Harrison Eats Solids...well sort of

Harrison is on Day 3 of solids. I wanted to quit after day one because I am confident that 100% of the rice cereal ended up on his face, the bib, and all over me. I was motivated to try Day 2 because I didn't want Harrison to be the kid in kindergarden eating blended food out of a bottle because his mom was too frusturated to try to feed him out of a spoon again. And I figured since someone taught me how, I only owe the same to my son. So, I made a second attempt and now a third! Woohoo! And it is getting easier! Our parents were right...practice does make perfect. Well, in this case, not perfect, but better. I will have to say that it is a learning process for mom and baby. I had no idea that it could be this hard to get food into a child's mouth. It is rather difficult for you who have no idea. I wasn't even sure how to position the spoon. I have tried to put it straight on his tongue and I have tried to rest it between his lips. As you can see on the video, I am already having to find ways to stop him from shoving the spoon in his mouth himself. It really is too funny. He is used to taking a bottle so fast, that he gets relatively agitated when I don't spoon the food into his mouth quickly. Today, he started to grunt and kick his legs wildly in between each mouthful because he is so excited for the next spoonful. I hope you enjoy the videos. Remember: we are both learning how this feeding process works.

Tuesday's Outing

My friend Ami called and asked if Harrison and I wanted to go to the Children's Museum with her and her son. We accepted the offer, because we always like to try new things. They had a really great section there for babies, however, Harrison slept through most of it. Here are some pictures of Harrison rolling around with his friend, Ryan, at the Museum. This is definitely going to be a place that Harrison loves in about two to four months. Ami also let us borrow her baby walker and Harrison got to try that out today too. This little kid is just growing up too fast.

The Latest from Harrison

We had our 4 month check-up today and Harrison seems to be doing quite well. He weighs 16lbs 12 ozs (89th percentile) and is 26 3/4" long (96th percentile). His length explains why he always outgrows his clothes. He also had a couple of vaccinations today where he cried appropriately. Again, it made me shed a couple of tears. But he cried harder and longer than ever before. The front desk ladies asked if he was the baby that was crying so loudly...it was really sad. You know the funny thing was when we finally left the exam room, he stopped crying. Out in the lobby, I booked my next appointment and realized that I left something in the room. I took him back in the room with me and the moment we crossed the threshold, he started crying again. It was like he knew that the exam room hurt him just a couple of minutes before. Thankfully, our next appointment (at 6 months) he has only one shot and one oral one. He loves the oral ones because he thinks they are food...silly baby! The doctor also gave me the go ahead to start him on rice cereal whenever I wanted. I hate to do it because his eating times take no time at all now, and this will make things a little more difficult. I keep saying that I am going to do it tomorrow and then I make an excuse for not doing it. I will start it by the end of the week...I promise.

Harrison Gets a Kiss

I would love to say this Harrison's first kiss, but Blair has never been shy around Harrison. I think the look on Harrison's face is hilarious...he has no idea what to do with the girl who is trying to kiss him. I know this will eventually change. However, I do think Harrison has quite a few years ahead of him of thinking that girls are gross. But you never know...he might always have a place in his heart for Blair Bocci.

More Fun With Harrison

I just thought I would upload some photos of playing with Harrison today. As you can see Harrison enjoys the jumpster way more than his dad's leather chair (see his facial expression). Also, Harrison is getting much better at rolling over. The picture on here is just before he rolled from his stomach to his back. I was starting to wonder when he is going to do it, but everyday he gets closer and closer to making it a normal occurrence.

Harrison Is Changing

Harrison has started to do a lot of new things recently. He found his feet sometime last week. We hear this means that he is on the verge of rolling over. I do know that when I change his diaper, he grabs and holds on to his feet. And now when he plays, his feet are generally up in the air. I hope this means that he will roll over soon, but it still may be a while. He is a big boy and he has a lot of weight to roll over when he does learn. He has also started to laugh, which is really fun. His laugh makes me laugh out loud (and my heart melt). He has also started to scream a little bit. I guess he doesn't scream, but he sounds like a very high-pitched bird. I am sure everyone else in this world would think it is annoying, but we just love to hear him stretch his vocal cords. I am sure in the future, it won't be socially acceptable for him to make these noises in public, but for now, we welcome it. One thing that hasn't changed is that he is such a happy baby. I know the pictures always show him with a serious face, but he gets mesmerized by the camera the moment it comes out. This video is of him this morning when I woke him up. Waking him up is one my favorite times of the day. He gets so excited...as you will see.

Four Months Old!

Harrison is four months old today and as usual, we cannot believe it. Our big day started with dropping Grandpa Gus and Grandma Linda off at the airport (after a really fun stay). Then Harrison and I went off to the pool for an hour (where he pooed in the kiddie pool). And after a lot of playing at home, the entire Brantley clan went to eat Mexican food with some friends. On the way home, we saw an awesome sunset over the mountains. I tried to capture a picture of Harrison and Adam with it, but the picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice. Above are some pictures of him throughout the day. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the pool because I was by myself with him.

Even though I am four months into being a mom, there is still a lot I have to learn. I have a feeling that I will be learning how to be a mom the rest of my life. Here are some thoughts, questions, and ponderings that I have had in the past four months:

1. If I have to trim his fingernails every week or more to keep his nails at a length where they won't scratch his eyeballs out, why have I never had to trim his toe nails? Do they not grow?


2. I think that my favorite thing about being a mom so far, is the feeling I get when Harrison is a little fussy and when he gets in my arms, he just calms down...I know it is selfish, but it feels so good, that all he wants is his mommy. I know one day he will grow out of this, but I sure do love that feeling!!


3. I learned today that swim diapers do not hold newborn poopies when in the pool.


4. When Harrison gets excited, he kicks his legs fiercely...they are like a motor that helps him to express his little heart's desire. You can see this in the video.


