Colin Bennett: 29 Weeks

On December 18th, sweet beebs turned 29 weeks old.

What a busy few weeks we've had of planning, transition, and Christmas prep!

Weight: 17 pounds at least!

Health: Happy and healthy little guy

 

Social: C and Mommy ran a lot of errands to get ready for Christmas. We also attended the annual Kassab/Bayne Christmas cookie day and enjoyed a Christmas cantata at church. We were getting  in the holiday spirit!
Sleep: Getting there! More and more full nights of sleep!

Diet: Slowly transitioning away from breastfeeding. Sadly, Mommy's work trip to Boston along with the stress of a move and new job has taken a big hit on Mommy's milk supply. I have heard that stress can cause a big problem, which it definitely did for me. I was only pumping 5-8 oz. of milk per day while away from C at work. He is taking 6 oz. bottles at a time so my supply was not keeping up. He is still breastfeeding in the mornings, which is our sweet snuggle time. I'm sad about the transition but know I gave him six months of solid breastfeeding, which is so good for him!  

C has also had: oatmeal, rice cereal, bananas, sweet potato, carrots, peas, pears, banana puffs and cheerios.  Mommy makes all his food!

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month  and nine month onesies. 9 month suits and size three diapers 

Baby Gear Love: Mommy's Tiffany's teething ring from when she was a baby, "the guy", bath toys and books. Also loving Mommy's old fisher price toys!

Crying: Crying with a purpose (tired, poopy, hungry) and also when Mommy walks away or if you don't give him what he wants ("nee nee squeal")

Likes: Peak a boo, snuggling, eating solids, bath time, exploring new things, baby Einstein.  

Dislikes: Getting his face wiped off, getting dressed, waking up alone, not being paid attention to.

Postpartum: sad about the dip in my milk supply. :-/

Milestones:  Sitting up  for long stretches of time- all by himself! No need to keep a hand around to "prop him up"! Way to go little buddy!

Colin Bennett: 28 weeks

On December 11th, precious little Colin turned 28 weeks new. It was an eventful week indeed!

Weight: 17 pounds for sure. Daddy has been going to Baltimore to work the weekend shift for a few weeks (which we hate). Every time he comes home he says how much bigger little guy has gotten.

Health: Happy and healthy little guy

Social:We went to a memorial service for a dear family friend on Saturday. Although it was a sad occasion, we celebrated life with family and friends. Sunday C, Mommy and Gram went out to do a little shopping and came out of the store to C's first blizzard! It took us an hour and fifteen minutes to get home from a store fifteen minutes away! 

C also had his first trip away from Mommy. (I know it was way harder on me than it was on him!) Mommy had to go to Boston for work for two nights. Daddy and the grandparents did a great job taking care of him!  

Sleep: Starting to sleep through the night again. He had a few nights where he slept all the way through! Way to go little guy!

Diet: Mommy's milk, some formula supplementation, oatmeal, rice cereal, bananas, sweet potato, carrots, banana puffs. Mommy makes all your food (although while Mommy was away the babysitters cheated and bought jarred food, organic of course)

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies with 9 month body suits thrown in

Baby Gear Love: Mommy's Tiffany's teething ring from when she was a baby. We gave it to him before my trip and he loves to listen to it jingle.

Crying: Crying with a purpose (tired, poopy, hungry) and also when Mommy walks away or if you don't give him what he wants ("nee nee squeal")

Likes: Peak a boo, snuggling, eating solids, bath time, exploring new things (Christmas lights)

Dislikes: Getting his face wiped off, getting dressed, waking up alone, not being paid attention to.

Postpartum: My Boston trip really took a toll on my success! Tons of good food and wine.

Milestones:  First time sleeping away from Mommy- 9th and 10th. 
First blizzard!

Colin Bennett: 27 weeks

On 12/4/13 sweet baby boy turned 26 weeks old.

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Weight: 16.5/17 pounds

Health: Happy and healthy little guy

Social:C went to see the Christmas lights at a local display in Mommy's hometown. A local family decorates in a very big (and famous) way every year and you can "tour" the lights in their yard. C also went out to dinner with Mommy and Daddy and best of all.. had his first Thanksgiving! Aunt Diane and Uncle John, Great Mom Mom, Uncle Andrew, Gram, Granddad, Mommy and Daddy all came. C also went to his second cousin Bethy's 30th birthday party. Such a busy but fun week!  

Sleep: Getting better but still not sleeping through the night 

Diet: Mommy's milk, some formula supplementation, oatmeal, rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoe. Mommy makes all your food!

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies with 9 month body suits thrown in

Baby Gear Love: His heighchair, bowls and spoons... this baby loves to chow!

