6 Month Visit and & 7 Months Old!

Alexis is growing leaps and bounds. She is doing so many new things since the last post. She is holding her head up well, eating solids and any day now I think she'll figure out the crawling thing. Right now, she just rolls around and scoots to whatever she wants to get to! One thing that hasn't changed, she is still the most smiley girl I have ever seen. Since she's started to smile, she hasn't stopped. Alexis is by far the easiest baby as she hardly complains. As long as she sees you, then she is a happy girl.

At Alexis 6 month appointment she was 27 1/4", which is in the 90-95% for her age. She is a tall girl! I can't remember Ben ever being in the 90-95% for his age group. She also weighed in at 16lbs 30oz, which is 50-75% . Her head circumference is 43 1/2 cm which is also 50-75%. Her pediatrician says she is a healthy girl and hitting all of the right milestones for her age, so we're very happy with that!

In other news, a couple of weeks ago we had Alexis tube surgery for her ears. She hasn't been able to pass her right ear screening test since she was a new born and after five failed tests, she was referred to an ENT. The easiest solution for her was to get tubes. Her Dad and I both had been through this step with Ben, but it wasn't any easier. She was a smiley pie the entire morning even though she was not allowed to eat since midnight the night before. At that point she was still eating a bottle through the night, so we were really worried we would have a cranky baby. Thankfully the extra few ounces we gave her before that midnight hour helped her hang through until after the surgery. She cried a bit from the anesthesia, but after a little while she quieted down. Her post op appointment looked great and her ears are fluid free now. Hopefully at her next audiologist appointment, she will pass her hearing test. I certainly have said prayer after prayer for my little girl to hear the way she should. I hope this surgery was the correct answer.

Alexis is also loving her solids now. She started with rice cereal and quickly graduated to eating her first set of veggies and fruits. So far Alexis has eaten carrots (her first solid meal other than rice), sweet potatoes, peas, apple, pear and banana. She really picked up eating these new foods so easily and its so cute seeing her little mouth open up like a little bird for each bite. Every so often Alexis will surprise us by wanting double or even triple the amount of her usual intake. She certainly a healthy eater!

Alexis is getting more and more mobile. I am not pushing her to be like I was with Ben as I know what being more mobile means. She certainly is finding a lot of new things to play with these days including her brother's toys. While typically he doesn't mind too much (we do have our moments), it certainly is a huge change for Ben as he's used to having toys and his space as he wants them without his sister disturbing things.

Speaking of Ben, he completely loves his little sister. Ben is all boy, but he has a special soft side that only comes out when it comes to his sister. He constantly thinks about her, makes sure she's okay and tries his hardest to make her happy. When she is crying for any reason he tries to find a paci, orders us to hurry up and make her a bottle and has even brought a picture of Alexis over to her to show her what a happy baby looks like. The other day I asked Ben if he would like to have another sibling. I guess I didn't explain it very well because Ben told me he did not and that he wanted to keep Alexis. He thought I was going to trade her in for another sister or brother! How silly is he! Alexis is certainly loved by her brother and we have had several comments from family, friends and even strangers saying how doting he is on her.

Alexis certainly has meshed into our family. Its like she has always been here and I can't say enough what a sweet and beautiful little girl she is. She always has a smile for everyone she sees (minus the photographer) and it is so fun seeing her little personality emerging. I love you sweet pea!

Ben Update

I love capturing all things Ben. He, his sister and his Dad are my world. He has such an awesome little personality. He's so outgoing, dives in to trying new experiences, sweet and so loving. I can't say enough how about what an amazing little guy he's becoming. I wish he would listen more, but it goes with having a four year old...they tend to have selective hearing. We are of course working on that. However, my little boy fills my days with joy and laughter. I don't htink anyone has made me laugh as much as he has.

