+ Long-overdue update +
I feel like a horrible mommy for deciding to move servers in the middle of your babyhood. But now you have your own little corner of the Internet world, dedicated just to you. You are that special (but we knew that).

So, what's new with you? Well, I'll start and surely have to update more later. I cannot begin to list all the neat new things you know and do. You're just growing too fast for me!

Eating: You still eat like a champ. I had another pumping slump, and had another cold which is just now going away. But I spent the weekend nesting with you, feeding whenever possible (sometimes hourly). It was nice cuddling with you and I could tell it was increasing my milk supply some. But during the pumping slump, you had to have a couple more bottles of formula. It wasn't much, and you handled it just fine. And I feel better accepting reality that if we need it, you can have it. I even got to go briefly to a bridal shower at work while daddy picked you up from daycare and gave you a bottle of formula. It was actually nice that he got to spend that time with you that he normally wouldn't have gotten to do. No solids yet, still, and we're holding to that as long as possible. You are just now starting to be interested in what I'm eating, and you're getting quite used to your high chair. So I don't think it shall be long.

Sleeping: Yes, well, sleeping has been an issue. I finally had enough and started reading everything I could get my hands on (and keep my eyes open for) about sleep. Trouble was, most of the suggestions were things I was already doing. And you were still waking up every 2-3 hours, including the beginning of the night, when you used to sleep great! Well, I finally resorted to a combination of earlier bedtime (around 7:30) and a regimented bedtime routine that begins around 7:00. Guess what? It's working! The first night you still got up after 2 hours. But the second night? You only got up once, and that continues today. It's been a week. You woke up at 3:00 this morning and went to bed at 8:00. That's seven hours, little one! I nursed you and put you back down, partly awake, expecting to hear screaming. Instead, you went back to sleep by yourself and stayed down until about 6:15. Blessings!

Talking: Okay, you're not *talking* but you're chattering more all the time. Your newest sound is a gutteral grunting sound. Charming. It starts as a light squeal and ends in grunting. You still get a very puzzled look on your face when I mimic you.

Listening: You're getting very interested in new sounds. If I'm cooking and the food is sizzling, you will nearly fall out of my arms trying to get a closer look at what the sound is. If I'm running the bathtub, I must hold you in such a way that you can see the water running into the tub. If I am standing behind you in your swing, etc., you will crane your neck back and around to see me if I cough or say something. Cute.

Teething: Oh, how you are teething. You gnaw so hard on my fingers, I swear I'm going to have bruises. I have tried to give you teething toys, but you never stay interested in them very long, and cooling teething toys are completely uninteresting to you. Your favorite things to chew on are your own clothes and burp cloths. Weirdo. I'm just hoping you get some relief soon.

Crawling: No, you're not quite crawling but you're getting the idea. You push up on your hands, and instead of pulling your knees and butt up, you slide your knees out and bed your legs up in the air. It's really very cute, but not very productive. When you're mad, you actually DO crawl/scooch, but you don't realize it. Kind of like how you learned to roll over when you were mad. Interesting pattern...

Sitting: Oh, you're so very close here. You sometimes succeed, though usually you still need a little hand (or two) of support somewhere. The closer you get, the less you want to be held. You love to sit in my lap and look at TV, or out the window at the trees blowing in the wind, or at the doggie, or at daddy if he walks through the room.

Well, that's our summary for now. I'm sure there are more wonderful things I'll have to update soon. And I will. I'm not going to let this journal lag like that ever again, if I can help it. So, happy late Fifth Monthday. :-)