8 months

Well, I'm a bit closer to the actual "month-date" this time! The little chunker turned 8 months old on the 10th. I guess it's about time to start planning his first birthday...yikes!

At 8 months old, Elijah:

*Wears 6 month, 6-9 month, and 9 month clothing. He'll be solely in 9 month soon...he probably should be now, but I want to get some use out of the clothes we bought him thinking he'd still be in 6-9 month clothing! He can still wear the 3-6 month shoes, though.

*Wears a size 2 diaper but will most likely go up to a 3 when we buy more

*Eats four 8oz bottles of formula and 2 containers of baby food a day. He loves all of the oatmeal/cereal combinations, fruits, and most veggies. He likes most of the dinner blends, too, but there is one that he hates and I can't remember what that one is! Hope I don't accidentally buy it again...oops!

*Still has an aversion to eating anything solid or lumpy. He seriously gags and cries if you try to give him a Puff, or yogurt melt, or thick baby food, or anything that isn't extremely smooth. He cried when I took a tiny bit of Sophia's banana, smushed it on my finger, and put it in his mouth. To be honest, though, I'm really hoping this isn't a sign of something problematic...I really thought he'd be over this by now....

*He sits up like a champ and tries to reach anything and everything within a 5 foot radius of him. He went from not sitting up, to sitting up perfectly...barely any falling over or learning balance.

*He rolls around to get where he wants to go. He also has an extremely long wing-span...we really have to watch out because this boy can reach just about anything he sees.

*He is so smiley and laughy and adorable! Such an easy-going baby, very laid back, calm and happy....a complete joy to be around. He lets his sisters crawl all over him and he barely makes a peep...well, besides a laugh!

*Still only says "dada" and jabbers a little bit. He is trying to clap and wave/say "bye" but we're not quite there.

*He has turned into a side sleeper and I think it's so adorable! He goes to sleep around 7 pm and starts playing/cooing around 5:30 am but will often put himself back to sleep after a few minutes and not get back up until around 7 am.

*He now takes a "big bath" with the girls in the big tub. No more baby tub! They all think this is the best thing ever!

Found him like this one morning. He had started out facing the OTHER way at the OTHER end of the crib! That blanket immediately went in a drawer.

7 months

So, Mr. Eli is actually almost 8 months at this point, but here's what he was up to when he turned 7 months. Better late than never, right?!

*Weighs 17 lbs 6 oz and is 25 3/4 inches long ( I know this because he had his 6 month shots a few days before he turned 7 months ;)

*Wears 6 month clothing...and he is quickly beginning to fill those out. I think we'll be in 9 month clothes sooner than I expected!

*Loves food! He takes 5 six ounce bottles a day, eats a cereal/oatmeal with fruit baby food in the morning and a veggie or fruit for dinner. We've tried the Puffs and yogurt melts and he isn't a fan...he doesn't like the texture.

*He started sitting up unassisted the day he turned 7 months old. He does things at his own pace! He easily rolls over from back to front & front to back and can roll across the floor pretty quickly.

*He can say dada and jabbers a lot. He loves to shake his head side to side when you say nooo...and he's trying to say "noooo" while he does it...so stinkin' cute!

*He loves his jumparoo, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, his pacifier w/the dog attached, his sisters, his mommy (and daddy, too!), his toes, hitting his belly, and taking baths.

*He still sleeps pretty well. Eats a dinner around 5:30, a bottle around 6:30 and then bed around 7. He sleeps in his crib and will often go to sleep on his own in it. He sleeps through the night but wakes up pretty early: around 5:30 most days. He's pretty good about playing around in his crib and will sometimes find his pacifer and just go back to sleep after a few minutes. He takes a morning nap and a late afternoon nap....sometimes in his crib and sometimes in your arms.

*He is seriously the sweetest, easiest baby around. We are constantly being told how sweet he is and how laid back he is and how easy he is, and just how all-around good he is! He is SUCH a blessing!

Hopefully I'll write his 8 month stats closer to the actual date....which will be soon! ha!

Half a year already?!

Elijah Chase is already 6 months old! 

*At his 6mo well check on the 14th he weighed 16lb 3oz and was

*He's now wearing a size 2 diaper

*Beginning to wear 6mo clothing, although most of his 3-6 still fit.

*We began baby food when he just turned months old and he didn't take to it too well. He still pushed most of it out with his tongue so I put it away for a couple of weeks but he was just so interested in what we were eating so I tried again at about 5.5 months and he took right to it! He eats about half of a container of baby food before bed. So far he has liked: sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, and mixed fruit with cereal. He hated peas and mixed vegetables.

