Cannon's Weeks

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Cannon - Week 52 (7/7/11)

Here it is. The culmination of a year long project. 52 weeks of pictures. 

There were weeks when I was ready to quit, weeks when I thought I was crazy for biting off more than I could chew with this project, weeks when I couldn't find a new blanket/background for the life of me. But we've made it, and I couldn't be more glad that I stuck with it. What an amazing photo gallery. To be able to look back and see Cannon grow each week is priceless. 

Cannon is crawling on his hands and knees around 50% of the time. He prefers his army crawl on the hard floors. We think it's because he slips and slides and gets momentum when he's on his belly. But he's starting to crawl "for real" on carpet and when he's approaching something he wants to pull up on. 

This week brought more and more signs. Cannon's been known to sign for his milk, sign that he's all done with his meal, and when he wants more. Most signs are prompted by us signing them first, but he's getting more consistent at imitating them. The verdict is still out on whether he comprehends the meaning yet, but that will come. 

And there we have it. One year of Cannon. 

Cannon - Week 51 (6/30/11)

We've been taking a Watertots swimming class through the Plano Parks & Rec for the last two weeks. So, this week Cannon went under water for the first time (but definitely not the last), started splashing the water with his hands by himself, and also started reaching out for a toy in the water while I moved him forward. Swim lessons have been a fun experience (for me anyways) and a great summer activity.

In gross development news, Cannon will now walk while holding our hands. He looks so old and grown up when he's upright!

Cannon - Week 50 (6/23/11)

Can you tell I've had to get creative at ways to keep Cannon's on his back for these pictures? I do every dance, make every sound effect, and now I've resorted to "hold this toy!" 

I need it to go down in the record books that Cannon's last day of nursing was Tuesday, June 21st. He's officially weans, and I'm sure you're tired about hearing about this process. Overall, it's been much, much, much easier than I ever anticipated. For some reason I thought weaning would be this torturous process like pulling teeth. But, it's been smooth and simple. I can only hope it's this easy the next time around.

Cannon - Week 49 (6/16/11)

Cannon's pulling tricks out of the hat right and left this week! Not only is he perfecting the wave, but he's sticking out his tongue on command (this picture's proof) and clapping. 

Cannon - Week 48 (6/9/11)

Cannon started waving "bye bye" this week! Granted it's a funky little floppy wave, but it's there none the same. It's so fun to be arriving at this more "interactive" stage.

We also took Cannon down to nursing only once a day (in the morning) this week. I've been more emotional about this entire weaning process than I expected - mainly because I thought I would be glad to wean, but now I'm having to acknowledge that my firstborn is growing up. 

Cannon - Week 47 (6/2/11)

Cannon came down with a double ear infection this week, but really showed no symptoms other than pulling on his ears. 

He's officially pulling up onto everything, and them promptly gets stuck because he hasn't figured out how to get down from most heights. 

We're also entering a new era because Cannon can go from crawling to sitting or from crawling to pulling up and it's made nap times quite the dance. I lay Cannon down, and he sits up and then cries because he's exhausted and upright. I lay Cannon back down, and he pulls up to standing in his crib and then cries because he can't figure out how to get back down. Oh, the adventures of new skills!

Cannon - Week 46 (5/26/11)

First things first, can you tell this is a busy boy? It's getting harder and harder to keep him on his back for these pictures! 

Second, we got a carpet square for the living room from Ikea, and we love it. Cannon will roll and roll and roll just soaking it up it's shaggy softness. 

We decided it was time to take Cannon down to nursing twice a day this week - first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Baby Boy is growing up. :-( As a result of the weaning, we're supplementing with formula in sippy cups at breakfast and dinner. 

Cannon's officially pulling up. He pulls up most consistently on the dishwasher and in the bathtub - convenient - NOT! Have you ever tried washing a standing up baby? 

Verbal skills took off this week. Cannon now says "Ba" when he sees birds and "Dada" when he sees Danny. 

And finally, crawling is in our near future, as Cannon has tried crawling on his hands and knees a few times this week, but in general finds his army crawl to be a much faster means of getting around. 

Cannon - Week 45 (5/19/11)

This was a quiet week in our little lives. Lots of naps, lots of playing on the floor, and one negative pregnancy test - or so we thought.

Cannon - Week 44 (5/12/11)

Cannon spent the night with Nana & Papa for the third time ever and had a blast watching baseball, playing with Chanel, reading books and going on walks. I'm convinced that when he comes home and gives me the crazy look when I actually let his feet hit the floor. We are so thankful to live close to family and free baby-sitting!

In hair news, several people have told me that his hair is a delightful strawberry blonde. Danny promises that my hair has a red hue in the sunshine, although I've never really seen it. But there's not really any other "red heads" in the family, so I suppose Cannon got a hair gene or two from me.

Cannon - Week 43 (5/5/11)

It was a quiet, playful week in the Stiller household. Cannon took a break from wowing us with something new and just perfected all of his tricks of the trade. 

Cannon - Week 42 (4/28/11)

On Easter Sunday, when Cannon proceeded to eat every food we ate, including green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, ham, and a host of other delicious foods, I gave up. I resigned my job as recorder of Cannon's diet. There will be no more "first" foods written down. Anything edible is up for grabs (except milk and nuts). 

