Five on Friday

TGIF!

 Here's a bit of a recap of our last two weeks...

::: 1 :::

The best thing that happened this week was the arrival of my new cousiniece Carter. She's absolutely beautiful and perfect, and will be Leo's sweetest best friend ever. 

::: 2 :::

We started swim lessons and it is just about the cutest thing ever. We are doing our lessons in the valley with another one of my cousins (opposite side of the family as above cousin) and his son Nolan. The class is 30 minutes, and Leo loved every minute that we were in the pool. The class seems to focus on getting the kids comfortable in the water, learning how to go under water, kicking and paddling.

Getting out of the pool is kind of a cluster though, I won't lie. I learned a pro-tip from a mom there though, so I'm excited to try it today. Her advice was to take off his suit in the pool right as you are about to get out. Trying to take off the wet suit, while drying both you and the baby off, getting both of you dressed, the whole nine yards was a little stressful. Plus, he was like instantly starving so that added a fun layer of screaming!

::: 3 :::

We've been hitting up a lot of happy hours lately, and I have to give a little shout out to this high chair. It's by Phil & Teds and its totally collapsible. It's a perfect spot for Leo because he's at our eye level, but doesn't have an awkward high chair taking up space in a tight restaurant. The only issue is not all tables are compliant, so there have been a few times when he's had to chill on our laps for dinner.

::: 4 ::: 

Speaking of baby products, we had to stick a breathable bumper in Leo's crib. Overnight, the slats on Leo's crib because the coolest toy everrrrr and he kept getting all of his limbs stuck. After 3 nights of waking up around 2am to pull his leg or arm out of it, we finally bought and installed this bumper. 

It's kind of a pain to put on, but its been really nice not have to worry about broken bones.

::: 5 :::

 

I'm leaving these three boys next week for the first time and I'm equal parts terrified of the heartbreak and thrilled to sleep in and be free as a bird. 

I know they'll all do great, and that its good for everyone, but it'll be weird at first. 

And yes, the Mexico sun, a cold margarita, and two of my best girlfriends will ease the blow.

Chicago ::: Week 2

Joel left on Monday so that he could go back to work, and left Leo and I in Chicago for another week and a half. I miss Chicago so much while we are in Chicago, but I will say....I don't miss snow in April!

 

The nice part of being able to stay back in Chicago during the work week, is that, we got to just "do life". A lot of times when we go home, its such a whirlwind, but this time around, we were better about staying home more often and staying close to Leo's schedule.

Most mornings, before my dad and Nellie had to leave for work, we would all snuggle in bed and just pass Leo around.

Sometimes I would drive Nellie to the train station, and let my parents get some sweet morning time with just Leo.

During the days, my mom and I took Leo on a few errands, took him out shopping, and started to prep for a wedding shower we were hosting for that Friday. My sister Hannah took off two days from work and hung with us at my parents house too which was awesome.

My cousin Gia/Leo's Aunt Gigi, spent every free second she could with Leo, so after school, she would hang with us too.

  

During that week, we had a lot of happy hour visitors - which was the perfect time to have a glass of wine with friends, before Leo took his bath and went up to bed.

 

I always tried to save bath time for when Nellie got home from the train so that she could get some time with Leo too. 

 

Friday night came around, and my mom, sisters and I headed into the city to throw a shower for my cousin Alex who is getting married this summer.

My dad was literally beside himself to babysit Leo for the entire night, and the two boys had a great time. He told me the next day that he was getting really into being a "Grandfather" and fell asleep with the monitor on the highest noise level so that nothing would happen on his watch. It was pretty damn cute.

 

Us girls had a great time at the shower.....it was such a fun night in the city, and I was so glad that we got some time downtown too.

The rest of the weekend was spent at home. Aunt Amanda came out from the city to hang with us, we went on as many cold walks as we could, and just enjoyed being together.

And yes, Leo will clearly have some ego issues to work through when he gets older.

It's never easy to leave, but we were happy to get back home to Joel and Roscoe - and its always easier leaving knowing that you're coming back soon!

Leo - Month 7

::: 1 month recap ::: 2 month recap ::: 3 month recap ::: 4 month recap ::: 5 month recap :::

 ::: 6 month recap :::

Weight: 15lbs 10oz (9%), and somewhere around 25/26"

Nicknames: Leeman, Lee-Lee, Forest Boy, Weeward, Wee-whoa

 

Clothes: You're fitting into 9 month clothes which is blowing my mind.

