Bruce's Birthday weekend

We had such a great weekend when Bruce turned 27 last Saturday. Our friends Zach and Lauren had a hog roast over at their house with lots of people and lots of babies. At the party, Trey gave me a high five for the first time. It was too cool! I had been trying to get him to do it for a couple of days, and he finally figured it out. The next day he started crawling on all fours. I think he saw another baby doing it at the party and it was like it clicked for him. He's been on the move ever since. It was a monumental weekend for Trey. I'm so proud of him!

8 Months

Trey is 8 months old today. I can't believe it! Time flies by with this kid. He has changed so much in the last month.

Playing
Play time has become a nonstop, on-the-move, all-over-the-place activity. I have officially started baby-proofing the house. Trey will no longer play in his exersaucer - I think it's because he hates to be confined. He will play for a little while with his toys on the quilt. I got a couple of our old cell phones out and let him play with those. But he seems to get bored easily and is usually trying to find something else to do. He will army crawl and roll his way around the room, finding things to pull up on - the coffee table is his favorite along with the couch and futon (which is in the living room for now.) He will stand there and patty pat pat on the coffee table, cruising his way around it. Usually reaching for whatever is on it. The kid has like a 3 foot reach, I swear! You think something is out of reach and he will get it! He loves to play with the drawers and doors on the entertainment center, but he knows he's not allowed. I will tell him NO! and he jumps out of his skin. LOL! He knows what NO means, and gets mad when we say it. Life is so not fair!

I bought him this new toy that you push around and it helps you balance while you learn to walk. It also converts into a car you sit on. He is getting good at pushing it, but falls easily. I usually help him. When he sits on it, he can push himself backwards but not forwards. It's pretty funny. Most of the time he just sits there and plays with the gadgets on it. I went to Kid to Kid yesterday and bought him an activity center that you stand at while you play. So far, he will play for a little while, but not long. So sad! I thought this was going to be a life saver. Maybe he will learn to like it more. So for now, most of my day is spent chasing after him and keeping a close eye on what he's getting into. I can only imagine what it will be like when he's walking...heaven help us when he's RUNNING!

Eating
I'm still nursing him and he's eating baby food about 2 times a day. He will eat just about any type of baby food. Definitely not picky anymore. He loves all the fruit combos. I started buying those meals mixed with chicken and turkey and he seems to really like those as well. He grunts for you to give him more. Typical male! Haha! I have started mixing in a snack here and there. He will eat crackers and biter biscuits, and sometimes those puff things. He is too funny with the puffs...he will put one in his mouth and then gag. And he's put half the biter biscuit in his mouth and then let it sit there and then try to swallow it and gag on it. He's not gumming it or chewing it enough. How do you teach a child to chew?? We're working on it. I haven't given him any adult food yet, but I think I'm going to start trying soon. We're also trying to get him to use a sippy cup. He will just chew on it. I'm pretty sure nothing comes out. I bought him one with a straw and he just chews on it, too. I'm not going to worry about this one for now.

I recently went out with a friend and left Trey with Bruce. To prepare, we tried to give him a bottle a few days before to see if he would take it. He HATED it. Will not touch a bottle - Just like me when I was a baby. Bruce ended up giving him baby food before bed and he went to sleep fine without it. I fed him when I got home.

Sleeping
Sleeping is where we have taken the largest strides this month. He is doing so much better! It is amazing! Last month we had all the drama with the baby monitors and not sleeping much. Well we've done a 180. I no longer sleep with the baby monitor. His room is right next to ours so I just keep the doors open. I usually wake up either on my own or when he's crying to feed him once or twice a night. He is sleeping 12 hours!!! Usually 7:30 pm-7:30 am. I LOVE it! Such a change. He is very active in his sleep. He rolls around, completely turns around facing the opposite way, and ends up on his stomach most of the time. When he wakes up in the middle of the night to eat he's usually sitting up in his bed, sometimes standing! Which really scared me at first. I was like what the heck! He goes right back to sleep after I feed him. He still usually takes 2 naps during the day. One morning and one afternoon. The times usually differ. Just when I think he has a set schedule, he goes and changes it. This is mainly b/c he doesn't always wake up at 7:30. This morning he didn't wake up until almost 9:00, and took his nap at 11:30. I'm flexible.

Moving Around
Like I said before, Trey is all over the place. He isn't up on all fours and crawling yet. He is really good at getting around, but it's usually by rolling and doing the army crawl. I think his favorite thing to do is stand up when I'm holding his hands. We're working on balance and he can stand for a good while, but usually falls over. He still loves cruising though. He walks along the coffee table, couch, chairs, toys...anything. As long as he's holding on he can get around. I think they call this "cruising." It's fun to watch - no walking on his own as of yet.

