7 months.

Levi is 7 months old!  He had his 7 month birthday yesterday, on Mother's Day, spent primarily in airports in the USA.  We flew back from Fresno yesterday and are now happily and safely HOME!  I feel like alot has changed with Levi this month.  And it also feels like it's been a long long time since I've written a monthly post!  Last month's was written a day or two early and this month I'm a day behind.

Levi now has two teeth, both bottom, which came in right around his 6 month birthday.  He's so cute with those two bright, white baby teeth when he grins!  It sure hurts when he bites, though.  Wow, those suckers are sharp!  He's started biting our shoulders which really, really hurts.  I think he's just trying to get our shirts, but often he'll get our shoulder skin with it and then he locks his jaw and pulls.  Yikes.  How do you break a baby of a biting habit?  I imagine it's just teething, but how can I encourage him not to teethe on us??

We have now been offering Levi solid food for about a month and a half and he's never fallen in love with it.  In fact, during our recent trip to Fresno, Levi became completely breastfed again for 10 days and didn't miss the solids one bit.  He has tried a decent variety of foods this month, though.  He's had peas, applesauce, sweet potatoes, carrots, banana and, of course, more rice cereal.  We've also had fun with letting him try food off of our plates so he's also tried things like oranges, grapes, lemons, strawberries, watermelon, pork chops, and a rib bone.  With all of it he just gags.  Oh well...breastfeeding is easier anyway so as long as I can keep up, we may as well take it slow!

Levi has a huge fascination with cups right now.  He's getting pretty good at drinking out of a cup too, with our help, of course.  He hasn't caught on to the bottle or sippy cup yet, though.  Maybe he'll just skip that stage and go straight to the real cup. 

Levi has been sitting for two solid months already so now when he tips, it's 98% of the time something that he intended to do.  He's not crawling yet, but he can get around pretty well just scootching on his belly and adding the occasional roll to make even more progress toward what he wants.  It's fun to see him be able to get around so that he can reach the thing that he has his eye on, but it's also a bit harder to keep things out of his reach!  He's definitely a grabby baby...and fast too!  His hand-eye coordination is remarkable.

Levi still isn't sleeping through the night.  This month has been slightly better than the previous two, with Levi waiting at least 2 hours between night-time feeds.  His average sleep-stretch has moved up to 3 hours, though, for which I am SO grateful!  My goal for this month is to try to increase his sleep-stretch average to at least 4 hours, if not more.  I can count on one hand the amount of times that Levi has slept longer than 5 hours in one stretch since birth.  On another note, I can now say that it's been a year since I've slept through the night.  It was about halfway through my pregnancy that I started waking up during the night, either from sore hips or needing to use the bathroom.  I am very much looking forward to a full night's sleep again.  One day...right?

Levi's favourite things right now are...peek-a-boo, his Rock 'n Stack, mommy, daddy, Lennox, the Jolly Jumper, the fact that his bald spot is finally gone and being outside.  Levi's least favourite things right now...having his nose wiped, having mommy walk out of the room without him, his car seat, and eating solids.

In the first 7 months of his life, Levi has logged many driving miles, and has been on 8 different flights, totaling 5800 miles in the air.  He is a well-traveled little boy!

Well, that's probably enough about the 7th month.  It's been a fun one.  I'm looking forward to month 8 as much as ever.  So far it has started well.  Levi fell asleep for his morning nap in under 3 minutes and has been sleeping for an hour already.  I think it's safe to say that all THREE McCorkindales are happy to be home.

Happy seven months, little buddy!  You are loved!

All tuckered out...

Levi and I went for a couple mile walk this morning.  He didn't last very long awake.  : )  Isn't he just the sweetest??

Our trip to California has been good.  I think it's safe to say that we're all tired and looking forward to being home in our own beds again, but it has been fun to see old friends again and live in the Court for a few days.

Nathan has been fairly busy with homework the whole time we've been down here.  Most of that homework has been making sure his thesis is good to go.  That is all behind him, though, because this afternoon he defended his thesis and did an excellent job.  I think having the thesis completed is a huge relief for him, though he does seem a bit tired from all the work he's been putting into it.  Tomorrow the order of the day will having it printed and ready for binding.  Tomorrow evening is a graduation gala for the graduating seminary students.  Then Saturday is the big graduation day!  Despite graduating now, though, Nathan is not quite finished his Masters degree.  He has one more directed study to finish and a trip to LA in June/July.  And then he's finished!  I can't wait. : )

Levi has been enjoying seeing many new things.  At least I think he's been enjoying it.  (How can you tell?)  I think he could do without the extremely warm weather...he's red and sweaty the majority of the day.  We try to keep him cool.  But mostly there's just no escape.  He hasn't been sleeping very well since we arrived...I think it must be a combination of the heat and so many new people/places.  Talk about overstimulation!  Yikes.  I'm really hoping that he falls back into his wonderful sleep habits once we arrive home, but I guess only time will tell.  I sure hope, for all our sakes, that his crying for 30-45 minutes before bed doesn't last too long...

