Baby Dickey » Baby updates

Ryan is CRAWLING! (vlogs)

babydickey — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:04:34 +0000

Seriously, it happened overnight. He went from rocking on his knees to CRUISING. We are SO not ready for this! I thought they eased into it more? Okay, the rocking should have been a clear sign, but… we are SO not ready for this! He’s a mover. And he seems to know exactly what he’s not supposed to have or where he’s not supposed to go. Umm, baby cage, anyone? So help me out, what are the must-have baby proofing products? What do we really need and what are your favorites???

This first video is pretty much him looking cute, refusing to crawl for the camera, haha.

This one has some more crawling action… followed by pure monster action:

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Ryan is 7 months old!

babydickey — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:46:48 +0000

I have to catch myself now when answering the question, “how old is he?” because I’m still stuck at “6 months!” AHH! I feel like his 1st birthday party is just around the corner and I need to start planning. SO MUCH has changed in the last month, I feel like we have a real boy on our hands now, haha.

Dear Ryan,

Let me tell you, this photo shoot was DIFFICULT. All you wanted to do was crawl over the arm of the chair or topple out the front of it. I was constantly grabbing you to make sure you didn’t fall and the only way I could keep you occupied and in your seat was to give you a leaf! That means I got lots of cute pictures of you inspecting leaves and branches, but not too many of your adorable little face

Oh goodness, where to start! I guess you just had a doctor appointment (because we missed your 6-month one) so let’s start with the stats… You now weight 18 pounds and 4 ounces. You used to be near the 95th percentile in weight, but you’ve dropped and now you’re around 60–70. BUT, you are one TALL little boy! You’re still in the 95th percentile there… 28 inches! That means you grew 4 inches in the last 3 months! GO BABY GO!

At 6 months you loved to sit. Now you’re a pro and you love to MOVE! I can just tell you want to run all over the place. Pretty soon, little man! About 2 weeks ago you started rocking back and forth on your knees. Then you slowly started moving around the room by constantly getting up on your knees, moving back to sitting, and falling on your knees again. You’re persistent! I think today is the first time I actually saw you CRAWL, like one arm and one leg in front of the other. You went about 2 feet before you decided that was enough and you cried for mama We have a LOT of babyproofing to do!!! You’re going to be just cruising all over before we know it.

It makes me want to cry a little, because you’re so big already. But at the same time, I’m so proud. You’re the cutest thing ever! You enjoy playing on the floor (a little one’s imagination!) and inspecting everything you can find–especially the items you know you’re not supposed to have

We’re still breastfeeding! Even though you’re enjoying biting me while nursing, I haven’t given up. It’s just a phase, right?! You really don’t seem to have an interest in food yet. People tell us we could at least do rice cereal, but we don’t think you need it. “Food before you’re one is just for fun!” I gave you a banana chunk the other day for fun. You squished it around in your fingers, inspected it like you do everything, then put it to your mouth.

It didn’t go over very well, haha. We’ll try again. You also recently started trying to pull yourself up to stand. You LOVE this glass/mirror cabinet and have learned how to open the doors, watch yourself in the mirror, and almost get up! And thankfully, you haven’t fallen over (yet).

We’re also still co-sleeping. We’re having some issues right now, I think because you’re learning to crawl. That’s a huge developmental milestone and I think it just has your mind racing! That or you never want your mama to leave your side You’re still in size 3 diapers and you’re wearing size 12 month clothes! You still wear some 9-month stuff, depends on the brand. Or depends if your mama wants to think you’re not as big as you are and insists on stuffing you in a really cute, size 9mo outfit

I think in my 8-month post update you’ll be crawling and cruising, mister. I can’t wait for all the exciting stuff ahead! But also, I listened to a clip of you “talking” when you were 1.5 months old and I miss those days too! Just trying my best to love and enjoy every moment with you, Ryan, because you’re changing and growing so quickly!

