Our Nemesis (Pasta) - Part 1

Here is a video of the boys eating stage 3 foods -- our nemesis right now. It is getting slightly better, but, let's just say that we've been through a LOT of bibs lately.

And who is the idiot narrating this thing. Jeez. Tell me I don't really sound like that.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

**Yes we laughed when Shawn threw up his food. You know what they say...it's either laugh or cry!

We're 10 Months Old!

This has been the month of teeth. Poor Jason has been miserable for much of the month due to them. Shawn continues to act like he is on the verge of some himself. (oh please let it be easier on him and us this time around)

I have decided that teeth are yet another design "flaw" in what is known as a baby. Why do you do something like this to something so tiny? It is just cruel. Cruel I say! Wouldn't one tooth popping out at a time, be much more humane?**

I have also decided that design flaws are everywhere on a baby. Take for instance the cute, but but deceptively tricky, leg rolls. Sure, a baby with fat little legs is oh so sweet to look at, but to clean? Yuck. Stuff gets stuck in those nooks and crannies that could quite possibly take days to clean out. Days people. Thankfully (and please don't let me jinx myself with this thought), that problem is getting easier to deal with now that things are, how should I say, firmer due to solid foods. But that just brings with it yet another flaw...I'm sure you can guess which flaw that is. Ppppppp...uuuuu!

And then there is the drool thing. I should have known just from this that the teething thing would be anything but fun, right? I mean, come on. The drool is no picnic either. It is everywhere. Times two of course. I did read that drool has some sort of antibacterial quality to it, and I try to remind myself that every time I get it in my hair, on my clothes, or better yet, in my mouth. But still, it isn't fun to get a slurbert of spit shot right in your mouth when you least expect it. The spontaneous laugh that often accompanies the spit just doesn't help either.

Trust me when I say there are more flaws than mentioned above. But you know what? I'd take those flaws any day. I love being a mom and I love my little family--flaws and all.

In a little over 6 weeks from now, my miracles will be 1. Wow.

**I realize that my babies are overachievers, much like their mother. I have had a talk with Jason about not going all out every time he wants to do something. Average is okay in some situations. Teething is one of those situations!

Shawn at 10 Months!

Shawn: (7 1/2 Months Adjusted)

Weight: According to my scale, he weighs 8.9 kilograms, or 19 lbs 10 ounces (10-25th percentile). He is wearing size 9 months clothes. Shawn is in Size 4 diapers.

Length: 29 inches! That is in the 50th percentile for an 10 month old!

Feedings: Shawn drinks 4 bottles, of approximately 5-7 ounces, a feeding. He also eats his two meals of solids, 5-6 ounces at a time, each day as well. He has begun to eat proteins without too much protest, but still prefers his pears. Shawn also loves finger foods and likes to gnaw on them at every chance.

Favorites: Shawn still enjoys bath time. A lot. Seriously. I think swim lessons will be in his future because he loves it so much. Do we have a budding Michael Phelps here? (only cuter of course) He also likes to chew on his little star blankie. Lastly, my boy is a screamer. Ok. It's talking in a very loud, high pitch. Whatever it is, he likes it.

Least Favorites: Tummy time, but he is still getting better at it. I think we are almost up to minutes before the screams begin. Nap time at grandma's has also become his least favorite thing. (sorry mom, he's been sleeping ok over here)

Personality: Shawn seems pretty laid back and doesn't really get upset at new people or situations. He is still quite the smiler and wants to be held a lot now, too.

New Things: Shawn was the first of the two to start shaking his head NO. It wasn't long before he had taught this little trick to his brother. Now, I get NO all the time. Want to eat some more food?--head shake. Say Mama--head shake. He also started to enjoy flying through the air. It makes him smile each and every time. Lastly, he has found the amazing things called hands. He can stare at them for the longest time.

Areas to Work On: Shawn is progressing at a steady pace. He is still behind Jason, but he is continuing to reach milestones for a baby about two months younger than Jason. I cannot complain about that. Keep it up, baby. But, we are looking for him to work on: Sitting up. Holding his bottle. Driving--well, wait a minute. I am not sure if the booster seat will prop him up enough so he can see the road in the Pilot. Maybe the driving thing can wait.

Issues: Shawn needs to continue to build his muscle tone. Plus he is still working on "catching up" to his adjusted age.

Randomness: This boy is made of gas. The stinky kind that is. I don't know where he gets it, but it is continuous. Thank goodness that it doesn't seem to bother him. He is all boy, too--darn it if he doesn't smile afterward! Sigh.

