6 months

December 16, I turned 6 months old. That's right, I've been on earth half a year. So far it's been pretty awesome. This past month I had my first Thanksgiving, traveled back to the USA, started cereal, and began practicing sitting on my own.  I also met Santa and had time to hang out with Nana and Papa. It's been a pretty great month.

Jacob’s Stats:

Age: 6 months

Weight: 16lbs

Length: 26.75"

Eye Color: deep blue

Hair color: Ash blonde

Eating Schedule: 6 oz in the morning and evening  5 oz every other

New Activities: I'm starting to sit on my own but not quite there yet. I roll all over and it's hard to keep me on a mat. I make noise a lot and love laughing at Gizmo.  I still smile all the time and am a very happy baby.  I'm starting to learn how to eat solids but I'm not very good at it yet.  I love textures and feeling them with my fingers. I particularly love rough texture and scratching my nails on them. 

I Met Santa!

I met Santa. He's a pretty cool dude. 

I'll be Home for Christmas!

On November 29, Mom and I started our journey across the world to the USA to be there for the holidays.  We left Dad at home to work a couple more weeks before he was able to come to the USA. Overall our journey was very smooth.  I make life easy on Mom!  I never really cried, threw a fit or anything. I just go with the flow.  Although by the end of the 16 hour flight we were both very ready to be off that plane.  Nana picked us up at the airport and snapped a picture of us before we got in the car.

Before we left for Houston, Mom had told Nana about how much I like to stand up and see the world. Mom was worried I wouldn't last too long just laying on the floor this time. So, Nana and Papa gave me my Christmas present early.  I LOVE it! I haven't quite figured out that I am the one making it move but I'm getting better everyday. 

 Nana had worked hard to get the house nice and Christmas ready for us and it looked beautiful.  Everything was ready except that the Christmas tree wasn't decorated. One night when Papa was out of town Nana, Mom and I decorated the Christmas tree.  I was lucky enough to decorate two trees this year!

We have also spent time with my Great Grandma Eddy.

Woah, that's a dog!

Jake is suddenly noticing EVERYTHING around him.  It's amazing how that seemed to happen over-night. Well, one of the things in his life he suddenly realized is really cool is Gizmo.  I'm not sure Gizmo is very excited about this and I know he won't be excited when Jake can chase him.  Last night Gizmo started barking at me because he was hungry and all of a sudden Jake decided this was the funniest thing he had ever heard. I didn't get his first time on camera but luckily I was facetiming with Nana and we were able to enjoy the moment together.  Once Micah got home from the gym we got out the camera and decided to see if he would laugh some more. Enjoy the video! If the video won't work in the blog use the link!

http://youtu.be/xz35BdOehaE

5 months

Friday, November 16 I turned 5 months old.  This past month was a big month in the sleep department. Once Mom and I were back in Saudi and over jet-lag the pack-n-play was put away and I started sleeping in my own room all alone.  Of course this was harder on Mom than it was on me.  However, what was great about this change is that we now have a bed time routine.  I get my last bottle around 9pm and we head up to my room and we read a couple books. Then I get rocked to sleep and most of the time someone sings me a song.  Most nights Dad has decided this is his job but occasionally Mom steals me and puts me to bed. Another sleep change had to do with my changes.  One night Mom watched me flip myself from my back to my stomach while swaddled so she knew it was time to set me free.  I now sleep completely un-swaddled!  Of course this means I sleep on my side or my stomach all the time now. Well, here are my 5 month stats:

Jacob’s Stats:

Age: 5 months

Weight: 16lbs

Length: ??

Eye Color: deep blue

Hair color: Ash blonde

Eating Schedule: 5 oz  5 times/day

New Activities: Jacob now sleeps completely un-swaddled and in his own room. He is now wearing mostly 6 month clothes. Jacob is much more wiggly and we have learned why certain items have restraints and not to leave him unconfined places. He wants to eat sitting up and facing out and DOES NOT want to be laid down.  He still enjoys playing on his play mat but has started playing in a jumper and enjoys being upright to play.  He wants to see the world. He laughs, plays peek-a-boo, blows raspberries, and is super smiley.  Most of his hair is growing back. He is a cute, happy boy!