Sleep:  You are a great sleeper buddy. You go to sleep by 7pm and wake up normally by 6:15/6:30am.

Schedule:  We've done quite a bit of traveling this month and have had quite a lot of transitions, so your schedule has been much more day-to-day than it has in months past.  For the most part though you are:

up at 6:30...

6:30-8:30am play

8:30-10:30am nap

10:45-1:00  play (maybe cat nap if we are in the car)

1:00 pm feed

1:00-2:30pm play

2:30-4:30pm nap

4:30pm feed

6:30pm bath

6:45 pm bottle

7:00 pm bed

Health:  You caught a cold while we were in Chicago which was no fun to witness. You had a runny nose, and your first cough....but you were a trooper and recouped after about 4-5 days. We are actually off to the doctor today due to your skin. You seem t have developed eczema and I'm hoping the doctor can give us something to help ease your discomfort. It's on your face, belly, neck and behind your knees. Mommy and your aunts all have pretty bad eczema so I'm really sorry that we've passed it down.

Crying: This month you've learned how to scream....so that's interesting. Sometimes you'll scream if you get really frustrated, but other times you'll just scream to scream.

Feeding:  Well baby, we are just about done breastfeeding. I'm nursing you in the morning, but that will end here soon. You were very fussy while nursing, and stopped being satisfied, so I know you're ready to be done before I am. You're taking to the formula well, but you're not as consistent with eating. During the day we give you five bottles 6/7oz each, but you don't always finish them.

We also started solid foods this month! We've tried quite a few; avocado being your first food, banana, sweet potato, black beans, and butternut squash! We're loosely following Baby Led Weaning and letting you make a total mess every time you eat, but we also bring a spoon to your mouth for you to eat with that too if you choose.

 For now, food is just for fun and we're really enjoying it with you. Although it took us both a few weeks to get here.....you were gagging CONSTANTLY and threw up a few times, but I think you're figuring out what to do now!

Likes: When daddy sings the cookie monster song, your new exersaucer, and your Tomy egg crate. You also love to sit in front of your walker and play with all of the buttons and screws. You like to be around people, you like to be held, to go for walks, and to be outside.

Dislikes: You do not like it when people walk away from you - and you don't like to be left on your tummy for long.

Milestones:  You are sitting like a rock star! You're also making moves like you are practicing to crawl. We've also started trying to get you to wave and clap, but you don't seem overly eager to do either! You took your first plane ride this month and traveled like a champ! You were baptized this month which was very, very special.

Places You’ve Gone:   Chicago!!!

Visitors: We spent two and a half weeks in Chicago and you got to visit and meet all of your family. You were spoiled with love and were passed around and held by about 100 people this month. I was so proud of how happy and nice you were with everyone!

Postpartum:  I'm on high alert as to how ending breastfeeding will go, so I'll report back next month. 

Roscoe: I'd say he's one of your favorite things in this world. You love to touch him, let him sniff and kiss you, and watch him fetch a ball. We took you and Roscoe running together this month, and Roscoe was very protective of you in the stroller around other dogs.

Chicago ::: Week 1

For weeks before Leo and I got home, my mom started nesting. I knew she was up to something, but when we got home and saw the fruits of her labor, it made me tear up. They had a wall installed in a guest bedroom so that Leo could have his own little nook. And he loooooved it.

 

 

It was just so touching and adorable, and made us right at home.

When Joel saw it, he was nervous that Leo wasn't going to want to come home since his "room" at Coco and Papa's house is almost nicer than his at home! 

This summer will be Leo's only summer with his little nook, because while we were there - my parents also bought a new house! 

The house is basically a tear down, so it will take a year to build, but it will be a pretty awesome house for us (and Leo), since its right on the water - and has a pool!

Every time we go home, the first order of business is deep dish pizza and good bottle of wine, so we crossed that off the list right away. 

 And, that also marked the last time I held my baby for 2 weeks.

 

   

 

We also got smart and decided to take advantage of all of those extra hands and snuck away for our friends wedding. 

 

Saturday was a rough day of recouping.....we suck at staying out past our bedtime these days....but we pulled it together and helped my parents get everything set up for the baptism that following Sunday.