July 16-31: Rolling Over!

Hello gentle readers! I can't believe another month has gone by. And I can't believe I've been here among you for three months now. (I heard Mama and Papa agree that it feels like I've always been here. I guess they forgot what life was like before me.) Mama and Papa were looking back on some of my old pictures and videos. They got all glassy eyed when they saw how much I've grown. And they got all giggly when they watched a video of my wobbly head and another one of my grunting. These days my head control is much better, although when I'm tired, I still need some help. And I don't grunt like that anymore. In fact, I've found a much more exciting noise to make: the squeal-scream. I do this both when I'm happy and when I'm not happy, which can be confusing. Once, while I was happily screaming, Mama and Papa called GrandmaLee to let her hear me, and she got all worried that I was upset, and she tried to comfort me on the phone. Another noise I make of note is "may-may-may" when I'm fussy. Mama gets all excited, thinking I'm starting to say her name, but we all know that's silly. I'm only 3 months old! Also, I entertained myself a couple times by making myself snort. See, Papa has a game where he puts his hand to my nose and I snort, which makes me laugh. (It IS a funny noise.) A few times this month I flopped my own arm to my nose and made myself snort. Finally, no recounting of noises would be complete without an update on the funk-country-gospel band that Papa and I are in. You heard our previous recording a couple weeks ago, and now we've laid down another track. Check it out!

I've become interested in the stories that Mama and Papa read to me. It is nice to sit on their laps and to look at ths pictures. One of my favorites is "Big Red Barn." You can see how much I like it when GrandB reads me that story [video]. As nice as books are, though, nothing can beat feet. They're getting increasingly grabbable, and that big toe is super-suckable, and they're just great to stare at.

The most amazing thing I figured out now is how to roll over onto my belly. On Thursday the 27th, I did this for the first time. And I don't mean kinda on my side with one arm trapped underneath--I mean all the way over with both arms free. This new feat has gotten Mama and Papa very excited, but I'm still not sure what I think. Maybe when I figure out how to roll back onto my back I'll like it more. And have I told you how good I'm getting at standing up? I think I have. With Mama or Papa's hands to keep me steady, I love to stand up and look around.

Bodily function firsts for the ardent fans:I picked my nose for the first time. Not only did I get my finger up there (which I have done before), but I came out with something! Also fairly icky was when I spit up all over Papa's head, coating his hair with curdled milk. I did this while he was carrying me on his shoulders, which I really dig. I'm peeing into or onto something (bowl, potty, Mama) a few times a day now. I finished the month with a very exciting (for some) first: peeing in a public potty. (Thank you, Barnes and Noble. It was a pleasure.)

I will sign off with a list of the current nicknames that are in favor: CuddlyBear, Spurty McSpit-up, Sweetie Pie, Grumpy Gus, Puppy Dog, Diaper Dan (stolen from friends who also, apparently have a boy like me), and as always, Pumpkin.

P.S. Due to the immense work load I have (babies are busy!), I expect that I'll get to post updates monthly now, or at most bi-monthly. Thanks!

