Reed is Eight Months Old!

December 11th creeped up on us - Reed is now eight months old!  It's been a big month for little Reed.  He's enjoying a new room in our new apartment (temporary while we look for our new home) and has developed all kinds of new tricks.  This month he's also had two consecutive ear infections and one cold after another, but you'd never know it from his demeanor.  Reed remains such a sweet, mellow baby.  Jeff and I feel so lucky!  Without further ado, here are all the things we want to remember about our buddy at eight months:

• Weighing at 20 lbs and measuring 28 inches long, Reed is in the 50th percentile for weight and 52nd for height.  Again, I think the percentile charts I reference have GOT to be wrong.  Just wait til you see his delicious rolls in the pics below!
• He still wears some 9-month clothes, but he's mostly in the 12-month sizes.
• Reed still takes five liquid feedings (breastmilk only) a day - 6:30 a.m. (nursing), 10 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. (nursing).  His three bottles at daycare are all 8 ounces, and I think he takes 8 ounces in the morning and about 3 - 4 ounces at night.
• Speaking of nursing, Reed went on strike toward the middle of the month.  I was terrified and thought that maybe he was self-weaning (even though this is really rare), but we weathered through! I think Reed was feeding off of my stress from the move and sale of our house, plus he was getting frustrated with a slower let-down at night.  He's nursing again and I'm very relieved.  Not ready to give up the sweetness of our nursing sessions yet!
• Although we got off to a rough start with solids, Reed is now eating like a champ!  He eats one small jar or half a large carton of food at daycare, and then a whole carton of yogurt and either 1/2 or a whole jar of food at dinner.  He also enjoys one or two Mum Mum crackers in the late afternoon, and some Gerber Puffs with dinner.
• Some of his favorite foods are yogurt, fruit (bananas, peaches, apples, pears), and hummus (which he tried for the first time at shul!)
• Early on this month, Reed began picking up the puffs on his own from his high chair tray and is now quite adept at getting them in his mouth.
• Reed LOVES "drinking" out of Mommy's water bottle.  I take a sip and he starts grinning and laughing before opening his mouth for me to pour some in.  Most of the time I put the cap on and then let him put his mouth on it to "drink", but more often now I'll let him take a sip and the water always surprises him!
• He continues to sleep through the night, from about 7 p.m. to 6:30 or 6:45 a.m.  He takes 1 -2 naps a day, usually from 8:45 - 9:50-ish, and then from 1:30 - 3 p.m.
• Reed loves to talk.  At the beginning of the month, his favorite sound was "ma ma", and now it's "da da."  While he often talks at full volume, we really love it when he starts talking almost under his breath.  It's hard to describe, but it's almost like a whisper.  So cute!
• He nearly always raises his arms up to be picked up.  He still loves to be held, which is heaven for his mommy!
• Reed loves giving us kisses and he recently discovered his cute twin in the mirror and likes giving him kisses too!
• While not his favorite game, Reed has gotten much better at peek-a-boo and every now and then enjoys a quick round or two.
• He is fascinated by Ari!  She catches his eye any time she walks by and he just wishes she would be more accommodating when he grabs at her fur.
• Reed's favorite toys continue to be musical ones - his monkey, Vtech music book, and a new piano courtesy of Jack Spiegel - but he also likes his baseball, bath toys, and Mommy and Daddy's remote control.
• Speaking of baths, we started bathing him in the "big" tub this month.  He loves it!  The floating toys are endlessly entertaining and he likes slashing as well.
• Reed also started pulling up this month!  While he can't get to a full stand, he pulled to his knees for the first time in the tub (and has since done so on his new piano toy too).
• While he's not crawling yet, Reed often rocks forward from a sitting position to the tops of his knees, then his tummy in his quest to reach something out of reach in front of him.  I still think it's possible he might skip crawling, but maybe not!
• Reed can stand for brief periods of time on his own while leaning on something, without support from us.  Of course, he can't get to a stand on his own, but if we help him get there and let him rest his hands on something, he can hang on his own for a bit.
• He loves being tickled under his neck and still thinks the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is hilarious.
• A few times this month, when I asked Reed, "Where's Daddy?", he turned and touched Jeff's arm!  Fluke?  Maybe.  But I think it's just an early sign of genius.  :)

Here are a few pictures and video of our favorite eight month-old!!

