6 Months Old!

Happy Half Birthday TJ!

I can hardly believe 6 months has gone by - where has the time gone??? Last year at this time we were enjoying our last vacation as a two-some in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. I even bought a little bucket hat for our baby (at that time we didn't know if we had a boy or a girl) that says St. Thomas and looked what we named our boy!

TJ went to the doctor this morning for his 6 month well baby check up. He's far ahead of all the typical 6 month milestones. He's grabbing and holding toys with both hands, passing things from one hand to the other, and has even started using his thumb and pointer finger in a pincer grab. Hello cheerios! Well maybe sometime soon...

He's climbing all over me and trying so hard to stand and walk on his own. He's interested in absolutely everything around him so we really have to watch what is within a few feet of him or it'll soon be in his hands and mouth! Today at the doctor he even started tearing up the paper on the bench. He's oddly fascinated with the TV remotes and will dive for them when given the chance. We really need to start the baby proofing. His favorite things to play with are those that make noise. He loves his piano and his basketball hoop most of all. Jim set up a train to run around the Christmas tree and TJ is fascinated! He loves watching the train go round and round.

TJ's still in his 6-9 month clothes but I'm sure we'll start washing the 12 month clothes soon. He's quite the babbler and has even started squealing. I wouldn't call anything an official word yet but he does say "Mamamama" when he's upset and wants me. I love it!

TJ's latest accomplishment is playing peek-a-boo. In just the last few days he's learned to not only pull the cloth off his face, but then cover himself up again to play again. He'll also raise his arms when I say "up" to pick him up.

Yesterday we started solid foods and TJ had his first taste of oatmeal. He loved it! He was a little weary of that first bite but soon caught on. More on that and pictures (of course) later! For now here are TJ's 6 month stats:

20 pounds 4 ounces - 90th percentile
27 inches long - 75th percentile
Head measures 44 centimeters - 60th percentile



Our monthly picture









Trying to grab everything!








Working hard and trying to pull up and stand



He looks like such a little man!





So the yellow was a bad choice for pictures in his yellow chair. I'll remember that for next month. But it happened to be our first snow and TJ wanted to wear his snowboarder shirt. :-)

Peek-a-boo!

Isn't it amazing to see babies learn? I've been playing peek-a-book with TJ periodically for a few months. He thinks it's hysterical when I shout out PEEK-A-BOO! at him. Then again, he might just be laughing at me since I sound insane. Anyways, it's been a mostly one sided game besides his giggles. Until yesterday. I put the cloth over his head and he pulled it off himself and looked at me expectantly. He's learned cause and effect! What a smart boy.

So of course I broke out the video camera. What else would a proud mother do?

Little Fish

TJ loves his bath time. He absolutely loves kicking and splashing in the water. Now that he can sit up so well he has found some freedom in the tub. He doesn't even mind water in his eyes from the washcloth or from his splashes. It also works like a charm to relax him before bedtime. I'm tempted to bathe him more often than two times a week because he enjoys it so much. I know opinions vary widely on this but I don't think daily is necessary since babies don't really get dirty and I don't want to dry out his skin. Maybe I'll up it to three times a week. :-)

I can't wait to take him swimming in a real pool - maybe we'll have a swimmer on our hands!

Check out my little fish (and his many rolls)!

Pictures!

It's been too long since I've posted last and I have quite a few new cute pictures to share! I'm going to make this quick so I can get to bed.

We had some amazingly nice weather so TJ took his first swing at the park. We're not sure what he thought. Hehe...













I also can't resist posting these few. TJ is bursting with personality and it's starting to show on the pictures I take.






I'm going to catch this thing if it's the last thing I do!









Such a little flirt!

5 Months Old!

What's this thing say?



Oh! I'm 5 months old today!!





18.5 pounds!

TJ is sitting up fully on his own. He loves his basketball and can pick it up with both his hands. He's close to being able to even dunk it in his hoop. He's just starting to scootch on his tummy and I have a feeling crawling is right around the corner. TJ has learned to take his socks off and enjoys tormenting me. He likes being a big boy and riding in the shopping cart. He also loves kissing mommy and is the happiest boy I know!

First trip to the zoo!

Yesterday we had beautiful weather - 60 degrees and SUNNY on November 7th - I could hardly believe it. We decided to get out of the house and take advantage by taking TJ to the Brookfield Zoo for the very first time. He didn't think much of the animals but he loved riding around in the fresh air and people watching.

I love this zoo and I'm very impressed with the renovations they are doing to the buildings and animals' homes. The dolphins are on vacation in Minneapolis while their tanks are all redone and we really missed seeing them. Brookfield is also in the process of building a huge new home for the bears - they really need one!

