This is SO Much Longer Than I Had Intended

Let me start by thanking everyone for the sweet comments from the last post.  I can’t tell you all how much I appreciated it… it really does help to know that you’re not the only one that’s been through or is going through these types of problems.  It seems to be getting better around here.  For now, at least.  I’ve taken the advice of a friend (besides the deep breathing, which helps us both tremendously… which we’ve been working on since you brought it up a while ago, Jean) and found ways to wear Jack out inside the house.  I bought him one of those balls with a handle that he can bounce around on.  I can pretty much be doing just about anything and ask him if he can bounce around the ottoman! bounce over to the couch! bounce to the TV and back! bounce out to the mailbox and grab the mail!  Ok, so maybe not the last one.  But you get the idea.  I’m half paying attention talking on the phone, feeding Teddy, or making dinner and he’s bouncing til he’s sweaty.  We also pulled out the castle… and that’s wearing him out too.  Although the bouncy ball in the castle is a disaster.

So I’m not sure I had the chance to update you all on Teddy’s four month well baby visit.  You’ll be glad to know he is in the 90th percentile for weight, height and head circumference.  And you know what that means!  Yes, his head is in perfect proportion to his body.  In all seriousness, this child is huge.  16 pounds 6 ounces, as of maybe two weeks ago, so I’m sure by know he’s probably 30 pounds.  I can barely carry him in his carseat anymore and have almost thrown my back out many times picking him up off of the floor.  I checked back on Jack’s stats at his four month visit and he was almost a pound less… and he was a pound less than Teddy when he was born, so it looks like Teddy is off to the same start as Jack.  Something tells me that he’ll be more than 29 pounds when he’s almost three though.  While we’re on the subject of comparing the two… I happened to be reading a few old posts from when Jack was about Teddy’s age.  And I was totally surprised.  I have these memories of Jack being a super high maintenance baby.  And I’m always telling people how laid back Teddy is.  But in the old posts I talk about how laid back Jack is… huh?  Apparently I’m the one who is a little more laid back this time around.  I guess.

So, let’s see, what else?  Teddy is much happier with tummy-time than Jack ever was.  He pushes up off of the floor with his arms and scoots around a little bit.  He can sit up pretty well, with help, so I’m thinking it won’t be long before he’ll be sitting unassisted.  And while he seems incredibly strong, he has absolutely no interest in rolling over.  He rolled over about two weeks ago from front to back – two times in one day – and hasn’t even tried since.  Turkey.  He’s pretty content doing just about anything, so I try to put things out of his reach to motivate him.  He’ll try for a minute or two and then he’ll move on to something else or get distracted by Action Jackson.  Maybe if I lay out a steak dinner that’ll motivate him.

When I took Teddy in for his four month well baby visit the doctor said she’d like me to take him to see a specialist for his flat spot.  Yes, he has a flat spot.  And let me start by saying that the kid spends all of his awake time on his tummy, in the exer-saucer or sitting in my lap.  He spends very little time flat on his back anymore, except for in the carseat (which isn’t flat on his back) and in bed.  I’ve noticed the spot for quite a while now and have been working on it.  Jack had the beginnings of one at his 2 month visit so I got plenty of information at that time on how to help the situation.  And let me tell you, I have pulled all the old tricks and nothing seems to be working.  And I know what the problem is.  The kid sleeps flat on his back.  Spread eagle.  Head straight up.  It doesn’t matter what I do, he somehow manages to get himself back into his zen position.  So, yeah, I’m hoping that we don’t have to go the helmet route.  I’m sure he’d love that.  But I suppose it would be better than that shelf on the back of his head.  I swear you could set your drink on it.  Poor kid.  I was just thinking… if he did have to get a helmet… we could put flame stickers on it and put some sun glasses on him and have his pictures done.  We could just tell his buddies when he’s in high school that he was really into the biking scene at the time.

Ok, I have so much more… Teddy’s eating oatmeal (not rice cereal – not a fan, just like his brother).  Jack helped make pancakes this weekend.  And I’ve finally taken pictures of the kitchen remodel.  I’ll try to get those up later in the week.

Jack helping Daddy make pancakes. With his "rainbow shirt" on over his pj's. I literally have to peal that shirt off of him when he's sleeping.