5. Right now, he like to put anything in his mouth. If any object gets within 5 inches of his face, he sticks his tongue out. This is true for his clothes, toys, fingers, etc. Thankfully, Marley is still to quick for him to get his tongue on her. But rest assured, Marley has gotten her tongue on Harrison numerous times.

Best Friends

Harrison was playing today, when I looked over and saw that Marley was supervising his playing. I am pretty confident that Marley isn't capable of thinking complex thoughts, so I am sure this was by mistake. In fact, I am sure that the only thoughts that go through Marley's head are "Ball, Ball, Ball," "I'm a Dog," and "Treat." Either way, I thought it was very cute that she put her head down next to Harrison's. Whether Marley can intentionally think about Harrison or not, I do think that they will be best friends in the near future.

Reading 101

Last night, Grandpa decided to read Charleston magazine to Harrison. Actually, let me clarify... he wanted to show him the pretty pictures. There was no reading done. In fact, Harrison was way more interested in the camera than the magazine.

First Boat Trip

On Monday, the entire family traveled up to Breckenridge/Frisco to go out on Lake Dillon. We rented a pontoon for a couple of hours to tour the breathtaking views. There aren't many places in the world that you can go out on a lake at 9,000+ feet in the middle of the mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous. In addition, it was Harrison's first boat trip. Though he slept most of the time, he seemed to like it. I think he really liked the part where Adam and I put the toddler life jacket on him. He looked like a big, fat yeast roll inside of it (you know the rolls from Quincey's).

Fun With Mommy

Last night, my dad, Linda, Adam and I went out to eat (oh, and Harrison too). Harrison got a little fussy towards the end of dinner so Linda and I went on a walk with him. We decided to stick his little feet in the water to see what he would do. He ended up loving it. Here are a couple of pictures that Linda took of us playing. Oh, and there also is a really cute picture of Harrison smiling.

Cow Appreciation Day 2K8

Grandma Linda & Grandpa Gus Come to Visit

My dad and step-mom arrived yesterday. Harrison is already loving the time that he gets to spend with them. Grandma Linda played with him this morning and I saw some excitement in his eyes that I haven't ever seen before. He was going absolutely crazy. I also think that he loves the glasses that they wear. He doesn't see many people with glasses, so when he does, he seems to be mesmerized by them. Harrison has already given his Grandpa Gus a fair share of funny looks...I think Harrison is really confused my his insane antics (just as I have been for 26 years).

The Only Boy at Girls' Breakfast

Yesterday, Harrison and I went to our monthly girls' breakfast with some friends here in Denver. Harrison is one of three babies that attends, but he is the only boy. Yesterday morning I got him dressed knowing that one of these babies could be his wife one day (if only I were so lucky). Blair, Lauren's little girl, seemed to love Harrison. She was doing all of her tricks for Harrison, including planting numerous kisses on his face. I think he was a little overloaded, but I am sure before long, he will love those kisses. Since he is all boy, I am sure that he will love it when he's 15 and I tell him about the days when the girls used to kiss all over him.

Funny Faces

Harrison is doing all sorts of new things recently. He is learning to use his voice, his hands, and make crazy facial expressions. I was outside with him yesterday doing some tummy time and here are a couple of the faces he was making at me. It was cracking me up. I think the faces are due to the sunlight as well as his frustration with not being able to do exactly what he wants. I think he has the determination of his father. He will stare at his fists so intently that it seems as though he thinks they will move in the right direction just b/c he stares at them so hard. That does not ever work. Anyway, there is a little video of him using his hands. He is obviously still learning, but he knows that whatever he puts in his hands, he wants to put in his mouth. He is just having a hard time locating his mouth...as you will see.

Broken Record

I know that I sound like a broken record, but I can't help but talking about how cute it is when Adam and Harrison spend time together. Last night Adam came home and I set Harrison on his lap so I could get some stuff done. Well, as soon as I see them together, I just want to watch them (and I don't get anything done). Harrison looks at Adam in awe...its like he knows that Adam is his dad. I can already tell that Harrison is going to want to do everything Adam does. But seriously, it makes my heart melt to see them together.

Grinning vs Smiling

My mom and I tried to capture some of Harrison's smiles today. The smiles are hard to get on camera because 1. my mom's camera is slow and 2. he becomes so enthralled with the camera, that he stops smiling. I was asking my mom to send me some pictures of him that she took and I said, "send me that one of him smiling." She replied with "you mean the one of him grinning?" I thought that I was specific when asking for the one smiling, but according to her, there is a difference between a "smile" and a "grin." My mom proceeded to show me the difference between a "smile" and a "grin." I wish I had that on camera, because to me, I couldn't see a difference. If you have an opinion, I would love to hear it. But for now, here are some pictures of Harrison grinning/smiling.

Happy 4th of July!

Harrison has had an exciting week with Puff since she has been in town. Adam and I may be on song overload, but Harrison surely isn't. He loves it when she sings and talks to him. Together, they sound like a babbling circus. Yesterday for 4th of July, we all went on a little walk around a lake in the mountains and Adam went fishing. There is a picture of Harrison on Adam's shoulders during a little stroll. Just after this picture was taken, Harrison spit up all over Adam's head. It looked like bird droppings...it was hilarious and gross all at the same time. Then we all went to a block party a couple houses down from our own (Puff and Harrison proudly sported our country's colors...see pic). One thing interesting that I have noticed about Harrison this week is that his big toe (or "thumb toe" as Puff calls it) is the same size as his thumb...width and length. His toes are so darn long (see picture). This week, Harrison has started to use his hands a lot more which is really fun. However, I think I may have to discontinue wearing any sort of earrings that dangle.