First Newborn: 7 Month Update

Mommy Reflection!

Baby AJ is actually 7th months old now! I can’t believe it! He is doing so much and all over the place! Everything seems to be moving so fast! It’s like one moment he was breaking out of his swaddle to all of sudden he’s crawling across the room, crawling under tables, pulling DVD’s down, PULLING UP on the couch, pulling up in the crib and walking across the room pushing a laundry basket!!!! Where did the time go????? I tell yall I wasn’t ready for all of this so soon! I’m starting to wonder if it all has to do with him being a boy and an active one at that why he’s moving so fast. So, those of you that have had boys and girls, did your boys move faster than the girls physically then the girls moved faster intellectually and maturity-wise? I’m curious about that and also need to prepare myself! I wasn’t prepared for all of this at 6 and 7 months old!!!

What’s New With AJ!

· AJ has been crawling and pulling up since 6 months, but he has perfected his crawling from crawling on his feet to finally crawling on his knees, and he’s more coordinated with his crawl. He is a speed racer now!!

· After AJ turned 6 months, I started pulling up! It started when I was sitting on the couch one evening eating a snack, and he made his way to the couch, climbed up, and tried to reach out to grab my plate! The look on my face, though!!! I was trying to figure out where and when he learned to pull up! (LOL) And so soon!!! Now, he does it nonstop. He pulls up in his crib, so I no longer can put him in his crib awake and let him go to sleep on his own. He wants to stand up now…and tug on the window blinds!!! So, I put him in the crib when he is dozing off to sleep or is already asleep.

· AJ caught his first cold, and it was not fun. He did not sleep well. He usually sleeps from 8pm to 6am. Well, with the stuffiness, he woke up about every couple of hours and would stay awake for another couple of hours instead of going right back to sleep. Talk about long nights and then having to get up 5:30am to go to work. It got real for me! Motherhood got real! The sleepless nights. The holding him down to suction out his nose. My poor baby! I gave AJ Tylenol whenever needed, gave a few drops of saline nasal drops before bed, and suctioned his nose whenever it got really congested or when I could see the yuckiness in his nose. I also cut back on the baby food servings and increased the breast milk nursings to help him fight off the cold (and to comfort him).

· AJ has teeth coming in!!! We just checked his gums today and sure enough, he has some teeth coming in at the bottom! It hasn’t broken through yet, but it will be soon! So, check back for an update on teething in AJ’s 8 month update next month! I saw AJ’s gums and saw the teeth starting to come in, and I wanted to CRY!!! I was so happy, so proud, and so sad my baby is growing so fast!

What I’ve Bought!

I bought AJ his first WALKER! I did this because I was in need of something to keep him from getting into things, but can stay active. I looked into the gates, but they are not big enough. AJ would realize he doesn’t have much room to crawl and play around in and would get unhappy, which would defeat the whole purpose. Now that he’s mobile, I’m wanting him to be able to play and explore without getting to dangerous areas and I get things done like in the living room working, laundry, or in the kitchen cooking (my kitchen is open to the living room, so we would still be in the same room). The gates that were big enough were like $300!!!!! So, I needed another option. Then, I thought of a walker. In a walker, AJ can move around the room and not get into anything he doesn’t need to. My husband also mentioned it, so I knew we were on the same page. I also needed something for him to be active in and safe while I work at the school. Sometimes I need that time after school to grade papers, set things up, etc. I was mostly doing that with him in my lap or on my hip or if someone else was watching him. I thought a walker would be great, so my mom and I found one we like, and AJ loved it also when we tried it out in the store! I will do a review later on how the walker is working out and how I like that particular one.

AJ’s Quick Updates!

Weight: 17lbs 3oz

Length: 27 in.

Feedings: Breast milk every 3 to 4 hours (approx. 6-7 oz)

Baby food- 2-3 times a day (apples, peaches, pears, bananas, carrots, grapes, blueberries) with cereal (1-2 tsp)

Sleeping: 3-4 one-hour naps during the day

9pm-6am (night)

Diapers: Size 3 (day time), Size 4 (overnight)

Clothes: 6-9 months

Shoes: Size 3C

Baby Purchases: walker, more sleepers, baby on board magnet, lactation cookies and tea, diapers (always!)

(PIC)