Matthew 8 mths

Matthew turned 8 months old today and it's becoming harder to remember what life was like before Matthew came along. He's the center of our lives and everything we do revolves around him. He's so mischievous, I can only imagine what he'll be like as his personality develops even more over the coming months. I find myself needing to shadow Matthew almost all of his waking hours. He cant be left alone (unless strapped to his pram or high chair) or he'll be up to something cheeky - like climbing the change table, trying to eat the door stop, climbing the bookshelf and throwing books off the shelf. He really enjoys standing in his cot and rattling the bars. Over the weekend, we enjoyed the company of Socrates (Labrador). Matthew simply adores Soc, but alas, Soc does his utmost to ignore him. Although we think Socrates secretly does like little Matthew, as one evening we found Socrates sitting next to Matthew's cot while Matthew was supposed to be asleep. Normally, Soc likes to maintain a good distance from Matthew at all times. (see Youtube videos) I think he's very slowly warming to the idea of having Matthew as a little brother.

Hope you enjoy his new videos and pictures.

Love, Matthew's Mum.

I've been spending more time with Matthew at the park, he's still not quite sure what to make of it, but he does like the colours and picking up little bits of twig and gravel from the ground and examining it.

Happiness is being allowed to  crawl around the lounge room!

Matthew 7 mths

He's a big boy now and has had his first Christmas. He seems to be heavier so at a guess I'd say he's over 9kgs now. He learning to pull himself to stand and can do so in the bathtub and learning to crawl around on hands and knees. Sleeps overnight have been really really good, but we are not expecting this to last. I've decided to slowly phase out the mushed up pureed food and introduce 'finger foods'. So far, he's had nectarine, orange, asparagus, rocket, blueberries, strawberry, baby corn, cheese(mozzarella and Swiss) whole. He enjoys playing with his food and feeding himself. It's good fun to watch but incredibly messy :) This is tonight's dinner along with a tablespoon of chicken and vegetable purée. ...

Well that was the idea but he saw the plate, picked up the squash and shoved the whole thing in his mouth followed by the baby corn and choked. So we took away the baby corn and let him chew on the squash before letting him have a go at the carrot sticks. He didn't eat the asparagus nor the chicken. Instead he grizzled until I gave in and offered him some blueberries, a strawberry and half a tub of yoghurt. All in all, we did ok in the end

Matthew's First Christmas!

Pictures from Matthew first Christmas, these were taken at Christmas lunch which was at Jaspers at Hunters Hill. 1) Matty getting stuck into his present, 2) not too impressed with his antlers, 3) with Great grand nana Bradey and Pop

Matthew 30 weeks

Nothing much to mention this week other than we think Matthew's decided that learning to crawl on his hands and knees might give him more access to other things. We've caught him practicing pushing up with his arms to a kneeling on all fours position. He's not quite sure what to do next though.

Tomorrow is Christmas and as I've mentioned I'm going to offer him some meat for the very first time to have a chew.

I've not uploaded any pictures this week to picasa. I'll be uploading a few this weekend.

See you all at some stage over the holidays.

Matthew's Mum

Ps. Matthew disliked parsnip, but gave it a good go before saying in his own way 'no more please!!!'

Matthew 29 weeks

Matthew has been so cute and cuddly this week.

He's perfecting the art of blowing raspberries and kisses. Most of the time we end up covered in dribble but it's so much fun. He's doing excellent day sleeps but still wakes overnight for a little TLC.

He's eating a little more solid food, increased to about 4 tablespoons a day. Normally a 1 tbsp for breakfast, 2 at lunch and 1 in the afternoon. This week he's been eating a combo of pear, mango puree mixed with 2 tsp of apple and cinnamon porridge for breakfast. Lunch consists of pumpkin, potato and cheese purée and for afternoon tea/dinner he has banana and ricotta. Every few days I like to introduce something new to his diet. This week it was grapes and watermelon. Ive got parsnip for him to try next. 

Matthew is now a healthy 8.8 kg.

