6 Month Check Up

I took the kids to Kruz's 6 mo. check up today, although he's almost 6 1/2 months. 

Stats:
Weight: 17.12 lbs (40%)
Height: 25.5 in. (25%)
Head: 43 cm (50%)
*Note: These are almost identical to Gabriella's 9 month stats.

Our check up experience:  Kruz was full of smiles...but also full of WIGGLES!  Oh my, I got such a great workout.  Unfortunately, I was in the waiting room for 45 mins, alone w/ the two of them, before we even went back.  Kruz was such a squirmy worm, it's almost impossible to hold onto him sometimes.  I definitely did NOT want to put him down on the nasty pediatrician waiting room floor...yuck.  So, I held him...and bounced him, and 'tossed' him up, and tickled him, and anything else you could think of.  Once we got into the room, Gabriella was a champ of course, just chillin', sitting perfectly still, eating a snack...the whole time.  (Did I mention I love that girl?!  haha!)  Kruz ripped the paper lining the table to shreds.  Literally, I had to find a piece big enough to lay him on by the time the doc got there.  Oops.  Check up went great, few shots (debated, but continued with them anyway; I feel good about the choice), and we were set to go.  The doctor reassured me that he was eating and drinking enough, although he has dropped down in percentages. Yay. :)  On our way out, Gabriella talked to her 'friends' at the check out counter...they love her!  They even gave her stickers for her...and her baby doll.  Speaking of, during all of the squirming w/ toddler, baby, baby doll, diaper bag, paper work (you understand), baby doll lost her hat.  Uh oh.  Briefly looked for it, 'friends' reassured us they'd call if they found it.  But I looked down at Gabriella, who so sadly said, "But baby's head is cold," and knew we had to search better.  Off we went, back to the room; the nurse was emmerging wtih it in hand.  Yay, she saved the day!  Now baby's head won't be cold...since it is 95 degrees out.  But that didn't matter; G's happiness did....and to her, Baby is real....and really cold. 

Thank God for my healthy, happy babies.  =)  We are blessed.

Today Talk

Just some random, fun stuff from today:

First of all, Gabriella had gymnastics today, and is getting so good!  She hung on the bar, brought her feet all the way up to the bar, w/ perfectly straight legs and stayed that way-by herself- for so long!  I couldn't believe it.  Geez, I need to try that.  Abs of steel, here I come!  (yeah right)

Kruz was fussing a bit in his pack n play, while G was eating.  I was in the kitchen, so she said (as if I couldn't hear him), "Mommy, go check him and see if he's okay."  Thanks, baby.  She's so sweet and caring (and occassionally bossy...ha!).  In the car today, she kept looking over and saying to him, "Hey, sweetie pie!"

I love a toddler's insight on things.  I've taught her that her eyes are green (well, depending on the day, and the shirt, hazel, but didn't feel like explaining that one).  So today, again in the car, she looks over at Kruz and says, "Mommy, my eyes are green.  Kruz's are brown...and white."  Wow, well I knew what she meant, but how do you explain that one?  I tried a little...something like, "Well, you're right, but we're looking at the colored circle, the iris...it's brown..." etc.  "So, his eyes are brown."  "No, Mommy, they are brown AND white."  What can I say?  "You're right, Baby.  They are."

I wrestle every day.  I wrestle Kruz into his diapers...and into his clothes...depending on his mood.  Sometimes he lays perfectly still and lets me change him.  Other times, oh-my-gosh.  I literally can't!  I mean, I know he's 6 months old, but he's crazy strong, and crazy squirmy...and flexible!  He just wants off, and down, and to be let go!  Today, I just couldn't do it.  I barely got the diaper on, but gave up on the clothes.  Gabriella said, "Kruz is just gonna be naked baby?" 

And here is a piece of today's conversation about a festival we went to a couple days ago.  Background: at the festival, there was a man dressed in a giant giraffe costume, waving and greeting kids, handing out necklaces, etc.  I though Gabriella would love him!  So, as I was waiting in line for something, my mom took her over to 'meet' him and get a necklace a few feet away (girl likes some jewelry).  She walked up to him, he looked down at her, offered a 'high five', she began shaking, and then...boom...TERRIFIED!  Shaking and crying like crazy.  What?!  haha, it was pitiful, but hard not to laugh.  She was really scared of him.  No necklace, nothing.  My mom picked her up and tried to soothe her.  We thrust her into a chair to get her face painted....the distraction worked.  However, she wouldn't let it go, and has talked about the "giraffe" ever since.  *So, tonight, RANDOMLY in the middle of dinner:  "I no like the giraffe.  I no play with him.  I no give him five.  I cried.  I hold Noni.  He was so big.  I no like his face.  He's gone now."  I mean, that was all like in one breath.  Poor baby, I hope she stops thinking of this giraffe...she's still torn up about it!

1/2 a Year!

Where has the time gone?  Kruz is 6 months old!  Here are some updates and thoughts:

* We go for his 6 mo. check up next week, so I'll post stats then.  I'm guessing 17-18 lb? I don't know though.  He just feels heavy to me!  I am struggle to tote he and his carseat around.  Once he's a little more 'advanced' at sitting up, I won't have this issue.  (Side story: Today, we put Kruz in the front of the shopping cart with Gabriella...they were so stinkin' cute!  She held onto him...such a protective, great big sis.  This set up may work for a bit...we'll see...)