Love you to the moon and back 9,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999 times <3
Mommy & Daddy

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The Bubble Club! Ryan's first swim class

babydickey — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:18:35 +0000

Ryan LOVES the water so of course I signed him up for a mommy-and-me type swim class called the Bubble Club. It’s for ages 6 months to 3 years… beginners in the water. It’s at a nearby outdoor pool, so I made sure to choose the course in mid-July so it’d be warm enough and I picked the time slot 6:10–6:40 because I knew he’d be awake then. Right before bedtime–perfect to get him good and tired!

Today was the first class. (Yesterday’s was canceled due to rain). There were 7 other kids signed up. Either both mom & dad were there with the kid, or moms came together as friends. Me? I went solo (I don’t have any mom friends). WHICH was a big reason I wanted to sign up for this class–to meet mom friends!

It didn’t work (yet). Ryan is the youngest in the class, by far. The next youngest was about 1.5 years old and most were around 2. Because it was the first day, we didn’t do anything… just let our kids get used to the water. Ryan loved it and splashed and kicked away. I tried to float on over to some parents, say hi, and ask Ryan who that cute little girl was. But I never got a response from any of the parents (weird?).….….….….….… the only person to say anything to me was the course instructor. Okay, I’m not that forward of a person, but I did try. It didn’t help that no one else seemed to be there solo, like me. I even had the fun of climbing up and down the pool ladder with my baby in one arm–why doesn’t anyone offer to help? (Mental note to always pay attention to things like that and help out other people when I can).

But overall, the important person here is Ryan. And he did enjoy himself. We spent some time in the main pool and some time in the kiddie pool–where he could stand and jump and he tried to chase after all the pool toys, I could barely hang on to him! Haha. It was awesome mama-baby quality time together We go back tomorrow!! It’s every night for 2 weeks.

These pictures aren’t from the class, but just of how much he enjoys the water

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Ryan's first overnight!

babydickey — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:40:13 +0000

Two of my wonderful friends are renewing their vows in two weeks. Saturday night we had a party in their honor–a casino night. It was lots of fun! Steve even won 3rd place at the end of the night and got a gift card to Chipotle Anyway, the party started at 7pm, which is Ryan’s bedtime. I didn’t want Steve to have to stay home because all we have together are the weekends and he needs to get out of the house sometimes too! So.… we got a babysitter. My mom! At first we planned on just having her come over and stay at our house until we got home. But then we all decided he’d take a trip to her house and stay the whole night. AHHH!!!

I was one nervous mama. Ryan had never been away from us for a whole night… I didn’t know how he’d handle it. He’s used to sleeping in bed next to his mama! He also nurses like… 2–3 times a night. Really, I was a bit more worried about my mom than about Ryan–if he was up all night, how my mom would be feeling the next day, haha.

Before she came to pick him up, I was explaining to him what was happening… I wanted him to know that we’d pick him up the next morning and that we weren’t leaving him and we’d be back. I started tearing up… I felt so bad! I was so worried for him! I didn’t want him to wonder what happened to me.

The good news? He survived!! The great news? He did AWESOME! He slept in my mom’s bed next to her–I told her that’d probably be easiest for him (and her)! And he didn’t wake up until 3:30am. She fed him and he ate a full 3 oz, went right back to sleep, and woke up for the day around 6am. He didn’t get as much sleep as he does at home, so he has been pretty tired today–taking wonderfully long naps but otherwise he’s doing very well.

So here’s me: OMG he doesn’t need me?! Haha. But no worries–my mom put him down this morning for his first nap of the day (we didn’t go pick him up till like 10am) and she said he was saying “mamamama” and “dadadadada” — awww!!! He wanted us! And when we both went to pick him up, he was soo happy. And I felt like I hadn’t seen him in FOREVER. He’s such an awesome lil boy.

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Updates on the lil man

babydickey — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:46:38 +0000

I’ve just been thinking about Ryan and what’s new — things I should have included in his 6-month birthday post! So for my own general “records,” here’s some random stuff:

*he’s in size 3 diapers and has been there for awhile — and will probably stay there for awhile

*he now has 2 teeth. The second came yesterday and there’s a third working its way out too! Poor lil guy has been pretty miserable over it.

