More Favorites - 7 Months

Favorite toy - Sophie the giraffe
A rubber giraffe with a squeaker in there that makes it sound like a dog toy. He LOVEs chewing on her legs, ears, antler nubs, and it's easy for him to hold onto and fling around since she's so lightweight and has a long neck (read - handle). Can you tell he loves her? I'm referring to her like she's part of the family or something, not a toy. Bonus points since the dogs love her too; Santa brought a new Sophie after Dad microsteamed her and she "lost her voice" after the dogs got to her one day.

Not so favorite toy - Tummy time mat
Yup, still hates tummy time. Always has, always will?

Favorite food - Pears
Hands down, pears, loves them. My easy-going baby turns into a ravenous bear who acts like he's never been fed before as soon as we bring out the pears.

Not so favorite food - Mango
Landon will tolerate them for a little while, and he did actually like them when we first introduced them, but he's not a huge fan these days. The faces he makes when he realizes you've just given him a spoonful of mango when he doesn't want anymore. I'll have to put my "mean mommy" hat on and try to snap a picture.

Favorite book - Put Me in the Zoo
He's mezmorized. We could probably read it four or five times and he'll listen and look at the pages intently. Maybe he's trying to figure out how he can grow spots and change colors too.

Not so favorite book - Guess How Much I Love You
I think he's turned off by the names of the bunnies....who names their kid Little Nutbrown Hare anyway? I am kinda bummed though, since it's such a sweet story and sentiment. He'll grow to like it, I'm sure.

Favorite song - Its a tie! Old MacDonald and The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Little man LOVES it when we sing to him. I love to watch/listen to Daddy and Landon singing together because Daddy usually ends up making up the words and sometimes the melody too. Daddy's songs are usually far more entertaining than Mommy's boring old standards and lullabies. In Old MacDonald Landon loves it when there are piggies oinking on the farm; and in The Itsy Bitsy Spider he loves it when the spider is washed out.

Not so favorite song - Row Row Row Your Boat
He's less than enthusiastic when we're singing this to him. The only thing that will get him going with this one is if we push him on the glider ottoman...and then it's not about the song, it's about the swinging!

Another tooth update! Landon has officially sprouted two teeth! Both bottom middle teeth are through his gums, and he's drooling MUCH less these days, which makes me happy because it's giving the rash under his chins (yes, plural) some time to heal.

Houston, we have....

Teeth! Well, tooth, I think; Landon won't let me in that sore little mouth of his long enough to really feel around to see if there are two right next to eachother or if it's just one, but it's definitely a tooth nonetheless! He was all smiles in playgroup this morning and got a few comments on his new toothy grin. Now if only we could get a picture. So, at seven months (yikes!) and one week Landon sprouted his very first tooth. He'll be eating steak and potatos like his Daddy in no time at all. Or if Grandma Cathy and Auntie Em have anything to say about it, he'll be onto salami shortly.

I've been bad about updating but it's because we've been having so much fun around here! We've officially decided to renovate/remodel the house and plans are well underway, we've celebrated birthdays - Auntie Kate, Great Grandma Jean, and Landon's friend Cheyanne who just turned two. We busted out all the fun toys Landon got for Christmas, tried several new foods, took a bath in the big boy bathtub, and have started giving kisses (read big, wet, open mouth slobbers - but so sweet). Who can blame me for being gone?

I promise, details soon. Oh, and pictures too.

Just because...

This might be my all time favorite picture of Landon (so far anyway) it deserves it's own post.

He's so stinkin' cute! I love him!

Things I always want to remember...

The way Landon burys his face in my shoulder/chest/arm when he's tired and wants to go to sleep.

His huge sweet gummy smile when he looks in the mirror.

The crazy baby giggles that erupt when you hold him over your head or toss him in the air.

His new trick of grabbing your cheeks with both hands, pulling you close, and giving you a big "kiss," just one big open mouth slobber.

That baby smell. If only someone could bottle that up.

