Macy's and the "Hozzle-dazzle" 2011

Like last year, and as I am hoping will become a holiday tradition, we went downtown with my parents a couple of weeks ago to see the Macy's show and the Holidazzle parade. Audia of course loved seeing all of the elves and reindeer doing silly things. Callen, on the other hand, was a little less sure of the whole thing. Over the past couple of weeks I think we've come to discover that while he sure is a laid back little dude, he also is very sensitive to loud and hectic events. Not that I can blame him....I am the same way!

After the Macy's show, we decided to try to have the kids picture taken with Santa. Audia was a bit unsure of sitting on a strangers lap (who can blame her?!) so we got in the photo too. I'm actually glad we did; it is very rare to get a picture of the four of us together!

 Then we went outside and braved the cold (ok, so it wasn't cold so much as it was windy) to watch the Holidazzle parade. Or, as Audia calls it, "the Hozzle-dazzle parade." It was definitely Audia's favorite part of the evening; she loves Christmas lights, and to watch a ton of floats decked out in them go by was her idea of the perfect evening!

 It certainly was a fun time, and I really look forward to the coming years where Callen can enjoy and understand a bit more of what's going on!

Happy Holidays! 2011

I have been meaning to write a post about some fun holiday things we've been doing over the past couple of weeks but time has gotten away from me! Hopefully I'll find some time to blog before the new year. In the meantime, here's wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Callen at 6 months

6 months!

Our little man turned 6 months old a week ago. We had his well check yesterday, and at 19 lbs, 13 oz (90th percentile) and 28.5" (97th percentile,) he's still growing like a weed. His weight gain has slowed down a bit, but according to Dr. S, it's nothing to be concerned about. Apparently it's typical for breastfed babies to start off chunky and then lean out around this time. As solids become a more substantial part of his diet, the weight gain will pick up again.

We have tried rice cereal a few times and squash once just last week, and while he certainly has lost that tongue-thrust reflex, he also doesn't seem all that interested in baby food. We'll try some oatmeal this week, and maybe even mix it with some fruit to make it more interesting. Admittedly I'm not as gung-ho about getting him on solids as I was with Audia. A little more seasoned in parenting, I would rather let him take things at his own pace. I'm all too aware how kids will do things on their own, in their own way, in their own time.

While Dr. S said he definitely has enough core strength to be sitting up on his own, Callen has no interest in sitting up. As soon as he's put in a sitting position, he twists to the side to get on his belly and then starts rolling across the floor. He can pivot 360 degrees in the blink of an eye, and is really figuring out how to get around.

He is still one of the happiest babies I've ever met; while he is starting to show a bit of that 'stranger danger' that babies get around this age, he still smiles what seems like constantly, and loves to giggle and babble at us. Most of his babbles sound like "Hi," which I get a huge kick out of.

Callen adores Audia like no other, and I am so grateful that the feeling seems to be mutual. No one can make him laugh like his big sister can, and she is still so good with him. She loves to hug him, make silly faces at him, sing to him, and talk to him. Watching their relationship develop is one of my favorite things so far about being a mom. I am sure that they'll have their rivalries, but I can also see a strong bond in their future.