6 months

karol had a very eventful month. from rolling over to being sick and to being introduced to formula.

rolling over and other development
* just right after he turned 5 months, he started rolling over from back to tummy, but only on his left side.
* a couple of days after that, i played a game with him teaching him how to roll over from tummy to back. he started doing it by himself on the same day.
* in just a few more days, he became unstoppable. left side, right side, tummy or back. he rolls everywhere, and that's why he already fell from the bed :D
* sits with very little support. he doesn't fall forward when he doesn't try to grab things around him (which is like never) :D
* talks and opens mouth as if he's really saying something. much like a dubbed telenovela where the characters still open their mouths even after their lines were finished. (see video)
* used to try and rake the pictures on his gym. now beats everything with an open palm, and likes playing with the keyboard.
* explores and investigates things by tasting and sucking :))
* sucks his foot
* sleeps before 9pm when in a good mood. wakes up every 3-4 hours for feeding.
* birth mark (mole) appeared on the base of his left thumb. daddy found it and thought it was some dirt that didn't go away :)) (note: he also has a smaller-than-a-pea skin discoloration ("balat") on his tummy area.)

bcg shot complication
one bath time, daddy found an inflamed lymph node on his left shoulder. it quite big that it's visible to the naked eye, and another by palpation. well, at first we didn't know what they were until it was confirmed by ultrasound.

the surgical doctor told us that it might need to be surgically removed. of course we got scared. luckily, the other doctors thought otherwise. the nodes are getting smaller by themselves, although very slowly, without any medication. he still has them and we have to wait two more weeks to have it checked.

cough
unfortunately when we visited one of the hospitals there were many sick babies/kids. at least we suspected, that karol probably got some virus which caused him to cough and have a bit of phlegm.

based on research, all symptoms pointed to a croupy cough (or croup). we didn't go to doctor but just advised us to give him calcium chloride (i still don't know what for) and multivitamins. these plus humidification solved the problem. it lasted for over a week but he fought it. what a strong boy!

beba 2 h.a. (a.k.a. nan)
yesterday, we tried to introduce formula. his pedia advised to give one full meal in the morning to try it out. unfortunately, karol had a different take on it. he totally rejected it. it could be the taste, his state of sleepiness, hunger, or all of the above.

today, he's officially a mixed-fed baby. he took the formula without any problems at all, well except for the few times that he was distracted by the tv. twice he fed 60ml of formula, continued with breastmilk, and fell asleep as usual.

6 months, 3 days, and approximately 10 hours...

...after karol was born, the inevitable happened -- the first fall.

he was having his afternoon nap on our bed as usual. i closed the bedroom door so that he would not be woken up by the ever loud and playful alex. but time passed...

alex was already sleeping at that time and i was planning the next week with hubby over skype. then, i suddenly heard a loud thudding sound. i immediately knew what happened. in an instant i blurted out "karol andrej!!!" while running to the bedroom. poor karol, on his tummy, right at the corner of our bed and my side table, crying.

he was crying so hard. so hard that when i picked him up he held his breath for a few seconds. it took a lot of "fooing" to get him to breath in again. he didn't cry very long, but i found a bump on the right side of his head. and later daddy found a small purplish bruise on his lower lip. oh, those poor big lips! :(

all things considered, it turned out ok. he was a bit fussy when i was putting ice on his bump. otherwise he was back to the normal, happy and playful baby in just a few minutes.

5 months: first solid food...

some babies start to eat solid food at 4 months. alex started at 6 months. karol started with raisins just before his 5th month :))

it happened one time when alex was eating raisins. karol was playing on his tummy. i turned my back for a moment and then alex said, "mommy, karol is eating raisins!" lo and behold, i saw two very wet raisins on the mat. the ever lovable ate alex gave him of course... close call, whew!

wazzup
* very active. moves like a bug on it's back.
* reaches and grabs everything and anything, specially mommy's hair (ouch!)
* holds milk bottle on his own (with a little help :)
* sucks everything and anything, even mommy's pinky.
* more sociable than ever.
* loves to vocalize. high pitch. low pitch. choose your pick! purrs like a lion cub. gargles. makes "paulan" (razzing sound with saliva spray).

* idol si ate... laughs at alex and his eyes follow her wherever she goes.
* sometimes falls asleep by himself (even while on the play gym). but, most of the time sleeps only while comfort sucking.
* started sleeping earlier than 11pm. but, went back to waking up in the middle of the night. (so much for bragging about sleeping through the night.)

christmas at 4 months

just a few days after he turned 3 months, karol started rolling over. he did it just a few times but probably didn't fancy it. instead, he spends most of his time on his side, feasting on his fists, and turning clockwise.

since it's the holiday season, we celebrated his fourth month a couple of days later, in time for christmas. as usual, ate alex was the one to blow the candles while karol is mesmerized with the flames.

"ate, i think that's my cake!"
(behind: tita lucia, babicka and babka)

he's a very sturdy boy. it's amazing how he can already sit almost unsupported, and pull to a standing position. he actually prefers to stand than to sit :D

karol's first christmas
sitting on his early christmas present


take nth time: "mommy, i'm tired! waaaaah!!!"

christmas day with dedino, babina and babina's sister

3 months

we celebrated 3 months with a store (tesco) bought cake at babka's residence. tito pito and tita lucia were also there.

he's getting bigger and stronger

he can look as pitiful as a lost puppy...

or charm you with his laugh (which is more like a grunt than a giggle)

november fourth: KAROL

in slovakia, and some other european countries, it is very common to celebrate name's day. each day of the calendar is dedicated to one name, and the name KAROL happens to fall on the fourth of november (note: it's different from feast days of saints). it is celebrated almost the same way as one would celebrate his/her own birthday. hence, the cake. and of course, alex has to be the one to blow the candle. :D

2 months

by 2 months, karol has advanced many of his boyish strengths:
* bears some weight on his legs
* holds head when upright
* lifts head when on tummy
* smiles and coos (warning: will make any girl swoon)