{ 8 months }

Weight: 19 lbs 2 oz

Length: 31 in

Likes:  People.  All you want is for someone to pay attention to you.  You will play and play and play as long as someone is within eye sight.  The second you are alone is a whole different story.  You like rattles and shaking anything that makes noise.  You love to stand.  You get this look on your face and everyone knows you are soooo proud of yourself when you stand up.  Oh, and splashing in the tub.  Getting mama all wet is soooo funny!

Dislikes:  Still not a fan of textures.  We are getting better.  You hate being laid down.  Whether it's to get you dressed, changed your diaper, or even lay you down to take a bottle, you freak out like we are pinning you down.  You get over it pretty quick, but it's not a fun trick :)  You don't like when your dad or I walk by without acknowledging you.  We can't walk through a room without stopping to say hi or you act like we are the meanest parents in the whole wide world.  I guess stopping a moment to see you isn't so bad though.

Milestones: 

You are scooting.  Not crawling, but doing everything in your power to scoot, roll, or slide your way to get what you want.

You are back to eating on a bit of a better schedule.  You still don't like the textures, but you will eat the pouches of food 2-3 times a day.  You are still taking 4-5 6oz bottles a day.

You are taking great naps!!  I never thought this day would come.  You aren't completely regimented, but that's okay.  Pretty consistently you are taking a 2 hour nap in the morning and about an hour in the afternoon.  This has been great as now your mama can get more things done :)

We are making progress in the helmet!  We had an appointment a few weeks ago and they said that you had gone from 15mm down to 9mm.  The goal is to get you under 6mm difference.  Your orthotist says that there is a good chance you will be done with the helmet by the end of the year!  We have an appointment on new years eve.  Your dad is beyond excited, I am not holding my breath.  I guess we will wait and see!

Firsts: 

Words - "mama!!"  You said it for the first time when you were really really angry, but none the less, you said it :)  And "hey!"  Anytime someone walks in the room you look and say "hey!!"  It's pretty cute.  You also think it's hilarious when I tell you to "say mama" and you look and me and yell "dada!"

Thanksgiving at home and in Petersburg.  You didn't partake in the food this year - besides throwing up a few mashed potatoes.  That was enough for the day.  But we had a good holiday!

It was a bad month of sicknesses around here.  It seems that you've inherited your mama's lungs.   You spent most of the month on nebulizer treatments.  I think we are finally over it all.  Here's to hoping to a warm rest of the winter.

Fun Fact: 

You really love your puppy.  You will smile when he walks by and love when he sticks around long enough for you to "pet" him.  Your petting involves more pulling and hitting, but we are working on it!   You love listening to Andrew Peterson's "Slugs and Bugs" album in the morning with your dad.  Many times I can hear him singing to you and you just cackle.  You've got a pretty awesome dad.  

Love you little Mister!

(This month's photos were taken by Kyle Shultz)

{ 7 months }

Weight: 16 lbs 12 oz

Length: 30 in

Likes:  You love to talk.  You mumbled before, but now all you do is talk.  Or scream.  Whichever. You found lots of new octaves and you use them all.  :)  You love to dance and to watch us dance.  You think your momma is soooo funny when she dances around to get you to smile.  You also love to look at yourself.  After your baths, when we walk in front of the mirror you just stop and stare and smile at yourself.  All while rubbing your head of course :)  You also LOVE to sneeze.

Dislikes:  Any food that has texture.  Yeah, we're hoping this one passes.  We tried to move you up to the next "level" of baby food and you want nothing to do with it.  Doctor says that it's most likely a texture aversion mixed with a over sensitive gag-reflex.  Lovely.  I tried to give you applesauce and you gagged and threw up.  Applesauce!  We've tried mashed potatoes, avocado chunks, smashed peas, and banana.  All of which were an absolute no-go throw up mess.

Milestones: 

You finally sit up!  Well, you've been sitting up for a while, but you sit up all on your own!!  When you start getting tired we will put the boppy behind you just in case, but for the most part you are golden.

You are FINALLY easy to bathe.  You are so squirmy that I have always just prayed that you don't slip and hit your head on the porcelain tub or roll over into the water.  You would flail and splash and I would just rush to get it done as quick as possible.  Now that you sit up so well, you will play with toys and actually enjoy bath time.  And I'm not a nervous wreck the whole time.  

You are still in the helmet.  The doctor says it will be at least 3-4 months.  We missed the 5 month growth spurt, and so we may be looking at a little bit longer, but that's okay!  You are doing great and don't seem to mind it one bit.  Sometimes you get so fussy when it's not on that we wonder if you are just more comfortable with it on.  