Until next week, 

Matthew's mum

Matthew 28 weeks

I think we are going into Matthew's 28th Week (?) Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Well, poor little Matthew had his 6mth vaccinations on Tuesday afternoon. He's had a slight fever for the past day and has been grizzly. He seems much more himself today - happy.

Matthew seems to have perfected his morning naps - for the past 4 days, he has been sleepimg 1.5 - 2 hours from 9am. He'll get tired again around midday - 1pm and will do another 40 mins or 1.5 hrs and then possibly another 40 min nap after that. This has allowed me time to bake cookies, make pannetone bread and butter pudding and make pistachio choc fudge in the past 2 days! I'm enjoying the rest I get, although some days I'm left sitting on the couch waiting for Matthew to wake up so we can play.

He's two little teeth are coming along nicely still, they've well and truely broken through the gums and are on their way up. 

A small selection of family photos from Matthew's 6 mth portraits can be view on Picasa along with the weekly snapshots

Matthew 26 weeks

Matthew can no longer be left alone in his nursery or his bouncer any longer. He can get himself into a lot of mischief otherwise. He can sit up in his bouncer and when left alone in the nursery for more than 2 minutes, he will inevitably end up under the lounge or cot or worse munching on the cable to his baby monitor.

'Safe' zones are now his highchair or his cot only :(

He is quickly mastering the art of commando crawling and is quite speedy when something he really really wants to get hold of is just beyond his reach. He's suddenly decided that sitting up is not so bad after all and will sit comfortably by himself for a couple of minutes without support.

I've introduce some dairy into his diet this week by adding grated tasty cheese into his vegies at lunch and stirring through some ricotta to his favourite mashed banana for afternoon tea. We will be trying some baby yoghurt next! At the moment he has about 3 tablespoons of solid food a day and 6 breastfeeds (still) and yet he's not been gaining much weight. I think it's because he's physically more active with all the crawling around. In a few weeks I'll be able to introduce some protein in the form of meat into his diet - just in time for Christmas. I have a feeling he will love getting into a bit of steak! ... pureed of course.

He's two little teeth are coming up nicely and I have a feeling we will have more teeth to come very soon!

till next week,

Matthew's mum

Matthew 25 weeks

Here is cheeky monkey doing what he loves... 

Matthew has been a lovely little boy this week. He seems to be a little less distracted than normal and more happy to play by himself rather than relying on his Mum to entertain him. He's also settled into a routine during the day where he'll take a long sleep of around 2 hours from 1130-130pm, with at least 2 additional short naps in the morning and afternoon. Additional sleeps I'll been told is a sign of growth both developmental and physical (to be expected at around 6 mths of age).

On the menu this week is carrot and broccoli combo, apple, pear and banana and rice cereal. Matthew generally has one meal (consisting of 2 ice cube sized portions) of solids a day with the main source of nutrition still from breastmilk.

Matthew is working on his balance when sitting and standing. He can sit unsupported for very short periods. He much prefers to stand by the way, even when having his bath :)

This week we also went up to the Hunter to visit Nana and Pop. Matthew had a lovely time being spoilt to bits.Here is little Matthew lounging on Pop's recliner and having breakfast.

Matthew 24 weeks

Matthew had his 6 mth checkup on Tues (3 weeks early). Everything is progressing well and he is 'normal' - what a relief!! :o)

He managed to gain a little weight while I wasn't looking and is around 8.4 kg. The Dr has recommended that we progress his feeds to 2 solid meals a day and increasing this to 3 meals a day after 6 mths. Matthew tried the following foods this week in addition to rice cereal.

Potato
Sweet Potato
Pumpkin
Banana
Avocado
Carrot

I actually think Matthew will eat just about anything (including paper - that's a story you'll have to ask Matthew's Daddy) but particularly likes carrot and banana. He's taken to eating solid food very well so far and is willing to try anything. Zucchini and squash are next    on the list of foods to try. 

Here is the cheeky monkey waiting to be fed banana and rice cereal...