Nixon: Six Months

Somehow we're at half a year already.  Time, please slow down.

Nixon's biggest accomplishment this month has been rolling over.  After weeks of trying, he finally made it all the way over while we were visiting my parents in CO.  Apparently, he was just waiting until Grandma and Grandpa could watch.  Now, he doesn't tolerate being on his back for more than a minute or two before he flips over to his tummy.  He's already moving on to pushing his little butt up in the air, so crawling will probably be happening soon.

This has been a tough month for the little guy, full of upheaval as we moved back from overseas.  He's been a trooper through it all, but I'm sure he's ready to settle down again (as we all are).  We've been trying to keep things as normal for him as possible, with the same schedule, same bedtime routine, etc.  However, we're living without our furniture right now, so the poor guy is also having to adjust to sleeping in the pack n play rather than in bed with us (an air mattress isn't the safest for babies).  I also suspect that we're in the middle of a growth spurt plus possible teething, so all that combined means naps and bedtime are a bit of a struggle right now.  Aside from sleep issues though, Nixon continues to be his smiley, happy, playful self.

Things Nixon has been loving this month:

• His walker - one of the first things we did after we arrived in NC was buy the little guy a walker.  He's been taking advantage of our lack of furniture and cruising all over.  It's so much fun to watch him enjoy his new-found independence and explore his surroundings.
• Sitting up in the boppy - he can sit on his own without any support for a few seconds before toppling over, but with the boppy he's a pro at sitting.  He loves being able to see what's going on around him.
• Evening walks in the stroller - right before dinner (Nixon's fussiest time of the day), we head out for a loop through the neighborhood.  The fresh air and being in the stroller helps him get in one last quick nap, which makes bathtime and bedtime much, much more enjoyable.

Meeting Great-Grandma

An Update

We finally have internet at our new house, which means I can finally get around to sharing a few updates on what's been going on.  It's been several weeks since we said arrivaderci to Italy and it feels like we've been going nonstop since then.  We spent a couple weeks in Colorado, catching up with family, readjusting to life in the States, and taking a little breather from the stress of moving.  We didn't get out and do a whole lot while we were there, but we did manage one hike in the mountains.  Nixon was a trooper, snoozing in the Ergo for the majority of the hike.

The highlight of the trip for Nixon, aside from the constant snuggles from all his grandparents, was a visit to the fire station.  Turns out he's a pretty good junior firefighter.

We've been in NC for a little over a week, and have been busy with moving into our house, buying a car, exploring the area, etc.  Things are finally starting to settle down into a routine, which all of us (mostly Nixon) are appreciating.  I'll be posting a few updates on the house once all our stuff arrives from Italy.  Also, Nixon's six month (!!) update should be up soon!

Nixon: Five Months

How are we one month away from half a year??  I know I say this every month, but time is flying.  Baby Nixon keeps getting bigger and bigger (especially his cheeks) and his little personality is really starting to come out.  He's still extremely curious, which works out great when we're in crowds or out and about doing things, because he's usually too busy looking around to be fussy.

This month has brought quite a few changes, as we're in the process of moving back to the States, but Nixon has been taking it all in stride.  We've been able to keep his schedule pretty much the same, despite living in a hotel.  We try to be extra careful not to wake him up during naps and after bedtime, and so far he's still sleeping like a champ, although I expect that flying back to the States will change that for a little while (since I'm getting around to posting this after we've made it to the States, I can say that the only thing that's messed up is his schedule is shifted by a couple hours).

His favorites this month:

• Bath-time has become even more fun.  Nixon has officially outgrown his baby bathtub, so all baths are in the big boy bathtub.  He has discovered that with the extra room to move around, he can take splashing to a whole new level.  We put a few inches of water in the tub, lay him down, and let him splash around to his little heart's content.  Best part of his day.
• Still loving his daily dinosaur shriek practice sessions (lets hope he doesn't do this too often on the plane in a few days...)
• Being outside - he loves the fresh air and abundance of things to look at (unless the sun's in his eyes, then it's the worst thing ever).
• Playing with Daddy - nothing puts a smile on this little guy's face like his daddy.