having.  We have feed you hamburger, chicken, pork, and fish.  We haven't found anything that you won't eat.  The dogs have become very aware that lots of food is coming from your high chair so they are often found very close by during meal times.  You are still EBF but I am going to work on weening you from me during the day and only nurse you in the morning and at night.  I have enough of a freezer stock that I hope will last us to  your 1 year.  

Sleep:11-12 hours at night and two 1 1/2 hour naps during the day. You have been on a very set schedule this summer but you got a pretty bad cold that messed with your schedule the past couple weeks.  It is starting to get back to normal now.  You are still on the 2, 3, 4 schedule.  Take a morning nap 2 hours after waking, take an afternoon nap 3 hours after waking from your morning nap, and then going to bed 4 hours after waking from your afternoon nap.  Your bedtime has started to creep more towards 8pm than 7pm which works for me because it means you sleep in later.  

Teeth: Your two bottom teeth have come in and all 4 teeth on top have started to break through. Your teeth have totally changed your smile.  You have been a trooper so far with your teeth.  I know they bother you but it hasn't made you too cranky.
Words: You have recently started saying Da Da Da  and Mama.  I don't know if you know exactly what they mean but when you want something or are tired you always seem to cry "Mama"  You baby talk A LOT and make all kids of noises. I think you might be quite the talker.  

Activity: We have a crawler!! You aren't moving too fast yet but are able to get around.  You are starting to pull yourself up.  You can get to your knees and have only been able to pull yourself up completely a few times.  You love to play with anything that is not an actual toy.  Some of your favorites are dog toys, TV remote controls, and phones.  

Likes: Mommy, standing up and walking around the edge of our couch, playing with your group of new baby friends, and embarrassed to admit but you love to watch the BabyTV channel. 

Dislikes: tired, hungry, and when the dogs bark if someone comes to our front door. (It scares Mommy too).  Otherwise you are a pretty happy baby.

Colton Edward: 8 month update

The second I put the chalkboard sign down, he erased it.  He was SUPER excited to take pictures:)

You are growing up so fast!  It is amazing how much can change in such a short amount of time.  Mommy has definitely enjoyed being a SAHM this summer.  I enjoy every minute with you and love our little routine. It is fun to watch you play and learn new things every day.  You are one independent little guy.  You hate to have me feed you.  You want to do everything by yourself.  You eat better when I just let you feed yourself.  I still try and feed you but this is usually letting you hold the spoon while I guide it to your mouth.  You get so frustrated that you can't crawl.  I can tell you just want to move forward and can't quite figure out why it isn't working.  This can make you pretty upset at times.  I know you want to crawl but I don't know if Mommy is ready for you to start crawling.  I enjoy putting you on the floor and being able to go into the kitchen and not have to worry about you.  There is only a little over a month left of summer and I plan on soaking up every minute with you before heading back to work.  

8 month update

Size:

Weight: 21 pounds 6 ounces (83rd percentile)

Height:  29 inches (we think)  

Still wearing 12-18 months and even some 24 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  

Food: Food is going GREAT!! You love everything I give you.  You get so excited when I pull out the puffs container.  You love all the puree pouches even if it sounds like weird combinations to me.  Daddy loves giving you pieces of whatever we are having for dinner.  He wants so badly for you to be a good eater.  Still getting most of your meals breast feeding.  

Sleep: 11 hours at night.  Your sleeping schedule is like clock work.  You go to bed around 7pm and wake between 6:30-7am.  You take a morning nap 2 hours after waking (between 8:30-9) and sleep for 1 1/2 hours.  You take an afternoon nap 3 hours after waking from your morning nap (between 1:00-1:30) and sleep for another 1 1/2 hours.  It is nice to have a schedule to easily plan our day but I also will mix up our schedule if we have places to go.  

Hair: It is coming in thicker every day.  It is still light brown with a touch of red tones in it.  

Eyes: Still big, blue, and beautiful.  

Teeth: Your first tooth has finally started to come in.  It is one of the bottom front teeth.  It was a couple rough nights but a little pain medication helped.  

Activity: You want to crawl so badly and get so frustrated that you can't do it.  You are doing great at moving backwards, turning in circles, and rolling around.  Even if you can't crawl, you seem to manage to find a way to move across the room.  Baby proofing the house is in our near future.  

Likes: Mommy, bath time, Charlie and Sasha, playing with your toys

Dislikes: tired, hungry, and recently we have realized you get scared of new, loud noises.  Fireworks this year could be interesting.