Look at my sign!

Still has those cheeks . . .

Happy boy

Goodness . . .

He knows that remote is off limits, but it kept him away from the eight month sign!

Loves his puffs!

Yummy!

Enjoying his big boy bath

Thanksgiving 2011

This is a little late, but we had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration with the Langs in New Jersey.  We had a much bigger table this year, with Reed, Rachael's boyfriend Alex, and Jeff's uncle Floyd and his wife Darcy.  So very much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving - a beautiful, healthy baby boy, amazing family members who see us as much as possible given the long distance, wonderful friends, the sale of our townhouse, and each other, of course. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day!

Playing with Auntie Rachael

Reed loves his Daddy!

Sweet boy

Reed admires Uncle Floyd's 'stache; Uncle Floyd admires Reed's cheeks

Lang men

Rachael and Alex

Reed and his Zaide

Reed and Aunt Darcy - just before Reed conked out on her!

Swings!

Standing on his own!

Changes . . .

You don't have to know me well to know that I'm not a gal who likes change.  I can and do eat the same meals for breakfast and lunch every day (and would do the same for dinner if Jeff would let me!); I've been working at the same job for over six years; I've been going to the same hairdresser since I was 15; I've been wearing the same eye makeup practically since I started wearing eye shadow; I can read the same books and watch the same movies and TV episodes over and over . . . you get the idea.  I like routine; I find stability there.  As I'm sure it does for a lot of people, change throws me off-kilter, not just in terms of what I do on a day-to-day basis, but on a deeply emotional level.

The last year has brought one of the biggest life changes out there into our family - our beautiful son, Reed Alexander.  While there have been a few rocky periods of adjustment, particularly the first month and a half before Reed slept for longer stretches of time, and when I went back to work three months ago, I've actually been surprised at how relatively unaffected I have felt by all of it.  Reed's arrival has certainly changed everything about the way Jeff and I live our lives, and we have had to adjust not only the way we socialize and prioritize, but also the way we interact with each other.  But I have not felt emotionally rocked in the way I thought possible, given the hugeness of having a baby.

Perhaps it was all just storing up for the last two days.  This morning we closed on our townhouse of 3 1/2 years, effectively ending that first chapter our married and family life.  Even as I type, I feel grief roll through me and tears stream down my face.  This morning as we did our final walk-through of the house with the new sellers, I stood for a long time in front of what was Reed's nursery, staring at the room in which I spent so many hours in the last 7+ months.  Despite its small size, I love everything about that room - its warm yellow walls, its nearness to the master bedroom (just 13 steps from my side of the bed to the crib), the closeness of the crib to the doorway (so I could see his sweet face from the door), the window overlooking the grassy common area of the complex.  Jeff and I put so much time and love into that one room.  I can't believe that I won't ever be in it again.

While I know the next chapter is going to be just as special - finding that forever home in which we will raise Reed (and hopefully other children as well) and host family gatherings, birthday parties, and sleepovers - I'm chafing at the change and uncomfortable with the in-between state we're in now, living in an apartment and not knowing for how long or when that perfect house is going to come on the market.  I never anticipated feeling this much grief at leaving 827 Ivy League Lane.  Some sadness, of course, but not the sense of loss and mourning I feel now.  I have to believe some of that is due to the fear and discomfort I feel with the huge change and transition taking place.

On top of the move, since last week Reed has been on a nursing strike, which started with just the bedtime feedings but has now extended to the morning feedings as well.  There could be a myriad of reasons - teething, his umpteenth cold, my stress from the move, a dip in my milk supply - but the idea of giving up nursing is putting me into more of a tailspin than the move!  I have LOVED nursing Reed.  He's been a fantastic nurser nearly from the start and it's been my unique joy to provide his nourishment.  I love the closeness of nursing him - something I realized even more in the last few days, when I've had to give him a bottle.  There is an intimacy in holding him close and stroking his soft little head and hair, with his hands wrapped around my fingers, that just isn't there when he's propped on my lap taking a bottle.

