Sitting up!

Well there are more "firsts" to report this week. Hayden sat up on his own for the first time, and he also held a sippy cup with water in it! I can't believe how he is picking up all these new skills so rapidly. This is really a time of change and growth for him, and it is so exciting. He also moved on from cereal to sweet potatoes. I'm not convinced that he really likes solid foods yet....some days he scarfs it down with a huge grin and some giggles, and other days he just wants nothing to do with it. So my plan now is to keep offering it to him, and if he takes it great, and if he doesn't, that's fine too. He is still breastfeeding and getting all of his essentials from that, so cereal and baby food are really just extras at this point.

Unfortunately, he also has experienced his first cold :( It breaks my heart to hear him all congested and coughing, but it honestly doesn't seem to be bothering him too badly. He had one day where he was very fussy, but otherwise he has been his usual sweet and content self. We have been slathering him with baby vicks before he goes to bed, and giving him warm, steamy baths every day in hopes of clearing up his chest, and so far it's helped him sleep really well, but he just can't seem to completely kick the cold! I've been told that it is normal for them to be sick a week to 10 days, so I'm not panicking yet :) I just hope he's well when we travel to Wisconsin on Thursday for Lindsey's wedding!

We are very much looking forward to Hayden's first Christmas, and to celebrating and creating some new traditions with our new little family. On Christmas Eve we are planning a cocktail party at our home for some of our local friends, and then on Christmas Day, we are going to cook a big feast for the 3 of us (Hayden might get to move on to peas or carrots by then!), and open our gifts and sit by the fire with a glass of wine. We are sad that we couldn't be with our families this year, but we are determined to enjoy the holiday and make the best of it!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Jumperoo!

First of all, I thought I would update Hayden's 4 month "stats". He is now 16 pounds, 7.6 oz, and 27 inches long. This puts him in the 75th percentile for weight, and he is off the charts tall - literally! The doctor said he looks really great and has no concerns really, so that was great news.

This has been a week of firsts for Mr. Hayden. Since he has doubled his birth weight, it's time to start introducing solids. So this morning we gave him cereal for the first time. It was so exciting! I think he rather liked it. Most of it ended up on his bib, but he smiled through the whole experience, and giggled, and seemed to just have a good time! We put him in a little high chair, padded with a blanket to help him sit up because he is still too little for it really, and I think he felt like a big boy and was very proud to be up at the table. We are going to start feeding him cereal twice a day for the next few weeks, and then we'll likely start to introduce some yellow veggies and fruit. I can't wait! Here are some photos of the first feeding!

Here he is - chowing down for the first time!

He also played in his rainforest jumperoo for the first time this week. It's definitely his new favorite toy because he can stand up and bounce in it. Sensory overload - I'm telling you! There are lights and songs and stuffed animals all over it for him to grab at and stick in his mouth. It's a baby fantasy!

December

Well, I've let another few months pass by without a Hayden update! I promise to start posting more often, because Hayden changes almost daily it seems. I have to say, 4 months old is awesome. He is such a fun little pal. He is extraordinarily curious about everything and everyone around him. Whenever we go out and people talk to him he just beams and babbles away, and he loves to be held, even by people he doesn't know. He is growing quickly, both physically and developmentally. He has rolled over quite a few times, and he loves to be on his tummy now. He can sit up in the corner of the couch and will play with his toys contentedly for quite awhile. He also loves to watch the fire in the fireplace and look at our Christmas lights. He is still mesmerized by ceiling fans :)

Although I'm working, we have still managed to stay involved in my moms group, which is nice. I've met quite a few great women here, and Hayden has some playmates that are close to his age. Nate also enjoys hanging out with the husbands, so I feel us slowly making some headway in terms of making Texas feel like home. It's wonderful here in the winter. Sunny most of the time and in the 60's or 70's, so we still get out a lot for walks with the dogs.

Since the last time I wrote, Hayden has taken 2 airplane trips to Ohio to visit his grandparents, and he his other grandparents have visited him here in Texas. He also met his great grandparents! It's been quite busy. We go to the doctor tomorrow so I will update then with his current "stats". Until then, here are some recent photos and video clips of Hayden at 4 months old! Enjoy.