Water Babies

A group of friends and I decided to sign up for baby swim classes together in May.  I thought it would be a good idea to get Colton use to the pool before we ventured to any friends' pools this summer.  I was a little concerned with the time because it was during his morning nap so I had to wake in up to make it there.  The lessons were held at the Park Hill Aquatic Center and the pool was VERY cold.  This mama does not like cold water at it was apparent that Colton was not a big fan either.  The first 5 minutes of every lesson he would cry.  Fortunately it was only the first 5 minutes and loved the pool once he got use to it.  The swim lessons were not the best but it was fun to do something with our new friends.

Colton Edward: 7 month Update

I believe that we are the luckiest parents in the world. You are such a good little boy.  You are the sweetest, happiest baby.  We can sit you on the floor with your toys or in your Exersauser and  you will just play by yourself.  You continue to "talk" all the time but no words yet.  The dogs don't pay much attention to you but you always smile at them when they walk by.  I definitely think you and Sasha will be pals as you get older.  She takes more interest in you than Charlie and often comes over to give you a sniff or lays down close to you on the floor.  Summer break has officially started and I am so looking forward to spending more time with you!

7 month update

Size:

Weight and Height:  I haven't been to group to weigh you in a few weeks but will be going later this week.  

Still wearing 12-18 months and even some 24 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  I recently went through all your clothes and put away all the 9 month stuff.

Food: We have tried food again and it is going much better.  You liked the banana and pumpkin puree. I have also started giving you small bites of veggies that we are having for dinner.  You even enjoy chewing on Cheerios.  Nursing is still going well.  I am so thankful that I am able to keep up with you.  We have stopped warming up any bottles we give you and you seem to enjoy the cold milk.  It could be the hot weather or that it might feel good on your gums.  

Sleep: 10 hours.  I have started to move your bedtime from 7 to 7:30-8 in hopes that you will sleep later.  You wake between 5:45-6:15.  I would love for you to go back to sleeping in until 7am but I will take the early mornings since you continue to sleep through the night.   You take a morning nap around 9 and a afternoon nap around 1:30.  Each last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  You also take a 45min - 1 hour nap around 4:30

Hair: One of my favorite things is when you run your hands through your hair when you are nursing.  I think it is the cutest thing.  

Eyes: You honestly have the most beautiful, big blue eyes with long lashes.  They ladies will love them one day.  

Activity: No crawling but still love to sit up.  You are constantly reaching for things when you are sitting up which causes you to end up on your stomach. You are getting better at learning to roll from your stomach to your back.  I often wake up in the morning to see you have rolled over onto your stomach in the middle of the night and instead of trying to roll back over you just sleep on your stomach.  

Likes: Mommy, kisses, playing with your toys

Dislikes: tired or hungry

Colton Edward: 6 months

This is seriously the best age!! You are curious about everything! You want to touch what ever you see.  You love to just sit and play with your toys.  It is so much fun to watch you.  You "talk" a lot but no words yet.  I say every day to Daddy that we lucked out in the baby department with you. You are such a happy, easy going little boy.  I am so looking forward to this summer when we can play all day, go swimming, and go to the park.  I can't say enough how much I love you!  

6 month update

Size:Weight: 20 pounds 4 ounces (98th percentile)

Height: 28 1/2 inches (98th percentile)

Head: 18 1/2 (100th percentile)

You are currently wearing 12-18 month and even some 24 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  

Food: We introduced purees at about 5 1/2 months.  We first tried sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and apple sauce but you didn't enjoy them at all.  I keep trying and you seem to be getting better.  We have started to try the baby lead weaning method which is us just letting you taste what we are eating and it seems to be going better.  You eat anywhere from 17-24 oz of breast milk at day care a day and nurse when you wake up, when we get home from day care, and right before bed.

Sleep: 10-12 hours.  You still go to bed at 7:00 and wake between 6am-7am.  You take a morning nap, afternoon nap, and late afternoon nap.  Your naps range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.  

Hair: It is growing longer everyday.  It is still a dark blond color and has hints of red when you are in the sunlight.  

Eyes: Still blue with beautifully, long eyelashes.  

Activity: No crawling but you are able to sit up unassisted.  You still love to jump in your Exersaucer  or doorway jumper.  If you are on your back you automatically roll over on your stomach but can't roll back over.  You grab for everything! It then goes directly to your mouth.  You love to just sit and play with your toys.

Likes: Mommy, playing with your toys, jumping, swinging.

Dislikes: Being hungry or tired.  

