No Time To Eat

Lately, Weston seems more interested in playing than eating. Tonight we snapped a photo that demonstrates this perfectly. He didn't want to let go of his car while he ate:) It used to be that eating was his main priority, and he would let us know loud and clear that he was hungry. Now, exploring his world definitely takes priority, and not only is he easily distracted when he eats, but he will object if you take something away from him that he was playing with. Sometimes, it seems like he would just skip eating if Mom and Dad didn't remind him by bring out a bottle, which seems to switch on the light that says- oh yeah, I'm hungry!

Rice Cereal

Okay- here are some promised pictures and a video of Weston's first experience eating cereal! I think the video and pictures speak for themselves as to how much he liked it:)

This is before he ate anything- he had no idea what was coming.

This is when he starts to question if eating is really as fun as Mommy and Daddy make it look.

After the video we tried to offer a little bit more and he literally pushed the spoon away and refused to open his mouth. We have tried cereal two more times since this experience and each time has gotten better. Today he still made a sour face, but he opened his mouth wide when we offered more.

New Move and Sounds

Lately, Weston has been keeping us laughing with his "new move" and his new sounds. Here is a video of the move I was talking about in a previous post- complete with his hilarious face (I wish I could make it bigger so you could see it better though).

(Hey Beth- if you thought the picture was funny, then you will love this video.)

Here is a video compilation of some of his latest noises he has been making- let's just say he has found the frog in his throat.

Weston was officially six months old on Saturday, and today he had his six month check-up. The pediatrician said he looks great and got a kick out of how much he looks like his Daddy (go figure, we have never heard that before)! His stats are 14 lbs 4 oz and 25 1/2 inches long. She also said we could start him on rice cereal, so be looking for a video of that experience soon! Lastly, he cried the hardest he has so far when he got his shots- granted he was over tired and hungry, but it broke our hearts when his breath was catching after he was done crying:(

It's Official

Well, it's official- we are moving back to Wisconsin! We put our house up for sale on Friday, and Michael let the Air Force know that he was getting out. As of today, Michael doesn't have a "for sure" job in Wisconsin, but is currently pursuing a career with State Farm that looks very promising. He is also looking into going Guard, so his Air Force ties won't be completely cut. We hope to settle somewhere in the Eau Claire or LaCrosse area. This is both an exciting and nerve racking time for us.

Weston is getting ready to go back to Wisconsin. He got use out of his fleece suit today even though just yesterday we were in shorts and short sleeves!

We are also trying to instruct him as to what sports teams he will be a fan of even though he was born in Texas. Here he is sporting his Brewer apparel.

Reading with Daddy

From the very beginning Mike and I have read books to Weston, and since he was about 3 1/2 months old he has helped by turning some of the pages. Lately, he seems more interested in trying to get the pages into his mouth than turning them, but we were able to get him to show how he turns the pages in this video clip. His favorite book seems to be his book about colors, but Brown Bear, Brown Bear probably comes in a close second (followed by Ten Apples Up on Top).

Pajamas and Overalls

Mike and I always have a good time when we get together with our friends, the Beavers, and now with both of us having babies it is even more fun:) Before Weston and Julia were born, Mary and I bought them each their first pair of pajamas. Now, we can't believe they are both here wearing them (and almost outgrowing them- Julia more so than Weston even though she is 7 weeks younger)! We believe everybody when they say kids grow up fast.

We also discovered that Julia and Weston had some coordinating corduroy overalls, so we couldn't resist dressing them alike and taking pictures:)

Finally, I just had to throw this picture in where Weston is doing his new thing. He gets really stiff and picks his head up off the ground when he is on his back (he also gets a really goofy look on his face when he does this). I think it is his way of telling us he wants to sit up. Anyway, it always looks like he is trying work on his abs, and in this picture, in typical guy fashion, he looks like he is trying to impress Julia by showing her how he can do crunches.

Rolie Polie Olie

Weston officially knows how to roll over both ways! He has been rolling over for quite some time now, but he never seemed to be aware of exactly how he did it and couldn't really do it on purpose. He figured out how to purposely go from his belly to his back a few weeks ago, and this week he mastered back to belly. Now he is a "rolie polie olie!"

