Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Don't mind the odd timing of the hat in the picture - it was a gift from MIL and it just now fits so I had to take a picture to prove it.

I can't believe he's five months old. I know I'll be saying that same sentence for the rest of my life with different numbers in it, but it's true. FIVE months old. He's such a little firecracker (see, I found a way to make the picture relevant). The high points of this phase of his babyhood are that he finally realizes how funny I can be and laughs about at least some of the goofy things I do. He also loves his sweet potatoes so much that I'm not sure which one of us gets more excited by mealtime. And he's sleeping better (at least at night), playing independently longer, and makes my heart melt at least once a day when he "talks" to me or tries to eat my nose (it's the little things).

The downside is that he wants to go go go but since he can't go go go anywhere on his own, he can get pretty frustrated. Also, his growing intelligence is wreaking havoc on some of the things I've taken for granted - like how he now knows his crib equals naps and starts crying the second we step near it. Or how yesterday he figured out that when the little orange light shows up on the silver box (known to adults as a camera), it's about to flashy-thing him. To say he's not fond of the flash is a vast understatement. Doesn't he understand I *have* to take his picture? Especially since my Mom just told me she found five pictures of Jack in my five-year-old cousin's pink purse. "But I told you Aunt Jenny, I printed them because I have to show Nicole what my baby Jack looks like." How cute is that??? I can't wait until we go visit them next month. It will be an excellent picture-taking opportunity.

I didn't want to jinx us, but since today is the last day of our week alone and I can handle anything until Matt walks in the door at 6, I can finally say, this week hasn't been what I expected. In fact, dare I say, it's been easy?

It's always crazy to look at the pics and see how fast Jack is growing, but it's even crazier to live it. Last month, after just a couple days, I was exhausted. This time, a full week of just the two of us and I don't even feel tired. (Not that I wouldn't pay for two solid nights' sleep, but that's another story) There are main differences I can see. One, I can actually put him down for a few minutes now and he'll play on his own. Two, he goes to bed earlier so those crazy evenings aren't so crazy any more. All in all, it was just a nice, quiet, fun little week.

Not that there weren't moments. Of course, there were moments. Like when Guinness ate grass in the backyard and threw up all over the upstairs hallway and down the stairs. Which happened to be the same morning Jack had decided that 6:30 was the new 7:30 and woke up bright and early ready to play. And it was the morning after the night when Guinness made up for Matt not being there by snoring all night long. Okay, so that was not a pretty morning and someone resembling me might have taken the toy bar from Jack's swing and thrown it across the kitchen to let off a little steam (disclaimer: Jack was nowhere near the swing or toy bar at the time and neither were the dogs). But hey, that's the worst that happened all week. Compared to the nightmare I had imagined the week would be, this was a cakewalk.

Plus, we had a few great milestones. Jack rolled from belly to back all on his own. (Okay, he only did it once and I think it was more the weight of his head pulling him over, but I was still supremely excited.) We had our second playdate, which along with two visits from Lynne and daily phone calls from my Mom and Matt, totally saved my brain from turning to mush. And, the one with the most promise for my future happiness and wellbeing: Jack fell asleep on his own six whole times.

The first was a total fluke. Usually, I give him a bath, swaddle him, pop a boob in his mouth and he's out within ten minutes. Sometimes I sing a song just so I feel like I'm contributing. So imagine my shock and indignation Tuesday night when after 45 minutes of feeding, rocking, and singing he was still wide awake. Not crying, just not asleep. Finally, out of sheer desperation (and because my stomach couldn't wait another minute for my crockpot beef stew), I put him in his crib to see what would happen and tiptoed out of the room. I finally snuck back in after an hour of silence because I just couldn't believe he was really asleep. He was. And he's done it enough times since that I'm actually getting my hopes up he'll be able to keep doing it. Huh. Who knew.

In any event, as thrilled as I am that I'm not a complete zombie right now (and that I even managed to vaccuum the house and keep the dogs and myself fed), I can't wait for Matt to get home. It's just not the same without him. And luckily, he doesn't read this blog so no one tell him how easy this was, okay? I'm thinking I can at least get an extra hour or two of alone time to reward me for my sacrifices ;)
 

In all the history of good days, today was, without a doubt, the very best I've ever had.

Jack started the day a full hour later than usual (8:15 instead of 7!) We played a little, and I put him back down for a nap. Ate a bacon, egg, and cheese, then Matt woke up. We traded Jack back and forth, got the house clean (enough), opened up all the windows to let the air in. Fed Jack his first oatmeal (he likes it!). Put him down for another nap, then just as he woke up, Matt's parents dropped by for a quick visit. Next stop: quick lunch at Quiznos for us, and a family walk with the dogs around Burke Lake while Jack dozed in the beco. As if that weren't a great enough day, there's more!

