Graham: 5 months week 1

Graham's physical growth seems to have slowed down ever so slightly, but he is developing in so many ways, especially the last few weeks. He can almost sit unassisted, and can sit well enough to be at the table, or in high chair, or in a swing, which he did for the first time a few weeks ago at the park. He also seems like more of a sentient being, laughing when things are funny, looking worried/concerned at loud noises (but not crying), and watching intently as Gwen and her friends play. He seems to need something more the last few weeks, and has been a little fussier than usual. I thought maybe he was wanting to eat so we tried that on his 5 month birthday, but he isn't ready. He was interested in the spoon, but still has a tongue thrust reflex, and at one point nursed the spoon like it was a nipple. I assumed we would wait until 6 months to introduce solids, but thought maybe this would help calm him down- nope. So I am back to the assumption he is just teething, badly. His bottom front gum is swollen on the sides, and shallow in the center where his bottom front teeth could pop through. Though this has been the case for weeks, and I think it was around 3 months that I thought he was teething. I looked back to at Gwen's 5 month update and it could have been the same for Graham. He wears the same star outfit (maybe that's why I love it) and he also recently got into the exersaucer. I actually think it was the introduction of the exersaucer a few weeks ago (thank you Kristen!) that blew his mind right open. He loves it!

Toddler Crushes Baby While Mom Showers

Graham was happily playing in his exersaucer, and Gwen was watching one of her favorite PBS Kids shows, and I thought what a great opportunity to take a quick shower. Not long after I get started washing my hair I hear Graham crying a sort of WTF kind of cry. And I call out, "Hey Gwen, how is it going out there?" "Fine." Then his cry of annoyance turns into cry of pain. "Gwen, what is going on out there?" as I am quickly trying to dry off with conditioner still in my hair. I walk into the living room and she is straddling him in the exersaucer! She is stuck with one leg in and one leg out. I try and pull her out and it makes Graham cry more like he is really being hurt. I get a little panicky, and pry her out. I reprimand her for doing something we have asked her repeatedly not to do (i.e. climb into the exersaucer) and tell her to look at Graham, how he has a red mark on his face, and how he is crying because she hurt him. I tell her to kiss him on the head and say she is sorry. Graham is apparently ok, so I put him in the pak n play (where he has some toys to play with) in the bedroom and shut the door (which has a childproof thingy on the knob so she can't get to him). She was upset that I basically took Graham away from her and I told her it was because I couldn't trust her not to hurt him. And then I got back in the shower and we moved on with our morning. I know she didn't mean to hurt him and I know she is only two...but man, I didn't realize one of my new jobs was to keep the toddler from accidentally killing the baby!

This is usually how they play together:

Mama's Milestone

Well, today I reached a milestone in Motherhood: I locked the baby in the car. I debated whether or not to share this, but I am not ashamed. Tired: yes. Flustered: often. Disorganized: most of the time. I blame this evenings adventure on all of the above and baby-wearing. I went to the grocery store at 9pm and knew Graham was tired, so I thought I would wear him in the Ergo carrier so he could sleep if he wanted to. I got my reusable grocery bags out of the trunk, put my wallet and keys in the bag, took my sweater off, set it all down on the floor of the car in front of Graham while I strapped on the Ergo. It was about this time the car next to me needed to pull out. I closed the passenger door most of the way and stood in front of it while I strapped on the Ergo and the other car pulled out. I went to open the car door and realized it was partially shut, but not open enough to engage the handle...and I had already locked the car...My cell phone lives inside my wallet, which was with my keys, all in my reusable shopping bag on the car floor. Rather than feeling panicky, I just felt so silly and stereotypical. The staff in the store let me use their phone, and since Spencer couldn't leave Gwen and can't drive with her in the Jeep, our friend Malia picked up the spare set of keys and dropped them off for me (thanks Malia!). Luckily we all live close to the store, and our winters aren't snowy (though there was a bitter wind blowing and I had on a tank top). Graham didn't cry (otherwise I probably would have been a wreck). He seemed fairly satisfied with me periodically making faces and baby talk at him through the car window. Rather than getting down on myself for orchestrating this mishap, I am comforted that in 2 years and almost 5 months, I didn't once lock anyone in the car, or lock anyone out of it- it took me that long to reach this milestone in motherhood.

The Mama and Gwen Show

People keep requesting more updates and pictures of Graham. I am hogging the little guy. We spend 24/7 together and I am never more than a 15 minute drive away... even so, after he has been napping a few hours and I pick him up, it feels so good to hold him, like we haven't been in eachother's arms in days. He is still my little barnacle. I was starting to wonder if co-sleeping was preventing him from sleeping through the night, but last week he started sleeping 5 hour stretches (technically sleeping through the night, though I don't know who came up with that definition). He is a lot like Gwen, and totally different. Her baby farts didn't stink ;-) Graham is my little sidekick on the show I like to call The Mama and Gwen Show. Someday he will be a leading character, but until then he will be our number one fan.

Below are some photos from a friend's 3rd Birthday party this past weekend. It was a beautiful warm and sunny day, felt a lot more like summer than winter (which is why I will likely always live in California).

Learning about the Potty

Gwen has been learning about the potty since she was 1 year old. It has been all her- I have introduced the idea, but every time I get a little too excited she pushes back, so we have been following her lead. She made significant progress this past summer when she decided she preferred to be naked and she has been diaper free at home for months now (except sleep time). Well the last few weeks she has been wearing training pants when we leave the house, and most of the time she is dry and using the potty while we are out. Yesterday she insisted on wearing underwear for her nap. I let her and she woke up crying because she peed (about the same time she usually wakes up so I think she is waking because she is peeing- same with at night, hence the not sleeping through the night). We are so close, and it is so tempting to do something to 'help' her over these last few hurdles, but I remind myself Gwen will do things on her own timeline, and I should continue to follow her lead. So I will continue to ask her each morning if she would like a pull up or diaper, and remind myself she is not even two and a half.

Graham's 4 month update

Graham had his 4 month check up this week and shots :-(
I knew he was getting big since we had to move him into the next size diaper, and he keeps popping the crotch buttons on his 6 months clothes. He weighed in at 17lbs 4 oz (87%) and 25.5 inches (69%). His pediatrician commented about how well Mama's milk is working for him (which made me feel good). The only thing she recommended was that we move him into Gwen's room sooner than later (it is going to be later since Gwen can climb into the crib if she wants and we don't want her to 'help' put Graham to sleep without us). There is some silliness happening in the sleep arena. Graham sleeps really well, and almost never cries at night...but that is because he sleeps with Mama with the boob ever at the ready. This means Daddy sleeps most nights on the futon next to Gwen's bed since she decided she doesn't sleep through the night months ago, and he would rather not have to be up and about at night. As soon as Graham can communicate to big sister not to smother him, they will start sharing a room....not sure when that will be. Graham has become a lot more interested in the world around him, which is fun. He can reach for things, bat at them, sometimes grab and hold on- I have started to make sure I always have a toy for him. He started to spin in circle on his gymini. I wasn't sure how he was doing this until I watched him stick his arm behind him, and like a bird with a clipped wing push off with the other arm...there isn't a whole lot of mobility yet, but he has inched off his gymini mat a few times. He still doesn't know he has feet, but he was trying to get up on his knees during his doctor's appointment and she predicts he will be crawling in no time. With how vocal, social, and active Graham is becoming, he may be taking after his sister. Watch out Mama!
In other news, Graham is teaching Spencer how to play the Banjo.

Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe it is the year 2011. We are looking forward to a year of Graham's firsts- like the first time he sleeps through the night ;-)