Harrison- Week 40

Harry was so content to crawl everywhere, and really didn't feel like standing and walking, even holding our hands. So, when I saw a walker at a Once Upon a Child, I bought it. I thought he would probably like the mobility, but had NO idea how much he would really like it. We have rolled up the rug in our dining room indefinitely, and he has begun to reject his excersaucer in lust for his walker! As with all things in our house, it has been renamed the Tot-Rod (by dad, of course). Both Bryan and I love that when he backs the Tot-Rod up, he hangs his elbow over the back like he is taking a tractor in reverse...so cute!!

We are finally healthy again!! Although, we are not quite up to eating as much as before. We got a clean bill of health at the doctor, and had his actual 9-month appointment. His stats were:

23.9 lbs.
29 inches tall

I found it interesting that he had only gained a pound since his 6 month appointment. I am not sure if I even put his stats up from that appointment, but now you know! I think it is a combo of new foods, more activity and being sick!

This week Harrison has started to test out standing on his own. He will not do it when he 'knows' that he is doing it, but when he wants something, you can get him to just stand there without holding onto anything to try and get at it. Once he realizes that he is balancing, it is like he has shown you some big secret and he slowly lowers himself to the ground and kinda gives you a look like, "you tricked me!" As always, he continues to get into a lot of things that he is not supposed to, but we enjoy the baby proof as you go mentality, or we would live in a padded, empty, room!




Playing in his room.

Picking out his next meal...YUM!


Little piggies :)



The Tot-Rod



Trying Cheerio-dusted bananas for the first time.

39 Weeks...and sick AGAIN?!!

Well, this week has been another challenging one. Our little man just can't seem to get better. He was starting to show some of the same symptoms as his first bought with Pneumonia, but no fever (and he was still happy). By day two of this, Bryan stayed home and brought him to redi-care at our pediatrician. He did not get in to see his doctor (who knows that no matter how sick he is, he will still laugh at you) and the doctor he saw said, "no fever, no ear infection, lungs sound good and he is happy."
The weekend continued to get worse...Harry threw up anything he ate, and spent hours at night flailing in our arms crying. On Monday, extremely frustrated, I called to get him in again. I was sure that there was something on our file about coming in when nothing was wrong, but once I mentioned that he has not had a wet diaper in over 12 hours, there is an appointment available at 8:30 am with his actual doctor. Prognosis...Pneumonia again, a Bronchial Infection and a right Ear Infection. No wonder he was not eating, but don't be fooled, he was still smiling at the doctor. He was given an antibiotic shot, put on Prednisone, Amoxicilin and a nebulizer with Albuterol.
Within a few hours, he was crawling around and playing (this bought did not seem to take him out as hard). So, there are still quite a few pictures from the week! However, he did not start eating sold foods for over a week.

The goods to make our little man healthy again.

The penguin humidifier is getting in over time.

And, we are sanitizing/cleaning like crazy!!



Harry has done well with the nebulizer. As long as we put Yo Gabba Gabba on TV, we can usually get in a solid 10 minutes.

With grandma Gayle in the Valentine's day bib that Julie sent.

Working on tooth number 5 (on the top to the left of his big teeth). So, chewing is a favorite past time this week.
"But mom, Rosie gets to play with it!"


Harrison tried to pull my shoes through his gate after I got home from Zumba.

Staying hydrated with Dad. Luckily, Harrison was willing to drink when he would not eat solid foods.

So Happy!!!

Harrison BABY LOVE!!! Happy 9 Months (and Valentine's Day)!

Harry,

You are nine months old today! You are getting such an amazing personality-excited and happy, but you are very sure of what you want!! We can take you most places and you are almost always content. Your dad and I joke that you are truly on your best behavior when in public, or visiting with people (saving your fussiness for at home which we are thankful for).

This month you have started to stand up and reach for us when we come in to get you from your crib in the morning. You have a huge smile!! You get up to eat around 5, then take a little cat nap before you really wake up around 6:00-6:30. During the week, I get ready for work and it is just the boys hanging out, and I think you like that.

Speaking of your 5 am feeding, we have been struggling with what to do, as far as your sleeping habits are concerned. You are happy to fall asleep on your own. However, you still wake up, and legitimately need/want to eat! Some people say make you "cry it out", some say "if it is only to eat, let him do it." Well, we say...who knows!! We have tried let you cry it out, and you do NOT give up, but are we making you a milk drinking monster by getting up with you for 10 minutes at 1 or 2 am? We all sleep better, then. Maybe by the time I write your next letter (on your first BIRTHDAY- holy cow!) we will have it all figured out!

You have most definitely changed most in the area of MOVEMENT!! This month you have perfected your crawl. You have the normal speed, when you just want to get something that is 'alright'. Then, you have your super fast crawl. You usually use this crawl to get to a dog toy, or her food/water bowls. We can usually catch you when you are going towards something you should not have because you somewhat announce that you are on your way by screaming as you crawl :) You also like to use this crawl to get to the dog, Rosie Mae. She has been so patient with you, and you are working on being more gentle with her. Lately, you have started to use your fast crawl to get to your dad or I, which just makes us melt!

You are such a good little eater (especially now that you feel better). You eat 3 solid meals per day (especially with your 5 teeth, your three top teeth came in last month). You have been working hard to feed yourself, and you are getting so good at it. You will eat pretty much anything we give you, with the exception of apricots. We are going to start trying more finger foods this month, since you are VERY anxious to gain more independence! Currently, your are a big fan of Puffs, cheerios, blueberry or banana yogurt, or anything with pears.

