Grammie too

I meant to post these after my family left in March. I realized that I really didn't have any on my blog with Grammie (my mom) or Nana ( my grandma) so here they are! They are great pictures. We had such a wonderful time and have memories of all the fun. I can't wait until next year.

9 months

My little man is getting bigger every minute. First things first...his stats: he is 30 and 1/8 inches long and 18 lb 13 oz. Not too bad for a guy that won't touch food with a ten foot pole. The Dr was unhappy with his weight gain and suggested adding formula to his diet and 'force feeding' him as much as possible. Needless to say I totally freaked out and have been on over-drive since. I felt very rushed at the visit and had several other concerns.....all of which seemed to be solvable (is that a word?) with formula, according to the Dr. Yeah right! He did mention a possible food allergy. It is ironic that he would suggest a dairy based formula to a child with suspected food allergies, since dairy is one of the most common food allergies in babies.
So here is what we have been doing for that last week. First I started taking my 'lactation' herbs and rented a hospital grade pump to help increase my supply. Since he won't take a bottle (again with the 10 ft pole) I figured I wanted to maximize what I could get into him. I called the Dr a few days later expressing my concern. They suggested going to a dietician. I am not sure how that would help, since he isn't eating food. The nurse even said, "Maybe she can teach you how to get him to eat." Like I haven't tried everything under the sun from standing on my head to adding a little butter to fresh sweet potatoes...the kid won't open that mouth! After consulting with the Dr they agreed to write orders for a RAST test. (allergy blood test)
Being the overprotective-first-time-mom (who feels very in tune with her baby) that I am and spending every minute with Nicholas (waking and sleeping) I was not satisfied with the way the Drs office handled things. I am in the process of scheduling an appointment with a Pediatric Gastroenterology Consultant. (They need the medical records faxed over from the Ped office.) He has so many 'symptoms' that just aren't adding up to only a stubborn baby refusing to eat. I know that he has a mind of his own, but I really feel that there is something more that the Drs are not taking the time to acknowledge. Once I get into the PGC I WILL be changing pediatricians....don't you worry.
For now I am doing everything I can to ease Nicholas' tummy troubles. I love him more than anything in the whole world and hope that this is easily treated. Please say a prayer for this little guy. Babies shouldn't have tummy trouble that are so severe that they don't want to eat Cherrios and fresh bananas or drink from a sippy cup.
To end things on a happy note here are some milestones that his has reached in the past two weeks that are just so sweet to see
crawling like CRAZY
going from any position to sitting
pulling himself up to a standing position
waving bye-bye
pointing at things
using his finger and thumb to pick stuff up (like cheerios)
crossing his fingers (good luck)
It seems like it all happened almost over night. He is a pretty happy baby, but is still pretty clingy.....probably the tummy thing. I will keep you updated.

Beep Beep

Nicholas got this car for Easter. I don't want to get all commercial with the holidays, but we thought it would be a good 1st Easter present....since he has NO idea about anything yet.
It changes from a 'walker' to a 'rider' really easily. He just loves it. It has a key, horn, lights, and radio buttons that all make noise and sing 1 the ABC's or 2 the 123's. The lights flash and a voice talks....he is mesmerised!

Easter

I had a lot of fun picking out Nicholas' Easter outfit. I got it from Children's Place and LOVE it. I am going to get 9 month pictures taken this week. (I hope) Don't we look cute?
My baby boy and his Mama..........too sweet.
Look at that face, every time I look at him I am speechless. His eyes are so blue and his smile spreads across his whole face. I am not sure how I am ever going to tell him no!
Nicholas' face says it all.........I am so happy and I love my Mama and Daddy......Happy Easter everyone!

Buzzzzzz

My little man got another haircut! I figured that I needed something a little better to cut his hair with so I got "Peanut" clippers. I went to Sally's and asked what they would recommend for a little guy. I bought a very small, peanut shaped clipper. I liked it because I call Nicholas Peanut Butter. So on Saturday we put him on the table and buzzed his hair off! Up to this point I was only getting the top. The sides have finally filled in and they were getting long. It is shorter than I thought it would be, but isn't he the sweetest little buzzed head 9 month old you ever saw?

Ride 'em Cowboy

Look at him.....9 months old and riding like like a pro. He will sit on this horse and play for a long time. (20 minutes) He can even pull himself up if he starts sliding off. My how far he has come in 9 short months!

Too cute

Precious, precious, precious!

Nicholas looks just like ........

I would know this face anywhere. I will find the picture of my sister when she was little and post it next to this one. I know that Nicholas looks a lot like Matt, but every so often I see my sister in him. You know her nick name was "Blonde Bomber" because she was always on the move....and a little toughy. Can't you just eat him UP?

no pics, just stories

Unfortunately I don't have pictures to go along with these two stories, but they must be told.

