Letters to Ari...7 months old

Dear Ari,

Daddy and I were just talking that this month was one of the fastest ever with you.  The month really flew by and I think it's because of how busy you have kept us.  You are one active, mobile little guy now! I find myself wishing I could stop time because we are just SO incredibly happy spending our days with you.  You're so much fun to be with ...learning new things and as happy as can be.

 Happy 7 months sweet baby boy!

 

Milestones/Special Firsts:

- As you can see above, you have started pulling up...on everything!  The couch, the chair, kitchen cupboards, the toilet (ew), the bathtub...you name it!  You pull up...explore...then plop back down on your butt.  Crawling & pulling up are your favorite things to do right now! 

- You play from your knees now, especially by your toy basket.  You like to get up on your knees so you can see better into the bottom of your basket.  

- We have established a much better sleep schedule after Dr. Ubell told us you were getting up way too many times throughout the night.    We are so thankful she gave us this extra push/advice.  You made huge sleeping strides! Now you go to bed around 7:00 p.m. and have adapted well to the new routine.  You do a lil whining and within minutes you are "out".  You're still getting up once in the early morning to eat and then sleeping until about 6 a.m.

 You want me to do what in here?

Funny joke ma

- We enjoyed our first snow day as a family.  Daddy went outside to shovel and brush the car off and Mommy was so excited when her friend texted saying there was no school.  We bundled up and walked to Einstein Bagel and had some breakfast, hot chocolate, and coffee.  You were so tuckered out from our walk home, you fell asleep.  We laid you in the snow and you actually stayed sleeping, until Buckwheat ran by and some snow went flying on your face...poor guy.

 At Einstein

A lil nap in the snow

Hanging with Buckwheat

- You have started crawling up stairs!  We couldn't believe it! Once you set your mind on something, you do it fairly quickly.  We noticed at daycare you were getting interested in the stairs and it was about 2 days later you crawled up about 5 stairs.
- You consistently use sign language for "more" at daycare by clapping your two fists together.
- We got your first wave on video! It was so cute...as you were waving you were watching your hand open and close and screeching at the same time.  I wouldn't say you've mastered this yet though, it's a work in progress.
- We celebrated your first St. Patrick's Day.  The weather was yucky and you were sick, so we decided not to go to the Erin parade this year.  Instead, we celebrated by having a Reuben sandwich at County Clare.
- We attended our first family night at daycare.  It was an art night and some of your art pieces were up for auction.  We had a blast watching you with your friends and meeting the parents of your classmates. You and the other babies even painted and let all of us watch.

 Messy boy

How fun!

Things You Like Right Now: 

- Buckwheat's water bowl!  Your memory is sharp and you are fast! You crawl repeatedly into the kitchen and dart full speed straight for Buckwheat's water bowl.  Right before you get there, one of us swoops you up before we have a wet lil guy.  We take you into the living room by your toys, distract you, and within seconds you high tail it back into the kitchen on a mission to get to that water bowl.  We literally spent all month playing this game with you and explaining to you that the water dish belongs to Buckwheat and is not for your little hands to play in. Well, the day we took your 7 month pictures we decided we would "give in" and let you play with the water dish.  So mommy washed it out and filled it with fresh water.  We set you down right outside the kitchen and you were seriously giggling and panting as you sprinted towards the dish.  You had the time of your life, leaning into the bowl and splashing.  We had so much fun watching you, laughing at you, and taking pictures. Buckwheat was jealous of course and couldn't stop whining.  

 At last!

- You love eating in your new big boy high chair.  You started eating many new finger foods this month including broccoli, watermelon, avocado, bread, cheese, noodles, crackers, rice cakes, sweet potato and cauliflower. You prefer finger foods now instead of baby food purees.  In fact, you refuse to eat the purees at daycare now.  You still eat them for mommy at home, but apparently don't like to eat them in front of your friends anymore.  You definitely show you are excited to eat by bouncing up and down and breathing heavy every time we're getting your food ready. 

Snacking on some puffs

- You love to "sleep sit".  Yes, you sit up in your crib and then fall asleep hunched over in the sleeping position.  We've watched this from the hallway and your eyes get heavy and your head rolls back.  You've even bumped forehead on the crib as your head bobbles.  Then you completely hunch over and snooze away.  I think you would stay this way all night, if we let you.  But Daddy or I go into your bedroom and lay you flat.  We're not sure if you're doing this because you're stubborn or just too tired to realize it's time to lay down.  

