from New Years to July 2003
(excerpts from my journal)
January 20th, 2003
4 months old
Jake is such a big boy! Today he ate in the highchair for the first time, and he crawled over the boppy pillow! It wasn't a true crawl, but that child started with his arms propped over it and got his entire body over to the other side! I was SO excited!
Jake is such a charmer. He smiles and flirts iwth everyone. He's such a happy baby. He whines to get his way with me, but all kids do that with their mothers. (In the words of Jimmy Davis, "they WILL manipulate you.")
January 30, 2003
Jake has been waking up at 2 and 4 a.m. lately to eat -- after being put to bed at 10 p.m. with 5 oz. of cereal and after nursing for quite a while. I don't know why he does this -- to make me crazy, maybe?
January 31, 2003
So I'm trying to "Ferberize" Jake (popular theory in getting kids to soothe themselves back to sleep.) I about made myself crazy last night. We fell asleep downstairs, and at 2 a.m. Jake woke up wanting to eat, so I fed him and took him upstairs to his crib. He thought it was playtime, but I kept him in his crib, lights out, put on music and the crib vibrator, gave him a binky, and patted him. Long story short, it was 3:30 a.m. before he was actually sound asleep and LO AND BEHOLD the child wakes up at 4 a.m. wanting to eat. What a booger. Don't worry, I don't need to sleep. I'm superwoman.
Jake sat up by himself for the first time today! Just for a few seconds, and with my help, but I let go and he was just fine! He's also getting a lot better at playing by himself when he wakes up instead of demanding my presence right away. It's so fun to listen to him talking to himself in the morning.
Last night Nannie and Pa watched Jake so I could get some things done, and then we all hung out at their place for a while -- Jake laid on the floor and turned himself around with his feet (head in the same place) in a complete circle (counter-clockwise) by pushing his heels and scooting -- 3 times! He's awesome.
Took Jake to church today -- Lou worked. Everyone is saying that Jake looks like me now. I'm so glad about that for some reason -- maybe because Jake's absolutely gorgeous? Annette says she doesn't see any absence of Lou's looks, just mine added to it. Everyone comments about how sweet and happy and beautiful Jake is. The lady who watched him during church kept telling me how wonderful and fun and easy to watch he was. Oh, and Jake got prayed for during church -- April was praying for our sister church in Cuba and there's a new baby there, and she prayed for "baby Jake and baby Sadie and baby Ryan."
Daddy and sister Sara came by tonight . . . staying with Nannie and Pa. My life is so busy. I'm up (11:30 p.m.) waiting to switch the laundry loads. After 2 hours of sleep, Jake will want to eat. Again. Nursed him 3 times in the hour before he finally fell asleep. Tapeworm? ;o) Dad is impressed by my little man. Jake's been smiling and sticking his tongue out and OMG it's SO CUTE.
Have I mentioned how gorgeous and sweet and wonderful my child is? This is totally worth the lack of sleep and money and "me time." Everytime I look at him I thank God for sending him to me.
Came v. close to falling asleep at desk today . . . am spending a small fortune on coffee.
Jake has his first ear infection. Poor baby. He was up all night crying 2 nights in a row and just hasn't been himself. Consulted Becca, who agreed Jake hasn't been himself and has been rubbing his ears, so I took him to the doctor. Hopefully the medicine will help.
I think the scariest thing in the world is when your child is sick. You don't really know the meaning of the word WORRY until you become a mother. You have no control over the most important thing in your entire life, and at any moment something awful could happen. I went to pick up Jake from daycare today and Becca and I realized he hadn't had anything to drink for 10 hours (he refused) and hadn't had ANY wet diapers and his soft spot was a little sunken. I called the Dr. and they said "bring him in" and my heart stopped. I almost broke down, but I had to be tough for Jake. The doctor said he would be ok, just to push the fluids. He's ok for now, but definitely not himself. I did finally get him to nurse. He's sleeping now. The thought of something happening to him is so scary.
Jake is feeling better, and back to his happy, smiley self, although a bit demanding.
Took Jake to Belmont today -- couzin Terri Beth's show choir was competing so I went up with Nannie and Pa. Sat with Aunt Lisa her her daughter Steph and they got to play with Jake. He loved the choirs -- behaved SO well and was so interested. Saw a friend who was amazed at Jake's size for 5 months. He's my big boy!
Jake actually made the papa sound today. But he said mama first, so I win. ;o) He's rolling all over the place, and so close to crawling. He's such a big boy. I held an 11 pound baby yesterday and she seemed SO little. I can't believe he was every so small. I bought him some new toys on Thursday -- it's fun to shop when you're pregnant and so excited about the baby, but it's so much more fun when you KNOW your baby and what he likes. I bought toys that make sounds and that he can easily grap, because that's what he responds to. He can transfer toys from one hand to another and is always grabbing at things.
I'm at a rough spot with Jake right now. He's expanding his crying repertoire and lately is crying if left alone in a room or if he loses sight of me. He's also nursing non-stop and has trouble falling asleep without me. I spent so much time last night trying to get him to sleep without having to nurse constantly -- the whole pat the back thinkg, let him cry for a while. And I did, but it about killed me. I'm hard-wired to respond to him when he cries!
Jake is 6 months old today! We're having a 1/2 birthday party for him tonight. ;o)
We are getting a house! Well, really a townhome (duplex). It's awesome. I'm so excited. But when we were looking at it the other night we went to Jason's (the realtor -- he'll be 4 houses down) to print up the paper work and I was playing with Jake and he threw up in my face!!! Then when we were leaving I was carrying him and I dripped down the concrete front step. I fell so that Jake never touched the ground but I got my legs scraped up. Clumsy me, but the baby's fine. Then he kept me up all night crying. I'm realizing he just has to go to sleep on his own terms (i.e. on the boob). That child is OBSESSED with nursing. He sure is sweet, tho. He says mama all the time, it's hilarious.