* Kruz is pushing up on all fours for longer periods of time, and still rocking away, eager to 'go'!  He's rolling and scooting himself all over the place!  Very curious...and V-E-R-Y determined.  We'll call it 'passionate'.  Passion is a good thing. :)  When he sees something he wants (ie: the video monitor), you almost can't pry him away from the idea.  I do hope he continues to be ambitious and hard-working as he grows.

* He's finally enjoying more baby food.  He'll eat: sweet potatoes, bananas, green peas, carrots, peaches, and mangoes.  He'll tolerate apples and pears on a good day.  He feels the exact same about avacados as his Mommy: he literally GAGGED.  Although I'm slightly proud that this may be evidence of a 'gene' I passed down (?!), for health reasons, I do hope he begins to love it as much as Daddy & Sissy. 

* So, not as if you care, but for documentation purposes: He takes a bottle around 7-8 pm, then goes to bed.  He wakes around 4 or 5am for another bottle and goes right back to sleep.  He wakes again around 7-7:30 am for another bottle, followed by cereal & a little fruit, and then a (brief)nap shortly after.  Another bottle around 10-10:30 ish, then a little baby food for 'lunch'.  Possibly a brief nap, depending on the first.  Bottle around 1-2 pm, followed by typically the 'main' nap of the day.  Still not a huge deal, but possibly up to 2 hrs on a great day.  Fortunately this is the same time that Gabriella naps...little break for Mommy= yes, please!  Bottle around 5 pm ish, a short evening nap, and then cereal and veggie, followed by night time bottle.  Whew, he seems to eat a lot!  But...it's not as much as it seems-just often.  He's not eating large amounts at once, 3-7 oz in a bottle, often about 5.  Not eating huge amounts of food...maybe 1/2 a jar.  **If you are reading this, and have a baby of similar ages, what's working for you? 

*He is a super HAPPY baby, laughing, smiling, 'talking' (screaming) a lot.  He loves interaction, making faces, for Sissy to play with him.  He's crazy in love with his 'jumpy'...and so am I!  He's a strong little jumper!  He's lately been enjoying books...I am making a conscious effort to take the time to introduce him to books.  I did that a lot with Gabriella, and she LOVES books.  It's harder that he's the 2nd baby, but worth every effort in my mind. 

* I think I posted that he said "mama" a couple of times.  No update on that one. :)

* I think it's safe to say that Kruz is a sweet, loving, happy, good-natured little boy.  And he melts my heart!  Oooh, I love him!

Avoiding the Paparazzi

"Hmmm, I see you  have the camera, Mom, and would like to take my picture..."

"Here's what I think about that"

"Still trying?  I don't think so..."

"Fine.  Since I'm a sweet girl, I'll give ya a little smile.  Now, pay up!"

(Almost) Crawlin' Allstar

We have an ALMOST allstar crawler on our hands.  No crawling yet, but some serious hands and knees rocking!  He wants to 'go' so bad, he can hardly stand it.  But don't be fooled; just b/c he can't crawl does NOT mean he can't get around.  He used to play so nicely on this mat...now I can't keep him on it...he's everywhere! 

I just LOVE this face.  I mean, really, really love it.

Great legs for a boy, don't ya think?  hehe...

Can't catch me!

Milky Mess

Nights are fun at our house, as I'm sure many of you with babies understand!  It works out that on most nights, both Gabriella & Kruz have their 'milk' at the same time...and usually they both demand Mommy in their sleepy state.  Occasionally, Gabriella likes to help Kruz w/ his 'baba'.  On this particular night, Kruz thought he'd return the favor.  Kad and I were laughing so hard, we didn't care that we all ended up covered in milk.

G wore these same jammies... Kruz fills them out much more than she did at this age!

Wondering if we should take stock in Huggies?

I think his face is priceless here...

Haha!

Sitting Up & Reading? Oh, So Skilled.

Kruz is 5 1/2 months old here.  We're working on sitting up...and apparently, reading. ;)

I could just eat him up

Family Fun

It had been a while since my side of the family had gotten together, so we were all excited to hang out again.

SO much fun!

A Visit From Little Lucy

Some of our good friends, Jess & Billy, brought their sweet baby, Lucy, over to play while we enjoyed our favorite pizza from Johnny's!  Gabriella is 26 mo, Kruz is 5 1/2 mo, and Lucy is 7 mo here. 

Uh oh...

Um, one of my all time favorite pictures!  Ha!

Sweet Reading Buddies

I don't think it gets any sweeter than this...

Ahh...

Pickin' Blueberries (& Other Yummies)

How cool is it that my grandparents live in our neighborhood....and they have a little garden?!  Although they've been sending fresh produce our way all summer, they thought it would be good for Gabriella to pick some herself (agreed!).  So, one morning (before it was too tragically hot!), we set out...

Oooh, so ready for this adventure...

Pops showing G the way

He took time to explain the blueberry bushes to her, and how to pick only the ones that were ripe...

Careful observation...

Kruz wore his overalls (b/c, well, he was in the garden)...hanging out w/ Grammy

She had SO much fun doing this!

Yum!!

Learning where cucumbers come from too...

In the garden

They even have an apple tree!  But, it wasn't ready yet...

All that work has made Kruz a hungry boy!

Success!!

And, then we walked home...

It doesn't get any fresher, any healthier than that!