The Cahalan Clan

Friday, December 9, 2011

Random Updates

Where has December gone already?!?!

Just wanted to give a few random updates. Dominic and Luke have now finished their first week of wrestling practice. Luke thinks it awesome - of course - and Dominic says its just ok. I did tell him that he will have to continue with wrestling until he outgrows the shoes he just "had to have"! So that is at least one more year. I have told Dominic that wrestling is as much a mental sport as physical. He will be a good wrestler because he can use mental strategy against his opponents where Luke is all about brute strength and aggression. Dominic is so funny - always the thinker - and has already asked if Isaac will "have to" wrestle when he is older! I laugh sometimes to myself.....kids always making sure things stay fair!

Isaac is just days away from being 5 months old! And in about a week a year ago, we got the phone call that changed our lives once again! Hard to believe that it has already been a year since that call. Isaac still remains one of the happiest babies I have ever been around. He gets fussy for 2 reasons only - hungry....and don't you dare stand in that boy's way for a meal....and tired. But when he is tired he yawns great big, rubs his eyes, and fusses for just a second. We just lay him down in his bed...that's it.....he is out like a light either for a nap or night time. Sooooo easy! Which is very nice considering Luke still isn't that easy - Luke is our "terrible" sleeper for sure.

Isaac is full of "stories" these days. He also likes to mimic faces. Dominic likes to stick out his tongue so Isaac will do it too. Luke's new thing is to come up behind him and make a pig snort noise. Isaac jumps and then giggles so hard. Isaac is also discovering faces. He likes to touch faces - be careful or he will pinch! Isaac likes to hold his own bottle now too. This is a new experience for us because neither Dominic or Luke had any interest in holding their bottle.

Isaac is also becoming a champion roller. While he can roll from his tummy to back without any problem, we don't know why he does it. He really doesn't like to be on his back and I'm glad he is slowly mastering rolling onto his tummy! We have been practicing sitting up in a tri-pod. The boys like to say that Isaac is practicing his "weeble-wobble" time.

Everyone keeps asking when Isaac will start solids. To be honest, I'm in absolutely no hurry. He is perfectly content with his liquid diet at the moment. I told Mark that we will probably start once he can sit unsupported in the high chair - which we are no where close to at this time. So my guess is sometime after 6 months old. Isaac is still working on those bottom teeth. Mark has said that if I say that everyday, then someday it will be true. But it is true - his gums are red, he drools all the time, and he chews on everything!

To Isaac's birth parents, H & F, you will be overjoyed to know that Isaac wants nothing to do with a pacifier! Obviously this has been his choice because we have offered one since his birth. He does love his wubbanubs though - only to chew on the animal nose or tail. Isaac could care less about the pacifier part. I quit even offering a pacifier to him about 6 weeks ago - Mark still does out of habit since Dominic and Luke were paci addicts! I'm about to cut the paci off the wubbanubs and just let him have the animals. I guess this is one less habit to break later....just glad he can self sooth. He still loves his fingers but only when awake. Dominic would tell you that Isaac likes EVERYONE'S fingers....which is true.

While Isaac is no where near outgrowing his infant car seat, I can't wait for warmer weather. Isaac + Car Seat = Extremely Heavy. I would wear Isaac more if I didn't have to get him out in the cold to do it. Instead my biceps are getting a very big workout lugging him around. Once it's warm, I will definitely use his infant seat like a convertible and just take him in and out.

We actually have a free Saturday this weekend. I think we might surprise the boys with a family trip to the pool. It will be Isaac's first time in the water! He loves his bath time so as long as the water is fairly warm, then I think he will do great.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Getting Ready for Christmas!

We are in the middle of the Christmas season at the Cahalan house. We have worked on pictures, decorated the house, made sugar cookie (never made it to actual cookies - the dough was eaten too fast!), and we saw Santa!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Isaac's first Thanksgiving! I'm ever so thankful for being his Mommy!

However, I'm at work....bummer. But I would rather be here today than miss out on Christmas morning so that is trade off. Also, it has given me a chance to plan my attack for shopping tomorrow. My day is going to start very early......trying to make it to our local Sears by 4am to get the new smart TV that we (ok, me) has our eyes on. I have also had time to take advantage of some on-line sales today.

I did get to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family last weekend at Grammy's house. Can't have a holiday though without someone being sick....just glad it wasn't any of my kids this time!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Cloth Diapers...for 3.5 months!

Here is a run down on the diapers we are using with Isaac:

This is a One-Sized Fuzzibunz Pocket diaper. The microfiber insert is "stuffed" into the pocket in the diaper. When soiled, the entire diaper must be changed.

This an All-in-2 diaper. It is a diaper made by a fellow mom - aka "WAHM" diaper. With this type of diaper, if only the snap in insert is soiled, then a new insert is just snapped back in. The cover can be used several times.

This style is the closest to the old fashioned fold and pin cloth diapers. This is a prefold and a water proof cover. I either lay the prefold in the diaper or secure it with a snappie (no safety pins these days). I have recently found the prefold love. If I were a stay at home mom and the only one diapering Isaac, this would be my primary diaper system. I prefer it because I don't have to stuff pockets!