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).