Happy Half Birthday

On Tuesday, Felix turned 0.5 years old! Like everyone always says, it goes by so fast, and that sure was the case with Felix. We scheduled his 6 month check-up on Tuesday as well, which wasn't the happiest half-birthday present. Felix is officially 26" and 15 lb 15 oz now! He fits well in 6-9 month clothes, but probably not for very long at the rate he's growing. He's still in the 25th percentile, which is consistent with where he's been. We did give him a bit of a present after we got home from his appointment - we gave him baby food for the first time! Mushed peas was on the menu, and after an initial "huh" reaction from him, he continued to eat it. We finished the jar last night and he was unhappy there was no more. Tonight, we're going to try green beans or sweet potatoes. I want to get him a taste of the harder-to-like vegetables first, so that the sweeter ones are easier to introduce later. I'm planning on making my own baby food this weekend. Steamer, food processor and ice cube trays at the ready!

He still has no teeth showing, but he's babbling quite a bit (loves the buhs, duhs, and blowing raspberries). It's funny how much it sounds like he's talking, even if it also sounds like it's Czech. He grabs for everything I'm holding, which means his daily sheets at daycare end up crumpled and wet (since he also sticks everything in his mouth). Eh, it's fiber, right? ;o) He's not terribly mobile yet, which is good since we still haven't baby-proofed completely.

Nick's legal practice is up and running now, and we can happily announce that he has a few clients! All his hard work in law school and getting this business set up will be paying off in spades shortly. His financial representative career is also working out well, and he and his new partner just rented office space in Verona at a high-visibility location.

Hope everything is going just as well with you and yours!

Felix: 6 mos

Sleep Training

As Felix nears being alive for six months, I decided that it was high time for me to get a full night's rest. Two nights ago, we started sleep training Felix, who up to this point had been waking at least once a night for a feeding. Well, he wasn't too happy that first night, waking up twice and crying for nearly a half hour each time. But he was all smiles the next morning. Last night was much better. A few whimpers and settled himself down the first time, then just needed one visit to calm him down the second time he woke. Hopefully things will continue to improve tonight, and we'll be on our way to getting a full night's sleep!

In other news, Felix is growing like a weed and now into the 6-9 month clothing. Felix's hands have improved and now he's playing more. He is starting to make more attempts at movement, like rolling and taking "steps" when we hold him standing. It won't be too long before he's actual on the move. Look out!

Felix: 5 mos

Happy New Year!

We hope you had a great [insert holiday here] and New Years! We sure did! We started a new tradition and avoided traveling by hosting our respective families for Christmas. It did feel rather odd not to do anything on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, since we had the Abts family over on the 19th and the Kienerts over on the 26th. Great times, both. Felix wasn't quite sure of what was going on, but he enjoyed visitors and grabbing bows. The Kienert side continued our Ugly Sweater tradition from last year. Classic!

Felix has been doing extremely well. He still doesn't sleep through the night, but getting up only once at night is a major improvement. He rolled over for the first time from back to front on 12/30! So, we got the rolling over before his first tooth. That seems like it might be coming at any time, though. He still spits up like it's going out of style, and that's probably the only stumbling block on his way to become a baby model. He's all smiles and giggles when he's not nomming his fingers (oh, gotta do something about that, too) or spitting up. Just today he started "walking" when we held him up.

And as a holiday present to all, a short video of Felix "dancing". Enjoy!




Also, I've determined that it's a Padiddle Economy. So many people are using their income for important things, and putting off things like getting their headlights fixed. So many more padiddles on the road, though it might just be a Wisconsin thing. [I came up with it. Use it. Tell your friends. ;o)]

Felix: 5 mos

Happy Holidays!

What a year it was for us! We got to enjoy and relax on our trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with the extended Kienert family in March. A highlight was seeing whales on Banderas Bay and visiting the isolated town of Yelapa. We celebrated our first anniversary with a weekend trip to Door County, spending the night in Sturgeon Bay and hiking in Peninsula State Park. We spent most of the year waiting excitedly for our baby to come. And suddenly, he was here. Felix Robert was born on July 12, and he has brought so much joy to our lives! Nick had an exciting end of the year, changing jobs to Strategic Wealth Management and getting his law practice underway. Many great opportunities are in store for him! We are excited about our first Christmas together as a true family, and about the coming year and all the firsts it will bring. We hope the coming holiday season and the coming year bring much joy and happiness to you and yours!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Felix: 5 mos

Digging Out

Just a few days shy of when Felix turns 5 months old, he had his first snowstorm and snow day. We got (unofficially) 18" or so of snow on Tuesday night, so Felix's daycare was closed. Nick and I decided not to fight the elements, and instead, celebrated the day as a family at home. While Nick was shoveling, I bundled Felix up and took him outside. He was taller than the snowfall, but only by half a foot.

Driving him to day care this morning was a little hairier than I would have liked, but we made it. First a blizzard, now arctic temperatures. Welcome to winter in Wisconsin, little man.

Felix: 4 mos

So Thankful!

'Tis the season to give thanks, and we have so much to be thankful for this year! First and foremost, for a healthy pregnancy and the birth of our son, Felix, who amazes us every day. For Nick's new job and the wealth of opportunities that accompany it. For the new challenges and ongoing familiarity of my job. For our families who are even closer in spirit now that Felix is here, and for all they have done for us before and after his birth. For our friends and neighbors, upon whom we can rely and borrow tools. For the great teachers who watch over Felix during the day and who care for him as much as we do. For our new friends at Prairie who welcomed us so readily into their community. For everyone who has touched our lives this year, and for all who will help us in the coming years, THANK YOU!

Felix update: He's gotten so much bigger! At our last doctor's visit on 11/16, he was 13.6 pounds and 24.5". We've learned some basic infant massage techniques, and we've been practicing them almost daily for the past two weeks. Felix has been sleeping slightly better since we learned to put him to be at his bedtime, not ours (duh, I know), but he's still waking up at least once during the night. He's also discovered he can use his hands to grab for things in the last few days. That's made me very happy, and it's made tummy time easier now that we can put toys in front of him that he can try to reach for. Felix is learning he has a vocal range (low to high and soft to loud), and is putting it to the test. He's also had a few shrieking/wailing episodes, though, that we have yet to figure out the cause of (hopefully it's just related to "look what I can do with my voice"). Except for those few episodes, he's a very smiley, happy little man!

Felix: 4 mos

Dedicated

Last weekend, we had Felix's dedication ceremony at our church/fellowship/society. Aunts, grandparents and great-grandparents were all in attendance, and Felix wore the same christening gown worn by my great-grandpa in 1902. Afterward, everybody came back to our house for lunch and old fashioneds, then the Packers game. It was a crazy, busy day, but it was so meaningful to us.

I don't think Felix liked the time change too much. Four out of the five work days this week, he wailed for a long time shortly after we came home from daycare, then slept because he wore himself out. Last night was the first night that we actually had some play time and no crying when we got home. Hopefully that was just a phase.

(Felix just replied "Hi" when I smiled at him and said hi to him!)

Felix: 3 mos