Itchy & Scratchy!

Crystal Blues!

Between cradle's cap and eczema, poor Ethan is one itchy and scratchy boy!! Cradle's cap is very common among newborns and it's basically just flaky, crusty skin on the scalp. Ethan will itch his head so hard he usually makes himself bleed. You can't really do anything for it except wash his head, comb his scalp, and try and loosen up the skin. The eczema started up a couple weeks ago and has really been bothering him. He's got it pretty much all over - legs, arms, back, tummy, etc. We've been using over-the-counter creme which I think has been helping. But, we mentioned it to our doctor and she gave us some prescription creme to help as well.

I love reading!

We thought Ethan had his first food allergy to green beans over this past weekend. I introduced them on Friday and by that night his face was all red and it wouldn't stop itching and rubbing his face. We thought it was just the eczema so we fed him green beans again Saturday and he had the same reaction. We called our doctor's office and the nurse on-call said it was okay to give him Benadryl. Our doctor said yesterday it could've been the green beans, but she thinks it was more just his overall irritation of being itchy...and the winter cold isn't helping! Like I mentioned, she gave us two different medication cremes to try so hopefully this will help calm him and he will stop clawing his little eyes out!

We had a weight check yesterday and Ethan now weighs 12 lbs. 15 oz - so up another pound from the last appointment! We introduced squash today and he seems to enjoy just as much as sweet potatoes. Next up, fruit purees!

Eric got Ethan to laugh for the first time on Saturday! We've been waiting and waiting for his little giggle to come out and it was the sweetest thing. We've only heard it one other time since, but I know he'll start hamming it up in no time!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Five Months Old!

Hi Family and Friends!

I love being five months old!

I'm five months old today! I'm getting so big and round - I know I say that every month, but I keep growing and growing! I've really turned a corner in my life lately. I want to tell you all about the milestones I've accomplished and what I like to do in my free time:

• If you didn't have a chance to see my last post, I roll over now!! Thinking back on it, it was such an exciting day. I was over at Papaw and Ginka's house and decided "today's the day"! Mommy was squealing with delight, cheering and clapping. Her and daddy still do that every time I roll over. 
• My other big milestone? Starting solid foods!! There's so much hype about babies starting solid food. But, for me? No.Big.Deal! I took sweet potatoes down like a champ! I like the sweet taste. Mommy says we will try green beans next.

• I thought I loved my hands before - the way they look, the way I can make them move, etc. But, now I really love my hands. So much I can't keep them out of my mouth!! I love to suck on my fingers - most of the time just two, but sometimes I get crazy and put my whole fist in my mouth.

• I sleep 11.5-12 hours every night without waking up. Mommy and daddy like this. I also take 2-3 naps a day.
• Now that I'm bigger, I can finally play in my jumperoo! It's such a fun activity center - all the colors, noises, and animals! And the best part is I can jump, jump, jump (with the help of a pillow underneath because I can't touch the floor yet)! I get so excited when I'm in the jumperoo! 

Being five months old is fun. I'm like a sponge - I love to take in everything around me. I'm surrounded by so many great people and fun toys. I can't wait to see what else I learn in the next month!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Stay warm!

Love,

Ethan =)

'Ol Blue Eyes

Happy Baby!

Getting so big!

First BIG Milestone!

We've got a roller on our hands!! Ethan rolled over for the first time on Sunday and it was SO EXCITING!! I knew he was getting close because during tummy time he would start to rock towards one side a little bit and I knew it was only a matter of time. We were out at my parents house and I put him on his tummy and he just rolled over like it was no big deal! He even showed off for daddy the next day and we got it on video! (just ignore how silly Eric and I sound on the video!) He's only rolled three times so we will keep practicing every day!

Ethan has been sleeping for over 12 hours straight every night for probably the last two weeks! We started giving him his last bottle earlier and bumped up his bedtime - he must be loving it! I learned this week through my sister-in-law that babies at this age can start to sleep for really long stretches right before they are about to master a new skill (i.e, rolling over, crawling, etc.) I just find that adorable - I can picture Ethan thinking sooo hard about rolling over in his mind and then all of a sudden one day, he does it! Must be exhausting!

It's been a pretty quiet week for us - couple play dates and errands! This weekend, cousin Jayden is spending the weekend with Papaw and Ginka so I'm sure we will get some good cousin time in! Not much else to report so I'll just leave you with pictures of my cute, adorable, handsome, snuggly little man!!!

Four Months Old!

Hi Family and Friends!

I turned four months old on Christmas Eve! I'm getting so big and cute (at least that's what everyone tells me)! It's really fun being four months old. I want to tell you about some of the exciting things I do now:

• I weigh 11 lbs. 14 oz and am 24" long!
• Drumroll please...I'm officially out of newborn diapers!! This is a big deal in my world! I wear size one diapers now and am loving all the extra room =) 
• I'm officially out of newborn clothes too. Mommy packed up all my newborn clothes last week - she said her heart was breaking. 
• Because I've gained so much weight, I'm down to five feedings a day. Recently, I got to drop my last feeding so I can go to bed earlier. Growing makes me tired! I now go to sleep at 9pm and don't wake up until 7-8am. Sometimes, I wake up around 6:30am, but I know it's still early for mommy so I lay quietly in my crib and talk to myself. 

• I love to wiggle down in my crib like an inchworm during the night. Mommy lays me down to sleep and in the mornings, I've wiggled all the way down to the bottom of the crib - so much that usually Mommy can only see the top of my head on the video monitor! It makes her laugh. 
• I'm in the early stages of holding my own bottle. Right now, I like to touch the sides and sometimes push it out of my mouth. But, then I realize I don't get any milk when I do that! 
• I'm getting really good at grasping and holding toys. I hang on to the rings that dangle from my swing, I grab the colorful rattle, and I like to play with my books whose pages make a crinkle noise.

• I'm starting to get really good at propping myself up on my tummy. I've always been pretty good at my head control, but now I've been working on strengthening my arms and doing a mini-pushup. I want to have to big muscles like daddy when I'm older =) 
• Nobody makes me smile like daddy. I love mommy so much, but after spending all day with her,  it's fun to see a new face and I get really excited when daddy comes home from work! 
• Mommy and daddy are trying to get me to laugh. They laugh and laugh and laugh to try and get me to mimic them, but I just think they look (and sound) silly! Right now, I smile and cough - which might be the first step in developing my laugh! I also love to stick my tongue out - especially at mommy when I'm happy.

 Doesn't it sound like fun being four months old? Mommy and daddy tell me I was the best thing that ever happened to them - we are so excited to spend 2013 together. So many fun things to look forward to! Happy New Year!