I am doing well.  I am fairly tired thanks to Levi's sleep (non-sleep?) and the heat (+36C today).  But it has been really nice to see friends here again and to be able to spend so much time outside just relaxing.  The sun has been wonderful.  And it's been fun to celebrate with our friends as they finish their last assignments of the semester.


We've only got two more days before returning to the rain and cool temperatures in Saskatchewan.  I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually looking forward to leaving the heat behind.  This heat-starved prairie girl is mellowing out...

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heart sigh...

You know that feeling when you're oh-so-tired and the thought of most things just makes you want to curl up in bed and never get out?  Then you think of something else and it just makes your heart sigh with peace and rest?  It's just such a relief that you don't have to do one of those rather-crawl-into-bed things?  Yeah, I'm having one of those oh-so-tired days.  Traveling usually does that to me.  Here are a few things that make my heart sigh on days like today:

-  folding laundry
-  pizza and evening with Nathan
-  Nathan saying, "I'll take Levi and you just relax for a couple hours."
-  snuggling in with Levi for a quiet nurse (and lingering for a few extra minutes, just because it means that I don't have to go back to people just yet)
-  taking a shower, even if I've already had one that day (my version of a soak in the tub, since most - all - tubs are way too big for me to actually relax seeing as my head goes under water if I actually lay down)
-  climbing into bed at night and knowing that I don't have to see anyone for the next 8-12 hours
-  having plans canceled at the last minute so I can just hang out at home
-  going for a walk where nobody can find me
-  grocery shopping in an unfamiliar place - so that I don't have to see anyone I know

Don't you just love that feeling when you just deeply and completely relax?  You know there is nothing expected of you and you can just sink into who you are without worrying about what needs to get done or what anyone else expects?  Yup.  It's a good feeling. 

What makes your heart sigh?

California, baby!

Well, we made it safe and sound to sunny California.  We arrived late last night after almost needing to de-ice in Denver due to snow and heading into a 120 mph headwind on the last leg of our journey.  But we made it.  And we slept.  And we woke up this morning in the Court feeling almost like we'd never left.  Sirens.  Fireworks (gunshots?) at midnight.  Palm trees.  Aah, yes.  It's good to be home.

We will be spending just over a week here, staying with friends, while Nathan ties up a few loose ends and then graduates with his MA Theology next Saturday.  I'm so proud of that husband of mine.  Way to go, Nathan!  I love you!

Here are some pics from the last three days...

 Helping me pack the night before our trip...little monkey!

So glad to be traveling again!  This boy doesn't mind flying one bit.  He makes friends wherever he goes, smiling at everyone he sees, both while we're in the air and as we're waiting in airports.  What a silly boy.  

While silly, he is also the most content baby I've ever known.  Our friends here in the Court were having a second birthday party for their daughter today and this is how Levi spent probably 1/2 an hour or more:

He just sat in that walker (cause his feet couldn't touch the ground so he couldn't run around) and watched all the other little kids playing.  Could he be any sweeter?  I.think.not.

Today in sentences

Levi slept past 7am for the third morning in a row after being up before 7am every morning for a month.

Nathan is back to the homework grind after three wonderful, homework-free family days.

We are leaving for Fresno in four days!

Today is house-cleaning day.

Today is laundry day, just like every other day.

Levi managed to get the wipes container open for the first time today...luckily I stopped him after only one pulled-out wipe.

Lennox is enjoying some time out in the sun and Levi and I will join him just as soon as Levi's morning nap is over.

Levi's morning nap has yet to start despite putting him down 15 minutes ago...that boy fights sleep like nobody's business.

By 10:30am, I am on my second set of clothes after a massive, random spit-up from the little man.

It looks like it's going to be a good day!

Spring!

It was a beautiful 12 degree day here today so Levi and I spent a few hours outside in the nice, warm sunshine.  And he just looked so cute, I had to grab my camera!  Do we not have the most adorable little boy you ever did see?  I think so...

He's also one of the happiest, most content boys too...  LOVE YOU SO MUCH, LEVI!

Pictures!

Last week I decided to do some moving around of our bedrooms.  It was the point when I took this picture that I stepped back and thought, "what have I done?"  

Now that everything is put away again, I'm glad for the switch.  We all have more room to move around.  

Our bedroom-->Levi's new room

Levi's old room-->new spare bedroom

Old spare bedroom/storage room-->our new master bedroom

 Doesn't he look happy to be in a box?  He fits perfectly!

Grandma B's garden peas were not well received...

So funny...although less funny that he refuses to open his mouth for all food now...hmm...

My Trip to Indiana!

