8 Months Old

Today Trafton is eight months old! He is moving more than ever, still perfecting the perfect backside scoot. He pulled himself up to standing once a couple of weeks ago while he was in a sitting position in his crib by using the crib bumper. He still can't get himself to a sitting position on his own, but we lowered the crib anyway! He can hold himself in a standing position as long as he has something to hold on to. He is continuing to do well at daycare and he is hungrier than ever! He is such a good eater - eating every new food I give him like it's his favorite. I still think he loves avocadoes and bananas the best, although not at the same time. Unfortunately he's been sick for about a three weeks now. He's got a runny nose, a pretty ugly cough, and is sneezing quite a bit. I've been sick in these last six weeks more than ever myself - must be Trafton going to daycare and me with my not-used-to-being-surrounded-by-seventh-graders-all-day-long weakened immune system suddenly being back at work. Trafton is maintaining a pretty pleasant disposition, although at night he wakes up coughing a couple of times and then cries until he can get himself back to sleep.

My little cutie!

Climbing on daddy

Clean and fresh from the bathtub

Now that Trafton is sitting so well, sometimes I just plop him on our bed while I get ready for work in morning instead of always putting him in the exersaucer.

Hanging with Pappy

Karen came over to babysit last week so Daniel and I could get out for a couple of hours. It was so fun! We went to one of our favorite places - wing night at the Cracker Barrel pub in Catawissa. That used to be a monthly ritual for us before the bambino came along! Trafton did so well for Karen and when we got home he was sleeping so sweetly on her shoulder :)

Sometimes Trafton hangs out on the guest room bed with Daniel after I leave for work since Daniel takes him to daycare a little while after I have to be at work.

Such a happy guy!

Here he is standing at the musical table we got him for Christmas. He really enjoys playing with everything and/or he just likes being able to hold onto something just the right size for him to stand.

Even though we were rooting for them, the Jets just didn't make it to the Superbowl this year.

One of Trafton's favorite positions - Daddy's shoulders!

Playing in the Pack-n-Play

Snow Day!

Since I have gone back to work at the beginning of January, we have had four snow days. Not that I am complaining - I love the days off and I am more than happy to stay home and play with Trafton all day :) On this last snow day, last Wednesday, it was more of an ice day, but we still got out in the backyard for a few minutes.

Trafton has always had the philosophy of the less clothes, the better, so he really hated getting all bundled up like this. Though, once he got outside he was fine.

Squirming with daddy

Trafton is sitting really well now. Although, it was tricky to get him to sit in our hilly backyard since the snow was so hard with a layer of ice on top. Being all of twenty pounds, he didn't really sink into the snow.

Trying to stand in the snow

Okay mama, I think I am ready to go inside now.

Seven Months Old

This past week Trafton turned seven months old. He is doing his scooting thing more than ever, and getting really fast at it, but there are still no signs that he is interested in crawling. He has this mischievous little laugh whenever he starts scooting somewhere, like he knows he's headed for trouble. Often he is headed for trouble - under a tight table, into a blazing hot radiator, near some electrical cord . . . someday we'll babyproof this house :) He is still a super happy little guy, even after two weeks of daycare! He is able to sit up on his own for a few minutes, but as soon as he reaches for something a little bit far away, he loses his balance and flops over. He is babbling and blowing raspberries all the time now. He still has just two teeth, the two on the bottom. He is eating all kinds of good foods and still hasn't refused anything that I've made for him, which is encouraging.

In the morning while I get ready for work, Trafton goes in his exersaucer in front of the door mirror for added entertainment.

Playing with basket that holds all the toys is certainly way more fun that playing with the toys themselves!

Ready for a run in a new cold-weather suit from Uncle Jason

How do you carry both the baby and the clean laundry upstairs - just put the baby in the basket with the laundry, of course!

Trafton went through a phase for a couple of days where he was only sleeping on his tummy. Odd, since he never likes to be put on his tummy.

Trafton still loves the cats - he is practicing his 'nice touches' with Animal.

I am still bathing Trafton in his sling since he can't totally sit up without easily flopping over yet. He seems so big for it, but I think it'll just be easier until I can feel safer about having him in just the tub part.

He is getting much better about sitting in his high chair lately. It seems to be the tray part that he really dislikes.

Standing time with Pappy

Wanna see my tongue?

Back to Work

This week I went back to work after a seven month maternity leave. Monday was actually extremely difficult, but after that it got much better. Trafton is doing very well at his daycare. He is even drinking milk from a sippy cup, which I really still can't believe. I was so worried that he wouldn't be getting any milk during the day because he won't use a sippy cup at home and he never took a bottle. But, on the first day, he drank both cupfuls that I provided for him and ate all the food that I sent! I couldn't be happier about that. It's nice, too, to be back to work with a bunch of colleagues that I really like. I definitely like my job and am lucky to work in a really great school where people get along well. My group of seventh graders seem like a nice bunch of kids so far, too. I am working on establishing a routine in the morning and in the afternoon so that everything runs a little more smoothly. Daniel has been taking him to daycare - which we are calling 'school' for him, and I have been picking him up in the afternoon.

New Year's Eve

This New Year's Eve we stayed in - since we now have a little bambino - going out for the occasion doesn't really work for us. Luckily, we have some great friends who didn't mind an evening in at our place. Brett, Morgan, Rich, and Lish ran the 5K in Bloomsburg and then came over for a late dinner and hang. We ate delicious food, drank delicious home brew, played a game and watched Dick Clark and the ball drop.

Our NYE crew

Morgan and Trafton

Trafton didn't make it to the New Year, but he did wake up screaming around 11:00 after going to bed at 8:00. This is not typical behavior at all. Fortunately, he fell right back asleep after a little late night milk.

Playing 'Apples to Apples'

Visit from Jason

My brother Jason came to visit on the 30th and stayed until the morning of New Year's Eve.

We were cooking dinner and usually Daniel wraps Trafton during the dinner process. Just for fun, we wrapped Uncle Jason!

Trafton opening all the wonderful presents that his Uncle Jason brought to him

A new bath towel from Uncle Jason

House Work

About once a month Daniel's father comes out to Bloomsburg to help us with a house project. In December, the guys replaced our kitchen faucet. The kitchen faucet was one of the things on the "Must Do Right Away" list as soon as we moved into this house (now 2 1/2 years ago). I must say that list is getting remarkably short as of late. There are certainly a million things we want to do with this house, but the things we wanted to fix right away are almost through! For example, I am dying for a new sink and countertop . . . but that can wait a few more years. The faucet just had to go!

Old leaky faucet

No faucet

Pondering the installation

Removing the garbage disposal and installing a new trap

Hooking up the sprayer - I love the sprayer!

New faucet!