when an infant becomes a baby

Infants grow into babies and they get easier. I promise you, infant mothers, it does get easier.  I didn't notice it was easier because I'm with this infant/baby everyday.
But reflecting on the newborn/infant days has helped me get a lot of perspective on this thing called parenthood.  (not the show, Parenthood, though it is my current fave) Things change SO fast. Actually, we were able to leave Obi with the grandmas for a weekend while we went to a friend's wedding and shopping (of course).  This was the longest I've been away from him and not having my baby around brought a taste of what life was like before him. I almost forgot what life was like.  But I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything!

I'm glad I recently remembered this... Infant-Obi had his version of a Google calendar for a while. I was concerned he wasn't sleeping enough so I started to chart it out on Google calendar so I could visually see and add up the hours.  It was also to see if there were any patterns starting.  Well, there wasn't and his sleep was probably fine.

I think that Obi has slept the same amount of time during a 24 period from when he was a newborn to now.  So back then, it was on the low end.  Now, it is on the high end. Whatever.

It was fun to think about what Obi was doing 5 months ago... and what he's doing now.  I think I remember going for 3 different walks on June 5th. It brought both me and Obi some needed fresh air.  Thankful for a walk-able neighborhood!!

But now fast forward to the no-longer-infant-Obi... Here's a picture I took this morning.   I put Obi on the white carpet and he wiggled and rolled his way under his dresser.  He doesn't crawl yet, but he's a good scooter.  Also, notice a pile of his spit up and him smearing it on the hardwood.  I was in the room the whole time putting his clothes away... but somehow I missed how he got underneath the dresser. I heard him spit up and that's when I looked down.

Only a few short months from working hard to soothe this baby to sleep... to working hard to keep this baby entertained when he's awake!  

Obi's laugh does exist

Wow- 6 months is SO fun!!  I love it.  I'm sure I probably said that about 3 months, and 4 months... maybe, just maybe, I even said it about 3 weeks. But I was probably still speaking out of delirium or something then.   I hope each new phase will be my new favorite :)

Did you know that I was voted "Best Laugh" in high school?  I had a loud laugh and I probably laughed in the cafeteria the instant people were voting. Because it's really not that weird- but I suppose I've probably toned down a little since my younger years.

Here's the real news.  My child does laugh.  It is a crazy inhale-laugh that is unique to only him and who knows if it will stick. So I had to record it.

(Bear with me and my unkempt hair and self recording skills)

Isn't is hilarious?  How about he part where he chokes on his own laugh.  He'll figure it out one of these days.

His sense of humor is starting to come out when he laughs at random things while not being tickled.  He's laughed at me a couple times from his high chair when walk to open the fridge and once when I shut the car door after getting him in.  You know, like really funny stuff. 

This one is at Ben trying to juggle little rattle ping-pong balls.(....which are actually cat toys that I got free when I bought cat food- but cat could care less and Obi is thrilled with anything) 

Bieber baby

Our Halloween approach this year was to keep it simple and use what you got.  And we've got a baby with Bieber hair.  Then I just fashioned some dog-tag necklace out of tin foil and put it on one of my necklaces.

 He's not going trick-or-treating anyways, as if he could stay up that long anyways.  In fact, yesterday he fell asleep for the night at 5:30!! Which is 4:30 after the time change this weekend...  I've never thought about and anticipated daylight savings time as much as I have this year!  We'll have to rework some things to make sure his night doesn't start in the afternoon.  I knew he was tired and figured it'd just be a quick snooze before bedtime-- but he stayed asleep for the next 7 hours. He had a long few days so he needed some extra sleep. And he still slept till 7:30am. I swear every week brings about a new "thing" concerning Obi that keeps me on my toes!  

 How do you think we did??  

Sister bride

What a FUN weekend!!  My sister's wedding was great and I'm excited to have a new brother-in-law! 

Post-wedding recovery this week includes lots of sleeping, house cleaning, and work to get over stuffy noses (all three of us!) and sore throats.

when it gets cold...

When it gets cold here, a few things happen...
... taco soup festers in the crock pot all day.
... candles smell like cinnamon.
... yarn and crochet hooks make their appearance after a long summer.


When it gets cold here, pumpkins get placed on the porch...

... I finally get to use that end-of-season clearanced heated blanket...

...and have a cat steal that blanket.

When it's cold here, slippers frequent our floors...

... and babies get stuffed in hooded sweater onesies.  

When it gets cold here... everyone gets a little more snuggly. 

... even the cat puts up with baby snuggles. 

(he likes putting soft things on his face :) 

When it gets cold around here... babies put up with frequent mommy snuggles.  

 It might be a long season for Obi.  :)

Fall fun

This weekend we took advantage of some amazing weather, and some local free fun at an orchard. Seems funny to do these family outings with just one child who could probably care less... but it was partly for me because I wanted to get pumpkins.  Turns out, I'm a pumpkin snob and did not want the lumpy bumpy odd shaped pumpkins there.  My proportional and beautifully colored pumpkins will be found soon...  Nevertheless, memories were made and I'm sure we'll go again!

Between being sleepy and sunny, Obi was clearly thrilled to be wedged between two pumpkins on prickly straw. 

Obi was kinda sleepy and loopy-- but he would not miss out on the tractor ride.  He loved it-- as much as a baby can love something :) 

Bad year for apple picking... spring frost and summer drought.  But the apple treats didn't disappoint.  Apple cider slushy, apple turnover, and caramel apples. 

I don't think I can snuggle him enough.  By the way-- he's 5 months old today!!!!

... And being 5 months old apparently means the perfect "tossing age" for dad. 

I think Obi likes it too!

funny baby

(Ok, I know I'm becoming the one who can't blog, post, comment, or whatever.... about anything but my baby.  But seriously, this baby is a large part of my life and he's adorable.  And you know you want to see it, right?? :)

He doesn't giggle, he grunts and growls. Is this the beginnings of raising a boy??

I don't know why Obi does this, but it's hilarious.  One thing that can typically ensure smiles and excitement is putting a blanket or something on his face and pulling it off quickly.  Lately, he's been doing this funny grunting thing where he holds his breath and acts like he's filling his diaper. And, that is quite possibly what he might be doing.  He went from having a few dirty diapers a day to now a few a week.  TMI? eh, baby poo is a part of my life now :)

Anyways, I feel like he only does this when he's super excited or trying to laugh.  I have almost an identical video of this from about a month ago where every time the blanket came off his face he got this look of shock and then did his little throat growl.

Funny funny child.  I'm loving this age, he gets a little more hilarious ever day!