Swimming Lessons

Rutherford has started swimming lessons! He's had two classes so far and he LOVES it. He has so much fun in the water, it's so cool to watch him. Today, Neddie went in with him while I watched and took a few pics. There was a couple other cute kids in his class and they swam around, played with a big bucket of colorful balls, sang some songs (so cute to watch Neddie bounce R in the water while singing) and did a lot of kicking and splashing. Adorable!

R Makes Me Laugh

Just too sweet, cute and funny. I'm such a lucky mama!

Mango Mango Mango

R and I are doing much better. We had a busy week! On Wednesday we had a trial swimming lesson (to see if R was down for it) and had such an awesome time! Neddie was able to come with and we both were able to be with Rutherford in the water. He'll start taking weekly lessons later this month, we're so stoked. He took to the water well, and was super happy during the whole visit. Score.

Thursday we had our music class which he also has a great time. Lots of fun instruments (maracas are his favorite), songs, dancing and more. R has a great time looking at the other babies and playing around, I think it's really good for him to get a bit of interaction with other little ones. I think Penelope may join us at the next lesson which will be super awesome.

In food news, R has been loving mango. I mix it with his morning oatmeal and he eats it right up. He's also been having plums which he tolerates, but only with a bit of applesauce thrown in, too :)

We did a video chat with the Houston Grands this weekend, too, which was really cool. R wasn't too up on what was going on, but I think he will get it as we do it more and of course the grandparents love seeing the star of the show. He was swinging his maracas around for them.

Off to bed!

Little Patient

Snuggling on papa - poor sick baby!

Poor Rutherford - he's got his first real cold :( Of course I have it too!

He and I are pretty miserable. He's been a real trooper, though. Not too crabby and not even crying too much when I use the Snotsucker on him. (Really one of the best baby purchases ever!) On top of his cold, the time changed last night so our schedule is way off. Oh well!

Ned made me homemade chicken soup last night and even picked up some Kleenex so I didn't have to use toilet paper to blow my nose like a cavewoman. Awwww.

I've been taking cold meds, Zicam and Cold-Eeze. Poor R can't take anything for his symptoms. We put the humidifier right by his crib and dosed it with some peppermint essential oil and I've been trying to clear his nose every few hours. That definitely helps. Last night I felt so bad for him, poor little guy was all congested. He slept well, though, so very thankful for that. Rest and fluids will be best for him.

Hopefully we won't be under the weather too long - fingers crossed!

The Houston Grands

This past week Ned's parents came out to visit us again - Rutherford had an awesome time with them! It was really cool to see him interact with them and now that his personality is starting to develop, they got to see what R is really like :)
One night we all went up to the Ranch for the monthly family dinner my parents have been hosting. GrandBob (how cute is THAT?!) took Rutherford for a little tour of the citrus trees.

The Grandmas kissed on the baby before dinner.
Back at home, Bobby and Charlotte got a lot of playtime in with R - I showed them how to use tupperware (R's fave) as a hat. Rutherford doesn't think it's as funny as I do - ha.

Their visit happened to coincide with Rutherford's increased chattiness, which they got a kick out of. We went on a walk at the lake, and almost the whole time he was just talking and talking. "Dada" and "Tata" are his go-to phrases right now.

Three generations of Engelkes :) We're hoping to hit Houston this year, we'll see. Have a lot of people to introduce Rutherford to!

Eight Months Old

Rutherford is eight months old today. The time has seemed to speed up these past few months, in part because I think he's been hitting so many milestones all at once. We have a tooth, he's crawling, he made his first sign ("more!"), he's been pulling himself up on furniture, he's able to go a bit longer between naps, eating so many different foods, etc. So many firsts and big boy things to be doing.

When he cut his first tooth we backslid a bit with sleep training and we paid the price. Over the past few days I have gotten back on the sleep program with success, but it has been bittersweet. Before his morning nap today, he wanted to nurse himself to sleep. I had to cut him off and put him into his bed, crying. He settled down very quickly, I think he was just tired. But it was the first time his "I'm-not-going-to-bed" tears really upset me.

Crying during sleep training hasn't really made me too distressed. Helping him get adequate sleep is one of my top priorities. It makes him a happier baby who is able to learn and explore like he should. When I am rested I am a better mama... a MUCH better mama. A few minutes of crying is the price we both have to pay to get a healthy, well-rested Rutherford.

But I will be honest. For many months I nursed R to sleep, and the idea of losing that is heartbreaking. During his middle-of-the-night feedings and almost anytime he was inconsolable, I would simply comfort him with nursing. It was the best thing for him for many months. Bonding, security, love and happiness. Important things for us to share together.

The time for that is coming to an end, though. If I nurse him to a deep sleep, he wakes up, wondering where I am. It makes him upset to find himself in his crib. He doesn't understand where I've gone. If I put him in his crib while he's awake and he drifts off, there is no confusion. He knows where he is. He stirs, sometimes looks around a bit, and falls back into Rutherford dreamland.

Sometimes it's astonishing how much better he sleeps when I give him space. And how much happier it makes him throughout the day when he's been sleeping soundly.

So cutting him off this morning hurt. I cried a little and Ned hugged me and reminded me that we're not building a baby, we're guiding a little person into adulthood. Rutherford needs us to make decisions for him because he can't do it right now. Those decisions might hurt us. Because some days all I want is to hold and rock my little baby forever - but I know what he needs is his mama to help him stand up on his own and explore the world from his perspective.

I still sing him to sleep, though. I may do that until he kicks me out of his room.