Fearless

That's Rudy -- fearless.  He is unbelievable.  Since last week when he started to pull up on things, he is unstoppable.  He attempts to pull up on everything and every day he is more successful.  I bought him a new toy last week to practice with before he became such a pro.  He loves it.  He will spend 10-15-20 minutes standing by it.  When he pushes certain buttons, music plays and things light up.  He gets the biggest grin.  He even starts "dancing" -- basically bouncing his legs and smiling.

He pulled himself up on our glass door, every couch, ottoman, dishwasher, etc that he can get his hands on.

He won't even sit in the bath.  The last few nights I have to basically keep one arm around him (its slippery and I don't want him falling in the bath tub!) and one arm cleaning him.  Getting a diaper or clothes on him is unreal.  I can't believe how difficult it can be!  This morning I set my step stool I use in my closet in front of the trunk in our room.  The stool is light and I didn't want him to end up pushing it around and falling, so I thought the trunk would keep it in one place.  That worked, except he decided to crawl up the step stool and on to the trunk...grunting and huffing and puffing the whole time.  He sure works hard!  His nights are much more restless.  Before if he woke up, he would stir but settle down and fall back asleep.  Now he wakes up and his first move is to stand up -- can't exactly drift back to sleep standing up in your crib.  Has made for some very tired days for this mama!

Last week I took Rudy to Brookhills to visit Grandpa Ballweg.  He works some Sundays and we wanted to get out of the house for a bit.  Rudy did really well.  He stood up (of course) to the bar and played with his toys and yelled at Grandpa.  

Here he is sitting on the air vent.  I have no idea how he discovered it or how he ends up always finding it when the air is on, but it cracks him up.  He gets so excited (if you can't tell by his arms that are barely visible because he is flapping them so fast).  

He sees no obstacle or barrier.  He thinks if he sees it, he can go to it.  As John says, "the quickest way from point A to point B is a straight line"...even if that straight line means crawling under his activity gym to get to a pair of shoes.  He is worse that Rufus when it comes to our shoes.  I have to worry more about our baby chewing them up than our puppy!

Oh and how could I almost forget...I had a minor freak-out last week and was convinced I was a negligent mother.  We have been pretty busy so I hadn't gotten around to reading the "7th month" chapter in my "What to Expect..." book.  I usually read it at the start of each month.  The chapter starts out with a list of things:  "By seven months, your baby...should be able to:" followed by, "...will probably be able to:" next, "...may possibly be able to:" and finally, "...may even be able to."  First item on the list of "should be able to" is "feed self a cracker" --- say whaaaaaaat?!?!  A cracker????  Are you kidding me?!?!  Rudy has only had baby food, nothing resembling solid food, let alone a cracker!  John's face was priceless when I told him what I had read and said, "He has two teeth...how is that even going to work?!"  All the items on the entire list he could do or had done everything (which is probably the first time that has happened)...except #1 on the easy list.  So I did what I do and talked to a couple moms at work (I guess that's one good thing about being a working mom).  Turns out, I was definitely behind.  Oops!  But good thing I asked because I was about ready to hand over a saltine.  Turns out Gerber makes all kinds of options for "crawlers" to eat, which is the Gerber stage he is in.  And, doing what I do, I stocked our cabinet full with almost all of those options!  Here is he with his first cookie.  

In the end, it made an absolute mess.  But he was so curious and occupied by it.  I don't know how much he actually swallowed, but instead chewed on (which makes it almost immediately dissolve), and let it run down his arms, cover his face, and high chair.  We are going to have to get used to messy fingers! 

I am so terrified of him choking.  I think that's why I held off for so long or didn't even consider giving him anything solid.  But he has to learn and I have to relax.  I just stay really close by when he's eating his "snacks."   

Rufus may start to come around to Rudy, after all...especially now that he has food to drop for him :)

We have had several visitors the last week.  Lindsay Strawn came all the way from California to meet Mr. Ru.  Her mom came with and it was so great to visit with them.  Levi and his mom and dad have come by  while they are on walks (definitely going to miss having them so close!) and its so fun to try and get Rudy and Levi to interact.  They did smile at each other a couple times (which is pretty awesome because Levi is still pretty little).  I can't wait for them to start playing together!!  Grandpa and Grandma Ballweg, the Greats came over, too.  They had a nice visit -- two people with glasses at one time, Rudy must have thought he hit the jackpot on visitors!  He sure loves pulling off glasses!  