Landon and Daddy playing; it just melts my heart.

The biggest smiles that come when he's on his changing table.

How peaceful he looks when he's asleep and I'm just about to put him in his crib.

The way he grabs at the phone and at a drinking glass...like he knows exactly what to do with both of them.

His hands and feet flailing and letting out a half-giggle when he sees Mommy or Daddy approaching.

He is calmed by Mommy's lullabies.

Those big beautiful eyes.

The way he chats to himself when he's tired.

Merry Christmas

Santa came to our house early. He dropped off a nasty cold - complete with fever, chills, aches, and no appetite. Daddy ended up catching it first over the weekend, Mommy caught it the day before Christmas Eve, and Landon spiked a fever at 2am on Christmas morning. It's been quite a week around here, and certainly not the way we had planned to spend Christmas.

Nonetheless, Santa did return on Christmas, and was much more generous in his gifts at that point. We may need to build another room onto the house to have somewhere to put all of Landon's wonderful new toys! Among the favorites are his ball popper (thanks Grandma Cathy), some books, and a ball that rolls and talks by itself (thanks Auntie Lissa, Uncle Nick, Abbey and Blake). He also got a music table that looks like it will be lots of fun (thanks Aunties Kate and Em) that hasn't made its way out the box yet.

We had grand plans to make candy, maybe go ice skating (or at least take a walk around the rink and observe), do a little window shopping, and have a mellow week since both of us had taken the week off of work to really get into the holiday spirit and spend some extra special time celebrating Landon's first Christmas. We planned to take lots of pictures and some video footage, finish wrapping presents and send some off across the country, to visit family and have dinner and lunch dates with friends. Not much of that happened. We did manage to get a few pictures and a little video in, Mommy got some fudge made before she was socked with the cold, and Daddy went out for a few last minute gifts...and that's about it!

Landon and Daddy left Mommy at home to rest on Christmas Eve and went to dinner with the Riggs side of the family after Grandma and Grandpa Poston came to visit and exchange gifts. Poor little guy spiked a fever in the middle of the night and we finally succeeded getting it to go down after some Tylenol, a lukewarm bath, and lots of rocking and whimpering (by all). It's a good thing Santa made it by our house before all of that or he would have passed us right by since we were all wide awake. After checking out Santa's generosity in the morning we headed for Grandma Cathy's for an early lunch and more presents. Home for a much needed nap, and then out to Great Grandma Jean's for the traditional prime rib dinner with the Riggs side of the family. Landon was a trooper and had a great time with everyone.

Now that the week is over we're all starting to feel better.

Goal!

We made it to our goal! Landon has been exclusively breastfed for the first six months of his life! This was no easy feat with all sorts of obstacles in the way from my thyroid problems to Landon's reflux to a loooong and rough battle with thrush. In all honesty I didn't think we'd make it six weeks let alone six months, and here we are with a freezer stash and no real end in sight!

Landon had his follow up appointment with the GI specialist for his reflux. It's now been a full week of him being off the reflux medicine and things are going well! He hasn't missed receiving and we haven't missed giving him the meds! At this moment the pH probe test that we were talking about just a few months ago is completely off the table!

Things are looking great!

Mmmmm, avocado!

It's official! Landon has officially embarked on eating "real" food. The solo milk days are gone...and the solo milk-fed diaper days too, but we haven't been graced with a poopy diaper yet (I'll keep you posted). Landon got his very first taste of avocado this weekend - and loved it! I'm not sure how much actually ended up in his mouth versus on his bib, in his hands, or on the high chair tray, but we all had fun feeding him!

Love at first bite? Not quite sure...

Landon says, "gimmie that spoon, Mommy! I can feed myself!"

Mmmmm.....tasty!

We've been too busy having fun and decorating for Christmas! Besides scarfing avocado Landon's newest trick is sitting up unassisted! He loves this whole new view of the world without having to rely on Mommy and Daddy to let him watch everything go by.

Just because I love this one...