Talking
So Trey's first word (other than mama) is ... "burp." Hilarious! You never know how often you say something until your baby starts saying it. I've said "Trey, do you have to burp?" a million times since he was born so it's no wonder he picked it up. Now everything is burp. I point to Maggie and say dog, and Trey says burp. He makes me laugh. He still says mama every once in a while when he's fussy, but hasn't said dada yet. I haven't distinguished any other words through all his babble. He likes to skwawk - I think he likes the way it sounds.

Quirks and Special Notes
Trey still loves bath time, ALOT! We try to give him a bath every other day. He will splash and chew on his toys, while I pour water over him. He, of course, tries to stand up and I say NO. He's fallen over a couple of times. We recently filled up the whole bathtub and Bruce got in with him. It was hilarious. (See picture above.) He fell over and got his head all the way under the water and Bruce pulled him up. His eyes were all big and he coughed a little. He is so hard core.

I bought Trey some shoes this week for the first time. He had a cute pair of tennis shoes that he got from a friend, but mostly during the summer I didn't see the point in putting anything on his feet. But now that it's getting cold I went to Kid to Kid and got 3 pairs. They are really cute. You never know how incomplete an outfit is without shoes, until you see them on him. He's adorable! They're so small. Maybe they'll be magic shoes and he'll start walking.

I know this may be weird to put on here, but Trey has found his penis this month. He grabs it when I'm changing him. I'm like, "Look you found your penis!" So funny.

He is still giving us kisses, and does it very generously now. Me and Bruce actually compete to see who can get the most kisses. For some reason, Bruce keeps winning, but I'm picking up speed.

I don't know where this came from, bur recently Trey has started crying when there's anything loud going on. The vacuum is the worst, but he also did it when I was using the hair dryer, the blender and when Bruce was yelling at the tv during the Alabama vs Arkansas game. Such a kooky little guy.

Trey is wearing size 9 months clothes, size 3 diapers and weighs about 20 lbs.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

We had a bunch of people over for the Auburn vs South Carolina game and I wanted to try a new appetizer so I googled "game day recipes" and came up with this. It was easy and a big hit!! Enjoy!

2 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (half jack, half cheddar)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
4 oz chopped green chilies
4 oz chopped jalapenos (8 oz for an extra kick - we did this and it was amazing)
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 stick butter, melted

In a food processor, add the first 6 ingredients and process until smooth. You do not need to drain either can of peppers. Spread the dip into a greased 2-quart casserole. In a bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and melted butter; mix well. Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over the dip and bake in a preheated 375 degree F. oven for about 30 minutes. You want the top to get browned and the dip to be heated through and bubble gently on the edges.

Do not over cook this dish or the mayonnaise will separate and you will have a grease puddle in your dip. Serve with Buttery crackers or a sliced French baguette.

Seven Months

Eating
Trey is still primarily breastfed and he eats about every three hours for about 10-15 min. Breastfeeding has been one of the most indescribable bonding experiences ever. I have enjoyed every minute of it and feel very blessed to be able to nurse him. He is very easily distracted while eating, so we usually go to his room where it's nice and quiet. He recently started patting my chest while he eats and it is just precious. I plan on nursing him until he is 12 months. He started baby food as of 6 months. For stage 1 foods he was pretty picky. I blame it on him getting sick off old baby food (bad mommy). The only thing I could get him to eat were carrots, pears, and sweet potatoes. He wouldn't touch peas, prunes, peaches or any sort of cereal. Slowly but surely, he is coming around and he's now eating applesauce and bananas. This week we've started some stage 2 combos like bananas, apples, and pears and he loves corn mixed with sweet potatoes. He goes through one container of food in a day or two. It looks like he's going to be a big eater.

Playing
Trey loves to hang out in his exersaucer. It has so many components on it that speaks and sings songs. It definitely keeps him entertained for a while. He's totally outgrown his bouncy seat so we've put that away. He's way too wiggly for that. I started laying out a blanket with lots of toys on there and I sit him down in the middle of it and he'll keep himself busy for quite a while if he's in the mood. Lots of times, he ends up rolling off the blanket and half way across the room. It's great! And once he starts rolling around, he's occupied for forever. One of his favorite things to do is sit in the Bumbo seat in the kitchen and watch me cook or clean. He is so content there. Sometimes, when I'm cleaning in his room, I will put him in his bed with his stuffed animals and he will play. He gets very verbal. I love it. He absolutely loves his swing. He will usually swing and take a nap once a day - sometimes staying in there for 2 hours. He will doze in and out of sleep and usually stares into space, in his own world, very content.

Sleeping
At 6 months, Trey was on a great schedule. He would go to bed around 8:00 and sleep about 5 hours, eat, then go back to sleep for another 5 hours, eat, then sleep for another 2. In addition he would take two naps and sleep about 2 hours each. It was ideal and worked great for me. Of course there were those occasional nights where he would wake up unexpectedly and I would go check on him. I was using a baby monitor and tended to go check on him when he cried. He would usually go right back to sleep and I was so used to getting up that it really didn't bother me. There were a few times where there seemed to be nothing I could do to make him happy, so I would just let him cry it out. Well, around 2 weeks ago, that ideal schedule went out the window. I didn't know what was going on. He was waking up so much during the night - at least every 3 hours. And his naps turned in to two 30 min naps. It was like he didn't even like to sleep. You would think this lack of sleep would make him irritable during the day, but he was happy as a lark. In the middle of this phase, we were in Alabama for a week. This took a toll on mommy and daddy who were sleeping in the same room as him. There wasn't exactly a door we could shut to let him cry it out. I was so tired I was beginning to not even feel like myself. I was hoping the problem was just the change in scenery. Now that we are back home, he seems to be doing better and we are making our way back to that perfect schedule. The first night back in Utah, I put him to sleep and went to sleep myself with no baby monitor. I have no idea if he cried or not. I just know I needed sleep. Of course, my body wouldn't let me sleep very long, so I woke up to feed him around 2 and again at 7. It was very liberating. My mom told me I worry about him too much. I would always say "what if he's hungry? what if he's cold? what if he just needs his passy?" I'm trying to let go of that worry. I'm praying for peace, comfort and sleep - for both of us. Maybe I will try leaving both of our doors open. But I no longer sleep with the baby monitor. I rock him to sleep and then leave him be - waking up on my own to feed him. In the morning he's alive and happy.

Talking
It's been so interesting to watch how babies progress with their verbalization. Trey has been super verbal even when he was younger. He started making sounds around 2 months and hasn't stopped. He makes very distinct sounds and we swear he's said "hey" and "hi" to us. Once, he reached out his little arms to me and said "ma". This weekend he started saying "mama" - I've been trying really hard to get him to say "mama" by patting on my chest and saying it over and over. I absolutely melted when he coherently said it for the first time. He has said it several times since then. He is so precious.

Moving Around
Trey can sit up on his own for a long while, usually toppling over if he's reaching for something. He started rolling all the way over at 6 months and is his current mode of transportation. He wants to crawl so badly. At around 6 1/2 months he started getting up on all fours, but hasn't quite figured it out yet. He does this squirmy type moves that resembles a glow worm. He seems to be trying to use his feet instead of his knees. I feel like he will get it soon. His absolute favorite thing to do is stand up. Of course, he can't do it on his own, but all is right with the world when you are holding his hands letting him stand. He shuffles his feet around like he's doing a dance - I call it the Elvis because his hips sway back and forth. It's so cute. We're working on balance. Recently he has started pulling up from sitting to standing. Bruce started walking when he was 8 1/2 months, and I feel like Trey might be an early walker. I guess we will see.

Quirks and Special Notes
Trey is such a luvbug. He started giving kisses about a week ago. If you put your lips in front of his, he will lean in with his mouth wide open and plant a big slobbery one on you. It's definitely my new favorite thing of his.

Trey is definitely a pacifier baby. He loves that thing. He doesn't have it in all the time, but when he wants it, you better give it to him. He will lay there and chew on it like it's a chew toy - and not just the side with the nipple. He can pick it up and put it in his mouth and when it drops, he has to pick it right back up. He has to have it to fall asleep, but I'm totally grateful for it. I can see an attachment forming. Which, to be honest, doesn't bother me in the least bit. A pacifier, unlike a thumb, is something you can easily take away when the time is right.

At about 6 months, Trey started this funny thing where he would look at you and then cock his head to the side. It is hilarious. It's so extreme you think he's about to tumble over, but he'll just cock that head to the side and smile his big cheesy smile.

Which leads me to my next thought - Trey has started this big cheesy smile lately. He will tip his head back, squint his eyes and smile this big gummy smile that will melt your heart and make you laugh. I feel like he has such a lighthearted personality and a great temperament. He laughs a lot and it is the cutest laugh you'll ever hear.

