Joe Momma's B-day, Real Food and More!

Joey hopes you're still tuned into the blog! I think we'll go with picture updates and then video updates -- this is going to be a long one! I would have updated sooner, but I have been super busy with a 2 week birthday extravaganza courtesy of Joe Daddy. It all started a week before my birthday with a surprise party. Joe was as shocked as I was.


During the following week leading up to my birthday, Joe hung out with some new friends.

Joe Daddy's friend from college (and my former employee) Noam:


Newlywed Nicole:


Her new husband, Matt:


Then I got another birthday surprise when Uncle J came down from DC to visit for the weekend. At one point we went to the fountain to officially test Ka-Ka's camo onesie. Where's Joey? :)




Now for some video updates. This week Joe has found two fun new things to do: play "Gimme That Rag" and walk in his new walker.





But the biggest development this week is that he got his first taste of solid food in the form of applesauce. We could have started him on it last month, but he had a stomach bug. I knew we couldn't wait any longer when he started trying to eat his toys.





He's a great eater! He's far less of a messy eater than I was expecting. He definitely loves apples -- we'll try new foods out one at a time every four or five days. Next up... bananas? Sweet potatoes? Pears? Log on next time to find out! Joe and I send our love...

Making Up for Lost Time

Joseph is all better now and has officially made it through his first illness with flying colors. A special thanks to Uncle J for the very nice get-well card -- it helped. Joe is quickly making up for lost time by eating a ton and trying lots of new things.

A piano lesson (right before bedtime which is why it's dark):



Trying to scoot/crawl underneath the futon:



Playing with a new toy - the exersaucer (video taken with my phone):



And of course, talking/razzing up a storm:



And when all else fails, there's always the "What do my feet taste like today?" game:


He's going to go see Doc H on Tuesday to catch up on some of his vaccinations that he had to skip out on while he was sick. He'll probably get weighed again too and hopefully he will have gained back some of the weight he lost when he was sick. (He fell from above the 99th percentile to the 95th!)

Joseph Has Something To Say

Sick and Tired

I'm sorry to report that Joseph is sick. I am 95% sure that he's got rotavirus (which we vaccinated for!) In short, Joey started spitting up a lot for a couple of days last week and now has had major diarrhea for about three days. The doctor said to give him a special formula as well as pedialyte. As usual, Joey has kept a sweet quiet disposition which is surprising considering the circumstances. Here he is getting some of his 'medicine'.



He really hasn't been too fussy, he just seems to laugh less. He's still smiley.


We already had his 4 month doctor's appointment scheduled for Tuesday, so we'll be going to that, but probably won't be getting his vaccinations until he gets better.

I meant to update the blog earlier, but got caught up (and exhausted by) the sickness stuff. Nevertheless, let me quickly backtrack and mention that Joey had another visitor last week! A college friend of mine who now lives in Wichita, KS was in New York for family matters and took the train down to visit.


For those of you who have yet to make an appearance, the question remains... when are YOU coming to visit?

**Update to Previous Post**

Tada! I finally got him on video rolling over both ways. Back to front at 35 seconds and front to back at 1 minute 55 seconds.



Also, let me clear up a few things:
1. I'm not sure why the quality is not so great on this video. I think maybe it's the sun coming through the window that's messing with the lighting.
2. I say "oh, gross, joey!" at 40 seconds because he had spit up a little on the blanket while rolling over.
3. Yes, that is an old 80s TV theme song playing in the background. I recently found the first three seasons online. Bonus points to anyone who knows what show it is.

D is for Don't Grow Up So Fast!

Well, I have been promising some 'teething' and 'rolling' videos, but Joseph seems to always know when the camera is on and refuses to roll when I'm filming. It will happen eventually. In the meantime, here's a picture of him trying to eat one of the stuffed birds in his jumper.


Actually, it might not be teething as much as it is that he wants to start eating regular food now. I'll check with the pediatrician next week about it.

Now that Joe can roll, he refuses to stay on his back when we put him to sleep. He likes to sleep on his tummy or side. Luckily, the whole "back to sleep / sids" thing is irrelevant once babies can hold their heads up and roll around.


Since he's now sleeping in his crib every night, we decided to sell his bassinet. It's the first of his belongings that we've used and sold, so it made me a little sentimental. It didn't make sense to keep it, though. Joe could barely fit into it! Still, I look back over the past 3 and a half months and wonder where the time has gone.


Speaking of sentimental, I found all of my "ABC" wallpaper border from when I was little. Joe Daddy hung it up in Joey's room and I can't believe how surreal it is to think that I used to look up at these same letters every day growing up and now my son looks up at them!


Joe Daddy also used some picture editing software to create a special panel for Joe. My ABC wallpaper has officially been modernized. :)


A couple of days ago while giving Joe a bath, I saw him reach out and try to grab the water! What a cutie pie. We recorded it so you could see. Consider it Joey's way of waving to you. :)

The Charmer

Monday, Uncle J defended his dissertation (CONGRATS DR. UNCLE J!), so Joe Daddy and I took Joseph to day care for the first time. I was nervous, but I didn't need to be, because Joey charmed the socks off of everyone there. Apparently he even laughed during his diaper changes. I dropped him off at 9am and when I came to pick him up at 3pm he was all spread out in his crib doing his "vacation sleep pose". He clearly had a good time.


They told me to bring him back anytime because he was "such a wonderful baby!" I think that I'm probably going to send him there one day a week until he's 1 and then two days a week until he is 2, etc. I think it would be good for him to be around other kids his age sometimes and for Joe Momma to have a break too. We'll see.

Joey is now rolling from his back to his belly AND from his belly to his back. He's mobile! We're starting to figure out how to baby proof the apartment because it won't be long until he is into everything. Besides rolling, we have a suspicion that he's teething too. It seems a little early, but suddenly he is drooling a ton, somewhat fussier and constantly has his hands in his mouth. Video of these things is forthcoming, I promise! Joey says, "Hi!"