Coby is 9 Months Old!

WOW, I can hardly believe how time flies! Today marks 9 months since I held Coby in my arms for the first time. Who knew then I was such a short time away from the monkey I have on my hands now. Coby is into EVERYTHING! While he still is not walking (I am somewhat surprised by this), he is getting closer every day! He loves to push anything that moves around the house while "walking" behind it. Just a little bit more vertical balance and he will be off. All of this "on the feet" action has meant a lot more work to keep things out of his reach. A couple of weeks ago, Coby had his first potato chip~ this of course was not a planned out new food, instead, it was something that had fallen onto the floor and made it into Coby's mouth. There were big smiles involved in this from all of us! A week and a half ago, we decided it was time for Coby's first haircut. With my prior salon experience (in management of course- not styling), I thought, this should be easy, I will do it myself. Well, in the end it looks okay, but there were lots of tears from mommy during the process. We are so looking forward to a fun time in Ohio for the week of Christmas and New Years. There is so much to do over the next couple of days to get ready, but we are excited to spend such a long period of time with family! If we don't get to post again, have a wonderfully Merry Christmas! I promise to post pics of Coby's First Christmas shortly after!

Look at our big boy trying to walk...

Before the big haircut...

And AFTER the big haircut~ the new "do"...

Where have we been?

Hello All,

I know, I have totally neglected blog life for the past month~ boy has it been a busy month. There is no more putting Coby down to play while I work on a blog post~ he wants to be a part of everything. So, I have to try to steal a minute here and there during naps. This morning, he is napping :)

Second to the busyness is the fact that I had a wonderful blog post planned. I took Coby to picture people on Halloween and got some adorable pics of him that I planned to scan and post. However, I have had lots of scanning difficulties and have yet to successfully scan the pics. So, those will have to come in the near future (we'll travel back in Coby time).

This morning, we got out the door just as soon as we fed Coby breakfast and changed him into his Christmas picture clothes. We headed to Homewood Nursery and took some great pics for our Christmas cards (hopefully we will actually get them out this year~ we'll see). Anyhow, Coby was into EVERYTHING and loved pulling the petals off of the poinsettias. To say the least, our best pics were those that we took outside where there was less color to catch his attention.

Coby continues to be on the go and will likely take to walking sometime in the not to distant future (though probably not tomorrow). He finds his way around every room in the house and is quickly learning what everything tastes like. We think his top tooth is on its way, and that has come with lots and lots of drooling. It is so gross!

We hope all of you are well as you prepare for this week of Thanksgiving festivities. We are looking forward to a visit from Lola and Abuelo Aguilar as well as Angelica and Sylvia. It should be a wonderfully fun weekend. Plus, I only have two days of work this week; what could be better? Until Christmas cards go out, here is one to wet your appetite...

I couldn't be more in love with this little guy!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Today, Coby and I met up with our good friends Natalie, Max, and Kate. It is so fun to have three little ones so close together in age. Natalie is a good friend from Neal Middle School and before that from Starbucks. She is the reason I ended up in the classroom at Neal, but that is a whole other story. Anyhow, we both ended up pregnant at the same time~ her with twins, and me with just Coby :) Max and Kate were born in early February and Coby came just over five weeks later. We have had so much fun using one another as a great resource for finding deals, surviving challenges, and just plain having fun. Today was one of those times~ pictures at the Ganyard Hill Pumpkin Patch just a mile from Neal. It was a GORGEOUS day outside and we had such fun pushing our strollers through the patch and taking pics of all of the kids. It was a great afternoon!

Getting all three to even think about smiling or looking at the camera proved to be impossible. Especially since Coby was completely taken with Kate~ she was such a good sport as he tried to play with her.

Max and Kate are GREAT subjects~ they get lots of practice smiling for the camera :) So much fun to play with and capture their smiles!

Coby thought the pumpkins were so much fun to explore!

So sweet!

Crawl

Coby certainly doesn't need us to get around anymore! We can hardly keep up with him! Enjoy this...

