Eric Anthony is Six Months Old (26 weeks)!

Eric went to the doctor for his six-month check-up yesterday, and we learned that he is definitely our son.  Unfortunately, Poppy's genes were just not strong enough to carry through to Eric for very long.  According to the nurse's measurements, Eric is no longer tall.  In fact, he has fallen to the 17th percentile.  We are questioning the accuracy of this measurement though.  It just doesn't make sense that he would fall that much in such a short amount of time.

Otherwise, Eric is doing extremely well.  In fact, the doctor says that he is acting much more like an eight-month-old than a six-month-old.  He is rolling back and forth and all around like crazy.  He is "planking" (getting up on his hands and toes) as well as getting up on his hands and knees occasionally.  He scoots to get whatever he wants.  The doctor was not at all surprised that he doesn't want to sit up.  Whenever I try to have him sit up, he immediately scoots himself back to the ground so he can roll around.  Eric just LOVES to move!

He is also advanced in another area.  Eric is having a little bit of separation anxiety, which usually doesn't happen until babies are a little older.  I'm guessing this is because I went back to work last week and Eric is adjusting to not seeing me all the time.  He is having a lot of fun at home with Adriana and Hermie, though.  He gives Hermie and great big smile every morning when he sees her.  He is also ok with me leaving.  He doesn't cry.  He just wants to be held a lot when I'm gone, and I can barely put him down once I get home.  I'm sure he'll get used to it.  He'll learn that I do come back and the Mama's Boy phase will subside.

According to the list of milestones, Eric is doing very well in all areas.  At six months old, Eric can do all of the following:

• keeps head level when pulled to a sitting position
• makes some vowel-consonant sounds
• sits by self with minimal support (as long as he is interested in something)
• opens mouth for spoon
• reaches for and grabs objects
• rolls over and back
• can hold bottle
• copies some facial expressions
• makes two-syllable sounds
• turns in direction of a voice
• chews on objects
• reaches for utensils when being fed
• turns head away when finished eating
• rolls all the way around
• gets on arms and knees in crawling position
• has specific cries for various needs
• babbles enthusiastically
• tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair
• responds to own name
• has different reactions for different family members
• shows some anxiety when removed from parent
• reaches for toys
• gets upset if toy is removed
• stands holding onto someone

Another interesting fact about Eric is that he is more ticklish on the right side of his face than the left side.  When I kiss his right cheek, he laughs so hard.  It is the greatest sound!

Here are the pictures of Eric at six months old*:

*Like most days, he had no interest in sitting still.

Eric: 25 Weeks

Look!  I have the 25-week picture up before Eric is 26 weeks old!

It's good that I waited just a little bit, because I'm able to report that Eric has his first tooth!  Last night, I noticed that I could see the little holes in his gums letting me know that the tooth was about to come through.  Today, I can feel it.  So, in the past few weeks, Eric has had a horrible cold that turned into a sinus infection, a case of the 24-hour flu, and a new tooth.  The poor kid has managed to stay pretty happy given the amount of discomfort he's experienced.  Hopefully the rest of the winter will be kinder to him...

Eric has also started eating more food.  He tried (and loved) green beans this week.  He was practically diving for our food, so I figured it was time to let him try some of his own.  :-)

Here he is at 25 weeks:

...and Adriana's photo session

After I took Eric's pictures, Adriana wanted a turn again.  I really did get her dressed, but she took her shirt off at some point, so we used Elmo to cover her as well as we could.

Here's Adriana at 27 1/2 months old:

I think she looks JUST like Scott in this picture.

Eric: 23 & 24 Weeks

I can only imagine how behind I'll be on posts when I go back to work next week.  Or maybe I'll be super-prompt with my posts since I'll also be a tax widow very soon, and I'll have some time after the kids go to bed.  We'll see how it goes.

Eric continues to be a very happy baby.  His stomach is getting stronger, and he is spitting up a lot less.  He can almost sit up by himself, but he doesn't really have any interest in doing so.  Whenever I try to have him practice sitting up, he almost immediately bends down so he is on his belly, then he rolls and wiggles around.

Eric's belly is very ticklish.  I tickled him the other night, and his laugh filled the whole house.  It was so cute!

Here are the pictures of our cutie from the last two weeks:

23 Weeks

 

24 Weeks

Eric Anthony is 5 Months (22 Weeks) Old!

Someone recently told me that this blog isn't going to write itself.  I realize that.  Unfortunately, the laundry won't fold itself, the toys won't put themselves away, the basement won't organize itself so the kids can start playing in it, food won't cook itself, and my lesson plans won't write themselves.  (I love you, Mommy!)

But, the magic of Christmas has allowed me some time to write.  Scott got video games, and he only has about a week to play them.  So instead of talking with him right now, he is playing his games, and I am finally getting Eric's blog post written.

Eric really is the sweetest little boy.  He is battling his first major cold right now (thank you, Adriana's preschool friends), and he is still in pretty good spirits.  He cries when he is hurting, and Christmas day was especially rough for him, but he still tries to play, and I still get tons of "kisses" throughout the day.

At 5 months old, Eric is able to do all of the following:

• Pays attention to small objects
• Can see across the room
• Uses hands in a raking fashion to bring toys near
• Keeps head level when pulled to a sitting position
• Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
• Sits by himself with minimal support for longer periods of time
• Opens mouth for spoon
• Reaches for and grabs objects
• Rolls over and back
• Copies some facial expressions
• Makes two-syllable sounds
• Turns in the direction of a voice
• Starting to play peekaboo
• Chews on objects
• Reaches for utensils when being fed
• Has specific cries for various needs
• Babbles enthusiastically
• Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection

He still seems to be rather shy, but compared to what we are used to, who isn't shy?  :-)  He also gets happier and happier each day (sickness aside).  He is spitting up less often, and you can tell that he is no longer in pain when he eats.  He is eating a lot more, and it is not just because he is getting bigger.  He is getting bigger, though.  Here is proof in this week's picture:

 

 

Off to bed now, but I'll try to be back soon with the 23-week (and probably 24-week) pictures.

Eric: 21 Weeks

Yes, I realize he's now over 22 weeks.  That post should be coming later this week.  For now, here are the 21-week pictures:

Eating Elmo

Eric: 20 Weeks

Eric is really starting to babble a LOT!  He is so happy and talks almost all of the time!  Adriana finally has some competition.  He also recently decided that he hates the bottle.  Great!  Just in time for me to get ready to go back to work.  He screams and cries just like his sister did.  Today, it took an hour to get him to take it, but that's nothing like the 6 hours it took Adriana before I went back to work.  I'm hoping each day gets a little better.  So is Grandma Hermie.

Here are the pictures of our cute little guy from this week: