5 Months Old

Well, hello there! Didn't realize I could almost sit yet, did you?

As much as I practice, you'd think I'd have it down already! Soon. Very soon.

Sometimes I make this casual slide sideways when I'm tired of sitting.
It's cool; Froggy wanted to be strangled, er, I mean, snuggled.

As much as I love my milk, you haven't lived until you've had frog's legs! Hee hee.
Froggy doesn't mind! He likes being my pillow and my chew toy!

Know what's crazy about Will being 5 months old? I now have to save pictures in a file that says "Will - 6th month." Wow, time is flying by! He's still adorable and cuddly, but he's made a lot of physical advances this month.

• Rolling from front to back and back to front at his whim. He does not roll over and over in a row to get somewhere. He will roll to get something that is only one roll away and then stretch and wiggle to get the last little bit of the way. We find him on his stomach in his crib sometimes. Last night he was on his stomach AND his head was facing the closet instead of the window. How he did that, I don't know!
• Crawling backwards as far and as long as we'll let him go. At daycare he'll scoot himself into a corner and get mad. At home, he's made it across the blanket and across the room -- seemingly without much effort. I took a little video of him in the basement this weekend, but I gave up after having it "loading' in the background for AN HOUR!
• Attempting to crawl forward, but really ending up in yoga poses. I don't know what it's called (downward dog, maybe?) but he balances on just his hands and toes with his bottom up in the air, making a little triangle out of himself.
• Holding toys with both hands; pretty sure he will pass back and forth between the two, but I can't confirm that. He is very deliberate about choosing toys now as well whether in his exersaucer or from his toy basket.
• Standing up straight in his exersaucer, and also moving the seat around to get to the toy he wants.
• Grabbing his pacifier out of his mouth and almost being able to put it back.
• Initiating contact with Rachel. Reaching out for her toys (although I don't let him have them, since I don't let Rachel play with his) and to pet her.
• Moving from "sitting" in my lap to "crawling" pose. He's constantly wiggling to get somewhere. He's also very easily distracted while eating. . . . throwing his head back to see what's going on.

Every month that I have taken pictures in this chair, it reminds me how he photographs so differently based on the angle. He's got his "fat face" that you can see in the chair pictures when he's photographed from lower angles, and his regular face when he's photographed straight on! The first and second pictures today look like different babies! :-)

Pediatric Opthamalogist

Will is getting to be such a big boy, as demonstrated here in his excellent exersaucer pose from yesterday. He's just so serious about having fun!


Since he's getting bigger and more active, we had to make a quick decision about getting a procedure done to unblock his tear duct. We mentioned his continuing sticky/crusty eye at his 4-month check up and the pediatrician recommended an eye doctor who specializes in that. Luckily, he was also near our house.


Blocked tear ducts are very common in babies and most grow out of it by their first birthday. In the meantime, some kids get regular infections (Will didn't) or wake up with crusted closed eye lashes after sleeping (Will did). Since it wasn't getting any better, we had to decide whether to wait it out or have the pediatric opthamalogist scope the duct.


We met him almost 2 weeks ago and were impressed with his experience - both with the procedure and with giving an eye exam to a baby! The procedure can be done in the eye clinic until about 5 months of age using numbing drops to the eye. Any older and the baby is too big for the nurse to hold still while the doctor works, so the procedure is done outpatient at the hospital under a general anesthesia (i.e. asleep).


We weren't relishing the idea of 6 more months of baby with his eye glued shut while we waited to see if he would outgrow it, nor were we at all keen on putting him out for an effectively elective procedure. So, we took the first slot for the office procedure in order to get him in before he got too big. That was today. Unfortunately, Jason has been out of town for a week, so I had to take Will myself.


The whole procedure took maybe 4 minutes, but I was still really anxious! The doctor said the duct was successfully opened. In case you're wondering, no I didn't watch. I sat in the adjacent waiting room where I could hear the crying but couldn't see anything. Will was done with the hysterics by the time we got our paperwork to leave. We got home and snuggled on the couch to nap and watch TV for an hour before dinner. He ate, played in his exersaucer, and went to bed at his normal time.


