Ready or Not

It appears we have a somewhat of an army crawl system in the works. Sorry for my unsteady hand.

My Legs Were Hot

Hmmmm.... I'm not sure how you did it but during your nap you managed to get both of your legs out of your sleeper....

Bound and Determined

You WILL be mobile. You are set on gaining the ability to crawl, stand and walk, right now. Today you spent quite a bit of time whining and scooting while you were trying to crawl. You always cease every opportunity to try to get somewhere. Exhibit A:
I was trying to change your diaper. You were trying to roll and get around your boppy that was next to you. Every time I put you back to change your diaper, you immediately rolled. In this picture the other side of your diaper isn't fastened. I was able to get it one you rolled to your belly and got on your hands and knees. Your mommy is going to have to get very inventive very quickly.

Bundled Bear

Prior Blog Statement Retraction

In the last entry about sleep, I said, "The swing is by far the best place for your naps..." Today, I must take back that statement. I put you in the swing after you had fallen asleep in my lap. Four minutes later, I realize that is time for the swing to be packed up. You were trying to escape by climbing out of the side.

Ready, Set...

Go! Almost. This is your new goal. You have been working on it for a couple days now. I only caught a few seconds of it this time because you were tired and gave up pretty quickly. You didn't give up as easily this morning! Sometimes you launch yourself slightly forward. Sometimes you scoot yourself backward. It looks like mommy needs to get to work on baby-proofing the house!

I'm Not Tired, Mom

You woke up very early this morning. Much earlier than either of us needed to get up. You were wide awake and ready to play. I tried to get you to go back to sleep for just a little bit but you just laughed at me. We played together for a little while and then I got you dressed and put you down to play with your toys. You were playing and then you laid your head down and closed your eyes for a few seconds before playing again. You did this over and over many times before you gave up and went to sleep in the middle of your toys. Unfortunately, I had to wake you up 20 minutes later to leave.

Did You Get ANY In Your Mouth?

Everything you can get your hands on goes in your mouth. Everything. For some reason, when I try to put things in your mouth, we end up with more on you than in you. I am not sure why this is. Perhaps a control issue?
Your favorite thing to do when you are all messy is put your hand in your mouth so that it gets messy too. Then you touch anything and everything you can just to spread the love everywhere.
You have been eating solids as a pro at daycare for quite a while but you still don't enjoy it so much at home. We are getting there though. Your food repertoire currently consists of sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, and cereal. Tomorrow you will be getting pears for the first time. The very first food you actually took to was sweet potatoes. I gave you a little bit at Christmas and you haven't turned back yet (unless I am the one feeding you).

Sleep? Maybe Sleep Here...

It is 10:03 and you just went down for your second nap today. We had a very rough night and you got up very early. You must be extremely tired. Your first nap only lasted about an hour. Not your worst but not your best either. I always debate about where to put you down for your naps. You seem to do well in the living room on the floor or couch. I am worried about putting you on the couch now since you are rolling so much (especially when you wake up angry that you were sleeping). I have tried putting you in the crib several times but usually you just play there. The swing is by far the best place for your naps but it is against our sleep training rules. The book says if I continue to let you sleep in the swing you will never learn to sleep on your own. Also, you are getting too big for the swing and it struggles to swing you.

I put you down on the living room floor for both of your naps so far today. Pictures like this one are so funny to me because you often sleep with your eyes slightly open. I have been told I do the same thing but it still looks so strange. You have done that ever since you were tiny.
I am crossing my fingers that this nap is better than the last one. You always have a better night when we get good naps throughout the day.

Well now, that didn't last.
In the time it took for me to write this entry, you were wide awake again! And somehow you turned towards me in a matter of just a few seconds. I couldn't even sneak up on you and try to pat you back to sleep. I tried explaining to you that naps are important so that you feel good all day but there is just no reasoning with my playful boy. I guess we will try again in a little while.

Sleep? No Sleep Here

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh Little Bear! I haven't posted about this in a long time. I was holding out for a positive update. No such luck so far.

You do not like to sleep. At all. Well, except at daycare. I put you down for a nap today. It took over an hour to get you to give in to the sleep you needed so badly. After 45 minutes, I heard you in your room and went to check on you, only to find this:

A wide awake Tae. Talking, smiling, laughing. 45 minutes is not a nap, little boy! Luckily, you went down for your afternoon nap easily and slept about 2 hours. You are not missing much when you go to sleep, I promise you. Your toys and I will still be here when you wake up.

Nighttime is another story. It was taking hours to get you to go to bed. I moved your bedtime to an hour and a half earlier and you now go to bed with no problem. But you still wake up so very often. I have gotten several sleep training books but you have a much stronger willed than I. I will continue to plug away until we get a good routine going. I hope you give in soon. Mommy needs her sleep.

Can You Believe It Has Been 5 Months?!

You are a 5 month old hustling, bustling, nosey, noisey, determined bundle of baby. I am in love with your personality. You have so much of it and are always willing to share your smiles. If anything is near you, you will grab it. I have a hard time getting you to let go until you see something else you would rather have.
You are a cuddler and snuggler, always ready to share some sweet time with me. Snuggle moments are one of my favorite parts of every day. You seem to like them too.
You have a huge sense of humor. You love to joke and you make yourself laugh all the time. I never knew someone could smile and laugh so much. I always finding myself laughing right along with you and anxiously waiting for your next joke.
Your newest goal is trying to pull yourself to a stand all by yourself. You have been trying when you get the chance. You spent several minutes the other day alternating between trying to stand and whining at me because you don't quite have it down yet. You tried again today but still no go. Don't worry, my dear boy, you will get it soon enough.
Oh Little Brown Bear, you are growing so quickly. You have changed so much from my little 6lb newborn. Every moment I have with you is amazing and I hope that you continue to enjoy life as much as you do now. I hope you keep your happy, energetic, joyful spirit. You have reminded me so many times just how important it is to relish in every second we have together. I can only hope I am as good to you as you are to me.

I'm Sorry, Baby

I have fallen so far behind on your blog. You are growing and changing so much every day. I love and cherish the moments, hours and days I get to spend with you. Our lives have been hectic for the past couple months but I am trying to get back on track for you now.

You had a big accomplishment on Friday. You drank 7 ounces from a bottle without putting up a fight at all. This is huge! You have been fighting the bottle for the past month, dear stubborn one. You only take 2 or 3 ounces and fight the entire time. I am so happy that you accepted the bottle!

You are getting so big. Daily, I look at you in wonder of how much you have grown and learned. You got your big boy car seat yesterday and loved it. No more tears every time I put you in the seat!
I can't believe how big you look! I'm so happy you are growing so well but at the same time, I am sad that I will never get to share these moments with you again.