Here's the thing - rationally I know that Reed will not breastfeed forever.  And I've never wanted to breastfeed a toddler.  But I always thought that the decision to wean would be mine, not his, and I also thought it would be gradual.  From everything I've read and heard (thank you, Beth Steiner!), I've heard that nursing strikes are common and don't necessarily mean that Reed is done nursing.  I'm praying this is the case and that we're just going through a bad patch.  While I can prepare myself for the inevitable change coming down the road, when Reed no longer nurses, I'm not quite ready yet!  One huge change this week is enough for me.  So, fingers crossed that we can weather this nursing strike and get Reed back on track soon.

But what I need to remind myself of is this: change, while scary and uncomfortable, is not bad.  It's necessary and can bring new and exciting developments to our lives.  I can be sad at leaving our old house, but this change is going to bring us a bigger house that will allow us to grow as a family.  And I can mourn the fact that I may soon have to give up my precious nursing sessions with Reed, but I can delight in the fact that he's growing and developing his independence.  These changes may mean the end of one stage, but they mark the beginning of another.  Here's to new stages!

Reed is Seven Months Old!

October just flew by and before we knew it, our sweet Reed turned seven months old!  It astounds us how quickly he develops and we just love being witness to the emergence of this little person.  Although he's still an amazingly good-natured baby, Reed definitely has strong likes and dislikes (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree there!) and can be quite determined when he puts his mind to something (surprised?).  We're already so proud of him and can't wait to see more of his developing personality.

But for now, here are the things we want to remember about Reed Alexander at seven months:

• At around 19 pounds and 27 3/4 inches, Reed is really starting to level out in the percentiles.  He's now 53rd for weight and 64th for height.  Not that you'd know it from his chunky thighs and deliciously chubby cheeks - everyone we see comments on those cheeks!
• Speaking of the cheeks, nuzzling them is one of my very favorite things in the world.  They're unbelievably soft and just perfect for kissing!
• He's wearing 9- and 12-month clothing.
• Reed is still taking five liquid feedings (breastmilk only) a day - 6:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 6:45 p.m.  During the week, the middle three feedings are bottles at daycare and he takes a full 8 ounces at each.  I think he takes around 8 ounces in the morning and less than that, probably 5-6 ounces, at night.
• We've been trying solid food for about a month and a half now, but to our surprise, Reed really hasn't taken to it.  He liked it more when we first started, but now he often turns his head away or won't open his mouth.  We've been somewhat successful with yogurt, cheese, and the Gerber puffs that he can gum on, but he hasn't really liked a lot of the purees, including apple sauce and bananas.  
• We introduced the sippy cup this month.  Reed likes to suck on it, but hasn't quite mastered tilting it back and actually getting water out.
• He always takes two naps a day (one around 8:40 a.m. and the second around 11:30 a.m.), ranging in length from an hour to an hour and a half.  Sometimes he'll take a third, shorter nap, around 45 minutes, in the later afternoon, but that's becoming more rare.
• Reed's nighttime sleep habits have really been great this last month.  He goes down between 6:45 and 7:00 p.m. and wakes up around 6:30 and 6:45 a.m.  For the most part, the nighttime wake-ups have stopped.  Mostly because . . . 
• Reed is a pro at finding his paci and putting it in his mouth!  While he might put it in backward at first, he knows how to turn it around to get it right-side up, and can often find the paci in his crib on his own.  This has made a world of difference for Jeff and me - no more getting up in the night to put the paci back in!
• Reed's hand/eye coordination and dexterity have grown by leaps and bounds.  The pacifier is one example, but he's great at playing with his toys as well.  He reaches for things with one hand, transfers them from one hand to the other, reaches deliberately for objects (as opposed to grabbing willy-nilly), and bangs things together.  He can even sometimes put the balls in the holes of his favorite monkey toy. 
• Speaking of the monkey toy, it has helped him learn cause and effect.  He knows that when he hits a part of the toy, it will make noise or play a song.  He doesn't always hit the right part, but he knows that banging on it will produce sound.
• Reed can sit easily on his own now (although he can't get into a sitting position by himself yet), without leaning on his hands for support, and seems happiest when in that position or when being held or carried.
• His favorite toys are those that make music - his train, octopus, monkey, piano, and musical book.  He also still likes Sophie and his stacking cups.
• Reed absolutely recognizes his own name now and turns his head when you call him.
• When I pick Reed up at daycare, he grins like crazy and seems so happy to see me - makes my day!
• Guaranteed to make Reed laugh - or at least smile: Daddy's "sneezing" (see video below!), spinning around in Mommy's arms, and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (complete with hand motions).
• On his seven month birthday, Reed's Grammy taught him how to wave "hi".  He's best at close range and he's not always consistent, but he loves reaching out with his hand when you raise your hand up in greeting, especially if you grab his hand and cheer for him.  :)
• While he doesn't raise them high, he has started to raise his arms to be picked up.
• Reed loves to blow raspberries and will often spend several minutes at a time doing so.
• He's also a very proficient babbler!  He's extended his vocabulary to include ba, ra, la, ma, da, and ga, and he often strings them together.
• Reed is slowly starting to enjoy peek-a-boo.  He can pull off a cloth placed on his head, and sometimes even covers his own head and pulls it off.

