Your Seventh Month - In Review

Hi Nugget,

All the fun of your 6th month melded right into the fun of your 7th month! We were still visiting your Grandma and Grandpa for a good portion of your 7th month. On the very first day of your 7th month, we were traveling to your Grandparent's second house. The houses are a few hours away from each other plus we were dropping Zippo and Burst off at their mom's house on the way. So we made a little side trip to visit our friends L and G and their girls. You had quite a bit of fun there and who won't. They are a fun family. You even got to eat a banana on her front porch and look at all her wind chimes.

Then we finished our drive up to your Grandparent's second house and you had quite a bit of fun on the family room carpet. Their other house didn't have carpet, so you were always on a red blanket. But in this house, you could roll and play on carpet. You seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

Grandma and Grandpa's second house has quite a bit of land, including an old apple orchard. Your dad and I took you for a walk around the land. You enjoyed looking at all the trees and tall grasses, things you don't normally get to see. Your dad, on the other hand, enjoyed putting you on top of posts. Don't worry, he never let go.

After spending a week out in the country / mountains, it was time to go back to Grandma and Grandpa's other house. My work headquarters are near there and I was going into the office for three days to meet with colleagues I don't normally get to see. That meant you and I were apart from each other for at least 8 hours for three days straight! It was not easy, at least for me, but your dad and Grandma said you had done well drinking from a bottle and eating food for them. As much as I enjoyed being in the office, I was so happy to be home each evening.

There were a few more days when Zippo and Burst were visiting. So we decided to do something as a family and go to a zoo in the area. There was a petting zoo which you enjoyed immensely. Also, the park had some rides for younger kids. You weren't that interested in the rides, but maybe in a year or so you will be. We had fun on them anyway. There was also an actual zoo, but by the time we got to that part of the park you were completely asleep. Catching your Zs comfortably in the stroller.

Before we left California, your cousins came over once more for a short visit. We were able to get some great photos of all the cousins together. And of course, we needed one more photo session with your grandparents!

3 Generations of Love

Then it was back to Minnesota where you could visit with your Nana and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa H. So many grandparents! A few days after we got back, we went out on the river again with Grandma and Grandpa H. This was a very different experience for you compared to your first trip to the river because now you could sit up on your own! Much easier to get sand in your mouth when you can sit and reach down for it. LOL!

There were a lot of little moments of fun through out this month too. And like usually, you rocked some pretty awesome outfits.

Don't grow up too fast, my lil' nugget.
Love,
Mama

All that fun just knocks you out...

... no matter where you  may find yourself.

Your Sixth Month - In Review

Hi Nugget,
Well your sixth month has come and gone! This review is quite late in the making, but in my defense we were on vacation for 28 days! But we'll get to that.

You had a lot of firsts this month. So let's just 'dive' right in. At the beginning of your sixth month, we went out on the river. Your very first boat ride, your first time playing with sand, your first time going in the river (for just a minute). See, lots of firsts! You were not so much a fan of the water, probably because it was kind of cold. But you enjoyed the sand and I was impressed with how well you tolerated the strangely bulky life jacket you had to wear!

The next weekend, my mom and I had a garage sale and you hung out with us all day! You smiled at all the people stopping by. I was worried people would think you were for sale, which of course you aren't!, so I wrote a sign that said "Baby Not for Sale" and taped it to your exersaucer.

Since we are on a role with all these 'firsts' let's keep going! Our town has a yearly festival that ends with a parade. Your brother Zippo was playing drums with the middle school marching band, so you went to your first parade. You liked looking at all the cars and people, but there were a few loud noises that quite surprised you and by the end of the day you were konked out!

Your cousin Z came for a visit right before we left for our vacation. You had a lot of fun meeting him. You love watching other kids and Z was a fun one to watch. He was just learning how to walk.

 
Then on June 28th, we started on our grand adventure! (The reason this review is so late!) We went all the way to California to meet your Grandparents (Mr. K's mom and dad). You went on your first plane ride and did quite well. You would get fussy from time to time, but we were sitting in the back near the bathroom and there was always a line to use that tiny thing. So that meant there were always new people for you to smile at. And 9 times out of 10, once you smiled at someone they would become so enamored with you that they'd sit there making faces and silly sounds at you until it was their turn. Which meant practically the entire plane entertained you!

We landed in Los Angeles and took a rental car to our hotel. Your dad was going to VidCon, so we had to go to LA first. Funny, last month I wrote about him going to a YouTube convention and here he is going to another one but to be fair VidCon is MUCH bigger. While you and I were hanging out alone in the hotel room, waiting for your dad to come back from having so much fun, you decided sitting was quite a bit of fun. And you started working hard on sitting on your own. I would prop you up on the bed with pillows around you and you'd sit rather wobbly for a few minutes before laying down and relaxing.