(By the way, we got some professional pictures taken on Sunday and you can see a sample of them on the photographer's blog- www.photographyrachelrenee.blogspot.com)

Another Year Older

I didn't do much for my birthday this year, but it was special because it was my first year celebrating with Weston:)

Since my birthday wasn't very exciting this year, I thought I would post my birthday hidden camera video that Michael made for me last year. If you don't already know- I LOVE hidden camera shows (especially where people get scared) and have always thought it would be fun to be pranked on one (I know I'm weird). Anyway, Michael decided to make me the star of my own hidden camera show and I LOVED IT!! Just an FYI- there isn't any sound during the actual prank (wink-Rachel).

Vitamins

Our pediatrician believes in giving a baby vitamins if he is breastfed, so Weston is suppose to take liquid vitamins everyday. He really doesn't enjoy the taste, and if you could just smell them you would know why! We used to say, "Yummy vitamins!" and he would give a fake smile, but then we realized we didn't want him to start thinking that "yummy" means something tastes bad. Most of the time he spits out as much as he swallows. Today he actually held his mouth shut when Michael was trying to give them to him! I was wondering when he would catch on that he doesn't actually have to open his mouth to take them.

We Didn't Even Know Him!

So, today I was again looking at pictures of Weston from when he was first born (I say again because I am obsessed with looking at pictures of him even though I get to see him everyday), and I said to Michael, "Look at this little boy that we didn't even know!"

I continue to be amazed at how much he has learned in just 5 1/2 short months and how much personality he now has! I am already forgetting the frustration we often felt when we didn't know what he wanted/needed or what we were doing! I am also forgetting the sleepless nights which have now been replaced with 10 hour nights on average!! I am amazed at how much joy he brings to our lives and how each month gets better and better:) We now know that Weston is a little boy who loves to move, has the biggest smile, has a laugh that will make your bad day disappear, and is very curious!

Smurfette and Bedtime

Today I went to the doctor to get some extremely dry skin on my hands finally checked out after about six months (yes, I procrastinate going to the doctor). It turns out it is eczema and the doctor prescribed a steroid cream that I have to apply. Well, in order to keep the cream on he said I had to wear gloves for a week. Then, he proceeded to give me a box of blue rubber gloves and said, "Here, they're on the house." When I asked him if he meant that I had to wear them all day and night, he said, "Well only for a week...or two if it doesn't clear up in a week." I don't think he truely understood what he was asking me to do. First of all, Michael thinks the whole situation is quite funny and has been cracking every joke in the book. Secondly, my hands are sweating to death- sure the eczema may clear up, but I may develop permanent prune hands! Lastly, people will probably think I am a germ-a-phobe, so I don't think I will be making many public apperances this week. Here is a picture of my "Smurfette" hands.

Today got even more funny when we were waiting for Weston to fall asleep. He is doing this new thing where he likes to look at you upside down and make silly noises. Well, before we turned on the camera he was talking up a storm, and then as soon as we started taping he stopped. We thought it would be another uneventful clip until this happened...

It is very fun to hear real words out of his silly noises and this was almost too perfect!!

First Time Swimming!

Today Weston got to go swimming for the first time! He really enjoyed it and didn't even seem to mind that the water wasn't the warmest (Mommy got cold before he did). We went to the local high school swimming pool with our friends Benj and Mary and got to have the whole pool to ourselves:) By the way, for all you Wisconsinites, it would have been warm enough to swim outside today!

Late Presents, "Champagne" and S'mores

We have gotten some late Christmas presents in the mail, which is always fun, so we were able to take some pictures of Weston opening gifts using our new camera. We hate to disappoint most of you, but Weston seemed to enjoyed the wrapping paper more than the toys. I am sure he will learn to appreciate the toys later:)

Happy New Year! Mike and I had a low key New Year's Eve, but this didn't have anything to do with having a baby- we never do much for New Years. We rang in the new year by drinking fake champagne (because I am still Weston's source of food) and eating s'mores. Weston didn't make it to midnight but still got his New Year's kisses from Mommy and Daddy. We can't wait to see what 2009 will bring our family! (It is already starting out better than last year, but it isn't hard to top your house catching on fire!)

First Food

During our breakfast on Saturday in Austin, Michael and I decided to try to give Weston a taste of banana to see what he would do. His reaction was quite funny, so Sunday we recreated the experience. Here is a video of this new experience.

Next month we will officially start him on solids.