Crying: Crying with a purpose (tired, poopy, hungry) and also when Mommy walks away or if you don't give him what he wants ("nee nee squeal")

Likes: Peak a boo, snuggling, eating solids, bath time, exploring new things (Christmas lights)

Dislikes: Getting his face wiped off, getting dressed, waking up alone

Postpartum: ugh.. I really need to get with the program and hit my stride. I'll do GREAT for a few days then fall off the wagon. I'm feeling pretty down looks wise and need to concentrate on doing some things for me, to include eating well and exercising!

Milestones:  First Thanksgiving 11/28 (and first taste of sweet potatoe)

First tour of Christmas lights- 11/29

Colin Bennett: Six Months Old!

Sweet "Beebs" how is it that you are already half a year old? 

11/29/13

Time certainly flies when you are having fun. You have grown SO much in the past month. You are eating solid foods, sitting up on your own, have two teeth and have a belly laugh that is simply infectious. Every day it seems you are learning something new or developing a new skill. At six months old you are...

Weighing in at 16.5 pounds and are 27 inches tall. You are about 30th percentile for weight and 59th for height. Still a string bean like your Daddy.  You are still wearing nine month pants and six month onesies with 9 month "body suits" thrown into the mix. You have graduated to the size three diapers and have outgrown 0-6 month socks.

Eating: Well sweet baby... we MADE IT! We met Mommy's original goal of six months of breastfeeding. The week before your six month birthday you started eating oatmeal and rice cereal mixed with formula and then on Thanksgiving (the day before your six month birthday) you ate sweet potatoes! I am so proud of our breastfeeding journey and do not want to stop. The only change we are making currently is that you now get a bottle of formula (with some breastmilk mixed in) before bed. My supply just isn't large enough at night to support your growing boy needs. I'd love to breastfeed you at night but we also want to make sure you get just enough. I pump when you go to bed and we add that into your night time "baba" for the next night. 

At Six months old your daily schedule looks something like this:

-sometime between 6 & 7 am- breastfeed

-between 8 &8:30am- oatmeal or rice cereal

-9:30am- nap

-11am- breastmilk (either breastfeeding when I'm around or a six ounce bottle of pumped milk)

-12 noon- lunch time (a homemade veggie or fruit) so far you've tried bananas, sweet potato, carrots, apple and avocado. You love carrots and sweet potato the best!

-between 1 & 1:30pm- nap

-3pm- breastmilk (either breastfeeding when I'm around or a six ounce bottle of pumped milk)

- between 5 and 5:30pm- dinner (a homemade fruit or veggie or oatmeal)

-6:30pm- bath

-7pm- six ounce bottle, story, magic words (goodnight, I love you, sweet dreams, see you in the morning), bed time

Loves: You love hanging out with Mommy and Daddy for sure. You enjoy talking to us and playing. You love to sit up and be right in the mix with everyone else. You always have to know what's going on! So curious just like Mommy. You have really started to love to play toys this month (and certainly  have a lot to play with)! You love to go for jogs with Mommy in the jogging stroller and still love to be in your bath. You think it's hilarious when we play peak-a-boy or tickle your neck and belly. You also love to eat solid food!!

Sleeping: You are officially taking two naps per day; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You may also take a cat nap in between if we are in the car. Your night time sleep has been SO off since we moved. You have only slept through the night twice since we moved on November 13th. We have confidence you'll be back to sleeping through the night and attribute your restlessness to all the change you've had recently (two new teeth, a new home, eating solid food, etc.)

Milestones:

11/1/13- sitting independently without assistance for a few seconds (by the end of the month you were sitting for a minute plus!)
11/8/13- first tummy virus
11/13/13- last day living in Maryland
11/17/13- baptism and first tooth!!!
11/27/13- first snow flurries and first Disney movie (101 Dalmatians)
11/29/13- second tooth!

You have several nicknames: Mommy and Daddy call you beebs, C, Bayba C and Chubby in the Tubby and Collywood. Gram and Granddad call you bebe. A nickname you received this month is "nee nee" which in our family talk is short for hyena. When uncle Andrew was a little guy he couldn't say hyena (referring to the lion king) and called them "nee nees". When you get upset and/or want us to pay attention to you, you make a squeal like a little hyena, hence the name "nee nee".

Random tidbits: We received the good news that your head shape is improving and we do not need a helmet! We still need to be diligent with tummy time but its much better. 

We love you so much Colin Bennett. You are our shining star and the light of our lives. Mommy and Daddy enjoy spending time with you so much and are so fortunate to be your parents. Everywhere we go people tell us what a good baby you are (your baptism, out to eat) and we certainly know it. We can't wait to see what the next half a year has in store for our little family. Keep growing big and strong and always remember how much we love you.

