6 Month Check-Up

We saw Milo's doctor for his 6 month check-up today. There was good news all around! He smiled and charmed everyone with his personality, and he is very healthy. He's now 19 lbs. 1 oz. and 27 inches long. That puts him in the 75th percentile for height (the same since birth) and the 80th percentile for weight (a little more proportional now). He's going to start eating some meats for dinner, but everything else is going just as it should. I am so proud of my little guy.

Take your kid to work day

We all went to work with Lyman Sunday night. Donna doesn't get to see Lyman play too often, and neither do I lately. So when a gig by the ocean at an outdoor art fair came up it was just the event for us. Lyman sounded great, as always, and Milo had a great time. He was the best baby all evening smiling an charming everyone around him.

Bath Time

Oh boy does Milo love bath time! Look how much fun he's having.

6 Months

Milo turns 6 months today! He is cuter than ever; here he is fresh from the bath- one of his favorite places to play.
Laughing on the bed
We are so lucky to have an agreeable eater! He loves everything but peas (like his dad). Look at that morning hair!
Asleep... finally. One thing Milo doesn't always like is taking his naps opr going to bed at night. We imagine he doesn't want to miss the party. He doesn't realize, as Grandma Donna says, he is the party.
Playing with Daddy is always a good time.

Grandma Donna's Visit

We're all having a great time with Donna visiting. We didn't have any plans before she arrived, but we have been really busy. Tuesday we had some Hawaiian Barbeque (they had plate lunches; this haole Mom had chicken and french fries!) Wednesday we took some beautiful studio pictures of all of us together. Then on Thursday Grandma babysat while Lyman and I went to a movie- together! On Friday, I had to work but Lyman, Milo and Grandma we thinking of me. They went shopping for some very nice presents for my birthday. That night, Lyman and I went out on a date for dinner. It is so nice to have a loving Grandma here who doesn't mind watching Milo. I can't believe her visit is half over and I'm just now blogging about it. More to come later as we continue out visit.

Touch-Down

Grandma landed safely in L.A. this morning. We went to breakfast and she's currently having a snooze on the couch.

Milo's looking forward to her visit!

So Cute

Another Notch

Milo is so tall and strong I had to move up his saucer a notch. This is definately his favorite place to play in the house.

BiblioBaby

Oh, there is no end to the number of books a mom can read about how to raise a happy, healthy kid. Unfortunately, most of these books contradict each other and aren't always as interesting as a good novel. In the past year, I have found a few gems on the shelves (or Amazon.com).

Before Milo was born, I was smart enough to read The Happiest Baby on the Block which was recommended to me by two moms I admire. Thank God I read this before Milo was born, and thank God Milo loved all the strategies. He LOVED the 5 S's: sway, swaddle, suck, side and shhhhh.... ahhh, no more crying.

The Baby Whisperer author was also recommended to me by a mom I admire. I regret that I didn't read her book about infants before Milo was born; I read it when he was about 4 months. I don't think I would necessarily have done much differently with Milo as an infant, but I was pretty bleary eyed and sleep deprived when I finally went out to buy it. I had more energy to read about my infant when he was in the womb. She did give me great strategies on how to put my baby to bed awake rather then 5 S's to sleep. Now I am reading her book on toddlers. I find that you have to read this stuff before it happens. I had good success reading about my infant before he was born, and I'm happy I'm reading about toddlers now before he's toddling. This last book was also recommended by another Mom I admire. I like that it discusses sleep through childhood- a grow with me book! Again, more practical strategies and some real information you can use.

I've learned to read a few things (not everything- that was a crazy time in my pregnancy) ahead of time. That way you can pick whichever philosophy gells with you and you're ready when your kid is at that stage. So, comment away moms and dads. What other books do you recommend?

What'll I do...

...without all my boys? I'm back to work this week, but just for three days. Thankfully, I'll have the next week and a half off before going back full time with the next school year. I'm going to miss my guys so much. boohoo.

Happy Birthday Maddie

Milo and I spent last evening with our best LA friends to celebrate Maddie's 4th birthday. Milo was also reunited with his friend Emmet, Maddie's cousin, who was born just 3 days after him. There were a lot of smiles from these boys, but not when we had them together and posed- typical. Even without big gummy smiles, these baby boys are the cutest around.


Maddie's mom and dad went all out for her big day! Here is the beautiful cake Jenny made from scratch. It tasted as good as it looked.

What a difference 4 months makes

Look at my tiny Milo when he was just one month old. He was just a sweet little blob wearing old man pants, staring at his mobile, waking up to eat every 2 and a half hours and amazing me with how much he grew and learned every day. Now look at him 5 months old- sitting up, eating solid food, laughing, playing, rolling and sleeping all night. "They grow up too fast." It's a kind of obnoxious refrain we hear from strangers everywhere that used to make me crazy when I was pregnant. Now I get it. They all miss their tiny babies.

23 Weeks Old

Events

Milo has been sitting so well lately! He can sit and reach for his toys for several minutes before tipping over.
This week, we had a playdate at our house. My car was in the shop, so my friends we kind enough to come to me. While she was here, Maddie played puppy. Here she is "sleeping" in Murphy's crate. Later that night, I called and called for Murphy when I went to bed, but he didn't come for hours. The next morning, Lyman found the reason why. Maddie left toys and her treats in his crate. I can't believe he didn't eat them all, but there were a lot left. Maybe he was just guarding them or punishing me for disrupting the relative quiet of his home for the afternoon. Poor Murphy; no one asked him if he wanted a baby. Milo LOVES him. He watches him all day and tries to get his hands on him as much as possible. Murphy is tolerant but not excited about the attention.

Mommy's Day Out

Yesterday, I left my boys at home for some Mommy time. I was able to do 4 errands in under an hour getting in and out of the car quickly without the baby and all his stuff. While I was out, I checked out the new film Becoming Jane. As most of you know, I'm not a very harsh critic of movies generally liking most of what I see. This movie was no exception. I liked sitting in the dark for two hours with a tub of popcorn and a bag of chocolate watching a period film in beautiful costume (I don't think enough of these are made). This film is pretty good as far as biopics go. It was fun to watch and see the characters in her life obviously influence the characters she would later write. However, if you have not read her novels or at least watched the gorgeous film versions of Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Pride and Prejudice (both fantastic versions), don't see this film. The male lead is at times Mr. Darcy and Mr. Willoughby, but if you don't know those characters it won't be as much fun for you- best to read her novels which never disappoint.

What's for dinner?

We broke out the high chair today. Milo is eating so well! He loves his rice cereal/applesauce combo and now he eats bananas too. Yum.

So much drool

Look at this wet face! I keep feeling for teeth, but there is nothing yet.

Goodbye Hawaii

We spent our last day in Kona at the beach with Grandpa Lyman and Auntie Leesa who was getting around better on her toe. What a wonderful and relaxing vactation! I am sure it won't take me seven more years to return. It's always nice to come home, especially to our Murphy, but we miss all the beauty and love in Hawaii.