The one sad note of the day was one of the porpoises recently died during a surgery to try and remove a bunch of coins and rings from it's stomach. Visitors had been throwing things things into the tank like it was a wishing well and he had been eating them. Why can't people think before the act? :(

Here are some pictures from our day. I'll upload the rest into shutterfly shortly.





Checking out the buffalo








Getting a ride through Tropic World



In a the pouch of a giant kangaroo!







All tuckered out and ready to head home for my nap!

Taggie Blanket

This week my mom and I felt a little crafty and made TJ a taggie blanket. It's basically a little portable activity center for him. One side of this mini-blanket is made of red satin. If you can remember back that far, satin was probably one of the softest things you felt as a kid. I know the satin edging was worn off almost all of my childhood blankets. The other side of TJ's taggie blanket is a zebra print fur (faux of course). Black and white patterns are the first thing babies can see and typically babies are quite intrigued by the contrast. All around the edge of the taggie blanket are loops made of every kind of textured ribbon I could find. There is satin, grosgrain, rick rack, velvet, woven rope in all colors and patterns.

TJ loves it! He's already sat quietly and worked his way around the edge feeling all of the different textures in the loops. He's rubbed both the satin and fur sides against his cheek and even fell asleep clutching his taggie blanket. TJ's already an excellent car rider but I think this little blanket will keep him extra busy.

Thanks for your help mom! Maybe we should go in business, haha!

Happy Halloween!

Sitting High

TJ is getting so big - the time is flying! He just got his highchair and he absolutely LOVES it! He likes to be up high so he can see what's going on. This will be a life saver. Now I can get some more elaborate cooking done and we can eat as a family at the table. TJ likes to be able to do things on his own but he wants to make sure I'm in site at all times - he really likes watching what I do. He won't be starting solid foods for another couple of months but for now he likes practicing with his spoon in his new chair.

Dear Grandma & Grandpa

Thanks for letting me come and visit. I had a great time! I miss you already.
Love,
TJ

Big helper!

I always wanted to be a stay at home mom, the thought of having to return to work made me sick. We're so lucky that we're in the position that I can stay at home with TJ. I love my new job more than anything and wouldn't trade my time with him for the world. However, the one thing I don't think I was too realistic about was how hard it is to get anything done around the house! I had these grand visions of having the perfectly happy and cared for child, the immaculatly spotless house, and a gourmet dinner on the table. HA! It's all I can do to get the house mostly clean once a week and some kind of dinner (far from gourmet I assure you) made each night.

TJ's been trying to help me out but when you're too short to push the vacuum, too drooly to dust without making a bigger mess, and someone is always telling you 'HOT! Don't touch!' when you get near the oven there isn't much a guy can do. He is becoming an expert at laundry though. ;-) Now if only he could fold...

Busy Sunday!

We went over to my parent's house last night for dinner. Despite having a little cold TJ was busy as a bee! He loved playing cards and showing off his new skills. Too bad his Bear's jersey didn't bring the team any luck.

















He's also mastering sitting. We're hoping to have some crawling action by Christmas - though ought to make for a very entertaining holiday!

TJ's ESPN Deupt!

Our little guy is famous! TJ the Lion was on TV during the Penn State vs. Illinois game on October 3, 2009. We finally got a recording of the game and edited down this little clip to share.

4 Month Stats

17 lbs. 12 oz. - 92nd percentile
26.5 inches







Doctor says TJ looks great! He's way ahead of all on his milestones.
- Sitting unassisted for several minutes (just needs help getting into a sitting position)
- Rolls tummy to back. He almost has back to tummy but he just isn't very interested.
- Reaches and grabs for toys. He's particularly interested in the TV remote.
- Puts anything he can get his hands on in his mouth
- Loves to "stand" in our laps
- Starting to respond to his name
- Kisses
- "Talks" and Sings, laughs a lot
- Grabs his feet
- Has now discovered Lucy and pets her
- Still sleeping through the night (8:30 - 6 or 7) and is now getting better about napping during the day.

Time sure is flying, I can't believe how big my little boy is getting. I love being able to stay home with him and see how he changes from day to day!



Showing off that charming personality!

We've found a new use for our bum!

It's no longer used just for pooping and old man farts... TJ can now sit!

This was taken about a week ago. He's already gotten so much better! But I couldn't resist posting this one since he's so smiley and giggly too. I'll work on getting more video. To celebrate TJ's new accomplishment dad bought him his very first basketball hoop! Hopefully I'll get some video of that as soon as he figures it out.

4 Months Old!