Love,

Mama and Daddy

Colin Bennett: 26 weeks

Little Man turned 26 weeks old on 11/27/13. What a fun week he had!

Colin's first snowfall!!

Weight:  17+ pounds! C had to "graduate" to the size three diapers this week!

Health: C was in good spirits this week. His teeth didn't seem to bother him as much as the week before.

Social: C went to Longwood Gardens again with Mommy, Daddy, Gram and Granddad, had a few days as a family with Mommy and Daddy. C also had a great week of nannying by Mommy Kim.

 

Sleep: C's sleep improved a bit this week. We put the kabosh to sleeping with us. We would go into his room, calm him down,  give him the binkie, etc. He did pretty well!! 

Diet: All Mommies milk, first taste of banana, oatmeal and brown rice cereal.

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies

Baby Gear Love: TOYS!!! C has really started to enjoy playing toys. It's so fun to see- makes me so excited for Christmas!

Crying: Crying with a purpose (tired, poopy, hungry) and also when Mommy walks away or if you don't give him what he wants (toy, food).

Likes: Peak a boo, snuggling, eating solids, baby learning apps.

Dislikes: Getting his face wiped off, getting dressed, waking up alone. 

Postpartum: On a mission. Going low carb this week.

Milestones:  First time eating fruit (banana)- 11/24

Really sitting up on his own for a minute or two- 11/25

 

Colin Bennett: 25 Weeks

On 11/20/13 our little Beebs turned 25 weeks. Holy cow- so close to six months!

This was a big week of change for little man... a big move into Gram and Granddad's, no more daycare, C got baptized, his sleep has been way off, a tooth broke through and he started oatmeal and brown rice cereal.

Woah baby.

Weight:  Granddad weight him this week- 17.2 lbs! Growing big and strong.  

Health: Healthy little man. He wasn't feeling well due to his new tooth, however, otherwise he had a great week! 

Social: C was baptized this week! We had a beautiful ceremony followed by a luncheon at my parents house for family. It was such a great day! 

C also started being nannyed by "Mommy Kim". Mommy Kim is my best friend's Mom and one of my parents best friends. Growing up, we called each other's parents "Mommy___ and Daddy___" because we were so close. I'm so glad Mommy Kim is able to take care of our little man during our transition!

Sleep: Ha! What's that? Between all the changes, a new tooth and Daddy being away a few nights a week, C's sleep has been a mess. He hasn't slept through the night once since we moved. Before we made the move, he was sleeping 12 hours through the night. Sleep is my big focus this week. I can't bring him into my bed anymore... it's not good for anyone.

Diet: Mommy's milk and oatmeal/brown rice cereal! He loves the cereal

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies

Baby Gear Love: He loves his bumbo seat and jumperoo a ton! He can sit up like a big boy and look all around.

Crying: At night when Mommy isn't right next to him. He has started to reach out to touch me just to make sure I'm there. While I love that he loves me so much and I have to  admit, I love sleepy baby snuggles, I'm not getting ANY sleep. With a new job and big job responsibilities, no sleep isn't good for anyone.

Likes: Snuggling, peak-a-boo, singing songs and playing together with toys.

Dislikes: Waking up without Mommy next to him 

Postpartum: getting there!

Milestones:  11/17- first tooth!!!!

11/15- started eating cereal on a daily basis!

Colin Bennett: 24 Weeks

What a crazy week! Colin's 24th week of life was a busy one. We packed up our things, C finished out his time at Kindercare, we moved in with Gram and Granddad (temporarily) and soaked up as much family time as possible. Boy oh boy how life can change in the blink of an eye.

To back up a bit: I got an amazing career changing job offer just North of Philadelphia. We had been contemplating a big move north since this summer. My parents had always said they'd be willing to move to Maryland to be with us when my Mom retires, however, over the summer Hubs, Colin and I came home for a family party and every just realized "it didn't make sense to move two people down to Maryland where only the three of us live. It makes sense to move the three of us (plus the pup) back north where so many of our friends and family live!". Well... we are making that happen! Our house is on the market, I have an amazing job, hubs is well into the interview process and we are temporarily invading my parents house! Once our house sells, we can begin the search for our new home!!! Can't wait!

Needless to say- week 25 has/will be a big week  of change and adjusting but I am confident he will take it in stride with only a few little bumps in the road.

On 11/13/13 our little man turned 24 weeks old!

Daddy was in charge of this weeks picture... boo!

Weight:  Next official weigh in is on December 5th at his six month appointment. C had a case of the "trots" this weekend and I think that set him back a bit in the "gaining" department. Poor guy.

