Leon 6 months

June 21st. 6 months already! Leon Campbell is growing and developing right before our eyes! Over the past few days he is showing me just how strong he is and how he can to squirm and defend with his new found strength.

The Squirm: making the buckling of the car seat straps (a common occurrence) a tad challenging. And the little floor swing in the kitchen, I caught him lunging forward. He is proud of himself when he is standing assisted with hand holding only. And those core muscles are indeed present under that cute tummy of his as he is sitting well - a little tipsy - but getting there.

The Defence: in rotating and straining and squirming to combat his brother Kent's fly by's. Kent calls this wrestling or tickling Leon. "He likes it mom" Kent insists. "See? He is laughing!" "Hi baby Leon!" smoothing things over. lol.

Leon from Head to Toe

hair - so soft, dark, sparse, even since birth - like a crew cut. a dozen or so long hairs on the top of his head where the double cowlick meets - if his hair was thicker and longer there it would be a euro hawk just like Kent had when he was Leon's age.

ears - I think he has "Spencer" ears. they are more like mine and remind me of my siblings. Wade and I don't have that different of ears from each other but Leon's appear to be more like mine (and that means cute! lol)

eyes - deep, dark brown. So beautiful!

Oh that nose!

those cheeks! I could just kiss 'em! And I do!

mouth and smile - it's so cute how lately he is pressing his lips together and then grinning. This makes for a thin, long grin. It's pretty funny. I also crack up when he closes his jaws together pushing his cheeks out like a little old man with his dentures removed. He is drooley drooley, working on some teeth. He doesn't have any that have erupted yet.

arms and hands - watch out! He is reaching for everything -and because it's "new" it is still surprising and funny to see what he gets a hold of when you aren't expecting it.

neck, shoulders, chest, back sides - super ticklish!! using just the softest touch he is laughing and chuckling, and we love giving him raspberries! He used to giggle when we change his clothes. Pulling a onesie over his head and guiding his arms through the arm holes would send him into a quiet, frozen laugh with gasping-for-air chuckles.

his little bottom - Finally his sore bottom cleared up! since birth he has had a sore bottom that has only slightly improved at times. My heart ached for him. I felt helpless even though I was doing everything I could possibly do that I knew or was advised to do. Poor Leon didn't act affected by this discomfort, what a mild, happy baby. Poor guy didn't know any different. At birth we (including med prof's) assumed yeast infection/thrush. So I treated by doing the Dr Jack Newman routine(s) as per the specialists (you can google him), I modified my diet decreasing dairy and sweets (now I am an Almond milk lover, cow milk I use for cooking/ baking though but otherwise I drink only Almond milk - delicious!), changing his diaper very frequently, clear water baths, blow drying his bottom, gentian violet, ointments of many brands, good ol' Vaseline, changing diaper brands multiple times, At each Dr. appointment a new Rx was given, oral and topical, the Rx ointments were awful they were harsh so much so that after applying twice he bled! I discontinued promptly. Needless to say we have had quite the struggle to improve things. Memorial Day i got more advice from Bethany that I so much appreciated. Because at Leon's 4 month Dr. appt Dr. S. prescribed an antibiotic (so it may not be yeast afterall) and by memorial day we were on our second round of antibiotics. Bethany said scrub him with antibacterial soap and then apply neosporin. Did that, and added a new ointment as per Wade's mom A&D ointment and twice a day another new Hydocortisone Rx. Add to that chlorine from the swimming pool a lot lately and some delibrate sun exposure, and of course continued prayers and I asked Wade to fast and at last we finally have a happy bottom!

lets see what's left - chubsy wubsy theighs and cute little toes that Kent likes to do "this little pig went to the market..." with.

We love you Leon!