Grady is EIGHT Months Old

So Im a week late....but better late than never!! Im determined to keep up with blogging after I get the holidays posted!
He weighed 20 lbs 6oz at the beginning of the month but then got his first ear infection and wasnt drinking his bottles, so he dropped two pounds.  He is back up to 20 lbs 13oz as of last week's doctor appointment.
Size 4 or 5 shoe
Size 12-18 months clothes, some 18 months, some 24 months
Size 4 diapers

Grady started his 8th month with a bang! He had his first ear infection, followed by his first allergic reaction to amoxicilan.  Poor dude has had a rough week :(  

Daily Schedule

I am a week late on this update, and the past month has been hectic with holiday fun and planning, so I have limited memory notes in my phone.  I usually jot down notes in my phone so I dont forget all the cute, fun, amazing things the kids do throughout our days, but this month's notes section is rather blank. :(  Until his ear infection struck, Grady was continuing with his recent "Im an EASY Baby" routine.  He just sorta goes along for the ride and goes with the flow and doesnt complain much at all.  All smiles, all flirt, and just plain happy.
He's never really followed a planned schedule and this month was no different. 

Sleeping/Napping
Grady's nasty ear infection and resulting amoxicillan allergy have thrown a wrench in his ability to sleep soundly, but we are getting back on track with naps.  His overnight sleep has always been solid and without issue.  His naps were rough for a while but had fallen into a nice 9-10:30 and 2:30-4pm routine until the ear infection struck.  For the last two weeks, his naps for fitful and interrupted by cries of pain and frustration.  Now that his ear is better, he is back to napping nicely.  But with holiday celebrations, it was tough to time his naps.  And with Whitney being home of the next two weeks, Im not sure if his napping with improve or derail. Whitney naps after school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so its nice when their naps coincide or overlap :) While his ear and teeth were bugging him, I would soak up the couch-nap time with my little dude.

He was waving at the camera and babbling :)

I was feeling especially blessed as I sat holding this sweet baby boy while watching the coverage of the Newtown tragedy.  I grew up in the town next to Newtown and cant even imagine the hurt they must be feeling. Hugging our kids a lot tighter these days.

This was the day I took him to the doctor. He was eating cheese crunchies, the only thing that would keep him happy, and he fell asleep mid-bite. :( We went to the doctor a few hours later and learned he had his first infection.  

Eating
Grady has five six teeth now (one just popped through this morning!). Four on top and two on the bottom.  He is able to eat anything we eat and his doctor encouraged trying new foods and textures.  We havent found any foods he flat-out refuses, but he has definite favorites.  He LOVES the Gerber cheese crunchies. LOVES.  When we shake the can, he hustles over to us like our cats used to do when we shook their can of "Pounce".  He sat in my brother's lap and ate almost an entire can the other night when his teeth we bothering him.  Dont judge. Ya do what ya gotta do when your kid is miserable.  It made him happy. He eats baby food, but prefers real food and things he can feed himself.  His favorite baby food is Spinach and Potatoes, and he really likes the Gerber ravioli meals.  He wasnt drinking his bottles or would only take an ounce or two so we just switched to level three nipples so he doesnt have to suck so hard.  Im thinking the sucking was hurting his ears. Duh. Sorry dude.

Also the day we learned of the ear infection.  Poor dude. 

Right after this destruction, I changed his diaper and saw red spots all over his body.  I kept an eye on them overnight and when they grew to his back and neck and head the next morning, we headed to the pediatrician where we learned Grady has an allergy to amoxicillan. He now has a "Penicillan Allergy" stamp on his file :(

Im interested to see where these teeth end up.  So far, his two eye teeth appear to be coming from the tops of his gums (ouch!) and have a major tilt/twist thing goin' on.  Snaggletooth much?! Im hoping they turn to at least be SORT OF straight....and less painful-looking. 

Personality
Grady had a rough couple weeks with illness, but given the circumstances, he's been great.  His ear was likely infected for about a week before I took him to the doctor, which makes me feel horrible, but he wasnt showing the typical signs of pain. He just wasnt drinking his bottles and he was finally SOOO whiny that I knew something was bothering him.  Until the full-time sadness struck, he wasnt really THAT unhappy.  I just figured his teeth were frustrating him or his struggles with naps were catching up to him.  He wasnt pulling on his ears or crying when he laid down....only after he'd been asleep for about a half hour. He was sort of tilting his ear to his shoulder, but we thought it was just a cute new way to flirt :) Whoops.  He never got a fever either.  So considering his level of pain and how long it took for him to finally show obvious discomfort, he continues to be very laid back and even-tempered.
He is happy and smiley most of the time, and if he starts to get fussy, its usually a sign that he's hungry.  Otherwise, he's always a pleasant, happy Meatball. :)

I went to turn over some laundry, leaving Grady to play in the playroom.  I returned to find an empty playroom....and silence.  Never good.  I searched the house and found Grady in my closet, playing with and chewing on my shoes ;) 

This was after we learned of the ear infection, but before we learned about the allergy....so I cant imagine he was feeling too great.....yet he was smiley and happy and easily entertained until he pain set in again. 

At the doc's office with the rash.  He wasnt happy but he is sure cute :) 

I put the block on his head and he kept it there long enough for me to walk to my room and get the camera. Silly Blockhead. 

Love these boys :) 

 Activity

This was a VERY active month for Grady! He is officially crawling on all fours and is super-speedy! He no longer believes the tile floors are made of lava, so has ventured out of the playroom and into every room of the house! He really liked the Christmas tree and made a few dashes for ornaments, but is usually easy to please with an alternative toy or reloaction :) Grady has also added "pulling up" to his repertoire! He pulls up on toys, furniture, people, etc.  He is cruising and learning that he cant let go :) While he is thoroughly enjoying his new skill set, his big sister is quickly realizing that baby bro will be all up in her stuff if she isnt careful :) 

Sibling Fun

Grady doesnt love Whitney's squeal and appears to worry about her when she starts screaming and shrieking with laughter, but she can make him smile even when his ear hurts.  He watches every move she makes and doesnt get too annoyed when she snatches toys from him.  He just wanders over to the next toy and moves along.  Whitney is VERY into telling Grady "NOOOOO!!!"....despite our constant reminders that we have things under control.  She loves him, but she really loves telling him what he cant do, cant touch, and cant even THINK about looking at.  We keep trying to prepare her for the days when Grady will fight back or tell HER "no!", but she doesnt seem to believe us.  She loves bossing him around.....and, for now, he doesnt mind.  Whitney is under the false impression that HER toys are HER toys and Grady's toys are HER toys, too.  It has been tricky to explain "in this house, we share" when she thinks that "sharing" means "i can take that toy from him because he has to share it with me" and "see? he doesnt care when i take that toy from him even though he was playing with it, so it MUST be okay for me to take it away from him". She is in for a rude awakening. :)

She adores him to pieces and loves when he laughs at her silliness.  She completely ignores ME when we pick her up from school, only focusing on her little brother, asking what he did all morning without her, and telling him about her day.  Being three is rough. There are a lot of rules and expectations and the attention is no longer focused ONLY on Whitney, so while we are trying to ensure she treats her brother nicely, we are also trying to give her an inch without allowing her to take the whole mile.  She will learn.....or she will be spending a lot of time alone in her room.

 

Happy 8th Month, Grady J!! We love you to the moon and back and around the block!