We took a Vine video of you sleep sitting to share with our family/friends

- Music! Music is always playing in our house, whether we're hanging out playing in the living room, getting ready for the day, or feeding you in the kitchen.  You love watching mommy & daddy sing & dance...the sight mesmerizes you! 

- Clapping! You literally clap about everything that makes you happy...all day long.  

- You seem to LOVE water and thoroughly enjoy being bathed.  We're looking forward to starting swim lessons with you in April since you seem to love the water so much. 

Bath time..sink style

Things You Dislike Right Now:

- Being sick!  I'm sorry to tel you this sweetheart, but you were sick for almost the entire month.  You had a double ear infection, eye infection, a virus, and a nasty cold.  You really are a trooper because despite all the illnesses, you still managed to put on a smile every day and be in a fairly decent mood.  I felt so bad for you because it was so hard for you to sleep while your ear infection was at its worst.  Daddy and I took turns sleeping on the rocking chair with you, because it seemed to help you sleep better versus being in your crib.  You would wake up multiple times throughout the night screaming and pushing your body and head back because you were in pain.  The antibiotics really took a couple of days to make you feel better.  We're praying that we don't have any more ear infections.  This was your third and your doctor said if you keep getting them, we may need to have tubes put in.  

- You hate being changed on the changing table right now.  We sing to you, make noises, and give you things to play with to try and distract you while being changed.  It's like you just don't have the patience to wait for silly us to change your diaper.  You want to be constantly moving and exploring around the house, not laying on a changing table.  

Your Dad:

- Your Dad had to be away from you for 3 days this month.  He had to go to a restorative justice training for work in Wisconsin Dells.  He missed you so much and constantly checked his phone for updates including pictures and videos.  Being away from you for the first time really hit him hard and he was absolutely thrilled to be back home.  

- Daddy felt it was so special when you had your first "stranger" moment.  You were at the doctor's office and when the doctor walked in you held on to daddy so tight with all four of your limbs.  You didn't recognize the doctor and you were trusting your daddy to keep you safe.  You even buried your head into his chest.  He said it was a moment he will never forget.  

- Daddy loves shopping with you.  He won't let anyone else push the stroller...really.  It doesn't matter where we are, he is just so proud to have you as his son and wants the whole world to see the two of you together.  

Hanging out at the mall 

Your Mom:

- Wow did your mom miss your daddy while he was gone.  I really enjoyed my time with you over the weekend, but couldn't stop myself from missing daddy and having the three of us together as family.  

- A highlight for me this month has been spending so much time with you hanging out in the kitchen: trying new foods, cooking, doing the dishes together, and listening to music.  We make a good team!

- You seem to really prefer your mommy lately.  You follow me around the house from room to room constantly. Once you get to me you pull up on my legs and put your arms out to be picked up.    Sometimes I wonder if its because you know I am the one that feeds you or if you just really love me that much...maybe it's a little of both.  

At County Clare on St. Patrick's weekend

I can't say it enough sweet boy...you make your daddy and I so happy!  I  tear up every day and say to your daddy, "I just love him so much" and Daddy replies, "Me too".  You have made all our dreams come true and we thank God every single day.  I miss you every second we're apart, whether I am at work, in the shower, or sleeping.  You're the last thing on my mind at night and the first thing on my mind in the morning.  

Happy 7 months Aristaeus Jace!

Love, 

Your Mommy

And here are a few more fun pics from this month...

 Shopping at Little Monsters

 Nakey time 

 New swim trunks!

 You already love reggae music!

 Kisses from your favorite auntie

Reading in bed :)

Letters to Ari...6 months old

Dear Ari Jace,

It's your mommy here again and you are a half of a year old already! We are in utter disbelief of how quickly our time is going with you.  We are so proud of you as you learned many new things this month.

 As you can see, it was much harder to take your shots this month because you were on the move!