Considering how many people come to visit Rudy and how sociable he is with everyone, I didn't think it would be a big deal to let Rudy sit and play with a couple of the nurses during my chiropractor appointment (which is about 15 minutes, at most).  I've been going to this doctor for several weeks now, so when they offered to hang out with him when I was having a hard time scheduling the appointment around John and mine's schedules, I figured it would be easier than having LeeAnn or my mom come watch him.  I was wrong!  I had no idea how attached Rudy was.  He was not having it at all!!  Red face, real tears.  Long story, short, I had to sit with him on my stomach while the doctor adjusted my neck and standing in front of the table (thankfully it is low and Rudy loves to stand!), while he did my back.  Then when we were done and I was holding him, he was alllll smiles, giggles, funny faces for them.  Ornery.

So why the chiropractor?  With the amount of back pain I had when I was pregnant with Rudy and then the problems I had with the epidural, a nurse at the hospital suggested I see a chiropractor.  So far, I'm glad I did!  From the x-rays he did I have "curvature" in my lower back (which is where the worst of the pain was and why the epidural might not have worked like it should) and I also have degeneration in my neck (thanks to my awful posture that I am making a huge effort to improve).  Anyway, he is doing adjustments to get things all straightened back out and in the meantime, helping me out with some other things that I had no idea were related to my back.  I am very hopeful this will all help with the next pregnancy and delivery...whenever that is!

Just a couple more pictures...Rudy swiped the remote from Dad and was pretty happy about it...

Me and Rudy (in what I swear I ordered was a boys shirt but as John pointed out, looks like it might be for girls...sorry baby!)

Happy baby

And Rudy and Jorja out on their first dinner date together

We have a big weekend ahead of us!...We did our final walkthrough of the new house tonight and close tomorrow morning at 8:30 am.  I thought the last several months have been busy... its just all beginning!  Anyone interested in checking it out tomorrow, John will be there all day and Sunday (and every other day after that probably!) -- come on by!

And lastly for tonight, I'd like to ask everyone to say a little prayer for heaven's new angel.  John's grandmother (LeeAnn's mom), Eileen Favero, passed away early Monday morning.  We went to a ceremony for her this morning at the cemetery.  She is in a better place now with God and it brings peace to her family to know she is no longer suffering.  Rudy has another guardian angel keeping an eye out for him...

  

Happy birthday to me!

It seems as if so much has been going on in the last week or so since I've last posted.  I pulled up pictures and there are lots to share!...of course I'll probably forget to share something. 

Rudy is still an early riser.  He keeps tricking me into thinking that might change, but he always goes back to his 4:30-5:00 am rise time.  On occassion he has gone back to sleep after a quick bottle until about 7:00-8:00, which is amazing but not happening regularly enough to get too excited about.  When he is up, he's up!  Some days we bring him back to bed with us for a little cartoon action...like on this day...Rufus very surprisingly didn't move right away and Rudy sat there "petting" him (hitting him) and zoned out to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. 

 

His napping is all over the place, too.  Some days he sleeps 5 hours worth of naps.  Other days he sleeps 1 hour.  He HATES going to sleep, especially if people are around or stuff is going on...but can you blame him??  He has so much energy and go that he has been an absolute joy to be around.  So entertaining and so much fun!

We moved bath time to the evenings (in hopes of "winding" him down at night and giving us something to do during his crabby period when nothing distracts him for more than 5 min...especially on those 1 hour worth of nap days).  We also moved him into the big bath tub and he is loving it!  He is still transitioning, though.  He sits in this inflatable duck that he really enjoys

Little stinker (I find myself calling him that a lot these days!)

Rudy is also officially ready for ... Whatever's Next!!  Uncle Kurt the Great came over for a nice visit last week and brought Rudy his shirt.  He has some growing to do, but it will fit in no time I'm sure.

With the weather being abnormally warm for this time of year, we have been getting out and about a lot more and we are all loving it!  Rudy takes a walk at least once a day and we usually get out to run an errand or two, too.

Cruising in his super comfy, cute cart cover Gran made for him

  

As nice as it is to get out, its still next to impossible to plan things at certain times.  His napping schedule is so inconsistent.  I can't wait for the day it becomes "normal" or when he is only taking one nap and it can be at any time-ish, as long as he gets it (that does happen, right??)