Jake's so silly. When I went to visit him at lunch he was sleeping underneath a chair. He had crawled underneath and gone to sleep. All I could see was his little legs. Heh. Guess he wanted to shut out the world.
6 month check-up yesterday -- 17 pounds, 13 ounces. 28 inches tall (50th percentile weight, 95th height. Tall kid.) Nurse Carrie (who we love) didn't believe me that Jake says "mama." That's ok, I know he does. And I have witnesses. ;o)
Jake's eyes are huge and gorgeous. Everyone who seem them comments on it. He's just beautiful. I love that it's his eyes that make him look the most like me. Sometimes I just get lost looking at all the pictures of Jake on my board here at work. I love to look at the progression of his growth, and he has such great expressions. Who knew a baby could have this much depth?
Jake has a funny new trick -- if I put his pacifier in my mouth, he looks at me like I'm crazy, takes it out and pops it in his. ;o) His fine motor skills are getting really good. He's always trying to figure something out -- he was grabbing for my buttons the other day on my shirt. Of course, it's scary now that he can focus on and try to pick up things like buttons because that opens up a whole new world of choking hazards. Ugh.
Jake loves to sit in his saucer and play or roll around on the floor and talk to himself and find his toys and play with his feet. He can really move, too -- two weeks ago he perfected the log roll and now he's getting up on all 4s and rocking and getting so mad that he doesn't go anywhere.
Oh, and his first bottom 2 teeth broke through on Sat. night. Ugh. They're still buds, but they're a-comin'.
Jake's fine motor skills just keep getting better -- he transfers his pacifier from hand to hand and can subtly move it around when it's facing the wrong way to get it in his mouth.
His seperation anxiety, however, is making me crazy. If he's at daycare he basically ignores me, but at home if I leave the room he freaks out. He's more whiny, too, and before he'll go to sleep he gets fussy and fidgety and nothing helps. I guess it's all good because it's a sign of his emotional development.
Jake's laugh is hilarious. He loves playing peek-a-boo. It's like he's manic-depressive, though -- he'll laugh and cry in the same breath and I never know what's going to trigger it. That said, tho, he's a great kid -- ALWAYS well-behaved in public. And still a cuddler, so inquisitive, and still plays so well by himself, as long as he knows I'm near. He can crawl with his arms, just not his legs yet. He has such an interesting little personality. He won't take naps when he's home with me, though. Silly tigger.
Jake is finally sitting up really well by himself -- has been about a week. I just sit him up to eat instead of putting him in a chair. I knew he'd figure out how to sit up when he felt like it. He's still trying so hard to crawl. He'll get that soon, too.
Dude, Jake thinks everything is funny. I have never known a child who laughs so easily. He's so happy, I love it.
He still says mama the most, but he says papa quite a bit now, too, and makes "buh buh buh" sounds. I'm starting to teach him "nana" -- mom will be here in June to baby-sit while Becca's on vacation.
The hair on the top of Jake's head just keeps growing and growing and I just keep trimming it. All the little girls we know (except Elauna) are so jealous of Jake's great hair, because they're bald.
We got moved into our house on May 3rd, and have been crazy busy trying to get unpacked, settled, and organized.
Jake is the perfect baby, but he keeps me very busy. Most nights I spend working on the house and playing with him on the floor.
Jake is extremely mobile now. He can crawl anywhere -- fast. He's also pulling up on furniture (and climbing all over me.) He's always in a good mood and has so much personality. The bottom left tooth is in (it's sharp! He bites my finger with it) and the right one is coming in. I call him "Mr. Tooth." We also call him Jakey, Jaker, Jakester, and Jake-o. And Starvin Marvin when he's pitching a fit and can't wait for me to mix up his cereal. He'll crawl over and on top of me to get it, he's so impatient (or excited, I guess.)
I don't even know where to begin to summarize the last month. Jake is just awesome. He's a great kid. The only time he cries is if I'm feeding him and the food's gone before he's full, or to let me know he's hungry, or sometimes when I leave the room. Other than that, he's always happy happy.
Jake's new trick is using someone or something to crawl up on, then standing all the way up and balancing there for a few seconds, then he falls down. It's sooo cute. He really wants to walk -- he's just cruisin' all over the place. He just practices and practices standing up.
For his 9 month check-up Jake was 29 inches and 21 pounds.
I can definitely see Lou in Jake's personality -- he loves to just play by himself and be off in his own little world. He's still cuddly, but he's very independent.
Jake is a FAST mover. He crosses a room in the blink of an eye and gets into the one thing he's not supposed to. He's starting to want to climb things, too (serves me right, I guess.)
That second bottom tooth is coming in -- so cute! I think it's making him grumpy, though. And he keeps licking everything -- what's that about?
He can stand by himself for about 5 seconds, and cruises on anything he can hold on to. I think he'll be walking by 10 months.
June 16th - 27th
Grandma Linda came to visit to take care of Jake while daycare was out for summer vacation (and she brought Grandpa Wayne). One weekend his Aunt Sheri and Sara came down with their significant others, and we all had a cookout. Jake got a lot of attention, and learned sometime during that first week how to stand by himself for long periods of time. Grandma Linda had him spoiled, though, because every time he stood up, she cheered and clapped for him, and he STILL expects me to applaud his standing up! We had fun visiting with all our family.