We headed over to Buy Buy Baby and tried out the baby containment units, err, I mean "exercausers". Picked one that he liked, but decided to buy it at Target instead and saved $20! Then we hit up Whole Foods. Came home, fed Jack more oatmeal, gave him a bath, put him to bed and had simply amazing lemon/rosemary/garlic roast chicken with sweet potatoes, green beans, and chardonnay for dinner. Top it all off with Tiramisu for dessert and massages while watching some college football.

And now, I'm going to SLEEP. Matt's giving Jack a bottle for the first night feeding to make sure I get a few solid hours so I'm rested for my week of single parenthood. Does life get any better than this? I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't exactly agree with my idea of "best day ever" but really, I couldn't ask for anything more.


(Before I go... Since I posted Jack's typical day a month or two ago, and a friend just asked me to email her our current routine today, I thought I'd post that here too for posterity's sake. ( routine stuff )

Today is the first of a bunch of little milestones that have me thinking back to last year. Jack was conceived just about a year ago today. I'd say he's grown quiet a bit since then, wouldn't you? Today is also my father's birthday. In one of those weird twists of fate, my first pregnancy was conceived on my mother's birthday and the one with Jack was conceived on my father's birthday and confirmed with a blood test on my birthday. Interesting little coincidences.

I've always thought I should use this day to celebrate my father's life. I just never got around to it. I've been too busy missing him and being pissed off about all the things he's missed over the years. He should be a 54 year old grandfather, but he's not. He'll never be more than 30. In another two years, I'm going to be older than he ever was.

( mixed feelings )

My little spitfire is four months old. How did that happen? He had his check up this morning and he's healthy as can be. 75th percentile for weight at 16 pounds, 2 ounces, which doesn't surprise me at all given how much he likes to eat. 35th percentile for height (24.5 inches) - short like his parents. And he has a big head, lol. I forget the measurement, but the nurse said it was something like 95th percentile. Ya gotta have somewhere to store all those brains, right?

( Now for the fun part, pics! )

A lot of people seem to think Jack is a really happy baby. Looking at my flickr pictures, I can see why. And he IS a really happy baby. He's also a really cranky baby. A really funny baby. A really screamy baby. A really squealy baby.

I like to call him spirited. Passionate. Fiery. My little spitfire.

I had this convo with my FIL the other day:

Jim: Is Jack a lot less fussy now than before?
Me: No, he definitely still has his fussy moments.
Jim: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I thought by now that would be over.
Me: He gives me a few really great happy moments every day too though. I can live on those alone.
Jim: I'm so sorry.

It's true though. Some days are rougher than others (like yesterday when even the dogs were hiding from the screaming by the end of the day and Matt and I didn't bother with dinner until after Jack went to bed) but all it takes is a few moments of Jack on the changing table cooing and smiling at me to make my day.

I may not be able to predict how long the happies will last or know the magic word to turn all of his frowns upside down, but one giggly smile from that kid is worth a million bucks. And thankfully I get way more than just one every day. This morning I got a whole hour's worth, which recharged my soul even more than the EIGHT straight hours of sleep, plus a few bonus morning hours, that Jack and I got last night.

(And yes, the consensus is that Jack is indeed flipping us the bird in that picture.)

For the record, this is Matt's side of the bed.

Last night, while we were frantically debating the myriad options in this book, Jack's crying suddenly stopped and he fell back to sleep. On his own. After only a couple of minutes.

When he woke up after 45 minutes, we held our breath in the dark. He couldn't do it again, could he? Could we? Four minutes later, he was quiet. And he STAYED that way all night except for his usual two feedings.

Huh.

The good night's sleep we had explains how we had the energy to pull out those lovely purple things this morning. And the fact that we're certain it was just a fluke explains why we sure as heck aren't ready to get within three feet of each other without one any time soon.

He does still want me to snuggle him in the Moby, he does! How awesome is that smile? Okay, so he may have been looking at himself in the mirror at the time, but can you blame him? I'd smile too if I were that cute.

Right now is the worst time of day while Matt's gone. He usually takes the 9-1am shift. After I nurse Jack to sleep, I go right to bed myself. Lately, Jack's been waking back up after exactly 45 minutes and Matt's been putting him back to sleep. Since I know the odds are good he'll wake back up tonight at 9:45, I'm sitting here at the computer instead of sleeping. Yes, it's possible he'll sleep through at this point, but I just can't bear the thought of falling asleep right now and getting woken up in 15 minutes. Especially since he already woke up 15 and 5 minutes after my first two attempts to put him to sleep tonight.

I wish babies came with a little screen that counted down to a) their next wake up and b)once awake, down to their next optimal nap time. Maybe someone can invent a special sleep thermometer. I'd buy ten.

Ahaha. Night time sleep was TOTAL crap.

My bathroom scale says he weighs a pound more than last week, so there may have been some growing. Or maybe he just likes the rain. Or Matt promised him a pony if he kept me up all week.

Now I just need to find a balance of letting him sleep enough today so he's not overtired, but not so much he keeps me up all night again. I'm guessing we'll get back in the groove just in time for Daddy to have a really good night's sleep this weekend. :P

First things first, I need to try my luck with the coffee machine.