Trey is very sociable. He will let anyone hold him and will be so happy and playful. However, within the last couple of weeks, he has become really mommy-fied. He wants me to hold him all the time. It's especially worse when he's fussy. If you're holding him and he sees me or hears me, he will stop everything and fuss until I hold him. But if I leave the room, and he can't see me anymore, he's fine. While it's totally endearing to be loved and wanted so much, I hope it's a phase. It wears me out!!

I love morning time with Trey. He will usually wake up in a great mood and just lay in his bed talking. I will walk in his room and peek in his bed and he is either on his tummy with his head up or playing with his feet, just talking away. It is absolutely adorable. I will feed him and then bring him in the bed with me and we usually go back to sleep together (since daddy is already gone to work.) I love it. He'll sleep for a couple of hours and then wake up in the same great mood again, just talking.

When you blow in Trey's face, his eyes bug out and he sucks in wind like you knocked the breath out of him. It's really funny to watch.

Trey loves for me to sing to him. He will be as fussy as ever and when I start singing to him, he calms down and stops crying. I love to sing and dance for him (in the privacy of our home, of course) because it makes him laugh. Silly mommy. Some of his favorite lullabies are Hush Little Baby, Mommy Loves Her Little Trey (this is a Kristi original), the Bluebird song, and What a Wonderful World. Some of my favorite, most precious moments are when I rock him to sleep and sing to him. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Trey weighs about 20 lbs, wears size 9 months clothes and size 3 diapers.

Bear Lake

We had such a great time this weekend. On Sunday we took a 2 hour drive north to Bear Lake. It was absolutely beautiful - as teal as the Caribbean. We went to the beach and let Trey dip his toes in the icy cold water. The weather was perfect - no clouds and about 70 degrees. After the beach we went to get a famous raspberry shake which was a-mazing! Trey was an angel the whole trip. He slept going and coming. He's a trooper when it comes to traveling. We are trying to take advantage of all Utah has to offer before we leave. We only have one year left and we want to make the most of it.

6 months

Reading over my last entry (June 17), I realize Trey is still on that exact sleeping schedule. It works well for me. He's still waking up once at night to eat, then goes right back to sleep. Not too bad; I can't complain. 

Trey is 6 months old today! What a big boy he is. He weighs 17.5 lbs :) We love him more and more every day as he gets more and more fun and entertaining.

At 6 months Trey loves to:
* Bounce in his exersaucer for about 30 minutes at a time.
* Sit in his bumbo seat - esp. to watch and help mom in the kitchen.
* Roll across the living room floor. He started rolling all the way over about 2 weeks ago, now he can't stop.
* Take at least one of his naps in his swing.
* Smiles at everybody. Is such a happy and well rounded baby.
* Loves the pool and bath time - is playing with toys and splashing around.
* Loves to sleep in our bed at nap time.
* Reaching for anything shiny or electronic. 
* Stand up. All is right with the world if you let him stand. Maybe we have an early walker.
* He has been sitting up on his own since 5 months, but needs absolutely no help now.
* Still scratches the crap out of his face when he's tired, therefor I am still swaddling him when he sleeps. I feel like he may be too old for it, but he sleeps good and that's all that matters. Sometimes he gets out. Hilarious!
* He can soothe himself to sleep if I lay him down beside me in our bed and he can soothe himself to sleep in the swing, but I am rocking him to sleep at night; which I love to do.
* We tried the "cry it out" method a couple of times but it broke my heart, so I decided against it. He really doesn't need it though. He falls asleep really well most of the time.
* He will wake up on his own in the mornings and not cry but just lay there and talk. It is precious and I live for moments like that
* He will swing forever just dozing off occasionally. It's pretty funny because he's just chilling with his hands up on the tray, not making a noise. He's very self reliant and can entertain himself.
* Big Daddy Mac is here this weekend. He was on business in CO and decided to stop over for a couple of days.
* Trey likes to patty pat pat everything and likes to throw his toys and his paci. It's a great game.

Tour de Alabama

Trey and I visited Alabama and were there from 24 June to 11 July. It was quite the trip and we got to see so many friends and family. We flew into BHM where Jenny and Jason came to pick us up. After a quick pit stop at Zaxby's (oh how I miss it), we headed to Auburn where we spent a few days with Ashley Ward and Evie, along with some of the Italy girls, Netherland, Jessica, and Kristen. Trey and Evie are only 6 days apart and it was unforgettable when they met for the first time. They were reaching out for each other and touching each others faces. It was priceless. We got our grub on at some favorite places like the Barbeque House for breakfast, Niffer's for lunch, Momma G's for some nachos, and Mikata and Laredo's for dinner. We walked around downtown and drove around to see all the new construction. Auburn has definitely changed in the last 3 years since I've been there. But it still has that wonderful feeling of "home." I truly miss that town.