I wanted to share a few short adventures with my son. Things that he does or says throughout the day:

• August 22nd: Ben asked me, "How do girls work?" I honestly had no real great answer to this one as I don't know the answer to his question. I found it hilarious though! What a question!
• August 23rd: James turned on Michael Jackson's Thriller in the basement. Ben started jamming and of course wanted his sister to join in. We were having our own little dance off in the basement. I couldn't stop laughing.
• September 3rd: Ben sat in amazement while he watched Peter Pan at Wolf Trap (a special gift my parents gave to Ben and his cousin). He loved it all. He air punched Captain Hook (he was joining in the fight with Peter), to saving Tinkerbells' life by clapping and especially at the end when Peter Pan flew into the audience and sprinkled pixie dust on everyone. That moment was so amazing and the boys expressions was so awesome that it made their Nagypapa cry from pure joy. His hilarious moment of the day was when he saw the park rangers at Wolf Trap. They wear wide brim hats and he thought a bear was going to be there. I didn't get why on Earth he thought a bear would be there until I remembered he recently watched Yogi Bear. He figured Park Rangers and Yogi Bear go hand in hand. He also dressed as Peter Pan that day and thought he was pretty big stuff!
  

• September 8th: Ben officially knows how to use a PS3 remote! I can't believe it! He'll be kicking his Dad's butt in Madden soon enough!

• September 16th: I asked Ben if he wants to play hockey. He said, "Yeah Mommy, but first I learn poker THAN hockey." Where does he come up with this stuff?
• September 17th: When Ben was going upstairs to bed Ben brought a sword with him. I asked him why on Earth he had a sword as I thought it was silly to bring something like that to bed. Ben explained to me by saying, "Mommy just in case Peter Pan comes for me and we can go fight pirates." I left the sword JUST IN CASE!
  
• September 21st: Ben pulled me aside and read me an entire story! I was beyond thrilled and excited for him!
• September 23rd: Ben played old school Nintendo for the first time. He's pretty decent with Mario, but prefers to play Paperboy
• September 24th: Ben attended his first circus with his sister (also her first time), his parents, Uncle Rick and Gaga. He loved it minus the boring acrobatic part.
• October 5th: Ben saw a small cut on my hand. He got upset and protective asking, "Who hurt you Mommy???" I love my protective little man.
• October 11th: It was one of those really long and bad days for me. Ben asked me what I wanted. I sarcastically said I would like my sanity. He came back with a plastic chicken and Mac and cheese and said with a bright smile, "Here is your sanity Mommy." Thanks for the laugh buddy!
  
  

  
  

Ben's Love

Ben has a tremendous love for his sister and in turn his sister thinks he is the cat's meow. I know it may be bias saying this but I have never heard of a boy so loving towards his little sister and I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to watch it all first hand. He is constantly thinking of her and constantly being there for her.

If we're away, even at a fun Mommy/Son date, he'll ask how she is. On our way home today from Cox Farms, we called his Dad to let him know we were on our way. Ben's first question to his Dad was, "Did you pick up Alexis Lorraine?" She had been at day care when I picked up Ben for a date with just the two of us. He then told his Dad to make sure she has her bottles and her pacifier.

Every morning he runs to her room when he knows she is awake and says, "hello pretty girl." What an awesome wake up call! He always kisses her before he goes to bed each night as well. He even snuck her a bite of his ice cream the other night when I wasn't looking. I had to explain how sweet that was of him, but she couldn't have it. If you know Ben, usually ice cream isn't something he shares...with ANY one.

The other day I asked him he would like more siblings. I'm not planning on trying right now but just wanted to see what his take on it would be. He told me he didn't want any because he wanted to keep Alexis. He thought I would trade her in for some other kids!

I just love the bond he has with her. The way he thinks about her constantly and the sweet side of him that I would of not known unless my beautiful girl entered our world. My Ben is a spunky, energetic, loving four year old, but when it comes to his sister, he goes above and beyond for her. I hope he always has a bond with her like he does now. I hope they are always loving towards each other and above all...fantastic if not great friends.

....Good luck dating someday Alexis. If you think your Dad is going to be bad...I can only imagine how protective your brother is going to be.