Half Birthday

Today Jack is 6 months old. I can't believe he is already half of a year old. Wow, it is true...they do grow up so fast! Today wasn't exactly what I would have imagined his 6 month old birthday to be like. But, we tried to make it special despite his ear infection and the fussy mood he has been in. We celebrated early in the morning with a song, rice cereal, and a candle. I spent a lot of time holding Jack and telling him what his Daddy and I were doing 6 months ago on this day. I told him how I knew when he was coming, about arriving at the hospital, how surprisingly big he was, and a little about my surgery. I told him a lot about the first time I saw him and held him and then I asked him to please stop growing. I can't believe I said that after going through those first couple months. They seemed like an eternity back then and now it seems like I blinked my eyes and it was over. Then I thought about how much he has changed in 6 months. He can smile, squeal, babble, hold things, sit up, roll over, and even hug me. Oh, Jack's hugs....(sigh), those are the best. He wraps both arms around my neck and buries his face into mine...slobber and all..they are wonderful! How was I to know 6 months ago today, when I was holding him in the hospital, that things could get even better? I thought I loved Jack then....6 months proved me wrong...I REALLY love him now! I can't imagine how I will feel on his one year birthday. In honor of 6 fabulous months, here are 6 things I love about my "Half Birthday" Baby:

1. the way he smells after a bath
2. his one tooth smile
3. his squeal when Cosby walks into the room
4. how his eyes get big and his arms flail when I hit play on the CD player as he anticipates the start of the music
5. his belly laugh when I tickle him in just the right spot
6. his slobbery two handed hugs

Sick or Something Like It...SOLVED!

The mystery of Jack's fussy behavior has been solved. The culprit...an ear infection! It was confirmed today at East Cobb Pediatrics at 3:30 pm. Jack's unusually fussy behavior started on Tuesday of this week and has increased as the days have passed. Looking ahead to the possibility of a very long weekend, and knowing the Pediatrician's office would be closed, I decided to call and explain Jack's behavior. They suggested we come in and that is when we received the news. We were told the possible symptoms of an ear infection are as follows:

runny nose/head congestion...check, we had that

fever...no

tugging of the ear...only when sleeping in his crib at night and I only know that because I starred at the video monitor trying to solve the mystery for 3 nights in a row

crying when laying down...he cried all the time

difficulty taking a bottle...yeah, right!

So, were the signs all there? Kind of, kind of not! So, here I am again wondering if I played the "Mommy guessing game" and won it or if it beat me. I had my suspicions of an ear infection, but I wasn't quite sure. I was so unsure that when we arrived at the doctor's office I almost turned around and left. As soon as Jack saw all of those cute nurses oohing and awing over him he got an instant smile on his face which eventually turned into a flirty giggle. I told the receptionist, "he must be fine, we can wait until his 6 month well visit next week". She encouraged me to stay and said the doctor can see you in just a minute. And, like she said, in just a minute Jack was called back and the doctor was there in a matter of seconds. Again, Jack smiled and batted his big blue eyes making me look like a fool. She checked his chest and breathing...all fine. She checked his right ear...all fine. And just when I thought she was going to write "Paranoid Mom" on Jack's medical chart, she checked the left ear (the ear I saw him tugging on in the video monitor). His handsome grin turned into an immediate frown and his skin turned beet red. A lot of crying followed along with the diagnosis. I was reassured by the doctor that Jack would be feeling much better in 2-3 days with an antibiotic, Tylenol, saline nose spray and some TLC. We left the doctor's office and had the prescription filled immediately... at Publix... for free! Jack fell asleep on the ride home and woke up in his recent fussy mood. I did get one semi-happy face out of him when I gave him his medicine in a syringe. For a moment he thought he was getting a second dinner and, you know, food is always the way to Jack's heart!

Sleepy Shopper

It's that time of week again...the day of the week when Jack and I meet Donna, baby Patterson, and pregnant Karen for lunch and whatever else we find to get into. Today the "whatever else" was a little outdoor shopping in the Vinings. It started with an outside table and a yummy Italian lunch. I pulled Jack's stroller right up to the table and he sat straight up waiting for his taste. Nothing on the menu for a baby, go figure, so luckily Mommy was prepared. I brought Jack a piece of watermelon...yes, Jack can eat watermelon. However, there is a trick to it. I found, which you may already know about, the best baby invention EVER! It looks like a lollipop with a mesh dome at the top. The food is placed in the mesh dome so baby can suck on it without getting a huge bite and choking. Is that fabulous or what? It was actually invented by a Dad who wanted his baby to try new foods, but was fearful of choking risks. Jack is in heaven when he gets his dime size piece of watermelon. And, even better, I can eat my whole lunch while he works on it...love it! After a lunch of pizza, salad, and watermelon we strolled and browsed through the adorable shops. Of course, we spent the majority of our time in a baby store...as if these spoiled babies need anything else! But, it is so fun to look. I have found that I would rather buy for Jack anyday over myself..now, that is true love. Before we knew it, Jack was tired and maybe the pregnant lady was too because they both took a break in one of the store's glider rockers. For a moment they looked like they could be related with those beautiful big blue eyes. Karen got a small taste of what shopping with a baby is like and I got some hands free shoppping time. Soon she will be doing it herself...5 weeks to go! Upon leaving the store, Jack fell sound asleep in my arms. What a trooper...he made it through lunch and a little shopping. Jack isn't quite old enough to realize that he doesn't like shopping, so I'm going to enjoy his company while I can!

Sick or Something Like It

Everyday can't be perfect or there wouldn't be such thing as a perfect day. Today was one of those days..not so perfect. I couldn't pin point what was wrong with Jack. He just wasn't happy. He woke up earlier than usual, he had a runny nose, he was sneezing, he was rubbing his eyes, he was drooling but, luckily, no fever. So I narrowed it down to... he was overtired or he is teething or he is getting a cold or he has allergies or all of the above or WHO KNOWS...it could be anything! It was one of those guessing games you play as a mother. There is just no way to know exactly what the source of discomfort is. Or maybe there is no discomfort, maybe he just didn't feel like being happy today. There I go again, playing the guessing game. Now, don't get me wrong , the whole day wasn't terrible. Jack had his moments where he mustered a smile and a giggle. Like his afternoon feeding, just not his morning feeding. And the first 25 minutes of swim class, just not the last 20. And his nightly bath, just not getting dressed afterwards. It's days like this that really make you appreciate the good/easier ones. When I didn't know what to do anymore, I got some really good advice from a friend this afternoon. She said that when her baby has one of "those days" she calls her Mom. And in a calm, sort of Motherly way, her Mom says, "you just have to hold him and love him a lot today". How simple and obvious does that sound? So, I took her advice and I spent the rest of the day loving and holding Jack. When it got harder than it may sound, Clay took over for a while. It wasn't a magic cure, but it felt really nice. I think Jack appreciated it too. Tonight after his bath and bottle, Jack fell asleep in my arms before I could even get him to his crib (he never does that). So, I couldn't help but hold him in my arms for a little longer and love him for a little longer before putting him down. I hope tomorrow is better, but, if not, I've got some very good advice to get me through...Moms know everything.