It's the Weekend! Yay!!

My Loves

Ben & Mini-Ben

"What do you mean stop buggin' Pengin?"

We've got a little Michael Jordan on our hands... anything that takes a great deal of concentration and effort happens with his tongue sticking out.

New Favorite Toy: Blocks

He is so close to crawling... he's got the motions down, 

he just needs to do them all at the same time :)

Drool Monster

Happy Hour Group Reunited!  

Asher did not nap today.  He ended up reacting to his TDaP shot, and we ended up at the doctor yesterday afternoon.  He's on scheduled benadryl and tylenol until his reaction goes away.  Unfortunately it doesn't look like TDaP caused the allergic reaction at his 4 month visit, our doctor thinks he is just very sensitive to that particular shot.  It's hard to tell if he is restless from the discomfort of the reaction, or if it's because he is trying to learn how to crawl in his crib.  Either way. This baby is not sleeping.

This is how all of Asher's naps looked today.  If you're thinking "Um, that's not napping."  You're right.

Trip to the Bookstore

Asher and I decided to go to the bookstore today.  Unfortunately for Asher it meant putting on pants.

 Baby Boy Loves Books

I swear he thought he saw Pengin... but he settled down quickly.

One Shot Down...About a Dozen to Go...

We are back from the doctor.  Here's the scoop:

1) Asher has gained over a pound and a half since our visit 3 weeks ago where we learned he had dropped weight percentiles... so that is a major victory

2) Our baby did not make a peep when he got his shot.  He gave the nurse a very angry look, but did not so much as whimper.  He did throw a fit when she wouldn't let him stick the end of her stethoscope in his mouth... apparently that was the end of the world.  

3) They gave him a healthy dose of benadryl before the shot (see pictures below for evidence of  administration of a drowsy medication) and then gave him one shot (tetatnus) in his right leg.  We will be doing one shot every 30 days until they are all done.  

Happy in the waiting room before the shot... teething babies love leather purse straps!

 At home after his shot... it's a lot of work being so brave.

 He was awake for a minute and then literally crumpled into a drowsy, benadryled heap.  

 Harlan is very concerned about his puppy brother.  While I would have let this go on all day (...it was so stinkin' cute) I was worried the weight of Har's massive head was going to wake Asher up, so I made him move.  

Harlan, however, did not like this plan.  When I made him lift his head off of Ash, he sat staring at me half whining / half growling until I got up and let him have my spot on the couch.  He is now guarding Asher like it's his full-time job.  

Happy Tuesday! (To everyone but Asher..)

Today is shot day.  I know that every parent dreads shot day, and for good reason.  What is worse than paying someone to stab your baby in their perfect, chubby thigh?  Multiple times.  While they shriek and look at you like, "Why are you just standing there?! DO SOMETHING!!"

Yes. Shots suck.  Period.

But shots suck even more when your baby is allergic to them.  

I feel like it's not even fair for that to be a 'thing'. 

'Does your baby have any allergies?' 

'Only to shots.'

What?

I mean it's genius when you're an adult, "Oh I'm sorry, I can't get that shot, I'm allergic."  Voila!  Off the hook!  But Asher needs his shots and this situation is creating quite a bit of anxiety in his mom.

*Deep sigh*  ....The immunological conundrum.  

After Asher's last round we ended up in the urgent care clinic of our pediatrician's office, and as luck would have it, our regular doctor was on call that day.  She confirmed that it was an allergic reaction, and that we needed to be very careful with his next round of shots as his response was becoming worse with each set of vaccinations.  Furthermore, we needed to break up the shots into individual injections to determine if it was a specific type he is sensitive to, or if it is the carrier.  This means instead of three combination shots, Asher will get... well... many.   Bleh.

So.  Here's the plan.  At approximately 4:00 p.m. a nurse is going to make my baby cry.  I'm going to want to throat punch him/her (I'm learning this is a natural response whenever anyone does anything that makes your baby even slightly distressed....Oh hi stranger at the grocery store who makes Asher's bottom lip tremble for some unknown reason... BAM! Throat punch!"   In all seriousness, I've never wanted to throat punch the person giving Asher shots, but I have felt the strong urge to shove them away from him as soon as he lets out his first 'help me!' yelp.  Anyways, moving on.  We are stocked up with hydrocortisone cream and tylenol (for Asher), chocolate (for me), snuggly comfort objects (for both of us), and the after hours number for our doctor in the event that something goes awry.  

This is likely going to be a bummer of an afternoon.... wish us luck.

Some pictures from the last couple of days... I mean, who could give this baby a shot??

Best sleeping position yet.

While Asher cannot yet pull himself up into a standing position, Ben and I realized after looking at this picture that it is time to lower his mattress.

 'Mommy, I just read this over your shoulder and you said the word 'Shots' a lot... What's 'shots'?'

Asher is 6 Months Old!

Best Family Portrait Ever: 

I accidentally cut off our heads when setting up the timed photo, 

but let's be honest, a family portrait is really just a 'busy' picture of Asher...

A New Development: Asher & Harlan are interested in one another

Harlan guarding Asher

If you look closely at the center of this picture, that big blur is actually a gigantic Harlan tongue in motion as he cleans Asher's hands for him

Hands quickly turned into a face lick...

Accusing stare from Asher- 'Why did puppy brother just slobber my face???'

Classic

6 Months Old and the Denty Ear is Going Strong

It just wouldn't be a celebration without an appearance by Pengin

'Mommy. For reals.  On my birthday?  This couldn't be avoided?'

'I'll handle it.  Happy birthday to me!'

'Oh no.  Where did Pengin go?'

'Holy pandas!!  He's in my britches!'

Point, Pengin.