I predict that by next time I write, you will be waving hello and good bye (reliably) and starting to talk with real words. I am not sure if you will be will be walking, since you are so content to crawl everywhere. One thing I do know, you will continue to amaze us in every way!

We love you very much,

Mom (and Dad, too).

Harrison- Week 38

This week has been a COLD one in Minnesota.
We barely made into positive numbers the beginning of the week, and the rest of the week has been barely climbing to the low teens. Consequently, we have been hunkered down at home.

Harrison has enjoyed playing with a few new toys this week. I took out his crawling tunnel and a couple other toys from a stash for when he was a little older. He will probably like these toys better come summer, but we needed something to give a little stimulation to our little man stuck inside. I took Harrison to Target on Thursday this week, and I bundled him up and carried him in outside of his car seat to sit in the front of the cart like a big boy. It was so funny because he acted like I had brought him to the most amazing amusement park for babies in the entire world. I can tell we are all getting a little sitr crazy when an hour at Target makes us both giddy!

We think that Harrison is starting to understand the idea of waving hello (or it has happened a few times that waving and the word one of us saying "hi" are together)!! I walked in to the house one day this past week and he was sitting on his scooter (which he just sits on, then gracefully falls off of) and he lifted one hand of the handle and started waving it when I said "Hi". I am not sure if it was a fluke ore not, but he has done it a couple times since. So, I choose to believe that it was the 'real' thing.

We had Harrison's 9 month pictures taken this past weekend by Aleah at Created By Me Photography. They are going to be AMAZING!!! He looks like such a big boy in the few that we have seen. I posted a couple below for you to get a sneak peak.



A few photos from his 9 month pictures.


I swear that Harrison was waving at me when I came home today. It could have just been that he was excited, but still had to hold on to his scooter.


This is the tunnel that we brought out. I think that it will be a much bigger hit in a few months, but Harrison thought that it was fantastic that Rosie would go through the tunnel, too.

Partially bundled up for our adventure.
Playing in the kitchen with mom and some of the "new" toys.


First, pulling my shirt off the chair was fun. That is until I got the camera out. Now, it is his mission to crawl after me and try to get the camera neck strap...


Trying the new baby food. Verdict- so much less messy and so yummy!!!

A video from the new camera Grandma and Grandpa bought us! Now we can give them their flip
camera back!!

Harrison- Week 37

Things in the Gregory house are much calmer this week. Harrison has settled back into somewhat of a routine, and a much happier camper. The highlight of the week was the first annual Father-Son Groundhog's Day hang out fest! Bryan took work off on Wednesday, Groundhog's Day, for some time with Harrison. I can see them making an annual event of the day.

This past weekend was packed full! On Saturday miss Mary (and Aunt Jill) and cousin Jeremiah came to visit before the Car Club party that evening. The annual Car Club party is a great time, but it was so different to be there with an 8 month old. I feel like I did not get to talk to, or see, everyone that I had hoped to. Welcome to parenting!
On Sunday, we walked for a few hours at Ikea and the Mall of America (just to get out of the house, but stay out of the cold). As usual, Harrison was a trooper for all of our weekend adventures.

Last week, we started ECFE classes in the school district that we live in. It is so much different then the early mommy and me classes, where the babies just slept or stayed put for the entire class. This is a class full of movers and shakers (6-11 month olds) with lots if new and interesting things to explore! Bryan and I are both attending classes, so it is something fun for us to do as a family during the chilly winter months. The only challenging part of this is the time of the class, from 6:15-7:45. Harrison is barely done eating and then we stay past his bed time. He has been O.K. at class, but does get needy at about 7:15ish and wants nothing to do with the helpers in the room. Consequently, he gets to hang with us during 'parent time'. I am hoping (as I think Bryan is, too) that he gets more comfortable in his surroundings there and enjoys his time...even if he is a little tired.

Harrison started to become REALLY vocal this week. It almost seems like he is screaming (OK, he is screaming, but I don't think that he means to). He has really started to enjoy eating again. Which sounds like a pretty basic thing, but he had perfected the act of refusing food over the past couple weeks. We are happy to get our generally cheerful boy back, and now realize how crummy he really has been feeling. We are praying for a healthier late winter/early spring!

Playing!!


Sticking out his tounge...new favorite thing.

Tugging on strings (even if they are attached to mom) another favorite thing.

The toys have taken over!!


While I was cleaning one day, I needed a little boy who would stay put in a safe area for about 20 minutes. So, Harrison made funny faces at me through the side of his Pack and Play.




The progression of crawling...in 4 pictures.

Harry has really started to like playing with the Bongo drums.

Harrison- Week 36...and SICK!

Harrison is MIA this week.

This week started with Harrison spiking a 103.7 fever at midnight on Saturday morning. I called the nurse line, and they told us to wait until morning (especially since I had Strep the week before). The fever topped out at 104.1 right before the doctor opened in the morning. We got the "all clear" when just looking/listening to him, but the Strep test came back negative. So, after blood work and chest x-rays, we found out that Harrison actually had Pneumonia!! He had been fighting a cough for a while, but had been to the doctor the end of December and nothing then. So, we spent the weekend snuggled up and not sleeping much.

During the week, Grandma came to be with Harrison on Monday. He was getting back to his normal self...but wanted to snuggle a lot. By Tuesday, I was sick again!! So, I was home with Harry on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bryan was such a big help, even getting up for most of the night shifts with Harrison so I could get some sleep. Plus, Harrison HATED the smell of the Vapor Rub that I had on.

Luckily, Harrison was eating more, and sleeping better by Thursday, just in time for the weekend! Not much more to post...that made for a busy enough week!! Needless to say, there were not many pictures from this week, either.

Looking pretty pathetic.