July 9-15:Tricycle Kick

Sunday started this week with a busy bang. It was the first time I've stayed awake in church (don't tell Papa--I'd hate for him to get the wrong idea). Maybe that's because this month we've been worshiping outside, and I really do love being outside, with all the interesting sights and sounds and smells. After that, Mama and Papa took me to a restaurant
with TVs so they could watch the World Cup Final. I didn't really care who won, but I did enjoy watching the match. In fact, I was so inspired that I tried out a move of my own, something I call the "tricycle kick," which involves knocking a full glass of water all over one parent while offering a convincing "who? me?" look to the other. That evening we went to worship together at Trinity Vinyard church. Even though it seems to me that Mama and especially Papa are at church all the time, they decided that they want to worship together (that is, sitting together) every week. So we've been going to different churches each week on Sunday nights or Saturdays or weekdays. Anyway, I really liked the loud music, but once things got quiet at Trinity Vinyard, I started to speak up, so Mama and Papa took turns carrying me in and out of the service. I did show off a new talent while we were there--I spent some time grabbing and holding my own foot without any help. Now I plan to work on getting it into my mouth.
Lucky for me (and you, dear reader), the rest of the week was not quite as busy. On Monday, however, I travelled farther than I've ever been from home. Mama and Papa took me with them to Jonesboro, where they talked with people about the Middle East and showed their film about Palestinian Christians. If you're reading this, then I have to assume you know all about that stuff--they seem to talk about it all the time. Anyway, I met lots of nice people there, and I made a lot of them smile--which is quite an accomplishment when the subject matter is the Middle East these days.
I'm enjoying mirrors more and more. Also, I can grab my own hands, my clothes, Mama or Papa's arms. But I don't yet grab toys. Mama's posting a picture here that would make you think that I've grabbed a toy, but Mama put it in my hand--I didn't grab it on my own. I sure hope I can do that soon--there are so many things I'd like to get my paws and jaws on. She'd also posting a picture that would make you think I can stand up. No, not yet. Papa propped me up on the futon, so I could lean back on it. My legs are super strong and can support my weight (for a little bit anyway), but my balance is distinctly baby, and I soon topple into Papa's arms. I am putting my own thumb into my own mouth well these days, so that picture is a true reflection of what's going on here.
Exciting updates for the bodily function fans among you: On Tuesday, big hunks of earwax came out of my left ear while I was on the changing table. On Saturday, I peed twice and pooped once into the potty--that's Mama and Papa's potty! Mama was out of her mind with pride and joy.

July 2- 8: Fireworks

Well, we don't have any photos of it, but the most exciting thing for me this week was seeing fireworks! GrandB and Grandpa Marty and we went to the park to watch the big 4th of July fireworks show in Chamblee (reportedly the best in Atlanta). We sat on the grass and they had a barbeque picnic while we waited for dark. But before the show could start, there was an announcement that a storm was headed our way, so we packed up and hurried home, arriving just in time before the rain started. The show was postponed until Saturday. Mama took me alone, since Papa wanted to get to bed early to be fresh as a daisy for church on Sunday. Anyway, I was asleep when we arrived at the park, and kept dozing until the first firecracker went off. My eyes popped open and I looked around and a few moments later decided I should cry. But Mama was there and told me it was OK, picked me up, put me on her lap, and clamped her hands over my ears because of the loud explosions. Personally, I was transfixed by the pretty flashing colors in the sky. That was so cool! I can't wait to see stuff like that again!
I think that the most exciting thing for Mama and Papa this week was how good I am getting at sleeping at night. Not good at going to sleep, but good at staying asleep for long stretches at night. For some reason, they really like that. The best ever was on Monday night, when I slept from the end of my 9:15 PM feeding until 4:00 AM. I'm also eating a little better, at least not quitting 5 minutes into my meal. I still fuss a fair amount at mealtime, and Mama has a sneaky suspicion that I might be teething, since the description in Dr. Spock fits. I suppose pretty soon we'll see if she's right. For the hard-core fans, I've transcribed at the end of this entry another section from Mama's notebook, this one focused on (what else?) my poo, pee, and food. I will say in her defense, most of the stuff she writes down is pretty interesting, but for some reason, on Monday she got caught up in bodily functions.
Other exciting news this week: I've found my thumb! And I like to suck on it every time I manage to get it in my mouth (it works much better than the whole fist). Mama has started to tell me about the little piggies that somehow are also my toes. I make spit bubbles. I like to stand up (when someone is keeping me from tipping over). I got a proper introduction to Television, sitting with the Sanders men at GrandB and Grandpa Marty's place. My feet are clammy and big. I can still fit in the laundry basket (but barely!). Papa saw me staring at the cat; I think as time goes by, I'll get more and more interested in this thing, this "cat." She used to disappear whenever I came into a room, but now I guess she's more used to me. I look forward to rubbing her soft belly and feeling her rumbling purr under my hand. Even more than the cat, I really like the dining room chandelier--I could stare at that all day! Whenever I've got my gaze locked on it, Mama and Papa say "I love lamp," and laugh. I think it is some obscure movie reference, but it will be years before I can prove it. For those of you who like video, here is one where I show how floppy I am (please don't ask about the socks--I really have no idea). Oh, and finally, I've discovered the joy of mirrors. Now I'll never be lonely again!

