It was a big week

Oct 31

Matthew hit the 5 month mark yesterday. I’ve always been big on remembering dates. In my mind, bigger than our little guy hitting the 5 month anniversary… TODAY is the one year anniversary of discovering that Anne was pregnant. I remember being so excited. We actually had a wedding that evening and it was all we could do to keep from blurting out and telling our friends our news. Now looking back 12 months ago, I know now, that I knew nothing about raising a kid. Granted I never thought I knew exactly what to expect, but I had watched my nieces for up to 10, maybe 15 minutes with no one else around.

I always thought I was the fun Uncle to be around. It’s tough competition with Billy around now also. But I think between the two of us there are plenty of horsey rides for everyone. Now that I am a Dad, I want to be a fun Dad as well. However, I realize that it’s not all fun and games. Well, actually my wife seems to remind me that its not all fun and games. She has lots of subliminal hints – and I don’t think she even is aware of her messages. I think that I can find the right balance of fun and still be able to discipline when the time comes. Of course, with Matthew being the perfect child, I highly doubt discipline will ever be necessary… Yeah Buddy!

So earlier in the week, we headed to the doctor for Matthew’s 4 month checkup. Has my procrastination already been passed down to him you ask? Actually, we waited until we could get an appointment with the pediatrician in the practice that we preferred… or should I say, my wife preferred. This was the first time that I met Dr. E. He seemed pleasant and not rushed (which is nice when you have plenty of questions). With Anne being a doctor as well, there was a nice rapport between the two of them. I didn’t have too many questions myself and was comforted to know that his growth for both height and weight are moving right along where they should be. Currently just under 15 lbs and just over 26 inches long. During the visit, Matthew also received his 4 month vaccines. Now hearing your son cry is never a fun ordeal. But knowing that compared to the last time I was at the doctor with him and he received the dreaded catheter…. this was nothing. All in all, he looked great and he heads back in about 6 weeks.

With Halloween approaching last Friday, our day care center, RSCC, held a Halloween Parade along with its founders day. Matthew got to rock his costume… a fearless dragon. Really, just a dragon, but fearless sounds cooler. I was running late and missed the “parade”, but was able to arrive in time for the awkward conversation with the other parents. He looked as cute as could be… see for yourself.

Now on Saturday our boy was hanging out in his ExerSaucer watching his first snowfall. He had spent a few minutes in it a few other times, but now he was happy hanging out and enjoying the afternoon checking out the sights and sounds of the rainforest (and Riley).

The biggest event of the week happened on Sunday though. Our boy has graduated to eating from something other than a bottle or a boob. The first time eating from a bowl – with a spoon – in his new high chair. I know… its almost too much to comprehend. It may not sound like much. In fact, if you would have asked me a year ago, I would have thought it wasn’t that big of a deal… However, it was a big deal to us yesterday. Watching him in what will be the first of many meals in his chair made me realize he is hitting some major milestones. The rice cereal was rather messy… and for his first feeding, the consistency didn’t look much different from regular milk. But to see him eating from a spoon was fun. We took just a “couple” of pictures..