These monthly lists seem to get longer and longer, but I just don't want to forget a single thing.  Here are some fun pics (and video) of our favorite seven-month old!

So silly!

Mommy's funny!

That paper is MINE!

Got it!

Game over - I win!

Reed loves hanging out on Daddy's shoulders

Little Fishy

Reed had his first swim class today - Bobblers I - and he loved it!  After a few minutes of "water adjustment" time, we walked down a ramp into a shallow-end pool and swam around for about 25 minutes.  Our class sang "Wheels on the Bus" (an old favorite of Reed's), practiced different water holds, and just enjoyed being in the water with our little ones.  Reed had a blast.  But he was quite the tuckered-out fella when he got home and crashed for an hour and a half nap.  Here's some video that Jeff captured of Reed enjoying the pool.

Screw You Guys - I'm Goin' Home!

In honor of one of the best TV characters of all time, we dressed Reed as Eric T. Cartman for his first Halloween.  With a red sweatshirt, brown pants, black socks, and cap and mittens custom made by Gram, we think Reed was the perfect Cartman.  And no fat suit or prosthetic makeup necessary for our little guy - those cheeks are all his!  As he told us himself, he's not fat - he's festively plump!

Reed is Six Months Old!

How has it already been six months?  There are days when it seems like yesterday that we were headed to the hospital, ready to bring Reed into the world.  Of course, there are also days when it feels like we've always had this third little person in our family.  But Reed is now half a year old and he's so much fun.  Friends have told us that this is a great age, and they're right!  Here are all of the things we want to remember about Reed at six months:

• He's starting to level out a bit, in terms of growth.  At 18 pounds, 12 ounces, and 27 1/2 inches long, he's in the 75th percentile for both height and weight.  
• He's wearing mostly 6-9 and 9-month clothes, with a few 12 month sizes thrown in, particularly in jeans.  We can't squeeze his chubby little thighs into slimmer cut jeans!
• Reed still takes five liquid feedings a day, just breastmilk, with two nursing sessions (one in the morning and one at night) and three 7-oz. bottles at daycare.
• This month we introduced Reed to solid foods!  It's been a bit of a mixed bag.  He liked the rice cereal at first, and loved sweet potatoes and carrots, but hated peas and bananas, and was lukewarm on peaches.
• Of course, he wants whatever Jeff and I have, both food-wise and everything else!  He's constantly reaching for everything - and anything he actually grabs hold of goes in his mouth!
• Reed is still a really good sleeper, and his nighttime sleep patterns haven't changed much.  He goes down for bed around 7 p.m. and sleeps until 6:30.  There's usually one 4 a.m. wake-up for the pacifier, and another one between 5:30 and 6:30, but we don't feel we have much room to complain.  Plus, he's getting closer and closer to being able to find that paci himself during the night.  We can't wait!
• He usually takes 2-3 naps a day, but we think the third nap might peter out soon.  His naps range from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, to 45 minutes.  
• Since he started rolling over last month, Reed nearly always sleeps on his tummy now.  
• Speaking of rolling, he can go both back to tummy AND tummy to back, and can roll in both the the right and left directions.
• He's doing a TON of talking!  Reed has definitely discovered his voice.  There's plenty of squealing and screeching (we try to discourage the screeching), and lots of babbling.  We heard "ba ba ba" for the first time this month, and there's a lot of "la" and "ra" in there too.  We think we heard a "da da" once, but not consistently yet.
• Reed is still a champ at daycare.  His providers, Sayeeda and Miss Indu, love him and are always telling me what a great baby he is.
• His favorite toys at home are his Sophie giraffe, the musical monkey from Great Aunt Karen, his blue musical octopus, and his Exersaucer.  
• Speaking of music, Reed loves it!  He's mesmerized by toys that play music, Daddy's whistling, and his Classical Baby DVDs (not as much for the images as for the sound).
• While he still needs to be watched closely, Reed can now sit on his own!  Most of the time he does the tri-pod sit, but he can sit unassisted as well, for several minutes at at time.  He can't yet get into the position on his own, but he's getting there!
• He still LOVES to stand up and often wants to be pulled to a standing position, as opposed to seated.
• Reed loves Trivasol - the vitamins we give him at bedtime.  He starts grinning the minute he sees the bottle and sucks on the dropper to get all the liquid out.  It's adorable.
• He'll turn to the sound of our voices nearly all the time, and often when we call his name.
• Reed is still a bit solemn with strangers and in new situations.  We think this thoughtfulness and need to take things in before reacting might just be part of his sweet emerging personality.
• My favorite part of this month - Reed now loves giving "kisses"!  He leans in toward us with his mouth open.  Best part of my day!

