6 Months

Happy 6 Months Cillian!!!! On your 6th month birthday, you got to experience your frist SNOW! James was slightly more excited than you :)

To be honest, I have no idea where the last six months went. Like, I recall experiencing them, but looking back it seems like a blur. A blur that has left me exhausted. I kid.

Over these last 6 months, we have seen Cillian make so many strides, accomplish so many things that we didn't know if he could and it's just really astounding. We are settling into a nice routine at night now with both boys and that's been great. Naps and waking are not on a set schedule but they are definitely more predictable if that makes sense. Cillian usually takes a bath with Doug and then I take him, get him ready for bed, give him his bottle and put him down. During this time, James will take a shower or bath (Doug is with him - he's not bathing himself yet!) and then Doug will get him ready for bed and then I'll come in and we'll spend some solo time with James reading.

Cillian is really enjoying bath time and is playing with a little boat and some floating letters. He just reclines on Doug and just kicks his legs gently in the water. He loves the bath. He just relaxes, thumb and finger in his mouth - just the sight of him in my head right now is making me giggle. Just this little tiny thing acting so cool and chill. When he gets out his whole body is pink. So cute.

Cillian has been enjoying the bouncer more and more. And, as a personal achievement, I have now figured out TWO songs on the jungle jumperoo thing from Fisher Price. IF you know what the other two songs are, please for the love of everything good and holy tell me. It's been driving me nuts since James was in that thing. The two that I've figured out are songs 1 and 3 (Froggy went a courtin' and Itsy Bitsy Spider).

Anyway, Cillian has also been enjoying sitting on our laps and holding/playing with blocks. It's a little different with him than it was with James because we have to tweak situations so that he can see what he's doing etc. It's a bit of trial and error but we're doing it the best we can. He likes the blocks a lot and is starting to grab at things more and more lately. For example, the nasal aspirator thing - he grabs at the hose when I'm cleaning his nose out and tries to pull it from me. He also has been grabbing at the syringe when I give him his meds. And he's been trying to grab the spoon when I feed him. He gets so excited. He will try and eat the spoon and his bib and his fingers all at the same time. Especially when he's eating carrots - LOVES carrots.

I've made sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash and peas. He's in a little bit of a rut. I've still got green beans, parsnips and zucchini to make for him. Then it'll be on to the fruits. His favorites so far are sweet potatoes and carrots. But his by far number one are carrots. He smacks his lips together and kicks his foot in-between bites. Peas are on the bottom of the list. Eating peas takes for-ev-er because he essentially spits them back out at me. HOWEVER, peas are a necessary evil - they help everything *move along* as it were. . . . the next time I'm making them, I'm putting them through a strainer after I steam and puree them and see if a smoother consistency helps.

Cillian is taking anywhere from 24-28 ounces a day in addition to his solid food which he gets once a day. He is doing better with the bottles - he usually takes two ounces and then needs to be burped and it's usually a HUGE burp and then needs to relax for a bit and then he can take more. Feeding him can take up to an hour sometimes. I think he just is getting to know his tummy and how much it can take at once without spitting up. So that's good. Recently, he's been able to take 4 ounces without stopping and that's just huge. It's great. Also, Cillian has been taking the 8.8 ounce bottles at at least one feeding each day!

A huge difference between Cillian and James is the car. James would get in the carseat in the car, the car would move and if we were in the car for more than 15 minutes, he'd be out - like chin to chest, out like a light. Cillian on the other hand is UP. Like totally awake. Even if it's his naptime, he's up. He has to be really tired to sleep in the car. So weird. But I guess it's not too weird. James is sitting right next to him talking and playing with his leapfrog phone thingy with the dog named Scout on it. Or we're listening to music on the phone so ... I guess it's not exactly nap-friendly in the car.

Cillian is experiencing his first cold - it's a bad and nasty cold. His nose is totally and completley stuffed up, he's coughing so much and you guys, he sounds stuffy when he chirps and makes his noises. It breaks my heart. We've been sitting in the bathroom with the shower running on hot to steam and drain his nose, we've been using the nasal aspirator which if you've used one, you know how that goes. Hopefully he gets better soon - all four of us have been fighting colds/ear infections/sore throats for the last 2+ weeks. Lots of tea drinking, rounds of antibiotics (for me and James), nose blowing and Disney movie watching. I'm starting to have dreams where the soundtracks are from the Jungle Book, Robin Hood and Cinderella. Oy.

But, back to Cillian. His 6 month appointment will be 1/30 so the stats will be posted next week.

However, we did have Cillian's appointment with Dr. Z. He's going to have the sling surgery. Here's where I am. Doug and I have both agreed and we agree with the doctors. Cillian needs this surgery. When we hold him facing us, he cannot see us. We have to hold him above us so that he can see us. He will not be able to sit, or to stand without this surgery. His eyes will not be perfect following the surgery, but he will be able to see better. They will be opened approximately 1mm more and to Cillian, it will be a whole new world.  Today I was talking with James at lunch and Cillian was playing on his mat. James asked me why Cillian was having another surgery I had this conversation with him.

James: Why does Cillian have to have surgery again.

Me: Well .... Okay, open your eyes as wide as you can. I'm going to do it too. See how big you can open your eyes?

James: Yes!

Me: Cillian cannot do that.

James then looks down at Cillian

James: Why can't he do that Mom?

Me: Open your eyes really wide again. Do you feel your face moving and your muscles moving to open your eyes?

James: Yes

Me: Cillians muscles are not as strong as ours. The doctor, Dr. R is a friend of Dr. Z's and Dr. R is going to help Cillian. He is going to put special tools in Cillian's eyes to help those muscles. And then Cillian will be able to open his eyes a little wider.

James: All the way Mom?

Me: No, not all the way but so much more than he can now. And you know what will be his favorite thing to see better? You.

James: He loves me Mom.

Me: Cillian does love you very much.

James: I will never ever ever say I don't love him Mom.

Me: I know you love him too James.

Here's some photos of our little guy. He's our little champ. We love him so.

Just hanging out. 

 

Sweet Potatoes ALL over my face

 

 

Taking it all in

 

Pea Goatee Redux 2013

 

Thinking about the Bears season

 

 

Hopeful for next year!

 

 Very intense - Reading all about Dino Tails

Not feeling well :(

 

Attacking the teething ring

 

Tummy time

 

Brothers

 

Dual play 

 

The elephant never had a chance

 

Oh Hi!

 

 

Lately, I've been finding myself singing Roy Orbison's "You Got It" to him. We dance together to it some days. Okay, most days. What can I say? He's too cute and I love Roy Orbison. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6a9jC-K8I There's the link to the video on youtube. You're Welcome. Now go listen to Roy and say, "Happy Six Months Cillian!!!!!!!!! Anything at all - Baby, You got it!"

 

 

Happy 6 Months to our Dear Sweet Dariling Cillian!