The rat has left the building...

So we didn't wait the obligatory year, or the three years that I am told is customary in Jewish tradition. Instead, the day we realized our little man had one piece of hair that passed his neck and laid just at the top of his back, a rat tail so to speak, Mommy and Daddy made the decision -- it was haircut time. A few days later,after good luck, save the hair phone call from Dad, there we were Harris, Mom and Aunt Hayley at Koi Spa and Salon sitting in Jenn's chair. Harris was great, he loved every minute of it. He flirted with the blond stylists, cooed at the receptionist and gave that ever so cute smile to anyone else who walked by. He also did great during the actual cut!


Before...



During...



After...

Could he really be....

What is that noise...it not really crying more like moaning...Could it really be time for his early morning bottle already, you know the one that holds him over until 7:30 or 8:00. I roll over and look at the clock - 1 a.m. - what is he doing up? Maybe if I lay still he will go back to sleep. No such luck. So I search for my glasses and stumble into the little man's room (funny how you quickly get used to a full nights sleep even if it means you are only getting 5-6 hours -- but they are in a ROW).

I try my best to quietly walk into his room, just in case he has fallen asleep... I peer into his crib and I hear it, the unmistakable sound of congestion. Now I am the one moaning... HOW COULD THIS BE? COULD HE REALLY BE SICK AGAIN?

Then the facts flood in:
1. He had had a pretty cranky morning the day before - for seemingly no reason
2. His eating was sporadic
3. That night's bottle sat only half eaten on the dresser

All by themselves meaningless baby ways - together with the sounds that are now coming from the crib I know it to be true -- Harris has another cold.

I think this puts the count on an even 6 in about two months - or maybe it is just one long cold. Who knows!

His poor little preemie immune system - I can not even imagine what it would be like if he went to daycare!

7 Month Updates

Over the last two weeks (since he hit 7 months) Harris has progressed in leaps and bounds. While he always liked toys, he has really begun to play. He pushes buttons, spins toys, kicks balls (and people), puts toys in containers, throws things and shakes rattles - actually he shakes everything now that he
figured out some toys make noise. He still loves the jump-a-roo that he got for Hannukah and even likes to jump while anyone is holding him.

Two month's ago after our developmental appointment I was concerned -- the speech therapist had suggested there may be a delay - but now our little man is talking up a storm - using all the vowel sounds and at least 5 consonants. Just today Martina mentioned that she heard yet another one! Not only does he babble - he babbles loudly, more then once I have felt the need to tell him to try an indoor voice, but then I look at his smile and just melt. I think he is as pleased as we are!

Harris is also sitting independently - for real. He had teased us over the last month - each time we think he is going to get it any day, he would sit for a few seconds, then a minute or so but not longer. Then yesterday he sat and sat and sat, it wasn't a fluke because today he did the same. He can even reach over and pick up a toy and come back up to sitting.

Interestingly, I saw Harris sit like this for the first time at physical therapy. We went brought him to the PT because despite all the progress we recognized that his arms continued to be stiff and seemed to have limited range of motion (we were right - and he is going to continue in PT for a while). What we had no idea about was that he could sit like this. Barbara the PT was impressed - so I was I to tell you the truth. I had sort of abandoned the idea, at least for the time being, that today would be the day he would really sit and play.

And if this is all not enough - our little man has teeth. Monday his first tooth was visible and today a second one poked through.

I have to say this is such a fun time, each day there is something new, something that brings me relief and excitement. Each night you can hear Mommy or Daddy screaming for each other, saying "Come quick... look what he's doing!"

Road Trip!

Harris went on his first road trip this past week. We all set off to spend New Year's with Brian and Kim in New Hampshire. First stop was Brian's new house in Wrentham, Massachusetts; where we stayed for one night before climbing in the car with Brian and Kim and driving the rest of the way to New Hampshire. The ride was LONG, we hit traffic on the way to Mass and then on the way to New Hampshire it snowed (in keeping with the seeing Brian and Kim tradition). Harris did great... 12 hours in the car on the way there and the little man fussed for about 10 minutes total. Instead of fussing, Harris cooed and talked and slept, he watched the snow in the trees, played with his toys, and flirted with Kim. I was amazed..and Daddy, well he said HIS little man did better then Mommy!

We had a great week. While in Mass Harris started playing with his toys -- and hasn't stopped since. Harris also made a new friend - Liam, Brian's nephew, was in New Hampshire with his mom and dad (Christina and Bill). Liam took right to Harris, and vice verse. Liam showed Harris the ropes, tried to give him a drink from his cup (which resulted in water straight down Harris's shirt and amazing picture opps), they shared toys and Harris watched Liam's every move.

New Year's came and Harris slept great while Mommy and Daddy had a great time right upstairs.

Harris's 1st Hannukah

We are having a wonderful Hannukah week!

The first night we spent home - just Mommy, Daddy, Harris and Jebby! Mom lit the candles as Harris looked on with amazement (definitely a sensation seeker!).


Then Harris opened and played with his first gift - a set of baby blocks.


The seond night, Mommy's birthday, was spent at Grammy and Pop's with the whole extended family. The day was full of gifts (including a rocking elephant - Elmer, and a ball pit) and lots of love.


The third night was time to celebrate with Grampa and Grandee. Dad and Grampa put together Harris's presents and spent some time trying each one out before it was the little man's turn!


Back at home Harris loves having all his new toys and we love watching him play - even if it means our house is turning into a toy store!

It Always Snows

Each year before Harris was born (sometime after the 1st of December), Adam and I would pack the car - Jeb and all and head to Boston to visit Brian, and more recently Kim too. Most years we would get into Connecticut before the white flakes would fall from the sky. One year the snow started before we left, we stuck it out - - a few years the snow waited until we settled safely into Brian's condo. It didn't matter when it started - it ALWAYS snows.

So it is no surprise that when Brian and Kim came to meet our little man the first weekend in December it snowed! Harris loved his first snow, we bundled him up and spent some time outside before we settled in for a night of cooking, games and good friends.


Some notable updates from the beginning of December:

1. Harris is laughing more and more - often in the bathtub when he is playing some spitting monsters!

2. Harris is eating like a champ the fruits and vegtables he eats are endless - currently his favorite is green beans, least favorite so far - avocado.

3. We started brushing Harris's teeth - well his gums and toungue - but so far no complaints on his end!

Sip and Roll

Harris is officially 6 months old. His six month check up went really well! He weighed in at 16lbs 12oz and 26 inches (both of which fall in the 25th-50th percentile - actual age!). The doctor was very pleased with his progress. Our little man impressed the peditrician when the doctor took his little hands and encouraged him to sit up -- Harris didn't stop there and, as he loves to do, proceeded to stand up and grin!


The doctor suggested he was ready to move on to more solids and that we could also
offer him a sippy cup with water. Both of which could not have come at a more opportune time; because since starting solids Harris has been much less then interested in his formula bottles and has been reaching for cups left and right. So we tried the sippy cup and Harris caught on right away - holding it on his own and, despite his less then accurate motor skills, he was able to find his mouth!


We have decided to make our little man baby food and so Mommy and Daddy have spent the last two days steaming and pureeing food. It is worth the effort because Harris loves it. Each time we introduce a new taste he first makes a funny face, swallows, kicks his feet in delight, and then opens his mouth for more.

Each day is met with amazement, today Harris rolled over from his front to back! I was home early enough so I got to see it first hand, well to be honest both the nanny and I missed it the first time. Luckily, he was so excited that he tried 3 more times tonight. Mommy and Daddy were so proud, but I think the the little man was even prouder of himself.









** Harris immediately after he rolled over