Yesterday Matt and I took Nicholas to the beach. But not just any beach. It is a 'park' along the coast with a lighthouse and is dog friendly. We loaded up the crew and drove to the beach. Matt and I found this place not long after we moved to FL and LOVE it. It is an inlet and if you walk around the beach you eventually end up all alone. We set up the chairs and played in the waves with Nicholas. He loved it. I lathered him with spf 50, at 4pm. He had on swim trunks, a t-shirt and a big sun hat. He looked adorable and had a smile on his face every time he looked up. I can see (in my mind) Matt holding Nicholas' hands and walking in the water with him. It just makes me smile. In this spot you can watch boats sail by and we usually see dolphins about 10ft off shore. It is a little piece of heaven. Matt and I both sat there and wondered if it gets any better than this.......sitting together, with Nicholas sleeping in my arms, on the beach, with our dog.

I have been reading this book for what seems like forever. So when Nicholas goes down for his PM nap I try to read. Today was no exception. I was trying to finish up the chapter and he woke up. I brought him out on the patio with me in his exersaucer and kept reading....I had about 3 pages to go. I was reading and I couldn't help but notice he was quiet. I looked up and saw him holding two pages of a hard book on his exersaucer....looking very much like he was reading. I watched for a minute and he was studying those animals.......the same ones he has been looking at since October. He lasted almost a whole song (on the radio) and then his head got closer and closer to the page. He finally rested his head on the page. I was cracking up. I asked him if he was tired of reading he laughed and tensed his arms and legs. What a little character. I LOVE HIM!

Standing room ONLY

Nicholas is ready to get those legs moving. He loves to stand up. Tonight he was using his belly to balance on the couch and walk back and forth. I had to laugh...he was moving from one side to the other just rubbing that belly along the cushion, forget holding on to anything.

Faces of Nicholas

This morning Nicholas and I were out on the patio. I fed him breakfast and he was putting on a show. It was so funny. In a few you can really see those 3, yes three, teeth. He is starting to eat better....now that the company is gone. He is so much fun. I just put him to bed and downloaded the pictures, I can't believe another day is gone. He is growing up right before my eyes.

by the way the time that tells when I post these logs is WAY off....I'm not typing at 6am!

What happened to March?

It has been great having my family here for the month of March. My parents have been here almost 5 weeks and leave on Sunday, they rented a condo on the beach. I loved having them here, without the stress of having to entertain them in our house. Christie and Grandma came down for 2 weeks, that flew by too quickly. Here are some pictures of the crew with Nicholas.....he is so loved!

Famous

My parents have a picture of me with big sunglasses on....I will find it and add it to this log. Precious baby boy....I love YOU!

Ice cubes

"This is where they get the ice cubes for the ice machine, I surprised the water isn't frozen over," said Poppie! But Grammie was right both Nicholas and Konstantina LOVED the water......a bit chilly for both Mommies. My parents are staying down here for 5 weeks in a condo on the beach. It is great. I invited Voula and Dina over for the afternoon. We let the kids play in the pool. They ate some sweet potatoes and played in the pack in play while we got to visit. A wonderful playdate with our favorite baby girl and her Mommy.

Behind Bars

We lowered Nicholas' mattress about 6 weeks ago, anticipating the day he will be able to stand against the railing. For now he sits and peeks at me through the 'bars' of his bed. I sit him in his crib when I put his clothes away or am restocking the diaper area, etc. Yesterday he started playing peek a boo with me through the railing. I played a while with him knowing that as soon as I got up to get the camera he would stop.
I was right, but he was a good sport and gave me some cute shots! He is such a fun baby and is easily entertained with the simplest things, a Kleenex box or a water bottle, and of course saying p-a-b over and over again with mama. I just love him.

Date Night

We finally went out to dinner with my friend Voula and her family. Voula and Konstantina and Nicholas and I have been 'playdating' for almost 5 months. Our husbands have heard all about each other's baby, but never met. So in a spur of the moment decision we all met at Outback....kids and husbands too. We had a great time and the kids love hanging out together. They recognize each other and talked away. Nicholas even ate a container of sweet potatoes AND squash. A good time was had by all.

Who is this BABY???

Who is this baby? He would be Nicholas. My how he has changed, huh? He is about 2 weeks old in the picture and full of chubby cheeks. My sis bought him the onesie from Old Navy.....I love Surfer Girls. He out grew that too fast. Just look at his adorable face (I know there is a chin under those cheeks somewhere!) and the hair.....I miss my 2 weeks old baby!

Blue eyes

I know that Matt and I both have blue eyes, but Nicholas' eyes are such a dark blue. My dad has really dark blue eyes...maybe he got them from Poppie. I hope that they stay the color they are now...mama's blue eyed baby boy!

Little Family

I love taking pictures of the three of us, our little family. It is amazing how quickly time passes. This May Matt and I will celebrate three years of marriage. Where did the time go? We now have this precious little boy that we can't imagine how we ever lived without. We have love and smiles, what could be better? We are so blessed and thank God every day.

My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day. Little man Nicholas is 7 mos old and growing fast. We didn't have a Drs apt this month so I am relying on our 'methods' of measurement, so according to those he is 29 1/4 in long and 18 and 1/2 lbs! What a little butterball turkey! He is eating good, on most days, and is still nursing like a mad man. He is a roller, able to cross an entire room in a few seconds flat. If he sees something he wants ~ look out there he goes. I am looking forward to some sleep, sooner rather than later, when his 2nd tooth makes its debut. He is a fussy little guy cutting teeth. Here are some Valentine cutie's pictures to celebrate our very special day.