Health: C had a rough week when it comes to feeling well. He had a tummy virus that lasted a few days and gave him diarrhea. We could tell he didn't feel well at all. Luckily, he didn't have a fever. 

Social: It was a quiet week in the social department. However, Aunt Julie came to Maryland to help Mommy clean and pack so C got to soak up some Godmommy love. 

Sleep: When he wasn't feeling well he didn't do well with sleep. He was tossing and turning from tummy cramps a few nights so we let him co-sleep (bad, I know) propped up on the boppy watching Sprout. I am not a fan of co-sleeping but I know all he wants is to snuggle/be with us when he's not feeling well so we let him sleep "sitting up" on the boppy in between us.  

Diet: All Mommies milk :)

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies

Baby Gear Love: He is really starting to enjoy "his guy" (elephant "lovie") and his tummy time snail. C also loves his bath and bath toys a ton!

Crying: Still only cries with a purpose! Poopy, tired, wet, hungry, lonely and now... not feeling well. 

Likes: Snuggling, peak-a-boo, singing songs and playing together with toys. C is very social!

Dislikes: putting on his PJs after bath. C would MUCH rather be naked! 

Postpartum: Doing a 30 day squat challenge, which is well... challenging. Determined to eat well and get these last few lbs off while living at home. Going to drag my Mom's behind out for runs all the time! ;) 

Milestones:  Last day at Kindercare 11/13. Such a sad day for all of us. We loved it there!

11/13- moved into Gram and Granddad's 

11/8- first tummy virus

Colin Bennett: 23 weeks

In the blink of an eye...just like that... 23 weeks have flown by. Our little guy is so interactive and learning so many new things each day. He is almost sitting independently and is a rolling machine. Time slow down please. I  am so excited for each new milestone and every new development but I don't want to rush this sweet baby phase by. 

Weight:  Just shy of 16 pounds. Check out those chubby little thighs!

Health: Happy and healthy. 

Social: C spent the weekend at Gram and Granddad's with Mommy. We went out to dinner and celebrated his Great Grandmom's 85th birthday. He was a good little man at dinner. :) We also celebrated his first Halloween. C participated in the parade at Kindercare! All the kids were so cute. 

Sleep: C was a good little sleeper this week. Made it all the way through

the night most nights- he even slept twelve hours a few nights. 

Diet: All Mommies milk :)

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies

Baby Gear Love: He sat up in the bumbo a lot this week. His feet also touch the ground in his jumper (finally) yay!

Crying: Still only cries with a purpose! Poopy, tired, wet, hungry, lonely

Likes: Snuggling and being held (especially first thing in the morning), baths, talking to Mommy and Daddy, being outside, nursing, singing songs, reading books and sprout!

Dislikes: Starting to show signs of disliking when his parents put him down/aren't in his line of vision. He started doing this hyena screech when he wants us to "notice" and pick him up.

Postpartum: on a mission

Milestones:  His feet touch the ground in his jumperoo!

C also had his first big nap in his crib! 3 + hours!!! 
We also took fall family pictures. 

Colin Bennett: 22 Weeks

On October 30th, sweet baby Colin turned 22 weeks. Hard to believe how much time has gone by since this sweet little boy joined our family. We love him bigger than the world.

Weight:  Hubs and I gave him the official weigh in and he was 15.5 pounds. Little chubber!

Health: Happy and healthy. Hoping we get the good news that no cranial helmet is needed. Finger crossed, we find out on the 11th.

Social: C had a great week. He got to go to the aquarium with his Aunt Julie and take a quick tour of the harbor. He loved checking out all of the fishes.

We also carved pumpkins together and listened to spooky Halloween music as well! 

Sleep: C was a good little sleeper this week. Made it all the way through the night most nights- woke to eat between 5:30-6am.

 

Diet: All Mommies milk :)

Clothes: 9 month pants and six month onesies are the best combo. He's wearing some nine month suits but they are just a tiny bit too big.

Baby Gear Love: His light up snail, tummy time mat with boppy, bumbo seat and high chair. Anything that keeps him off his head and his attention while on his tummy. He also really likes the wooden toy we bought to help with tummy time. He loves to spin the gears.

Crying: Still only cries with a purpose! Poopy, tired, wet, hungry, lonely

Likes: Snuggling and being held (especially first thing in the morning), baths, talking to Mommy and Daddy, being outside, nursing, singing songs, reading books and Sprout (we don't encourage TV, but once in a while we'll put it on to relax)

Dislikes: Starting to show signs of disliking when his parents put him down/aren't in his line of vision. He started doing this hyena screech when he wants us to "notice" and pick him up.

Postpartum: Boo. Fatty. That is all.

Milestones:  10/26- first trip to the aquarium.