First time for solid foods

We finally took our Dr.'s advice from a month ago to start giving Dawson some solid food twice a day. The food isn't for nutritional value (which is good because I don't think any of it was actually swallowed) but to get him used to the consistency of solid food and the act of swallowing. We just so happened to have a camera on hand for this momentous occasion.

His tears were likely a protest, "why are you shoving this stuff in my mouth? I'm hungry and want some real food!"

First time away from our little boy!

We're currently in the middle of a two week vacation. Most of the time is being spent at my parents. We did however, get away for a two night trip to Chicago, just the two of us. The trip was enjoyable and relaxing. The two weeks leading up to the trip however, were quite anxious for us.

Two weekends ago, mom and dad came down for GCT's Bye, Bye Birdie. Mom and dad came to the High School to take Dawson from Erin in the middle of Friday night's show and planned on putting him to bed. We didn't think anything of it because he always went down for us very easily. Well, as we just read in Baby's First Year: Week by Week, 5-7 month old babies often have a fear of strangers. Over-tired to begin with, Dawson completely freaked out when mom tried to feed him and put him to bed, he wouldn't stop crying for anything. Eventually, Dad came to the High School to get Dawson. The next day, mom kept trying to put Dawson down for his naps but he wanted none of it. He kept up what I call his "who are you and what have you done to my mommy?" cry. Mom kept at it though and by Sunday afternoon, she was able to rock him to sleep. So we had a little hope...

But our hope started to dim the next Sunday night. Dawson's birth-grandma watched him while we went to see Anything Goes at Starlight Theatre. We weren't even out of the house before Dawson started throwing a fit. From the time we handed Dawson to Kim till the time he collapses exhausted in his crib, he threw a fit. I think he stopped a few times to catch his breath and regain some strength but it was two hours of who are you and what have you done to my mommy?!

The next day, we drove to mom and dad's, planning on leaving for Chicago the next morning. Mom held him most of that day, put him down for a nap and even put him to sleep that night. We wanted her to wait until we were gone so we wouldn't have to hear him cry but mom wanted to start weaning him from us even before we left. Mom held one of Erin's shirts on her shoulder while she fed and rocked him to sleep, which helped a little. He went down that night without too much fuss. We felt so much guilt, feeling like we were abandoning our baby to the fear from being around people he doesn't know but mom believed it wasn't fear that caused Dawson to cry but simply a child's insistence of having his own way, "I want my mommy." That made us feel a little better.

Not wanting him to wake up in a strange place and to a strange face, I woke up with Dawson early Tuesday morning. We did our normal routine with him until mom put him down for a nap about 2 hours later. Pushing through the guilt, we stole away for our mini-vacation while he was napping. The guilt piled up the closer we got to Chicago and followed us around the windy city.

We avoided calling mom until late Tuesday night. Relief flowed in to replace our anxiety as mom told us Dawson had done just fine, he'd enjoyed being around her, Aunt Rachel, Grandpa and cousin Danni. We were then able to relax and enjoy ourselves on Wednesday. Wednesday, July 23rd, was the first full 24 hour period we were away from our little boy. Each time we saw parents with a baby, we missed him a little bit more. We couldn't believe how much we missed him and we kept stealing glances at the picture of Dawson in the excer-saucer still on our camera.

By Wednesday night, we were aching to get back home to see him. From the time we hopped on the subway to driving the last stretch of Hwy 16, that ache grew stronger the closer we got to mom and dad's. As we ran through the front door into the living room, we heard his first sounds of waking up from a nap. We bounded up the stairs, into his room and were greeted with an extra special "good morning smile." Dawson's usual excitement at being greeted after a nap was intensified by seeing us again after two days. The cooing and laughing were the sweetest they've been in awhile.

Maybe I should've entitled this post, "first time experiencing the joy of being reunited with our boy"?

First time in Excer-saucer

A couple years ago, Casey gave us two excer-saucer. They've been sitting in the garage collecting dust ever since. Well, last week I got them out hosed them off, scrubbed them down, washed the cloth seats and presented them to Dawson.

It was quite the sight, the first time I set Dawson in one of the seats. Dawson was totally blown away by all the toys placed in front of him, it was total sensory overload. He shook with excitement and seemed paralyzed by all the possibilities. Eventually, however, he figured out how to interact with the toys while moving around in his seat. He's gotten in a groove now and really enjoys his time in an excer-saucer. It's a whole 'nother level from a bouncy seat. Of course, I've gotta keep a rag nearby to wipe up the pools of spit up.

First Time Crying Himself to Sleep

Dawson usually goes to sleep pretty easily, as long as we time it right. We feed him, rock him then put him down. If he fusses, we go back in his room, quiet him down and give him his pacifier again.
We're also reading the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and just received a timely warning from that book. The Author, who is a Dr. specializing in sleep patterns of children, warned that while it's no big deal to go in and check on your kids at 4 months, as they get older they'll learn to manipulate you. He wrote you have to let them cry once you put them down, no matter how long it will take. Even if you set a limit of say, 20 minutes, the child will learn they need to cry for 20 minutes before getting a response. If you just let them cry, they'll eventually fall asleep. And crying to sleep does not harm their psyche.

Last night, Dawson clearly wanted to play rather than go to sleep. When we put him down, he cried very hard. While it was difficult, we kept ourselves from going in his room to comfort him. Eventually, the crying got softer until he drifted off to sleep.

Luckily for our nerves, it only took 11 minutes.

We Love You Dawson

Check out this post - link.

Swinging and Sliding

On the 4th of July weekend, Trinity Family worshipped at the park. While it wasn't Dawson first trip to a park it was his first time on the swings and going down a slide.
Enjoy the picture.

Fear

Although Erin tells me she's seen Dawson scared a few other times, two mornings ago was the first time I'd personally seen Dawson frightened. It wasn't anything major but it was the first time I'd been able to observe the emotion of fear crossing my son's face.

I was trying to get laundry done while Erin was sleeping but it's hard to transfer loads from the washer to the dryer with a baby occupying one of your arms. So I set Dawson down in a basket full of burp cloths and bibs straight out of the dryer. That sight was so cute that I started laughing, which made Dawson smile while made me laugh even more.

As Dawson snuggled in the basket of warm laundry, I swung the dryer door closed just above his head, causing him to startle with the sound. When I started the dryer however, was when I saw fear on his little face. The sound of the dryer starting must've made Dawson think the world was ending. His face held a mixture of terror and bewilderment, which was an interesting face to look at.

True to baby form however, it only lasted a couple seconds. Dawson soon reverted back to his trusting baby self and smile some more as I carried him upstairs in a basket full of laundry.

Good Morning Smile

Though I' a bit groggy when this happens before 6:00, my favorite part of the day with Dawson is what we call the "good morning smile." Dawson wakes up cooing then eventually gets bored or lonely enough that he starts crying to get our attention. When we go into his room and stick our faces in his crib, he lets loose with a smile that lights up the whole nursery. I LOVE that smile. It really is the best part of the day. I prefer however, to experience that part of the day as close to 7:00 as possible.