And here are a few pics of our amazing 6-month old.  Happy half-birthday, Reed!

Such a good sitter!

He loves Daddy's lap

Playtime with Grammy

Nap time with Grammy

Story time!

Tuckered Reed

Reed is Five Months Old!

September 11, 2011 - Of course, today is a day of sadness and remembrance for our entire nation, and our family is no exception.  As we ate dinner tonight, we watched one of the many television specials about 9/11 and we speculated about what would be the life-changing national and/or international events to affect Reed and his generation.  But for us, today was also a day for celebrating the continued growth and new milestones of our sweet Reed Alexander, who is now five months old!  It's been a HUGE month for our boy.  Here are the things we want to remember about Reed at five months:

•  He's still a big boy, but maybe not as big as previous months.  At nearly 18 pounds and 26 1/2 inches long, he is in the 72th percentile for weight and 67th percentile for height (according to an online children's growth percentile calculator).
• I'm slightly questioning the accuracy of said calculator, as he wears mostly 9 month clothes, with a few six month and 12 month sizes thrown in for good measure.  Plus, everyone who sees him comments on what a big boy he is!
• It took a couple of weeks, but we finally weaned Reed completely from the swaddle blanket this month.  We started with one arm out, then both arms, then his legs (with just his middle wrapped), and now he sleeps in a sleep sack at night, just for the extra warmth.  
• Reed started daycare this month and has transitioned beautifully!  His daycare providers love him, as do the other kids (especially a 4-year-old named Nate who always greets me with "Hi Reed's Mom!").  He's always in a good mood when I pick him up and it's clear that he's getting great stimulation during the day, as he's exhausted by the time we put him down at night.
• Speaking of sleep, Reed goes down around 7:30/7:45 p.m. and usually wakes up around 6:30 a.m.  He'll often wake up around 5 or 5:30 a.m. wanting his pacifier, but will usually go back down for another hour or hour and a half.  We've also had a few nights when he's woken up around 3 or 4 wanting the paci, but he usually either puts himself back to sleep, or falls back asleep once we give him the pacifier.
• His naps have definitely gotten a lot shorter.  He still naps three times a day, but they are usually shorter, ranging from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.  Sometimes daycare will get him to sleep for 2 hours at a stretch, but that's not the norm.  While we love hanging out with our fella, Jeff and I kind of miss the long naps he used to take!  It was time we could count on to get things done around the house or just take a breather.
• Once I started back at work, we changed Reed's feeding routine a little bit so that I could nurse Reed twice a day.  Jeff still gives Reed the morning bottle on weekends, but on weekdays I nurse him in the morning before he goes to daycare.  He then takes three 6 1/2 - 6 3/4 oz. bottles at daycare, and then nurses again before bedtime.
• While he's often more pensive and solemn among strangers, Reed loves to smile and laugh with Jeff and me.  He particularly loves it when Jeff tickes him, when I "eat" his hands and feet, and when Jeff and I dance for him.  
• He now loves touching our faces and also likes it when we bring our faces in close to his.  I often get the big open-mouth kisses, even though I don't think they're intentional on his end!
• While we can't feel any teeth yet, Reed's drooling has intensified, so we think that teething could be starting soon.
• After two weeks at daycare, Reed caught his first cold.  No fever or cough, or even fussiness, just a stuffy nose for about a week and a half.  We did take him to the doctor because of this weird wheezing sound he was making, but the doctor said his lungs checked out perfectly.  She said he probably started making the sound due to congestion, but then continued because it felt funny.  Isn't that lovely?   Five months old and he's already trying to fake his mother out!
• August 19 was a big day.  He found his feet AND started blowing raspberries!
• He loves putting anything and everything into his mouth.
• Last week Reed showed the first signs of being interested in solid food.  The day before Labor Day, he reached for my glass and wanted to put his mouth on it, and two days later he tried to eat my english muffin.
• He has now outgrown his infant carseat and this weekend we installed the convertible one.  Two days in and we're mourning the loss of being able to let him sleep in the carseat while we carried it around, but he just got too heavy for me to carry, plus his shoulders didn't fit in the straps anymore.
• Reed LOVES to stand up and is great at putting his full weight down.  
• He can sit unsupported for short periods of time.
• The big one, of course, is that he can now roll over!  On September 7, he rolled once, back to tummy, and the next day he did it again and again.  Now we just need him to master rolling tummy to back so that he doesn't continue to freak himself out when he winds up on his tummy in his crib at night.  