Colton Edward: 5 month update

This is by far the best month yet! You are so much fun to watch.  You are so much more aware of everything around you.  You watch the pup dogs play, look out the window in the car, watch every move daddy and I make.  You chew on EVERYTHING you can get your hands on.  I am pretty sure I see the first of your teeth coming in which might explain all the drooling and chewing this month.  Your laugh has to be the best sound I have ever heard.  It makes me laugh and smile every time.  No matter the day I have, your laughs make everything better.  You are such a good baby.  I am one lucky mama!

5 month update

Size:

Weight: 18 pounds 10 ounces (93rd percentile)

Height: 27 inches (94th percentile)

Head: 17.5 inches (90th percentile)

You are definitely a BIG boy! You are currently wearing 9-12 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  

Food: If you couldn't tell from your weight, you are a great eater.  You eat around 7am when you wake in the morning, have between 18-20 ounces at daycare, nurse around 5:30, and then your last feeding is right before bed at 7:00.  I am starting to prepare for your first foods next month!

Sleep: Since your 4 month birthday you have continued to sleep GREAT! You go to bed around 7pm and wake around 7am.  It is an understatement to say this has been life changing.  You went through a two week period where you were waking up crying after the first hour of sleeping.  I let you cry it out which was very stressful but we are finally back to normal.  You take a 1-2 hour nap in the morning, another 1-2 hour nap in the afternoon, and a 30 minute nap on our way home from daycare.  

Hair: Your hair continues to grow in and is brownish blonde

Eyes: Still blue with beautifully, long eyelashes.  

Activity: You have become VERY active.  You love to jump in your Exersaucer, door jumper, or standing on Mommy or Daddy.  You have only rolled completely over a few times but you love to just lay on your side.  You even have started to sleep on your side at night. You are such a talker and love hearing yourself talk.  You often lay in bed in the morning before I come and get you and just talk to yourself.  I love listening to you on the monitor.  

Likes: Jumping, talking, standing on my lap

Dislikes: Being hungry or tired.  

Mommy update: Spring Break was this month.  It was so much fun spending a whole week with you.  We went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Lucht and you did such a good job sleeping in a different crib and room.  I was so proud.  Daddy has been traveling more this month which was very stressful for Mommy. I don't realize how much I depend on him until he is gone for a few days.  Other then that, I am just counting the days until summer vacation!

Colton Edward: 4 month update

You are such a growing boy! I love your cubby thighs and cheeks.  Your personality comes out more and more each day.  You love to hear yourself "talk" which Mommy and Daddy think is so cute.  You are getting closer and closer to rolling over completely.  You have done it once at daycare but never at home.  You love to grab and pull on everything.  You are so strong!  You still are such a happy baby and smile all the time at anyone who will show you attention.  

4 month update

Size: 17.9 pounds (87 percentile)

We go to the doctor for your 4 month check-up and shots in a couple weeks.  

You are currently wearing 6 month clothing but are transitioning to 9 month clothing right now. You are growing like a weed!!

Food: Still nursing.  For awhile there you were eating about 20 ounces a day at daycare but the past couple weeks you are eating 14-16 ounces.  I think it is because I am able to get in two feedings in the morning before heading to work.  I added a pumping session at 9pm because you are not needing to nurse as much at night. This is helping me stock our freezer with extra milk.  

Sleep: This has been a difficult month for sleeping.  For most of this month, you starting getting up multiple times at night to nurse which resulted in Mommy getting very little sleep.  There were many tears from Mommy because of the lack of sleep and frustration.  It didn't help on the weeks where Daddy was out of town.  You have also still been sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's room in the Pack-n-Play and had never slept in your own room.  On your 4 month birthday, I was ready for a good nights sleep and was ready to let you cry it out in your own room.  To my surprise you have slept GREAT in your own bed in your own room since then.  You are sleeping 8-10 hours straight which has been so great for Mommy.  You still go to bed between 7:00-7:30 each night.  You naps have become shorter (30-45minutes) but I am okay with that if you are sleeping better at night.  

Hair: Your hair continues to grow in and is brownish blonde

Eyes: Still blue with beautifully, long eyelashes.  

Likes: You love to sit in Mommy or Daddy's lap. 

Dislikes: Being hungry or tired.  

Mommy update: Mommy got a stomach virus right after parent teacher conferences and was unable to eat or drink anything for 4 days.  It was not how I wanted to spend my first long weekend with you since going back to work and was pretty upset about it.  Also since I was unable to eat or drink anything my milk supply dropped significantly.  I was able to nurse you while sick but was not able to pump enough milk for daycare.  I had to dip into our freezer supply.  It took exactly a week after I was symptom free to regain my supply.  Mommy has also had a rough month juggling being a working mom.  There have been many tears and feelings of guilt this month.  I am looking forward to a week off in a couple weeks for Spring Break.