Boo!

Of course this is my first Halloween! Last night Mom, Dad, Marlie and I went to visit Grandpa and Grandma D and Uncle Brent so I could show them my costume. I'm not a big fan of wearing it, so I didn't keep it on long, but long enough they got to see me anyway. Today Mom and I drove up to visit my Great-Grandpas and Great-Grandmas, and my other Grandpa and Grandmas. We're going to stay the weekend so it should be a fun time. I guess I might try trick or treating. I know a lot of tricks, but there aren't many treats I can have yet. Oh well...we still will have fun!

Weekend away...

No, I didn't go anywhere, but I had my first weekend away from my parents. Mom and Dad went to a football game with some of their friends, and Marlie and I got to spend the weekend with Grandma D, she came to our house and stayed with us. We had a lot of fun! Grandma took me to church Saturday evening. I had fun watching people, I'm kind of nosey, so I had my head cranked every direction trying to see everything. I also enjoyed listening to the music, I really like music. Mom and Dad brought me a stuffed Cy that says "Go Cyclones" and then plays the Iowa State fight song. I think it's
pretty neat, and I like to chew on it.

Other news, I can now officially sit up on my own. I told you how I had been working so hard at it, and all that work has paid off. Friday mommy and I went to visit my little friend Parker and his mommy. When we got to their house Parker was sitting on the floor and Mom told his mom I couldn't sit up yet. Well, she sat me down and sat behind me to hold me up, but I didn't need her to. I could sit there on my own! And through the weekend I just got better and better


I also started chattering a lot more. Mom and Dad left Saturday morning, and came home Sunday afternoon, but couldn't get over how much more I was babbling when they got home compared to when they left. I would babble to myself and Marlie, and a little to Mom and Dad, but now, honestly, I am a chatter box. Mom said it never ceases to amaze her how quickly I change.

Parker and me in our monkey suits.

Photo album...

Here are a few pictures mom took the past few days.

I tried a dill pickle the other night.
I wasn't sure about it at first, but then...I liked it. It was fun to gnaw on.

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Mom thinks maybe I was practicing "bow hunting" since I had my fancy camo bibs on.



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Dinner got a little crazy the other night!! It was fun though!

Tis the season....

for flu shots. I got my first dose on Monday. They will give me a second dose in November (30 days from the first dose). That morning before Daddy went to work we were talking about me getting another shot, and he told me to be brave. Well I was brave! Mommy laid me down on the table in the Dr. office, she held my hands, and was ready to comfort me when I cried...but I never did! The nurse said, "all done" and I was just fine. Mommy picked me up, put my pants back on and away we went. I couldn't wait to tell Daddy how brave I was! He told me I really didn't have to be brave, I could have cried if I wanted to...but I didn't!

Happy 'half' Birthday to me....

Happy 'half' birthday to me, happy 'half' birthday dear Cohen, happy 'half' birthday to me! That's right, today I am half a year old. Gosh, that sounds like I'm such a big boy...half a year! I guess for my half birthday I'm getting new pajamas because I got too long for the ones mom bought me not long ago. Last night when Mom and Dad would check on me my snaps would be undone from my foot up my leg and my little foot would stick out...brrr. They'd snap me back up, but the next time they came in I was unsnapped again. It wasn't just a trick I was pulling on them either.

Well, lets see....in the last month what have I accomplished? I can sit up for several seconds on my own, but wouldn't call myself a pro just yet. I still have some work to do. I became a proficient scooter. I can scoot from toy to toy, and pretty quickly I must add. I recently have been trying to figure out how to crawl. Once I get up on my hands and knees I rock back and forth. I do a little 'hop' now and then, kind of like a bunny but when I try to get my hands to move with my legs I fall forward. I'll get the hang of it, and then I'll be unstoppable!!

Mom and Dad have been getting their plan together for baby proofing the house. Mom said she ordered the stuff they are going to need and as soon as it gets here she and Dad will make the house safer for a mobile baby.

I still love my puppy, Marlie. She makes me laugh more than anything. She doesn't even have to do anything but sit there and I crack up laughing at her. As soon as I see her I start scooting toward her. I like to try and grab her paws but she doesn't like that so she pulls them back and usually walks away.

Eating, I usually take 5 bottles a day, and eat between 5 and 6 ounces, except my first one of the morning I take 7 or 8 ounces. I went all night without a bottle...I'm hungry! I am loving my baby food! I usually have a bottle first, then vegetable for lunch around 11:00, and for supper, around 5:00 I have a bottle then a fruit with some cereal. There hasn't been one thing I haven't liked. I've tried green beans, sweet peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peaches, pears, apples and bananas. Yum, yum, yum! Oh, and I started practicing with a sippy cup. Any formula left over from my bottle before lunch or dinner goes in a sippy cup and I am learning how to drink from that. I'll be a pro by the time it's time for Mom and Dad to take my bottle away.