Six months old (really now it is seven, but I am catching up)

Sept. 16, 2009~ Six Months:

• 19lb 19.5 oz. Yes, that is huge~ 85th percentile, but I could kiss each and every roll all day long. That is if I could slow him now long enough to catch him.
• On that very day, Coby started crawling and broke his first tooth. Days later came tooth number two~ side by side on the bottom- we keep trying for good pics, but he loves that tongue.
• Pulling up on everything~ he is fearless. He lets go and tries to stand; he always falls, but he tries.
• Crawling like a pro now~ all over the house.
• Loves to play peek-a-boo around the table, couch, crib, pretty much anything.
• Still loves walks.
• Eating has expanded to include Baby Mum Mum rice rusks. So cute to watch him chipmunk chew them. Sticky fingers when he is done though.

Those are some updates for you. Now for the real treat~ pictures...

A Fun Weekend

I promise a post this week with all the updates from the past month, but I couldn't resist posting some pics now from our weekend in the mountains. Alain, Coby, and I had a wonderful time despite the rain and clouds up in Asheville and then Mt. Mitchell this weekend. It was amazing! Loving the fall here...

A Filled Two Weeks

This past two weeks has been one full of emotion! I officially started school, Coby has transitioned to eating two meals of solid food a day as well as waking up early and going back to sleep at Coreen's, and sadly, we have said goodbye to the family that opened their family to us when we moved far from our own: the Johnson's. Though it is far from goodbye for good, it was certainly a goodbye for the way things have been for the last three years living only 17 houses apart. Brian, Jess, Isaac, Gabe, and Sophie left Thursday morning for Coimbatore, India where they will spend the next two years working in missions with Impact International in orphan care. It was the best phone call ever I received this morning to hear Jessica's voice and know that we will be able to talk regularly thanks to the "magic jack." We had a wonderful past week saying "goodbye." Open house on Sunday, and dinner on Wednesday. Tears were shed and hugs were exchanged. When they return in two years, Isaac will be 11, Gabe will be 8, Sophie will be 6, and Coby will be 2 1/2. A few last pics...

All The Kids Together...

Having a Little Fun...

Friends Saying So Long...

Now that both Alain and I are back to work, we are having a blast spending time with Coby on the weekends. We love to get down on his level and roll around. This past week, Alain has been sick, and Coby is so sad to be without his playmate.

A funny side-note very unrelated to Coby, Jess and I had our last slices of cheesecake together after a fun time getting pedicures at The Cheesecake Factory. I of course ordered my usual, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. After which I was told it was no longer on the menu. This came as a great surprise since it had been only two weeks or so since I last had it. Apparently, the menu had changed only the day before. Fortunately, they had a slice left for me to enjoy with Jess. While eating my slice, I decided perhaps I should find out just how much they had left. Needless to say, I came home with a whole Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough cheesecake for the freezer :) I can at least have my cake and eat it too for a couple more months.

And a few more pics from the past two weeks just for fun...

August Has Been One Busy Month

Sorry All, this month has been CRAZY busy! In the past three weeks, Coby and I travelled to Ohio on an airplane for a week, enjoyed our last five days at home together, were separated for the first time for a whole day (in fact for several full days), and have had lots of fun with our new camera! Anyhow, the last three weeks have been super busy. I cannot begin to tell you all how much Coby has changed in the past three weeks~ he has become extremely mobile as he rolls from one side of the room to the other~ no more setting him down to play on his own!

Okay, so let's hit some of the key points of the past few weeks. In Ohio, we continued Coby's adventures in solid food with some avocado~ he LOVED it! Unfortunately, on the third and fifth day of eating it, he developed a bit of a skin reaction on his face which means we have taken a break from avocado. This week we added in green beans which he has finally adjusted too, though still not his favorite, and he continues with his rice cereal. Today, we will start sweet potato which I hear from most is almost always a favorite.