*Still takes about 5 six ounce bottles of formula a day; 1 in the morning, 3 at Ms. Cain's, and 1 before bed.

*His sleeping is getting even better, but he still wakes up so early. I suppose I'll take a solid 7:30pm-5am over several wake ups throughout the night, though! He still won't nap in his crib at home...or, well, anywhere but our arms...but he will at the sitters. Go figure!

*He is one of the sweetest babies I've ever been around. He just watches and smiles/coos/giggles at whatever is going on around him. He is obsessed with Mickey Mouse, his sisters and his teething monkey. He loves to be outside and he's becoming a "momma's boy" much to his daddy's dismay. ;) He also loves to jabber and say "dadadadada" all day long.

*He has a weird habit of rubbing his feet together all.the.time; when he's mad, when he's tired, when he's amused, when he's hungry, etc., etc. He does it so much that his socks/shoes won't stay on and he's rubbed several sores on his feet. His little sores just bleed and bleed and his toes are too tiny for bandaids so we just deal. It doesn't seem to bother him, so I guess it's okay.

*He is finally rolling from back to tummy and from tummy to back. He prefers to lay on his side, though, so he doesn't always roll all the way over...but he can, and that's all that matters, right?! Now we need to start working on this sitting up thing....if only we could keep the Livy-monster away long enough!

 

Trying out this food stuff....

yum!

                                                     

Last few nights of the swaddle

First black eye/bloody nose  :(  Rattles can be dangerous! ;)

5 months

Here's what the little guy was up to when he turned 5 months!

*Not sure about the weight or height, but he's slowly starting to "fill out"

*Still wearing a size 1 diaper

*Wears mostly 3-6 month clothing

*He is officially done nursing and I no longer pump, so he is 100% formula now and doing well! I still get sad every once in awhile that I wasn't able to nurse nearly as long as I wanted to, but I try not to dwell on it. On the plus side, I don't have to wake up so early to nurse! He gets a 6oz bottle in the morning, 3 5oz bottles while at the sitter's, and another 6oz bottle before bed. He's taking a big interest in our food and watches it like a hawk so I think baby food will be started soon.

*His sleeping has started to get a bit better, but we're still working on some consistency. He will nap in his crib at the sitter's house, but refuses to at home! Little stinker. He still goes to bed around 7:30, wakes once or twice per night, and awake around 5:30/6:00...which is better than the 4:45 we used to do for nursing!

*He is still such a happy baby! He just coos and smiles all day long. He loves Mickey Mouse, his jumparoo, his daddy, his sisters, being tickled, his toy elephant, his singing dog, and his teething monkey.

*He still doesn't roll consistently, but I really think a lot of that has to do with him never being able to be put down because of the piranhas , aka sisters, that attack him as soon as you do. I'm not concerned because I know he can and he doesn't seem to be missing out on anything by not doing so. He much prefers to be sitting up in our laps than to be lying down. "standing" is his other favorite way to be. 

I still can't believe we have this unexpected addition to our family, sometimes. It's such a blessing to have him in our lives and I wouldn't trade it for the world! I know I say it all the time, but holy cow, time is flying!

4 months

The little mister is 4 months old! Here's what he's up to:

*Weighs 13lbs 3oz (30%), 25in (50%) and head is in 50%. I really thought he was short & fat...apparently not!

*Wears a size 1 diaper but getting close to needing a 2

*Wears mostly 3 month clothing, but can do 3-6 month on onsies and some pants. Sleep-n-plays are hard to find because they are all too long for the little fella.

*Nurses in the morning, eats 3 6oz bottles at the sitter's, and nurses again before bed. We're in the process of weaning because I just can't keep up :( Honestly, I never thought I'd make it this long, but I'm sad that it's really coming to an end.

*Sleep is pretty good, but is slowly getting worse. He goes to bed around 7:30 and stirs throughout the night but usually goes back to sleep by himself, then gets up anywhere from 3:30-7:30...no consistency. Here lately he's been getting up around 4am and won't go back down...I'd love it if he'd sleep later! He is officially sleeping in his crib in his own room, but we're still working on naps. He will sometimes nap in his crib, but he gets a much better nap in if he's being held...which I don't mind because it usually means I get a nap, too!

*He is so smiley and gives big belly laughs often. He LOVES his sisters, Mickey Mouse, his jumparoo, a crinkly elephant & teething monkey, being tickled, and when we "bite" his belly.

*He is seriously so strong. He has complete control of his head, can roll belly to back, likes to "stand" while we support him under the arms, sits up in his boppy & bumbo, and tries to scoot using his legs while doing tummy time.