Adventures in Eating

Now that Nixon has passed the six-month mark, we've started incorporating some solids into his diet.  It's been so much fun watching him discover new tastes and textures and experience food, although sometimes that experience is consuming the food and other times it's squishing it and watching it fall on the floor.  He's slowly getting the hang of chewing (although he has no teeth yet, so it's more like sucking) and swallowing.

As with most things pertaining to parenting, I went into this with a pretty clear idea of how I wanted to do it, only to have that dissolve within a few days as we figured out what works best for Nixon as an individual.  I've planned all along to follow baby-led weaning, which basically means we skip the traditional baby food and offer him pieces of soft foods that he can easily hold, and he'll eat at his own pace.  He's still getting all the nutrition he needs from nursing, so right now food is simply a learning experience.  I like this method for multiple reasons, mostly that we're not spending extra money on baby food or taking the time to make our own.  And while we've been able to follow this plan pretty well, we've also been feeding him some foods with a spoon instead of strictly letting him feed himself.  For one, some foods are just easier to eat with a spoon, such as applesauce, and I'm not thrilled about wiping the applesauce off the wall if he were to attempt to feed it to himself.  Secondly, there are times when he just really wants to eat, and he gets frustrated at his inability to get the food in his mouth fast enough.  So, it turns out that a hybrid of baby-led weaning and traditional baby food is what works best for our little guy.

So far, some of his favorites include bananas, sweet potato, avocado, and peaches.  The other day, we gave him a puree consisting of blueberries, plums, and spinach, which he gobbled up surprisingly fast.  One thing he's tried that he doesn't seem to be a fan of is carrots.  Baby cereal wasn't a huge hit either, even with applesauce mixed in, but I can't say I blame him.  Other than those two things, everything we've offered him has been a hit.  Mealtimes are definitely a lot more fun (and a lot more messy) now that he can join in!

Nixon: Seven Months

I feel like I just wrote Nixon's six month update yesterday, and here we are at seven months already.  The past several weeks have been a whirlwind of adjusting to our new home, unpacking, and settling in.  Thankfully, I think the worst is over, and we've found our new normal.  I mentioned last month that Nixon had been having a rough time sleeping, and while he's gotten a lot better, he's still waking up pretty frequently at night.  I think it's just a growth spurt plus being on the verge of a developmental milestone (crawling!!), so I know his sleep will get better before too long.

Speaking of developmental milestones, he is so close to crawling.  As soon as I put him on the floor, he flips over onto his tummy and gets up on his hands and knees.  He'll hold that position for a few seconds, or even rock a bit, so once he figures out how to go forward there'll be no stopping him.  He's also quite the pro at sitting up on his own, although we usually still prop him with the boppy pillow just in case he topples.

Thinks Nixon's been loving this month:

• Eating solid food - I have a post coming soon on Nixon's adventures in eating, but I will say that he loves to eat (and play with) actual food.
• Vacuuming - we never had a vacuum in Italy, so the last month has been his first experience with one.  I put him in his walker, and he follows me around completely transfixed while I vacuum.  Let's hope he's still as fascinated by it in ten years or so.
• Standing practice - obviously, he can't stand on his own without help balancing, but the kid loves standing up.

Nixon finally got to meet Uncle Tommy, his godfather.  They had a blast playing together.

Six Month Stats

Due to all the moving business and getting settled and taking our time scheduling Nixon's six month check up, he had his appointment a little late.  I'm sure he didn't mind putting off the shots a few more days, although he handled them like the brave, strong little guy he is, with only a few moments of screaming and tears.  I was curious to see what his stats are this month, since he's definitely been growing.  6-month clothes are starting to get tight, and he's moving on to 9-month and 6-12 month sizes.  As it turns out, his head is unstoppable, clocking in at the 94th percentile.  Obviously, we have an extremely smart baby.  Weight is up to 18 lb, 13 oz (67%) and he's getting taller at 27.5 inches (75%).

This child's going to be crawling before we know it!

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.  

Things I'll Miss + Things I Won't Miss

Let me preface this post by saying that I have absolutely loved living in Europe.  Italy will always hold a special place in my heart and there are so many wonderful things about this country.  As we get ready to leave very soon, I'm beginning to realize just how much I'll miss Italy.  That being said, I'm also looking forward to some of the conveniences that come with living in the States.  And so, a list of things I'll miss, and a few things I'll be glad to leave behind.

Miss:

• Cappuccinos - Italian coffee is just so much better, plus they're way cheaper than in the US.
• Pizza - like coffee, pizza is way better here.
• Traveling all around Europe.
• The history and the old architecture.
• The wine.  Especially getting liter for under 2 euros.
• The gelato.  Holy cow, the gelato. 
• The sweet Nonna across the street, who is absolutely in love with Nixon and always tickles his feet.
• Running trails through vineyards with views of castles (this one is more Donovan, because lets be honest, it's been awhile since I've gone running).
• Traffic circles - yes, they take a little while to get used to, but they make so much sense.  And they're super convenient for when you need to make a u-turn.  

Won't miss:

• Showers barely large enough to turn around in
• Lack of a garbage disposal.  Digging food particles out of the drain gets old fast.
• Not having a dishwasher - this one is not specific to Italy, as many places here do have dishwashers.  Our house, however, did not, and I now despise doing dishes.
• No air conditioning, or AC that barely works.
• Tripping the breaker each time I run two large appliances at once.  I lost count of how many times I accidentally turned the oven on while the dryer was running and then had to go outside and flip the breaker.  
• An oven so small I can only bake six cookies at a time.