*we missed his 6 mo ped appt (ooops!) so no updates there. I’m guessing he’s… 18 lb, 26 inches.

*he’s wearing size 12 mo clothes!!! I sure hope he slows down now. He can still wear his 9 mo clothes though, but also fills the 12 mo pretty well. Stop getting so big, Ryan!

Still exclusively breastfeeding… still co-sleeping… still babywearing.

I think that’s it! Happy 4th everyone! I’m writing this from my cell phone — no computer all weekend! Be back tomorow

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Happy Half Birthday, Ryan! 6 months young today!

babydickey — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:28:46 +0000

Dear baby boy,

Today is a very big day for you! I feel like we’ve reached a great milestone… your half birthday. It’s a big deal! Over the past month you have changed so much and there has been a lot I’ve wanted to post about, but wanted to save it for this. Your daddy and I can see what a big boy you’re becoming… you’re so inquisitive and you’ve become so much more mobile (although no crawling for you yet!) and interactive.

You reach for everything you see. I went shopping and for the first time I put you in the front seat of the shopping cart. You were strapped in and sitting up like a big boy. Your hands darted out, trying to grab and knock off everything on the shelves–it made me laugh You’re such a little stinker!

You love your walker. You totally cruise in that thing now… you know where you want to go and you get there. No longer pushing off with both feet, you actually WALK–and in the case of chasing our cats, you RUN, haha. We’ve had to semi-babyproof the kitchen already (the only room with solid floors) because of your curiosity. The other day you ran off with the garbage bag!

You LOVE the water. You splash all over and don’t even notice when it gets all over your face. You’re going to be a water bug like your mama I can’t wait to take the Bubble Club swim class with you in July!

Other things you love to grab: the cats! You hear a “meow” and your head turns around so fast to try and find that cat. They always make you smile!

You’re a monster! I even got you a onesie that says “Mommy’s Little Monster” (and also one that says “Who needs a superhero when I’ve got Mom?” ). By “monster” I mean you love to knock things over, pull everything onto the floor, kick over your activity center, bang on pots and pans… so freakin’ adorable.

You can SIT! At first, we’d hold you up in the “tripod position” and you were a bit wobbly. Then one day you could do it without us, but would only last a few seconds before toppling over. Now you can pretty much sit on your own. All by yourself. Like you don’t even need us anymore! (cry, cry… lol). You still topple sometimes, but you’re a pro now–like a stunt artist–you just move right onto your belly or your back and keep right on playing. You love sitting like a big boy so much that you won’t even relax and lean back in your Babysitter chair anymore!

You recognize voices and can pick out the direction of whoever is talking anywhere in the room. Select people get huge smiles and giggles, but you like everyone and generously give most a smile You’re so good with people! We just had daddy’s family reunion with 40 people, some who had never seen you before, and when they all swarmed, you kept pretty cool. Mama and Dada were proud

You’re doing a lot of talking. You learn a new syllable and you stick with it for about a week before moving to the next. It started with “gah gah” then “ma ma ma” (we practiced that one a lot, didn’t we? ), then last week it was a sound like clearing your throat (eh eh eh) and this week it was “bah bah bah.” Maybe next week you can try “da da?” Plus, you focus on the mouth of the person talking to you and try to mimic them. When grandpa says “bah bah bah,” you follow up like his little double… maybe grandpa has a new nickname! BaBa?

Today also marks 6 months of breastfeeding! You’re certainly a boob monster. You have no interest in food yet… and we plan on doing baby led weaning with you. No rice cereal, no canned pureed baby foods… when you’re reading to eat, we’ll be ready too. Another new adventure!

Daddy says nothing can ever make him frustrated anymore–you’ve taught him how to have patience. I think we both have more patience now then we ever thought possible. I started tearing up twice today, thinking about your 6-month birthday. Both times were while you were nursing… I was talking to you about how big you’ve gotten and how much you’ve changed. How smart you are, just taking everything in. Ya know, when I was little my parents would tell me on every birthday that I wasn’t allowed to get any bigger. I thought that was so silly! But there I was today, on your 6 month birthday, telling you that you couldn’t get any bigger. (“OMG I sound just like me parents!”) I thought I understood the phrase “time flies,” but it’s never had more meaning than it does now. I cannot believe it has been six months… half a year… before I know it you’re going to be walking and talking and dating and driving… don’t grow up so fast, little boy!!!