Sleeping is pretty much the same. Down around 8:00, up around 8:00. Napping, pretty much the same as it has been. I nap about an hour after I get up in the morning, then shortly after lunch I'm ready for another nap. Then up for a few hours, and down for a couple hours. Then nap in the evening, up to play and ready for bed.

I still like to play in my exersaucer and my jumperoo, but now that I can move around I love to be on the floor playing with toys. It's one of my most favorite things to do. Sometimes Mommy and Daddy get down there and play with me and we read books, but I do like to just explore around by myself too.

Bath time is getting more and more fun. After I get my 'hair' washed and all scrubbed up I get to splash around and play with some of my bath toys. I love that. Mom ordered me a bath chair so as soon as that gets here we'll put my baby tub away and I can sit up in that. I think that sounds like fun!

And, my BIG, BIG news for this month is.....I GOT A TOOTH! It's the bottom, middle, right side tooth. I like to feel it with my fingers.

It's been a great month, and once again, full of many accomplishments. I can't wait to see what this next month brings!

Pictures today...

I got my six month pictures taken today. Mom thought things were working out perfect. I ate lunch around 11:00, played until 11:30, started to get tired, so she dressed me, put me in my car
seat and we headed out. We were going to Portrait Innovations, and that's on the other side of town. She thought it would work out great for me to nap in the car on the drive there, we'd be about a half hour early, but we'd wait in the car while I finished napping. That would give me a one hour nap. Well, all was going as planned until I woke up as soon as we parked the car, leaving me a half hour short on my nap. Ooops! I started out happy for my pictures, but could have used that extra half hour of sleep, because I started to get grumpy. Mom was still pleased with the pictures. She was much happier with this place, than she was with Sears last time. Well, here are some of Mom and Dad's favorites from today.

Chompers are near...

I have one tooth that is just even with my gums. It hasn't popped up yet, but mommy can see the whole top of it and can feel it. It's not where the white dot is - that's next to the tooth that's making it's way through, so a good chance I'll soon have my two bottom toofers!! I'll keep you posted!

"Eye" am a-okay!

Ok, I know that was corny, but I'm a kid, what do you expect? =) So, a quick update on my eyes. I went to see the optometrist my Grandma works for today. He checked my eyes and confirmed there is a slight difference in the size of my pupils, but my eyes are working just as they should be, so no concerns from his perspective either. Good news!!! Mom and Dad are glad they had it checked out, and very happy it's all ok.

I get my 6 month pictures taken on Friday so I'll let you know how that goes!

Almost....6 months check-up....

I went in today for my 6 month check-up, which means I got shots. No fun! But, I did great. I only cried for a few seconds. As soon as mommy picked me up I stopped. Can't ask for much more than that I don't think! And, the nurse gave me a little board book to take home with me. How cool is that?!?! I love books!

Here's the facts; I weigh 15 lbs 9 oz ( 25%ile), am 27 1/2 inches long (75%ile) and my head is 43 cm (25%ile). Where does that length come from? My mom and dad sure aren't tall! My dr thought it would probably even out and I'd be back in the 50th percentile soon. I wasn't supposed to go in for my appointment until Thursday, but mommy thought she had been noticing that my pupils were sometimes different sizes. She was a little concerned about it and said she'd feel better after my dr. checked me out. He looked me over pretty good and said I look very healthy. There was nothing he was concerned about with my eyes or head at all. He said developmentally I'm right on track, my growth is steady, I follow well with my eyes and he isn't worried about it. But, he told mommy for her peace of mind maybe take me to an eye doctor. (Shhh....don't tell her I told you, but my mommy is kind of a worrier) It just so happens to be that my Grandma D. works for an eye dr. So, mommy called her and they are going to find a time to take me to see that eye dr. so mommy can stop worrying.

My big long post about all my accomplishments in the past month will come next week, when I'm officially 6 months old, but for now, I wanted to share how my appointment went.

Thanks for checking in on me!

Love,
Cohen

Big boy...

You know how I told you I'm a scooter. Well, I'm working really hard at being a crawler. I get myself up on my hands and knees, but when I try to go, I just fall forward onto my belly. I don't give up though. I keep trying. If I need to get somewhere I scoot, but when I'm not in a hurry, I work on crawling. Mom was trying to catch a picture of me on all fours....she didn't get great ones, but here are a couple.

We are still working on sitting too. I'm getting better but still have some work to do on that.

