This month has been probably the opposite of last month -- fend for yourself month. I've been preoccupied with many things including Sofia's surgery. You did not sleep well that day at all, apparently as a protest to the lack of attention you were receiving. I've been trying to encourage you to hold your own bottle and you manage to feed yourself sometimes on your own. We never really did this with Sofia but you're #2 so you'll just have to get used to it. I've had to put you in the car with your bottle and go to run errands. I propped your bottle up with a stuffed animal. Dada gives you your morning bottle in the crib while he takes a shower. And, yesterday I sat you with your bottle on your high chair to watch Curious George with Sofia while I got some stuff done. TV, what a wonderful invention. I know, it may look like negligent parenting, but I only have two arms and one brain -- logistics, you know.
You've also been left to your own devices to fall asleep lately and you don't like it. For naps, I just leave you in your crib and you usually cry for a few minutes and then fall right asleep. When I go back to check on you, you are usually hugging the crib bumper and have at least one leg contorted and sticking out of the crib railing. If you fall asleep more peacefully, you sleep on your tummy with arms tucked in and butt in the air. So cute.
You are finally able to pull yourself up to a standing position while holding on to the rail of your crib. I wasn't there the first time it happened, but Dadda reports you were overwhelmed with pride, had an ear to ear grin and started doing a shake up and down dance until you almost aced yourself and then got really serious.
Still no crawling. You've elected to use the rolling method to get yourself here and there. Did I mention that you now have two bottom teeth.
The eczema issue seems to have plateau. Perhaps it's because I refuse to give you the MSG-corn syrup-manganese laden Nutramigen as your sole source of nutrition. Or maybe the fact that Dadda refuses to get rid of the dogs. Or, that you are just extremely sensitive and allergic to pretty much anything that touches your skin. You still scratch a lot and now that you are older I think we will have to resort to spankings. OK, maybe not spanking but I've started with the "No no's". Every time you go to do something you shouldn't like stick the pointy side of an ointment tube in your mouth, I say "No no" and you look at me like "What? Why would you say that to me ... me, the cutest person on the planet. Are you sure you're talking to the right person here".
Since you can now sit up with perfect control, I got you your first swim trunks and matching swim shirt to protect your SENSITIVE skin and threw you in the pool. You absolutely love the water just as Sofia did. You love splashing and you never complain about getting cold even when your lips started to turn purple. At school, you got to go on your first field trip, a stroller ride to the grassy area for a pool party. You were one of two babies that loved the water and didn't want to come out of the pool.
You are very popular and probably one of the favorites at school. All the teachers say hi to you as I parade you through the gym to pick up Sofia, teachers that I don't even know. I hope you continue to be an adorable and sweet little boy. Is that possible? Despite, the fend for yourself situation, the good news for you is that as of this week, you are done with daycare and you get to stay home with me and your big sister. Unlike Sofia who is old enough to remember her daycare life, you will never even know that you went to daycare for 6 months of your life and I expect that spending more time with mami will be fulfilling for both of us and will also help you remember my name better.
At your Well Baby Checkup you weighed 16lbs 13oz (5th percentile) and you were 27 inches tall (25th percentile). Still a wee little guy, but Dr Arnold thinks you're fine as long as you're still growing and not shrinking. He suggested more table foods. I hope you like rice. They were not impressed that you do not yet clap, wave, say mama, take a few steps, and have no circus skills what so ever. I told them all you need to do is just sit there and smile.