  Birthday kisses from your best friend 

6 month stats: 18 pounds 5 ounces & 29 1/4 inches long

Milestones/Special Firsts: 

- You started crawling! Yes, it's really true ...you became a mobile baby overnight.  You began crawling 4 days before your 6 month birthday.  We were at physical therapy on Valentine's Day and you're therapist said, "He is going to start crawling any day now."  Well, it was the very next day that you started.  So I bet you're wondering ...what motivated me to 'get on the move'? PUFFS! Yes, when you see that puff you motor across the room as fast as  you can to get it. It's not just an army type of crawl either...it's a full out four limb crawl.  We are so proud of you! Our lives changed overnight because now you are all over the house.  At first, you just used your crawling skills to get to puffs & toys.  Now you realized that you can crawl to follow mommy around the entire house.  You even follow your buddy Buckwheat from room to room.  I think he's starting to realize that you are going to be a pretty fun playmate.  

Crawl, crawl, crawl

- You have added quite a few solids to your diet.  You currently eat peas, prunes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, apples, and pears! Your favorite at the moment is winter squash.  You open your mouth so wide for it and will even lean forward with your mouth open while you wait for the next bite.  You also started eating puffs.  I was nervous, but amazed at how well you mash it between your gums. Daddy and I love sitting with you and feeding you. It's a special time for us. We talk about how our days went and model different sounds while you have your full attention on us.

 Peas

 Prunes

Carrots

- You clap! At about 5 1/2 months, you turned into a clapping machine.  Anytime you are proud of yourself its clap, clap, clap...look at me.  This started with taking two toys and banging them together and then turned into the clapping about a week later.  We think it is the most adorable thing ever.

- You celebrated your first Valentine's Day.  You received Valentine's from your friends at daycare and went out to dinner with mommy & daddy after daycare.

Valentine's morning

Things You Like Right Now:

- You're still in love with baths! And now that you're so good at sitting, we started giving you baths in the kitchen sink.  You think this is the coolest thing and would sit in that sink all day if we would let you. 

- Even though it's winter in Wisconsin here, you love being outside.  We try to get out as often as we can to play with Buckwheat.  You just look around wide eyed.  You've even started to notice the cars passing by and follow them with your eyes until they're out of sight.

Looking at all the snow outside

Getting ready to play outside 

Snow angel with Buckwheat

- You love sitting in high chairs when we go to restaurants.  I think it makes you feel like a "big boy".  We usually hold you on our laps until the food comes and then once it comes, we put you in your high chair and you are as content as can be.  You also think its pretty cool to ride in shopping carts!

This is pretty cool mommy

- You like working on art projects! You like the way paint feels on your hands and you open your hands up wide and slap them onto the paper.  

One of your latest masterpieces 

- Talking! Your constantly making noises & sounds now.  You also have this high pitch screech that you use whenever you're super happy.  

- When you're excited to see someone...it shows.  If you're being held and someone you love walks into the room, your legs immediately start flailing/kicking all over the place.  If you're sitting on the floor and someone arrives, you start bouncing up and down smiling.  It melts my heart when I pick you up from daycare and you see me and start doing this.  

Your current dislikes:

- Ear infections! You had your first fever, so we rushed you to the doctor and sure enough you had an ear infection. 

- Getting your medicine...your head turns side to side accompanied with whining as we try to give you your antibiotics and tylenol for your ear infection.  

- Sleeping in your big boy crib all alone through the night.  We have hit quite a sleep regression this month.  It was tough because at first we thought it was linked to your ear infection and we gave you lots of extra attention and cuddling throughout the night.   But even after that was treated, your sleeping habits were poor...we're talking waking every hour or so throughout the night.  You have a hard time right now falling back to sleep all on your own without mommy or daddy comforting you.  We are working on this and hopefully will have better news to report on this front next month! 

- Being changed on the changing table.  You are so over having to lay still for 3 minutes for us to change you. You try rolling over and grabbing anything and everything in sight.  

 Your Dad:  

- Your dad never ceases to amaze me. Before I was pregnant with you, I always dreamed of watching the two of you together and envisioned how rewarding it would be to see a father and child together.  Now that you're here...I always feel like I need to pinch myself, because I can't figure out if I am in a dream or living in reality.  Watching the two of you together melts my heart.  Your dad is so loving, kind, and nurturing with you.  He is very proud of you and takes so much joy in watching you learn and grow.
- Daddy continues to research everything! From the safest convertible car seat...to different nipple types...to baby foods...to high chairs...to basically everything! He always wants what is best for you and I don't for a second ever hesitate when it comes to something daddy has picked out for you.

