new stuff...

So, I told myself that I would try to post on here every week, and now I am noticing that it's not really working out that way. Hopefully, once school is out in the next 2 weeks, I will have a little more time on my hands, and will be able to update here rather than FB. I threw a couple of pictures and video up on there from the weekend, so I will try to add some here too.

We had a busy 3 day weekend, did some stuff around the house, had wonderful friends over, bbq'd with family, played in the sprinklers, shopped for new clothes, got new brakes on the truck, and hung the surfboard border in the bathroom..I know, finally...right mom?! LOL. Pretty productive.

Calder is now getting brave and standing "on his own"...doesn't really want to hold on anymore! He's gotten very good at falling/getting down from standing, and when the coffee table isn't in the way it's all good! ;) He's already seen many a "bonk" and I'm sure we will be in for many more. He is ALL boy...well, except for the fact that he quite often plays with sister's toys...girly ones...but that's not really his fault. He especially loves the babies and this one little barbie mermaid doll...pretty funny!

He also got his first tooth about a week ago, bottom middle left. The right one looks like it is just ready to pop out any time, but nothing yet. He wants more and more to feed himself, and I finally gave in and started the puffs. He loved the yogurt melts, and I figured as long as they dissolve, why not try some other ones.? I feel like he'd eat the whole can if I let him, and we have to watch sister, as she likes to give him "lots and lots" at once, which he also eats, all at once! Too funny, he's not a big fruit kid, at least with baby food. But I did try a new one the other night, seems to be his very favorite...vegetable risotto and cheese. Yes, they make this as a baby food, and it cracks me up that this would be his favorite. He has good taste!

He is so very close to talking, I can't stand it. He will occasionally make some "ma, ma, ma" sounds...but nothing really directed at me yet, I can tell he is just experimenting. He does a lot of yelling, at Wally, the vacuum, mamma and pappa's dog Sarah...he tells them exactly what he's thinking! He shakes his head no, for lots of things...he seems to love the reaction we give him, so now that he's figured it out, he's doing it a lot! His personality is just so fun, he is sillier and more smiley than Caydree was, so it is fun to see that develop. He will laugh at just about anything, loves to dance, and can't get enough of his sister!

We have our big cleft team meeting this week on the 3rd, so I am anxiously waiting to hear what they will say about a surgery date...fingers crossed for mid July.

Caydree is just as sassy as ever...she is finishing up her last 2 weeks at Ms. Linda's family home daycare. Next year she will be coming to my school site for a kindergarten readiness program. I'm looking forward to having here there, but I know it will be a big transition for her, and that she will miss her normal routine, and friends. I guess that is how life will be from now on, she's going to be 4, and mommy just doesn't want to let go yet! Every time I turn around she seems older, and as much as I love it, it's just hard to believe!

I will continue this tomorrow, and put some pictures and video up...but for now, I've got bottles to make, and need to sleep! Nighty-night!

Lunch anyone?

SO we've been giving Calder solids...veggies and rice cereal, for a couple of weeks now. We actually started before his lip surgery, but then had to wait for a bit while his lip healed. Now he is back to eatin' like a big boy! He's had, and loves, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, and yellow squash/corn.

The fun about feeding little man is the fact that everything that goes in his mouth pretty much comes out his nose! Since his palate is still open, food and milk that don't make it down his throat just have nowhere else to go. :( I think it bothers him a little, but sneezes seem to clear it out pretty quickly.

He has also sort of developed his own little way of clearing it, that gets a good laugh, he closes his mouth and just blows it right out of his nose! Once again, I'm amazed at how adaptable he is, and how even after a big mess comes out, and he FUSSES like a mad when I wipe it, he ends up smiling.

I've been dying to try puffs and yogurt melts...even though they are for independent sitters/crawlers, but he is just so darn close to doing both! He's sitting pretty well, but hasn't quite figured out how to get to his tummy gently yet. :) Usually dumps himself over sideways or right on his face! We are getting there...

So, enjoy the food pictures, I'm sure there will be more to come!

Rice cereal

So I have a few complaints about rice cereal. First of all, I will say that I still do not feel 100% comfortable feeding it to my 3 month old in a bottle...but that is not something I have control over at this point. It is weight they want, so rice cereal we get! Calder seems to like it just fine, after my experimentation and mastery of thickness/consistency and the opening in the nipple! I think it makes him sleepy, but he needs rest to grow too, right?? Our weight check is on the 20th, so I'm hoping that this has made enough of a difference!

I guess my biggest complaint about rice cereal is how messy it is! It sticks to everything...wet or dry! Those little flakes are all over my counter, all the time. Then when you try to wipe them up with something damp or wet, they just smear sticky rice starch all over! Break out the dust-buster to clean this stuff up...gross. It's not quite as easy as powdered formula either, at least that can be shaken. WELL, technically I'm not shaking anything. Fun fact about breast milk is that it is not supposed to be shaken, so we "swirl"--A LOT. :) Needless to say, rice cereal does not swirl well either. Guess I'll be carrying another utensil with me in the diaper bag--something I can use to stir! Mixing is key, otherwise it is gloppy and has chunks!

None of it matters though, I'd do ANYTHING for my little man!

We'll keep you posted on weight. I'd hop on the scale to do a check here at home, but my battery died! So the 20th it is...this kid better be above the 3rd percentile!!