Love you to the moon and back 9,999,999,999,999,999,999 times <3
Momma and Daddy

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Terrible Mom: Incident #1

babydickey — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:56:26 +0000

If you follow me on twitter you already know all about this. I still feel sick about it, but I guess if Ryan is 5.5 months old and this is our first incidence… that’s pretty good, right?!

We co-sleep. Last night I put Ryan down at 7pm. He woke up about 8–8:30pm and Steve went in there and put him back to sleep. Around 10:30 pm I decided to go to sleep on the couch because I didn’t want to go in the bedroom and wake Ryan up. I figured I’d go in there when he woke up next (because he never sleeps more than 2–3 hours in a row). Steve fell asleep on the other couch too, soon after me.

I woke up at 1am and realized the monitor had fallen between the couch cushions. We had white noise playing in the bedroom for Ryan and I could barely hear it (but even between the couch cushions, it was still right next to my head). Anyway, I pulled it out so I could hear it better, noticed the time and was amazed Ryan was still sleeping, and I fell back asleep.

The monitor’s battery was dying so it started beeping and I woke up again and got up to put it on the charger. I looked at the clock and it was 3:30am. WHAT?! 7 hours!! Ryan had been sound asleep for 7 hours?! He hasn’t done that since he was like a month old!! When I put the monitor in the charger, Steve woke up. I told him it was 3:30 and maybe someone should check on Ryan. I said I didn’t want to do it because if he was going to sleep through the night (hooray!) I wanted him to keep sleeping and was afraid if I walked in, he’d smell my milk and wake up. But Steve was half drowsy and mumbled something, so I ended up going to check.

The room was completely dark. I tip-toed in and was staring at his spot on the bed. In the middle of the bed. I was squinting because I couldn’t see him–it’s too dark, I thought. Then the corner of my eye caught his receiving blanket that we had swaddled him in.….….….….…… on the floor. I turned to look and there he was — a lump of body and blanket on the floor. All I noticed was that he was on his belly. It was like a nightmare. A million thoughts ran through my head in the span of half a second–how’d he get there? did Steve put him there? is he hurt? Did he break his neck?! is he breathing?! is he alive?! I didn’t WANT to check him (for fear of bad news), but HAD to. I ran over and put my hand on his back. The second that it took his body to rise in his next breath felt like an ETERNITY and I thought he was dead. And when I felt his body rise and fall I was in disbelief. I ran out of the room and yelled to Steve, “did you put him on the ground?!” I sooo wanted him to say yes. He, of course, said no, jumped up, and ran in the bedroom. He picked up Ryan and laid him on the bed… Ryan opened his eyes, wiggled a bit and just stared at us, back and forth.

I got in bed with him, fed him and he fell right back to sleep. I, on the other hand, laid awake, unable to sleep because I kept staring at him… watching his breathing… making sure he was okay.

We checked him for bumps and bruises. We researched online and looked for signs of injury: vomiting, unusual behavior, different pupil sizes or poor response to light, drowsy, unable to focus. He seemed fine. But we remained worried because of the “drowsy” part… he slept in till 7:30am (is usually awake at 6am) and then just an hour later, at 8:30am, he took a 2 hour nap. Not normal. But he then skipped his next nap and otherwise seemed completely fine.

I still have a million questions. HOW did he get off the bed? It’s king size and he was in the middle. He fell off the END of the bed too, not the side. And he was lying perpendicular to the end, not parallel so it wouldn’t have been so easy to just roll off. Speaking of rolling… he was swaddled. And he can go from back to belly, but not so much the belly to back. I just have NO IDEA how he could have managed his way off the bed.