Note from Mom

My Baby Boy, 
  I just want to capture your current state of life right now while I can vividly remember. 

You are the sweetest, cutest baby in the entire world.  Everywhere we go we get compliments on how smiley and happy you are.  I'm always getting asked if you are "always this happy" to which I get to respond with a definite yes.  Right now you like playing on your play mat but tend to roll from your back to your tummy quickly and then get mad.  You enjoy standing and being able to see the world around you. The toys where you can stand and play are your favorite right now. We like to play peek-a-boo and listen to you laugh over and over again. I could listen to you laugh for hours.  Every time I sing to you "A Bushel and a Peck" you smile real big when I say Peck.  It's worth singing that silly song just to see you smile. I love watching you and Dad play. I also love that Dad plays with you more like boys play by throwing you in the air and tossing you around. You of course, think it is so much fun. Sometimes you enjoy sitting on our bed and watching Baby Einstein videos when Mom needs some time to get ready.  I'm so grateful that you are so willing to do different things to help out Mom.

I love taking you out shopping with me because you are almost always pleasant.  I think  you enjoy getting to see something new and different.  Of course, everything here in Saudi is pretty different but I guess to you right now it's just normal.  The Saudi people just love talking to you and making you smile at them.  I love that you are not discriminatory about who you will smile at. If they talk to you, you are happy. 

When you are tired you like to cuddle and sleep on Mommy but sometimes you fight sleep.  I can typically calm you down with a song.  I've never thought of myself as a singer but you seem to really like it, so I do it for you.  We sing "Jesus Loves Me", "Jesus Loves the Little Children", and "You are My Sunshine".  My favorite song to sing you is "You are my Sunshine".  I sing the first verse normal and then change it up. 

Your are my sunshine, My only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear, How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

You are my sweet boy, My precious sweet boy

You make me happy everyday

You'll never know dear, How much I love you

Please don't take my sweet boy away

You are my Jacob, My precious Jacob

You make me happy everyday

You'll never know Jake, How much I love you

Please don't take my Jacob away

At night for bed time we put you in your cute PJ's, rock you in the rocker and read you some books. Of course you aren't that interested in books yet but I think you enjoy listening to us talk.  Most nights Dad likes to put you to bed since he doesn't get to see you all day like Mom does. 

I can't even express how much our world has changed since you were born and how wonderful is that change. It's hard to remember life without you. We pray for you everyday. We love you to the moon and back!

A Day in My Life

I just thought it was time to update you all with what my typical day is like. I usually wake up around 8:00 am. I know, my Mom is pretty lucky huh?!  I get to see my wonderful Mom who gets me out of bed, changes my diaper, and feeds me breakfast. Then we usually spend some time playing on the play mat. I love rolling around, pulling on the toys, and looking at myself in the mirror.

After a little play-time we usually take Gizmo on a walk.  Mom says Giz needs to lose some weight so we are helping him exercise.  Since it's sunny and Mom doesn't want me getting sunburned, I get this super fancy cover on my stroller. I typically take a nap during our walks.

 Sometimes while Mom works on lunch or cleaning the kitchen I hang out in my jumper.

We also like to go outside on pretty days and just enjoy being out of the house. Gizmo even enjoys hanging out with us.

Occasionally, I have to give Mom time to get dressed so I hang out on her bed and watch some baby tv. I really enjoy watching it and get super excited when a baby comes on the screen.

At night, I get to hang out with both Mom and Dad.  Mom likes to steal all my kisses and Dad makes me fly! He also gives me his words of wisdom.

Around 9 pm we start getting ready for bed.  I get my last bottle, pj's on and usually Dad reads me a book or two.  Then I get rocked and put down for the night.  I'm so worn out from my day of play that I don't even put up a fight.