Counting down to his first Christmas

Sorry for the week off on the blog. We'll try to make up for it today.
Corin is doing very well leading up to his first Christmas. We're pretty sure he's just cramming in some sucking-up to make sure he is not on the 'Naughty' list. He's got his two bottom teeth coming in now, and does pretty well with them. He drools a lot more, but there doesn't seem to be too much pain in it for him.
He is getting much more control over his body, which is fun to watch. He can't push himself into a sitting position yet, but if you sit him up he will sit by himself and play with his toys. When he plays with toys he is no longer just flailing his arms around and getting lucky when something lights up or does what he wants it to. Now he moves deliberately and can easily grasp an object and rotate it in his hands. Most of this manipulation is done so that the maximum amount possible of the object can be inserted into his mouth, but at least he's doing a good job of it.
He is also talking a bit more. No real words yet, but he does babble "Da da da da", which doesn't quite seem fair to Kristi since he spends all day everyday with her. I'm sure "Ma ma ma ma" is right around the corner.
We've gone to my office Christmas party and the office party for Kristi's old job in the past couple weeks. At my party there were lots of babies and small kids around, and Corin had fun playing with everyone. At Kristi's party he was the only baby in sight and all Kristi's friends had fun passing him around. He's still doing well in large, loud gatherings, which is great considering the families he is a part of.
On the new baby front, Kristi is 12 weeks along and we just had our second ultrasound the other day. Everything is looking good. About eight more weeks and we'll know if Corin is going to have a little brother or sister. She's due July 1st.

All I want for Christmas is my first bottom tooth!

This past week was all about getting ready for Christmas at our house. We went out to the tree farm and Corin helped pick out his first Christmas tree, which he then posed in front of in Santa's sack (or maybe just a pillow case). We took a little family Christmas portrait. And most exciting of all, Corin went to sit on Santa's lap and get his picture taken! Okay, so maybe it wasn't too exciting for him (and was ridiculously overpriced for mom and dad), but at least he put on a little smile, Santa was looking good and we've got the precious memories.
On the medical front, Corin's first bottom tooth pushed through this week. He has been a little fussier than usual about it, but mostly he just plays while buckets of drool pour out of his head. We went to the doctor the other day and Corin now weighs 20 pounds, 3 ounces. He has also been getting lots of shots. He got his regular six month immunizations about 6 weeks ago, got his first H1N1 fours weeks ago, regular flu 3 weeks ago, the first of five shots for RSV last week and his second H1N1 today. The RSV shots are to help prevent RSV (a respiratory thing) that presents like a cold (kids and adults get it all the time). It is not usually a problem, but in premature babies or those who were on a ventilator (check and check), it can develop VERY serious complications. So we're trying to head all these bad things off by jabbing needles into his legs non-stop. Luckily he does very well with shots (better than his mom does while he gets them), and is all smiles shortly after they are done.

First Thanksgiving

Looks like he enjoyed his first Thanksgiving meal...and he looks adequately stuffed.

Cousin Dmitri showing Corin how it is done.

Corin made the trek to northern Ohio to spend his first Thanksgiving with my family. It was a GREAT time, with lots of family, food, football and festivities (I would have said booze, but that doesn't start with an 'F'). One person that had to stay away from the booze was Kristi. She, Corin and I recently learned that on or around July 1st, Corin is going to be a big brother. Corin did throw up when he heard the news, but we are unsure if that was due to the excitement or if it was just a routine vomiting.
But our Thanksgiving trip was a wonderful success. Corin did well on both car rides, and did reasonably well with a large house full of lots of people. He seemed to get a little fussier around nap times with all of the stimulation, but he got to laugh and play with lots of new people, which is always a good time.

Seven months old

A short post today as we head out to Ohio to spend Thanksgiving with family.
Corin turned seven months old on Monday. Nights are still hit and miss with him. We slept for several nights with our earplugs in, so we don't know if he screamed in the night or not. But when we all got up in the mornings he was happy and giggling. So we ditched the earplugs and now there has been one scream attack in two of the last four nights. So we'll see how this trip goes.
But during the day he is as happy as always. So we are thankful for that.
We also had a visit this week from our friends Tristy and Rob, which was great. Corin was happy to have some new people to throw up on.

Rockin' and Rollin'

Corin is getting ready to spend some time with his pop!




Corin and his buddy John


This has been a rough week for Corin. He has decided to get up throughout the night crying and screaming. His head is still laying down, and his eyes are closed, he just makes the most awful noises. So there has been very little sleep for the past week or so. Kristi took him to the doctor yesterday and he got a clean bill of health. The doc said that he may just be changing his sleeping patterns, and it may go faster if we are just able to leave him alone and let him cry it out. So last night we closed his door, closed our door and put in the earplugs. It worked well for everyone. We got a night of good sleep and when he got up we has giggling and smiling like always. Great success!
We also had a highlight last week when Corin rolled over for the first time. He was on his tummy with his arms tucked up under him. When he rolled over we started jumping around like crazy people, and he had no idea what the big deal was. He hasn't done it again since, but at least we know it is possible.

Swine flu free

Mommy and Corin waited in line today for 3 1/2 hours to get the H1N1 shot. Corin was fine with his shot, and seemed to be more bothered by mommy squeezing him so far as she watched the needle go in.
Corin has started to sit up on his own a little bit at a time, but it is still ending with him toppling over.
We had a relaxing weekend at home and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Corin helped me rake the leaves, by which I mean he was in the backpack while I raked and he didn't cry (whiche he rarely does) or throw up on me. (which he frequently does).

Happy Halloween

This has been a festive Halloween week for Corin. He and Kristi got together with her mommy/baby group and went to a pumpkin patch. Once again, he enjoyed being carried around in the baby backpack and looking at everything that was going on.
Pop and Lola came and spent the night Friday night. Then Aunts Faye and Emily, along with Grandma came up for Halloween lunch. Then it was time to get Corin all dressed up and hand out some treats to the kids. We went across the street to show his costume to our neighbors and they gave him a little bag of pretzels (his first Halloween treat!). That was better than just about any toy we have bought for him. He played with the bag for hours. Goodbye Fisher-Price...Hello Snyder's of Hanover.