After VidCon, we drove quite a few hours north. We luckily had a friend to visit half way so you were able to get out of the car and roll around on her floor some. She had a great wooden toy you really enjoyed. Then after a very long day in the car, we end up at your Grandparent's house. They were so excited to finally meet you! There were lots of hugs all around. And it was nice to be back, since it's been 3 years since Mr. K. has been able to go home. We stayed with them for over 3 weeks. We wanted to give them the chance to get to know you and didn't want to try to cram it all in to one week. It was a good plan. You absolutely LOVED them. You loved hearing Grandpa talk and having him hold you and you loved playing with Grandma. While we were there, you perfected this whole 'sitting on my own' thing. It was amazing to watch. One day you were all wobbly and within a week you were sitting solid on your butt!

Another first that you experienced at Grandma and Grandpa's was your FIRST FOOD! That's right, you are no longer a boob baby only. We thought since we were in California, it was only appropriate that your first food be a California avocado. It was fun watching you figure out how to eat. It took you a few days but eventually you were figuring out how to swallow on purpose and a few days after that you were getting the hang of this chewing thing (or in your case, mostly 'gumming'). It also helped once we switched to banana. You seemed to like that much better!

It was a great month and I can't believe you are half a year old already. Truly, that just blows my mind.

Don't grow up too fast, my lil' nugget.
Love,
Mama

With so much activity this month, who can blame you both for catching some Zs.

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Your Fifth Month - In Review

Hi Nugget,
I can NOT believe you are 5 months old today. I can only imagine how floored I will be when you hit the 6 month mark. It is cliche, but it is true when mamas say they can't imagine what life was like before you came along. Because yep, that's me. I'm in that boat. It is 90 degrees right now and we don't have our AC set up yet. In fact, we only have one fan going. And yet here I am thinking about you sleeping in the other room and wanting to cuddle you more. My baby boy. Ok, enough gushy-gushy stuff. Let's get down to business. This month!

This is my beautiful baby boy.

You had a lot of fun this month. Mostly because you are just a happy little nugget. People are always commenting on what a happy boy you are. And you are. Your smiles brighten up the dreariest days. Mother's Day was this month and I had a great day. Zippo made me sticky buns for breakfast. Then I got to have some me time to make some homemade lotion. We went for a nice walk, Zippo, Mr. K, me and you. We even got to explore the mystery shop by the tracks that is only open for a few random hours here and there. Then we took care of my mom's cats and left her a little Mother's Day lotion and then we went PURSE SHOPPING! It was a great Mother's Day treat and I found the cutest purse ever that was large enough that I now use it for my everyday diaper bag! Then we went to Grandpa's house and he made us chicken on the grill - YUM! This is where it gets exciting for you, Nugget! When we were inside, hanging out on the living room floor, you 'scooted' for the first time. It was the Cutest.Thing.Ever! You would get up on your arms, chest way in the air, then dive down, push your face on the floor, push with your arms and scoot forward. We were all very excited by this!

Practicing those smiles!

We played it fairly low key for Memorial Day weekend. It was REALLY hot, so we went over to Nana's house and Zippo and Burst set up Nana's slip-n-slide while you partied in your own inflatable tub! You had a fun time being able to play in the water as long as you wanted and it was nice to cool off under Nana's gazebo. It was a great day with laughter and smiles floating through all the memories.

Things you learned this month... how to scoot. How to make an M sound, so now we get to here your baby babble start to sound like MA-MAs and MOM! How to stick out your tongue. How to make silly monotone sounds when you are in the car. How to rock a faux-hawk. How to handle two, count them TWO, teeth coming in! We could feel your tooth starting to come through on June 4th and you were kind of cranky, but not too bad. Then on June 7th, we could feel them out!

It was hard to get a picture where your awesome faux-hawk was visible.

At the beginning of June, we had a fun weekend out of town. We drove for two hours and then had lunch with our friends L, J, D and Ro. Ro loved hanging out with you! And his older sister, D, wanted to keep  you mighty entertained. We though we might have to dig you out of the toys she was piling up in front of you! Then we went over to Auntie J's to hang out with little M. and Iz, while Mr. K. went to a YouTube gathering. And you got a LOT of little M's hand-me-downs! Then the next day, we went to Iz' baptism and you were very well behaved during the service. And you would think that was enough fun for one weekend, but oh no... there's more. After Iz' baptism party, we went and hung out with Uncle J. We went over to Grand Ave. for Grand Ole Days and got ourselves some yummy Grand Ole Creamery ice cream, although you didn't get to have any on this trip. Maybe next year. Then we went home. What a weekend. And what a month!