Firsts: 

Words!  And, of course, you said "da da".  It's not like I'm home with you all day everyday.  No big deal... :)  No, it's actually pretty darn cute and I don't mind that you can't say "ma ma" yet because I'm sure once you start you won't stop!  Your dad thought you were just saying it and didn't know what it meant, but now when he walks in the room you yell, "da da" right at it, so we are fairly confident you know exactly who your da da is!

Your first night NOT sleeping through the night (since you were 6 weeks old).  This one is not so fun.  Thought I really can't complain, but you had a few bad nights when you were sick this month.  That's okay - the late night snuggles really aren't that bad when you only have to do them every now and then!

You had your first halloween!  (just a few days after you turned 6 months!) Mom made you a homemade Owl costume, and we carved you a little "e" pumpkin.  Even though you had no clue what was going on, we took you trick or treating and you seemingly had a great time!

Fun Fact: 

You rode on a train for the first time and did great!  You loved being able to sit in your own seat and watch all the fun stuff out of the window.  We took the train up and back for your Aunt Sarah's wedding in Chicago.   Some of your cousins were on the train with us and so you had a great time being passed around and playing with the boys!  You had a blast at the wedding and you looked pretty snazzy in your fancy wedding duds.  

We love you little mister.  Happy 7 months!

{ 6 months }

One half of a year.  Every single mom on the planet has said this, and I completely agree.  I feel like you were born yesterday while at the same time I don't remember life without you.  Well, I mean I remember it.  But I don't at the same time.

Weight: 16 lbs 4 oz

Length: 29.5 in

Likes:  You are all about the people.  Just like your momma.  A social butterfly.  As long as there is someone to talk to you or someone for you to look at, you are happy.  When we leave the room, you let us know how utterly boring your life is without someone to play with! :)  You are starting to interact with Stanley.  He's not so sure about it.  He just lays and lets you pull and pat him...for about 30 seconds.  Then he gets up and hides in the corner.  Soon he won't be able to run from you!

Dislikes:  Your tummy.  You hated it, then didn't mind it, and now you hate it again.  You will roll from your back to your tummy and as soon as you get there, you get mad and roll right back over.  Silly boy.  You hate having your nose wiped.  We've had our share of illness this month and we learned this well.  You will arch your back and scream bloody murder...all over a little kleenex.  

Milestones: 

Still not quite sitting on your own.  Every time we think you have it, we turn around and down you go!  You will sit, but not without a barricade of pillows, blankets, and then an inevitable face plant. 

1-2 meals of purees a day.  No more stinking oatmeal - that's for babies.  You love carrots, green beans, and prunes.  You hate (and are possibly allergic to) bananas.  You aren't so fond of apples or spinach either.  But we keep trying!  And still going strong with 6-7 ounce bottles every 3 hours!

Rolling!  You started rolling back to front, and in one day you just didn't stop!  Now we never know where we will find you when we leave a room.  It's fun, but makes it a little harder to get things done!

You are outgrowing your clothes faster than I can buy them!  You are 25% in weight and 100% for height!  Someone is taking after their dad!  You are now wearing 6-9 month clothes.

Firsts: 

Sickness :(  We had a lot of firsts this month - ear infection, high fever, allergic reaction, late night throwing up.  All no fun at all!!  You handled it like a champ and after about 2 weeks I think we finally kicked it all.

You are officially a helmet baby.  You got your helmet Oct 10.  The first few days were a little rough, but we made it!  We are about 2 weeks in and you rock it.  It's the cutest thing.  You wear it 23 out of 24 hours a day.  We've decorated it a couple times...white, blue, and currently it is grey chevron.  Your dad wants it changed, so I guess I need to start thinking of new ideas.

Fun Fact: 

When we take your helmet off, you just lay there and rub all over your head.  I mean its the cutest thing ever.  A little itching, but mostly just rubbing back and forth all over your hair.  It's like you missed your head while it was in the helmet.  It's stinking adorable.

Your Nana T made you a half cake for your half birthday.  Your dad and I wouldn't let you eat it, but we let you play in the icing!  You didn't even try and put it to your mouth - kid, you don't know what you were missing!  Happy 6 months Mister!

{ and then there were 5... }

No. I'm not pregnant.

But we do have a proud new member of the house.

His name is Hank.  And he's a helmet.

Isn't he handsome?