And, mommy thinks I might be getting a tooth. I haven't been fussy or cranky or anything but I have a little white dot on my bottom gums that she can feel. It's really tiny yet, so it might be a little while, but she thinks that's what it is. I don't really know what teeth are, but I'll take her word for it - even though she says she isn't sure herself. =)

Friday fun....

Remember how I told you Mom and Dad had something fun planned for this week! Well, today I found out what it was. We went to a pumpkin farm! They had so many fun things to do...even for a little guy like me! Here are some pictures!

Me sitting on the cow bench.

Playin' in the corn box.

This corn is fun to dig in! I tried to put some in my mouth but Mommy said no.


Boo! It's not really a ghost, it's just me!

Giddy up horsey! Me riding the "barrel horse".

My first trip here I'm just over the "2" pumpkin. I wonder where I'll be next year!

I didn't know what in the world this crazy thing was, but Daddy said it was a goat.
I've heard of a goat. Old MacDonald had one on his farm, Mommy sings about it sometimes!

Ooooh....chickens. I thought these were funny!

See...I'm laughing at them.

I liked this white and black speckled chicken too.

Mommy, me and Daddy!

Can you find me in all of these pumpkins? I'm the cute one!

We had a really fun time at the farm, and I think I'll have even more fun next year, and the year after that! I hope we can go back! I think I heard Mommy say how much fun it would be for me when I'm a little older, so I think we're planning on going back!! Yea!!!!

What a weekend....

Wow! We had a busy weekend. And, it was a big weekend for me! I'll tell you why in a minute. First of all, Saturday we got up and traveled to Harpers. We got to Grandma's and got settled in before Mommy, Granny and my Great-Granny went to a baby shower for mommy's cousin. We had a fun time there. Afterward we had to do a little shopping at Wal-Mart before heading back to Granny's house. Then....on Sunday, I got baptized. There was a party in my honor and everything! I was baptized at the church mommy went to when she was growing up. She was bapitzed there too. All of my grandmas and grandpas and all of my great-grandmas and great-grandpas were there. Also, my Uncle Brent and Amy, and my Great Aunt Brigid, Great Uncle Ron and mommy's cousin Bob came. Brent is my Godfather and Brigid is my Godmother. I'm such a lucky boy to have so many people that love me.

I was tired during the baptism ceremony so I was kind of whiney. And, then the priest, who is a long-time family friend, and Brigid's brother, poured cold water over my head. That...made me scream! I jumped and it went in my eyes. It was a little scary. But I quickly forgave him, and gave him a big smile during my celebration.

It was fun to spend time with so many different people. I got to stay up a little later last night since I slept the whole way home. I was back on schedule today with my naps. Mommy said she and daddy have something fun planned this week. I'll let you know what it is when I find out.

Here are some pictures from my baptism. Enjoy!

Me with my Godparents, Mommy, Daddy and Fr. Jim.

Me getting that cold water poured over my head!

Me and Daddy - with the blanket Daddy had at his baptism.

Generations of Dahlstroms - Great Grandma, Daddy, Grandpa and me!

Where in the World is Cohen...

I'm everywhere! Yesterday Mommy, Paula and I went shopping. We first made a stop in the Amanas. Mommy and I had never been there before. We went to a few stores and had lunch. During lunch I was having fun playing, but didn't want to eat my lunch. I was getting tired, but didn't want to miss anything. Mommy took me in the bathroom and shut the lights off so I couldn't see anything. Yikes! It was dark, but I did eat. After we left the Amanas we were heading to the outlet mall, but since Mommy had to take a detour in the road that led us to Coralville we just shopped there. I did pretty good the whole day, but I started to get really tired toward the afternoon and didn't want to fall asleep. There were so many people to watch, things to see, music to listen to, how could I sleep? So...we headed out. I don't know that we were even out of the parking lot before I zonked out. When Mommy and I got back to our house, I ate like I had never eaten before. Mom tried feeding me at the mall but I wasn't havin' it. Lets just say I get distracted easily. =) We had a really great day, and were both tired when we got home. Oh, and while we were shopping, I got a few new things. I got another new hat, a new football and an Iowa State bib. Here's me in my new hat! It's a raccoon hat,

with eyes, a nose and ears!!

Today mommy and I made a trip to Wal-Mart. We had a little grocery shopping to do. The rest of the day I played at home. I scooted around on the floor and played with my toys. I jumped in my jumper while I watched Thomas the Train, and I also played in my Exersaucer some. It was a really fun day! It was colder today than I'm used to though. When we went to Wal-Mart I wore my new raccoon hat and had to be covered up with a warm fleece blanket. Hmmm...I'm not sure about this cooler weather. I like bare feet and shorts!! I've heard about winter, but I'm not sure I'm going to like it. I know my mommy doesn't.