He's a Chandler

If you are a Friends fan, do you remember the episode where Monica and Chandler are trying to get pictures taken and Chandler cannot smile? Instead he gets a strange, contorted grin on his face that ruins every picture.  Well, Cohen is kind of a Chandler. As soon as he becomes aware of the camera, he either gives a deer in the headlights look and/or puts his hands in front of his face as if to say, "No pictures please!".  We take enough snapshots that we still get good ones, but we have a fairly moderate collection forming of these "Chandler" moments!  Here are just a few of the latest examples:

He's still adorable, but I don't want him to think he was freaked out all the time through his early days when he looks back at pictures!  He's just too smart. He knows a camera is out of the ordinary and he doesn't trust it.

In other news, Cohen is doing all sorts of new things!  He is becoming more deliberate with his actions. Every time one of the dogs walks by he tries to reach out and pet them.  He loves drink glasses and chip bags and can't wait to get his hands on them.  Cohen is smiling and laughing more.  He must change activities frequently or he will get bored.  He absolutely loves to suck on wash cloths after I wash his face and hands and will actually throw a mini-tantrum if you take it away!  His rolling radius has extended so much that we put down a large blanket on the floor that he still inevitably finds the edge of to roll over.  I was surprised the other day when I was bouncing him while I was drying my hair and every time I turned on the hair dryer, Cohen would raise his arms up and cover his ears.  He is still not a fan of car rides, so by the time we arrive home from going anywhere we are both exhausted- him from crying and me from attempting to entertain him in any way you can imagine!

Our latest endeavor has been moving Cohen from sleeping beside me in his Pack N' Play to sleeping in his own crib.  Overall, it has gone fairly well.  Cohen sleeps better than me as I wake with any slight noise from the monitor.  Or maybe I lay awake listening to the monitor at times.  I also go in or talk Chris into going and checking on him frequently and make sure the temperature is ok because of this crazy Kansas weather that forces me to have a/c on during the day and switch to the heater for a short while in the wee hours of the morning!  Overall, we are doing quite well and are adjusting as much as one possibly can to limited hours of sleep most days.  I have even mastered jogging with Cohen riding along in the stroller in the mornings since the weather has been nice.  The success of each day is all about timing!  I won't go into detail about Cohen messing in his diaper in his crib and it leaking and him rolling around in it the other day! Example of bad timing. But most days we get a rhythm and things go swimmingly as we enjoy each play, eat, and sleep session.  Soon, we will tackle rice cereal, so stay tuned!

Now, for some normal pictures:

18 weeks

Reading with dad

He likes to throw things and sometimes they end up on his head!

19 weeks

20 weeks

Petting Tucker

Big boy dino pajamas

One of Cohen's new favorite hobbies!

21 weeks

First time in the Bumbo

Post Coming Soon If You Are Still Around!

I promise I will eventually get around to posting soon...life is crazy and just when we think we have Cohen bug figured out he changes things up on us and it is truly exhausting!  Check back soon. I have taken a lot of pics!  Instead of blogging I have been sleeping in my some-what free time. 

A Hot, Dark Night

That is what last Thursday was.  As soon as I started to pray our power stayed on when the storms rolled in, our lights flickered.  They came on again, but in the middle of my sigh of relief the house again went dark and only to stay that way.  Awesome.  At least we don't have gates up for the dogs anymore. One time, in the not so distant past, as soon as our lights went out, Chris sprung into action.  Like Captain Flashlight or something.  He declared he would  get us some light and ran at full speed straight into a dog gate.  The gate was still standing, but Chris fell flat on his face over it with a big "Hurumph"!  He just laid there.  It was hilarious! I mean, those gates were always there, but I guess when it goes dark you lose your memory, too? I was anything but amused this time, though.  Everything changes when you have a baby.  Several survival/exit strategies were running through my mind.  But Chris tried to reassure me that the lights would be back on soon and a "plan" was not necessary.  I insisted he call and at least get a time estimate.  When he returned and I inquired about what he had learned, Chris mumbled "6-12 hours".  What? That's a long time as hot as it is with a baby!  Chris still was of the opinion that this trial would not last long.  I said that's fine, we can go to bed but I would stay awake and monitor Cohen as he slept and the rising temperature. It was miserable. Chris and Cohen slept fairly well, but I was wide awake.  When Cohen woke up at 1 AM, he was pretty warm.  We just kept thinking the lights and TV and everything would come on and freak us out at any time.  So, by 3 or 4 AM, we decided to pack up and go to my parents' house.  Soon after, Chris came back home to get ready for work only to find the power back on.  Cohen and I stayed and slept for awhile, though.  Talk about beyond exhausted after that! It's all relative, though. 

