painting

After over a year in our new home we finally got some paint on the walls! Mason loved to help. Now lets just hope he doesn't try to paint the walls with markers/crayons/pens...

painting

After over a year in our new home we finally got some paint on the walls! Mason loved to help. Now lets just hope he doesn't try to paint with markers/crayons/pens...

Ryder 6 months & weight gain issues

Half way to a year. I can't believe it. Why does the baby stage have to go so fast? I just want it to slow down a bit because I absolutely love this age. Ryder is changing all the time and his personality is really starting to emerge.

Weight gain issues

Ryder gained less than 2oz from 4 months to 6 months. At first glance at his chart the pediatrician said that everything looked good. The thing is that she only looked at the graph and not his actual weight gain. I mentioned how much he actually gained and she took another look. We had just started solids and was only doing it once a day. She suggested to give him solids twice a day and to supplement with one bottle of formula a day. Nothing against formula but I really don't think that was great advice for an exclusively breastfed baby. I asked her if I could pump and supplement with breast milk instead. Her reaction, "Why yes and that would even help increase your supply" Ding Ding Ding. Now that's the type of advice you should give to a breastfeeding mom. IF my milk supply was low and that's why Ryder wasn't gaining as well the answer would be to pump so I wouldn't have to supplement for as long. So that's what we've been doing.

I also made an appointment with my lactation consultant since I trust her and she is 100% for breastfeeding. Despite what pediatricians say I really don't think many of them know the proper advice to give to a breastfeeding mom and just give the "easy" answer. At least the one they think is easy. My LC did a weighing before and after Ryder ate and he took in 5oz! We had done this a week prior and he only took in 3oz. She agreed with the game plan the pediatrician gave (that is with supplementing with breast milk) and feeding solids twice a day. She suggested meats such as dark chicken since that has a lot of calories. I make my own baby food so I'm able to water it down with breast milk to add in even more calories. I've been going to a moms group through the hospital and in one week Ryder gained 5oz. It looks like he's getting back on track! We have a weight check with the pediatrician in a month and another one with my LC. Hopefully the little guy will continue to grow. I never thought I would have gaining issues with my 9lbs 2oz baby!

Look what Ryder can do! Ryder can sit unassisted for about a minute, get into crawling position and rock, and inchworm forwards.

He weights 15 lbs 8oz- His height is 28 inches- He wears size 12 month clothes

If you got through all that here's a reward - some pictures of our cutie!

sweet potatoes

We started the little guy on solids last week. He had sweet potatoes as his first food, banana as his second and most recently he's been enjoying avocado. I think more gets spit out than goes in but he's getting the hang of it. I'm making the food again like I did with Mason.

Rydee want ride?

Mason loves his cozy coupe car. Doesn't every kid!? I swear that's one of the #1 fighting toys amoung toddlers. We have it inside the house and one day Mason says, "Rydee want ride?" I explain to Mason that Ryder's too little but he wouldn't listen and tried to pick Ryder up himself to put in the car. They now make the cars with a floor so Chris found it and we put Ryder in. Mason pushed him all around the house and Ryder was having a blast! He was smiling and laughing and just having a blast with his big brother. I love watching them play together!

Do you see his foot?

Knifty knitter

Have you noticed the hats that Ryder's been wearing lately? I made them! I recently found out about this thing called the knifty knitter. It's a knitting loom and is SO easy to use. I found out about it on a photography message board and jumped right on the bandwagon. I was pretty obsessive about it when I first got it and was averaging 2 hats a day. I found some online tutorials and ventured from the normal hat to hats with ear flaps and elf hats. Now that spring is coming (soon I hope! We still have snow) I've slowed down since he won't be needing hats soon. I am loving my new fond craft. Cause you know I don't already have enough hobbies as it is :)

brothers