The Best Half Hour

It's not the longest part of my day but it is by far the best part. That moment when I walk in the house and a little head peaks over the couch or over his exersaucer and that big toothless grin appears. The time when mom, dad and Harrison, all get to play on the living room floor. When Harrison giggles as he shows me how he can "walk" or as I tickle his tummy and and "toss" him in the air. That half hour between being home and bed time when we can laugh and giggle like there isn't another care in the world and if there is, I really don't want to know about it!

8 Months

I can't believe that four weeks have passed already. I feel like the time is going faster each week, faster than we can really keep track of. These last four weeks have brought out more of your personality, your ability to move, your ability to learn and pick things up and your coordination.



You are truly our child as you seem to have a stubborn streak that only your mother and I could bring about. The best example of this stubbornness was trying to get you to drink out of your sippy cup. When we first gave it to you you made us hold it for you which was fine. But when we would make you hold it you would put your arms straight out like a bird and open your mouth with the cup sitting right in front of you. You would start to whine or just keep flapping your arms until one of picks up the cup and puts it in your mouth for you. You have since gotten better about this but every once in a while when you are crabby you refuse to hold the cup.



Your stubbornness is offset by your incredibly sweet moments. Even though you love to see everything that is going on, when you get tired or get unsure of what is going on and you need a hug, you just throw your little hands up in the air in our direction waiting to be picked up and loved. The best moments are putting you to bed, when you are so tired you just cross your arms and lay your head on our shoulders as you stand on our laps after drinking your milk, giving us stories to relay to each other each night.



You are quickly becoming closer to being mobile. You love to have us walk you around the room and your coordination is getting better and better by the day. You are also starting to get up on your hands and knees and rock your little bottom back and forth. We first noticed this when we would get you up in the mornings. We call you our little dinosaur because we'd find you in your crib on your hands and knees and your little back and neck arched looking around like a brontosaurus looking for leaves.

You are very enthusiastic about banging your blocks on other blocks and banging things on your high chair, this seems to be your new thing as you quickly discovered that two things clanging on each other make cool noises. You also like to play with balls and watch them being thrown up in the air or rolled across the floor. You find great amusement in them and laugh and squeal with delight as we toss them your way.



Your personality is starting to shine through bit by bit everyday and we love to watch you grow and progress. Your laughing and squealing brings us such happiness and the best moments are when we all sit in the living room play together.



Your mommy and I can't wait to see what other adventures await as you start to crawl and walk, and as your personality really starts to shine through. You are a rock star, even if only in our hearts. We love you baby boy and cherish each incredible moment with you.

One of those Days

You ever have one of those days where it's barely noon and you feel like it's five o'clock? A day where no matter what you do your child won't stop fussing, not really crying but just a constant hum of malcontent? A day where you want to ship your child to Mexico but you know your wife and the authorities would probably frown upon that decision? Where right when you get to your very wits end your child looks at you smiles and puts his arms around you like he just needs a hug to make it better, and you melt and feel bad for having that thought about sending him to Mexico? You could say I am having one of those days.

Official Diagnosis

Harrison had been a little stuffy and congested the last few weeks. We were afraid that he might be getting another ear infection since the last time he had one he was acting the same way.We took him in about a week ago but everything came back fine. The Doctor told us to watch for sleepless nights, continued runny nose etc. and to bring him back in if any of those things persisted.

Well this week has been all out hell. Harrison has been waking up at least three times a night usually between 2:00 and 5:00 AM crying and screaming. He has been congested in the morning and he hasn't been eating well. He has progressed with his vegetables and cereal but he is still only eating a couple of spoonfuls each time, so when he wakes up at night we have been reluctantly feeding him because he acts like he is a starv'in marvin.

After the fifth straight night of this we decided to take him back in to the doctors just to make sure nothing was wrong.

I took him in today, list of questions and issues from Liz in hand. I sat there explaining to the doctor what was going, reading from my list, trying to answer her questions as best as I could trying to get to the bottom of his "issues".

Me: He wants to eat in the middle of the night when he wakes up
Dr: You should give him more cereal during the day and that will fill him up more.
Me: Yeah, he won't eat more than a couple of spoonfuls
Dr: You might try mixing in some Applesauce
Me: Yeah we tried that and it didn't seem to help much
Dr: OK...hmmm, how is he sleeping during the day
Me: OK, sometimes
Dr: You might try putting him on a routine for naps
Me: Yeah, we have been trying but when he wakes up at night his routine is thrown off
Dr: OK, you can also start pushing back his bedtime to later in the evening and try feeding him before he goes to bed.
Me: Ok, we started doing that a little bit each night
Dr: And he is still waking up?
Me: Yeah
Dr: OK, well his ears are clear and everything else looks good...official diagnosis...Stink Pot!

Great!