Picture Update and 8 Months

Well, I've done several posts from my iphone lately but haven't uploaded from my actual camera in a while so here are some random pics from the last month or so.

Wearing an outfit that was my brother's. Tim is not in full support of the knee socks, but Tim doesn't shop for Shepherd's clothes...

Enjoying the warmer weather

Big boy!

Trying on his beach hat

Cute little dino.

Loving that apple!

Mardi Gras parade at school

He kept chewing on the beads. I think the hat is hilarious!

Cousin Hazel

Cousin William

William's class

Shepherd will turn 8 months on March 10. Poor little guy has had ear infections in both ears for the past week. We went back to the pediatrician yesterday after a week of antibiotics to find that the infections were still there and we needed to switch to a different antibiotic. I hated to know that he hadn't really gotten much relief over the past week, but at least it explained the horrible night of sleep that we had the night before I took him in again to the doctor. He weighs 18 lbs 10oz.

Other than that, Shep has been doing great. Some things that he is doing now:

Eating: He takes a bottle about every 3.5-4 hours which comes out to 4-5 times per day. We're working on switching to every 4 hours and 4 times per day to be the norm. I am still "breastfeeding" but Shep will usually only nurse at night before bed. During the day he is too distracted and interested in playing to get him to nurse. It's a struggle to get him to even be still enough to take a bottle. We will probably start weaning within the next couple of months. Our freezer is entirely full of frozen breastmilk, but sadly, I know that will probably only last us 2 weeks once we tap into it. As far as solids go, he eats oatmeal, fruit, veggies, or yogurt with every meal that we eat. He hasn't had any finger foods yet, though. We try to give him puffs every once in a while, but he hates them and even choked on the first one I gave him - who knew that was even possible with those little things that disolve when they hit your tongue?? He also drinks water from a sippy cup at dinner some nights, but he can't hold it for himself yet.

Sleeping: This is kindof a sore subject at the moment due to the horrible-ness of his sleep over the past month. But, I've come to terms with the fact that it's likely all been related to this ear infection and there's really not much we can do about it until he's well. He wakes up at least once per night and some nights its been 3-4 times. The bad part is that since he's been sick, when he wakes up he's wide awake for up to an hour at a time. Oh well...I just hope that we can return to sleeping through the night in the near future. I could say more about my crushed dreams of the perfect "Babywise," sleeps through the night at 8 weeks, etc, etc baby, but I won't. We still love you all the same, Shep.

Milestones: I can't really think of many major new things that he's doing. He has the scoot/army crawl down to an art and can pretty much get anywhere he wants doing that. Not sure if he'll crawl anytime soon or not. He's not pulling up on anything yet either. We did lower his crib just in case, though. He started saying da-da occassionally but not specifically in reference to Tim. No signs of ma-ma yet. I think he is close to being able to wave bye bye soon. He can wave his hand but it is just at random times, not when we try to get him to do it. He has started giving us kisses if we ask and put our cheek up to him. They are very slobbery but very sweet. Because he is so tall we have had to advance him to a non-carrier carseat. The only benefits to this are his safety and me not having to lug that heavy thing around. He can no longer be carried in it when we go places and when he falls asleep in the car I have to wake him up to get him out instead of quietly sitting the carrier on the kitchen counter until he wakes up. Those were the days...

Personality: Shepherd is a very happy baby. He smiles, laughs and "gasps for joy" as I call it a lot. Even with the ear infections, he has been in great spirits. I would describe his personality as observant, curious, and on-the-go. He always wants to be moving or down on the ground to play. He also is always very interested in watching whatever is going on around him. Hence the feeding difficulties. The only time that he is really still during the day is when he eats (sometimes) and when we read to him at night. I think that he is definitely going to be all-boy and going 90 miles an hour. I will try to cherish these non-walking days while I can.


Well, that's about it for now. We will find out where we will be for my residency on Match Day - March 17. Please pray for us. We hope to be here, but you never know with the residency matching program and with God's will :)