solids update.

We've been working on solid foods with Jack for about two months now, and we've definitely had our ups and downs.

I mentioned before that we thought he didn't like rice cereal so we switched to oatmeal. It turned out he didn't like oatmeal and really preferred rice. We know for sure that sweet potatoes, squash and carrots are the little guy's favorite foods. And no matter what, if those are on the menu, he's a good eater.

Recently we've hit a bit of a speedbump. I've tried to add a morning meal a few times before, but Jack wasn't ready. On Wednesday I tried again. This time he finally ate 2 tablespoons! This was a welcome new development! But ... one step forward, two steps back ... Thursday was a whole different story. I made cereal in the morning, just like Wednesday and on the third or fourth spoonful, Jack gagged and threw up. I threw out the rest of that meal. I just knew that he'd be fine and ready to eat that evening. Not the case. After a few bites, the cereal (mixed with bananas, I think) touched his tongue and he gagged and threw up a little again. And, once he does this, he's DONE. There's no use trying anymore. Frustrating.

Since Thursday he's been doing the same thing. Except on Friday when the grandparents were watching him. Figures. Ha!

He went from consistently eating 4 tablespoons of rice and 1-2 tablespoons of a veggie in the evenings to refusing.

I knew when we started solids it was going to be different and there would be some frustrations, just with most other things. I know he has an entire lifetime ahead of him to eat so I shouldn't push, but it's so frustrating!

Have I mentioned it's frustrating?

I called the doctor and she said to just keep trying. I'm sure this is just a phase because the kid LOVES to eat. And every time anyone around him eats or drinks something, he's watching like a hawk!

Isn't the Burberry big so over the top? Ha!

halloween.

I was really excited for Halloween this year as it was Jack's first holiday that he wasn't mostly a sleepy little baby.

After waiting and waiting, I finally pulled the trigger on the little monster costume. I was super nervous it wouldn't fit. And, stupid me, I didn't try it on Jack until about a week before Halloween. Thankfully, it fit great. The only thing I needed to do was pin the headpiece so it wouldn't slip over the babe's eyes.

We dressed Jack up and made our way over to a few of our town's favorites to do a little trick or treating.

It doesn't get much cuter than this guy.

Our first stop and he's already lost the headgear and feet from his costume. 

Jack with Danny and Kit

Jack with Uncle Ralph and Clarissa

Jack with Dixie and Brady

We had a great time. And John and I loved enjoying the perks of having a 6 month old going trick-or-treating. Mmmm...3 Musketeers.

that smile.

Jack's schedule.

For nostalgia and/or reference in the event we're lucky enough to have more kids, I'm posting Jack's current schedule. We've been loosely following Moms on Call since Jack was 8 weeks old.

We've changed his schedule one time, going from bottles every 3 hours to bottles every 3.5 hours. I think that in the not so distant future we're going to have either move him to a 4 hour schedule, or drop one nap and he'll have a longer mid-day awake time, with a meal of rice cereal or baby food.

7:00 am - morning bottle (8 oz.) 
Usually Jack is awake and rolling around talking to himself. Occasionally he's still asleep or crying. He's really a mixed bag in the mornings.
8:30ish - morning nap
10:30 - 6 oz. bottle
This was a notoriously bad bottle time for Jack. He was always so distracted so we cut back how much he took. I think if we put 7 oz. in there, he'd take it all.
12:00ish - nap
2:30 - 7 oz. bottle
4:00ish - nap
This is usually just a catnap to get Jack through his 5:30 bottle to bedtime. It's anywhere from 30 - 45 minutes.
5:30 - 7 oz. bottle
We only give him 6 oz. of this bottle and use the remaining ounce for his rice cereal mixed with baby food.
6:00ish - baby food (usually 4 tbsp. of rice cereal and 1-2 tbsp. vegetable or, soon, fruit)
6:40 (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) - bathtime
Moms on Call recommend baths every night, but these 3 nights work the best for us
7:00ish - bedtime
We read three books (The Hungry Caterpillar, Guess How Much I Love You and Goodnight Moon) and sing and then he's off to dreamland his crib to thrash around until he falls asleep.
9:00 - 3 or 4 oz. bottle
Jack is usually basically asleep during this bottle. I really think we could drop it, but, as John says, why do we want to mess with our sleep. If we know this keeps him asleep, then why drop it? Plus, on nights we go to dinner, it's nice to have a bottle to come home to to get him asleep.