I am a bit distracted as I type this because Cohen is rolling like crazy!  He has become quite the pro.  He is partial to his right side.  He just sounds aggravated and upset when he is trying, which always upsets me, but I must let him work it out.  He is also taking in an occasional child's program here and there. So is Chris!  I think Chris is rather enjoying this second childhood thing.  Cohen really gets to kicking, too. He'll be watching a show or listening to music and sitting in his chair and he will really get to going!  He also has longer conversations with us. But I do believe his new favorite hobby is pulling my hair on both sides and not letting go.  Another breakthrough occurred because Chris donned his swim trunks and joined Cohen in the bath tub and Cohen loved it!  Dad holding him makes things less scary.  Hurray for big boy baths!

Yesterday was Cohen's 4 month appointment with shots.  He did so well, only crying for a short time before letting dad console him.  Once again, I handled the whole ordeal worse than him.  Cohen got a great report! The doctor said his head looks really good and that Cohen's tummy time must be going well.  I guess all that intimidation and the threats worked on me!  The reason Cohen is already in 6 month clothes was verified for us when we found out he is 26 inches long and in the 90th percentile for height!  Cohen weighs 14 pounds, 11 ounces and is in the 50th percentile, so getting big!

We are looking forward to getting out more when the weather gets cooler.  Right now, Cohen gets so warm if we are out at all  and lugging all his stuff makes me sweat before we leave the garage! We are ready to welcome fall!

And now, just a few pics:

15 weeks

Hanging with the monkeys!

Bright blue eyes

What they like best!

Swingin'

16 weeks

Ready to try the bath tub

After all, it's not too bad!

An expert roller

Watching Sesame Street

17 weeks

Growth Spurts

I am happy to say the 3 month growth spurt is over, for now! Another translation for growth spurt is grumpiness, sleeplessness, and general fussiness.  Cohen has once again returned to sleeping about 7 or more hours a night with a short nap in the morning and late afternoon and a long nap in early afternoon.  He has bounced back, but I don't think Chris or I have.

The biggest news is that Cohen rolled over on his stomach from his back!  He was in the middle of his first play date with his friend Caleb and borrowing his play gym.  Cohen really wanted to see the pictures of the colorful animals on the play gym mat.  He has not shown as much enthusiasm for rolling over since.  I am beginning to think he is rather bored with his play gym and maybe it is becoming too small.  He just lays in the middle of it with his arms spread out daring it to do something interesting and surprise him.  I wish we could buy the one Cohen's friend has that matches his swing, but they are surprisingly expensive!  So, we will probably need to go with the diaper purchase instead.

Cohen is also enjoying TV.  He was very interested in the Presidential address last night and he is also fond of game shows and children's programs.  He sits in his bouncer with his hands propped on his knees and makes occasional, and sometimes often, exclamations at the TV.  If a commercial or something not as colorful comes on, Cohen will lose interest and start to get upset.

Cohen's last chiropractic appointment last week went well. She worked on his neck and right shoulder.  The neck always has a few spots because of trying to hold up his head and all the tummy time and we figure his right shoulder needed work since he prefers to roll on that side.  Otherwise his growth and development looked good!  He is growing so fast!