Follow-up care is antibiotic eye drops for 2 days. If his eye is goo free in two weeks, then it was a success and no follow-up is needed.

Dupage County Children's Museum

Since it was raining (AGAIN!) on Saturday, we were happy to have an indoor destination in mind: the Dupage County Children's Museum. We spent about 90 minute there exploring just a few of the fun hands-on activities before hunger pangs forced us to leave. There were a lot of activities geared for young kids; we even found something Will liked! We'll have to consider a membership when Will is walking age.

All great children's museums have a giant chair, right?
A gymnast in the making?

Rachel's Great Weekend

This weekend my friend Nikki and her daughter, Lindsay, were visting from KC. However, Rachel was the real winner! Besides having a toddler to chase (and lick and lick and lick), she had someone who carried crackers at eye level and this. . . But Rachel is a sweetheart, and in addition to serving as Lindsay's garbage disposal, she also was her pillow/toy:

Furry and Baldy

My furry first baby and my baldy second baby are starting to interact more and more as Will spends more time on the ground, and as he becomes more curious about everything around him. Will loves to reach out to pet Rachel, and Rachel ALWAYS licks Will's face and hands when he is within tongue range. Will seems to like Rachel's attention more than he appreciates my follow-up wipe down.

Chicago Yacht Club

I had a work lunch today at the Chicago Yacht Club (Monroe Harbor). The restaurant is the big glass-walled building in this internet picture. It's a little overcast here today, but the view was still great! And the food was delicious! I certainly wasn't expecting that; typically food at "clubs" is notoriously mediocre. I had a delicious steak salad with romaine, blue cheese, tomatoes, shallots and avocado tossed in a red vine vinaigrette. Fabulous!

A comment about today's weather: the overcast skies covered up the top of the Sears Tower. When I walked from the train to the office this morning, I looked up and realized I couldn't see even half of the building!

Another Week Flying By

Gasp! Wednesday already?!

Lincoln Park Zoo

We took advantage of the (last?) beautiful fall weekend with a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo where we met up with Ryan, who lives just a mile from there.

Shields Family leaving the zoo. . .we went through the zoo backwards!

Will donned his lion jacket today so he'd blend in with the lions at the zoo! He was afraid Ryan might draw attention to them with the red hat, but the lions continued their slumber.

Will showing off his pseudo-sitting skills.

We took his jogging stroller which is still set up with his car seat attachment so he could sleep in his seat if needed. But, he napped the entire ride to the city, so he saw the zoo while being carried by Ryan. He finally needed to nap at the very end, so I rocked him to sleep (see sleeping baby in picture one).

After our stroll through the zoo, we enjoyed lunch with Ryan's friend, Ryan B., who was nice enough to meet up with us. Uncle Ryan loves to show off his little buddy! And Will is always eager to show off! :-)

When Exersaucers Attack!

Will LOVES playing in his exersaucer. It's a source of great entertainment; he'll stand and play in it for at least 30 minutes. Apparently he decided it would also be a good teething toy. Not sure how or why he dropped his arms down into the seat, but he was gnawing on the fabric.

Will the Wildcat

We're going to go ahead and claim victory in the Wildcat's game against Texas A&M this evening, and we're going to go a step further and say the huge win was due to Will head to toe purple. He wore the sweatsuit all day and had his stocking cap on when we were out this afternoon (oh, and a KSU blanket covering him, too)! Yep, obviously Will gets credit for the win. :-)

Hike!

Starting quarterback 2028?

Growing Up So Fast

Will had several "big boy" events this weekend (besides sleeping in his new, big bed). First, he hung out at the sports bar on Saturday watching college football with his fraternity brothers (uh, just mom and dad actually, but his Baby GAP outfit is making him look like a little fraternity boy). The restaurant had a "no strollers tableside" policy, so he had to sit in their dirty high chair. Luckily we had an extra blanket to use for propping him up. He loved watching the TV and the people. . . and every french fry on its way to my mouth! His cheeks are a little red from the brisk walk from the car; it's already wintertime here!