The trip too and from Ohio was a learning experience. The airplane wasn't too bad though Coby is so interested in everyone on the plane. Learning moment~ Coby is not going to fall asleep at bedtime on a plane with someone sitting right next to us. He fussed most of the way to Ohio. On the return flight (much less crowded), we were able to have two seats which allowed him some privacy to fall asleep~ so much easier for me. Daddy missed us bunches while we were gone and was happy to have us return- that meant lots of snuggles for Coby for several days! Both were quite pleased to be together again! In the pic below, Coby is playing with his "teether ball." His Auntie Joy got him this and who knew how much he would love this crazy ball!

Returning from Ohio marked another fun thing for Coby~ actual jumping in the jumperoo. I mean it; he gets completely airborn. It is so fun to watch his delight as he jumps for long periods of time. However, be ready when he gets tired~ he will want out immediately!



This past week, both Alain and I were back to work. This was probably the hardest time for me since coming home with Coby. While I was thrilled to get back into the classroom, leaving Coby behind all day was not my idea of fun. However, Coby is super happy to spend every day with my dear friend Coreen! He is in heaven over there! It makes it much easier for me to know he is with someone who loves him and cares for him so well!

Last night, we enjoyed one of our last few events with the Johnson fam (at least Brian, Jess, and Isaac) before they head overseas to serve in India. Isaac has become quite the Tarheel and thought it was so fun to watch the Tarheels in action on the soccer field (and to see Uncle Alain working hard on the sidelines). It was such a fun evening!



Well, I will try to update weekly as I settle into my new working-mom schedule. Coby continues to grow and gets cuter every day!

UPDATE: sweet potatoes were definitely a hit! He LOVES them! Soon the pics I post will be of coby with an orangish hue (I wonder if I can photoshop that out) :)

A New Week of New Things... and 4 month Update

Coby continues to be the apple of our eyes as we watch him grow. Last weekend, I went to a baby shower for a coworker and saw another coworker who had a baby at the end of the school year. He is so cute, but more importantly, he is about the same size Coby was at two months~ boy does that seem little. He was so peaceful as he rested in her arms. Meanwhile, Coby was squirming all over and protesting if no one paid him their complete attention. I thought to myself, boy do those restful, peaceful days pass by so quickly. Of course, as I slept a whole night that night, I was thankful for the blessings of each stage.

Tuesday, we took Coby to Raleigh Pediatric Associates for his 4 month well-child visit and his 4 month vaccinations. After taking him right around 3 months for a cold and having him weigh in at 16lb. 5.5oz., we were fully prepared for him to be at least 19 lbs. (continuing the three pound per month growth rate). As Alain set him on the scale, I was practically pushing him out of the way so I could see the numbers (I was so mad I forgot my camera). The numbers said 16 lb. 5.0 oz. I couldn't believe it, Coby had LOST 1/2 an ounce. I was a little worried until the doctor put me at ease letting me know that this is normal between 4 and 6 months and since Coby is a little bit big, having it happen a little early isn't such a bad thing. However, he did recommend that we go ahead and start Coby on some solid food. So, yesterday (Friday), we put the bib on and gave Coby the chance to experiment with some good-old-fashioned Gerber rice cereal. He liked it quite a bit. Today, he was ready with his mouth open for the spoon each time. It was such a fun new thing for us!

I'm Ready to Go...

The First Bite...

Let me think about it...


That's a little bit different...

Here mom, let me help...
Okay, that wasn't so bad...

In addition, Coby has started to roll over fairly regularly (FINALLY), and we often find him on his tummy in the morning. We dropped the 10PM feeding last night fully expecting him to wake us up sometime in the wee hours (between 3 and 5); I woke him up at 6:30! What a sleeper! The goal is to spend the next week or so settling into his new schedule (the back-to-school schedule). This will include a near-8 PM bedtime as well as a 5:30 AM feeding and a return to bed. Today, he settled back into sleep immediately and slept until around 8:15 at which point he woke up very pleasant. We are thrilled with his improving sleep routines.