Thanks Lauren for the good idea!

fufi and popi.

Since our OU/Texas plans changed and Jack and I didn't make the trip to Texas, we ended up taking the babe to Dallas the following weekend to meet his great grandparents, Fufi and Popi. (Don't ask on the names. They're John's grandparents and that's what he's always called them. So unique!)

Unfortunately, both of them have to use walkers and didn't feel comfortable holding Jack, but they really enjoyed watching him roll and scoot around on the floor.

It was a short trip, but we had a great time, and Jack was the center of attention as usual. We also got another four generation picture -- Jack, John, Gracie (John's mom) and Fufi and Popi.

I really hope another 5 months don't go by before they get to see him again.

Jack: 6 months

And, the months continue to fly by. The fact that we're half way to Jack turning one is absolutely nuts!

It's no surprise that Jack is more and more active these days. As I've mentioned, Jack loves to thrash around in his crib before he finally falls asleep for naps and at bedtime. And, more and more he's a tummy sleeper (which I never thought possible with how much he detested tummy time).

We started Jack on rice cereal after his 4 month appointment, and we've continued with one meal a day. After a few attempts at adding another meal of solids, we've determined that maybe Jack just isn't quite ready for that yet, and we're sticking with just a dinner portion. He loves rice cereal. We've only introduced vegetables so far, but his favorite is definitely sweet potatoes. He also loves squash and carrots and tolerates green beans. Peas, however, are off the list. The first spoonful of peas hit Jack's lips and he immediately gagged so hard he threw up a little. Needless to say, we won't be feeding the monster peas anytime soon.

We have a pretty happy baby on our hands. Jack is usually very easy going and all smiles and belly laughs.  About a week ago, he was trying our patience with fussiness and refusing naps, but I think that was growth spurt and I think we're past it now (cross your fingers...).

Still no teeth, although Jack is still drooly as ever and continues to chew on just about everything. And, although he isn't officially crawling, Jack occasionally figures out how to move his arms to go forward but usually he's content to roll around and scoot backward.

And, he really loves to swing his right arm all around. When taking a bottle, while in someone's arms, no matter what, that right arm is swinging and you don't want to get caught in it's wake.

In the last few days, Jack has been making the mmm sound more and more and we've heard "mama" on occasion, too! I really didn't think mama would be his first word, but I can't say I'm not excited that it is!

With all of the confusion of OU/Texas, Jack wasn't able to meet John's grandparents that weekend. But, we made a special day trip to Dallas so they could get their Jack fix. We had a great time, and I'm so glad to have gotten another four generation picture.

And, no matter how hard it was on me, Jack had his very first overnight stay with John's parents in October. I know they all had a great time together.

I've really enjoyed watching Jack's personality develop and can't believe we're halfway to his first birthday. Time really is moving way too fast!

6 month stats:

•18.5 lbs.*

•26 3/4"*

•30-32 oz. a day (mostly 7 oz. bottles with the occasional 5 or 6 oz. one)

•wearing 6 month clothes and still some 3-6 months

•size 3 diapers

*unofficial stats. our 6 month appointment is december 1 (we're officially behind with our dr.), so I should have official 7 month stats.

McKenley.

A couple weekends ago, a fraternity brother of John's, his wife, Emily, and their sweet daughter McKenley were in town for some family pictures. It worked out that we could all have lunch together on Sunday and finally our little ones could meet!

Emily announced she was pregnant about a month before me and due in April. However, McKenley had other ideas. Five weeks before her due date, McKenley made her debut. She's a precious 7 month old who, I think, taught Jack to "blow raspberries".

It was great to finally meet the newest little Boyd and, there's no question, in about 18 years, these two will be friends at OU!

Already trying to put the moves on. McKenley is not impressed. PS - Jack's hair is out of control!