July Recap

Pictures first!

Mirrored crib view

If I don't sleep, Nobody sleeps!

Jacob is starting to sit up more on his own now. He has the "tripod" stance where he leans way forward and balances with his wide spread legs or knees. It's definitely more convenient in some ways -- we can just plop him down on the bed and not have to support him as much. Of course we keep our eyes on him all the time since it won't be long before he begins crawling!

He still enjoys his grunting, but has also incorporated his own version of "talking" in with it now. It's very cute and sometimes funny to hear.

He has started consuming increasingly more solids now (1st stage foods); almost taking in an entire jar. He's already outgrown his Bumbo and doing very well in his high chair! I am still nursing him, although it's far from exclusive as they suggest for the first 6 months. The boy just simply eats too much! I've been trying to keep my milk supply going, but it's hard since he likes the flow of milk from a bottle better. I've been trying some Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle herbs, although, I'm not so sure that it might not be agreeing with him as he's had a bit of reflux going on recently. The reflux, along with some concerning breathing patterns sent us to see a dr. last week. They put him on some Prilosec for reflux and said his periodic breathing was normal. We're thinking that the reflux medicine is working because 1) his spit ups have been reducing and 2) he actually slept through the night for the first time last night without the help of Tylenol or other meds! Well, we consider it that, but the hours were from after 8pm - 4:30am. ...Then 2 nights later, he was up 4 times. Oh well, guess it's a work in progress.

We all went on a brief rendezvous to Johnson City and Kingsport this past weekend. Spur of the moment, we decided we would go visit my grandmother on Saturday; that turned into a "why don't we go over tonight and spend the night in a hotel in JC?" That was Jacob's first night away from home and his crib. He actually slept in the hotel's pack-n-play and did pretty well. I don't think I got as much sleep just from being in the same room with him. But he did well overall considering how much time he spent in the car seat. We took a different route and finally made it over to The Farmer's Daughter for some good home country cookin! Great grandma definitely thought he was getting heavier/bigger!

Bill is nearing his big vacation soon. He has an ever growing honey-do list that he's going to try to tackle! This place does need some TLC. And we're actually getting away next month for our first little getaway trip since Jacob came along. We're going to R&R over in Pigeon Forge and hopefully make it by to see another new addition to the family, Madison Sproles. Congrats Christy & Andy! You can take a gander here.

Jacob in action...or lack therof

Just a couple more pics & video of the latest.

He seems to have already developed an attachment to the ones he knows, loves and sees every day. He didn't do so well over the weekend with other family members - stranger anxiety. It was also an overwhelming moment with everyone oohing and ahhing, talking over Regan giving Jacob kisses. Guess the whole family was too much to take in all at once...reminds me of my first time at the dinner table with everyone for a holiday dinner. Much different when I grew up being an only child!

Like Father like Son

So we have been giving Jacob some baby food in an attempt to keep his tummy fuller longer. This has allowed us to get some longer stretches of sleep in (6 hours) for which we are grateful. During all of this we have noticed some similarities to Jacob's sleep pattern and mine. I have a very bad habit of moving my legs all night long (or that is what Rhonda tells me). Jacob has started doing this as well. He also tries to bury his nose into the mattress. I on the other had try to bury mine into the pillow when I sleep. He is also a early riser and thinks afternoon naps are for the birds. We hope that one changes soon!!

One other similarity is more food related. My vegetable pallet is a bit limited. It isn't that I don't like vegetables, but I'm more of a meat and potato man. This evening we decided to feed Jacob some peas. I'm glad those little jars aren't expensive because peas won't be in our house again. I always knew my boy was smart.

Eatin' carrots

Eating, Growing, Smiling

I go so long between posts now that I have already forgotten some milestones Jacob has met! Yikes! I can't be doing that! So let me try to catch up.

He's growing like a weed. I think he is up to around 16 lbs now. We just have a set of bathroom scales to go by. He's gradually sleeping longer...especially when we give him the occasional Tylenol. He has been acting like he's trying to cut a tooth, but I don't see anything yet. He slept almost a 7 hour stretch the other night. Of course, I woke him up to eat b/c I worried he went too long and wouldn't wake up.


