Almost crawling!

Aaron really started trying to crawl over the weekend. It's still an army crawl, but he's getting closer!

6 months.....already?!

I can't believe my baby is 6 months old already! Time really does fly by. I've only cried about it 1.5 times, so I think I'm doing pretty well. For some reason this week I can't get the songs "Oh How The Years Go By" and "Always Be My Baby" out of my head. I need help!

I've been looking back at some of his first pictures, and I'm just amazed at how much he's grown and developed.

About 6 weeks old

6 months old (at his DR appt)

He was a hot mess at his doctor appointment this time. The last couple of visits he has been fine, cries during the shots, and then fine again. I think now that he's starting to learn who people are, and learn his surroundings, he knew this was not the place to be for fun. As soon as we got in the room he immediately made pouty face and proceeded to cry the entire check up. I had myself a stage-4 clinger. But he's growing and developing very well! He's 17 pounds now! My big boy!

Breaks my heart

Worn out from the doctor

He's starting to sit up more on his own now. I can't walk too far away, though, he has had a few hard topples. But I'm proud of myself for not freaking out. He didn't cry either time, and I know it's because I remained calm...*patting myself on the back*. 

He's still not sleeping through the night....sigh. To all those mamas out there who have babies who sleep through the night and have been practically since birth.....I hate you. Just kidding! He's a terrible sleeper. I think that means my next baby will be an amazing sleeper. 

We've started on our next veggie - squash. I think he likes it. He has a bad attention span when it comes to eating anything other than rice cereal and milk. Hmmm, so maybe he really doesn't like it. 

Bath time is his favorite now. He makes both of us very wet. It's a non-stop splash fest until it's done. 

He's really wants to crawl. He'll get in the crawling position and be on all fours, but he doesn't really know what to do. He's getting better at army crawling to get around. I just can't believe how much he moves. 

He's belly laughing and screeching tons. He loves to be tickled. 

He really concentrates when he's "talking". He's trying to tell a story. 

Every day there's something new. It may be small, but new none-the-less. I'm very proud of my busy boy. This has been the best 6 months. Now if only I can freeze time. 

Fun with Family & watching the Illini

Last Saturday we headed to Champaign for the day to visit some family. My mom & aunt were painting my cousins' nursery, so we went to keep everyone company and watch the Illini game that evening. Aaron had a lot of fun playing with his great Aunt Linda & cousins, Ryan & Kristen. We don't get to see them as much as we would like to. Aaron was a good boy all day!

Cousin Ryan is funny!

Cousin Ryan telling him to crawl. Aaron tried. 

Such a ham!

My little Illini fan 

We had such a great visit. I even got to eat Black Dog AND Old Orchard pizza (some of my favs back home). We ended the day by watching the Illini game - and they won! Aaron didn't want to leave. Neither did I. Love going back home to visit!

Mover & Shaker

We have a very busy boy on our hands. Over the past couple of weeks I've really noticed Aaron moving around a lot more. He's not crawling yet, but practically. He rolls over all the time, and will move in a complete 360 when on his tummy to get around to things. He is also starting to hike his legs up underneath his body to push himself forward towards something. I'll hold a toy just out of reach and make him scoot to me to get it. Last week we also found him in this position in his bouncy seat....

This scared the crap out of me when I walked into the living room. He had rolled over and scooted himself halfway out of his seat. So the other day I was bound to catch him in the act and get the play-by-play.

He was quite proud of himself. Looks like we'll be buckling him in his seat from now on. He's almost too big for it now anyway.

I can't believe how much he is growing and developing. I can already tell he's going to be smart like his daddy. How is he already almost 6 months?? Stay tuned for his 6 month pictures!

Cleaning party

Friday evenings are usually spent cleaning the house and doing laundry. I don't want to have anything to do come Saturday & Sunday except spend all my time with my kiddo. During the week I only get about 4 hours a day with Aaron when he's awake.....it really sucks. So I live for my weekends, and don't want to have to spend all weekend doing household chores.

So come Friday evening, Aaron & I get to work.

Bjorn'n it up!

Speaking of cleaning....these Medela quick clean steam bags are amazing. You can throw bottle parts, pacifiers, breast pump parts and cups in this bag with a little bit of water and microwave for easy sanitization. I use it about once a week to clean pacifiers and such. 

Aaron has had a little bit of a cold this past week, so I decided to sanitize his pacifier and the bulb syringe I got from the hospital (which is awesome, by the way). 

Did you guys know you shouldn't put rubber in the microwave? MAJOR blonde moment. I was on such a sanitizing frenzy that I didn't really think about what I was putting in there. If it can microwave pacifiers, surely it could microwave the bulb syringe, right? WRONG. I pulled out a melted mess. I have a spare, I just hope it works as well as the one from the hospital. IDIOT! (said in my best Chris Farley voice) 

Stay tuned for my weekly Do's & Don'ts post ;-)

First attempt at homemade baby food

I'm really gung-ho about making Aaron's baby food. On Sunday I made sweet potatoes. I baked 4 sweet potatoes in the oven, then pureed them with my immersion blender and a little water. I bought these handy ice cube trays with lids so I can freeze the baby food I make and then put into baggies once frozen. Each little cube is about 1 oz. I just pull a couple out of the freezer, warm up, and voila! - homemade baby food!

And Aaron actually really liked it. He's very interested in feeding himself. He kept trying to grab the spoon. Once most of it was all gone, I decided to let him try feeding himself. A bath immediately followed.

I also gave him a taste of banana Sunday. I put a chunk of banana in his mesh thingy and let him gnaw on it. It looks like he might really enjoy this treat, right?

MMM.....this is interesting, momma. What is this??

 Wrong!

I know that was not very nice of me. But that was funny! We'll wait a bit before we try banana again. I think we'll try avocado soon. MMMM!

5 months!

Aaron is 5 months!