In other crazy news, Cannon pulled up on the window sill for the very first time this week. Once he got up there he started this pitiful little whine that indicated he had no idea what to do next. But, there's hope of progressing past the army crawl stage. How fun!

Cannon - Week 41 (4/21/11)

It's official! Cannon's first word is "Mama." Sometimes he says it in a string "mamamamamama" but mostly he says it when he's frustrated/tired/hungry in a whiny tone of voice. Lovely. 

He also has started signing "milk." Again, it does it concurrently with a loud hum/whine. But, we're taking baby steps towards communicating. 

Finally, in fun news, Cannon has started doing "SO BIG" with his arms raised high over his head in response to the question, "How big is Cannon?" We usually do this after meals, and if we forget to ask him, he'll remind us by just throwing his hands up over his head and grinning until we say, "SO BIG!"

Cannon - Week 40 (4/14/11)

Joy of joys! Cannon started cutting his 8th tooth this week (can you sense the sarcasm?). Really, his teething has not been very bad since we got his amber necklace. I will be writing a post on this soon.

His hair is starting to curl slightly in the back which just raises his cuteness level exponentially. Did you know that that was even possible?

We gave him a graham cracker this week for the first time, and he loved it so much he just kept stuffing it in his mouth without chewing or swallowing. We quickly learned to give him small pieces at a time.

And I just had to give you a glimpse of the fun that fills my day with this child. Doesn't this picture just make you giggle? He kept rolling over and trying to escape from my camera and thought it was a HILARIOUS game!

Cannon - Week 39 (4/7/11)

Cannon tried alot of new foods this week, including: salmon, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, broccoli and lemon chicken! He's getting to the point where he would much rather feed himself than be spoon fed.

Being the proud Texans that we are - we took Cannon to get his first pictures in a field of bluebonnets this week. I'm enjoying his cuteness now, because I know my time is very limited taking his pictures in FLOWERS!

Cannon's mobility is increasing rapidly. He learned to go from a sitting position to his tummy. So, I can no longer sit him in one location and trust he'll stay there. 

And, in saddest news, he has finally refused to take the bottle. He knows what he wants and doesn't want and lets up know with a forceful swat with his hand. And, no matter who tried to give him a bottle at what time of day, he wanted nothing to do with it. Sippy cup here we come.

Cannon - Week 38 (3/31/11)

Cannon played in the sand for the first time this week but really wasn't too thrilled. He kept waving/shaking his hands in the air trying to "GET IT OFF!" I then thought it would be funny to bury his feet/legs and he went into hysterics. Okay, so maybe we'll need to try introducing him to the beach on another day.

We went to Cannon's first birthday party ever to celebrate his friend, Jack, turning ONE! I can't believe that pretty soon it's going to be our turn to throw a birthday party. Where is the time going?

Cannon has fully grasped the concept of returning things to their original state as he now puts the rings back on his Rock-A-Stack (and I only know the name of that toy because I looked it up on Amazon)!

And finally, in health news, Cannon was diagnosed with his first ear infection. Poor boy was under the weather for several days.

Cannon - Week 37 (3/24/11)

Lots of fun things to report, so we're condensing things to bullet format:

• SLEEP: Cannon's crib gets lowered to its lowest setting (no pulling up going on yet, but we're ready). He has also started transitioning from three to two naps a day.
• FOOD: Cannon is officially eating three solid meals a day and has decreased to nursing only three times a day. He also ate raisins, cheerios, mozzarella cheese and cauliflower for the first time this week.
• PLAY: Cannon is turning the pages of books and will put his Easter eggs AWAY in their box.
• MOVEMENT: Cannon started army crawling this week! Let the chasing begin.

WHEW that's enough new activity to wear this mama out!

Cannon - Week 36 (3/17/11)

Cannon ate hard-boiled egg yolk (a royal but seemingly tasty mess) and spinach for the first time this week. 

He also started sleeping 8 pm to 8 am thanks to Daylight Savings Time - wahoo!

Cannon - Week 35 (3/10/11)

Cannon's finally progressing to three solid meals a day - EEK! Sometimes I feel like all I do is feed this child.  He's eating more and more finger food. The easiest things for him to feed himself include: Most veggies (peas, carrots, corn, grean beans), beans, soft fruits (strawberries, mango). We tried cooked ground turkey, but that was a little tough.

Nine months clothes fit perfectly, but we're already integrating a few 12 month outfits into his wardrobe. His growth rate is speeding up since starting solids and I have a feeling we might just skip over the nine month size all together.

New activities we tried this week: bubbles! The verdict is still out on whether that was a winner or not. Cannon seemed a little indifferent to circles floating through the air.

Cannon - Week 34 (3/3/11)

This was a slow week in Cannon's little life. The only new food he tasted was chicken (mixed with quinoa and butternut squash) and as usual, he liked it. 

The biggest event that I've been WAITING for months to happen finally happened. Cannon rolled over in his Woombie and greeted me looking like a big grinning worm when I went to get him in the morning. And so the Woombie is no more. It's a little sad, but we got our money's worth for almost eight months - can you believe it lastest so long?