From Mama's notebook:
7-3-06
12:30 AM: Fed 8-10 minutes, left side
1:00 AM: Big poop (not very "seedy"). After changing him, I tried very hard to nurse on the right side. He fussed and fussed and eventually took for around 1 minute then gurgled and coughed off
6:00 AM: Peed while on changing table
6:00 AM: fed 10 min right side
8:30 AM: Pooped while on changing table
9:00 AM: Fed, right and left, 15 minutes
9:30 Didn't change diaper, but looks wet [OK, folks, everthing seems fine to this point. But please! If she went to the trouble of writing it down, why not go ahead and change the wet diaper?]
12:00 noon: Very wet [Of course!] and poopy diaper (a little green)
12:00 Fed right and left 15 minutes, some fuss between them
1:30 Wet diaper
2:00 Wet
2:15 PM: Fed 10 minutes left and 10 minutes right (15 minute break between)
5:00 PM: Wet diaper
6:00 PM: Wet diaper
7:00 PM: Wet diaper
7:30 PM Fed 20 minutes left, 10 minutes right, with a break between
8:30 PM: Wet diaper
9:00 PM: Fed 20 minutes(left then right, break between)
[And then I slept until 4:00AM the next day! Wow, I'm a good sleeper, eater, pooper and pee-er!]

June 25- July 1: I'm beside myself

Well, the big news this week is that I have learned to roll onto my side, and I've started to drool. Ah, the simple pleasures. Mama and Papa say that I'm spitting up less these days, so I know they'll be glad to have another bodily fluid to talk about. Last week Mama and Papa took me to the pediatrician for my 2 month check-up and she said that now I could be on a schedule of feeding every three hours. Guess how long it took me to disabuse them of that idea? Let's just say that by the end of this week I am back to eating whenever I want. Now don't get me wrong folks! I don't take gross advantage of my Mama and Papa--I actually go really easy on them. I generally want to eat pretty predictably every 2 to 4 hours anyway, I don't "snack" between meals, I am sleeping more and more at night, and I smile a lot and entertain them all the time. That's all a lot of work for me!
Mama and Papa also started singing and reading to me at night--I guess to try to convince me to go to sleep. Well, I'm not buying it. Not one bit. I like the singing and looking at the pictures in "Goodnight Moon," but all that just convinces me that the world is an exciting place, and if I close my eyes I'll miss something! Sleep is the last thing on my mind. So, understandably, I get pretty upset when they try to leave me alone in my crib. Sometimes I spend some time entertaining myself before I request (ok, more like demand) more attention. On Tuesday night, I was doing the former when I spotted Mama and Papa peering in at me with goofy smiles on their faces. They were watching me try to grab the dangly toys on my crib mirror. I still have not succeeded in getting hold of them--these confounded things called hands are really hard to operate! So I was swinging one arm toward the danglies, and opening and closing my fist, but came away with nothing. I have, however, succeeded in getting my fists into my mouth with greater and greater accuracy, which is a huge comfort.
Another note about nighttime: This week was to be my first full week sleeping in the nursery and not in Mama and Papa's room. I started out in the crib, but I kept getting my arms or legs stuck outside the railings (one time Mama found me with both legs and one arm stuck outside). So I went back into the bassinet, which is now in my nursery. But I dont think I'll be in it much longer, because I've gotten pretty large for it.
On Friday, Mama and Papa took me in to the doctor because of what turns out to be my very first mosquito bite. Apparently, mosquito bites on babies get a hard little nob in the center, but Mama and Papa didn't know that, and got worried by the nob. On Thursday, I got to meet the new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which was pretty cool.
There are a few nice videos this week: One shows my training for the 1924 Olympic track team. One is evidence of my skillful kicking of my bouncy seat jumblies. And lastly, one is a backing vocal track Papa and I laid down for a future punk-hip-hop-y'allternative-reggae-bluegrasss project Papa has in mind.