 Wearing your snapback, just like daddy 

Father & son bonding time...doing the dishes 

Your Mom:

- Mommy wishes she could spend every waking second with you.
- Mommy has an obsession kissing your sweet cheeks!
- Mommy has finally settled into a new daily routine being back at work. A typical day for Mommy looks something like this...
4:30 a.m. alarm sounding
4:40 shower & get ready
5:30 prep bottles, pick out your outfit for the day, pack daycare bag
5:45 wake you & get you dressed
6:00 nurse you
6:15 leave for work
10:00 pump at work
2:00 p.m.  pump at work
3:15 pick you up from daycare
4:00 wash bottles, wash pump parts
5:00 nurse you
5:15 playtime and/or bath
6:00 feed you dinner
6:30 bedtime routine (pajamas, reading, snuggling)
7:30 night night Ari
9:00 goodnight mommy

It's a crazy busy day, but I wouldn't want it any other way!

 Mommy getting you dressed for daycare

Mommy had a meeting after school...so daddy picked you up from daycare and brought you to mommy's classroom for a visit

Just so in love with you sweet baby boy

You're the light of our lives Ari.  You make our family complete and we're so thankful to have you in our lives.  We're so blessed that YOU were a part of God's plan for us all along.

Love,

Your Mom

Okay, just one more pic....

You weren't so sure about prunes...:)

Letters to Ari...5 months old

Dearest Ari, 

I wish there was a "freeze time" button that I could press right now.  You are growing up so fast and really changing every day.  Daddy and I are always looking at each other and saying "That was new" after you did something.  I wake up every day and am so excited for another day with you and Daddy.  I was at work early one morning and thinking about you.  I knew you and Daddy were probably on the way to daycare.  I texted Daddy and said "Can you believe WE have a SON to drop off at daycare?!?!?!" It still feels so surreal that you're actually here and a part of our lives every day.  I wouldn't want it any other way...not even for a single second.  

  Happy 5 months!

   You really want to crawl!

  Love when you tuck that little lip.

Milestones/Special Firsts: 

Wow Ari, I don't even know where to start for this one.  This was a very busy and special month for you. 

-You celebrated your first Christmas! Everywhere we went, you just lit up the room.  A couple days before Christmas, we went to visit your Great Grandma Glisch in Markesan.  Your Grandma Staedler met us there. Looking back, it was an extra special visit ... our last one with Great Grandma as she just died.  On Christmas Eve, we had Mommy's side of the family over.  Daddy made his baked ziti, we watched a Charlie Brown Christmas, and opened gifts together.  You were pretty impressed with your Aaron Rodgers jersey from your auntie.  Then you celebrated Christmas morning at your Nonee & Papou's house.  It was such a gorgeous day as there had been a recent snowfall and the sun was shining bright! After we opened presents, we all went outside and played in the snow.  This was your first experience playing in snow.  You didn't smile much while out there - I think you were just in awe of nature's beauty!

  Your last visit with Great Grandma

  Just like Daddy...Go Pack!

  You with your cousins Christmas Eve

  "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

 Playing outside Christmas morning

 First fall in the snow...won't be your last

 Ugly Christmas sweater party

-You took your first vacation.  A couple days after Christmas we took our annual vacation.  This year we went to Sedona, Arizona.  You handled the trip like a champ! I was especially impressed with how well you did on the airplane.  While we were there, we went hiking, visited the Grand Canyon, and rented Jeeps for a day of off-roading.  

  Snoozing the flight away

 Visiting the Grand Canyon

  Hiking is hard work

  Bath time

  Happy to be clean!

 Playing with your cousin

 I'm ready to take the Jeep out Ma!

 - You were baptized on your 5 month birthday!!!! This day was so special to us as we owe all our thanks to God for your arrival.  Mommy and Daddy were very emotional...just so grateful to have you...truly a gift from God.  We kept thinking about the bible verse taken from 1 Samuel 1:27, "For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him."

I bought this for your room

 Your beautiful cake...thank you Auntie Shelley!

  Proud Mommy & Daddy

Things You Like Right Now:

-Eating cereal mixed with Mommy's milk = Yum! You think you are such a big boy and you open wide as soon as you see the spoon.  

