7 months

Miles is now 7 months!  It was a hard month of ear infections, 2 doses of antibiotics, rashes, diarrhea, eczema, and gas.  The kid will be tough because he is so miserable some days.

After Julian had the vomiting spell, Dan and I got it three days later.  We could barely move.  It was a horrible, rainy day and thankfully J was a trooper.  We could barely care for M.  I was so weak and so sore that I could barely pick him up.  Thankfully Dan stepped it a lot.  He also made ice blocks (popsicles) for us after we could start keeping things down.  I so wanted to call someone to help (I got scolded after the fact for not), but I didn't want to pass the bug on and it was POURING rain.

Anyway, Miles did NOT get the tummy bug that we noticed, but did have diarrhea from the antibiotics.

He is quite miserable with gas in his tummy.  Breast feeding is just not my friend.  J was the same.  I can't eat anything healthy without it killing his stomach.  We started gripe water and simethicone (wind drops) and he's been up only once a night for a feed.  It's been miraculous and I NEEDED the sleep.  He also sleeps on his tummy or he cries from the gas pain.  I wish I would have put J on his tummy as a baby.

 We were following the US schedule for vaccines, but because he was sick so much I got behind.  He just got his NZ 5 month (US 6 month) doses this week and seemed pretty run down by them, but NO swelling like J used to get.  I also got him the flu vaccine before going to the states, but I forgot that he needed two doses to work well.  Darn.  I should have remembered.

The fun thing that Miles is doing is babbling.  He says, "wub wub wub" for a long while.  It seems as if it's the teething because he chews on his bottom lip, but it sure is cute.  He also uses the soothie pacifier as a teether.  He sticks his thumb or first finger in it to chew or suck.  I've caught him sucking his thumb, so hopefully we prevent that with keeping the pacifier.  He's not interested in the NUK pacifier though.  J never prefered one over the other.

Miles still isn't interested in rolling over.  He's strong enough and capable, but just doesn't.  He is trying to reach for toys that are out of reach, but gives up pretty quickly.  He seems to like all the toys that Julian didn't care for and doesn't like the ones that Julian did like.  It's so interesting.

He's pretty laid back and can sort of self entertain when he's not sleepy.  He actually is really easy during the day, but when he's asleep, he just hates being put down.  I get him to sleep and his eyes POP open when he's put down, even if he's really out of it.  I have been just using that time to catch up on emails or read, but I would love to get some work done.  Once in a while I can get him down, but his right arm has a large patch of eczema that he starts frantically itching by pumping it up and down to itch it one what he's lying on.

So eczema is horrendous.  J had it, but he never seemed bothered by it.  M has it all over now and is miserable.  I have to put a lot of cortisone on 2-3 times a day to keep it from flaring up.  I don't know if he's reacting to solids or if it's just like Julian, sensitive skin.  It's hard seeing him miserable and really really frustrating that it's waking him up when he so tired.  It also has prevented him from going to sleep and that is more annoying.  Yes, I'm complaining about my baby again.  I've just had a really hard day with both of them.

M was so fussy all day.  He is not comforted by nursing at all and is hardly interested.  This makes me nervous for our 30 hours of travel coming up.  J would nurse anytime and M is a mixture of positions, shushing, bouncing, etc...but only lately.  I don't know what has happened to him, but he just is miserable and I'm miserable.

He is smiley though.  Wow, his big, bright eyes and smile are to die for.  I just love him.  He's so strong and stands at the couch when propped...ha ha.  I'm so taken by him even when I'm completely frustrated, sleepy, and drained.  I love that kid.

Miles is in 6 month clothes, but PJs have to be extra long.  WE found that he wasn't  sleeping and realized his toes were being squished by many of his jammies.  He's long, so 6-9 month clothes are best, but I'll have to dig out the 9 month clothes soon since the 6-9 months arent' long enough.  He's a skinny Minnie though.

Books are fun and he gets so excited when I read to him and/or Julian.  He is always wanting to turn the page now and grabs at Julian's books with frantic noises.  Julian will sometimes yell at him to stop, but then quickly takes a deep breath and asks me to move him.  J has been a gem.  I am very glad that I've been able to read a bit to Miles and that he isn't annoyed or bored when I read to Julian.

The computer and my phone are magnetic to him.  He is in LOVE with the bright screens.  I used to check my email or scan facebook while nursing him, but he pushes all the button behind him and has sent messages and texts that I didn't even know because he's so curious about  the bright light.  If we talk to anyone on skype or hangouts he is about to jump into the comptuer.  He loves seeing people on the other side and jumps and jumps.

oh jumping.  Ugh.  If he is in my arms and sees something he likes, he will lunge.  It's so scary.  It reminds me of the time J jumped out of my arms...yuck.  Makes me sick to think about.  I never pick M up with blankets.  I learned my lesson.

Misc:
M still loves car rides.  He likes Sophie the giraffe.  He hits himself with heavy toys and cracks his head, so I only give him soft toys.  He LOVES Julian and wants to get him or get his attention all the time.  J goes through phases of wanting to play with him and not.  Miles laughs if J is rough and that has been hard to teach J to be gentle.  J said, "but he is laughing mommy."  ugh.  He isn't sitting up.  I taught him to drum on the table or my lap.  We say "pat-a-pat" and now he does it to music.

I can't wait for our family and friends to meet him!  Please pray for our travels!