Solids!

I did a lot of research when it came time to start feeding John Thomas solids, and decided not to do baby food purees.  Instead, we are using an approach called Baby Led Weaning.  In no way am I really "weaning" him from breast milk, but instead introducing foods that we already eat in addition to his main source of nutrition.  Basically, we give him small amounts of the foods we are already eating.  I prepare his food without any salt or sugar, and steam it to a consistency that is easy for him to chew.  So far, it has been great!  I am so encouraged knowing his food is prepared fresh, without preservatives and he is getting to experience all kinds of flavors and textures from the beginning!

So far he has had:

• avocado
• banana
• peaches
• green beans
• broccoli
• tomato
• sweet potato
• cantaloupe
• watermelon
• squash
• peas
• plums
• pears
• carrots
• rice
• potato
• grilled chicken

I can honestly say, he has loved everything we have given him!  I feel like this is, in part, due to the fact that he can explore at his own speed and gets to choose the amount and type of food he eats.  There is no stress during meal time with us trying to spoon feed him so we can eat our meal, we just place his food on his tray and we all eat together.  For now, he eats two meals a day after his milk feedings at breakfast and dinner. We are soaking up each minute as he becomes more and more independent!

1/2 Birthday!

WOW! 6 months has flown by!!  There are no words to adequately describe the enormous amount of pride we have in our little boy!  Things are changing SO fast and I can barely keep up with all the new and exciting things he does each day!

John Thomas,


You are 1/2 a year old!  Changing each day and becoming more and more independent!  Your little, or I should say big, personality is shining through stronger than ever before.  I pray that we are encouraging you to be all that God wants you to be.  He has big things in store for you sweet baby boy!  We love you!

 Here are some of the things you have been doing this month:

• You have found your thumb/fist and like to suck on them!  We quickly move them each time we catch you!
• You have started to roll everywhere!  From your back to your stomach and back again! (first time 7/16/12)
• Expressions, oh the many expressions of John Thomas!  You have a fish face, a scrunchy face, and have started to blow raspberries, and spit! You think it is funny, but I think it may start to get old soon ;)
• We bought you a tool bench that lights up and plays music and if we put you beside it you pull it on top of you to play with!  Toys are becoming much more interesting to you! Especially anything that makes noise.  
• You can sit up for short periods of time
• We gave you oatmeal and you like it much better than rice cereal.  You even try to grab the spoon and feed yourself! (7/8/12)
• You are still loving to grab your feet and we find you chewing on them sometimes!
• You have started to reach out for us to pick you up, it  melts my heart every, single time!
• We love to hear you laugh, you have the best cackle!

You are still in size 3 diapers, and do not fit in any clothes that are not at least 6-12 months! 

You had your 6 month checkup with Dr. Pascoe and she gave you a great report!  She was impressed by how well you sit up and how strong you are.  She said what a great disposition you have, which was a compliment considering it was right during nap time!  You got two shots, only cried after one of them and never got fussy or ran a fever at all!

6 month Stats:

Weight - 17 lbs 10 oz

Height - 26.5"

The biggest news is that you are FINALLY sleeping through the night! We started letting you cry it out again for short periods of time.  The first night we let you cry for 8 minutes, the second night, 10, and the last night 12 minutes.  I say the last night, because it only took 3 nights and you began sleeping until 6:30 or 7:00!  Since 7/16/12 there have only been 2 nights that you have woken before 6:00!

Your schedule is the same, but you have started to go to bed earlier again: 

Wake up between 6 and 7:30, you usually eat as soon as you get up!
7:30 oatmeal
  8:00-9:00 play while mommy gets ready for work and eats breakfast
9:00-10:30 nap
10:30 eat
11:00-12:30 play, read books, swing
12:30-1:30 nap
1:30 eat
2:00-3:30 ish playtime
4:00-30 ish eat
4:30-6:00 wait for Daddy to get home to play
6:00 - eat
6:30 oatmeal
7:30 - bathtime
8:15-8:30 - nurse and bed

We love you, big boy!