Hank is loved and hated around this house.  Bryan has straight up hated Hank for days.  I've put on my big girl boots and decided that I have to like it.  I have to endure it.  I have to fight for it, because Ellis needs it.  And E may hate it, but I have to push through or it will never work.

Our delivery appointment went well...not.  Ellis screamed 99% of the time.  But we survived.  We came out stronger on the other side.  :)

I've learned a few things about helmets in these few days.

1. They hurt.  Not Ellis, but me.  Headbutts, nuzzles, and baby wearing have become a whole new level of dangerous.



2. They are ugly.  Uglier than I imagined.  Sure, I still think Mister is cute no matter what, but the helmet is no fashion accessory.  Stark white looks a little asylum-ish.  I need to start the decorating, stat.

3. They make my kid's head ridiculously sweaty.  Like dripping.  Gross.

{note - not sweat, just an average amount of Ellis drool}

4.  They are tight.  These suckers are hard to get on and off.  And they smoosh his face.

5. They really aren't that bad.  Sure, the first few days were an adjustment, but I'm having less and less selfish "but-the-helmet-is-ugly-and-I-can't-kiss-his-head" moments.  He's starting to not freak out when we take it on and off.  It's just for a short while and I think I can live with it.

Ellis is a champ.  It's crazy when a 5 month old can teach you more things about life than yourself.    He smiles through the smooshed cheeks and doesn't care if the helmet makes him less trendy.  He trusts us and adapts. Oh how I long for that kind of trust.

So Hank will live another day.  And Ellis will continue to forget about him, Bryan will hate him, and I will pretend to like him.

That's how we roll.

{ helmet update... }

We had our appointment for his fitting last friday.

Despite the fact that he had a belly ache that morning, he was totally cool with the entire appointment.  He got a little fussy when they put the sock on his head...but really, who would enjoy someone stretching a sock over their head?  

It was actually pretty interesting how they create the mold for the helmet.  They tape this sensor thing to the top of the sock on his head and used a wand with a built in digital camera to "scan" his skull shape. They were able to create a perfect virtual replica of his head on the computer screen in a matter of minutes.  It just appeared as they were scanning.  Pretty awesome.  

The lady then asked what color I would like the helmet.  While she was very nice and great with Ellis the entire appointment, when it came to "helmet style" I just don't think we saw eye to eye.  She clearly doesn't understand my aversion to all things "cutesy."  She really tried to sell me on the green and red tie dye.  Then after I vetoed that, moved on to the cream color with bunnies.  Yes, you read correctly, bunnies.  Sorry, ma'am, I appreciate the thought, but he's really not a bunny kind of kid.   I asked if there were any stripes and she proceeded to show me the lightning bolts, clouds, and the "customer favorite": bright, blinding royal blue.  Not quite stripes.  And definitely no chevron.  Not even a polka dot.  The designer in me was absolutely squirming.  Maybe I need to start working for the helmet design company because they clearly need help.  

So, against her better judgement, she allowed me to order the white helmet.  I think she really thought I was the worst mom with her pleadings of "white can really look sterile and medical..." and "are you really sure you don't want something more fun, did you see the ocean one with sea creatures?"  Yes, kind lady, I really did see them all and I will not abuse my child by making him wear an all white helmet.  I will decorate it, I promise. I will not let you down.  

We go back on the 9th for the helmet delivery.  Then starts 3-4 months of helmet wearing.  23 out of 24 hours a day.  I think I can, I think I can.

I've been researching the best way to paint stripes on an orthotic helmet.  Apparently there's not much info.  I guess I will be the first...

{ helmet. }

Helmet.

The dreaded word.  I thought we escaped it.  I thought we would get to do the whole PT thing.  We were wrong.

E rocked his PT appointment.

Pretty much had no problem doing any of the crazy exercises that the doc made him do.

Look to the right?  Well of course.

Look to the left...yep can do that one, too.  No problem.

So, while on the bright side E is very strong and having no motor skill delays, on the not-so-bright-side, that means his head will not correct itself with time.  If so, it would have already done it.  Or at least started.

So.  Bah.  Enter helmet.

We go tomorrow morning to see what this is all about.

I really was fine with the idea until Bryan and I put E to bed tonight.  As I leaned in, as I do each night to give him a kiss on the head, I realized that pretty soon I will be kissing a big ole hunk of plastic.  heart.  breaking.

People, he really does have the most kissable head.

I'm off to spend the rest of my night Pinteresting helmet decorating tips.  Although I may possibly be the first to try and Pinterest this.  We shall see.

Stay tuned...Adventures in helmet wearing starts in the wee hours.