The bulk of this post is "stolen" from my sister's blog.  I figure she already told the story, so why try to redo a good thing?  I'll just mention that Levi turned out to be a real trooper on the plane.  He fell asleep each and every time we took off (which was 4 times in total).  On the way there he slept for about half of each flight and then was happy on my lap (mostly) for the rest of the flight.  On the way home, he slept both entire flights.  The descent did seem to bother him a little bit though...but overall it was a good trip!

I'll let my sister take over from here...

My sister and nephew were here for 4 full days over spring break.

Not the greatest pic, but the only one I have of the three of us.

He's a "McCutie" and he knows it!

Not so much cuddle time as "lets use auntie Alicia as a jungle gym!"

6 months old already, and looking so grown up.

Story time.

Yup, cutest nephew ever!

You better believe it, "spoiled rotten by my auntie"

Hanging out in the exersaucer, admiring the Indiana rain and permacloud. Though they did get one sunny, +28C day while they were here, followed by a night of thunderstorms.

 Just can't sit still...

Levi got to hang out in the oversized beanbag chair during meals.

Can't get enough of those adorable brown eyes.

"I'm tired and ready to go home!"

Action plan...

So, the goal for this week is to get Levi closer to sleeping through the night.  For the past two months, he's been up every 2-3 hours (average...a couple nights up to 4-5 hours, some nights he's up every hour).  I know he doesn't need to eat that often - he used to sleep 4-5 hour stretches all the time.  And he's not teething.  And he's not gassy.  And he's not sick, dirty, or uncomfortable.  He just wants a bit of a snack to help him fall asleep again.  Plan of action?  Space the feeds out half an hour longer each night until we're up to a decent night's sleep.  Wish me luck!

Pictures are coming...I know that's what you're all checking for anyway : )  I'm hoping to put some up this week sometime.

Spring cut.

Isn't it nice to have something new in spring?

 I really think it is.

 I got a new haircut.

 I feel like I look very much more like my sister now than ever before.

 Funny how it works that way when you have the same person who does your sister's hair do yours.

 I finally got a nice, easy mommy-cut...

 with highlights.

 Just blow-dry and go.

 So nice.

Thanks Carrie!

Oh, and I realized that I never mentioned that I got new glasses back in February(?).  

Voila!  I got new glasses!

So there's the spring cut of the year.  Two haircuts in under three months.  I am on a roll.  And speaking of roll...somehow including a whole roll of wonderfully dorky pictures of myself instead of just one or two seemed like the dorkiness would be canceled out by the cheesiness.  Am I right?

6 months.

Our baby boy is half a year old already!  Where has the time gone?  Actually, it feels like he's been with us forever, so while part of me is wondering how he is 6 months old already, a bigger part of me is wondering how it has only been 6 months.

The sixth month has brought a few new firsts.  I will go through them quickly, though, because as this is being posted, I'm actually visiting my sister in Indiana and wrote it two days ago.  I'll be leaving for the airport in two hours but wanted to get this done before I left.  Here are a few fun facts about our 6 month old!

Levi has had his first taste of rice cereal this month.  He has gotten much better at eating, but has also gotten better at refusing food.

Levi has now rolled over in both directions on more than one occasion without merely "falling" back onto his back from his tummy.  Sometimes he forgets about this new ability of his and just lays there, frustrated, on his tummy until someone rescues him.  He has learned that he can just rest his head sideways on the floor, though, which extends happy tummy time by quite a bit.

Levi got his first tooth this month!  What a strange feeling for your first child to get their first tooth.  Maybe it doesn't hit everyone the same way, but it sure hit me when that tooth popped through!  Everything else thus far has been a gradual change, but a tooth is not there one day and there the next.  So sudden!  And interestingly, the unpleasant teething only started once the tooth was already in.  There must be another tooth on it's way soon.  But even at his grumpiest, Levi isn't too hard to be around. : )

Levi has started moving around alot more to get his toys but still isn't crawling.  He just kinda scootches around on his tummy and pulls/pushes himself around with his arms/lets.  Inch-worming has been working great for him.  But at least he's not mobile enough to get into things...yet...

He is still not drinking out of a sippy cup, though if he chews on the cup enough, he'll get a mouthful and usually swallow it.  Eventually he'll be able to drink from a cup and then Nathan and I will be able to go on a date again!  Yay!  One day...

Levi is still eating every two hours during the day and is up every one to five hours during the night.  Two or three is about an average night's stretch for the little man.  His "night" has usually been 8pm to 7am these days.  Gone are the days of sleeping in til 8am...  I'm looking forward very much to sleeping through the night again one day, but until then I'll enjoy the middle of the night snuggles while I have them. : )

Levi's bald spot on the back of his head is filling in nicely and, for the first time singe he was four weeks old, he has no cradle cap on his head!  I am very excited about that development!

Levi has also had his first plane ride this month.  As I haven't left yet, I'll have to let you know how that went in another post.

Size-wise, he is about 17-18lbs and about 26-27".  He is wearing mostly 9 month clothes, but only 3-6 month pants.  Gotta love the sizing on baby clothes!