 - Thankfully, you are really enjoying daycare.  You are in an infant room where the babies are 4 months up to 2 years.  There is one baby the same age as you and the rest are all older.  You especially seem to love the babes that are walking.  It's like you gaze at them in awe thinking "I wish I could do that".  Daddy drops you off and Mommy picks you up after work  Most days I am there by 2:45 to get you.  Every day when I walk in you are as happy as a clam hanging out with a lil boy named "Logie" that is 20 months old.  I think he's your hero! 

On a walk at daycare

Your first "daily report"

- Sitting up to play.  Yes, you mastered sitting up last month and this month that's all you prefer to do.  You are so strong and do a lot of reaching while sitting to get at the toys you want.  You have great balance already. 

 - Leaning forward from the sitting position.  You really want to crawl!  You even rock yourself back and forth sometimes, but can't quite get started actually crawling yet.  

- Grabbing anything and everything in sight, especially Mommy's hair, necklaces, and earrings. OUCH!

- Pulling yourself up - you will grab onto anything that is taller than you and pull yourself up to the standing position.  You have even done this in your crib...already!

- You always smile when someone sings to you. Your favorite medley's are Patty Cake, Ring Around the Rosie, Three Blind Mice, and the good ol ABC's.  

-Talking. Wow, do you like to be heard! You say "ba", "la", and "ma" over and over again.  

Your current dislikes:

- Colds. Yes, you had a cold this past month.  You had a cough and a stuffed up nose. Mommy got a call at work to come pick you up from daycare because you were so cranky - they couldn't get you to stop crying, which is really out of sorts for you.  You were so stuffed up at night,  you had trouble sleeping and would be up almost every hour.  It's like you would wake up and had a hard time putting yourself back to sleep because your nose was so stuffy. The only thing that seemed to work was laying on mommy's chest.  This lasted a few nights...I felt so bad for you.  With that said, you absolutely hated getting your nose cleaned out with the Snot Sucker.  

-Getting strapped into the car seat.  You like to move and do not appreciate when Mommy or Daddy make you stop to get buckled into the car seat.  

-Napping in your crib all alone in your bedroom during the day.  You just would not have it. 

Your Dad:  

-Your dad was in heaven on vacation with you.  All his dreams of hiking with his son finally came true.  You both loved it!

- Your dad has noticed that you have started to become a bit ticklish this month.  You smile, scrunch your head down, and shrug your shoulders up when we kiss you on your lil neck.

-Daddy had a rough time returning to work this month.  He really cherished all the time he had hanging out with you and Buckwheat at home.  

- Daddy still takes you to your physical therapy appointments.  He comes home so proud to tell me everything the physical therapist said about you.  You still go to therapy once every two weeks.  She said you are ready for just once a month, but we like going every two weeks to learn additional strength building exercises we can do at home.   So we asked her if we could continue coming every 2 weeks and she said yes! This will continue through your 6 month birthday.  

- Daddy let you get your hands on the wheel for the first time when we were on our road trip to the Grand Canyon.  You can see below that you were pretty excited!

- I personally think Daddy is a version of superman. He does so much to make everything go smoothly for you and I every day.  

Your Mom:

-Your mom is still adjusting.  Yes, I was finally getting used to going to work and coming home to you and Daddy and then just like that...it was time for Daddy to go back to work.  I was emotional all over again when you started daycare.  I can tell you that I'm not worried about you at daycare one bit.  I am so happy with Milestones and I know you're enjoying it because I see how happy you are interacting with the other children.  I guess its just more of feeling sad that your daycare teachers get to spend time with you during the day and I don't...that hurts so much.  I just want you all to myself.  

- Your mom is a pretty silly person.  Now that you've grown a bit older, I've definitely started showing you my crazy side.  We have so much fun together, being silly. 

-I'm so happy that nursing has been going well and that I'm still 100% exclusively breast feeding you.  Here we are nursing on the outskirts of a four wheeling trail in Sedona, Arizona. 

This month has come and gone.  Although we are disappointed the days with you are passing so quickly Ari, we are thrilled we have created so many wonderful memories with you.  We are living in the moment... the best days of our lives.  

Love, 

Your Mom