Give me a break, ref! That call is ridiculous!

Oh. . .this is going to be close!

Then on Sunday, he showed us that he can hold his own bottle. Who knows how long he's been doing that? He only has bottles at daycare, but we brought one along when we were out for lunch and running errands with Uncle Ryan. Here's Ryan giving him his bottle at the Target Starbucks.

Lattes for everyone!

I have no idea why this second picture is rotated, but I just love his eyes in this one, so I left it even though it's 90 degrees off. . . .

The Nursery Is Done. . . Finally!

Our baby nursery is finally outfitted for our now 4 1/2 month old baby! This is what happens when you move when your newborn is 3 weeks old and can't get out of the house to place a furniture order until he is 6 weeks old. I wasn't planning on getting a bedding set, but I really wanted a dust ruffle and Will's rolling necessitated the bumpers, so we picked one up after one night without. This is NoJo Jungle Tales. I'm happy with how it turned out, and I think Will likes it, too!

Will's lamb collection watching over the crib and its contents

Will enjoys looking at and touching the animals on the bumper

On the opposite wall is the new dresser plus the oversized recliner that we were already using. Will's room looks a lot smaller with the giant furniture in it now!

Beary Special Boy

My mom was nice enough to buy Will several new outfits and sleepers so I didn't have to pack too much for our trip! Today Will is wearing these adorable brown bear overalls again, so I thought I would post pictures of him in them from Saturday.

Check out that drool on the bear's face!

Toes continue to be the snack of choice!

Will's crib and dresser were delivered on Monday (yeah!!) and he slept in the crib for the first time last night (we wanted it to "air out" a little first). I had resisted buying a matchy-matchy bedding set with bumpers, etc, but we're getting one now! Both times I went in to get him, he had rolled over onto his stomach and hit his head against the crib rails. Bumpers, please! :-)

A Trip to Grandma & Grandpa's

Will took his first airplane ride on Saturday morning when we flew from O'Hare to Wichita for a quick weekend visit to Grandma Joni and Grandpa Roger's house in Kansas. He was an excellent traveler, and I got more efficient with the stroller, Baby Bjorn, baby, diaper bag, backpack juggling. We left daddy at home for a guys golf weekend to celebrate Grandpa Ed's birthday. Everyone had a great weekend!

Waiting in his new stroller (the Keekaroo Karoo) for Grandma outside the terminal in Wichita: Yeah! I'm going to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Saturday afternoon nap with Grandma and her doggies: Whew, it's exhausting to be this adorable!

Talking to Grandpa: My Grandpa has glasses to grab and good stories to tell! I like hanging out with him.

Four generations: Great-grandma Judy, Grandma Joni, Mommy and Me!

Hugs and kisses good-bye from Grandma at the airport: Grandma thinks I'm super cute and cuddly! She's right!
Diaper change and then playtime in the airplane ride home: Mommy said I was supposed to be sleeping, but as long as I didn't cry, I don't think she cared if we played instead! It was only 7 o'clock!

4 Month Stats

Tonight was Will's 4 month well-child visit, and he is, in fact, a well-child! He impressed the nurses with his smiles and giggles. I felt like a bit of a poor parent, though! I hadn't prepared any questions or concerns to ask. And although I had the forethought to bring along my nursing cover for a pre-appointment dinner, I didn't have his diaper bag or a blanket to warm him while he waited around in his (luckily clean) diaper.

As usual, the shots were not well-received. . . his reaction is to wail hysterically as his head and face turn all over red. Luckily he got over it once we got home. He was smiling and giggling at me by the time I put him into bed.

• Weight: 14 pounds, 7 ounces (41%)
• Height: 25 1/2 inches (70%)
• Head: 17 1/2 inches (94%)

This picture is from the weekend, when we got out the garage sale exersaucer for the first time. He looks like a pro!