Pain in the... tummy?

I am so excited to report that our little boy LOVES the Cuban black beans that have been the sustenance and love of my alimentary life.

I am NOT so excited to report that our little boy has a tummy ache.

I have been plagued my whole life with a "delicate" system... my husband, not so much. I am so sad to see this same issue play out in our sweet child, especially when it seemed a genetic 50-50 chance of NOT having to deal with it!

He continues to be the sweetest possible child, smiling and hugging even when he doesn't feel well, but his periods of peace are much more interrupted by the discomfort he is obviously feeling. Our arms are his primary medicine right now, with unrestricted access to nursing as the other prescription we've given him. We're currently waiting to hear back from the pediatrician about what else we should be doing, if anything.

In slightly related news, at his 4 month well baby check up on August 11, he weighed TWELVE POUNDS, 9 OUNCES!!! and was TWENTY FIVE INCHES LONG!!! His head circumference was 41 cm... that's 15th percentile for weight, 50th percentile for length and 30th percentile for head size (Totally normal, Jess...)... that was a weight gain of TWO pounds, nearly all on Mommy's "home brew"... Growth is beautiful!

Also in growing up news, mommy started school, so Auggi has experienced his first shift away from mommy for a whole SIX hours. I think it was harder on mommy than on him, as his Nonni and Daddy were available to love him...

All that to say, enjoy this child... as if you could avoid it...

Nap time in Tio Bobby's old school kicks...

Those culprit black beans... but, MAN! did he love them!

Hanging out with Nonni on Mommy's first day of school... and not being such a big fan of sweet potatoes...

Rocking the tux before he completely outgrows it...

Feast Day!!

I am, as I have stated before, never going to doubt my instinct again. After the labor and delivery debacle, I have realized that I know somethings and I ought to give myself the chance when in doubt. I am taking this tact with the task of motherhood, tempered (of course) by Nathaniel's perspective and input.

I know I run the risk of making some family or friends a bit frustrated, but I believe this approach to be best... and, now, I have evidence that Auggi is a clear enough communicator to make it work.

As you know, Auggi's weight gain has been a bit slower than most would expect (especially with my genetic material at play in him). We've been considering starting him on cereal. The pediatrician said that my milk is still the best for him nutritionally. My mother, always looking for baby dimples to emerge, wanted me to go forward with giving him cereal bolstered by my milk. Nathaniel and I investigated and decided that we would wait until Auggi told us he was ready, based on the signs he was giving us.

Sure enough, Auggi very recently started taking an interest in whatever I put in my mouth, watching curiously and even reaching for my water bottle. Additionally, he has been spending some time in his high chair and is enjoying that activity. He also is diminishing in his tongue thrusts. The straw that broke the camel's back, though, was when Nathaniel took a strawberry (NOT a good first food... high incidence of allergies) and rubbed it along his gum line so he could taste the essence of the fruit without having to actually ingest it and Auggi really enjoyed it.

So, not wanting to extend my mother's cereal anticipation longer than necessary, I asked her if she wanted to be here for his inaugural spoonful. It took her 3.2 seconds to say yes and get here.

We are starting him on Farina, a Mediterranean grain that is very fine and my mother prepared for us on cold mornings in New York. Using my milk to dilute it and sweeten it, we prepared Auggi's new baby bowls and spoons and bibs and gathered every photographic device in the house. These moments were captured in video (which I have yet to figure out how to upload to Blogger), still pictures and on telephone for quick sharing.

Auggi never thrust his tongue inappropriately even once... he took it all in, seeming to savor the sensation and opening his mouth again for a repeat spoonful. He giggled and laughed and pondered and wondered. All in all, it was a terribly successful event, allaying my mother's anxiety about him getting enough to eat and promoting even further confidence in his ability to signal when he is ready for the next step....

Arranging the bib...


Sizing up the bowl...

The first spoonful...

Not sure if his mouth or nose does the eating...

Nonni's favorite activity with babies...

Not too messy...

Oh yeah... that's the stuff....

It's a whole new world now...

Got the hang of it, now...

Justing hanging out...

Auggi is growing... rapidly. From the night when I put him to sleep to the next morning, it seems he changes markedly.

Generally speaking, he is a sweet child with predictable eat/play/sleep cycles and an endearing smile. He can scream like it's his job sometimes, however, and really works himself up without swaddling and other preventive measures.

Recently, he has become rather discontent being on his stomach, in our arms, or laying down. He's ready to see the world and take it all in... independently. Sadly, he has no core muscles, so that wish is hard to make come true.

Enter dear friend, Mary.

After 2 little boys, Mary is a wealth of resources... and was perfectly equipped to help Auggi establish a little more independence. She has let us borrow her "Jumparoo." This contraption works as a tripod frame suspends industrial strength springs so that Auggi can sit in his sling-styled seat and bounce up and down, propelled by the strength of his own legs. Adorned with every imaginable rainforest animal, there are 360 degrees worth of entertaining gadgets.

So far, so good...

Figuring out how it all works...

We already had to shorten the straps... he was flat-footed on the lowest setting...

In other news, Auggi has (for TWO nights now) slept EIGHT hours!!! If I can figure out how to get everything done and in place so that I'm ready to go down when he is, I could get eight hours as well. However, I have yet to be able to do that, so I'm still holding at 6 to 7 hours. I am so thankful... Auggi is timing everything perfectly... he's starting to extend his sleep AND is giving some significant signs that he is getting ready to eat some food... all in time for me to start school in 2 weeks.

I'm not sure why you guys think this walking thing is so great... it's kind of boring...

"If that kid doesn't want this blanket and teddy, I'll take them!"

Exciting times... in Auggi's growth and in the life of our family... until teething, at least :)