His newest obsession is the foot stool in his bedroom.  He can't be in his room without trying to go after it.  He climbs up on it and just stands there.  I wouldn't mind so much except he is bound to hurt himself on it so I have to stay very close by.  We need to get him a low activity table so he can pull himself up on that and play with toys.  Everything we have, besides the foot stool, it too tall for him to pull up on.  I might get to the design board soon and put Grandpa Ray to work :) 

Rudy is so spoiled (in so many ways...obviously).  Here he is sleeping with his Daddy.  He woke up after about 30 minutes from a nap and was still very tired but wouldn't sleep any other way.  He LOVES napping with John.  He doesn't settle enough or get comfortable enough with anyone else like he does with him.  They slept like this for just over an hour...



Ga-Ga sent Rudy some Kentucky socks to wear during the March Madness tournament...go Wildcats!!

Rudy spent the day at Granpa and Grandma Cicci's last week while John was working on our house and I was at work.  Ray sent me this picture in the afternoon... made me laugh out loud and kept me smiling all day...

Rudy got a little too messy during lunch and had to go for a quick dip in the sink

Grandpa Ballweg had his 50th birthday last week!  Tony came in town for the day to hang with Rudy, John and I and then we had dinner and cake at Mom and Dad's to celebrate.  We bought Grandpa some "Beats by Dr. Dre" headphones and a portable radio.  The salesman was laughing at us.  "So you want these amazing headphones and a radio?  He doesn't have an iPod?"  Nope.  Wouldn't want to figure it out and would prefer the radio anyway.  We thought he could get good use out of them while he is mowing grass this summer at work.  He'll be one hip grandpa. 



John had to work on St. Patrick's Day this year which also happened to fall on a Saturday for the parade.  I went back and forth about taking Rudy downtown for it, but eventually decided it was better for him to stay home with Grandma Cicci and I'm glad I decided that!  It was soooo crowded and hot!  I went with Mom and Dad and met up with several of my friends.  We had a good time, but it was even better getting home to Rudy.  I really miss the little bug when I'm not with him. 

Hey, Mom

What's that you're holding?  Give it to me!

Rudy has also learned how to clap and it is adorable.  He hasn't really figured out the "appropriate" time to clap, so it is very random and throughout the day.  He will just sit up and smile and clap.  Too funny.  Some times we hear him waking up on the monitor and think, "maybe he's just adjusting and will fall back asleep" and then we hear the clapping...

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday.  John has to work today, so we bumped up the celebration.  And it was by far the BEST birthday I have ever had!!! 

We took Rudy to see the Easter Bunny at the mall and to get a bunny at Build-a-Bear.  He was such a ham and loved every minute of it. 

Fluffing Hop (Rudy was so intrigued)...

"Kissing" Hop's heart (or chewing it)...

Getting him all stitched up...

So happy!

The last thing Rudy needs is another stuffed animal, but it made a great afternoon and an even greater memory.  Rudy took a good nap when we came home and John made a delicious dinner for us and all of Rudy's grandparents. 

Birthday flowers and balloons from John

Rudy loved the cake and balloons.  He was trying so hard to get after them

And opening gifts might be Rudy's new favorite thing to do.  He had so much fun with all the tissue paper and crinkling bags!

Everyone chipped in and bought me a new video recorder!!  Woo-hoo!!  I can't wait to start a collection of home-videos.  It will be so great to have and much better than my short little iPhone videos, for sure! 

After I put Rudy to bed I came downstairs to hang out with John and I was in tears.  I am so unbelievably blessed to have such a great family and to be so unexplainably in love with my boys.  I am just so happy.  Hands down, the greatest birthday yet.    

I left Rudy to play in his crib while I showered this morning and this is how I found him...silly grin and all!

10 more days until we close on the new house.  The date and time are set...March 30, 2012 at 8:30 am.  I have an idea of what my first video will be!  

Videos

Short clip of Rudy crawling before my phone got cut off...

As I mentioned previously, John and Rudy were playing.  I had just been trying to take video of him crawling with little success, so I thought I'd get them in the middle of their game.  Of course Rudy found a ball and let up on John when the camera started rolling and then started to pounce again right as my phone got cut off...ugh!  But it's still a funny video :)  

He's on the move!

