Slacking Majorly...

I have to admit, I've been a slacker... A major slacker! I haven't blogged like I've promised to do to keep everyone in formed... Nor have I uploaded any pictures... I've made a few mid-year resolutions for myself.. Every weekend, I am going to upload pictures (or unload them off my new camera, which was my Mama's Day gift!!!) and write a blog every 2 weeks instead of once every 4 or 5 weeks. In addition to those tasks, I also have some personal goals I want to achieve: thanks to the nice weather for motivation, I would like to take either a morning walk or an evening walk every day with CJ. I've been getting headaches like I did back in the day and I'm wondering if it's stress and being tired, sleeping wrong, neck/back issues or actually some spinal fluid problems again. I head to the neuro-opthamologist in June to get some tests done again, just to double check the optic nerves... Only problem with this doctor (he is GREAT though), he uses prescriptions to "heal" you. Since I'm breastfeeding CJ still, that is not an option for me... Hopefully, he'll have some non-medicinal solutions if I do have some swelling and CSF issues.

Anyways, enough about me, now for the little monkey man! SO much news. Physical Therapy with Eleanor is great. We've only had to see her for the initial evaluation, and then another appointment 4 weeks after that in May. His head tilt is due to stronger neck and back muscles on the right side as compared to his left, which may just be due to his position in the my belly that harbored itself and now just started to show itself. It seems to be disappearing more and more as his left neck and back muscles, in general, are getting much stronger! He loves to spend time in his two exersaucer's and limited time in his doorway jumper and Galloping Fun Jumperoo's! Tummy time is very fun as CJ is trying very hard to move and squirm around. He can easily spin around on his back and belly now. He still only rolls to his right but can roll onto his back (when he feels like it). He has to develop more strength in his left side (neck and back muscles). He can get up onto his knees with no problem and push up on his arms! He doesn't know how (and isn't quite strong enough, yet) to put the two together. He just can't get his little chubby belly off the ground!! Hehe! CJ likes to lay over my legs and be on all fours, and usually he pushes up on his feet... Silly boy!!

An even better part of CJ's development is his voice........ I say that with a bit of reservation because he has learned to yell and screech!! Especially when he doesn't like if you take a toy away or leave the room for any reason. He also has learned to fake cough to get my attention if I don't jump to him immediately during a screaming fest... Smart little boy, huh? (Speaking of which, apparently his exersaucer isn't fun enough, he just had a screaming-fest and is now laying on my nap nursing as I finish typing this!) He's also trying to sit up. He can hold himself on his arm's for a bit, but usually ends up falling to one side or the other. A few more weeks, and I think we'll have lift off!

After his 4 month check up, we got the go-ahead to start cereal and solids... I tried rice cereal and oatmeal cereal. He didn't like either one. I mixed it with breastmilk, formula and goat's milk. We tried to feed him before I nursed, after a nursed, in the middle of nursing and he still wanted nothing to do with it!! My theory was he just didn't like it one bit! After a whole month's frustration, a couple days before he turned 5 months old , I decided to just go with some veggies, and sure enough, he enjoyed them. We've gotten through squash, sweet potatoes, avocado (his favorite) and peas! He's like all of them, too!! Today I went to Babies R Us and bough four cases of Earth's Best baby food: First Fruits, Fruit Mix, Veggie Mix, and Fruit and Grain Mix. Since CJ doesn't eat solids but once a day, I'm going to start with Fruits in the mornings now. And hopefully, he'll eat some cereal mixed with fruit for breakfast. I've avoided the Stage 1 foods. I noticed the only difference was the amount in the container. I've saved money with buying Stage 2's and just using 1/2 a container at a feeding... Woohoo!!

About a week and a half ago, I took CJ to see Dr. Katz because he was pulling on his ear. Basically, he just found another body part... Yay!! The nurse weighed him and at 5 months he weighed 17lbs, 6 oz!!! Apparently, I still have a chunky monkey man on my hands! He's very healthy though, so weight is not an issue for me.

CJ is doing so well, and I'm so proud of his growth and development. He's a precious little boy and I can't imagine my life without him!! Until next time, be well!