Yummy, yummy, yummy... Rice in my tummy!

Here we go!

Jacob is 4 1/2 months old now and has been eyeing and reaching for our food for a couple of weeks. This presented a new challenge to me, because Jacob often sits in my lap while we eat. He enjoys his jump-a-roo and his exersaucer, but sometimes he just wants to be a part of what's going on at the table! He would also open his mouth when we would bring a fork full of food to our mouths. I had mixed feelings about this: my baby may be ready to try baby cereal, but this also means my baby is changing and growing so fast =(

What is that?!

    
    So we went to the grocery store and bought a box of baby rice cereal. I probably looked over the selection longer than the average person would. I wanted to make the best decision for my baby. His pediatrician said we could start rice or oatmeal cereal any time and if he didn't like it, wait a month and give it another try.




    Jacob is very determined. He's willing to try hard at everything. Though he cannot crawl yet because he hasn't developed the arm strength, his legs can do the work for him. If he sees a toy he wants while playing on the floor, he'll scoot his legs underneath himself and give it a grunting push. He'll do this over & over again until he reaches what he wants. All the while, his poor little face is rubbing across the floor. Does he mind? Only if he gets too tired in the process; but he's willing to do what it takes. That's my boy!

Yes! I want mooore!

    
    So because Jacob seems to have the "go getter" mentality, I really had no doubts about him accepting the cereal. We got it ready shortly before bedtime & were probably more excited than he was at first. I thinned out the cereal to near milk consistency with breast milk. We gave him his first "bite" and... He seemed to like the taste! 
    The next evening we gave Jacob cereal again. After several bites, he seemed to be getting frustrated and kept reaching for the bowl. So I gave it to him & he drank the cereal! It was adorable. The evening after that, I made his cereal a little thicker. He seems to like it best that way. Our little Jacob is growing up! 
    He has also been teething...mostly at night. Why does it always work that way? So, needless to say, I haven't been getting much sleep. But thanks to Tylenol for infants, he can handle it =) If you looks closely, you can tell his 2 bottom front teeth will be here soon! The gums have changed from really red to almost white-ish. In the light you can see those 2 little teeth are just under the surface!

Leaves are Beginning to Fall

    
    
    Fall season kind of crept on on me this year. I feel like one day I was just wondering when the heat would go away and the next I was driving down a country road and noticed all the leaves were changing into bright yellows, oranges, and reds. It's been perfect outside lately, perfect for taking pictures of Jacob =) He absolutely LOVES to be outside. Crying? Fussy? Unconsolable? Take him outside. The moment we cross the threshold he is calmed. A few days ago he played in his exersaucer on the driveway. Today he was happy just laying on his blanket while chewing on his favorite book. Kita joined us!

Has is really been 4 months?

October 8, 2010
    I can't believe Jacob is 4 months old today. Sometimes I feel like he was just born while other times I feel like I've known him forever and can't imagine life without him. He has changed and grown so much; only into a more cuddly and all boy baby.
   






    In the past couple of weeks, Jacob has discovered his tongue and his feet! He had just finished eating one afternoon when he looked up at me and stuck out his tongue! It was out for a while while he felt his lips with it and wiggled it back and forth. It must have tickled his lips because he started laughing! It was so cute. Now it's turned into a game where I slowly move my finger towards his lips and say, "I'm gonna get your tongue!" Jacob will stick it out and then back in really fast and smile or laugh =) I know there will be a day in the not so distant future when I will be telling him to keep his tongue in his mouth, so we're enjoying it now!


    It was like Jacob woke up one day and discovered, "I have feet!!!" His new favorite thing to do is hold onto his toes. And he doesn't have to be fully awake to do it either. If he wakes up at 3am to eat, I feed him and then lay him down to change him. While his eyes are still closed and he's trying to go back to sleep, he lifts his legs up and reaches for his feet...and just lays there holding them.     
    When he's wide awake he'll also try to put his feet into his mouth. I must say, it does help with diaper changing, because he's keeping his feet out of messy diapers!