Children's Museum

We went to Portland yesterday for Jared to work at a card show, so I had a chance to meet up with friends from my online mom's group again. We went to the Portland Children's Museum. 

 The museum had an entire area for infants, which was great except when parents let their 5-year-olds run amok.

 All 5 babies: Jack, Miles, Josephine, Genevieve, and Jack.

Miles and Josephine

 Baby love.

 New toys to play with

They had this waterbed-like area set up (behind Miles in this picture). I thought he would love it, but it was pretty much the worst thing in the world. He wasn't very happy with me as soon as I set him on it. Maybe when he's a bit older and more stable. He did enjoy playing with the ball until an older kid stole it. (grr)

More from this week:

It was a big week. Miles just started army-crawling on Sunday, and by Tuesday he discovered there is a world beyond our couch (...the dining room and kitchen are on our main floor too). He took 6 "steps" on his hands and knees yesterday. We had to set up the baby gate we had gotten from a garage sale this summer.

Miles is becoming so much more interactive with his toys. Here's his car.

 New "toys" in the kitchen.

Chasing his favorite toy at the moment: a ball.

He loves chasing Simon too.

Miles enjoyed trying a pancake with dinner.

It was messy.

On the move

Milestones

Miles is more active now and is moving all over. He loves pulling up onto his knees whenever he has the chance. He can also army crawl across the living room. 

Miles figured out how to operate the switch on one of his toys (in the first picture right by the diaper bag -- his Christmas present from Santa). He would prefer to push them all down though and have one of us make them pop back up. He has also figured out how to put toys in and on things. Miles also enjoys driving the jogging stroller in the living room.

He's eating so much more food right now. He will pretty much have anything we eat that doesn't have a lot of seasonings or spices. In the last couple of weeks, he tried Greek yogurt, lean ground beef, spaghetti noodles with a bit of sauce, brussel sprouts (yum!), quinoa, cauliflower, egg yolk, cottage cheese, broccoli, and mama's oatmeal. He wasn't too sure of Greek yogurt the first few bites, but now he loves it and could probably eat a whole container by himself if I let him. Miles is getting really good at feeding himself small pieces of food. Yesterday, he decided it would be more fun to throw all the food off his tray. He would pick up a piece of food and bring it toward his mouth, then quickly fling it to the floor. I counted for fun - 17 chunks of food on the floor over the course of one meal. Oh Miles, you are too funny.

Pictures

Look! No hands!

 (the flash was apparently really bright)

 Talking the entire time.

 And he's stuck.

 Books go here...

I actually thought he was going to pull himself up on the TV stand, but he had more fun putting books on the shelf and taking them off. 

(No worries, the TV stand wouldn't even budge if I pulled on it) 

Videos

Standing to play with a little help from Daddy (sorry so dark)

Playing with the jogging stroller

Army crawling with some motivation

Happy New Year!

We partied it up last night after dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings...

Upside down Miles!

 Tickles from Daddy!

Then crashed on the couch waiting for the ball to drop. We didn't make it to midnight.

Play time this morning celebrating the start of 2012.

Miles started pulling himself up onto his knees this week. Time to lower the crib mattress! 

 All smiles in the jumparoo.

Video

Miles feeding himself and dancing in his high chair

What a year

January

first week of bedrest, full of fear of the unknown.

February 

brought hope that our baby boy would have a good chance of survival if he came at that time.

March 

stressful, with a few medical setbacks and many trips to the hospital.

April

our baby boy arrived after a long week of failure (see birth story).

Big shout out to Jared for supporting me through 14 1/2 weeks of bedrest. Thank you for every snack, meal, and bottle of water!

 Love you!

Just before the final induction, 40 weeks exactly.

Miles's first moments

and first days.

May  (1 month)

full of many walks around the neighborhood

 and many more pictures.

June (2 months)

Mommy goes back to work. Sad to leave Miles, but happy he's in good hands with his daddy. 

July (3 months)

family walks and trips to the park. 

August (4 months)

Miles had a few new visitors and a lot of fun.

September  (5 months)

new talents - rolling and supported sitting.

October (6 months)

first visit to the pumpkin patch

and first Halloween.

November (7 months)

new moves

and first Thanksgiving

December (8 months)

first Christmas

new foods

 and self-feeding.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Can't wait to see what 2012 brings.

Falling

Miles doing his new favorite activity

Miles opening a gift