Against what I thought I'd be doing at this stage, we just started feeding him some baby food. Rice/applesauce and I think the other one is oatmeal. He seems to like it and do well with it, albeit a time consuming process...and messy! :) He had been nibbling on Nilla wafers and some pudding, so we figured he'd do well with what he's supposed to be eating. He's still primarily on breast milk, just supplementing in the evenings with the baby food jars.


Even though his feet don't quite touch the bottom well, he is getting acclimated to his Exersaucer. he loves it as well. He has a more elaborate one at our house and a very similar one at Nana and Pop's house. His developmental toy selection is growing as well. Bill stopped at a rummage sale Saturday and bought some new/used things. Hey, they work and they are in good condition - why pay full price??

As you can see by his pics, he's smiling more for the camera lately. Something he can't be shy about!
I've been trying to adjust our schedules to try to get back to a 9-1 work schedule. I really did like the 10-2, as I'm not a morning person, but the boss said that wasn't working for him. I've backed it down to almost 9:30 so far. I kind of take his efforts to get us on an earlier schedule with a grain of salt since he admitted he never got up for the midnight feedings with any of his children. So until he volunteers to help with mine.....!

Bill is hard at work as usual these days, working 4 ten hour days. He then is spending 2 days a week at my boss' residence, working on a new landscape for him. I guess that works out well then.

We've got to start heading my boss' tips on financial investments and get Jacob started with a college fund / update our retirement plans / save for future purchases and projects. Sound familiar? Just a friendly reminder to all that these things often are neglected and need a revisit every now and again to be sure everything is in line and tip top shape. Any advice on what you've all done with your little ones is also accepted. Feel free to post comments to the blog.

Looks like with my new schedule, I'll have some free time at least once or twice a week to catch up on email/blogging with a 2 hour gap between work and chiropractor visits. It's been a challenge trying to tweak schedules to fit the little one. Good thing is, I've found a nice, cool library to do kill my time in. Perhaps I can also plan Jacob's future learning opportunities here!

Picture Album / Back to work

Not much time for writing these days. I've posted an online group room for Jacob on Snapfish which can be viewed at http://jqroom.snapfish.com/snapfish. You have to create an account in order to view them.

Lil' squirt is all caught up for now on the shots until 4 months....oh yeah, that's what I needed to remember to do -make his next appointment! I knew it would come to me sometime. :) He's starting to improve again on sleeping. We've already started adding rice cereal to his bottle in order to keep some more bulk on his tummy. Dr.'s don't recommend it until 4 months of age, but guess what?? We did what we had to do!

I started back to work last week. I only worked a 2 day schedule then and a 3 day schedule this week. We'll see how it goes as to what next week will be like. It's definitely tough going back to work and leaving him. He's in good hands though!

We bought one of those jogging strollers yesterday that we're going to take to a little lake nearby. No, I don't jog, but I do walk! Bill will probably do the running and leave the stroller to me. We found a decent one on Craigslist. Good bargains!

Well, you-know-who is waking up already from his SHORT nap! Later!

May News

Lot's more of what seems like sleepless nights lately. Jacob still hasn't managed past 2-3 hour feedings. Which when all is said and done of getting up to eat and putting him back to sleep give us 30 minutes to an hour and a half (with occassionaly 3 hour stretches) to sleep ourselves. He seems to be getting a tad bit better with his fussiness and gassiness, but it's not all gone yet. One thinig he has started now -- crying and whining because he doesn't want to go to sleep!

He began his shots a couple weeks ago. We are trying to space some out 1 week or so at a time. He did much better the 2nd time... and so did I. I just hate making him go through the pain and side effects.

I've invested in the alternating help of Nana and Mammaw to help out each weekday so that I can manage to get some things done, or take naps. It's still hard to sleep during the middle of the day - unless it's raining. Don't know what I'd do without their help - go crazy maybe!

I'll be starting back to work the last week of May. I think my boss prefers that I started back yesterday, but I have to do what is best for me/us.

Jacob does pretty well when we take him out somewhere, unless we're gone too long, or it's near his bedtime. He is starting to notice things out the window of the car more and stay awake longer. It's fun to see him begin his social smiles too. We're going to try to take him to see family in TN this next weekend, so we'll see how that goes!

And now for a few more pics to make up for lost time..

Me & Daddy being silly

Mother's Day

Baby Dedication @ Starnes Cove