Yes, We Have No Bananas

Today was a big day. We tried bananas. It went well. Better than the cereal actually (which we've been doing since Thursday). We've been doing cereal twice a day since Thursday. I'm pretty impressed actually with how well Atti is doing. Every time you start to bring the spoon towards his mouth he sticks out his tongue. This antic doesn't work as well as "open wide" but I figure it's a start. I can normally depress his tongue with the spoon and slide in some cereal. He then promptly sticks his tongue out to show me the cereal then rolls it around a bit before swallowing. But, the majority of the cereal has been staying down and the bananas seemed to go quite well. By golly I think he's catching on to this eating stuff!

Greg and I also stopped by Babies R Us today to check out convertible car seats and to pick up some teething/food items. I think we're pretty well decided on the car seat - most likely the Britax Marathon or Boulevard. The Evenflo Triumph is rated just as high, but Greg thought the lever release on the Triumph was hard to manuever. I do like the memory foam in the Triumph and the cup holder... (that may seem silly now, but I'm betting a year from how it'll be a good thing)! I did see a Combi seat at USA Baby yesterday that swivels to help get the baby in/out that looked pretty swanky - but I don't know anyone that has the seat, and I haven't checked out the reviews...

We also picked up some baby food trays and these goofy popsicle mesh bag thingies. I know many of you will laugh, but I'm considering making my own baby food. I figure, I own a steamer - how hard can it be to steam some veggies, run them through the food processor and freeze them into little portions? My dear friend Jhana is going to loan me a recipe/how-to book so I'm all set, right?

I'm sure there is much more to tell you... but right now sleep is going to win out over blogging! Goodnight!

6 Month Check-Up

Wowzers... is it really January 20?

Atticus went in this morning for his 6 month check-up with Dr. Owens. Here are the official measurements (but I still think he's taller...)

Height: 28 inches (95% percentile)

Weight: 18 lbs 10 oz (75% percentile)

Head Circumfrance: 43.6 (50% percentile)

Everything else went well. Dr. Owens says he's doing fabulously and that we can start adding in cereal, fruits and veggies! I think Atti is going to like the change.. he's been watching Greg and I intensely over the past few weeks whenever we're eating. Atti did get 2 more vaccines today and a flu shot. I debated on the flu shot - but thought better safe than sorry.

We're headed up to Picture People in the mall in a couple of hours to snap some 6 month photos. I really want to have a portrait session done with a professional photographer, but Greg and I want to wait until Atti has a little more balance sitting up and/or possibly standing to add some variety into the photos. And... if we wait until 9 months - the weather should be fabulous and we can do some outdoor stuff at the botanical gardens or Zilker Park, etc.

In other news... I have finally gotten all the holiday pictures off our digital camera, but I haven't yet uploaded them to Picasa. Perhaps this afternoon during nap-time...

But to hold you over... in case you haven't seen this photo yet (hard to imagine since I spammed everyone with a copy) here's a recent shot from this past weekend. I absolutely LOVE this photo.

Updates Coming Soon

We're back in the great state of Texas. We flew back from Ohio yesterday evening and are now resting up at Bubbe and Pop's house in Plano before returning to Austin. We took hundreds of photos and some video too while up in Indiana and Ohio and there will be lots of new photos and video clips coming soon.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

XOXO-
Jen, Greg and Atticus

The "British" Spelling

Ok... this is too funny not to share. It's also a bit scary to think about...

While Greg and I were at Border's in Fort Wayne, Indiana - I overheard the following conversation while looking through the post-holiday sale bins:

Mom: Picks up a stuffed bear holding a sign that reads, "Happy Channukah". She looks completely puzzled and hands it to her daughter (tween/early teens). "I don't understand this spelling."

Daughter: "Mom, it's just the British spelling."

Mom: "Oh, I didn't realize it was that different."

Okay - I laughed to myself when the daughter spoke with authority meaning that there are different ways to spell the word "Hanukkah" or "Channukah". I thought to myself, hmmm... I didn't know it was "British" but if thinking that makes her happy, so be it. I never know the which way to spell the word myself!

Then... I retold the story to Greg. Greg laughed out loud and said, "No, Jen. The Mom now thinks Channukah is the British spelling for Christmas!!"

Oy. I take for granted that I live in a world of diversity. Some folks don't realize that their way is not the only way. I am thankful for my friends and family that come in every shape, size, religion, nationality, color, etc!!