"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..."

Rudy has sprung a tooth...well, sort of.  A tooth did break gum.  His bottom front tooth came out sometime in the last 24 hours.  It's just a little piece of it, enough that I can feel the sharp point, but not big enough to see noticeably yet.  I have no idea how long it will take to come in more, but when I talked to LeeAnn this afternoon and she said she felt it, I couldn't wait to get home to feel it, too!  It's no real surprise because he has been a drooling, chewing monster!  But it is surprising it already came at 4 months...that's right...Rudy reached the 4 month mark last week! 

He found the sticker...

He was telling (or more like yelling) a pretty interesting story here.

If you didn't notice, the sticker is a little mangled by the end.  I took a video clip that I will have to "format" to add here, but he got ahold of it, crumpled it up, and attempted to eat it...pretty standard with anything he gets ahold of!

We had his four month check-up yesterday.  Rudy weighed in at 17 lbs, 8 oz (86 percentile) and 26.5 inches (92 percentile).  We talked to the doctor about some of the things going on, and now she thinks it may be acid reflux that is bothering Rudy.  I had always skipped over that in my books because he wasn't spitting up much.  Once I did look at it, the first sentence said, "Babies do not have to spit up to have acid reflux."  Then going through the list of symptoms, Rudy seemed to fit the bill.  The doctor suggested we switch bottles to Dr. Brown's brand for a week and see if that helps.  She said if it didn't, she would give him some kind of medicine to help him out.

She barely mentioned starting rice cereal...I had to ask.  She didn't give me much guidance on it and I got the impression she didn't think it was necessary for a couple months, but that we could try it if we wanted.  I read some on it and the timing and decided to hold off for a little longer...see how the change in bottles goes and go from there.  I did read that adding it to their nighttime bottle may help babies with acid reflux sleep better.  I'm sure it won't make him sleep-through, but it might take away those 1-2 times he wakes up crying and doesn't need anything but just seems uncomfortable.  We'll see...more on that later!

Rudy also got shots -- it is so hard to watch him get them and hear him cry.  Poor baby!  He hasn't had a  problem with them in the past, other than the actual shot, but last night and this morning he was crying a lot and seemed bothered by them.  But we gave him some Tylenol and he is ok now, so that's good! 

We attempted to get some family Christmas pictures on Thanksgiving.  Maria and LeeAnn were a big help, but with the wind and an uncooperative dog and baby, we didn't end up with a good one of the 4 of us.  But we did get these adorable ones of Rudy before we went outside...

John was to the side and, of course, Rudy was all smiles for him.  I don't know how he does it, but Rudy is ALWAYS laughing at him! 

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas.  Here is our "silver and gold" Christmas tree for the year.  We were watching Rudolph while I was putting it up and they started singing the "silver and gold" song...I had completely forgotten about it until then.  Of course it was stuck in my head forever afterwards!  But it definitely put me in the Christmas spirit!  I am still in the process of getting all the presents wrapped to put under the tree, but that's fun, too. 

We went to visit Santa.  Rudy did really well with him.  When we handed him to Santa, he looked up at him with a confused expression, then looked back to John and was all smiles.  Then during the camera flashes, he stared blankly, but of course when we walked back over to get him, he was all smiles again.  Oh well! -- at least he wasn't scared of him!

On our way to see Santa

Santa!

 And on the way home...wore out the little guy!

Rudy is so sweet when he sleeps.  I thought that might go away after awhile, but it hasn't!  I could look at him forever when he is asleep.   

My work Christmas party was last weekend.  It was at the Hilton downtown, which was nice because there are lots of places to go before and after and we ended up running into friends before and after.  Gran watched Rudy for us overnight.  Yea...overnight!  CRAZY, I know.  Not crazy that I let my mom do that, but crazy that I would let anyone have him that long!  It just seemed like the most responsible thing to do.  I knew we would be out late and having some drinks.  It wouldn't be a big deal if Rudy was sleeping through the night, but if we got home at 11:00-12 and he woke up at 3:00 -- well I just didn't think either of us would be particularly thrilled about it.  I figured we were really only missing out on that one awake time and we would be there early to pick him up.  We were home and in bed by 12:30 and I had such a hard time sleeping.  You'd think I would soak it up and enjoy every peaceful moment, but I kept waking up wanting it to be time to go get him.  At 6:30 I was up and ready to go!  We missed him so much.  He did great with Gran, though!  And it was really nice of her to do that, too!  

Rudy has been busy playing and trying to chew on everything within reach!  He is still working on perfecting rolling over.  He has rolled from front to back and back to front, but only a few times each (we told the doctor this and when she put him on his stomach, he rolled over -- show off). 

 Rudy got to sit in a new seat at Gran's house this weekend.  It had lots going on and lots to grab at!

Getting ready either before work or just in general has gotten much easier.  As long as I get the showering part done, he is good to hang out while I am getting ready.  In the mornings he is so relaxed and we can prop him in his boppy with some toys and he will sit and hang out and watch cartoons or me.  Of course he squirms some or needs attention here or there (it may take me a tad longer to get ready), but much better than before when I wouldn't have even attempted it! 

Here he is snuggling with Bumper watching cartoons while we waited for John to get home. 

It is so hard to believe Christmas is just about 10 days away!  I am beyond excited to spend Christmas with Rudy this year.  John keeps reminding me that Rudy won't even know it's Christmas, but I don't care.  Our traditions are starting with his first Christmas -- John hung lights, we did a tree, I am going to wrap all his presents, we are going to have breakfast together on Christmas morning as a family -- it is going to be great!  I can't wait for all the other traditions we will establish over the years.  But we are on to a good start! :)  It's embarrassing to admit, but this is the first Christmas I have really not cared about what I am getting for Christmas (of course I still will appreciate every gift, I don't mean it that way), but John and I are so lucky just to have each other and Rudy and Rufus and to all be healthy and happy, have healthy, amazing families (like unbelievably amazing) and friends that are the best ever.  Not everyone is as lucky and I thank God every day for all He has blessed us with.   

Speaking of friends...Robyn is due December 19 and Levi is really holding out!  I guessed he would be born today, but apparently I am not good at that guessing game!  Robyn is hanging in there, she is very uncomfortable and anxious for Levi to be born, to say the least.  I am very anxious for her, too.  Come on, Levi!!!  Rudy wants to play :) 

We drove up to the Western Springs area recently for a quick trip.  A close friend of John's from college father passed away last week.  We weren't able to make it to the visitation because John had to work, but we drove up the morning of the funeral mass.  The church was less than 5 minutes away from Hotel Minella.  Aunt Dawn the Great, Aunt Sue the Great, and Uncle Dave the Great (as opposed to Great Aunt Dawn, Great Aunt Sue and Great Uncle Dave) were nice enough to watch Rudy while we went to the mass and we were able to visit with them afterwards for a bit.  Rudy did great on the drive.  He slept the majority of the time there and back.

We were also able to visit with a few friends.  It goes without saying we wish we were there for any other reason, but it was nice to see them all.

Tom and Rudy in his "I heart Tom and Nicole St. Jules" onesie.  Wonder who gave that to him??? :)

Well I can't promise I will blog again before Christmas (unless something extraordinary happens before then that I want to share), so to anyone who reads this, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season and get to enjoy it with lots of family and friends!!