Let's start off with an update about his ezcema. He still has flare ups sometimes, but it is no where close to what it was before. We are still learning his triggers and I am beginning to think that what causes him hives is very different than what flares up his ezcema. This is what I have learned in the least three months: it wasn't a yeast infection and it seems that all the improvement actually came from the cod liver oil. Who knew? I am able to eat anything and it doesn't effect his skin but he is currently avoiding dairy and wheat as the big triggers and we are thinking oats, peppers, and coconut may be triggers as well. That's right folks, that coconut oil that I was lathering on him morning and night was actually hurting him. Awesome! We now use olive oil and he is handling that much better. Along with the oil and probiotic we've also started supplementing with Vit D as there have been studies to show ezcema improvement with increased Vit D levels.
He doesn't scratch nearly as much...but every now and again we will catch him scratching. He usually does it when he is in his car seat, which is super inconvenient. You try steering, shifting, and reaching back to hold his hands...all while not crashing. It seems that when he gets bored or upset his goes right to scratching behind his ears. He has drawn blood a few times, but again nothing like it was before!
When Ernest was about 9 months old we decided to do some sleep training again. He was still falling asleep easily but waking frequently at night. We did CIO for one night until 2am and then I fed him. He woke up maybe twice and cried for about 10-15 minutes, and by cry I mean whine or grunt. He never did full on cry. That's all it took. After that one night he has slept till at least 2am every night. And is starting to make it to 4 or 5 am. Honestly though, I am completely fine with once a night wakings! That is so doable, especially with how often he was waking when his skin was especially bad.
Around 8 months he dropped his third nap. After a short adjustment period of an early bedtime, we have been able to get a good 4 hours of fun in the afternoon with him! It has really allowed us some freedom in our activities with him! We have gone to the splash pad in Springville a few times, and play dates are much easier to coordinate, now at ten months he will randomly skip his morning nap at times. It throws off my routine but is probably good for me to have some practice with only one nap days.
Around 8ish months Ernest got two front teeth on the bottom. He was a little whiny and got a runny nose but all in all he handled it like a champ. In other good news he has not taken to biting while nursing and I'm hoping that phase just skips some babies. When it does happen I do not think it is on purpose so I just pop him off and ignore it.
It was also around 8 1/2 months that he started crawling! I thought it would take him longer but once he was able to do his thing unswaddled on the floor he began planking, and doing push-ups, and all sorts of stuff! He finally got it though and is crawling all over the place. Crawling + summer + shorts = flare ups on his knees and legs. I do my best to keep them covered or have him crawl on soft surfaces but at the end of the day his knees are often flared up. Oh well. I think I have finally come to terms with the fact that it may always be something we deal with and I may not have a cure to make it go completely away. A little before 10 months he began standing up while supporting himself on different objects. He has let go once or twice and slowly let himself sit down without falling. We feel like he'll walk soon since he has been standing, jumping, and walking with help since day one!
He is loving food! And the kid would try anything I give him...if only I could give him dairy and wheat. His diet mostly consists of fruit, some veggies, and beans. He eats applesauce, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, pears, prune juice, watermelon, and kidney beans on a regular basis. He has kinda lost his appetite for avocado, sweet potatoes, and carrots...but I try to sneak them in on occasion. His also tried chicken, chili, and a few other meals that I have prepared including chicken fiesta, chipotle chicken, and any other little things I can just give him that we are eating. Baby led weaning really is awesome because they learn to eat what you are already eating! I wish we could give him everything! I'm just praying he out grows his food allergies or that he can be treated!
Right now he loves water! He gets so excited when he sees me getting bath time ready! He loves funny voices and I now know why parents are perfectly ok looking and sounding like idiots. Anything to see a smile and hear a laugh right? He is also responding more to being tickled. His legs, and sometimes I can tickle his neck with kisses and he will laugh. So cute! He loves riding on Marshall's shoulders and playing with his hair. He loves songs and will break out in a huge grin when we start singing popcorn popping or take me out to the ball game. For some reason we sang those a lot to him when he was younger and he still enjoys them. He also makes lots of noises and I think sings along with us! He continues to love people and it really feels like he remembers people between visits. So many of our friends and family tell us how special they feel to have such a special relationship with Ernest. I never have the heart to tell them he has a special relationship with lots of people. Besides just because you have a special relationship with a lot of people, it doesn't make any one relationship less special right? He is just a people person and connects easily with others. Which we love to see!
Pictures coming soon!