And did he really NOT cry from that fall?! He had no arms from the swaddle, he fell on his face. I know he’s fine from the fall and all is ok, but what is REALLY upsetting me is the fact that he probably DID cry, but my baby monitor was between the couch cushions (remember?) and I couldn’t hear it. So my poor baby laid on the floor, with no arms, face down, and cried and no one came. He cried himself to sleep. It’s killing me! And either way–if he cried or not–he slept for 7 hours! I have no idea what time he would have fallen, but… did he sleep so well because he 1.) was tired/traumatized after crying himself to sleep or 2.) he basically knocked himself out or 3.) because he was on his tummy?

Today I put him in his “Mommy Loves Me” onesie just to be sure he knew. During his 2 hour nap, Steve and I must have been in the room checking on him like 5 times. We completely barricaded the edges of the bed. And you better believe the monitor is on full volume attached to my hip. And on vibrate.

Do you have stories to share of your lil one falling off the bed? Or couch or crib or anything? Lots of you responded on twitter that it happened to you as well and that did make me feel better. But… I still feel sick about him possibly crying himself to sleep on the floor after a scary fall He sure was pampered like a spoiled little baby all day today!!! And I’m about to head to bed and cuddle some more! I keep replaying the moment when I saw him on the floor and the fear that ran through me… and picturing him fall and cry and have no one come. My poor lil man!!!

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Happy 5 months, big boy!

babydickey — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:10:40 +0000

I just checked my 4-month-old post to see what’s new and noticed I called him “little man.” He certainly has gone from little man to big boy! Well, Mr. Ryan, a lot has changed in the last month. I just love watching the little person that you are. You’re full of personality and you concentrate so hard! You LOVE cups! Especially my bottles of coke… I don’t know if that means you’re ready for a sippy cup or if you just want what mama and dada have, but it’s pretty cute. Speaking of cute.…

(see his cute pink bracelet for Cora?)

You can sit up with some assistance and I can’t wait till you can all by yourself! Okay, yes I can, because that will mean you’re really a big boy and mommy isn’t ready for that! I’m quite enjoying my little cuddle bug who needs his mom all the time But you are rolling from front to back and from back to front more frequently now. You haven’t quite got the skill down, but you can do it. That means you enjoy tummy time a LOT more and try to explore things around you. We pulled out your Animal Exploration Tunnel and you have a lot of fun with that now. We love watching you maneuver your body through it, staring in awe at the animals and colors.

You love your bumbo and trying to crawl over your boppy. For awhile we had a rough time getting you to sleep, but I think it’s because of all the growing you’re doing! When I was little and didn’t want to go to bed, I told my mom a line from Charlotte’s Web: “I can’t sleep… my stomach is empty and my mind is full.” I think that must be how you feel! We tried the crib a few times, thinking your restlessness meant you were ready, but you weren’t. You’re back to being mama’s cuddle bug in bed and we wake up together every morning with smiles–there’s nothing better!!

And you’re just like your mom–you love the water! We’ve been swimming twice now in grandma’s hot tub. You have your own little floaty and you kick and bounce and have so much fun! You splash water all over and don’t mind at all when it hits you in the face. Mommy is really excited for our swim class in July!

Everyone tells me how big you are–these first 5 months have FLOWN by, I think you’re going to be 5 years old before I know what happened! I’m extremely thankful to only be working part-time and spending the rest of my time with you. Hey! Today also marks 5 months of breastfeeding! That has gone by in a flash and I’m also thankful that I stuck with it… the bonding that it brings us is invaluable, it’s even MORE cuddle time! This is going to be a good summer, Ryan. We’re going to take lots of swims, go for walks at the park, have storytime at the library, meet other moms and babies, spend time at the lakehouse relaxing… you’re going to sit up for the first time, try your very first bite of food, and maybe start crawling or scooting! LOTS of great times ahead of us, little boy.