Jason at 10 Months Old

Jason: (7 1/2 Months Adjusted)

Weight: According to my scale, he weighs 9.0 kilograms, or 19 lbs 13 1/2 ounces (10-25th percentile). He is wearing size 9/12 months clothes. Jason is in Size 4 diapers.

Length: 30 inches! That is in the 70-90th percentile for an 10 month old!

Feedings: Jason drinks 4 bottles a day (approximately 6 ounces at a time). He eats two solid meals, of approximately 5-6 ounces, a day--still not a big fan of the veggies, but he is getting better about that. He's also started eating his protein! So far, Mac n Cheese and Squash/corn/chicken are his favorites. Well, maybe I should say that he eats them and doesn't throw them back up at me. (my idea of success)

Favorites: Jason has discovered a new passion. He likes to dance. (Good Lord. Where did he pick that up?) It doesn't matter what the music is, either. Musical drum--no problem. Commercials on television--that will do. Cheap $0.99 cassette tapes I bought back when I was going to teach kindergarten--all of it works for him!

Least Favorites: Finger foods are still not his thing. He will fight me every single time. He also hates the wind, which is interesting to me because he doesn't mind the fan. Hm. And lastly, he also doesn't like getting dressed in the morning.

Personality: Jason is on the go all the time, but he still can be a little timid in new situations.

New Things: For Jason, this has been the month for loads of new things. Let's see. Jason now:

• claps,
• blows kisses (sort of),
• shakes his head no,
• says dada, mama, and hi,
• sits up fairly well alone and expertly in our laps,
• has a mouthful of teeth--he got 5 this month alone,
• reaches up for me when he wants to be held,
• and picks out his own outfits while I am getting ready in the morning. Well, okay, not so much this last one.

Areas to Work On: Ok, Jason. Please, could we start holding our own bottles now? Pretty please? Sitting up. He is also starting the whole up on all fours things, so crawling should be in the not so distant future. (fingers crossed. remind me of that when he actually is crawling.)

Issues: Jason is still working on strengthening his back and shoulder muscles. He is making a lot of gains, but there seems to always be more work to do. Oh, and he needs to get over this finger food issue. Trust me, Jason. They are NOT going away.

Randomness: Jason has picked up a, for lack of a better term, nasty
habit. For some reason, this kid likes to poop in the bathtub. The first time this happen, I was a little surprised, to say the least. Now, I am getting better at heading him off at the pass (with a little help from Isaac). Otherwise, this whole issue kind of defeats the purpose of bathing in the first place! He is such a boy!

Here's My Toooooffffsss!

(The picture is somewhat grainy and the subject was somewhat resistant, but here they are in all their glory. Teeth!)

To Teethe or Not to Teethe (and I am leaning towards the latter)

Tooth count as of today:

Jason - 6 (and two more on the way--please, make it stop!)
Shawn - 0

To commemerate the new teeth, we officially started brushing. We were just wiping their teeth/gums after their meals before, but today we broke out the finger toothbrushes!

My mouth hurts, mommy.

Let's try this. It will make it all better.

Ummm...I don't know about this...

Weeeelllll...

It might be okay!

Round 2:

Hey! I want to try, too. It doesn't matter that I have no teeth!

Ahhhhhhh.....

This is kind of nice!

We could do this all day!

Oooh, do my tongue, too!

Yea. Just like that.

She's Here!

Joann is here! And I must admit, she is absolutely beautiful. I am so excited to add another female to the family, especially now that Don and Phil ("the Everly Brothers" or as you all would say, the washer and dryer--they sing I tell you!) had made the family dynamics a little testosterone heavy. And before you ask, yes, Isaac thinks I am a nut, so just humor me.



Anyway, my point is that Annie, Gracie, and I have another girl in the family! WooWhoo!



So, without further ado, let me introduce you all to...



the one...



the only...



JOANN!

A Bali Blue 2009 Honda Pilot!

She arrived at our house late last night. She took her first maiden drive to Target this afternoon, and it was pure heaven. No more hugging the steering wheel for me--huh uh. I didn't even have to move the driver's seat to get the car seat out. How cool is that?

Oh, that little noise you just heard was a contented sigh emitted from yours truly. Yep, there it was again!

The best part is that our salesman was a NICU dad, Josh. His daughter, Alexa, was in the NICU while the boys were there. I vividly remember him and his wife, Sherie, and their little girl. In fact, Isaac thinks he remembers Josh wearing his work shirt! Too funny. I gave them the address to the blog, so if you guys are reading, it was so good to see you again. Alexa is gorgeous, too! (If you are ever in the market for a new Honda, see Josh. He was great.)

Okay, that is all for now. I am still working on the 10 month posts, but I wanted to give Joann her day in the sun first. I am thinking they'll come out midweek.