We feel so lucky - Reed is happy, healthy, and an incredibly good-natured little boy.  Happy five-month birthday, Reed!

Post-roll

Hangin' with Daddy

He's got the pout down!

Birthday!

BEST.  BIRTHDAY.  PRESENT.  EVER.

Yep, our boy can now roll over!  He rolled for the first time the night before my birthday, but when we got him home from daycare yesterday, he was a rolling machine.  Well, back to tummy, at least!  He hasn't figured out yet how to get from tummy to back, but hopefully that will come soon.  We're so proud of him!

Reed's latest milestone was, of course, the highlight, but my 31st birthday was fantastic for lots of other reasons too.  I received flowers at work from my wonderful in-laws, countless emails, phone calls, and Facebook messages from friends and family, and a wonderful steak dinner, cooked by my wonderful husband and shared with Maureen and Justin Turner.  Another special treat: Jeff snuck by daycare early and changed Reed into a onesie that read, "Happy Birthday Mommy".  Too cute!

My sweet boy in his "Happy Birthday" onesie, hand-crafted by Jeff!

Labor-Free Labor Day Weekend

The last weekend of summer was spent just as it should be - with friends!  We were a busy family this Labor Day.  On Saturday we headed out to the Simons' house in Tysons Corner for a BBQ to inaugurate their new deck.  Reed got lots of cuddles from Maureen Turner and Erin Willcher, as well as playtime with Eli Steiner.  But the highlight was watching Beth Steiner "swaddle" Ben Willcher, in answer to his question, "How do you swaddle a baby?  Could you swaddle me?"  Why, yes, Ben.  Yes, she can (see picture below!).

Reed has always loved snuggles with Maureen!

Erin holds Eli as he flaps

Yes, they're besties already.

And it all started in HESA . . .

Beth is a swaddling machine!

On Sunday we visited the Gorfinkels for brunch and Reed got some fun playtime with 1 1/2 year-old Nora Gorfinkel.

Nora REALLY wanted to give Reed his pacifier!

That evening we attended another BBQ at the home of Wendy and Noam Fischman, friends from Shaare Torah (but unfortunately, no pictures from that party).  Monday was rainy and icky out, but we headed over to Anne and Doug Mandeville's house for a playdate with their son, Zachary, who was born just five days before Reed.  It was a big day for Reed.  He sat on his own for the first time and grabbed for our drinking glass.  Looks like we'll have a solids-eating sitter before long!

With all our fun time with friends, we still managed to get in some downtime.  Reed enjoyed a couple of couch naps with Daddy and Mommy, and also worked it out in his new exersaucer.  He loves standing up!