Food Allergies?

Matthew has always had sensitive skin. I have to be careful w/ what wash and lotion I use or he gets a rash immediately. We've been doing solids for a month now and for the most part it was going well. Matthew is my smaller baby but he sure can eat. He loves food and can inhale two or three jars in one sitting. Part of me wonders if that is too much. The doctor says to feed them as much as they want. I think I'll slow down a little. Maybe just slow down how fast I give him the spoonfuls so he recognizes that he's full a little sooner.

Anyway...back to the reason of the post. Matthew had horrible diaper rash two weeks ago and we worked hard to get it cleared up. I'm sure it's due to the fact that he has 3 or 4 poopy diapers a day now from all of this new food. The diaper rash is gone but in its place is a terrible looking raised and bright red rash on his genitals, inner thighs and pelvic area. So is this still diaper rash? Or is it a food allergy? We've introduced a new food every 5 days. All he has had is rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, pears and bananas. Bananas was the latest introduction. Could it be bananas? I really have no idea and its hard to determine b/c his skin is always a little irritated from something. So I decided to just eliminate everything except rice cereal and sweet potatoes (the first two foods) and just get it all cleared up. But..its been days and it doesn't look any better. Not worse but not better. We also just started vitamin drops w/ fluoride so could it be that... AUGHHHH... no idea. I feel so bad for Matthew...poor guy. I'm allergic to everything and its been a pain in the ass my whole life so I hope I didn't pass on this crappy trait.

6 1/2 months old already...

In the last three weeks...

• I finished packing our house
• Worried about escrow actually closing... but it did and we no longer own that house. Thank goodness!!!!
  
• Had painful eye surgery. Much better now but still having a hard time using my eye. First week was absolute hell.
  
• We moved....long day w/ the moving company and the babies were very out of sorts w/ no schedule.
• I unpacked all the boxes and got us settled into this new house.
  

So its been a hectic few weeks but I'm finally starting to feel relaxed for the first time in a while. I woke up the last few mornings and just felt content. I could feed my babies, hold them and play w/ them w/out the pressure of a million things needing to get done in the back of my mind. I don't have to keep the house spotless for potential buyers...I don't have to pack up the house in 2 weeks so we'll be ready to move. It's so nice... My appetite is a little better w/ the stress off my back and I just feel so relieved that we're moved and in this new town. We are now living just 5 minutes from J's work. He used to commute 2+ hours so this is wonderful. He's home more and we're saving all of that gas money. We're also living in a great area of town and its fun to see all that we have available to us here. Beautiful parks...walking trails.... great shopping, etc.

My twins are now 6 1/2 months old. It makes me sad at times that they are growing up so quickly. I feel like they'll be driving off to college before I know it. I am having such fun w/ them and never want it to stop.

We had our 6 month check up this week so they were actually almost 6 1/2 months old. Their stats are as follows:

Andrew- 18.10 oz, 26 inches long
Matthew-16.10 oz, 26 inches long

Yesterday was the first time that they ate solid foods three times during the day. They got breakfast, lunch and dinner. They've only been eating solids now for about 3 weeks. I started w/ the rice cereal....next we tried sweet potatoes and then sweet peas. All of has gone well so far and I'll try another veggie tomorrow. They always have rice cereal for breakfast and then a veggie for lunch.... some of both for dinner. Once I know there are no allergy concerns...I'll offer them several choices at each meal.

Matthew is rolling all over the room so I've had to start baby proofing the house. Pillows now rest along my entertainment center so that he won't hit his head. He is very close to crawling. It's bound to happen any day now. Matthew loves to play and is really good at grasping things. His favorite toy is a brightly colored fish (teether). His eyes light up when he sees it. He's still quite the independent one...he can entertain himself for a long time. It's a treat when he'll cuddle up on me b/c he usually bounces or jumps up and down on my lap. And even though Matthew is my smaller baby, he is actually my better eater when it comes to solids and he can now hold his own bottle no problem. One thing I worry about is how he now always sleeps on his stomach and sometimes his face is straight down which worries me w/ the SIDS. We always put him on his back but he rolls right over. Overall Matthew is my easy baby... you take care of his basic needs and he's content.

Andrew is my sweetie pie "drama" baby. He's still very dramatic...very emotional...but such a mama's boy. That kid will scream when he wants something...such as to be held. And since he wants to be held all day long we get into a battle sometimes. He likes to cuddle and would be in my arms 24 hours a day if he had his way. This kid is so funny. He still laughs uncontrollably at times. I dance around the room w/ him and he finds it hysterical. He has the greatest laugh. It's also funny to watch him on the floor mat or in the exerciser. He pouts when he isn't getting attention... He'll look at me and smile and then a look will cross his face when I look away (but i look out the corner of my eye) and he'll pout and have trembling lips but as soon as I look at him again he'll smile. Andrew is still working on rolling over...doesn't have it down yet.

I love these guys so much.... My heart is so full. I am so very blessed. I don't know how I got soooo lucky to have such a wonderful family. I love my husband more every day as I see him interact w/ the boys. He does such a great job. J is very family oriented. I'm so thankful to have such a great partner and two beautiful sons. I just pray everyday that we all stay safe and healthy. There is never a moment that I take this for granted.