Sweet babies!!

Italy Girls at Samford Hall

Our next stop was Birmingham where we spent a couple of days with Grandmother and got to see Kristie, Debbie, and Linda. Then it was off to Huntsville with Grandmother, Gigi and Aunt Katie. Trey experienced his first dip in the pool and he loved it! It's like he was made for the water. We had a blast going to eat at Mellow Mushroom and Rosie's. It was great to just hang out and spend time together.

Hims loves his Aunt Katie

Trey and Gigi

First time in the pool!

Totally doused in spf 100.

We rode with Grandmother back to Birmingham where we met up with Kimberly, Stuart, Alissa, and Lucas. We drove to Fayette where Kevin, Melissa, and Whitney were awaiting us at mom's. It was so great to see them! It was our first time to meet Whitney and she was such a riot! She was full of energy, smiles and squeals. She had the longest legs! Just like a Bailey :) I love it when all of my siblings and I are together. We have the best time. On Saturday, July 3, we had a big family get together that lasted all day. We started with lunch, a rook tournament, tug of war, watermelon and ice cream, talent show, and then dinner. We had such a blast and there were so many people there. Mom, John, Joshua, Kevin, Melissa, Whitney, Kimberly, Alissa, Lucas, Me, Trey, Granddaddy, Aunt Sheila, Uncle Jimmy, Jenny, Mike, Micah, Julie, Jonathan, Kallie, John, Joy, Neely, Jax, Andrew - Randy, Kellie, Dakota came for dinner - Aunt Marie, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Marta stopped by for ice cream. I loved seeing everybody.

Aren't they cute?

The Bailey/Gordon Clan

The whole clan

So precious - Maw Maw and Trey

Trey and Whitney - 1st cousins only 2 months apart

Aunt Kimberly loves her some Whitney

This just makes me laugh out loud. Especially Alissa's hair.

MawMaw and the Pud swinging with Whitters

All the girls!!!

A Fabulous photo shoot

Swing low, sweet chariot

So presh

Jenny and the babes

These two mean mischief.

The 4th of July bash wouldn't have happened without all of MawMaw's wonderful planning

Me and my beautiful momma

Momma and all her kids on the 4th of July at Crossview. It's a beautiful thing when we're all together.

The next day was July 4th, and we all rode to Uncle Steve's house after church. We went swimming and Trey loved the water. He was straight chillin' in the float. Uncle Tim, Aunt Jo and their kids, Nicholas and Jordan, were there. I haven't seen them in years!! As always, we had a great time. We left knowing we would see them in a week at Christina's wedding. Kevin, Melissa, and Whitney headed back to Virginia. It was so sad to see them go. Our goodbye lasted forever.

Bailey Girls and Trey at the pool

Me and my little buddy at the pool

After Uncle Steve's, we went to Kimberly's to spend the night. The next day we went to the pool with Aspen and then went to see Eclipse while mom watched Trey. We spent another night with Kimberly then went shopping a bit before heading home to Fayette. (BTW, I tried 5 guys burgers and fries and HATED it!!) 

We spent a  couple of days in Fayette, ate at Lisa's, did the usual. We drove up to Harvest on Thursday to drop Trey off with Glenda while we went to Point Mallard Water Park. It was a hot day - perfect for a wave pool and a float. The big slide was crazy fun as always. I think this was the longest I had been away from Trey up to this point. And while I remembered to leave him some milk, I forgot to bring my pump with me. I thought my boobs were about to explode, and in result, I thought I was going to die. This may be too much information for some people, but I had to do into the shower and squeeze some of my milk out. It was both painful and relieving at the same time. A mistake I will hopefully never do again. Let's just say I was extremely glad to see Trey when we got back to Glenda's.

On Saturday we went to Christina's wedding. It was simple and elegant, and she looked beautiful. Most of the Bailey clan was there, so naturally it was a good time. Congratulations Christina and Brian!

We went to Uncle Steve's house for a while after the wedding and hung out with the fam. Me and Momma rode back together. It was getting late and Trey was ready for bed. We spent the night with Sis and she took us to the airport the next day. It was a long and wonderful trip full of friends and family. I am so grateful for chances like this one to be able to reconnect with everyone. I only wish Bruce was able to join us in the festivities. He sadly had his bi-annual canoe trip during the same time, and was unable to come with us. We were extremely happy to see him when we got back to Utah. There's no place like home.