We love you so very much! To the moon and back 9,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999 times!
<3mom&dad

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It's a miracle: swaddling

babydickey — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:21:36 +0000

I have wonderful news! As a follow up to my post yesterday (Crib Sleeping) where I talked about how badly it was going, we tried again last night. Ryan went down at 7:30pm and from then until 9pm he was up so much that I wouldn’t even consider it sleep! Finally at 9 I got frustrated with running back and forth and decided to swaddle him. Someone suggested that in the last post and I’ve heard it before.… I never thought it’d work because Ryan loves to sleep sprawled out and kick his legs. Plus, we haven’t swaddled him since he was like 2 months old!

Well, it worked. THANK GOD. I haven’t had sleep that good in months. He slept from 9pm till 2am! Steve said he woke up once in there and made a little bit of noise so he went in and put Ryan’s paci back in, but I’m wondering if he may have fallen back asleep on his own. Anyway, I fed him at 2am and he went right back to sleep. Then he woke up crying at 4:30am and I put his paci back in, put my hand on his chest, and stayed there until he fell asleep (just a few minutes).

He woke up again at 6am, which has been his usual “hey mom, I’m up for the day!” time so I went in and said GOOD MORNING! and he was all smiley so I changed his diaper and sat in the rocker to nurse him. When he was done eating, he completely passed out. What?! It’s morning! It’s your wake up time! But hey, let’s not complain here.

I brought him into our bedroom and slept with him in our bed (yay for some co-sleeping with my cuddle bug!) until 8 AM!

If this is his new schedule, I’m in heaven. It will be awesome for my husband too if Ryan sleeps till 8am during the week. But even if he gets up at 6am, the sleeping for more than 30–60 minutes at a time at night is going to save our sanity. In our own bed, without a flailing and restless baby. We’ve gone from waking up 10 times a night (nursing like 5 times a night) to waking up twice and nursing twice. SUCCESS!

Swaddling blankets… did you ever know that you’re my hero? It might have appeared to go unnoticed, but I’ve got it all here in my heart. I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it. I would be nothing without youuuu. (Bette Midler — Wind Beneath My Wings)

Swaddled, one day old

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Bedtime routine and schedule

babydickey — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:06:07 +0000

Awhile back someone left me a comment asking me what our bedtime routine was because Ryan was sleeping 8 hours in a row. The answer? We didn’t have one! He was falling asleep in his pack n’ play in the family room and then around 10pm I’d carry him into our bedroom–he’d sleep right through it. Now? No way. Don’t even look at him funny when he’s asleep or he’ll wake up. And be the one to wake him up? That’s a mistake punishable by death (by mama).

Now that Ryan is a much lighter sleeper and no longer sleeps through the night, we have made a sort of routine… but still not a very good one.

Maybe twice a week he gets a bath and that starts off the bedtime routine (well maybe once a week because we’ve started showering with him instead). Then it’s cuddles and pj’s… followed by a bedtime story (usually Goodnight Moon or his shapes & colors cards because he likes to stare and grab at those). Then we walk a couple laps around the house while playing Tender Lullabies to get him calm and sleepy. Finally, we head to the bedroom where he’s put down to sleep (and nursed if he wants to be).

Sometimes his daytime nap schedules get off, which messes up his bedtime too. So sometimes I don’t start a nighttime routine early enough and he gets way too cranky (= tired) to go through any of that. In that case, we skip ahead, right to nursing and bed. And then it seems to be a lot harder to get him to sleep… maybe because he’s over-tired, maybe because we messed up the routine, or maybe because the time is off. Seriously I’m amazed by baby’s internal clocks. If Ryan goes to bed on the early side (6:30-7pm), he’s up at 6am. If he goes to bed on the later (more normal) side (7:30-8pm), he’s awake at 6:30am.… almost to the minute!

The last 2 nights in a row he has woken up at 1:30am and started tossing and turning. Well, I don’t think HE’S awake (maybe half-awake), but I’m certainly awake. And it hasn’t been fun. The ped did say his teeth were starting to come in (but who knows how long till they actually come?!) So maybe that’s it, but I have no idea.

What are you bedtime routines? What time is normal bedtime? I feel like 4 months old is pretty early to be on a regular schedule anyway, but Ryan does really well–I mean, HE puts himself on this schedule, not us. Afterall, he IS the boss!!!

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