Tuesday, Coby and I will take off on his first flight for Ohio. Alain will remain here to hold down the fort and start the soccer season. I know he will miss me, but I worry he will be really sad by about day three to be without Coby. This will of course mean lots of phone calls so he can hear Coby's laughs and squeaks. We will definitely miss Daddy for our week in Ohio.

This Week

What a week it has been. Sunday, we left for the beach to visit with the McWherter family and my (Jenn's) grandparents and aunt kyle. It was such a fun time! Coby had a blast~ nearly every moment was filled with cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents loving on him (including the 3 of us, there were 32 people in the house). So, after a fun-filled two days, we returned to Coby needing a few days of detox~ seriously. On Wednesday, he wouldn't let us put him down~ he wanted held ALL day. Today is the first morning he has laid down with some normalcy (only 13 minutes of off and on crying) for his morning nap. It is all worth it though and we would do it again if we had the chance.

The pool at the beach house was a salt-water pool which is so much nicer for skin than chlorine. Coby spent some time soaking with us which is so fun~ he is such a big boy!

The past couple of weeks have also marked a new milestone~ the discovery of feet. Coby spends lots of time practicing his various voga poses stretching his legs out in every direction while holding his feet. It is so cute. Not so cute though is his new found fun of trying to use his feet to take off mommy's shirt while nursing.

And finally... the jumperoo! He loves this new toy. He has definitely learned that if you bounce or jump it starts the music. He loves making the music turn on. It is so fun to watch him exercise in both the jumperoo and the exersaucer. Funny side note, our favorite twins came over to play this week and Max could barely touch the ground in the jumperoo~ at first I thought this must mean Coby is longer (but he isn't), then I realized Coby is that much heavier that he weighs the springs down further~ what a big boy!

Coby Helps Out

I haven't been so good at taking pictures this past week or so, but I thought this was too cute for words, and Jen helped us out with her iPhone and caught the pic. Tonight at "Dinner Jam" before homegroup, Coby was helping Joey lead on guitar. They were too cute.

No Pics but here are some updates...

-Coby has taken a long morning nap in his CRIB the past two days (thank you Emily, or shall I say Sleep Genius)

-Coby has taken a greater liking to his fingers (not very interested in the pacifier these days)~ it is funny though~ on one hand he prefers just two of the fingers, on the other, it is often three. I am happy for it to be his fingers though as he can find those himself as opposed to me helping him find his paci.

-Still not rolling over consistently (really at all)~ occasionally, he has, but not in the past week or so.

-He LOVES tummy time these days~ I will try to get a good pic of this sometime this week.

-He got a jumperoo last week and he LOVES it~ more bounces than jumps but so cute!

-He has discovered all of the toys on his exersaucer and it is fabulous!

-He smiles from ear to ear when you give him kisses, even if he is in the middle of a sob fest.

-He now has an evening poop (this is new), and often that poop leads to a bath if you know what I mean.

That's all for tonight. I will try to take more pics this week and post some. He is getting so big and oh so much fun!

Happy 4th of July from One Big Boy

Happy 4th of July! We had a very busy week leading up to the 4th. Coby and Alain spent the first part of the week fighting a bad cold, and I (Jenn) spent the last couple of days fighting the cold~ no fun. We are all on the uphill climb though now and hopefully will all stay healthy for the remainder of the summer. On a side note as a result of illness: due to Coby's horrible cough for several days, the doctor wanted to see him on Monday. Of course, this meant time for a weigh in! Coby weighed a huge 16lb. 5.5oz. which after a little research on the internet, I learned is the 90th percentile for a 3 mos. old. So, at least for a while, I think we are going to have one big boy on our hands. That's okay though, we love every oz. of him! We go back to the pediatrician at the end of July and will find out his other stats then. For Coby's first 4th of July, we went to a wonderfully fun cookout with the Seymour-Johnson family. They have really taken Alain and I into their family while we have lived here in NC. It was so fun (and yummy too). The most fun part of it all~ matching flag shirts for the three of us from Old Navy. Coby looked especially cute!