L and Ro hanging out with us on the steps! It was like college but with babies. (LOL)

Ro trying to figure out how your cute little face works!

You can tell your friend Iz had a LONG day!

It has been a great month.

Don't grow up too fast, my lil' nugget.
Love,
Mama

You were very excited when a package arrived for you with a miniature version of Mr. K's hat!

Your Fourth Month - In Review

Hi Nugget,
This month was a fairly low key month, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun. And it sure doesn't mean you stopped learning! Last month you learned the "grab-toys-momentarily" trick. This month you have mastered the "extreme-grab-toys-jam-in-mouth-never-let-go" trick. I have to say, it is quite impressive. You have also learned how to make sound effects as you jam toys-hands-burp cloths-mama in your mouth. It goes like this: *throws head back*... *Screams "HAAAA-RUM!"*... *throws head forward and tries to jam whole arm (etc.) in mouth*... *while munching on arm "AHHr-uhRa-HA-rarara"*... *stops munching on arm, looks at mama and says "eeehHA!" at top of lungs*

MONKEY BUTT!

 This month was also the month of new toys! We got you a bouncy chair - for free I might add - that vibrates and has a bar you can hang toys on. You really dig it, especially the toy bar because you can actually reach the toys. We hang baby links on them or this toy that plays songs and has flashing lights when you hit the button.

Also, at our ECFE class you tried out an exersaucer and you really liked it. Then as I was wasting time on Facebook, I found one for sale for $10. We got it, but it was really dirty. I had to spend quite a bit of time cleaning it! But once it was ready, you got in and never looked back. You absolutely LOVE your exersaucer. When we lay you on the floor, you get bored really easily. But you love to hang out in your exersaucer for longer periods. It keeps you entertained because there are things to do, you get to be in a sitting or standing position and you can look all around the room and even rotate in 360 degrees! We let you hang out in your exersaucer during dinner. It is quite funny. You hear us talking at the table and want to chime in with your own conversation. So you start talking and talking from your exersaucer next to the table.

What do you  MEAN there's a speed limit!?

We did manage to do a few fun things this month. There was one really nice Saturday. We took you for a long walk. Got home and your dad set up the badminton net.  Then Burst and Mr. K. played badminton while you and I watched from a blanket. You had a lot of fun rolling around under the tree in our backyard, looking up at the branches, looking out at your dad and sister, cuddling with mama. It was such a good day.

Where we walking to, mama?

Burst playing badminton like a boss.

Hey mama, want my rattle?

Your Auntie M also came to visit you quite a few times this month. She'll be leaving for the summer so she is trying to soak up as much of your awesomeness as she can before she goes. You can't get enough of your Auntie M. She plays with you and beat boxes and gets so excited by everything you do.

Auntie M and Nugget

You also met your Greataunt J this month. Somehow Mama forgot to take a picture while she held you, but we went over there one day when Nana was helping her pack. We had to leave after a little while though because Nana wasn't very good at helping her pack while you were there. She just kept holding and holding you! Guess she likes you! Later that day we went out to eat because your Uncle B was in town. There were tons of people at dinner, me, you, Mr. K, Burst, Zippo, Nana, Grandpa K, Auntie M, Uncle B and M.L. (a family friend).

Nana and Nugget

You are making a lot of new friends in our ECFE class. Some of the older kids love to hang out with you and help you play with things. And there are a few boys that are right about your age. You love to just stare and take it all in. This month you have become a rolling machine! You don't seem too interested in learning how to crawl. You'd much rather just roll like crazy and get to where you are going. Sometimes you even take toys with you as you roll by clenching your legs around it! You are also a talking machine this month, and a part time squealer. You love to make your voice REALLY loud. And at the end of April, you figured out where your feet are! Now you are always grabbing those toes of yours. All the time. Even when mama is trying to change your diaper. It is quite inconvenient at times, but always adorable. Speaking of adorable, we noticed this month that you have the funniest sneeze we've ever heard. Your actual sneeze is pretty standard but your work up to the sneeze is hilarious. At the top of your lungs, you go "AAAAAAAAAAHHH-cho... cho... cho".

Why yes, I am so amazing that I CAN shoot fireworks out of my fingers.

It has been a great month.

Don't grow up too fast, my lil' nugget.
Love,
Mama