That's about all.  Chris did get his Vibe, but had to drive a ways to get it.  (Thanks April!)  So now, Cohen and I can get out more!  Although the current gas prices are a major deterrent.  But, we have the option.  So, be looking for us out there! Who knows, we may pull up beside you!  I am getting a little  more brave in venturing out with a baby.  And Cohen is improving on car rides. He plays and occupies himself for a short time.  But, if we hit his cycle wrong, we are sure to have screaming and crying all the way home!

And now for the most current and fashionable pictures:

Not sure about being 14 weeks old

Mooove over world!

With his buddy again

Play date with Caleb

More fun

Cohen can't wait to sit in his Bumbo!

We love his crazy hair!

Pesky bath time

Talkative, Bath Tub-Hating, NASCAR Enthusiast

That's right. That is where little Cohen is in life these days.  He is growing into such a pint-sized person lately with his own personality, likes and dislikes, and habits.  His latest interest and passion we (and he) have discovered is NASCAR.  Much to Chris's delight, Cohen watched the race with much excitement, attention, and awe for more than an hour the other week.  We put him in his swing facing the race and he was completely mesmerized by the sound and colors and the little cars going round and round the track!  He was also talking non-stop as if to exclaim to us all these things he was seeing.  He wouldn't even look at us or acknowledge us during this time.  So, I went over and recorded this latest hobby of his:

Usually I can't record him or snap pictures of him very easily.  I have been attempting to catch Cohen's smile on camera or camcorder for weeks now and he has that radar that goes off when I am looming with one of them.  When I approach, he immediately stops whatever he is doing and scowls at me with a look on his face that tells me he is not a circus monkey and he will not be cooperating.

The other big deal is trying to get him to take a bath in an infant tub.  He is not having it.  Chris has been humoring me as I attempt different approaches and purchase different styles of tubs, foolishly thinking it will make a difference and he will magically appreciate all of the special features that attracted me to the tub.  I almost made the huge mistake of buying the top of the line "whirl pool" infant bath that was only marginally on sale, but when I was hauling it to the check-out Chris oh-so-calmly asked what kind of batteries it took and read off the box, 10 "C" batteries, I kept on walking back to the shelf.  I think the problem is we were instructed to sponge bathe Cohen longer than usual because of medicine the doctor put in his belly button.  So now, when we lower him gently into a warm just-his-size tub, he screams and flails his arms and legs and the tears fall. We have given up for now. We are optimistic that once he is able to hold his head up completely and especially sit up, he will not be so frightened by this ritual we make him participate in.

Cohen's recent schedule or lack thereof has been exhausting.  On Saturday, Cohen woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 3AM, ready to start the day.  Chris and I alternated entertaining him, but nothing could redeem the way we were left feeling that day.  Then just yesterday, Cohen took a four hour nap even though I know we are not to let him sleep more than three hours during the day. He was just so peaceful! And lately his naps have been shorter and easily interrupted.  Anyway, it took us three hours to get him to bed at night.  We finally drug ourselves into bed at 11 PM exhausted from the "wear Cohen out" activities.  He is still sleeping 5-9 hours at night, but the way he breaks them up are killers!

Cohen recently reminded us he has graduated from "newborn" to "infant" when Chris attempted one of the soothing techniques we learned in class by loudly shhhhshing him when he was fussy and he instantly broke into tears .  Things are changing, for sure.  Cohen loves to roll on his right side and pivot himself around in a half circle.  He is pulling my hair and honking our noses as he reaches for anything and everything.  He now does tummy time propped up on the boppy with a musical turtle in front of him that he pushes the buttons to re-start the music when it has stopped!  Whenever we go anywhere, Cohen wants out of his car seat and to be carried around to see everything going on around him. We are trying to keep up and adapt to Cohen's ever-changing abilities and preferences.  It is quite a ride!

11 Weeks

Go team!

Caleb, Cohen and Jackson-Best friends!

Going to get fireworks on his first Fourth of July

12 Weeks

Intimidated by the sweet tea

Kinda preppy sometimes

Hanging out with mom

13 Weeks