Five months

When DH and I discussed words to describe NB this month (a recurrent feature in NB's baby book), my first thought was "inconsistent," while DH suggested "curious" and "foot-lovuh" (lover).  Preferring to chronicle NB with a more positive spin, one of the latter two will be the winner. Truly, though, all three are appropriate.

This last month was one of extremes around here.  There were two weeks early in the month when I began to compose posts in my head that celebrated our triumphant return to restful nights.  We don't let ourselves count such things as trends until they are consistent for a full week.  We made it six days...twice.  Then we had serious regressions and seemed to lose our way.  By the end of the month, we were trying anything and everything.  Methods I had always opposed to accomplish night sleep, I tried out of sheer desperation.  Last week we had two nights where NB slept 12 to 14 hours followed by nights where DH and I had to split the night and got three to five hours of sleep.  During the worst of these, NB slept on our chest on the couch for no more than 20 minutes at a stretch save one two hour block.  We were exhausted and had no time to share notes, research, or develop a plan.  We became reactionary in our parenting on many fronts...something we try hard to avoid.  It was ugly.

This last weekend was a gift.  We started Friday deep in the trenches without a plan.  We held a screaming, over-tired NB in our arms and bounced while we tried to read and discuss our options.  DH put NB down without us really being able to complete that.  He ended up putting NB down while he was still awake, and he slept, finally.  And we slept, finally. Suddenly naps and night sleep seemed to fall into place.  For two whole days NB has been a sleep machine.  We are ridiculously hopeful that we have found the solution.  Still, it has only been two days, and, as I type this, NB is screaming rather than sleeping...something that feels a lot like we haven't found the solution.  Seems like I'll have plenty of time to plan that "sleep celebration" post.

In the midst of our sleep adventures, Toona and Gido came to meet NB and visit the rest of us.  Their visit was too brief, but plenty of fun, especially for LO.  It was so fun to see how he took to them again so easily.  It was hard to tell it had been over a year since he'd seen them.  He loved Gido chanting "La-loo, La-loo, la-loo, la-la" and swinging him like a pendulum between his legs.  Later LO told me "He said, 'Lula' mommy!" Seemingly so impressed that Gido knew the name that LO had named our car. (Which he didn't; it was just a happy coincidence.)  For NB's part, he was pleasant and content in spite of having next to no sleep.



When NB has been awake and happy this last month, he was a huge fan of his own feet.  This past week he was just as likely to have his toes in his mouth as he was his thumb. (Which is saying a lot!)


He has also become more social and more interested in the world around him.  That has been especially true of his big brother's activities.  We have several great toys that he enjoys, but none of them as much as he likes watching LO play, bathe, dance, talk...you name it.  LO could be watching paint dry (which he wouldn't, but that's beside the point), and NB would think drying paint must be the most interesting thing in the world because LO is watching it. I have a feeling this will continue to be true for a long while.  I hope LO is as aware of this and can enjoy the responsibility as he gets older. In addition to watching LO, NB has shown a lot of interest in our food and drink.  One evening DH held him in his lap as he ate some ice cream.  It was hilarious to watch NB's eyes get huge and his hands reach for the spoon as DH ate.  I tried to get a picture, but it didn't do the scenario justice.  This past weekend, NB wrestled against me trying to work his way to the mouthpiece on my Camelback water bottle. I plan to start rice cereal and some baby foods with him at six months, and there is no doubt he'll be interested when that time comes.

Other fun facts this month:
1) his hair is still red
2) eyes seem to be hazel
3) he learned to roll back-to-belly, but still hasn't mastered belly-to-back
4) he loves to cuddle and be held
5) he fills out a 6 month size onesie really well, and isn't lost in a 9 month one. This month's pictures were taken in a 12 mo one, so we'll see how he grows into it.
6) he sat in a "tripod" position for a few seconds without help yesterday
7) he knows when its time to go to sleep. When we climb the stairs with him for night or nap, he rests his head on our shoulder and sucks his thumb by the time we reach the top step.
8) he is starting to interact with his lovie (named "Ellie" since it's an elephant)

9) he is rather ticklish under his chin, under his arms, and when I creep my fingers up his belly.

LO tickling a foot, and NB watching his every move

10) this morning he got a kick out of "peek-a-boo" for the first time

a big "peek-a-boo" from LO

We train our boys early...Go Gators!

check out that face!

11) LO is learning to entertain NB.  It is so fun to see LO enjoy the attention, and NB be fascinated by his big brother.

12) we can't tell how to part his hair! His crown is on the right, but his hair grows toward the left.