Summer is almost over!

Gosh! As I sit here, I can't believe that my summer is almost over! It sure has gone by fast. It's back to reality on Monday, as I start true workshop. Yikes! E is a thriving little boy who is almost 8 months old now! I can't quite believe that he's already so big. Every day brings about new changes and new milestones for him. He is definitely on the go now. He has discovered that he can leap like a frog or use his arms to pull himself around to wherever he wants to go. I'm sure the true crawling won't be long. I hope that he chooses to wait to do it the first time when mommy or daddy can see. E is also teething again. He's had two of his bottom teeth for quite awhile now, but with all the drooling and chewing going on, we expect another tooth to reach the surface very soon. E is also really enjoying baby food. He's been introduced to all of the 1st foods (applesauce, bananas, pears, peaches, green beans, squash, carrots, peas, and sweet potatoes) and is now experiencing the 2nd foods where there are several different combinations. He loves it! He is definitely enjoying it. We've also been allowing him to start practicing how to hold a cup after his meals as well. He's starting to get the hang of it without choking. :) We gave him a teething bisquit a few weeks ago. I took pictures that we'll have to post on here, but wow, was it messy! He totally enjoyed it and I know it provided him some relief from teething, but it's not something that I would give him each night or we would constantly be doing bathtime. I did try to give him a cherry puff at the wedding in Nebraska, but he wasn't so sure about it. I tried again yesterday but tried banana puffs. After picking them up, staring at them, throwing them, he started to get the hang on feeding himself. I don't think they were his favorite (it will take time) but he seemed to be more interested in them than last time. I'm happy to report that E has also been sleeping through the night now. He goes to bed around 8 and wakes up around 7am. There are a few nights where Chad will have to get up to give him his Nuk, but that's okay. It's a lot better than not getting any sleep! Bedtime is wonderful now! After talking with his pediatrican and some friends of mine, we decided to needed to let E cry it out one night to establish that his crib was the place where he was going to go to sleep. All it took was one night! Now I'll change his diaper, read a book or two, turn out the lights and turn the music on, lay him down, and boom...he goes to sleep! I'm so glad that we listened and did this. It was well worth it!

E's current schedule

7am wake up bottle 6oz
830am oatmeal cereal w/ fruit
11am bottle 6oz
3 pm bottle 6oz
530pm rice cereal w/ fruit and a veggie
7pm bottle 6oz
8pm bedtime

As you can see, I did stop breastfeeding awhile ago. I was holding onto one feeding a day, but with school starting and my supply dwindling, I've decided to let it go. It was a very smooth transition for both E and me, which is a good thing. I definitely hope to breastfeed again someday when the next one arrives! (FYI: No plans for this are even being thought about) I really do miss the great bonding experience and formula...geez expensive expensive expensive!!

As Chad mentioned in his blog, E did go to daycare for 4 hours last week while Chad went to work and I attended a writing workshop. I was very nervous about it...as this would be the first time E was babysat by someone other than a family member (outside of attending the church nursery). However, he did great! He didn't like his diaper being changed, so had tears when I got there and didn't sleep (didn't surprise me), so he slept for 3.5 hours when we got home. He was exhausted from the day and from our vacation to Nebraska. Poor little guy. But they love him there. Apparently a parent came to pick up their child and pointed to E and commented how cute he was. He definitely does have the look. :) E will be attending daycare again this week on Monday and Wedneday. Monday for 6 hrs and Wed. for 8 hrs. Hopefully he will transition well. It's the sleeping thing I'm not so sure about.

Anyways, I better close as I have many things for school I need to do...but I wanted to update you all on how my little boy is doing. Tomorrow I hope to post some things about E that I wrote at my writing workshop last week. They will offer you great insight into some of my thoughts and E's experiences.

Good night!