Rudy finally figured it out!!  Woo-hoo!!  After Sunday night, Monday didn't show much more progress but John had him cruising on Tuesday.  He did laps around his room, chasing John's iPhone.  That night I came home from work and they were up there and Rudy did lots of showing off, even crawled right up to me!  It was the sweetest thing yet (well, maybe?  He does a lot of sweet things).  He got grumpy and was done with it by the time I tried to take a video, of course.  I was also able to take him for a walk that evening.  It was such a nice night and we both really enjoyed it!  Even Rufus got to come along!  Later he started back up again, but would only go after phones, a water bottle, a magazine, a tube a desitin...all things he can't normally have.  All the toys (and there are lots!) around him, he had no interest.  He is also trying to pull up on everything.  It started in his crib on Tuesday.  John put him in there so he could run into the other room for a minute and when he came back, Rudy was standing up in his crib.  Of course he got so excited when he saw John that he lifted up his arms and fell face first into the railing...ouch!  Needless to say, we lowered the mattress in his crib that night.  He also is pulling up on the foot stool in his room.  He does great, until his arms give out and ...ouch again!  Poor guy is beating himself up learning all these new things.   

"Yay, I can do it!"

I can't put into words how much I love that Rudy picks on John and John has little defense (you can't exactly hit a baby back).  John loves being a bully and he's met his match with Rudy!  Here John was pretending to be asleep and Rudy kept hitting him in the head and screaming at him.  Then John would "wake up" and Rudy would squeel happily.  John can get him laughing so hard.  He is definitely entertained by his dad! 

As of yesterday, Rudy is 7-months old!  Time is going so fast!  He was not in the best of moods last night so I had a hard time getting him to smile, let alone for the camera.  He loves sticking his tongue out, though! 

And pulling up like such a big boy!

I did get a video of him crawling before my phone cut it off...  "Not enough storage to continue" ...darn it!  Too many Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes and pictures of Rudy accumulating, I guess!  I'll work on formatting it to add to here soon  :)



Bedtime

Rudy is really funny.  He is definitely a home-body like his mom and dad.  He likes doing things outside of the house, but boy does he like coming home!  He can get grumpy and irritable when we are away from home and we think, "Oh great, this is going to be a fun night" (very sarcastically), but once we are home he's all smiles.  He does so great being out and about (especially cruising around town), but we can really tell that when he's ready to be home, he's so happy when he gets there!  The same goes for his room.  We spend the majority of the evenings in the kitchen/living room, but we can definitely tell when Rudy is tired and had enough.  He's fussy, irritable, nothing amuses him, and its really difficult to distract him.  So this is about when we start our bedtime routine.  Once we get into his room, poof -- happy baby.  It's like he's thinking, "Oh thank you for getting it!  This is where I want to be!"  (With his personality coming out more and more these days, I find myself narrating his thoughts.  Its like I can really tell what's going on inside that head of his sometimes!...probably not, but I like to pretend to)  Then he's usually up for playing, hanging out, chatting, etc for another 15-30 minutes.  And not to mention he loves getting out of his clothes!  And part of bedtime includes changing into pajamas, of course -- so we let him hang in his diaper for awhile...

Rudy had his first "forward-motion" two nights ago.  All four of us were in his bedroom when it happened.  He actually moved each arm forward, then each leg.  John said, "If we were trying to get him to walk, that would have been his first step!"  Since then, he has done it a couple more times, but he hasn't figured out to keep going and that that will get him where he wants to be or get him what he is reaching for!  He has mastered going from his stomach to sitting up.  So much so that this morning (at 3 am, 4:30 am, and 7:00 am), much to my surprise, when I went to get him from his crib, he was sitting up waiting for me!  Sometimes when he starts to whine and I am so comfortable and cozy in our bed, I groan at getting up to tend to him.  But the second I see him smiling at me when I open the door, my heart melts and I am so happy to see him. 

Rudy has also found his tongue and he LOVES sticking it out -- blowing rasberries or just letting it hang.  He looks like a little puppy dog.  Everything still goes straight into his mouth and he drools like crazy.  I wish he would get some more teeth so the poor thing could get a break from teething! 

Have I mentioned how much I dislike coming back to work on Tuesdays????  I can't wait to get home...maybe even to a crawling baby!