Let's back up a bit and talk about the holidays.....

Ok....I will admit I am probably the WORST blogger in the world.  My wonderful husband reminded me just last night that this blog is for me to document things to show Nicolas one day.  Thank you Enrique for giving me inspiration to get better at this whole blog thing.  With that being said....what kind of mother would I be if I didn't blog about our baby boy's first Christmas?!?!?!

Sitting under his first Christmas tree

This baby smiles for everyone except Santa!

Since Enrique and I have been married....the whole 2 years we have been married :) We have split up Christmas by doing Christmas Eve in Houston with my family and waking up bright and early Christmas morning and driving back to Dallas for Christmas with his family.  We kept that same schedule this year.  We left for Houston early Thursday morning (Christmas was on Sunday this year).  It was a pretty easy drive, Nicolas did great in the car, we stopped once to feed him and other than that it was smooth sailing.  Unfortunately, both Nicolas and I were a little under the weather for Christmas.  Nicolas was a little congested and I had a sore throat.  My whole family in Houston was under the weather as well.  We still celebrated and got to open presents :)  Nicolas got so many toys from his Aunt Cortney, Aunt Tiffany and Grandma and Grandpa.  Santa also came to visit and he got his first stocking full of goodies.  

Here are a few pics from Christmas in Houston

First Christmas as a family of three!

Cousins!

Daddy and Nicolas all dolled up for Santa

I just love this one :)

Sleepy baby boy

On Christmas morning we woke up bright and early and drove back to Dallas to spend time with Enrique's family.  It was quite a day for our little man!  He met so many relatives for the first time!  I think he may have been a little overwhelmed, he spent most of the day asleep in my arms!  He again got lots and lots of presents from his Mema, Abuelito, cousins, Tio Valdo, Tia Martha, Tio Tavo, and Tia Cruz!  Nicolas is very loved :)

Pictures from Christmas day.....

Proud mommy and daddy

Turning his head away from the noise

I just can't take my eyes off him....and he was making sure I was in the room :)

This is just plain cute

Introducing....cereal!

Our baby boy is growing so quickly!  At 5 1/2 months it was already time to introduce cereal into his diet!  The pediatrician recommended just giving him a little bit at a time, this was just for practice, not for nourishment.  I don't even have to explain how cute Nicolas was....I have pictures and video to tell the story!

Sitting in the bumbo, not sure why daddy is taking so many pictures

"What's the big deal?"

Um, WHAT?!

"What just happened?"

"Feeding myself doesn't make it better"

hmmm....considering liking it

Split splat onto the table

Five months....I can't believe it!

Nicolas turned five months old in January.  It was quite a rough month in the Rodriguez house!  We had a sick baby for the first time :(  A few days after New Years, Nicolas woke us up in the middle of the night and we knew he wasn't feeling well but we weren't quite sure what was wrong.  He began having explosions and they were not like any other diaper changes we had seen up to that point.  We took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with rotavirus. Now, this is a virus that he has received 2 out of the 3 vaccinations for, however, our pediatrician let us know that you can still catch the virus after the vaccination, it just would not be as severe.  In the past, an infant Nicolas's age probably would have ended up in the hospital with rotavirus....thank goodness for vaccinations!

Having a sick baby is the absolute worst feeling in the world.  The feeling of helplessness you get as a mom when there is nothing you can do to make your baby feel better is overwhelming to say the least.  Sleepness nights, constant worry, frustration because you can't do anything, and just waiting for your baby to feel better made for a very rough start to 2012.  Enrique and I felt so sad to see Nicolas feeling uncomfortable.  On top of the rotavirus he also had a terrible cold.  We actually ended up with him sleeping in the nap nanny on our bed in between us because his congestion was so bad and he would cough in the middle of the night so hard that it would scare us.

After a solid 2 weeks Nicolas was finally back to normal....but then it was Daddy's turn to be sick.

Now, its February and next week it will be time for the next 6 month post and this absent blogger just wants one week with a healthy family!  Although...yesterday Enrique informed me he thinks he is getting sick again.  ARGH

At 5 months old Nicolas has really developed his motor skills and grabs at everything...and I do mean everything in sight!  Remotes, phones, mommy's hair...anything and everything!  He has found a big interest in toys although they all end up in his mouth.  He is still a very easy baby, we are truly blessed.  He smiles all the time, loves to laugh and is practicing on sitting up (not quite there yet).

For the sake of time....and the fact that I still have another post to write about our first attempts at food :)  I will get to the good stuff.....pictures of the sweetest baby boy ever!

"What are you doing daddy?!"

Love the lashes!

Daddy cracks up when he sees this pic

Our smiley boy

This is my sexy pose....but really I fell over

Still quite the thumb-sucker