Time Passes So Quickly

In just a short week it seems Oliver has continued to amaze us.  We've been busy having play dates, enjoying the pool, learning to eat, sitting up (yes, he now sits up), practicing our sign language, and hoping the first tooth comes in so the poor boy can sleep comfortably again!  Oliver now sleeps on his stomach too.

We put him back on the Prevacid after 3 days- he was so fussy and unhappy... maybe we'll try again in another month to eliminate the medicine.  Also, because we had to start the medicine again we have backed off introducing foods to his diet and are instead sticking to cereal (and the occasional banana or avocado).  In another couple weeks, we'll begin the Baby Led Weaning approach to introducing solids.  I think it will be a good fit for us- and I'll be sure to keep you all updated on our progress!

Oliver is still going to Grandma & Grandpa Walker's on Wednesdays which is perfect because he loves them SO much.  I'm thankful they get a day with him... He's always such a good boy at their house as well as Kristine's.  Our friends, Jake & Jenn, decided to have Jenn be a stay at home mom starting in August so Neena & Oliver won't be seeing each other as much at daycare... I'm so happy for Jenn and are sure we'll get the kids together often anyway.

Last weekend we went to my favorite restaurant, Ohana's, with our friend Brandi.  It was delicious and a really good time.  Nana (Grandma Deb) came over & hung out with Oliver while we enjoyed the dinner.  They have a good time since Nana is pretty goofy!

It's been raining a lot and if it's not raining it seems to be miserably hot outside... that means we haven't been able to spend much time outside (Chloe is going crazy with boredom).  This is probably the first summer that I've actually just wanted to skip and move on to fall.  I'm anxious to go on long walks, go to the park, have picnics, and play catch with Chloe.  It won't be long before the leaves start to change and we pick out Oliver's first Halloween costume.  Yay!

I got a new job this past week.... same employer but a different department.  I'll be working downtown again in retirement administration as a client service associate for our medium size retirement clients.  It's very similar to what I did before working in the sales office.  I'm excited to meet new people and take on a new challenge.   No transfer date determined yet but I assume it will be mid-August.

Denny & I are trying to stick to a new budget but I'm having the hardest time!  I like spending money when I want on what I want (usually food).  Anyway, it is a work in progress.  This pay period we are going to use cash and put away the debit cards hopefully limiting the amount we spend and ensuring we stick to our budget.  We'll see how this goes... we already had to call City Wide Heating & Cooling because we didn't have any hot water...that cost $100 and then Denny blew a tire on his way to work today.  Oh well, that's life, right!?!

Now to share some pictures from the last week... Enjoy!

Watch him grow!

Oliver continues to amaze us all the time... He's 5 months & 1 week yet he seems sooo different from the little boy at 3 months.  We couldn't be happier that he's such a happy & healthy boy, not to mention super cute.  This week he did many things for the first time:

• ate peas
• ate green beans
• managed to take down 21, yes 21, ounces of breastmilk at daycare along with cereal and green beans.  can we say growth spurt?!
• sat in his stroller without the infant car seat- he was so happy to be able to look forward and check out all the action (at the farmer's market)
• sleeps through the night (bed between 8-9p, diaper change at 12a, and then up between 5-6 to eat- then sometimes back to sleep or he may stay up & play for an hour or two before his next nap)
• moved up to medium flow nipples (can we say hungry boy!)
• moved from his infant car seat to a convertible (is too long for his infant car seat)
• is no longer taking Prevacid for his reflux

Our little Oliver is growing up fast...too fast.

play time fun

july 4 (2)
Originally uploaded by shea_barden

Water bottle fun

Happy 5 Monthday Oliver!

I can not believe that Oliver is 5 months!  Oh how he changing almost every day.  It amazes me the rate at which babies grow, develop, and learn.  Every day I'm more & more thankful for my handsome boy- he is such a happy baby.

• he is becoming independent... he doesn't mind playing alone in his crib with his toys or sleeping alone in his pack n play (kinda makes me sad cause a part of me wants him to cling on to me)
• he used to love being as much as possible but now he is all about being on the floor where he can kick, grab, and roll over
• speaking of rolling over...he has mastered rolling from his back to his belly...he can't figure out how to get from his tummy to his back yet but he's working on it...almost every time he naps or goes to sleep he wakes up on his side or lately, his stomach
• doesn't care for swing any more... but i haven't had the heart to put the swing away yet...he lived in the swing for the first few months.
• loves being his crib- he uses his crib as a play area instead a sleeping area...for now anyway.
• he is sleeping in his pack n play almost the whole night now- sometimes he comes to sleep with us if he wakes up super early in the morning
• hopefully i don't jinx this but i think he is finally sleeping through the night now (not the whole night but most of it)...he goes to bed at 8p, gets up to nurse around midnight and then sleeps until 6a or so.  sometimes we go back to bed until 8a on the weekends.
• he grabs everything...all the time.. and it all goes in his mouth (if it reaches that is)
• he really likes his daycare lady, kristine, and the other babies there.  every day when i pick him up he's always so content just playing with his toys
• loves being surprised, tickled, sang to, funny faces, funny voices, and just plain ole goofiness
• so far he isn't into books very much...honestly, he usually screams when i read to him so we're lucky to get one or two books in each day- i'm sure that will change over time
• thinks his feet are a pretty cool toy- 
• likes standing up
• is practicing sitting up...and does pretty well with support and there have been a couple times that he has sat up on his own (he didn't realize it) while playing with his toys
• sleeps with his glow sea horse..he is definitely attached to it... uses it for all naps & bedtime
• he has had cereal two times...first time he could't swallow it but really liked eating and knew exactly  what to do when i put the spoon to his mouth (he opened wide)..the second time we had cereal he swallowed it down! i think he is ready for solids.  we're going to try a banana and avocado this weekend.
• likes water, bath time, and swimming- 
• is teething...and i think i can see the white spots of his first tooth coming through..he chomps on his pacifier like its dinner and is always putting everything in his mouth to chew on.

Happy 4th of July

It was great to have a relaxing holiday weekend.  Although we had a lot of rain and didn't get to see any fireworks it was still a very enjoyable time.  Every year the parade goes right down our street so we're always so lucky to have great seats for the show.  Frank and Gail came over as well as Erin and her family.  It  was a little humid & warm but not too uncomfortable.  Oliver seemed to really take a liking to all the action- the people, the noises, and the candy being thrown at him (not intentionally).

first of many rock shows

Tuesday, Oliver, Chloe & I went to see Mike's band play an outdoor free show (does it get better than that?!).  We had a lot of fun seeing Mike, Lily, and Dana- and Chloe had a blast chasing the kids around.  Oliver & I just hung out on the grass and enjoyed some music.  Lovely evening.

and we get a laugh....

We've had silent laughs for a while now... and those are great but the real thing is priceless.  Tonight I was doing my usual tickling of the belly and it happened- he laughed...with sound!  It was the cutest thing- it almost sounds like he is coughing or maybe choking but I'm sure it's a laugh.  I'll share a video clip soon but I couldn't wait to share the news.